It was just like any other day, past 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

At the parking lot in front of the Main House, Lucy was ready to get into one of the cars. She was dressed in her black coat and about to leave for Atlas Crius, the name of the school that the Heir was attending.

"Are you sure that Natsu knows you're going out to pick up Lucas?" Mirajane asked the Lady.

"Yes." She answered with a guaranteed smile, "I already told him before he left for work this morning."

Mirajane looked at each of the people who were going with her. Gray was one of them. Even Erza was there.

Satisfied with their number, she nodded.

"Alright, as long as if he said 'yes'" the silver-haired approved.

"Don't worry, I have everyone with me," Lucy said as she entered into the backseat of the car. Gray was the one opening and closing the door for her.

"Be careful," Mira told him.

He gave her a smirk in return,

"As always."

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ATLAS CRIUS

Within the school grounds, there was an area built for the chaperones and parents upon picking up their kids after school.

Lucy and the others were occupying one of the many gazebos, waiting for Lucas and the other kids.

She was surrounded with people in suit uniforms as she sat on one of the golden painted chairs.

Aside from those waiting outside by the cars, the ones with her were Erza, Gray, Loki, Gajeel, and Rufus lore.

She could have just waited for her son to get home...but she felt like picking him up this time around.

And not for long, the figures of Lucas, Diva, and Gin were finally walking through the white-bricked path heading to the school's metal gates. The three didn't realize that people from the Family were already waiting for them.

The Lady had a smile on her face the moment she saw the smaller version of Natsu.

She was already walking up to them when a middle-aged woman who was dressed in expensive clothing went towards Lucas.

Lucy found it rather odd and suspicious.

And then the next thing she saw made her eyes widen in disbelief.

The woman harshly pushed Lucas by his shoulder. He didn't seem to be intimidated by her action, this only made her look pissed.

When Lucy witnessed this, she felt her chest tighten up in anger.

"Lucas!"

She abruptly ran towards them. What mother could bear to see her child being assaulted?

Definitely not her.

"Lucy!" Erza and the others called out her name, alarmed by her sudden act as they ran after her.

Now the woman who assaulted the Heir raised her hand to slap him. But before she could, Lucy got there in time to stop her.

She gripped the woman's wrist, not letting her move it for another inch closer to the boy.

The angry woman turned to Lucy with an irritated look on her face.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lucy's eyes were narrowed at the stranger.

"Mother?" Lucas wasn't expecting to see her there, his eyes were wide in surprise. The same with Diva and Gin.

In an instant, Erza was shielding the Heir as the heated scene unfold in front of them.

"Let go of me!" the woman effortly pulled her wrist from the blonde's grasp,  "So you're this brat's mother, huh?"

Lucy's brows twitched.

Nobody calls her son a 'brat'.

"Watch your mouth, woman." Gajeel's voice had a hint of aggravation.

She ignored this, rolling her eyes at him.

"This boy hit my son during class!" she shouted, giving Lucy a look.

The Lady just continued to glare at her, not forgetting the fact that the woman almost hit her son. 

"You better teach him some manners!" she added, "What kind of mother doesn't discipline her child?!"

Now this got Rufus and Loki stepping forward, not liking the way she talked to their Lady.

But a hand stopped them from interfering. It was Gray, he knew Lucy wanted to handle the situation her way.

With unfazed demeanor, Lucy raised her head up, refusing to back down.

"My son is very much well-mannered compared to your behavior right now," she countered calmly.

The other woman got even angrier.

"What did you say?!"

Oh she had no idea who she was messing with.

"How dare you-"

"Yes. I dare say so," the blonde interrupted her.

Lucy's face looked calm, but on the inside she was boiling up already,

"It doesn't matter if you're a wife of some rich man. I can crush you if that's what I wanted. I can have your home burned down along with you if that's what I wished."

For some reason, the woman felt a wave of fear travel through her nerves when the blonde said this.

A battle of eye contact went on between the two of them. It only stopped until the woman ended up the one turning away and leaving. Some of the chaperones near them couldn't help but eavesdrop on the whole thing.

After that, Lucy turned to the boy. He just stared back at her.

"Are you hurt?" she gently placed a hand over his head.

"I'm fine, mother."

She just looked deeper into his brown orbs.

Lucas remembered what his father told him before. He was right, she was going to be upset. He could see it in her eyes.

"I'm fine," he repeated as if to convince her, "Don't be upset."

With a sigh, she straightened up and hastily headed back to the gate, all of them following her.

"Erza," she called out.

Within an instant, the redhead was beside her.

"Yes?"

"Change the course."

Erza's face didn't hide the look of confusion.

"We're not heading back to the compound?" she asked.

"No. We're going to the company. Now."

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DRAGNEEL COMPANY

He was sitting on the black leather chair, signing some paper works that had piled up after some time.

"Is Rogue informed about the meeting tomorrow?" Natsu continued on signing. He was talking about the Americans.

Zeref was standing by the desk table, rereading the documents that his brother was working on.

"Yes. Everything is taken care of." He answered with a satisfied tone, "I told him we'll be using their restaurant as the venue. The entire building will be guarded with our best marksmen. Laxus is in charge of it."

The Don hummed as he continued to proceed with his work.

If he needed something done within a short period of time, his brother would always be the best person to do the job.

Both of them proceeded with work, until there was a sudden forceful opening of the office's glass door.

The brothers turned to see who it was.

It was Lucy.

And she looked as angry as her knitted brows made her appear to be.

The Don looked a little surprised at first.

She doesn't often go to the company. He wondered what could be so urgent that she'd go there in such a bad mood.

"Lucy..." Zeref was the first to speak, although it was somewhat like a whisper. He could sense she was tense.

The Lady trudged towards the desk table, stopping just right in front of it. Now she stood side by side with the older brother.

"Your son almost got slapped at school today."

A hint of anger showed in her voice.

"What?" Natsu said in a low tone as his brows met at the middle.

"A woman was accusing Lucas of hitting her child." She continued.

That's when he remembered about Lucas' incident at Atlas Crius. He was almost sure his wife wouldn't find out about it.

"How dare she raise her hand on him when you and I have never even hit him!" this time Lucy let out a loud voice, "Not even once!"

Zeref just remained quiet all the while. He knew about the bullying incident as well. And just like Natsu, he didn't tell Mavis about it.

"I don't care if Lucas was in the wrong or not!" Lucy added.

Of course, Natsu knew that.

"I understand. Sweetheart, calm down." He stood up from his chair, his composure still as intact as ever. 

Lucy shouldn't be getting upset over anything.

It was bad for her health.

"Nobody tries to hurt my baby and gets to live with it!"

And that was when she felt a sudden headache rush through her forehead. She slightly stumbled to keep her balance.

"Lucy!" her husband hastily went to her.

On the other hand, Zeref immediately dropped the papers in his hand, keeping the Lady upright. To hell with the documents, Lucy was more important.

Natsu gently placed his firm hands on her shoulders,

"Did you have your medicine today?" his eyes with evident worry.

Lucy replied with a slight nod as her fingers rubbed her head. Her eyes still shut due to the aching feeling.

Knowing that there was nothing else he could do, he sighed.

"Alright. I will deal with this matter." He spoke with composure once again. "You need to go home."

She didn't argue with him. With all honesty, she felt that she needed to rest as well.

The Head gave his brother a nod, to which the older one immediately understood.

Zeref gently walked the Lady towards the glass door of the office, leading her on the way out.

Natsu didn't tell anyone about the cause of Lucy's weakened state. Not even his own brother.

When Zeref opened the door, Erza was already waiting just right outside. She instantly took the Lady away with her.

Now that only the brothers were left, Zeref somehow had an idea about what the other was thinking.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

The Don turned his eyes to the glass frame placed at the side of his desk. In it was a picture of Lucy and Lucas, both with the same sweet smile on their faces.

He was just silent.

"Don't tell me you're going to have that family killed?" Zeref had it all figured out.

He walked closer to him, stopping just a good distance away.

"Brother, this is but a small matter." He spoke calmly so as to not put fuel to the fire, "Let's not resort to killing this time."

But all that the Don could think of were the words of Gildarts Clive. Lucy was never going to bear a child again. Lucas will forever be his only son.

And the thought of someone hurting the boy was unforgivable to him.

With anger, he slammed his hand on the desk table. The expensive pen dropped on the floor in the process.

"HE IS MY ONLY CHILD!" Natsu shouted as he faced the other.

Zeref felt for him. He almost lost Lucas once before. He would never allow that to happen again.

But he didn't want his brother to waste his anger on people who weren't involved with the mafia.

"Natsu, you're losing your patience again." He reminded, although he was not sure if it was a good thing to say.

"What would you have me do, then?" Natsu spoke coldly.

It was as if he had already sealed the way of dealing with the matter.

"Let me handle this," Zeref assured him.

The Don just continued to give him a glare. Sometimes when he's angry, it would seem like everyone is his enemy. But Zeref knew better.

"I'll think of a way they won't mess with Lucas again," the older one added.

After a while, the heat finally cooled down. He could tell Natsu was back on track again when he straightened up and let out a heavy sigh.

"You better. Or I'll burn them myself," The Don said with his usually calm, authoritative voice.

Zeref just chuckled, "I will, I will."

Well, what the Head said could be taken as a joke...or not.