Chapter 10 - Running away -

It's been some months now since the Dragneel departed from wessilland, they left erik to deal with his troublesome daughter Ethe. Kinana thanked and apologized to Lucy for having a daughter like her… she blamed herself as she hadn't properly taught her to be a kind girl and let her be with her father most of the time. Lucy had told kinana it wasn't her fault and she still has time to develop into a good mother for Ethe.

But as always Ethe had run away from home having her father chase after her. She thought of a clever hiding spot as she took the first train to magnolia.

'I think it's time I should visit my 'fiancé' hehe… '

For Ethe's incredible luck, she hadn't conceived from Igneel from their little night. Igneel sighed a breath of relief but, Ethe had an obsession to annoy, bug, and seduce Igneel. She had some feelings for the red head she wouldn't lie… but she liked the way things were right now with her fighting him at every chance. She was looking forward to see him again after three months.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

-At Fairy Tail-

Igneel took a sip of his pomegranate juice as he wished to no longer drink alcohol, he didn't like it specifically but only would drink a shot glass whenever he was tensed. But not anymore… he sighed as he rested his head on the table while Liddan, his older brother sat with him drinking a pint of beer.

"Hey birthday boy! Why the sighing? Your finally 18, didn't you say you wanted to move out already?"

*Liddan had grown to be a fine bachelor, he had short shaved sides as he left his fluffy hair top hang down the side of his face in a very attractive way. He was 22 now as he was still single but was in no rush to tie the knot yet, his mother Lucy always nagging him to ask out letisha or Sasha out on a simple date.

Letisha was gajeels and levys daughter who was 23 and single too, and Sasha was a new member to the fairy tail guild, she was 22 and single as well. She had green hair like Bisuca and her magic type was script magic like levy.

Liddan would always lecture his mother how,

'Why are you so persistent in getting me a mate? If I want to be single I'll be single for the rest of my life!'

Lucy had given up after this, but still held hopes in maybe one of the two ladies will take some interest into him.

But till then, Liddan's love life was dryer then Death Valley….

"*sigh* exactly! I'm 18 now and I'm supposed to be telling mom and dad about moving out soon… but will they trust me after I screwed up a few months ago? Mother has been worried every time I leave the house, and dad… he always reminds me to pack another set of clothes in case I meet another crazy girl…"

*Igneel grunted in anger as he watched his older brother laugh at him…*

"Oh Man! So they are treating you like a kid again? Hahaha! Then just move out, if you want you can move in with me to test the waters with mom and dad then.. you can get your own place ya know?"

*Liddan was a good older brother to ask for advice and help… Igneel smiled at his brothers offer. But before he could say anything a pair of 'annoying' girls hooked their arms around him.*

"Hey Igneel! I heard from 2 blonde birdies that it's your birthday! Let's go out and celebrate?"

*gina asked as she had grown bigger and more confident in her looks. She had moved on from her childhood crush who was Liddan, to chase after Igneel.. she had realized how good looking he was turning out and most importantly.. how mature and smart he was. She decided that if she didn't make her move now… someone was gonna ask him out sooner or later.*

"Yeah Igneel, it's your birthday today! Let's go out and celebrate, Liddan you coming?"

*the other attractive girl was Gine, she was Gajeels and levys last child they had. She had black shiny spiky long hair and was petit. She was 20 but had eyes for Liddan. But lately she noticed how Igneel had been hanging out with his brother Liddan so she decided to use him as an excuse to get closer to Liddan, sorry Igneel but Liddan was a hard guy to try courting when he never gives any of the girls in the guild time to flirt with him.*

"Hmm… I don't know… we will be the only ones drinking if we do celebrate… plus my lil bro seems down today.. why don't we take a rain check for another day?"

*Liddan helped his brother a bit as he already knew that these girls just wanted to ask Igneel out.. well… he didn't know about Gine's true motive but still the poor guy had a close call not too long ago, give him a break*

"Aww come on Igneel, let's go celebrate.. at least get some cake or something-"

*gina asked again before getting pushed to the side by a little red head girl around 14 years old and another red head girl who was 18.*

"Are you going to go eat cake, cousin Igneel?"

*the little 14 year old asked as her bright eyes sparkled I'm excitement while her older counter part coughed and asked too*

"*ahem* … yeah… are you going to go eat some cake?…"

Igneel couldn't help but smile sweetly at the 14 year old as he ruffled her hair. He showed them then his prized fang smile that he got from his father as that sent gina to fangirl a bit inside as he replied.

"Oh alright! Let's go get some cake for you Jeanie! Cake is on me tonight!"

*Igneel boasted to his little group that surrounded him as Liddan smiled and shook his head as he followed the pack out now.*

•••••••••••••••••••••

Everyone got a slice of cake of their choice as they decided to dine at a restaurant nearby. Jeanie was erzas and Jellals second and last daughter they had as to give their first daughter, Esmeralda aka 'Esme' a sibling to play with. And of course they both developed their love for cake like their mother.

"Mmm! Strawberry cake is my favorite cousin Igneel! Your my favorite person!"

*little Jeanie was very bright and probably the most precious child out of all the kids at fairy tail. Igneel's only weakness was Jeanie, he couldn't help babying her like if she was his little baby sister.*

"Sure Jeanie. Are you sure I'm not your favorite person because I buy you cake every time you ask for one?"

*jeanie stuck a spoon in her mouth as she played dumb with his last comment*

"What? Noooooo… I like you because your so nice to me..<3"

*jeanie sealed her cute act with her finishing attack of showing her cute doll like eyes. Igneel took a critical hit as he laughed and hit up to leave the rest of the group to finish their cake. He was in a good mood now that he hadn't realized it had gotten dark..*

"What are you doing out here Igneel? It's your birthday your supposed to be inside there with us.."

*gina followed behind him as she had her eyes on him all night.*

"Haha.. it's nothing just got a bit cluster phobic in there.. plus everyone is having fun eating cake, they won't notice if I left outside for a few minutes."

*Igneel leaned against a rail outside as he observed the night sky… it was really pretty tonight and was a bit chilly.. thanks to his quarter of dragon slayer magic he didn't feel cold because his body warmed up on its own.*

"That's not true Igneel.. I noticed… and I'm worried about you.."

*gina got closer to Igneel, who realized it but wanted to see where this was playing out.*

"Oh really? And why would you be worried?.. "

*Igneel asked her as he felt her hands on his shoulders… he knew now what her intentions were.. but decided to let it happen, he was curious too if maybe kissing someone else would change the way he thought or maybe change destiny.*

"Because I like you Igneel.."

*gina kissed Igneel as she brushed his lips with hers in a slow kiss but they both separated as Igneel pushed her back and look in a direction where a girl had tripped over a pile of trash cans.*

"I'm sorry… please continue… I'm just a cluts.. "

*the girl was in a dark corner of where she tripped over but on que a flash of lighting lit up the sky to show it was Ethe… she had some tears coming down her face as a sudden rainfall began to cover all three teenagers.*

Igneels stomach dropped as he realized that Ethe had seen him kiss another girl, he tried reaching a hand out to her to stop her from running away but she had already run off.

"Damn it! I'm sorry Gina, I don't feel the same way for you and mind letting my brother know I'll be coming home late tonight.. thank you and sorry again gina…"

*Igneel went running after Ethe as he left a soaking wet gina in the rain…*

"Hey gina! Get out of the rain! You will get sick!"

*the others had came out now as they got spooked by the sudden thunder and rain to realize gina and Igneel had gone missing. Liddan opened an umbrella he borrowed from the restaurant to cover gina in it.*

"Hey Gina! Where is my brother?! … hey? Are you okay?"

*Liddan tried looking at Gina's face that was covered in rain water and her hair that had draped all over her face. She hid her face into Liddan's chest as she began wailing, Liddan patted her back as he tried looking for his brother near the area they were in..*

"Damn it Igneel, where are you?!"