Hi guys! So, I'm still taking a break from my other stories although I am working through the next chapter of Unrequited but I came up with a massive burst of writers block . Anyway I figured it was about time I started writing for one of my favourite pairings! As always this will be focused on plot first and foremost, the relationship comes along with it and some of the chemistry we see in the first is purely friendship based :)

I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters, the plot however is my own n.n

Chapter 1

Darkness tainted her vision as she sat up with a fright, she could distinctly hear screaming coming from an unknown area but the voices were all too familiar and she felt her stomach drop when she finally understood who they were coming from, especially when she heard her own name torn from one of her best friends, the lion spirit she adored so much screaming out for her to run and she did. She allowed her legs to carry her as fast as they could but she wasn't retreating, no her friends were in pain and they needed her now more than ever and she wouldn't abandon them, she'd sooner be dead before she stopped trying to save them.

She'd been so stupid to believe that she'd been capable of handling herself that she'd left her keys defenseless, her movements too sloppy to prevent them from being taken, a mistake she wouldn't soon repeat. Rounding the nearest corner she ran down the darkened corridor and continued to run towards the screams, her heart shattering when she bust into a room of white only to see Loke and Virgo impaled by an ancient looking weapon and she fell to her knees. Somehow she just knew that they wouldn't be returning to their world, that this damage was permanent and looking around the room at all her other fallen friends she broke. Shattered into a million pieces when a tall man, who appeared to almost shimmer, walked up to her and placed a hand under her chin, harshly pulling her face to stare at him.

"It's time Lucy, wake up!"

Heaving forward she clawed at her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks like a dam that had just been broken, and let the pain and sadness take her. It had just been a nightmare, a cruel and horrible nightmare that she'd been having for the past few months but lately she'd been venturing further into the nightmare, getting closer and closer to seeing the end that was yet to come. The only problem with them though, other than the obvious, was when she had the nightmare she slept walked and made her way outside onto the street, each time getting further and further away from her apartment. Now that her sobs had called to a mere sniffle she looked around to find that she was in a part of Magnolia she'd never been to before, she'd made a point to avoid it due to the fact all the people who lived there had a lot of money and she really preferred to ignore her financial situation.

Now however she sat on a lit side-walk, thankful for the fact she'd gone to bed wearing her normal clothes on the odd chance this happened, when she heard someone clear their throat behind her. Instantly her hand went to Loke's, ready to attack first and ask questions later when she stopped herself as standing before her was Freed Justine, leader of the Raijinshū. In all honesty, she wasn't that surprised Freed of all people lived around here, he appeared to be a responsible man and taking S-Class jobs with Laxus all the time would definitely pay well but what had surprised her was the fact he was standing in the street wearing his pyjamas, his sword securely gripped in his hand while he stood there starting at her in concern. Quickly she attempted to wipe at her eyes, an action that didn't go unnoticed and she quite literally heard the panic is his normally calm voice as he spoke.

"Are you injured Lucy-san? Has something unfortunate happened to bring you this far away from your home at this hour..?"

All she could do was shake her head at him, she was fine other than the gaping hole that felt carved into her chest but she knew now her keys were safe, each of them glowing warmly under her touch as proof and she finally found the strength to stand but not before the Jutsu Shiki Mage was at her side helping her.

"Thanks Freed, I'm fine… I just had… Well it doesn't matter, could you please just tell me how to get back to Strawberry Street and then I'll be out of your hair."

"Nonsense, you'll come inside until the sun rises. I couldn't possibly allow you to venture home at such an early hour of the morning, who knows what's out there…"

Eyes widening she allowed her head to bow at him, his tone held authority without question and considering how dark it was she'd simply oblige. With that he held out his arm, which she happily took, and allowed him to lead her to his house. It was a rather large Victorian style house, it had a historic look to it but she could tell it was in near perfect condition and as they passed through the wrought iron gates she allowed the tension she'd held to leave her. She may not have known Freed well but she knew that he was no fool and there would undoubtedly be protective Runes placed around his property. Ever since she'd been having the nightmares she had felt as though a presence was watching her and it made her uneasy, Mavis knows what could happen while she was asleep nowadays. Watching as he opened the door she still kept her arm linked with his, she didn't know his home and she knew that he'd take his arm back when he decided it to be necessary, so with that in mind she stepped through the double door entry way with him and into the darkness of his foyer.

Removing her shoes, as he did too, they silently made their way to the kitchen and she moved to sit down at the bench as Freed flicked on the light switch.

"Thank you for this Freed, you didn't have to take me in until its daylight but I really do appreciate it. Perhaps if you lent me a book to read until then and a place to sit, you could go back to bed and I could read some before leaving to go home."

He looked rather baffled at the blonde as she spoke, he'd quite literally just found her crying on the sidewalk at three in the morning and she expected him to go back to sleep... It was preposterous and in all honesty he felt a little hurt, did she believe he wouldn't have been worried over the incident? Staring at her intensely to examine her expression he then let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead, he couldn't get a read on her right now and she was normally an open book around the guild.

"I'm sorry but I can't just do that… Once I'm awake I'm afraid that's it, I can't return to sleep but aside from all that, I would like to know what exactly you were doing on the sidewalk at this hour... Did someone harm you?"

It was now the blondes turn to sigh, guilt struck her for having disturbed his sleep and then a fear rose in her chest, she had told no one of the sleep walking, well aside from her spirits but no one that would actually say anything to another person. She did suppose that she owed him an explanation though and being a Rune Mage if she made him give his word then he couldn't break it.

"No one hurt me Freed and I'm sorry for waking you but I can't tell you, not unless you give me your word that no one else will be informed about it."

At this intrigue struck him, the guilt was clear on her face which surprised him considering he didn't really believe all that many people cared for him or any of the Raijinshū but even more so that she knew giving his word was absolute and she'd worded it so that he couldn't deceive her by means of writing it instead of speaking.

"Very well but I can't give you my full word, if I believe you to be in danger at any point I will have to inform Master Makarov, other than that however no one else will ever be made aware you were here if you do not wish, that is aside from Laxus being able to smell your scent…"

All she could do was nod, those weren't the ones she had to worry about knowing and as far as she was concerned they kept to themselves about business that wasn't there's to tell. Taking in a deep breath she finally mustered up the courage to tell him what exactly was going on, or at least what she knew.

"O-kay… Well I guess it started a little over a month ago, after Lisanna came back Natsu started trying to hang around both of us but because he was always with me on jobs, he decided to spend his nights with Lisanna. Which I had thought was perfect, he always annoyed me to no end when he'd break in and steal my bed from me but it turns out he was what was keeping my nightmares at bay… Not long after he stopped coming around did my nightmares start up again, at first it was the same ones I'd had as a chills, full of my mother death and fathers negligence but as the days grew on the dreams took a turn. Now I just have the same dream over and over, it's like I'm stuck in a loop but each time a bit is added and I get more clues to what's going to happen."

Tears now flowed freely down her cheeks as she recalled the pain each nightmare had brought her and she was surprised to find that Freed had moved to place a hand on her shoulder, it was evident that he wasn't used to consoling crying people but the gesture was much appreciated.

"I've seen my spirits, some of my best friends, killed over and over. I have ten zodiac keys and I watch them die every single night now, I've witnessed murder repeatedly over 200 times and not once has it gotten any easier to bear witness to. Each time I get a better look at their killer, a man with white hair that's near translucent, his skin so pale that it seems as though he's actually shimmering from the light particles and he's after me, trying to get me to give him the answers he needs but I never know what the questions are... That's where my nightmares are up to at least but around the same time I started sleep walking, at first I'd just wake up around my apartment but I slowly ventured further and further away and well now I'm here in your kitchen like a crazy person."

Now sniffling as she tried her best to compose herself she looked up to see his eyes burning with worry, she had never seen Freed look like that before. She waited patiently for him to speak again, she'd said all she needed until she heard his response but she could physically see the gears turning in his mind trying to make sense of such conundrum. Finally when he did speak though she felt herself pale slightly.

"Lucy that is very abnormal in nature, unfortunately I do think we should inform Master Makarov of what is happening, of course he cannot do much to prevent such nightmares but he may have answers. If you would wish otherwise I will not approach him but if you continue then you must give your word that you will tell him, also may I ask why you are not alerting your team to this? It may be good to have someone with you at night."

With a sigh of defeat she responded.

"You're probably right in telling Gramps but I can't tell my team, they have their own problems and besides all that I am entirely capable of looking after myself."

Nodding his head in understanding he then looked towards a closed door that grabbed her attention, she'd normally done fairly well at reading people but Freeds expression rarely gave away anything other than perhaps confusion at times. Looking back to her with the same expression he stood up and straightened his attire before he ran a hand through his hair, he was clearly nervous about something and she was going to ask if he'd reconsidered her leaving when he held out his hand and she hesitantly took it. Standing to her feet she allowed for him to silently pull her to the door she'd just been staring at and reached over to push the door open, leaving the blonde standing there in awe, it wasn't a large room but bookshelves lined all four walls aside from the space where her desk sat. Moving into the room she spun around giddily before turning to him with amazement clearly written on her face, hopefully he was showing her this so she'd get to read some and not to play a game with her but then again Freed wasn't one for games so perhaps she would get to read some.

"You have so many books, this… This is amazing Freed!"

Walking behind her into the room his face turned red upon her compliment, it was not often that someone complimented him based on his collection of books, of course his team and Laxus were very grateful for the library he had when it came to the more difficult jobs but he could tell the idea of reading made them annoyed to say the least so to see someone sharing his love for them brought a smile to his lips. He had brought her into the study so that they could do some research regarding her dreams, having Magic flowing through you and keys that could be taken made it very dangerous for a Mage to wander around sleep walking through the town but seeing her enthusiasm he wondered if she'd ever actually leave his house, not that he minded her rather sensible company given the circumstances it might be nice to befriend someone that also had a passion for knowledge. As long as her team didn't barge in and destroy everything.

"It could do with being slightly larger, however my reason for bringing you in here is that I was wondering if you'd like to research your nightmares? Not the specifics of course, I believe that would be specific to you but in regards to why you are sleep walking, it may have happened in the past to another Mage."

Her mind was still reeling at the amount of books that currently surrounded them, her eyes alight with curiosity as her fingers itched to take hold of as many her arms could carry and dive into them, his question brought her back to the reason for her being there in the first place however and she found herself shaking off the surprise at someone offering to do research with her. Looking for any sign of amusement on his face, as if he might be playing a game with her, she found none and nodded her head enthusiastically. She'd done what research she could at the public library but she had yet to go into the guilds library, fearful that her team would barge in and find out what she was looking up.

Walking around the room she grabbed anything she found that related to dreams and/or celestial magic and was incredibly thankful that Freed had organized his collection by genre and alphabetical order, if she had a collection of books like he did she wasn't sure if she'd ever leave her house and she now understood very much so why Levy always carried at least five with her. She watched as Virgo came out on her own to place her Gale Force Reading Glasses in her hand before disappearing with a bow once more as she took a seat beside the Rune Mage and began reading through as many Tome's as she could, the pair taking as many notes as possible as they fell in the comfortable silence beside each other.

Hours passed without realizing and before long the sun was shining in the sky and it was now around ten in the morning, somewhere in between then and now the blonde beside him had finished all the books she had on her side and had fallen asleep on his shoulder not long after. The contact was rather strange to him but considering what she'd told him about Natsu keeping the nightmares away he couldn't bring himself to move her, just in case he was doing the same thing for her. Being so late in the day, well for him of all people, to have not yet arrived at the guild he couldn't say he was surprised when he heard his front door opening to signal his teams entrance but he chose to ignore them and continued on with his reading, they'd have to wait until he was finished the page at least to gain his attention.

It didn't take long for their leader to find him, his nose directing him to where he currently sat and he unceremoniously yelled through his house, he knew that he'd instantly be question as to why Lucy's scent was currently so strong but he couldn't help but smirk to himself, his back to where his team now stood in his study's doorway, as he heard them all stop dead, Bixlow and Evergreen gasping as Laxus decided to speak up.

"Oi Freed! … Well, what's going on here?"