AN: This second chapter was shorter than all the others, I'm suspicious that when I broke up the chapters I broke this one off in the wrong place, so I decided to post it immediately along with the first. Hope you enjoy.


Chapter 2:

The job had been mostly easy, as she had predicted. Turned out to be a pack of some wolf-like things that were pretty fierce, but didn't seem inclined to attack people with the easier livestock around. They hadn't had any hesitation fighting Natsu and Lucy, though, when the humans prevented them from taking any more livestock. It would have been a quick and simple job if they hadn't underestimated the pack size and gotten a tad overwhelmed by numbers. The two had been separated with Happy and Lucy surrounded by a large number of the creatures. Natsu's concern for Lucy had distracted him, letting one of the largest of the creatures maul him a bit before he defeated it. He was ok, but a couple of the wounds were pretty deep and sore. In fact, Lucy had been in less danger than he'd imagined, for she'd rescued Happy from the jaws of one while summoning Taurus to help clear out the creatures.

Lucy had scolded Natsu for his carelessness, since she was worried about him, but it was half-hearted at best, since she knew he'd only gotten distracted because of his concern for her. More of a worry was that his protectiveness, while endearing, was way too touchy these days. Since it was late when they got back to Magnolia, Lucy invited him back to her place where she could take care of his wounds better than they had on the spot. It was too late to go asking for help from Wendy, or even Faye though she wasn't as good of a healer as Wendy. But she had plenty of the magically infused salve that Faye made, and could get more easily. It was nice having so many healers associated with Fairy Tail. Wendy was amazing. Porlyusica was a bit cranky but very knowledgeable. And Faye was great to have on hand for remedies and minor healings.

"Happy, you look really tired," Lucy said. "Why don't you go straight home? Natsu will come get patched up and then I'll send him home as soon as that's done, ok?"

"Do you mind, Natsu?" Happy asked with a big yawn.

"Nah, buddy. You get some rest."

"Aye, sir. Bye, Lushy" Happy said tiredly and flew off towards his and Natsu's house.

"Poor guy is tired," Lucy said with some sympathy for the little Exceed. Sure they butted heads sometimes from his thoughtless and often downright rude comments. But she liked him all the same. In fact, it had torn at her heart during the battle with the dragons that Happy had shown such sorrow at the passing of her future self. His statement that "Lushy was Lushy" and that she was his friend and of course he'd be sad if she died had made her a little more patient with the Exceed. Even if he did constantly say that carrying her was too much because she was too heavy. Rude cat, she thought to herself. As if Natsu isn't waaay heavier than I am, and I've even piggybacked him a time or two when he was too motion sick to walk after.

"Yeah, but he's fine."

They walked to Lucy's and it seemed strange to actually be letting Natsu into her apartment for once, instead of finding that he'd snuck in. She chuckled a little.

"What's funny?" he asked.

"Just that I'm usually kicking you out, not letting you in," she explained.

"Hey, you're right. Why do you always kick us out, anyway?"

"Cause, it's MY place!" she almost yelled. "Don't you guys have any sense of personal boundaries?"

"Overrated," was his mild reply.

"Uhhhg," she sighed, exasperated. "Just go sit in front of the couch and I'll get what I need to patch you up."

She got the bandages, salve, rags and clean water in a big pot, then brought it all over. "Can you heat up that water without burning down my place or boiling it into nothing but steam? Figure you'd be faster than my stove to get it warmed up."

"Sure thing!" he said cheerily.

While he did that she sat behind him and put everything out in easy reach so it would go fast and easy. When the water was hot she had him put the pot on the floor next to him where she could reach it. He took off his shirt so she could get at the couple on his back as well as the one on his left shoulder and upper arm. She blushed a little involuntarily and was glad he was faced away from her. What was that? It's not like seeing him shirtless is new, and given Gray's stripping habit, it isn't like I haven't seen more of a man's anatomy than that. No matter how much I wish that weren't true! She shook her head to banish that random and stupid embarrassment.

After removing his bandages she looked all the wounds over before cleaning them again. Looked like she'd done a good enough job back on the job that nothing should get infected. As she finished that up and then began putting on the salve she spoke up.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

She took a deep breath. "You have to stop being so protective in situations like that. It's not that I'm ungrateful, or that I don't appreciate that you care, but look what it lead to? I don't want you getting hurt cause of me. And especially in a situation like that, where I wasn't really unable to handle myself.

"You know, I'm not the weak thing I was when I first came to Fairy Tail. I've gotten a lot stronger and am continuing to try and get even stronger. I'll never be as strong as you, or Erza, or lots of the others, but I can take care of myself, sometimes, you know." She finished up with the salve and started bandaging him up.

"You don't have to worry about being strong, Luce. You know I'll always be there to protect you!" he grinned over his shoulder.

"Natsu, you're missing the point, stupid!" she said and punched him lightly in the unhurt shoulder, frustrated at how he didn't get it. "I don't want you to have to protect me all the time! Maybe I want to be able to protect you and our friends sometimes. And maybe I want to be able to avoid things like this," she gestured to his back and arm, "by convincing you I'm capable of handling myself sometimes. I don't take solo jobs because we're a team, you said so yourself a long time ago, not because I'm incapable of handling jobs on my own anymore. Do you really have so little confidence in that? In me?"

"No!" Natsu rushed to say as she finished up his bandages. "It's just...just..." he hung his head and began to speak in a subdued tone that was really unlike him. And she knew that this was him being very honest and open with her, even though his voice did take on a petulant quality. "Ever since the Games it's been hard not to feel protective. I watched you die, Luce! I know, it was future you, not you you, and yeah, we stopped that future. But it messed with me. I get worried now about what would happen if I couldn't protect you."

"Natsu," she said softly, touched at his sincerity. Yeah, he could be an idiot sometimes, but he could be really sweet, too. Suddenly all of the times he'd done kind and thoughtful things for her sprang to mind. Especially prevalent in her thoughts was the time he sent that sakura tree down the channel so she could see the rainbow blossoms, and how he'd been so supportive when she'd found out about her father, even finding a job so they could start being able to pay her rent after the seven year gap.

Lucy leaned forward and put her arms over his shoulders and across his chest, hugging him from her seat on the couch and resting her cheek against his surprisingly soft hair. "Thank you," she whispered.

Natsu's hands covered hers and squeezed them gently. "For what?"

"For caring so much."

They were silent and still for a few moments more before she started to sit back up. Surprisingly, he didn't let her hands go. The silence, from her end at least, became questioning until he spoke softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Lucy."

She put her cheek back against his hair and smiled. "It's ok, Natsu. I'm not going anywhere. I love Fairy Tail, and I...I would never leave it, or you. And hey, I'm not above a little help when I do get out of my depth. I just want you to have confidence in me that in something non-major I can handle myself." Her heart was pounding over what she'd almost said, without thought or intent. She'd almost just said that she loved Fairy Tail and him! Where did that come from? She wasn't in love, damn it, he was her best friend. He was a bit of an idiot, he was childish, he was a hot head, he was...he was...loyal, and kind, and courageous, and strong. Oh no. Maybe I really am in love with Natsu! How did this happen when I've tried so hard to keep things as friends and nakama between us? I don't want to spoil that!

"I know you're strong, Lucy. Sorry I worry so much. I'll try to show my confidence in you more." She could hear the smile in his voice. He started to let go of her hands and she managed to get one back before he grabbed her other quickly, his fingers against her wrist. "Hey, you ok, Luce? Your heart is goin' kinda fast."

"Of course, I am!" She said and pulled back her hand, and began picking up the bandages and things. "Now help me get this stuff cleaned up and then you get going home."

"Awwww, but Lucy, your bed is just so comfortable" he whined.

"Then buy your own!" Lucy said, her voice raising in agitation. "Besides, I told Happy I'd send you home."

"Ah, Happy won't mind, he knows I like how comfy your bed is."

"Well, I do mind," she huffed, putting things away.

Lucy turned around to see him pouting and looking a little vulnerable. Or maybe she just thought he did after that honest talk they'd had. But something in that look broke down her resolve. This is so not good. I could really use some time to myself to think, but I feel so bad kicking him out after all that sincerity and concern he showed.

"Oh...fine. I'm going to go take a bath. And no messing with my book again, Natsu! I told you Levy gets to read it before I show it to anyone else."

Natsu smiled brightly and it made her heart beat a little faster. "Aye!" he cried, sounding like Happy.

She grabbed a pair of pajamas and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Then leaned her back against it heavily. What am I going to do?