{Author's Note: Be for warned the following chapter contains: some innuendo and ideas or suggestive statements of explicit stuff. I would guess a rating of T. As Always PLEASE be sure to view "Lucy" by xOxLxIxVxEx as that is the work that inspired this story. A huge massive ginormous THANK YOU to xOxLxIxVxEx for giving me permission to post this. :) Don't forget to Review after you read thank you thank you thank you and hope you enjoy! End Note}

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Fairy Tail, if I did the Fairies would be ruling the world and whipping people with their totally awesome tails!

Chapter 6

All Too Soon

Happy remained after the others left. Happy stayed the night. He was thrilled to be with Natsu again. It felt much like it had before. The next day, went well. The three worked in the garden together. Natsu didn't raise his voice at Happy, even when Happy did something the wrong way. Happy was very happy again. After lunch, Happy decided to risk telling Natsu about his idea.

"Natsu?" Happy began in the comfortable silence that often surrounded the three of them following a meal, "I have an idea, but I don't want you to get mad if you don't like it," Happy looked at Natsu hopefully. He was still afraid of the dragon slayer. He didn't want to upset him.

"I won't hurt you, Happy, I promise. Besides, Kitten is here. He wouldn't let anything happen to you," Natsu responded gently. He understood why Happy had said that, and it hurt. There was nothing he could do to change it. It would take time to heal the rift between him and the blue cat. He couldn't expect Happy to blindly trust him again.

"Aye!" Happy smiled, "What do you guys think about...a fish pond?! Right next to the big tree in the back yard? We could put in Trout, and maybe some Grouper, or even a few Carp. The tree would give us a nice shady spot for fishing too!" Happy talked faster, and faster as he became more excited about the idea.

Natsu and Loke laughed. Leave it to Happy to want to talk fish.

"Well, There's enough room for one, I think," Natsu said thoughtfully. He scratched the back of his head. He was trying to figure out the mathematics in his head. He was actually very good with mathematics. On the battlefield, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, algebra, all of them ran through his head in seconds when he was fighting. The equations writing themselves based on what he could see, and his mind calculated the solutions just as fast as they could be presented. Lucy had taught him how to understand that gibberish on paper, and solve it like he was in a fight. He had uncanny spatial knowledge skills, as well. Makarov had said something about a mathematical genius. Then blabbed on for a while about that explaining Natsu's behavior. He hadn't understood most of that conversation, only that Makarov was impressed with his math skills, and liked to invite people to come watch Natsu solve stuff.

Loke, and Happy waited in silence. They were fully aware that Natsu was calculating the logistics in his head. He would know in a few minutes if it was both possible, and safe. If it would have an unwanted effect on something he'd know before he even answered.

Natsu frowned, "Hmm...," he mumbled something. Then he dragged Loke through the house absent mindedly, to stare out of one of the windows. Natsu let go of what he was holding, and scratched his head in deep thought, his other hand holding his chin. After a few minutes, he reached over, and took Loke's hand again, still unaware that for the last five minutes, they hadn't been touching.

Loke smiled to himself. Natsu was healing. He was facing the deep wounds of his heart one day at a time, and those wounds were healing more rapidly with each passing day.

Finally Natsu came out of the deep thought process. He looked at Happy, and grinned, "Yeah, we could. We could even have a little dock, and a row boat. We could run it from the big tree out to over by the gazebo. Put a little bridge on the gazebo end, it'll be really pretty. She would have loved it. It's a great idea, Happy. Maybe we can get Juvia, and Gray to come over, and help fill it with water once we get it dug."

"Aye!" Happy shouted.

"What do you think, Kitten?" Natsu asked Loke, suddenly.

"I agree. A pond would be good if we are going to plant that weeping willow, like we talked about. They need a lot of water. It'll be good for the cherry tree too," Loke responded with a smile.

"Aye!" Happy chimed again. He was very pleased with himself.

The trio went outside, after Loke grabbed a sketch pad, and his drawing pencils. As it turned out they had already begun mapping the property in order to plan out different things that they were going to do and where. The was no gazebo yet. The only tree was the big tree that Happy had talked about.

Natsu had run the calculations based on what they had already planned to do. Not on what was currently there. He walked them through what he had worked out. Loke sketched in the details of the pond when Natsu stopped to explain, or point something out.

Happy was accustomed to seeing the two together, but he was surprised at how well they understood each other already. Natsu knew just when to stop, and just when to start walking again. Loke could tell when Natsu was going to turn one way, or another. They just knew without looking, without speaking. They could move as one. It made Happy a little sad. He used to be that close to Natsu. Maybe they could be that close again. Happy had hope.

It was nearing nightfall, when Loke sighed heavily, and looked at Natsu. Natsu turned to him with a slightly frightened expression.

"You need to go some where, don't you," Natsu said, in a quiet voice.

Loke nodded, his lips pressed into a tight thin line.

"Without me," Natsu spoke again.

Loke nodded. His concern was clear in his green shining eyes. Natsu was shaking at the thought. He didn't want to be alone. It scared him. Alone, all he could think of was watching Lucy die.

Loke turned to Happy and spoke quietly. His voice pleading, "Happy, I know there is a lot of pain between you, so I won't ask you to stay with Puff all alone. I think it's too soon for that. Can you go find Erza? Ask her to come. I know how much she cares about Puff. I think Erza can hold Puff while I'm gone. I think that if you two work together, it'll be okay until I get back."

Natsu nodded, as he threw his arms around Loke. He was shaking violently. The prospect of the other not being with him, was frightening. Natsu was still emotionally fragile. He was healing, but he was easily shattered.

"Aye!" Happy shouted, "I'll bring Erza. We'll stay with Natsu. We can help him not feel alone! I want to help Natsu like you, Loke! I wish I was a bigger cat. Maybe I need to eat more fish!"

Happy was excited that he could help at all. Natsu smiled at Happy, blinking away the tears brimming in his eyes.

"Thanks, Happy," Natsu offered quietly.

"Aye!" Happy shouted, "Be back in a jiffy!"

Happy jumped into the air, and took off. He circled the room until Loke, and Natsu opened the front door for him. Then he was gone.

"I'm sorry, Puff," Loke told Natsu after the door was closed, "I don't want to, but I have no choice."

"It's about what the old man was talkin' about yesterday, isn't it?" It wasn't a question because Natsu already knew the answer. Loke nodded.

"I'll explain when you're ready, Puff. This is one of those things that your heart isn't able to handle. It's still in too many pieces. I'll tell you, as soon as you're strong enough. I promise," Loke told him gently. He tenderly held Natsu's chin in his fingers as he spoke. Natsu didn't try to hold back the tears that ran slowly down his face.

"You know I hurt Erza. You saw the scars on her face. Maybe you should have sent for Mira," Natsu managed.

"I don't want to drag that gentle creature into this. I'd sooner send for Gray, and he's probably still recovering from shock. They've had reports from Happy after all. I bet Gray is currently suffering from the belief that we might be lovers, Puff," Loke told him, smiling as he finished.

"Why would he think that?" Natsu asked horrified.

"Happy did ask if we were dating, Puff. I noticed that no one seemed surprised when Happy asked why we kissed. They already had that information. That explains why Gray isn't here. He cares enough about you to be in this ring. The only reason he would be left out of coming to see us, is if he took Happy's report badly. They want to help, but not at the risk of spreading the problem, or making it worse.
I imagine, Gray probably isn't okay with the idea that he has shared a tent, slept in the same room, even in the same bed with us, well namely you, so many times, and he never knew that we might play that way. Can you imagine what the rest of the guild would say if that idea got out? I bet Gray can imagine all too well," Loke explained. Natsu listened quietly. He understood from both, his view, and everyone else's. To anyone other than Loke and Natsu, Gray had good reason to be upset.

In the most basic physical sense they had, and probably would again, become lovers. To them, it wasn't like that at all. They didn't love each other. At points in time it was the exact opposite. They were not attracted to each other in the slightest. They weren't connecting to each other, when their relationship became physical, they were using each other to connect to Lucy, if only in memory. It felt like more than memory though, it was like she was really there. Loke had considered that these points in time were them actually dancing on the fine line between healing, and slipping into permanent insanity.

That thought had never occurred to Natsu. When they separated, they continued on like nothing had happened between them, beyond that the jagged edges of their hearts didn't feel as sharp. It was true that they both found it amusing to tease each other, usually mercilessly. Often leaving the other fuming, while laughing at the other's frustration. They used it as a way to fight.

They had stopped going to the guild because being around women only made the problem worse. There were too many opportunities to fill the other's head with explicit thoughts of people they knew, but had never wanted in that way. What was worse were the people that they had wanted in that way, at one time, or another. It was the hardest on Loke at the guild, because before meeting Lucy, he had considered all of the women there at some point. He had quickly given up the ones that were clearly taken, even if they wouldn't admit it. There were plenty that weren't though.

Natsu sighed, "How long will you be gone, Kitten?" he asked softly.

"I'm... not sure," Loke hesitated to answer, but continued on quickly, "I'll keep it as short as possible, though, Puff." Loke hugged Natsu to him.

Natsu was trembling. He kept telling himself he could do this, that it would be okay. Deep down he wasn't really sure if he was lying to himself or not. He knew the only way Loke would go, was if it was direly important. Even then, that he couldn't take Natsu with to deal with it, meant it was something that Loke knew would impact Natsu enough that Loke feared for Natsu's life if he learned it right now. Natsu accepted that there were things that he just couldn't face yet. A lesson that had resulted in him pulling his stitches the last time.

Loke held Natsu for a long time in silence. They didn't move, or speak further. They just stood there, hugging.

There was a firm, loud knock on the door. It made them both jump because they were still standing just behind it. They laughed softly at the look on each other's face. Loke pulled the door open.

Erza stood holding a tired looking Happy. She smiled warmly at her two friends.

"Happy said you need me?" Erza stated. She was relieved to see Natsu looked okay. A little distressed but stable.

"Come in, Erza, please," Loke smiled.

She stepped through the door, and waited to one side of the entry. Loke turned to her, holding Natsu's hand firmly. He was a little surprised. She wasn't wearing her armor. She was wearing a figure hugging, blue dress that stopped at the knee. It tied behind her neck, leaving her shoulders and upper back exposed. She wore simple, but elegant black pumps. He was almost certain she was wearing make up. His breathe caught as a thought occurred to him.

"Erza, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a date," Loke started.

"Oh, no. I just went to a movie with Mira and Levy. They dared me to dress up at least until midnight. We all have to dress differently than we normally would for the night. It's...it's just to give us a change of pace. Try something new," Erza explained quickly.

"Oh, that's a good idea," Loke offered, smiling, "Um, well, I need to go speak with Makarov. I-I ...um... Puff can't come with me. I was hoping that maybe you could stay, er help Happy stay with him until I get back. I didn't want to over burden Happy. He's not familiar with the house, and Puff can say some pretty nasty things when he's upset."

"Oh! Of course. I'll send Happy to get you, if we have any real problems. I would like to spend time with him any way," Erza blushed suddenly, "I mean, um, we haven't really seen each other, or spoken in several weeks now. I'm starting to feel like the only redhead in the guild, without you two around. It's, it's a little lonely," she finished quietly, not looking at either of them.

Loke reached over, and gently squeezed her shoulder. He smiled when she looked up at him.

"We'll be back before you know it. We just need some time away from all the memories that are still lingering in those walls," Loke purred sadly. Erza nodded, and smiled. There were tears brimming on her lashes. She understood all too well.

Loke took her hand, waiting for her to shift Happy to one arm. Loke put Erza's hand in Natsu's hand. He moved around Natsu careful not to stop touching him just yet. Once he stood between Natsu, and the door he looked Natsu squarely in the eyes.

Natsu held his gaze for a long moment.

Finally Loke spoke, "Puff, I will be back as soon as I possibly can. Erza will be here with you. She will not leave you alone. Erza is going to hold you for me for our Princess. Be nice, Puff. Happy is here. They both love you enough to try. They care. They care about you. Don't hurt them for it, Puff. Don't push them away. I'll be back, I promise. Are you ready?"

Natsu was trembling. Erza had her lips pressed together in a tight line, squeezing her eyes shut. Natsu wasn't letting go of her. No, in point of fact, anyone else would have been on the floor, groveling to be released. He had clamped down on her hand with a white knuckled death grip. Erza held on refusing to let her grip fail in the slightest. Natsu sniffed heavily, fighting back tears. His grip letting up as he did so. Erza relaxed as the pain subsided.

"Okay," Natsu finally managed, "I'm ready, go."

Loke nodded firmly. He took a deep breath, blinked, and threw his arms around Natsu, planting a very firm lip lock on the dragon slayer. Natsu responded without hesitation. As the kiss dragged on Natsu didn't, for even the briefest moment, let go of Erza's hand. When they released each other, Natsu turned away. A heartbeat later, Loke slipped through the door, and was gone.

Loke rushed out the door, and hurried to the guild. He wanted to keep this as brief as possible. He hadn't planned on leaving Natsu alone so soon. It was all too soon, in his mind. Natsu was making good progress, but Loke was worried about how easily he could be set back. He sincerely hoped that Natsu wouldn't become violent. Erza was the only other person besides Makarov, and himself that he felt could stand up to Natsu if he fell apart. Granted the last time left her with several scars, but she had survived, and in one piece to boot.

Loke had a long walk to the guild. The cottage was on the very edge of the outskirts of town, set back among the trees. There was only one spot anywhere on the property that allowed a view of Magnolia. That's where they were going to build the gazebo. As beautiful as the place was, it was not close to the guild.

After a brisk twenty minute walk, Loke was standing in front of the huge double doors. Everyone turned when he entered. Concerned whispers, and looks passed among the members that were there. It wasn't that it was Loke. It was that he was alone. Where was Natsu? Had something happened? Loke brushed off the questions that no one had actually asked him, and walked quickly to the bar. Elfman was serving the drinks. Mira was out with Levy still.

"Where's Makarov?" Loke asked, since he didn't see the guild master.

"Uh...I think he's upstairs in his office. Anything wrong?" Elfman replied, after a moment of careful consideration.

"No, just needed to speak with Makarov in private. Natsu's fine, don't worry," Loke tried to smile but failed. He couldn't seem to make his lips turn up at the corners when he was here.

She was everywhere in here. There was the table her team always sat at. There was her favorite seat at the bar. There was that spot over there near the stage where they had danced at a party together. The request board that she was always scrutinizing. Lucy was everywhere. He fought down the tears that sprang to his eyes, and the need to rush home to be comforted. He was supposed to be the strong half of the duo, guiding Natsu back from the darkness he was lost in. He couldn't let his light dim now. This trip had to be worth it. He wouldn't have another chance.

Loke straightened, and marched to the stairs. He took them two at a time. He turned sharply when he reached the top, and looked back around the guild, and the second floor. Makarov was no where to be seen. The guild master's office was the only logical place left, other than the bathroom. Loke refused to join him in there. If the guild master wasn't in his office, Loke would have no choice but to wait.

He knocked loudly on the office door, then opened it without waiting to be called.

"Master Makarov?" he asked as he poked his head in.

Sure enough, there was Makarov sitting on his desk. Gray Fullbuster was seated in a chair more, or less in front of the guild master. Gray turned sheet white when he saw Loke. He swallowed hard, and looked back at the wizened old man.

"Ah, Loke, I was expecting you. Come in. Maybe you can help me explain things to Gray. I was just going to, um..." Makarov trailed off as he realized he hadn't actually told Loke yet that he, and Natsu were under watch.

"Wow, I thought you would have done that hours ago. I already figured out that you five have been watching us, probably since I went to see Puff in the hospital," Loke stated as he entered, closing the door behind himself. He crossed the room to the other chair, and seated himself.

"We aren't lovers, Gray," Loke said simply after he was settled.

"I, uh, um...it, just there was, we, Happy, kiss, bam, fish, guild, find out, say, think, we, bad, bad, very bad" Gray stammered. Gray was fighting his rising nausea. So far he was winning.

"Hmm, I think you've broken him, Loke. He was talking just fine before you came in," Makarov teased with a smile.

"I know, Gray, and yes, from Happy's point of view, that is what it looked like. Natsu wasn't kissing me, Gray. Look, I'm going to show you something. It will help me explain this better, if you see this first," Loke replied smoothly.

"O-okay," Gray managed with a nod.

Loke stood, and stepped around the desk. He leaned forward so that his lips were right beside Makarov's ear. Loke didn't hide his face with his hand though. He wanted Gray to have a clear view of what he was about to do. Gray in turn watched with about the most terrified expression he could manage as his curiosity was peaked.

Loke took a deep breath, and looked at the door across the room.

"Nod if you can hear me," Loke whispered, just as he did with Natsu.

Makarov nodded, "Happy was right! That is amazing, it's almost like I'm not hearing the words, it's like I'm hearing your thoughts!"

"Tell him your going to translate everything I'm telling you to him," Loke continued.

"I'm going to translate everything he tells me to you, Gray," Makarov stated. After a pause he continued. Gray sat unmoving, fascinated at what he was seeing, but listening fully to every word, and every silence.

"When Natsu was in the hospital, he was so far down the road to insanity that there was very little that Loke could do to help him," Makarov continued, "Natsu has been lost for a long time now in his own mind, hopeless, hurting, alone. There were choices that Loke had to make if Loke was going to save him. Loke realizes now that he was, in his own way, just as broken in his thinking as Natsu. Loke had planned to simply fade away from the human world," Makarov's eyebrows shot up at that revelation but he continued without comment, "This would have upset his Beloved. She had nearly died to save him from that fate. Allowing that to become his fate once more would be dishonoring her memory. Natsu was precious to his Lady, as was her guild, her team, her Nakama. Loke chose to save Natsu from himself.

The only way to reach Natsu, was to join Natsu. Natsu has hope now. Loke is Natsu's hope until Natsu can find his own hope. Loke will help Natsu heal, which will in turn heal the team, and bring the Nakama back together. There are a great many things that Natsu, and Loke can not hear, or can not say. Those things can not remain unheard, or unspoken. Their Lady showed them the way to be heard when it mattered the most. A whisper can over come the mightiest roar. The silence can carry more power than the loudest thunderclap. Most of the time Natsu, and Loke whisper when the pain rises up, and becomes more than they can bear, but sometimes, the whisper can not reach deep enough.

Only their Lady's touch can smooth the jagged edges of the their heart's pain. At those times, they kiss her through each other. They do not see the person in front of them, they see the person that they lost, their greatest love, their Lady. Loke promises you, Gray, on every memory of his Lady that he possesses that he has never, nor will ever desire any man in that way ever," Makarov stopped. He nodded. Loke returned to his seat.

Makarov cleared his throat, "Natsu, and Loke no longer use the vulgar terms for each other that they used to. Loke refers to Natsu as Puff short for Puff the Magic Dragon,"

"Oh, That's rich! I wish I had thought of that back in the day, hothead woulda hated that!" Gray interrupted suddenly.

"Ahem! I doubt it seeing as he doesn't seem to understand the reference. Natsu now refers to Loke as Kitten, as he thinks Loke is little more than an over grown cat that's still "soft in the head". They use each others proper names when they are angry. Happy has returned to live with Nastu. Loke will make sure that Happy is taken care of, and safe," Makarov finished.

"Where is hothead, and Happy right now?" Gray asked, suddenly aware that he didn't see either.

"At home. Erza is with them. I need to speak with Makarov, I don't care if you hear this, or not so long as you don't repeat it to anyone else until I tell you it's okay," Loke answered. Quickly looking to shift the topic to the reason he was there, "I don't wish to remain away from Puff for too long. He's still very fragile emotionally. That's why I haven't spoken to him about this yet. I no longer intend to remain until I fade away. Princess would have wanted me to live. Just like before. I do intend to cross train Puff, or Erza. I would like to work with both. It will give us more leeway if it takes too long for Puff to pick up the intricacies of calling Spirits.

It is one of the single most difficult forms of magic there is. Erza understands how to see along similar lines, but exquipping is far more simple, and requires less power, because you're not trying to reach across the barrier between the different planes of existence, when you reach for that far away space. The greatest hurtle will be acquiring some Silver, and Gold Keys with which to train them both. They can't share, that's not fair to the Spirit. If I had my choice as to what Zodiac keys we used those would be: Aries, Cancer, Sagittarius, Virgo, and/or Taurus. Silver Key Spirits should be easy enough to handle so long as they don't have extremely limited days to work with or bad attitudes. Attitudes I can handle though."

Makarov was silent for a long time. Loke fidgeted as he waited. He wanted this to move faster.

"Why are you wanting to cross train anyone anyway?" Gray asked as the time dragged on.

"Because I can't stay forever. I have to go back in a few years at the latest. I won't be able to return if I don't cross train someone. How do you think Puff will react if that happens?" Loke explained, trying to keep his voice level and sound more calm than he was feeling.

"You've always just shown up whenever you pleased. Why can't you do that now?" Gray wondered.

"It was Princess. She was unbelievably powerful. We were so strongly connected, that I could slip back and forth between the worlds with very little trouble. She was strong enough to summon on pure emotion, even in her sleep. More than once I woke up beside her, because she had had a nightmare. She mastered summoning Zodiac Spirits when she was only fourteen. Forced closures at sixteen, dual callings by eighteen, triples, and repetitives by twenty. Forced closure is something that many Stellar Spirit mages never learn how to do, especially with a Zodiac Spirit. Karen couldn't use forced closure on me. She could with most of the others, but Karen was years older than Princess by the time she learned how to force close a gate, and she certainly hadn't mastered it either. The last time I forced open my gate, was one of the hardest times I've ever had. A Spirit has to have the power of a Stellar Spirit mage on this side to connect to. Without their magic to guide you, you could easily get lost in the limbo between the different worlds and planes of existence."

"I-I didn't realize Lucy-sama was that powerful," Gray confessed after a moment.

"If she had cross trained with other forms, she would easily have become the strongest member of the team, possibly the strongest in the guild. Even though she always felt like she was the weakest link, she was integratel. Her death made that poignantly clear," Loke responded quietly.

"Lucy-sama was the heart of our team," Gray agreed sadly, "Erza was the backbone, Natsu the right hand, I was the left hand, and Happy was probably the stomach. Always wanting fish. Hahaha."

Loke smiled sadly, Gray saw it pretty much the way that he, himself, did.

"How is it you can stay without being, um, connected to a mage's power?" Gray queried.

"Once here, I can remain on my own. That I know of, I'm the only Stellar Spirit that can do that. Any other Spirit would have been drawn back to the Spirit World as soon as she..., as soon as the bond was gone," Loke said quietly.

Makarov shifted suddenly, bringing the attention back to him.

"Ahem, I think you have a decent view of the situation, Loke. How much longer do you imagine, before Natsu will be ready to begin training?" Makarov asked.

"I'm not sure. I can't talk to him about the reason behind it. I can't ask him to start training without being able to tell him why. Erza, however, could probably start tomorrow, provided that she is willing, and we have a key for her to train with," Loke returned.

"Very well, I will see about getting some keys together. That task alone could take more time than we might like, but I'll put it to a few people in the guild that will keep quiet about it. Hopefully they will be able to locate a few within the next couple of months. I have one last question for you, Loke," Makarov spoke calmly, not feeling Loke's urgency to wrap things up quickly.

"What is that?" Loke asked, as he started to rise from his seat.

"Where is your key?" Makarov asked, eying the Lion Spirit as he spoke each word slowly, and clearly.

Loke was standing at the door. He stiffened at the question. He glared back over his shoulder at the old guild master that was still sitting on the desk.

"With her," Loke retorted sourly. He opened the door, and was gone.

Makarov glowered at the space that Loke had just vacated. He had expected the question to hit a nerve, but Loke had fallen almost into as dangerous a stance as he had held the day before at the lunch table.

Makarov had suspected that perhaps the Lion's key had been buried with Lucy, but having that confirmed, disturbed him greatly. All hell would break loose, if Makarov ordered Lucy's body exhumed so that her remains could be, in essence, looted. He was quickly disliking the position that Loke had put him in. What was worse was that Makarov knew that the Spirit had done so wittingly. The Lion was far more clever, crafty, and wise, than Makarov had given him credit for, when suffering the sudden, unexpected loss of his most beloved key holder. He suddenly feared that perhaps nothing that they did would allow this mess to end well.

Loke was in a rush to get back. He had been gone nearly three, and a half hours now, and he still had the walk back to the cottage ahead of him. Happy hadn't come though, so things shouldn't be too bad.

He found Happy on the couch asleep when he came in.