DISCLIMER: I DON'T OWN FAIRY TAIL!

Otherwise, please enjoy the following

Chapter 6

Natsu POV

Her bed was warm and comfortable; her scent sweet and somewhat bitter, clung to her bed sheets. I snuggled into its warmth. I watched her sleep, her chest rising and falling at each breath she took, her arms wrapped around Happy, as she smiled in her sleep. I yawned. Lucy suddenly rolled over into a feral position, letting Happy go and snuggling into her pillow. Happy, who had awoken, scrambled away from her and snuggled up to my scarf.

"She nearly killed me with her gigantic boobs!" Happy whispered, shaking dramatically.

I chuckled at the Exceed's drama.

He pouted, "Don't laugh Natsu! I nearly died."

I grinned, "Sorry Happy. I was just imagining the headlines tomorrow: 'Cat died from Lucy's gigantic boobs.'"

Happy chuckled along with me, "Worldwide panic!"

We flew into hysterics. A groan came from Lucy; we froze and looked over at the blond. She moved slightly, rolling over, her back facing us.

"We should be quiet," I whispered to Happy, "We wouldn't want to wake her up before the sun rises."

"Yeah, she gets real pissy," Happy suddenly stood up, "On second thoughts, I don't wanna stick around for her to wake. See you Natsu!"

The traitor spread his wings and took off back though the way we came in: the window. I rolled my eyes. It was just too comfy to leave just yet. Plus I really wanted to see her face when she woke up. It was rare to find the celestial mage as flustered as last time. I really wanted to see her cheeks flame up. I wanted to get to know her. I stared at her back, wondering what sort of childhood she had. I knew she had no mother… and her father seemed to ignore her presence.

Her back suddenly tensed up; she began to fidget in her sleep. I leaned over her, watching her face screw up, her hands clench into fists as she held them close to her chest. She began to shake, tears cascading down her face, like rivers. My eyes widened; I had never seen this type of emotion come from Lucy before.

"I'm… sorry…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

I pulled her close, nesting her to my chest, wanting to take away that sorrowful voice, and make it lighter, more Lucy-like. Hell, I'd even like it better if she was yelling profanity at me. But not this. Not this voice.

"Luce…" I tried to wake her form her nightmare, wiping her falling tears, "Luce, wake up."

Slowly her teary eyes began to flutter, as my voice called her out of her dream. She caught a glimpse of me and her eyes shot open.

"Natsu?" she began wiping her tears, not at all surprised by their presence, "What are you doing?"

I grinned, winking, "Nothing dirty, I promise."

I waited for her to yell at me and blush furiously, but she didn't. Instead, she detangled herself from my arms, not looking me in the eye, pulling the blankets away to get out of bed. I grab her arm, holding her back. She doesn't pull away.

"Luce? Are you ok?"

Her fist's clenched, "I'm fine."

Her voice was void of warmth and emotion. She tugged her arm away, but I was stronger, so I held on. The one thing I knew about things, was you never let a friend suffer alone.

"You're lying."

She tensed, again trying to pull away, "Let go Natsu."

"I never let a friend go in a time of need." I pulled her back onto the bed.

She let out a yelp in surprise, but otherwise sat still, her face covered in her golden hair. I took her right hand and held it up, showing her mark.

"You're a part of Fairy Tail. Like hell I would let my nakama cry by herself. You're also my fiancé, not that both of us agree with it, but I still have to protect you, because you're my family now. What sort of guy would I be if I can't even protect that?" she began to cry again, the tears pitter patting against the sheets, "Rely on me Luce. Even if it's just this once."

She pulled me close, much to my amazement, crying all of her sorrow away into my shoulder. I pattered her head gently, wrapping my arms around her. After a while of sobbing, she stopped, still holding me.

"Thanks." She murmured, her warm breath sending goosebumps down my back.

She let me go, wiping her tears away from her face, her eyes slightly bloodshot.

"Wanna tell me the dream?" I asked, to curious for my own good.

"It was just a memory." She replied, not wanting to get into the details.

"Must be one heck of a memory to make you cry." She didn't reply. I sighed, "I just want to know more about you. The good, the bad, everything."

She, in turn, sighed also, looking me in the eyes, "Fine. It couldn't hurt to tell you. I supposed you already guessed it, but my mother died when I was 10. After that father… ignored me. The dream I had was about… the day he forgot my birthday," She paused, glancing away, "I made a rice ball that resembled him, but he… he told me to get lost and that I was being a pest."

I pulled her close, "You're not a pest. You're brave and strong and kind, everything a mage of Fairy Tail possess. We are your family now, so you don't have to dwell on the past," I cupped her face, holding her gaze, tears once again spilling over at my words, "Look to the future, Luce. As long as you're with us, your friends and family at Fairy Tail will never leave you alone. You don't have to suffer any longer, because you've finally found a place to call 'home'."

She nodded, her lip trembling, the she smiled, like she always did, "What happened to the dense Natsu everyone knows?"

I grinned, "That's just a persona. I'm actually really smart; I just prefer being dense. I get away with so much more," I pushed her down, getting a squeal from the blond as I straddled her hips, "Like this for example."

She went bright red, "Get off!"

I ignored her plea, 'I wonder… Hay Luce, are you ticklish?"

She shook her head rapidly, eyes wide, "No! I'm not!"

I smirked devilishly, "I think you're lying."

I pinned both hands above her head as she squirmed beneath me, holding her with one hand.

"Don't you dare, Natsu! Pfft! Hahaha! No! Please- hahahaha-stop!" She began laughing as I tickled, relentlessly; she bucked, trying to get me off her, her face red and puffy, tears of laughter rolling down her face.

I couldn't help but laugh with her. A knock on the door made me freeze, wondering who it was at this hour. Lucy caught her breath, struggling under my grip.

"Lucy," came Wendy's voice, "Are you ok?"

"Wendy! Help-"Lucy began, before I continued to torment her, "Hahaha- STOP- hahaha- Help- hahaha!"

Wendy swung the door open and froze, staring at our position. Her cheeks flared. Lucy struggled under me, still in hysterics, looking at my sister, pleading her to help. Wendy slowly backed away, closing the door, mumbling a "my virgin eyes!" comment, before the sound of her running in the opposite directing faded.

I stopped tickling Lucy, not letting her go. She lay there, breathless, panting for air.

"Let me go, Natsu!" She demanded, pulling at her hands.

I didn't answer straight away. I observed her, making sure that any hint of sorrow or hurt was gone, wanting her smile to always be one her face.

"It's always nice to see you smile," I grinned, "but this face is always cute."

She blushed bright red, "W-what are you talking about? T-that's not funny! You're so embarrassing! And let me go!"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "Say the magic word."

She glared, and then turned her head to the side, ignoring me, her mouth firmly shut, her eyes shut. I leaned forward, realising she was ignoring me.

"Luce?"

Her eyes shot open and she shot forward, our foreheads crashed together. I let her go and fell back holding my forehead in agony. She was doing the same thing, tears in her eyes.

"Take that you bastard." She groaned, clutching her forehead.

I couldn't help but laugh. Things were going to get a little more interesting around here.

I scanned the request board, not searching for anything in particular. A poster caught my eye.

IN THE SHADOWS

A thief has been lurking in the town of Hargion. We need a strong mage.

60 000 000 Jewel reward + a spirit key.

I pulled it off with a smile. Lucy used Spirit keys; she showed me her two new keys after our mission on Mt Blanc. She has a little dog creature named Plue. The other one, Virgo, was a shocker. She wore a maid's dress and always asked for punishment. Happy teased Lucy for that weird habit, relentlessly. I smiled at the memory.

I brought it over to Mirajane, "I'm going for a few days Mira."

She looked it over, a secret smile on her lips, "Sure Natsu. See you when you get back."

I waved at her and turned to find Happy. He was sitting with Lucy, Levi and Grey, eating a fish and teasing poor Luce. I strolled over, sneaking behind Lucy. I jabbed her in the sides, making her jump and yell, "NATSU!"

She glared at me, before sitting down again. I laughed.

"Come on Happy. We've got a job to go to. See you in a few day's Lucy!" I waved goodbye, Happy perched on my shoulder.

She through a cup my way and yelled, "Get lost!"

She then muttered under her breath, no-one hearing it but me, "Come back safe…"

Gajeel POV

My prey walked along the empty night, accompanied with a flat-chested bluenette. They were chattering and laughing, unbeknown to the danger that lurked in the shadows. I chuckled low, knowing they could not sense my presence. I listened in on their conversation.

"He didn't?!" Exclaimed the bluenette, her eyes wide.

My prey nodded, blushing profoundly, "He did! It was so embarrassing! And then Wendy came in!"

The other girl gasped,

"No!"

The blond nodded, "Then Wendy left in a hurry yelling something about 'virgin eyes'."

Tsk. This shit talk is boring my brains out. I smirked, time to take little miss princess.

Jumping off the roof of the building I had been squatting on, I leapt down, rushing towards them at full speed.

Levi POV

"He didn't?!" I exclaimed, eyes wide.

Lucy nodded, blushing profoundly, "He did! It was so embarrassing! And then Wendy came in!"

I gasped, "No!"

The blond nodded, "Then Wendy left in a hurry yelling something about 'virgin eyes'"

I wanted to laugh, but at the same time I felt her pain. I really enjoyed Lucy's company; she always had a smile on her face. But I knew, behind every smile, there was a tear that was shed. Although many didn't know it, Lucy carried many burdens concerning her past. She had told me about her father's treatment towards her, before Natsu could even guess if something was wrong with her, if something was broken.

I went to answer her, when a sudden gust of wind flew me back, making me crash into a nearby wall, my head knocking back, blurring my vision. I coughed up dust, my body suddenly too weak to stand, to fight. The last thing I saw was a pair of red eyes accompanied by black hair. And the golden locks of Lucy.

No-one's POV

The Iron Dragon Slayer dropped the unconscious Fairy Tail mage at his master feet.

"Good job Gajeel." His master congratulations, "Now my plan can finally come into action! After all this years of waiting, my patience shall be fulfilled."

He nudged the girl with his toe, "Are you sure she's alive, Gajeel?"

"Why don't we test it out?" He chuckled darkly.

Thanx for reading my new chapter! Sorry if it took a while! So yeah, I'm really excited for the next one, but I've been getting distracted by Fairy Tail… kinda ironic, huh? Haha!

Well anyway, please review, it means a lot to me and my ego!

BitterMondays