Gah, I have so many things to do in January and February! In January, I have to audition of Sebia, a really good honor band. I have to memorize 13 different scales! I already have five down. In February, I have a piano festival. Oh, and for those of you that don't know, I've been playing the bassoon for 4 years, piano for 5, bass drum for 2, and Irish tin whistle for 1. But, music is fun. Great, I just went ranting on...whoops. Anyway, enjoy the chapter! And thanks to my reviewers! x3 xD

Disclaimer~ I do not own Fairy Tail.


Panic rushed through Lucy.

"Yes? What about my mother?!" She said, hysteria rising in her voice. Slowly, her friends closed the doors to give her some privacy. But Natsu stayed. He was just a millimeter away from her on the couch.

"Layla Heartfilia passed away at 7:07 tonight. I'm sorry, Ms. Heartfilia. Truly, I am."

She hung up.

Lucy was shaking, and dropped the phone. It broke as it made contact with the tiled floor.

"Luce? What happened?" Natsu said, gently putting his right arm over her small frame in a comforting way.

But Lucy got up, almost in a trance like way, and started making her way for the stairs.

"Lucy?" Natsu said, using her real name.

"Where are you going?" He got up after her and ran to catch up.

He followed her until she went into their room. She got one of her suitcases and started to pack, having a dull look in her teary eyes.

"I have to go." She said, voice cracking.

She felt horrible. If only she hadn't left, her mother would be still be alive.

She was about to put another shirt in when a gentle, warm hand stopped hers. She looked up at a blurry Natsu. Wait...was the world suppose to be shaking? And why was her vision blurry? Oh well, it didn't matter. Nothing did. Not anymore.

Natsu wrapped her in his strong, protective arms. She let of huge sobs, soaking his shirt with tears. She realized that she was the one shaking, not the world.

Natsu rested his head on hers, saying soothing words, and being ever so gentle. They seemed to stay like that forever, until Natsu asked,

"What happened?" His voice, as soft as satin.

"Shes gone." Lucy whispered. She was taken back by the sound of her voice. She sounded broken, and sad. Never to be put together again.

Natsu seemed to understand immediately.

"You should get to bed, Luce. We'll talk about it in the morning." He said, pulling apart and starting sympathetically into her teary red eyes. All she did was nod, and crawled under the covers, still in her clothes.

Natsu kissed her on the forehead and turned around to leave, but a soft hand gripped his wrist tightly.

"Please...stay." Lucy whispered, sounding scared.

Natsu's eyes softened as he turned around to stare in her frightened wide eyes.

"Of course, love. Anything you need." Natsu said softly while getting in the bed.

She snuggled into his arms that wrapped around her waist. He held her tightly, but at the same time gently. Lucy gripped his arms, grasp like iron, but it softened as she melted into Natsu's sunny warmth.

Natsu stayed awake though. He was worried about Lucy. Was she going to be all right? And according to law...shouldn't her dad get custody of her?

Just the very thought of it made him tighten his arms around her. No way. He had enough problems to worry about. Like on Saturday, he had to go to a meeting in Japan, and after that in a couple of weeks, it was the boss banquet- he stopped himself right there.

He started brainstorming ideas to keep Lucy away from Sting and his men. He could keep her in the room with his best gang members besides their friends, because they would have to go to. He could just have her not come. But that wouldn't work...she had to. If Sting didn't see her there, he would send someone the the house. Lucy would be all alone, defenseless, and unprotected.

The first one seemed like the best idea. But who was going to stay with her exactly? Maco? Wakaba? Maybe he could ask some of the Blue Pegasus guys. But they would just flirt with Lucy.

Maco and Wakaba it was. Hell, maybe Elfman.

Natsu sighed, and closed his tired eyes. He had enough time to think for the night. He rested his head on Lucy's, breathing in her sweet strawberry scent.

Then, he just had to smile. He could get used to this.


Lucy woke to the sound of birds chirping and dull, gray sunlight pouring into her and Natsu's room.

She stretched and sat up, looking out the window. The sky was black over the sea, with wind blowing. It wasn't raining yet, but she could see lightning in the dark clouds. It was a beautiful, majestic sight: the power of the storm over a beautiful sea.

The storm would probably hit later, though. It seemed far away.

Lucy then realized how cold she was and how sore her eyes were. Why were they?...A wave of sadness crashed over her like a blast of air.

She had no mother. Her mother wasn't going to watch her go down the aisle at her wedding. She wasn't going to be there for the holidays. And she wasn't going to hold her first grandchild if Lucy ever had one. (hint hint.)

But Lucy didn't cry. What would her mother say if she saw Lucy like this?

She shivered again because of the cold.

Man, where was Natsu when she needed him? Oh. Natsu wasn't here. Lucy swung her legs over, got up, made the bed, and went to go take a shower. She needed one badly.

As she walked in and closed the door, she didn't dare look into the mirror. She stripped her clothes, and got in the shower.

She loved the feeling of hot water running through her hair and body. She cleaned hair and body, taking her time.

When she got out, she dried off, and peeked in the foggy mirror.

Her eyes weren't red, which was a surprise. She just looked like her normal self, but her eyes seemed a little sad.

Lucy looked away and sighed, walking out of the bathroom and into the closet.

She looked through her cloths, thinking on what she would wear for the day. Maybe a pair of sweats and a oversized sweater- no! You will not dress all gloomy!

Filled with new determination, She found happy looking clothes.

The spaghetti strapped yellow tank top was so pale, it looked would probably look like a shade of white from far away.

She finally found her favorite pair of bleached out jean shorts, and changed. She brushed her teeth, did her hair, and put on some makeup.

Her makeup was simple: Pale yellow eye shadow and mascara. She didn't need foundation. She had flawless skin. (I wish I did T_T) Happy with herself, she walked out the door.

Lucy looked out the window again. The storm was closer, the wind picking up.

She sighed and looked at the clock. It read 7:12. Man, was it really that early?

She was always an early bird.

Lucy walked out into the hall, her friends doors still closed. She then heard someone shouting outside as she descended the stairs. Was that Natsu?...

She looked out the huge windows and saw the devil himself with one of the guards and a strange man.

Natsu was holding a gun to the man's head, while the huge guard was holding him. The man seemed to be talking in a fast way, but then he glanced at Lucy. As soon as their eyes met he smiled in a crazy grin.

Lucy was close enough to hear Natsu yell at him. He also dug the gun closer into the man's head.

"What the hell are you staring at?!" He yelled, looking to see for himself, but his face went slack and his eyes widened as soon as he saw Lucy. He looked taken back, while the man laughed.

Natsu tossed the gun to the guard, and said something to quiet to him for Lucy to hear. The guard nodded, and took the man away.

Natsu ran into the house straight to Lucy.

"What did you see?" He demanded, onyx eyes burning holes into hers.

"Nothing! And who was that guy? Why did her smile when he saw me?" She asked.

Natsu sighed, closed his eyes, and crossed his arms. With his right index finger and thumb he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That was Jon Belle. He owns a gang here in California. He…" Natsu opened his eyes, and took his fingers away from his nose. Otherwise he stayed in the same position.

"He wanted to check you out." The last words were a growl. Lucy widened her eyes without noticing.

She thought Natsu was kidding when he said that people would come looking for her. But it turns out he was serious.

Natsu unfolded himself from his current position, and then put his hand on her shoulders. his expression was still the same, though.

"A lot more people are going to be looking for you. You have to be way more careful. I'm not letting you out of my sight. Always have someone with you: A guard, Erza, Gajeel, Levy Gray. Do you understand?" He said, expression and eyes softening.

Lucy nodded, eyes still wide.

Natsu, on the other hand, sighed in relief, but then looked annoyed.

"I'm going on a last minute business trip right now. I won't be far away: Just going to L.A. for a meeting. Will you be ok?" He said, concern etched in his voice.

Lucy, on the other hand, laughed.

"I'll be fine, Natsu. Go on your trip thingy." She said, making him laugh.

"Ok, ok. Be safe." He added the last part seriously, and walked out the door.

Lucy sighed as he disappeared from sight. More people were going to come check her out? What the hell?! How was she going to survive!


Done! I was going to end it when Natsu fell asleep, but that was only 528 words or something. I'm going to start a new story over the weekend :D Yay! I had the idea in my head for quite some time. Anyway, did you enjoy it? Til Saturday!

-TealEye