The nightmares were back again. Always the same, but each time a different guild member. Erza, Gray, Elfman, Evergreen, Gajeel, Happy, Wendy, Charla, Gajeel, Levy. Everyone was there. Lucy, too. They were all glowing, their bodies perfectly still, but thrumming with life. Slowly, each light went out. One by one, he watched each of his friends wither and die. Each death put a crack in his heart. After watching Lisanna die, and Happy, and Erza, he started to break.

Finally only Lucy was left, her light still shining brightly. She was so far away from him. He watched her light carefully, slowly making his way towards it.

It started to dim. He started to run. "Lucy!"

I can't lose her too.

"Lucy!"

Her light flickered. He ran faster.

No, no, no! I can't lose Lucy!

"LUCY, NO!" He reached her and grasped her shoulders. He shook her gently. "Lucy, wake up! Wake up, please! Don't die!"

Her light flickered once, weakly, and went out.

Her body went limp in his arms.

"No, no, no, no, no, no! NO! LUCY!"

He woke then, just as always, in a cold sweat, shivering and shaken. He sat up slowly, careful not to wake Happy, who was asleep on the other pillow. Something else stirred in his bed and he turned, expecting it to be Charla, as it sometimes was.

It was Lucy. She yawned and curled up, arm stretched out across his lap. He laced his fingers with hers and took a deep breath, reminding himself that the nightmare was just that; a bad dream. He laid back down and wrapped his arms around Lucy, pulling her to him. His sensitive hearing picked up the quickening breathing seconds before she spoke.
"Natsu?" She blinked, not freaking out for once.

"Hey, Luce. Go back to sleep, it's still late." She sighed and mumbled acquiescence. He glanced around and realized that this was his bed. "Lucy?"
"Mmm..?"
"Why are you in my bed?"
"Bad dream…" She mumbled. He laughed shakily and kissed her forehead.
"You too, huh?"
"Mhm…Watched the dragons attack again…" She shifted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Couldn't sleep at home." She mumbled, slipping back into sleep again.

He stroked her soft hair and smiled. "Go ahead and sleep here, Luce. I'll protect you."

I'll protect you forever.

Wow. This one was a bit underdeveloped, but I wanted to give it a try.