Hey guys here is another chapter

Hope you enjoy XD

I'm not going to lie during some of these chapters I found myself ready to just end it with Lucy kissing him and saying happily ever after! But... I can't do that... I MUST KEEP GOING!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.

It is the next morning. Natsu is dying of heat so he decides to go shirtless around the house and he doesn't care what anyone has to say. Besides he is proud of his body. There is also the fact that they are near the beach and he already been shirtless in front of them so they shouldn't be saying anything to him. Lucy walks out of her room and stares at him and when he took notice of her stare, he suddenly became embarrassed without a shirt on. Lucy keeps thinking back about last night when she freaked out after Natsu saw the scars on her. She sees that scratch marks that she caused on his back.

Lucy walks up to Natsu making his thoughts go wild about her wanting to touch his abs or something. "Natsu, I'm sorry about scratching you." She apologizes and he felt disappointed that she didn't want to touch his abs but he knew that that isn't important. "It's okay Lucy. When I see it, I think wow I got to know a little more about you." He walks closer to her. "I'm getting closer little by little and I'm the happiest in the world for doing so." He gave her a charming smile then turns around and heads for the kitchen. Natsu only head into the kitchen so he can look cool after what he said and he is hiding his blushing face from Lucy because he couldn't believe he actually said something like that.

Lucy stares at him walking away and a blush appears on her cheek. Her thoughts are scrambling everywhere. "Why am I blushing? My heart is beating a lot. Maybe I'm sick." Those were Lucy's scrambling thoughts of confusion. Gajeel leaves his room to see the two blushing teens. He smiles at the sight then starts whistling while getting himself a drink. Natsu looks at him and thought about the words he said yesterday "maybe your lucky and something just happens to force your guys bond to get closer." It made Natsu wonder if Gajeel knew about the scars on Lucy's back. The pink haired teen walked up to Gajeel "Yo, can I talk to you." Gajeel turns to look at him and sees the serious expression on Natsu. "Sure thing." Natsu grabs a shirt lying around then both boys head out of the beach house, leaving the blonde.

"Did you know?" Natsu asked getting straight to the point but not being specific. "About what?" Gajeel asked in return. "Remember what you told me yesterday about me being lucky if something force Lucy and I closer." Gajeel puts his finger on his chin trying to remember, then it came to him. "Yes, why? Did something happen? Does it have to do with the scratch marks on your back." He looks at Natsu, daring him to spill what happened. "Yes, it does... Gajeel you wouldn't tell me that unless you know something. Did you know?" Gajeel decides to play dumb knowing that Natsu is talking about Lucy's scars. "You need to be more specific Natsu." Natsu knows what Gajeel is playing, so he took what Gajeel said as a yes and continues asking questions. "How did you find out?" Gajeel grins. This isn't the idiot Natsu he used to know. This Natsu is much more attentive and wise. "Levy told me about them. She saw them the day Grey harassed Lucy." He confesses honestly. "How come you guys didn't tell me about them?" Natsu made a hurt expression. "Levy didn't even want to tell me but she isn't good at keeping deep stuff like that to herself and she trusts me a lot. We didn't tell you because Lucy doesn't want anyone to know, she didn't even want Levy to know. It was pure coincidence that Levy found out." Gajeel reassures him.

Natsu sighs. "What do I do now!?" Natsu starts pacing back and forth and Gajeel grabs his shoulder to stop him "What are stressing about? That you know Lucy's scars and aren't sure where to go from there?" Natsu shakes his head. "I confess to Lucy when she was having her attack a-and I felt like it snapped her back to reality. I don't know if I'm being overconfident or something. I don't even know if she heard me." Gajeel eyes widen and he tightly grips the hem of Natsu's shirt. "What do you even think of doing next!? Natsu, I told you not to confess!" The pink haired teen looks down then looks back up straight into Gajeel's eyes. "I know! But you said that if I confess then it will probably bring up a traumatic moment. I confessed Gajeel! It did the opposite! She didn't scratch and kick me away even more! As a matter of fact, she hugged me and kept calling on my name!" Gajeel slowly let's go of Natsu's shirt. They both stood there in silence till Gajeel spoke up "Did she reply to your feelings? Did she say that she loves you back? Did you guys even have the slightest chance of talking over what happened between yesterday evening and now!? DO YOU EVEN KNOW IF EVEN SHE HEARD IT!?" Gajeel blood keeps rushing as he kept bombarding Natsu with questions.

Natsu backups a little with each question, then he suddenly asks "Gajeel... Why do you seem so protective of Lucy? You seem so against me confessing, I thought you want us together. Why do you keep questioning it so harshly?" Natsu begins to tear up, anger getting the best of him. "Are you against me, Gajeel? Or... do you know something else that I don't?" Natsu notice Gajeel stiffens and his blood starts to boil as he rushes up and grabs Gajeel's shoulder roughly. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?" Gajeel looks away refusing to answer, Natsu looks at him in disbelief. "Why can't you tell me? Gajeel, I trust you! Don't you trust me!? Why do you seem to know more about Lucy than me? YOU MET HER AFTER ME!" Natsu pushes Gajeel. Gajeel just looks at him, confliction is written all over his face. They both stood in silence until Gajeel decides to break it. "Natsu, calm down." Natsu rushes up to him and grips his shoulder hard. "Don't tell me to calm down." He whispers sharply. "You yelled at me first when it came to her. You have no right to tell me to calm down!" His grip getting stronger, making Gajeel wince in pain.

"Natsu, I just have a weak spot for those who go through something traumatizing. I went through something traumatizing myself, it took me a long time to get over it. So I sympathize with those who go through extremely tough times." He honestly answers and his eyes show that he is telling the truth. Natsu's grip loosens making Gajeel sigh in relief but Natsu didn't let go because Gajeel still has more questions to answer. "Okay, I understand that part but what do you know about Lucy?" Natsu eyes were stern and serious. Gajeel felt extremely internally conflicted to tell Natsu the truth, he just wants to run from the conversation but he knows Natsu isn't going to let him. "You remember that day when we talked behind the school." Natsu slowly nods his head wondering where Gajeel is heading with this. " I lied. I lied when I said that I wouldn't do research on Lucy. I did do research and I found out a lot about her. I know about her family and I know who raped her." Gajeel clenches his fist just thinking of the man. As for Natsu, he let's go of Gajeel and his eyes widen in shock that his close friend kept all this from him. "Did you tell Levy?" Gajeel shakes his head. "Why not? She trusts you a lot but you don't? Because apparently, you don't trust anyone by the way you keep something as important as this from the rest of us. Leaving Me, Levy, Juvia, and my parents in the dark."

Gajeel clenches his teeth "I do trust you guys, I especially trust my girlfriend but I don't know how to even start telling her. I kept trying to find a chance but the more I wait the more I think... then I realized that I can't tell any of you. I shouldn't have even done that research." Natsu isn't understanding. "What do you mean?" He asks. "What is more worth to you Natsu? Me telling you Lucy's problems or Lucy telling you herself." Gajeel asks in all seriousness. Natsu then realizes why Gajeel hasn't told anyone anything. "Lucy telling me is way more important... I just want to know already. I feel like slowly I'm going to be left in the dark by myself. I feel like everyone is going to know more about her than me." Gajeel pats his shoulders and gives him a reassuring look "Go. Go talk to her right now." Natsu began to feel conflicted "I'm honestly starting to get scared. I feel like we are getting closer but what if we barely are. What if I'm just being too hopeful. What do I talk to her about?" Gajeel smiles "Everything." Gajeel lightly pushes Natsu to get him to start running back to the beach house.

The pink haired teen ran back to the beach house and he burst through the doors causing everyone to jump in surprise. "Natsu!? Is everything alright? Why did you just burst through the door?" Levy asks still trying to calm her heart. Ezekiel runs up to Natsu and hugs him "Good morning Natsu, what's the matter." He asked with his precious smile of his. Natsu pats his head and bends down to whisper in his ears "Can I borrow your mom?" Ezekiel nods his head rapidly. Natsu chuckles and makes his way towards Lucy, who is next to Juvia, both of them confused as to why he burst through the doors just like Levy is. "Lucy, I want to talk to you." His eyes show that this talk wasn't going to be a playful one. "Sure thing Natsu." Lucy has a strong feeling that it's going to be what happen last evening and she is just dreading the conversation but she knows that she can't avoid it.

"I'm going to be with Gajeel." Levy suddenly announces and quickly rushes out the door while awkwardly laughing. Juvia caught onto what Levy was doing "Oh snap! I have to buy something from the store. Luce, can I borrow your car?" Lucy nods her head. "Great! Ezekiel do you want to come with me?" Juvia asks as she winks at him and Ezekiel was confused as to why she winked then it hit him. "Oh, Yea yea. I would love to go." He tries to wink back but he ends up blinking which Juvia found hilarious. Then those two left, leaving Lucy and Natsu alone to talk.

They both just stand there awkwardly not knowing what to say as a conversation starter. "Natsu... please forget what happen last night." Lucy asks him and he looks like he is going to protest but Lucy stops him "That would be cruel for me to ask you, huh." Natsu saw the sadness in her eyes and his face soften. " Natsu, I know you want to talk about it; honestly, at first, I really wanted to avoid it but, you showed me many times that there is no reason for me to avoid it. I'm fine talking about it now. Actually... after we have this conversation I want to try something with you." Natsu mind starts racing at the speed of light, wondering what Lucy wants to do and as much as he wants to ask her, he knew that she isn't going to say.

"Lucy, are we getting closer? In your eyes do you think that we are getting closer?" He looks at her with hopeful eyes. She gives him a warm smile "Your the only guy I ever let get this close to me. So, yes. I do think we are getting closer." She answers truthfully and Natsu asks the following question. "Do you think we can get closer?" He wants to know if he has a romantic chance with her, any kind of super close bond chance with her. Lucy hesitated a bit before answering because the thought of getting closer makes her nervous but she knows that getting closer to Natsu is nothing to be scared of. "Yes... I want to get closer." Natsu's heart is racing a mile a minute, he couldn't stop smiling.

"Okay, I hate ruining a precious moment like this but Lucy, did you hear anything I said yesterday?" Natsu wants to know if she heard him when he confessed. Lucy seems to be pondering "Now that I think about it. I didn't hear anything you said. I just heard your voice." Natsu began to show his small disappointment which Lucy noticed "But doesn't that show that no matter what you said, it only took your voice to help me from that situation." She smiles brightly trying to cheer him up. It worked, Natsu actually became super happy realizing that his voice is enough. "But since you asked, what did you say?" That caught Natsu off guard and he began stuttering "U-uh, I said that I wasn't your dad and that I have this pink hair and a toothy grin." He shows his smile and Lucy giggles which made Natsu realize that if he wants Lucy to take whatever he says next seriously then he must show it.

He walks up to Lucy with a determined look, barely leaving any space between them and Lucy is confused as to why the sudden change in mood. "I also said that I would protect you and that I love you." Her eyes widen and she began trying to find the words to say "I love you, Lucy Heartfilia. Not just as a friend but much more." Lucy's heart starts to pound quickly and her stomach felt like something fluttering inside then she suddenly found it hard to look at Natsu's eyes, she turns her head away."T-Thank you, Natsu. I-I love you too but as a friend and I'm sorry I can't return your feelings." Tears start flowing down her cheeks. Natsu realized that she does have feelings for him. Over time he became good at knowing what people really think based on their actions. Lucy didn't stutter last time she rejected him neither did she cry. He knows that she must be very conflicted but he just wants to see what pushing it a little further will do.

Natsu caresses her cheek and gently made her look his way. "Did your heart race when you heard my confession?" She nods her head still crying, this unknown emotion is too overwhelming for her because she had never felt anything like this. "Did you have a nice weird sensation in your stomach?" She nods her head again. Natsu couldn't hold himself back anymore and he starts to slowly lean down closer to Lucy's face. Lucy would usually push him away or back away herself but she didn't. "Do you understand what your feeling?" She shakes her head. "Do you want to know?" He asks as his lips are hovering over hers. She nods her head and closes her eyes. Natsu closes his eyes as well as the distance between their lips. It was a soft and gentle kiss, he made sure of it because he cares for her so much. They both felt like their hearts skyrocketed out of their chests.

They both pulled away slowly and just stare passionately into each other's eyes. Lucy has never fathomed the idea of ever getting together with any boy, much less Natsu. She thought that they would forever be friends but she didn't want that anymore. He has been there for her so many times and her trust in him only grows stronger. There's no way she can still look at him as a friend. "I love you, Natsu." She finally confesses and Natsu hugs her out of happiness and he couldn't contain it, he spun her around and gave her a nice peck on the lips. "Lucy, I'm so happy right now." He couldn't stop smiling hard and she giggles at his cuteness and returns a never-ending smile.

She suddenly makes a determined look. "Natsu, about what I said earlier about wanting to try something with you." She hesitates before she continues speaking "I want you to look at my scars again... I want to get over this trauma." Natsu gives her a hearten look. "Of course, if your hundred percent okay with it." She gently pushes herself away from the hug and turns around. She grabs the bottom hem of her shirt, her fingers are trembling. This is way harder than she expected it to be, it's like her hand is paralyzed and she can't find the strength to lift up her shirt.

Suddenly the door slams to the beach house and they both quickly look towards the doorway. "So this is what you been up to, Lucy." Her eyes widen and her body starts trembling badly. She falls to the floor and scoots herself away, shaking her head rapidly. Natsu watches in horror at Lucy's reaction. "Who is he? Who are you!?" Natsu angrily yells at the man standing at the door.

"Well, don't you see the resemblance." He smirks. Making Natsu shivers at the sight. "I'm her father." He chuckles and Lucy began crying uncontrollably. Natsu fists clench and he grits his teeth as he gave her father a death glare. "My, my, don't we have a scary child here." He mocks Natsu "I'm taking my daughter back and my son." Natsu's eyes widen. "Did you say, son? Lucy doesn't have a brother."

Her father laughs hysterically "Well, of course, she doesn't. But she does have our child. I mean since he is my child, he can be considered her brother but since she gave birth to him, there will be no point in caring about that detail."

Natsu couldn't process what was going on. Her dad just said that he has a child with Lucy... He is the rapist. "SHUT UP AND GET OUT!" Lucy yells at the top of her lungs, startling Natsu. "Well sure thing sweetie. If you don't want to come with me and see Ezekiel then that's your decision." He felt accomplished when he saw the devastated look on his precious daughter. "What did you do to my son?" She asks shakily. He chuckles "Don't worry, honey. He should be at our house by now." He extends his hand out "Now come with me." Natsu couldn't hold it in and he runs to her father and tackles him and punches him repeatedly. "She isn't going anywhere with you!" He kept punching him.

Then he suddenly feels a hand on his shoulders, he looks over and sees Lucy shake her head softly. "I will go with you..." Natsu stares at her in shock as he gets off of Lucy's father and her dad smirks despite his face being busted up. "But don't think I will be staying there. I am going for my son and leaving." Her father puts his hand on her shoulders and she trembles at his touch, disgust, and fear spread through her body but her determination to get her son back is stronger than those feelings. "Then let's go." He guides her out the door and she looks back and mumbles to Natsu to save her. Lucy knew it defiantly wasn't going to be easy to get out of her fathers clutches now, she fears so much what he might do to her and her son now that he finally found her.

Natsu knew that Ezekiel is extremely important and he feels so hopeless that he couldn't convince Lucy not to go. He felt so much pain... her father raped her when she was twelve, her father abused her. He felt disgusted at the reality, at what Lucy has gone through. He wipes the tears that he didn't know were falling but more just kept coming out and he cries out the names of his two most important loved ones "LUCY! EZEKIEL!" Natsu realizes that he shouldn't be playing the damsel in distress, he wipes his tears once again and with determination he whispers to himself.

"I'm going to save you guys."

Okay, so I don't know how well I wrote that chapter but a lot happen. You guys finally know who the rapist is after centuries of waiting for my updates. As I said pacing isn't my thing but I'm trying my best at writing these chapters good.