Hey Guys,

So... this chapter is once again about plot and character development/build-up. However, this will probably be the last one. After this, things will be racing towards the climax. I'm thinking 4 to 5 more chapters. Maybe an epilogue. Anyway, for those Gruvia fans out there, don't hate me! (You'll see why...) Also, one of you asked me why Lucy couldn't use her star dresses and I had actually already planned on addressing that in this chapter, so there you go.

As always, enjoy!

- Singed

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Natsu burst into the guildhall. He could smell Levy and Gajeel, but it would seem that Wendy, Carla, Juvia, and Gray weren't there yet. Everyone greeted him but it wasn't heartfelt. They were tiptoeing around him but if they'd known that he was the happiest he'd been in ages, they might have been more welcoming.

"Hey, fire breath, over here." Natsu saw Gajeel waving his hand and made his way to the table. Levy was pouring over a map while Gajeel forcefully placed a sandwich before her. She sighed, but picked it up and ate while she concentrated. Levy looked much better then she had when he'd seen her a month ago. Natsu took the opportunity to stare at Levy while Gajeel's back was turned. She still wasn't showing but she did have a certain look to her, almost a glow, and she definitely smelled pregnant. Geez, it was a miracle that normal people couldn't smell it. It was so strong. Natsu must have been making a face at the smell because Gajeel leaned over and growled.

"It might not smell good to you lava brain, but to me it is like the sweetest of perfumes." Natsu nodded and sat down. It wasn't that Levy smelled bad, but she did have a distinct smell of warning. It made sense. She was carrying another dragon slayer's child, so she was mated and definitely protected. He also noticed that Jet and Droy stayed far away from the table as well. Perhaps this smell was picked up by the others but they just didn't understand why they were acting the way they were.

"Do we know when the others will arrive?" Natsu asked as Mira placed a fire whisky in front of him.

"No, but I believe that they are on their way. Unfortunately, I think our party is about to be reduced by one," Levy said still pouring over her maps.

"What? Who?" Natsu asked. He'd gotten a hold of Levy and Gajeel a day ago when Lucy had warned him. Levy had said she'd contact Juvia for him.

"Juvia. I'll let her explain." She seemed to keep to her word because neither she nor Gajeel made a peep when he pressed for more information. Annoyance with them and with sitting idly while Lucy was trapped, sent Natsu out the back door. He just needed to watch the water for a while. It always calmed him.

He heard footsteps approaching, but being upwind so identity was impossible and the way everyone was avoiding him now, he thought they'd just pass him by. He was proven wrong as Lisanna's voice interrupted him. "Hey Natsu."

Natsu looked up in surprise, but his face quickly went blank and he turned back to the view. "Hey Lisanna."

There was an awkward pause before she cleared her throat. "May I join you?"

Natsu didn't say anything, but he did scoot over just a hair. Lisanna took the slight invitation and sat. He waited for her to start. After all, she must want something. "Listen Natsu," she finally started. "I owe you and Lucy an apology. I realize I'll have to give hers later but I want to make yours now."

Natsu finally turned to her and watched as she swallowed and began. "I know what I did was wrong and there is no excuse. In fact, I knew from the beginning what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't stop."

"So why did you do it?"

Lisanna sighed and brought her knees to her chest. "It's like I said from the beginning Natsu, I love you. Well, I thought I did. But after watching you and Lucy I realized that I loved the idea of you. I'll still always consider you my childhood best friend, Natsu. But until a few months ago, I thought you were my prince charming too. However, any hope for that bond starting was severed by my disappearance."

"Yeah. But Lisanna, I can't even imagine loving anyone the way I love Lucy."

Lisanna smiled sweetly and nodded. "Yeah, I know that now. I've had time to do some soul searching Natsu and I've realized that even if I'd stayed, you would have found Lucy eventually. I was never the one you wanted or needed."

Natsu, no matter how angry he'd been, still felt pity for his childhood friend and realized in that moment that he'd forgiven her at some point. "I'm sorry Lisanna."

"Don't be Natsu. Like I said, to the girl I was all those years ago you were my dream, but dreams are difficult to live in and are even harder to love properly. I guess what I'm trying to say Natsu is that I hope you can forgive me one day."

"I think I already have Lisanna. I'm just not sure when I can trust you again."

Lisanna actually laughed and stood. "That's okay. Forgiveness is good enough." She walked back into the guild and Natsu followed shortly after.

The others finally arrived an hour later and Natsu noticed that Juvia did look, well ... heart broken. Something had apparently happened and whatever it was, it meant that Juvia was going to abandon them. Still, she stayed for the meeting as they discussed the new plan.

"So, Lucy found a way to use the bond. Impressive." Gajeel said, leaning back.

"But is that even possible?" Gray asked, mimicking Gajeel's move. It caused him to press his shoulder in Juvia's, but instead of causing her joy, she closed her eyes briefly in pain.

Gajeel thought for a moment, but Levy spoke. "No and yes. Most mates, no, but it would seem that in some serious situations it can be used for more than just a bonding. For most it is just a binding contract that connects their lives and loves, nothing more."

"Would it stop one of them from dying then if the other lived?" Wendy asked. Like Natsu, she knew nothing of dragon slayer matings and was trying to fill in the gaps.

Gajeel laughed and shook his head. "I wish! No, unfortunately, our mates are just as mortal as before, but it is a life bond." The others didn't seem to understand it, but Natsu did. He understood that it meant that while they lived, they could not separate from one another. Not literally of course, but long bouts of separation or cheating would have cataclysmic ramifications. They would be a permanent fixture in each other's lives, destined to walk with each other through everything. Thinking about all this made Natsu want Lucy there so bad that he almost broke the table.

Levy's voice shook him from his thoughts. "So, I've been pouring over the maps and I have decided the best course of action. We have more time than I'd thought we would, but this still won't be easy. Natsu, if Lucy contacts you again, you must get more information if you can."

Natsu nodded. It was decided that they would split again for the next two months and search smaller pockets of wilderness. If they still hadn't found anything, they'd go to the great wilderness together and search there. They all agreed and Natsu stood to leave. Lucy hadn't reached him last night while he was on the train. But he'd been to sick to sleep on the train, so that probably caused a disturbance.

He headed straight for Lucy's. While both of them had been in hibernation, Master Makarov had made sure that the guild paid Lucy's rent. When he'd awoken, Natsu had asked the master to continue to do so. The master had agreed but Natsu had to pay him back as soon as he could take paying jobs again. Natsu agreed to these terms but inwardly he cringed. He didn't even want to think about how many missions he'd have to go on to pay the old man back. It was especially stupid since Natsu was sure that he could convince Lucy just to move into his place since it was rent free and bigger.

"Natsu," Juvia called out to him a few blocks later. He calmly turned and watched as she approached. He'd heard her behind him and had identified her by smell, but had waited for her to approach him.

"Natsu, I need to ask you. Do you think it possible for me to travel with your group instead?" This surprised Natsu. He'd been planning on chewing Juvia out for abandoning Lucy. But she didn't want to leave the mission, just switch groups.

"Why?"

Juvia closed her eyes in pain again and sighed. "I love Gray."

"Yeah, everyone knows Juvia."

"Yes, including Gray, but I have come to the realization that Gray will never return my affections." This gave Natsu pause. Most other women would have come to that realization years ago. So why was Juvia, the most persistent love-sick person anyone had ever heard of, coming to her senses now?

"Do you mind telling me what happened?"

"It started at the reception. When he kissed Lucy, out of revenge or whatever, something finally began to click. My heart was so broken, Natsu. I was so happy for you and Lucy and I'd thought that I could finally put to rest that stupid fear of Lucy being my love rival. After all, I'd known for some time that it wasn't true on her end." Natsu took a deep breath as his previous hatred for Gray reared up while he remembered. He gritted his teeth and kept telling himself that Gray was a friend and not a rival to be destroyed. Once he'd calmed down again, he nodded to Juvia to continue. As she cleared her throat to speak, Natsu cursed Gray with a thousand painful deaths for doing something so utterly stupid and nearsighted that they were still feeling it's effects.

"Anyway, that kiss made me start thinking. I realized that Gray had probably kissed and dated a lot of women. I've dated too, at least before I met him, but it never lasted long and I never felt anything for them like I feel for Gray. So, I started asking around and I found out that he's dated a lot, even while I was right there. He requested every girl to keep their mouths shut because he wanted to hide these relationships from me. I understand why, but still, to never have suspected..." She closed her eyes again and took a shuttering breath.

"Then, while we were on the road, I would see how other couples interacted with each other for the first time in true study. I saw how Gajeel treated Levy and how you were doing anything and everything to get Lucy back and I just realized one morning that Gray would never do that. At least not for me. I mean, there were so many hints and clues that he might have started to feel the same, but that kiss made me realize. He was only doing those things to keep me around, but he never really wanted me."

"So, you are continuing but it must be with me."

"You or Gajeel and Levy. I must start to separate myself from Gray. Otherwise," she sighed and covered her face with her hands. "Otherwise, I'll never be able to move on."

Natsu thought about it and nodded. "You can join either one. I'll say you should ask Levy and Gajeel first because soon Levy won't be able to use her powers correctly. Pregnancy and all." She nodded and bowed in thanks. Then she turned without a word and walked off, very much dejected. Using her powers, she disappeared in the mist. Natsu shook his head and growled. Gray was an idiot. Natsu had seen how he felt about her, especially recently. But to hide it so cleverly so that Juvia was none the wiser was cruel and pointless.

Deciding to focus on his own problems for the rest of the night, Natsu moved on. When Natsu arrived at the apartment he took a deep breath. Her scent still permeated the room. It wasn't so pungent as before, but yes, it was still there. He changed for bed and curled up with her pillow. He glanced at the clock and saw that he still had an hour before Lucy could try again. Knowing that she'd be there, he willed himself to sleep and thankfully, he did.

"Natsu," her voice called out as before.

"Here!" He replied immediately.

"Where were you last night? I…" she was searching for words. How could she describe how utterly frustrated she was to have their time come and go and he not be there. It was the first time she felt truly disappointed by him.

"I know Luce," he sighed and tried to push his own emotions through the bond. "I tried, but I was on a train, back to Magnolia."

"Oh, motion sickness."

"Yeah."

"Why are you in Magnolia?"

"Meeting back with the group to discuss how to find you. Now that we know not to search the towns, we have to re-strategize."

"Makes sense. How is everyone?"

"Juvia's finally realized that Gray's an idiot, so she's leaving him. But he's actually starting to love her, so bad timing."

"I'd say. Poor Juvia."

"Not poor Gray?"

"No, he deserves it." Natsu smiled in spite of himself and nodded.

"Anything else?" Lucy asked.

"Levy's pregnant."

"She is! Oh, tell me everything! Is it a boy or a girl? When is she due?"

"Luce…"

"Are we going to be godparents? Do you think it'll look more like Gajeel or Levy? Because if you ask me…"

"Luce! Later, we need some information."

There was a brief pause and then, "Right. We only have three minutes left."

"Okay, is there anything you can tell me? Fiore is a big place."

"Well, it is definitely wooded, so the desert and that wasteland are out."

"Right, you mentioned that last time."

"Also, there are mountains, and I think that we are actually on one and not in a valley. I deduced this from our slightly colder climate and the fact that the ground slops steadily."

"Right, anything else?" Lucy was quiet for a moment and then she said slowly.

"The forest is mostly deciduous. As in the trees lose their leaves in the fall."

"Right, knew that."

"You did?"

Natsu snorted. "Yeah, remember that time you tried to increase my vocabulary? Well, I did actually learn a lot. I just never use them."

"Uh, good to know. Anyway, I think we are also situated on the south side of whatever mountain we're on. I'm basing this on the sunlight we get everyday though, so I might be off."

"Great, thanks Luce."

"Hey, I want to be rescued as soon as possible." Natsu growled his consent as Lucy continued. "If I could do it myself, I would. But the master has my keys and whatever spell he placed on me suppresses my ability to use my star dresses. I'm actually not sure why I can even use the bond."

"It's because the magic of the ceremony turned the magical bond into something physical. Since you use keys anyway, what's one more object to channel magic?" Natsu had answered her automatically while he thought about what he'd do to this master when he got his hands on him. Shocked silence reigned for a moment.

"Natsu, how do you know that?"

"What? Oh, I read that book you had on dragon slayer matings. It talked about the bond being both magical and physical and I just thought that your keys were probably similar." Lucy was learning a lot about her mate tonight and she liked what she heard. Maybe there was hope for Natsu after all.

"I love you, Natsu," Lucy squealed in pure joy and affection.

"I love you too, Luce," Natsu replied, wishing she was actually there with him.

"I know. Oh one last thing, there is a magical barrier around the mansion. It will make things very difficult for you when you get here."

"Yeah, I'd guess so."

"I have to go Natsu, give everyone my love." She was gone. Natsu awoke and curled up around her pillow even tighter. He needed to find her. Six months. For six months they had been separated and he could feel it, a small bit of insanity creeping in. He needed to keep it from everyone, including Lucy. He guessed that it meant he'd have to make sure that Juvia went with Levy and Gajeel. More importantly, he needed to stall it. Though oddly enough, he could sense that these dream meetings with Lucy might help.

"Right, well with Lucy's new information, I have constructed the best possible places to search," Levy explained, passing out the marching orders. Erza leaned against a pillar nearby, looking annoyed. She felt rather left out. She'd been asked to go on a top secret mission for the master just as Natsu and the rest were starting their search for Lucy. She'd understood the importance then and she felt the importance now, but it still grated on her a bit. She'd finally gotten back a few days ago and now they were going back out. Well, she was not being left behind again.

"Now, we have some group changes to discuss," Levy announced, as nonchalantly as she could. It fooled everyone except Natsu and Gajeel, who could hear the quiver in her voice.

"Group changes?" Gray asked, annoyed.

"Yes, I am about to lose perfect control over my magic and we'll need another fighter on our team. Erza is demanding to join us this time and with Natsu requesting that his team stay the same, our new teams will be Natsu and Happy; Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Carla; and Gajeel, Juvia, and myself."

Gray turned his gaze to Juvia who nodded and went to stand with her new team mates. "Hold on," Gray said, stepping to block her path. "Did you even ask us about this?"

"She didn't have to Gray," Juvia said, stepping out from behind him and standing next to Gajeel. "I requested the change. After all, with Levy about to enter her second trimester, they need someone else with magical ability. I've worked with Gajeel in the past and Erza's been on your team from the beginning. It made the most sense."

Gray just stared at her, stunned. Natsu wondered what it felt like to be so shocked at a logical rejection. Gray was not stupid. Under no normal circumstance would Juvia volunteer to be away from him. With this confession, she was starting to build a wall. One Gray had never suspected and now didn't want.

"But is this what you want?" he finally ventured.

Sensing the tense atmosphere between the two, everyone began to leave for last minute preparations. Natsu turned and pretended to be preoccupied with something, but he was listening.

"It is," she said with feeling. She began to turn away, but Gray stopped her.

"But, I mean, did I do something Juvia?"

"No, you didn't do anything, ever. I guess you could say, I Juvia, finally came to the realization that I wasn't needed or wanted." She marched away and Natsu turned back around to see Gray continuing to stare at her.

"I don't understand," Gray finally said to Natsu.

"She just told you man. You never did anything to keep her around. Even someone like Juvia has her limits. She's trying to move on."

"But…," Gray's face crunched in utter confusion and he sighed, "I just thought I had time to work it all out. To figure out if these feelings I have were the real deal or if I was just imagining it."

"That's the problem isn't it," Natsu said, picking up his bag and handing Gray his.

"What?"

"We all think we'll have more time and more chances. Sometimes, we just don't."