But there came a day when he couldn't protect her—he couldn't even protect himself.

July 7th, X777.

He awoke late in the afternoon to the unusual sound of silence in the house, with the exception of his baby sister's soft snores in the other room. There was no inviting smell of bacon, nor the sizzling of the frying pan. He slipped out of bed, trying not to break the stillness.

"Mom?" He called out finally, putting a tentative hand on his parents' bedroom door. "Dad?"

There was no answer, and bravely, he pushed open the door.

Nothing.

The bed was perfectly made, as though no one had slept in it all night, and the smell of his parents (flowery perfume and wood smoke) had disappeared from the room, only faint traces on the carpet and in the now bare closet.

Everything was… Gone.

Natsu turned and scampered out the door and down the hall, bursting his sister's door open with a bang. She woke up instantly, fat, silvery tears pooling up in her doe-like eyes. He picked her up and out of the crib, a rare action, and numbly, he held onto her, afraid she would disappear.

He was only seven years old, he didn't understand. Should he call the police? What should he do? What was there to do? Fear was unknown to him, being the brash, destructive boy he was. He needed to feel protected, he needed shelter…

Lucy's house.

Lucy's house was safe. Lucy's house was warm.

He glanced around the room, and with a sharp intake of breath, he ran.

"Ms. Spetto? What's wrong with Mommy?" Lucy inquired in a soft voice, standing on her tippy-toes and straining her neck to peer at her mother on the bed. "Ms. Spetto? Why are you crying?"

"Oh, Miss Lucy," She whispered, bringing the young girl into her arms. "I'm so sorry."

"Why? What's wrong with Mommy?" Lucy asked again, pulling away from the woman slightly. Frowning, she clambered onto the bed, sitting down next to her mother. "Mommy? Mommy, wake up!"

The rays of the setting sun filtered in from the windows, illuminating Layla Heartfilia's weary body, lying gently on the bed as if she had eaten the Wicked Queen's apple. She was beautiful, but seemingly untouchable. The paleness of her face and the prominence of her cheekbones signified a life cut short, only faltered by the small smile adorning her lips.

"Miss Lucy—"

"Ms. Spetto! She won't wake up! Why won't Mommy wake up?" Lucy cried, gazing up at the maid worriedly. "Mommy, wake up!"

"Miss Lucy, Lady Layla… She…" Ms. Spetto was cut off by the abrupt opening of the door. In stepped Lucy's father, in all his stony-faced glory and stern eyes.

"Leave us," He ordered firmly. She complied slowly, gently guiding the crying heiress out of the room.

That was the last Lucy saw of her mother.

It was strange. Lucy's window was locked. It was never locked before. He tapped once, twice, thrice, just as Wendy sneezed, the chilly wind biting at their small bodies.

"Luce!" He called out quietly. Scrutinizing inside, all he saw was a dark gloom that not even the moonlight could break. "Lucy!"

Finally, it opened with much reluctance, and as soon as he jumped inside, the blonde withdrew and slumped onto the bed. He watched her as he closed the window, his own problems temporarily forgotten. Wendy grumbled softly against his chest, but he paid it no mind.

When she looked up at him, all he saw was a pair of dull, grief-clouded eyes, red and swollen from her weeping.

"Natsu," He never knew how sad his name could sound until this day. "My mommy's dead."

"Dead?" The bluntness of her words shocked him.

He set down Wendy to play with the toys scattered on the ground, before bringing the blonde into his scrawny arms. The tears dotted his shirt with small dark marks, and as he held her, he unknowingly began to cry as well.

"Mommy!" She wailed into his scarf. The rest of her cries were drowned out by his.

"Mom! Dad!" He howled, burying his face in her hair. "Where are you? Why did you leave me?"

And then they began the arduous task of drying each other's tears.

Author's Note: Um, sorry for the late update…? Please have mercy! This chapter is so…. Agh! But it had to be done (this isn't in the drama category for nothing). Be prepared for a time skip next chapter, people! Thanks for reading!