Lucy looked back over her shoulder to see Natsu running after her. Her mind froze as she thought of that night, her father saying nearly the same thing as she ran out the door of their small apartment.

She ran faster down the street, begging Levy to pick up as she called the bluenette again. She could hear footsteps getting closer to her. It reminded her of all the nightmares she had after the incident.

!

"Lucy, wait! I'm not going to hurt you!" Lucy's father called out as he chased after her, the bloody knife still clenched in his clammy palm.

Lucy runs down the stairs and out to the street, she could hear his footsteps gaining on her as he neared her. She could only shut her eyes and pray that she could outrun her father. 'Where was everyone? Why didn't the notice a girl being chased down the street by a man with a knife? Why can't I scream for help?' Lucy's mouth opened to scream, only nothing came out, not even a whisper.

!

Lucy was screaming though, she was hunched over on the sidewalk screaming in sheer terror. Her legs drawn up around her chest and her eyes were shut tight as she held her head in her hands. She was shaking uncontrollably and people in cars around her were slowing down to stare.

She didn't care, in fact she didn't even realize what was going on. All she could think about was that nightmare. That horribly nightmare that was somewhat a reality. Even though her father hadn't chased her down the street with a knife he had still killed her mom, still tore away the only love Lucy had ever known, shattered it into a million pieces, ultimately shattering Lucy as well.

!

Natsu heard Lucy's screams after losing her around a corner he ran to her, thinking she was in danger. He could feel the terror and pain through their bond and was shocked at how strong it was. It made him freeze and double over for a minute before he pushed it away and hurried to Lucy's side.

!

Lucy was still in her mind, still replaying memories and nightmares that clashed and fought for which was reality and which wasn't, when she felt strong arms wrap around her screaming, trembling form.

"No! Please don't kill me! Don't kill me daddy! I'm sorry! I forgive you for what you did to mom! Don't kill me too!" Lucy screamed in desperation and she felt the arms that had wrapped around her disappear.

"Lucy! Lucy!" came a voice, nearly drowned out by her screams. The voice didn't sound like her dad, in fact it wasn't pleasant and made her screams die down, so she could hear it again. That voice was never there in her nightmares. Still trembling and her eyes completely puffy and swollen she looked up to see a pink-haired boy in front of her.

"N-Natsu…?" Lucy whispered, her voice shaky and raw from crying. Natsu sat there in front of her on his knees, staring at the brunette with wide, shocked eyes. She was still trembling as she recalled the what had been happening that night. She gasped as she remembered they had been on a date and she was running because she had kissed Natsu, not because she was running from her dad trying to kill her.

"Oh my god…" Lucy whispered as she stared down at her shaking hands, her eyes filling with new tears. She felt Natsu's arms wrap around her again and this time she folded herself up more and into his hold as she sobbed.

She could feel Natsu stroking her hair as he held her, whispering softly to her that it was alright. Lucy slowly stopped shaking and crying and let Natsu hold her a little longer before she pulled out of his warm embrace.

"You good?" he asks quietly, wiping away the tear streaks that ran down her cheeks. She nodded softly, knowing that her voice wouldn't work. Without hesitating Natsu stood up and bent down, picking Lucy up bridal style as he walked her back to his truck, not once did he speak a word to her.

He carried her to his truck and set her down in the passenger seat, kissing her eyelids and her cheeks softly before shutting the door and going to clean up their picnic. When he came back he wrapped her up in the blanket that he had brought and sat in the truck. She thought he was going to start it and just take her home, never going to speak to her again. However, he just sat there, waiting and Lucy soon realized he was waiting for her to talk.

With a soft sigh Lucy cleared her throat and looked down at her lap while she fiddled with her fingers. And so, Lucy began to tell him about her parents, how they lived in a mansion with servants, how they loved each other more than words could describe and how they were truly soul mates, destined to be with each other forever, or so she thought.

Lucy told him about how her father lost his job and they had to move, how he began to drink and become angry, or loving and scary. She explained that at first it wasn't so bad, but it got worse the longer he was unemployed. She told Natsu about her and her mom's plans and how he would hurt her mom, making her mom fear for her daughter's life. And finally, she told him about that dreadful night, the night she wished she had gone with her mom, away from this world and all the bad things in it.

!

Natsu listened silently, staring at the brunette beauty sitting in his truck wrapped in his blanket, as she relayed the terrors that she lived through her entire life. He couldn't even begin to imagine how it must have been, to witness that, to bear that in her mind every day, to carry that on her shoulders throughout her life.

He wanted to hold her, he could see that she was trembling again, and he could feel her sadness and pain through the bond that they shared. With words unable to form on his dry mouth he scooted over and enveloped her shaking form into his sturdy one. There was no way he was letting her go after knowing what he did now.

This girl, this incredibly strong, brave girl was his soulmate, something he would be grateful for till the end of time. And as they sat in his truck, his arms wrapped tightly around her body as she cried silently into his chest, he knew, there was no way things would ever go back to the way they were before, and there was no way he was ever going to give her up.

!

Lucy woke up in her bed, her eyes crusty, red and swollen still from having cried so much last night. She didn't remember coming home or even getting into her bed, and she was even more surprised to find she still wore her outfit from the night before. She wrapped the blanket around her more and shut her eyes to go back to sleep, having slept better than she had in years. She sniffed the blanket and opened her eyes back up, this wasn't her blanket.

It was Natsu's, he had put it around her last night. So why hadn't she given it back to him when she went in the house? 'Oh no…' she thought, throwing the blanket off of her as she shot out of bed. She rushed around the room looking for her phone, feeling it in her jacket pocket, which was hanging over her chair by her desk. She opened it to check her messages, noticing some from Levy last night asking why she had called and if she was alright. There was also one from Natsu, which she dared not open. One from Erza and another from Juvia, both saying that they would be over later that day to find out why she had fallen asleep crying on Natsu on their date.

Lucy groaned and flopped back onto the bed in despair. 'What a great way to never get a date again Lucy' she thought to herself, groaning as she clutched a pillow to her face and screamed into it. 'Especially since you're actually in love with the guy, and ya know, he's your soulmate.'

Lucy heard the door click open and tore the pillow from her face slowly as she wiped away her thoughts quickly, glad her mental barrier had been up so Natsu hadn't heard her. "Hey Lu," Levy said giving the brunette a sympathetic smile.

"How bad was it?" Lucy asked as she sat up, her face stricken and pale at the thoughts running through her head. Levy hurried over to sit next to her. "It really wasn't that bad! He thought you looked adorable sleeping in his arms. He said he would have let you stay there all night, but he thought you deserved some time to think."

Lucy's heart flopped at the words and she smiled slightly to herself. 'Ok, maybe it wasn't so bad…' she thought to herself. Levy looked at her curiously, "So? What happened last night?"

Lucy told her everything, from the picnic to the crying, she sounded like she was in a dream instead of reality and it made her smile again. Levy on the other hand stared at her in shock. "Wait, you told him? Oh my god Lucy! You're in love with Natsu!" She shrieked, and Lucy quieted her down quickly. "Levy! Hush! He does live right down the street you know!" She whisper-yelled, blushing madly when she didn't disagree with the blunettes words.

Levy clapped her hands and squealed happily, hugging the brunette tightly. "Oh Lucy! Im so happy for you! You of all people deserve this!" Lucy blushed and smiled a bit, sure she didn't trust Natsu all the way, but he had helped her last night, had heard her out and listened to her story without judgement or hesitation and stuck by her even after hearing about it. Besides, people shouldn't run away from their soulmates, right?

!X!

Ok, I know, it's not long at all, I'm so sorry, but I wanted to get another chapter out to you guys and you know me, I love me a cliffhanger. So this story will be ending soon, but first, will Lucy tell Natsu she loves him or chicken out? How about a little Gruvia action? And what will Lucy do going back to school... She did cry on the side of the street, someone's bound to have noticed right? ;) Hehehe anyway! Happy Thanksgiving enjoy the short chapter! I'll post another one ASAP! Go check out my other story Gained or Lost too please as I just updated that one and its getting super interesting!