Prompt Wild

She clutched the worn letter in her hand as she stared out the trains window, her first clue. It had been a year since she last saw her best friend; he didn't even take his scarf with him… "Baka…" she mutters under her breath. 'You should have talked to me first!Because without you, death might be preferable…'

Every chance she has she spends it searching for him. With no specific direction or location all she can do is follow any clues she can find which often takes the form of dark guild destructions. Someone or something is annihilating these evil bastions and while no one has gotten a good look, the way the survivors describe what happened or the glimpses of the creature, she just feels, it is him. 'He only targets evil…I know there is still hope for him!'

Back in her apartment, she stares at the book on her desk, 'E.N.D', 'If I can just figure out a way to help him…'

~~~XX~~~

Two years have gone by with no luck, she always arrives too little, too late, damage already done, no trace of him left behind… She spends so much time looking for him that she lost her apartment and has moved into his old cottage, only taking jobs here or there to cover food and personal necessities. Their friends at Fairytail worry but she doesn't care anymore as her obsession grew, she even starts wearing his scarf… His lingering scent is the only thing that will soothe her as she cries herself to sleep each night.

A couple of dark guild headquarters had been hit recently and it was close to Magnolia so she heads for the area surmising that he might just go for the next closest one…

Hiding nearby amongst the dense brush she watches for any sign of her slayer… Soon night will be falling and she debates whether to stay or come back in the morning but before she can make her decision she hears footsteps… and voices. 'Shit!' she crouches down and starts to back up under more cover. Tripping and falling backwards over a log, the loud crunching sound echo's.

"Someone's here!" she hears shouting. "Could it be the thing?" There's at least two of them. "I don't know!" The footsteps are getting closer, she starts to panic. Flipping over, she pushes herself off the ground and breaks into a run. "There! I see someone!" "Get 'um!"

'Oh no!' She runs as fast as she can, dodging as branches scrape her limbs and face. Turning to see how close they are she doesn't see the rock jutting from the ground and trips, face planting into the hard ground.

Before she can recover someone jumps on her back, pinning her. "Gotcha!"

"No!" she screams. "Get off me!"

Flipping her over he holds her flailing arms. "Looky what we found, pretty little thing ain't ya?"

"Oooh, this is gonna be a fun one to play with…"

"Please just let me go!" tears gush down her face. Almost on instinct she starts to scream, "Natsu!"

"Shut your trap!" She stars for a second as the man on top of her slaps her face hard. "There's no one here to help you lady so keep it zipped or I will shut it for you."

Indignant she screams again, "NATSU!"

The man punches her in the stomach, knocking the wind right out of her. "Didn't I tell you…" she closes eyes, readying herself for the next blow.

A deep growling sound, something rips the man off her, screaming, two screams, thuds… silence. She peeks with one eye to see what is going on. Standing above the bodies of the two men is a creature, part man, part… something else. She closes her eyes tight again. "Please don't hurt me…" she whimpers.

Seconds tick by, and then minutes with no more sounds. Slowly opening her eyes again, this time to see the creature kneeling next to her, she shuts her eyes tight until she feels a tugging on the scarf. "No!" she shouts, eyes popping open, "You can't have that!" she shrieks at the creature. All fear cast aside, this thing was not going to take his precious scarf from her!

Blinking, she can't believe what her heart is trying to tell her. "Natsu?" She stares at the creature, arms and legs are fully covered in scales as well as some of his face and chest, yellowish eyes, folded red wings on his back, his hands are still human but the fingernails look longer and sharper. Black horns sprouting out of… her eyes widen, it's filthy, and longer, but the hair is pink! "It is you!" She sits up and throws herself on him. More tears flood from her sockets as she pounds on his chest. "You asshole! Why'd you leave me! Why!" She's screaming at him. "Why!" She pounds her fists until they hurt. Her whole body is heaving from her sobs. Too tired to continue she finally stops hitting him and just sinks against his chest. "Why Natsu?" her hoarse voice barely a whisper. "Two years… do you realize how much pain I've been in with you gone?" But the creature doesn't move, doesn't react, just stands there. She let's go and steps back. "Natsu? It's me Lucy… Don't you recognize me?" But he just stares at her. "I-I can't believe you don't remember me…" Her tears grow heavier.

He turns and starts walking away. "Wait!" she screams at him. "You can't leave me again!" When he doesn't stop walking she rushes up and grabs his shoulder. He growls at her causing her to pull her arm back. Expecting an attack, she puts her hands on her keys ready but he simply turns and keeps walking away so she grabs her travel pack and follows. Luckily for her he walks at a mild pace that she can keep up with, but as darkness descends in the forest, it becomes difficult to see.

She keeps her hands up to block branches, but trips over a log. "Oww!" she cringes when her knee hits an exposed rock. All of sudden, she feels herself being lifted up, "Natsu?" He doesn't respond but carries her until they reach a flat area outside of the tree line. With the light from the moon, she watches him curiously as he puts her back down and starts to gather branches for a campfire. 'So, he doesn't recognize me, won't talk… growled at me… but he doesn't act like a total animal either.'

He starts the fire and takes some meat out of a sack and cooks it. While he eats she does the same, pulling out food of her own and sets up her bedroll. After an hour of silence, she tries to talk to him again. "Natsu?" No response. 'Maybe he doesn't remember his name…' "Excuse me, do you have a name?" he looks at her, but doesn't say anything. "Okay, well is it okay if I just call you Natsu?" He continues to stare but doesn't reply. "Well that's what I'm gonna call you." She starts to just talk even though he never says anything back, asking him questions, then moving on to telling stories about them to try and jog his memory. All the while he just watches her, no change to his facial expressions. This goes on for several hours until Lucy is getting tired. She yawns, "I think I'll go to bed now. Please don't leave me here alone, it's scary in the dark. Good Night Natsu." She lays down on her bedroll and curls up hugging the scarf, "Good Night Lucy," she whispers to herself and closes her eyes.

But she can't fall asleep. This is not a new development for her, insomnia has become just another one of her problems since he left. When she hears him moving, she opens her eyes to see if he's leaving but to her relief he simply lies down with his wings around him like a blanket. The sight brings tears back to her eyes, wishing he was holding her again like he used to… She pulls the scarf over her face and starts to sob, doing her best to stifle any sound. 'I miss you so much Natsu!... Why'd this have to happen to us?Just when I thought things were going to get better with Zeref and Acnologia gone...' she sniffles quietly. 'And now I don't know what is worse!You being gone these last 2 years or finding you and you not recognizing me!' her tears get heavier as she curls ever tighter into a fetal position. "Natsu I miss you…" she whimpers.

He smells salt and looks over to the blonde curled up in a fetal position. Hearing the sniffling, he gets up and walks over to her. She hears him moving and opens her eyes. "Natsu?" He doesn't respond but lies down next to her and wraps a wing around them. Warmth surrounds her body, "Thank you," she murmurs and snuggles closer to him. It doesn't take long for her to fall asleep.

~~xx~~

For four days, this goes on. Lucy follows Natsu as he travels, always staying in the shadows, through forests, or other un-populated areas only stopping to hunt and sleep. Each night when her tears start falling, he lays next to her like he did that first night; a comforting act, but the only time in their travels he shows it. She doesn't know why he does it, or if he even thinks what he is doing is to comfort her, but she doesn't care; she'll take any little glimmer of hope she can get. And he doesn't stop her from following him, nor pays any attention to what she is doing either. Here and there she tries to talk to him, continues to tell him stories about them, about Fairytail and his friends hoping that something will get through but so far, no sign of recognition. By day 5 she's starting to lose hope, not to mention her feet and legs are killing her from all the walking.

Recognizing the area, Lucy realizes he's heading towards another dark guild. When they get within sight of the building he turns to her and points to where they are standing. "You want me to wait here?" she asks, but he doesn't respond. Instead he stretches his wings and takes off towards the guild. She watches in horror and amazement as he lights the building up with dragon roars, more powerful ones than she remembered, hears the screams, loud explosions and crashes. Dark black smoke billows from the structure. People rushing out of the building, he swoops in and around catching as many as he can and throws them back into the flames that have now engulfed the building. She covers her mouth in disbelief, the old Natsu avoided killing but this Natsu had no problem with it. She knew from the reports that there were very little survivors but to see it in action…

As quickly as the attack starts it ends and when no more people come out of the building he flies back to where Lucy is waiting, grabs his bag, and starts walking away; no change of expression, no remorse. "Natsu?" But as usual, he doesn't respond. She slumps her shoulders, 'Could my Natsu really be gone?'

That evening as they settle down, she tells him she needs to go and do something and to please not leave. He just looks at her, but starts making the campfire so she assumes he's not going to. She heads far enough away where she cannot see the fire anymore and calls for Leo.

"Lucy!" Leo hugs her tight, "Where have you been, we've all been worried sick about you."

"Please keep your voice down." She hugs him back, "But I'm okay I guess." He lets her go. "I um, found Natsu, and I've been following him.

"You found him!"

"Yes, but he's not… what we remember." She starts to tear up. "He doesn't remember us, he doesn't even talk," her tears turn into sobs, "it's like he's become a real dragon or an animal…"

"Oh Lucy…" Leo hugs her again as she sobs heavily into his chest. "I'm so sorry…"

"C-could you let everyone know I'm okay? But please don't tell anyone I found him, or what I'm doing. I'm hoping to figure out a way to get through to him… somehow."

"Sure Princess, I'll do that for you. But do you need anything, food, clothes; you're not looking too healthy."

"That would be great, I didn't pack for such a long journey and I can't leave him or I might lose him again."

"Stay here I'll be right back." Leo returns in a few minutes with a bag, "Here, take these."

Taking hold of the bag, "Thank you Leo." She starts to cry again as part of her doesn't want to go back to Natsu.

"What's the matter, why are you crying again." He hugs her tight.

She breaks down, "He… he kills without remorse now…" her chest heaving from her sobs. "I knew that when he attacked the dark guild there was very little survivors but to watch it happen… it br-broke my heart. I don't care about the bad guys but… it's just… the fact that the old Natsu hated killing and now…" she's shaking. "I wonder if my Natsu is really gone…"

"Lucy you can't think that…" he tightens the hug.

Out of nowhere they hear a thundering roar and something rips her out of Leo's arms.

"Natsu?!" Leo shouts but Natsu growls at him with narrowed eyes and clutches to Lucy.

"Stay back Leo!" Lucy screams, "Just go…"

Leo takes a step forward and Natsu swipes at him snarling, "But what if he hurts you!"

"I don't think he will, I think he's trying to protect me from you." Leo's eyes go wide. "Natsu, please don't Leo's our friend." She pleads, but he only responds by tightening his grip and more rumbling snarls. "Do you see what I was telling you."

Leo nods, "Alright Lucy I'll go but don't you dare hesitate to call me if he does anything…"

"I will. I promise." Leo disappears.

Natsu calms down as soon as Leo is gone. "You can let go of me Natsu. He's not going to come back." But instead he stretches out his wings as if he is going to take off. "Wait! My bag, I need it." He looks down and grabs it before taking off with her still gripped tightly.

At camp, he finally lets her go and resumes eating his dinner as if nothing just happened. She opens the bag and finds a few outfits, several bottles of water, and some easy to make meals. 'Thank you Leo.' Turning her back to Natsu, she takes a bottle of water and a rag and wipes away some of the dirt that clings to her body, the next time they pass a river or pond she really needs to take a bath. Feeling a little fresher, she strips off her soiled clothing and puts on a fresh set. When she turns around she sees Natsu staring at her and blushes, "Why are you staring at me like that?" He turns his head as if caught doing something wrong. 'Was that a blush on his cheeks?' she wonders. Grabbing a bag of spicy chips from the sack she walks over and sits near him. "Would you like some Natsu? It's spicy, just like you used to like." She holds the open bag out for him. Sniffing it first he gobbles it all down. Lucy smiles, "Guess you do still like that stuff," and proceeds to eat her own dinner.

She lets things settle back down for a couple hours before talking to him again. "Natsu why did you come looking for me?" He just stares at her. "Were you worried about me because that was really sweet of you. Did you think I was being attacked? Is that why you grabbed me?" he shakes his head no. 'Wait he's never responded before to my questions!' she screams in her head 'Am I making progress?' "Okay, if not being attacked, is it because I was crying?" he shakes his head no again. 'Hmm…' "Did you think Leo was trying to steal me from you?" He just stares at her but she swears he's blushing. "So, you thought Leo was going to take me away from you?" finally after a minute, he nods yes. Her eyes grow moist. 'Okay Lucy, think like an animal'. "D-do you see me as… as a potential m-mate?" she stammers out. His eyes expand a little, but he nods again, yes. "You were reacting out of instinct I guess." Then she thinks about how animals behave, her eyes widen, "You're not going to f-force me t-to…" He shakes his head fervently no. She exhales, "Okay, thank you Natsu." "But you don't need to worry about Leo, he's just our friend. I know you might not remember him but you two were friends before. He just wanted to make sure I was okay and to bring me supplies like these," she shows him the bag and its contents. "And I wouldn't let him take me away from you, I want to be with you. Natsu, do you understand?" He kind of nods as if he does. "Good, we're making some progress here."

That night he doesn't even wait until she starts crying, as soon as she lies down to go to sleep he lies down next to her and wraps his wings around them and this time he surprises her when he puts his arm around her waist and pulls her tight to him. She smiles and closes her eyes, "Good night Natsu."

~~xx~~

Another month passes following the same routine but a few things do change. It's like he realizes that she cannot keep walking and travelling like he does. So sometimes they stay in one place for more than a day or two, and when he picks these places there is often a river or pond nearby so they can bathe. Once a week she calls on Leo who brings her fresh clothing and takes her old stuff back to Fairytail for her, including a couple of outfits for Natsu. He brings her food and water and by her request spicy snacks after explaining the progress she's made. Of course, Leo doesn't mind as long as he doesn't hurt her. They keep their meetings short so she doesn't alarm Natsu; he may now understand that Leo meant him no harm but she wasn't willing to take any chances yet.

Six months later. Lucy has made some progress. When she asks him questions he at least responds with head or hand gestures. She tells him stories about them from the past, or of their friends and there are times she swears he reacts to certain names, places, or events with facial changes, even the occasional smile; like when she's talks about his constant bickering with Gray he actually grinned; but still no words.

A year later. One sunny day, Natsu has found them a small pond and waterfall to camp near so while he goes off hunting for their dinner, she decides to take a bath. Humming to herself as the water cascades over her body, she doesn't hear someone coming before it's too late. A hood is thrown over her head and she feels her body being dragged out of the water. She starts screaming for Natsu.

"Natsu?" she hears a male voice, 'Wait I know this person…' "How can he help you if he's been dead 3 years."

"He's not dead!" She screams. "Natsu Help!"

A loud roar, they stop moving and the person drops her; she tears the hood off and sees Natsu fighting her kidnapper. "Sting! You idiot!" She rushes between them. "Go Away before he kills you!" She hugs onto Natsu to stop him, but seeing her naked he quickly wraps his wings around her body to shield her and growls. "Damn it Sting just leave!"

"Leave? I can't leave you with him! Look at him, the END side has taken over! And you've been MIA for a year, a lot of people think you're dead too!"

"He won't hurt me but he will kill you if you try to take me away from him and I don't want to leave him either!"

"Why!" Sting screams back, "He doesn't deserve you. You should be with me instead!"

"Sting he thinks I'm his mate! I love him, damn you, now get out of here and don't you tell anyone you found us or I'll hurt you!"

"No!" Sting rushes at them, "You're coming with me Lucy."

Natsu pushes Lucy behind him and as Sting turns on his Dragon Force, he does the same. They both send a dragon roar at each other but Natsu has doubled in strength since their last fight and his roar easily pushes back and hits Sting head on sending him flying backward against a tree. While this is going on, Lucy manages to get her clothes back on and rushes to block Natsu from advancing. "It's okay," she tries to sooth the angry fire slayer. "You got him. He can't hurt us…" She see's Sting staggering to his feet. "See, now go Sting just get out of here!"

"Blondie you're crazy to stay with him!"

"Natsu is my problem not yours, just keep your mouth shut when you go home!" she snaps back.

Sting leaves and Lucy breathes a sigh of relief. She hugs tightly to Natsu who surprisingly hugs her back. "I love you so much Natsu…" She whispers. "I wish you'd come back to your senses so we can just go home..." She feels something wet hit her arm and looks up to see tears trickling down his face. "Natsu?"

"L-Luce." He stutters like a child learning to talk again. "Love y-you too."

Her eyes fill with moisture. "I knew it, I knew you were starting to remember things! Natsu… you do remember me now, right?"

He nods, "Yes."

She squeezes him again, "Let's go back to camp. Did you catch dinner?" He nods and picks up a couple of rabbits he had caught. She smiles, "How about I make you spicy stew?" That brings a grin to his face.

After dinner, she sits beside him and leans on his shoulder. "I have something I want you to look at, do you remember how to read?" he nods yes. She hands him a paper, "This was the last letter you left me before you disappeared." He opens it up carefully and slowly reads, moisture again filling his eyes as well as hers. 'I'm sorry Lucy.I wish things had been different.I didn't realize until it was too late that the strange feelings I would have around you was…. Love.But the demon inside of me is getting stronger, and I'm scared I won't be able to control it.I won't risk putting you in any harm especially, from me, so I have to leave.Please don't try to find me.I'll always love you Luce….3 Natsu'

She sniffles but smiles, "Maybe that love was still buried deep down somewhere and that's why you couldn't hurt me all this time. And why after only a week you started looking at me like a potential mate, because if you hadn't left, that's probably what we'd be already…" she blushes.

"You be my m-mate?"

"Yes." She smiles at him.

"But… How you love me?" He looks down. "I'm monster."

"I don't care what you look like or what you've done. It could never change the love I have for you."

He tugs his scarf that she still has wrapped around her neck. "This why attracted mate, you had my scent on you."

"You thought I was already marked by you?"

He nods. "Couldn't remember."

"Natsu, I've studied your book for 3 years and I think I've figured out a way to help you."

"Book?"

"Oh, I guess you don't remember that. Um, you died 400 years ago as a child and your brother Zeref brought you back to life. The reason you have a demon side is because that's what he could make you into. Your full name is Etherious Natsu Dragneel or END for short." She stands up and grabs his book from her bag. Sitting back down she puts it on her lap. "When you fought Zeref 3 years ago, he killed you a second time, but I was able to bring you back by fixing your story." He looks at her confused. "I know it's a lot to try and understand, especially since you don't remember everything. Honesty I don't even know how I was able to do it because I was told that touching your book should have killed me too."

"If dangerous, don't want you try."

"I'll be okay," she lies and smiles to him. "I guess when you had to trigger your END side, it slowly started to take over until it fully controlled you. I think I can reverse it or something. But I'll need Levy's help with writing that out correctly."

"Levy?"

"Do you remember her?"

"Gajeel's girl."

"Yeah! That's her!" she puts down the book and hugs him. "You are starting to remember!"

"Need go home?"

"Unless you want me to go by myself?"

He shakes his head no, "I come too."

"If we leave tomorrow morning it'll take us a few days of walking."

He grins and shakes his head no, "fly now, better dark."

"Okay, um let me pack up. I can have Leo transport our stuff home so we don't have to carry things." She packs as she talks, "Oh, I'm so excited! Wait, do you remember home?" He shakes his head no. "Well, you have a cottage that you lived in with your Exceed friend, Happy and I used to live in an apartment but after you left I moved into your cottage so that's now 'our' home. Happy lives with his girlfriend Charle now, most of the time."

"Remember Happy…"

"You remember Happy?" He nods, "That's awesome, Happy will be, well happy to see you again." He smiles. "Who do you remember?"

"Most Fairytail, stories helped."

"The stories I'd tell you?" he nods his head. "What about other guilds?"

He shakes his head no, "Not much."

"Is that why you didn't recognize Sting?" he nods yes. "Okay, we can work on that." She packs up the last of their things. "Well that's everything, I'm just gonna call Leo is that okay?"

He nods yes, "Remember Loke."

"Oh, he'll be thrilled you remember him!" she pulls out Leo's key.

"Hey Lucy, everything okay?"

"Everything is great! Natsu is starting to remember things."

Leo turns to Natsu, "Do you remember me now?"

Natsu nods his head yes, "A little."

"Awesome Man, I'm glad to have you back!"

"Leo could you do us a huge favor and transport our stuff to the cottage?"

"Sure, anything for you two." He grabs their stuff. "See you back at home Natsu, Lucy." And disappears

"Are you ready Natsu?" he nods. "Are you nervous?" he nods again. She hugs him, "I'll be right by your side okay, I'll never leave you..." He sighs and leans his head on her shoulder. "…Ever."

Speaking slow to put the words together, "Thank you Luce… for not… giving up...on me."

~~xx~~

It's almost 3 in the morning by the time they reach their cottage in Magnolia. Exhausted from flying for hours, Natsu is ready to pass out. Lucy quickly cleans up and changes the musty bedding where he plops down. "Miss, soft."

She smiles. "I'm gonna take a quick shower okay, then I'll join you." Nodding, his heavy lids already starting to close. Once he hears the water turn on and Lucy humming a tune, his eyes close completely and he drifts off to sleep.

When she gets out of the bathroom, Lucy is towel drying her hair as she stares down at the sleeping man, this is the first time in the last year that she's seen him look so peaceful. Climbing on she cuddles to his side and starts to drift off but when he feels her against him, he weaves his arm around her body and wraps his wing over them, "Night, Luce."

Her eyes get a little moist and heart quickens. "Good Night Natsu."

~x~

The next morning, she wakes early to sneak out to a store but just in case she leaves a note on the pillow. When she returns, he's still asleep so she tosses the note and gets to work with breakfast. Spicy egg omelet with peppers and cheese, bacon, pancakes, and juice; he wakes to a smorgasbord of aromas.

"Yum!" he's grinning when he walks into the kitchen.

Smiling, "Good morning Natsu."

"Morning Luce." He weaves his arms around her waist. "Remember cooking."

"You do?" he nods "Miss it."

Her eyes tear up and she turns around in his arms, "I missed you…" she stares in his eyes. "…so much."

"Can I… Kiss…" her heart starts beating faster as she nods her head yes. He leans down a little nervous and kisses her lips. "Soft…" he mutters.

She smiles, "My first…"

"Kiss?" he cocks his head.

She nods, "We never got this far before and I waited for you to be my first."

"Me too." He smiles, "Again?"

"Oh yeah!" she initiates it this time, kissing him more roughly than he had expected. Nibbling his lower lip, when he parts them their tongues start to dance. He loves the way she tastes... She moans in his mouth while weaving her hands in his hair. All his senses are on overload, he can't stop his own hands from moving along lower until they've reached her backside. When he squeezes her ass, she moans again exciting him further but just as suddenly he pulls away from her. "What's wrong Natsu?"

He shakes his head, "Might hurt you."

"Why would you hurt me?"

"Barely control myself."

"You think you might lose control and be too rough?" he nods and hangs his head.

"It's okay Natsu," she massages his head and runs her fingers through his hair. "We can go slow."

"Thank you."

She kisses his lips again, "How about breakfast then?" That bring a smile back to his face.

~~x~~

While he finishes up his meal, Lucy leaves to find Levy. It's been a year and since she hadn't stayed in touch, she didn't know what everyone was up to so she starts at the guild hall. As soon as she walks in there's screaming and people rushing up to her but the loudest is definitely her best friend; her now pregnant best friend.

"Lu!" Oh my God you're finally back!"

"Levy!" she hugs the girl, "Wow I return and you're pregnant!"

Levy giggles, "Just 4 months. We had to put off the wedding until after the baby is born cause I'm not walking down the aisle looking like a balloon."

Lucy chuckles and hugs her friend again, "I'm so happy for you! But I need to talk to you in private… with Gramps."

"Is everything okay?"

"Oh, I'm ecstatic." She grins as the two friends walk towards the Master's office.

"Gramps I've got news on Natsu." Even Levy's eyes widen

"You found him?" Lucy nods, "How is he?"

"Well, when I found him a year ago he was almost feral, didn't remember me, didn't remember anyone or anything, he didn't talk, nothing. But I decided to work on him. By six months I could tell some it was returning, but not much. It was only yesterday actually that he finally spoke and told me he remembered at least everyone here. He can read words, but he's still having difficulty saying them." She sighs, "I'm just happy he remembers me."

Levy- "If he was almost feral when you found him, I'm surprised he didn't just attack you."

"I was too, but he told me yesterday it was the scarf and the fact I had his scent on me that stopped him." She recounts in greater detail the last year of their life to the shock of Levy and Makarov.

Makarov- "I won't bother turning him in for the destruction of the dark guilds, he was doing us a favor by getting rid of them. But what concerns me is do you think he'll snap again?"

"I can't say for sure, but he hasn't gone after any in the last seven months."

Makarov- "And you think you've found a way to fix him?"

"Yes, that's why I need Levy's help. I was able to fix his book once and I know I can do it again. But when it comes to wording an enchantment correctly, I'd rather have someone more skilled help me."

Levy smiles, "Of course I'll help you guys."

"Thank you Levy."

Levy- "I'm just glad you are both home."

Makarov- "For the time being it's best if no one else knows he's back."

"I agree and I'm sure he would too."

Makarov- "Do you think he'd be willing to see me?"

"He knows I came to find Levy, but I don't think he'll mind you too. He's finally comfortable with Leo coming around me."

"Why, does he react to males being around you?"

"A little, but only if they threaten or try to take me away from him."

Levy giggles, "He sees you as his mate huh? Gajeel is the same way now."

Lucy blushes, "Yeah, he started being possessive only a week after I found him. He could'a killed Sting when he found us and tried to kidnap me."

Makarov- "He almost killed Sting?!"

"I warned Sting to stay away but the idiot tried to fight Natsu. Truth be told I think Natsu was holding back cause I've seen what he can do to a whole guild and Sting walked away with barely a scratch. He just wanted Sting to leave me alone."

Makarov- "Well that's good news, sounds like he's gained some control over his actions."

Levy- "Or maybe you're influence still works on him."

"Is that what people think, that I can somehow control him?"

Levy giggles, "Not all the time, but yeah."

Lucy blushes, "Well, guys, I don't want to leave Natsu alone for too long, so we should go."

~x~

When the trio arrives at the cottage, Lucy leaves them outside to check with Natsu first. "Natsu?" she doesn't see him immediately but hears the shower running and walks to the bathroom door knocking, "Natsu are you in there?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I have Levy and Gramps outside, is it okay for them to come in?"

"Yes."

"We'll be in the living room."

"Okay."

Feeling a little naughty, she tests the knob and finds it unlocked. Peeking her head in, she can see his naked form through the mist facing away from her. "Nice body," she growls suggestively.

He turns his head and uses his wing to cover his body, "Naughty!" he retorts.

Stepping into the room a bit she puts her hand on a hip and cocks it to the side, "I'm allowed to check out my mate's sexy body," she teases back with an indignant smirk, "If I want to."

"Oh yeah!" he quickly grabs her by the wrist before she can escape and pulls her into the shower with him.

"Natsu!" she's screaming and giggling at the same time. "Now I'm soaking wet! A-and they're waiting outside!"

"See you." He points at her body.

Looking down at herself she remembers she had worn a white top that's now see through. "Uh! Now who's the perve!" she giggles blushing. He starts to laugh as his wings pull back. Sigh, "It's been so long since I've heard your laughter Natsu." "I…" But her voice cuts off when she sees his package. Her face turns bright red and she slams her eyes shut. "I-I should be going."

"Why?"

"Y-you are still naked remember, a-and I can see everything…"

He looks down at himself. "Oh. No like?"

"Like t-too much," she stammers beat red, "I-If I don't leave I may not be able to control myself…"

He chuckles, "Soon? I hope."

She opens her eyes, and softens them, "Me too."

Grabbing a spare towel, she hurries and changes in the bedroom then goes to get Levy and Gramps. "Everything okay my dear? Why is your hair wet?"

She blushes, "Um, water fight in the bathroom."

"Uh-huh…" Levy smirks.

"Anyways he'll be out soon. Let's sit in the living room for now."

Levy- "In the meantime, can I take a look at the END book?"

"I'll bring it out, but I don't think it's safe for you to touch it."

Makarov- "Why is that?"

"I was told I should have died when I started touching the words in it, but for some reason it didn't kill me. So just to be on the safe side, I don't let anyone else touch it."

At the same time she's walking out of the bedroom with the book, Natsu is coming out of the bathroom, changed and cleaner looking. She holds out her hand to him and he willingly takes hold of it making her smile. "Come on," she squeezes, "They're excited to see you."

While the two girls talk about the book, Gramps and Natsu catch up on lost time. "So how you doing my boy? I'm glad to see you again."

"Happy I home."

"It's a good thing Lucy found you. She never gave up hope that girl…" Natsu looks over at Lucy who's chatting and giggling with Levy. "…that she'd find you and bring you home again."

Natsu smiles. "I love her."

"Finally, to hear you say those words!" Makarov tears up, "warms my old heart."

Makarov stays for an hour, but Levy longer as she and Lucy immediately get to work on the book. To keep him busy, Lucy brings out photo albums, scrap books, and any other nostalgia she can find in the cottage for him to go through; maybe it will jog more of his memories. But her first and most important task is to get him changed back.

Lucy opens the book up to a specific page, "As far as I can tell, this is where it talks about his ability to morph into END." She points. "See here."

Levy reads, "Yeah, I see what you're talking about. So, you think if we can figure out a way to cut it out of the book or something, he'll become the old Natsu again?"

Lucy sits back in her chair, "That's what I'm hoping for." She looks over to Natsu as he slowly flips through an album. "Or at least give him the ability to turn it off and on when he wants to, not it controlling him."

"Tweaking the words that are already there might be the easiest route." Levy taps her chin. "Like here…" she looks back at the book, "… where it say's 'Once the END form is fully manifested, it will become the conscious entity'. You could add something like, 'until the host chooses to turn this form off' or before the word 'become' add 'will not' and after 'entity' add 'only it's physical aspects'.

"Or all of what you just said." Lucy takes scrap paper and writes it out. 'Once the END form is fully manifested, it will not become the conscious entity, only it's physical aspects until the host personality chooses to turn this form off.'

"That sounds good, in theory. Now the question is will it work in reality?"

"What's scary is once I start making the changes, I can't stop. No matter what happens I just have to finish it and hope for the best. It could work or it could make things worse."

"Makes me wonder where Zeref even learned to write these books. I've never come across anything in the magic library that tells you how to do it."

"And now he may have taken that information to his grave."

~x~

The girls talk for another hour or so until Lucy makes them all dinner.

Levy- "So Natsu, did you want to see anyone else? Maybe Gray or Happy?"

"Afraid to."

"Are you worried about how you look?" he nods. Levy chuckles, "You don't look so bad, maybe just a bit scruffy from being a hermit all these years. All you really need is a hair trim and maybe cut your nails a little, that's all."

"Think so?"

Levy nods and smiles sweetly, "I think so, Lu, what do you think?"

"Actually, I kinda like his longer hair."

Levy giggles, "Well what the woman wants is more important. Happy wife, happy life."

Natsu cocks his head, "But Luce not wife."

Levy smirks, "Not yet, but for as long as you two have been together, close enough."

He blushes and Lucy turns bright red. "Levy!" but she's laughing. "Don't scare him!"

Levy- "It's okay Natsu, when you're ready, come by the guild okay, no one will care what you look like. We just all miss you."

Natsu- "Thank you Levy."

~x~

After Levy leaves for the evening, Lucy sits Natsu down and explains the plan they came up with. She watches his reactions carefully and when his brows furrow she stops, "What's wrong Natsu."

"Remember Gray told me…what…happened," he speaks slowly so he can get all his words out, "…when you fixed, book. Scared you, hurt again."

"Natsu," she grabs his hand, "it looked worse than it actually was. I came out fine. See," she caresses his face, "nothing's wrong with me." He returns the gesture. Closing her eyes, she sighs and leans into his touch, "I need to do this for you Natsu."

He exhales, "Okay Luce."

When she opens her eyes, he's still staring at her so she smiles and whispers, "Kiss me again Natsu..." He leans in and kisses her soft and slow...

~~x~~

Early the next morning while the sun is barely visible over the horizon, Lucy wakes up and sneaks out of the bedroom leaving him to sleep in. She had decided to carry out her plan without him or anyone else around to stop her just in case it didn't work. What Lucy hadn't told Levy is how she had travelled to the Alvarez palace and was able to find old scrolls Zeref left behind that describes the writing of the demon books. The last time she altered the book, she was simply re-filling in the words that had been lost. But in order to change words or structure, she would be required to use blood mixed with the ink. It sounds drastic but if that was what the instructions said, she was willing to make any sacrifice to help Natsu.

Hidden inside a cabinet was the tools she had hoped to use if this day ever came. Pulling the ink and a special fountain pen out along with a small, sharp knife she sets to work, pricking her finger and allowing the blood to drip into the bottle. She was unsure of how much blood is required but decides to make it a 50/50 mix. Now ready she opens the book to the page…

Exhaling, 'It's now or never!' She begins the short yet powerful alterations.

As soon as the pen touches the paper, an electricity shoots through her arm. Just like before, as she slowly adds the new words, her eyes widen, her body stiffens, and runes appear on her body. It takes all her energy and willpower to concentrate. 'Once the END form is fully manifested it will not become…'Midway through a new sensation takes over, it feels as-if something is trying to enter her body but she couldn't stop if she wanted to, her body compels her to continue, '…the conscious entity, only it's physical aspects…' Without warning she can hear in her head Natsu mumbling her name, is she hearing things? Colors start to change before her eyes, the smells around her intensify, and she feels hotter. '…until the host personality chooses to turn this form off.' With the last words set in blood, her hand drops to the side and the book begins to glow but she cannot move. 'What's going on?' she's screaming but no words come out. Finally, her body begins to relax again but she is drifting in and out close to fainting. The last thing she sees is Natsu stumbling towards her wingless…

She wakes up on the bed. "Natsu?" she groans, her eyes open and try to adjust to the daylight. A hazy figure hovers over her face and she reaches out to it.

"Lucy?" a hand meets hers and grips on tightly. "Luce can you hear me?"

"You don't need to shout…" she winces, "I can hear you fine."

"But I'm not shouting."

Squinting her eyes as the figure comes into focus, pink hair. "Natsu?"

"Yes Luce, I'm right here," he squeezes her hand again, "Thank God you're alright, you had me so scared!"

"You're talking normal again…"

"Whatever you did worked, I seem to be back to my old self, I still have it but now and I can control my END side…. Though, you may be a little different now."

"Why, what do you mean?" he helps her to sit up, "Is it bad?"

"Depends on your perception. I don't think it is."

She swings her legs off the bed, "Please, take me to the mirror, I-I wanna see." He helps her walk to the closest one. As she stares at herself her mouth drops, standing there is a blonde woman with red highlights. "Is that it? I can handle that."

"You smell different Luce, you smell like me a little, and I sense slayer magic in you now." His expression turns serious. "What happened when you touched that book and I want the truth Luce."

"I-I had to use my blood mixed into the ink to seal the spell. It, may have tied me to you in some way… I'm now a part of your book." She sighs, "The process put me in a trance, I started to hear your voice in my head, all my senses were increasing, I felt like my body was on fire… and the last thing I remember before passing out is you walking towards me."

"I hope that's the only changes and something new doesn't show up later."

"Don't scare me Natsu!" her body flares. "This was hard enough as is without you making me feel bad. I did this for you!" His eyes widen as he sees scales popping up along her arms. "At least show some appreciation that I risked my life for you!" More scales.

"Um Luce, you should calm down…"

"Why!" she screams

"L-look at your arms…"

She looks down and gasps, "I have scales!"

"You didn't a moment ago, they started appearing when you got angry.

"What's going on Natsu?" panic in her voice.

"That's the slayer traits being triggered by your emotions."

Shrieking, "Seriously!" her whole body erupts in flames.

"Lucy! You need to calm down!" he grabs her arms, "Or you'll set the house on fire."

She starts to cry, "I-I don't kn-know how to control it!"

He sucks up some of the flames before they can spread. "Lucy, breathe," he hugs her tight, "Just try to relax baby, it's gonna be okay. I'll teach you how to control it."

The flames die out. "Natsu…" she whimpers, "I didn't expect this to happen."

"At least you're still alive right, having new powers isn't so bad. And now I don't have to worry about hurting you by accident."

She sniffles and half chuckles. Sigh, "I guess you're right. It could have been worse." Hugging tight, "I'm so happy to have you back Natsu, my Natsu…" her voice trailing off.

He smiles down at her, "Me too Luce…" Their gazes linger, she licks her lip as he leans lower and captures them. Passions build, their hands groping, he grips, needy, wonton, she presses her hips tight against him. "Shall we continue from yesterday?" a low growl in the timbre of his voice. Without a word, she rubs the bulge in his pants and looks at him with a lust and longing that actually makes him nervous. He picks her up, gripping to her ass as she wraps her legs around his waist and heads to the bedroom…

~x~

Waking up in his arms in the darkness of their room, she cuddles to the warm body next to her. His light snores soothing her, lulling her eyes closed again. But her stomach starts growling, reminding her they had missed dinner. She doesn't want to move as part of her still believing she'll wake up from this dream back in the middle of a forest again. She sighs as the grumbles of her body grow louder. He stirs next to her, "Luce, is that your stomach?" his voice still raspy from sleep.

"Yeah... I guess I should go eat."

"Want me to make you something?" he offers

She laughs, "You wanna cook me food?"

"Hey!" But his voice trails. "I can make instant ramen…"

"That sounds nice actually." She squeezes his waist.

He sits up, "Ramen it is!" he grins. Getting off the bed he slips boxers on and walks to the kitchen. After a few minutes she joins him, having donned one of his shirts. He chuckles, "That's a dress on you." She sticks her tongue at him smiling. He kisses her cheek, "But you're adorable in it."

She wraps her arms around his waist, "So we're mate's now, right?"

He turns around in her arms and kisses the new mark on her collar bone, "Yes."

"And…" she touches his mark "…now I'm stuck with you…" a chuckle to her voice

"Forever." he grins. "Stuck with this goofy big kid"

"You forgot sexy." She smiles at him, "my sexy dragon."

They grab their bowls and plop down on the couch. "Luce I think we can go to the guild tomorrow."

"If you wish, even I'll feel a little out of place; being gone a year… but it was all worth it." She smiles.