Hey everyone! I am so so so so sorry for taking so long to update! School got hectic and I started running out of time due to homework and extracurricular activities. I'm so sorry for taking so long.

Thanks so much to everyone that followed, favorited, and/or reviewed! And thank you so so much to everyone that's stuck with me through bad update times! It means the world to me.

Well, without further ado. . .

Here's chapter twelve!

EDIT 3-13-16: I accidentally put Lucy's last name as Hearfillia when Igneel is introducing her. I changed it to Ashley because that's what she's going by since she doesn't want anyone to know she comes from a rich family. I apologize for the mistake.

ALSO Review Responses are up!


Natsu's POV

I was vaguely aware of holding something when I started to wake up. I didn't know what I was gripping so tightly, but it must have been important for me to hold on the way I was. All I knew was that it was warm and smelled really nice, like strawberries and vanilla. It also just felt right to hold it in my arms.

So I can admit it wasn't much of a surprise when I cracked open an eye to find Lucy sound asleep in my arms.

She looked so peaceful, so happy, so carefree, that I couldn't help but stare at her rosy cheeks, her long eyelashes, her soft lips, curled into a small smile. She was so beautiful in that moment, like an angel. I didn't know what came over me then, but I couldn't help but want to kiss her.

I held back though, instead brushing some of her blond hair away from her eyes. I couldn't be sure, but I swore she smiled a little more at my touch. However, I couldn't find out because her chocolate eyes fluttered open and the next thing I knew she was staring into my eyes and I was returning her gaze. Then she leaned in and I leaned forward too.

And then the door burst open.

Lucy jumped back, startled, and sent me tumbling to the floor with an unintentional kick. I brought the bedspread down with me in my haste to grab something so as to not plummet to the floor. Lucy nearly face-planted on the ground but managed to regain her balance on the edge of the bed before she did so.

I looked over to my dad, who was standing in the doorway, trying his damned hardest not to laugh. Let's just say he failed miserably at it. He burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching his sides. Lucy was giggling too, but I scowled as I untangled myself from the covers and stood up.

I didn't fully know what had just been about to happen between Lucy and me. Were we going to kiss? Or was she still half asleep, not knowing what she was doing? Was she just going to move closer and nestle her head in the crook of my neck? What was happening?

It didn't take long for Dad to calm down and, when he did, he looked at us with such seriousness that I got a little scared.

"Good morning," he said, to which we replied with a simultaneous 'Morning'. "You both should get dressed. I called the police, and they'll be here in thirty minutes."

Our joyous mood was gone with that one statement, and Dad left the room with the silence as his only indicator we had heard what he said. I looked over to Lucy, still sitting on the bed. Her head was lowered and her eyes looked glazed over. I wondered if she knew who the intruders that tried to capture her were, but dismissed the thought. Wouldn't she have told us if she did? I liked to believe she would.

"Lucy?" I asked when a few moments had passed and she hadn't moved at all. "Lucy, you okay?" I moved towards her, sitting next to her on the bed. She didn't look up.

I placed a tentative hand on her shoulder and asked her again. When she still didn't respond, I gently used my pointer finger to lift her gaze to meet mine.

"Hey," I said. "It's going to be okay. I'll personally make sure no one hurts you, Luce. I promise."

"Natsu . . ." she trailed off.

I found myself saying more. "I don't know what those two men want, but I swear on my life that they will not harm you. No one will. You're amazing, you know that? You're the kindest person I've ever met, with such bright eyes and an adorable smile. Not to mention your endearing personality and the way you make people happy just by walking into the room. Whatever those men want, I'll make absolutely certain they never get it. You're an angel, Luce, and I will make sure that no one makes you fall."

I don't know why I said it. But I don't regret it because it's the truth.

Lucy burst into tears then. From what, I don't know. It could've been what I just confessed. It could have been the stress of last night finally crashing down on her. It could have well been anything. I'll never know.

But as she reached out and clutched onto me like a lifeline, bawling and sobbing into my chest, I knew for damn well sure that no one was going to hurt her. Not while I was there.

In my rage-filled, determined state, I almost didn't hear her next words. But I did, and my body went rigid when she managed to say them between sobs and gasps for air.

"I think I know who sent them."

LINE BREAK

Lucy's POV

I was blessed to have Natsu there. I really was. He was always looking after me, protecting me, and I knew I depended on him more than I should. But I couldn't help it. Not only did he always support and help me, he wanted to. I could see in his eyes that that's what he wanted to do.

So I believed that that was why he let me sob into his chest. I didn't think much of it—just a person wanting to comfort their best friend.

Once I had cried all my tears out, I slowly pulled away from him. We sat there for a little bit before deciding we should probably get dressed before the police arrived.

Natsu went back to his room, closing my door on his way out, and I changed into a baggy T-shirt and a comfortable pair of jean shorts. I ran a brush through my hair, choosing to keep it down. Feeling no need for makeup, I exited my room and went downstairs.

My pink—sorry, salmon—haired friend was already at the table, gobbling up some pancakes his mom had most likely made. I grabbed a plate and scooped three hot flapjacks onto it, then sat down across from Natsu and dug in.

My appetite went away, though, when the doorbell rang. The police were early.

Mr. Dragneel stood from his spot on the recliner to answer the door. I heard him greet the two uniformed officers before inviting them in. They strode to the kitchen, where I was now rinsing off my plate after giving Natsu the two pancakes I hadn't eaten. Natsu was rising from his seat to put his dishes away.

The two cops were very different. One was lean yet muscular, but seemed to be more brains than brawn. He held his long, dark hair in a ponytail with two bangs framing his face and an unruly tuft covering his forehead. His irises were a strange color for eyes. Lavender is what I concluded. Calculating and sly, they were hidden behind circular-lensed glasses. He wore a badge indicating that he was a Detective.

The other man looked to be his partner. Unlike the Detective, he had short, shaggy jet-black hair with messy strands covering his forehead. His eyes were a captivating turquoise, and they seemed to hold so much within them. There was an oddly shaped scar running down the left side of his face, the story of which I was afraid to know. He wore his uniform more sloppy than his partner: wrinkled and slightly unbuttoned. But he had an air around him that told me he was experienced and deadly.

"Lucy, this is Detective Lahar," Mr. Dragneel said, indicating to the now seated Detective. "And this is Officer Doranbolt," he continued, gesturing to the turquoise-eyed man. "Detective, Officer Doranbolt, this is Lucy Ashley."

The two men nodded greeting to me. Detective Lahar then said, "Let's get right down to business, shall we?"

I nodded, and he followed with standard questions: What's my full name; why am I at the Dragneel's house; who is my family. I answered each of his questions in turn, and then he got down to the serious stuff.

"So," he started. "You were attacked last night by two men in the guest room, where you were staying for the night, correct?"

"Yes," I said.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened?" he asked, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen.

"Sure," I replied, trying to act to calm. "It was late—probably after midnight. I was sleeping, having a dream, when I was jolted awake by a hand over my mouth."

I paused, remembering the feeling of a large, tough hand clamped over my mouth. I recalled the absolute terror I felt as I looked into red eyes I somewhat recognized.

"Can you continue?" the Detective asked me, not pushy, but instead actually asking if I could continue emotionally.

I nodded again and went on.

"Somehow I was able to bite down on the man's hand and he removed it just long enough for me to scream. But he recovered quickly and muffled most of it.

"In that moment I thought 'This is the end. I'm going to die.'

"But I didn't.

"Natsu was arrived as one of them stuffed a gag in my mouth. He was furious, from what I could tell. Everything is kind of a blur from there because it happened so fast. The smaller man—the one not currently twisting my arm behind my back—was suddenly in the doorway instead of in front of me. And Natsu—Natsu was crumpled to the floor in the hallway, having been rammed into the wall."

I became emotional then, remembering what it had felt like to see him unmoving there, at the mercy of that man. My eyes watered and I took a minute to calm down. Neither cop rushed me, which I was thankful for.

When I pulled myself together, I continued.

"Seeing him gave me hope, and I had to help him somehow, so I began kicking and struggling. The man was too strong though. There wasn't much I could do. And the other man was already stuffing the gag back in my mouth. But Natsu—he kicked the man into the dresser. Then he charged."

I stopped again, not really knowing how the fight went from there because I had tried to free myself of the bigger man's grip and didn't see the fight between Natsu and the red-eyed man. I told the cops that that was all I could recall and apologized. Detective Lahar said there was no need for apologies and was about to say something else when Natsu interrupted.

"I can tell you what happened. I'm Natsu, the one who fought with the man."

Detective Lahar seemed pleased and asked Natsu to take a seat next to me. Natsu did so and began where I left off.

"We tumbled. Punches were thrown. But in the end he was on top of me, pinning me down with his knee on my chest and his hands holding down my own at the wrists. I was so angry. I wanted to know what he wanted with Lucy. He wouldn't tell. I was still pinned when Dad came in with a shotgun and demanded they leave. They let go of Lucy and me, and Lucy and I left the room and came down here. Dad later said they escaped through the window."

When he finished, he looked at me. I was looking at him, and he reached for my hand under the table. Our fingers intertwined underneath the table, where no one could see the supportive action.

"Thank you, both of you," Detective Lahar said. Then he asked, "Can you describe what these men looked like?"

I described them for him: the blood-red eyes of the smaller, black-haired man; the electric-blue tips of the bigger man's spiky black hair. Natsu filled in anything I left out. All the while Detective Lahar wrote notes down in his notepad and Officer Doranbolt sat there quietly, stoically, ideas and theories swimming in his eyes as he turned over every little detail and thought things out.

Detective Lahar finished scribbling down our descriptions and said, "Natsu, Lucy, could you take Officer Doranbolt to see the room where this happened while I ask Mr. and Mrs. Dragneel some questions?"

"Okay," Natsu said and rose to his feet.

The officer stood too, and Natsu lead him upstairs; I followed them silently.

As Natsu showed Officer Doranbolt where the events of last night had happened, I stood back, watching them, but not hearing a word they said. I was too busy reliving that night. In my mind, I pictured the assailants, detailing their looks down to the smallest of freckles. I swore I had seen them somewhere before. It was as if I knew them.

Then I remembered.

I did know them.

They worked for Jude Heartifilia.

My father.


So now that you know who they work for, I would love to know who you think the two men are :)

I'm happy with the way this chapter turned out and am excited to write the rest of this story.

Thanks again to everyone still reading.

'Til next time!

-AlphaDemon

Review Responses:

PancakeLover9000 - I'm so happy you like my story!

TokyoTeddyWolf - Thanks! *shoves cake in mouth*

Guest - Sorry for the wait!

Alice Fairii - I'm so sorry it happened to you and I promise she'll get what she deserves.

Guest - Thank you so much!

Janime - I'm glad you love it!

JustLOL - Thanks! Sorry this chapter took so long, and sorry chapter 13 is taking forever too.

050300NALU - Thanks! I'm sorry I take so long on the chapters :(

LOL - Ikr! Like, I understand why/how people can ship NaLi, but there's not much in canon that suggests they feel that way. As for your guess of who they work for, you're pretty spot on.

Guest - OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Jade - Thanks! And I will!

KawaiiBaby - Thank you! Sorry updates are so slow!

Panda - Thank you!

guest - Natsu is bae.

Weeeeeee3 - Yes I will definitely write more!

AAPL - Thanks so much! Jellal will come in, I promise! (It's fine reviewing as a guest btw)

Guest - Ahh, thank you so much! I promise that I won't abandon this story, but I have no idea how updates will go.