N/A: Soo, promised two chapters. Here's the last of the 'consequences' trio.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. But, if I did.. Well, let's say Fare woudn't be so god damned scary! :o

Ch.13 Facing the consequences Part 3.

Natsu stood in front of Lucy, keeping her out of sight from Laxus. A snarl on the younger teen's face stopped Laxus from trying to get any closer to Lucy. Instead, he chose to look at Natsu first and explain. "I know you two don't want to see me right now. I know you probably want to kill me, Natsu, and I don't blame you. I would do the same if someone had done what I did to Cana.." Raising his right hand to scratch the back of his head, Laxus looked down at his feet. He wasn't nervous, more like anxious to get this over with. Though, he wanted it to sound as sincere as he felt. Somehow he knew it wasn't going the way he thought it would. Natsu was still giving him a snarl, while keeping Lucy behind him. The girl looked to be shivering. Something she had done last night, while he had been chasing her through this exact garden.

"Look Natsu. I want to show how sorry I am for my mistake. I know I shouldn't have done what I did. And I really am sorry to you, Lucy. I knew you didn't have any feelings for me, not like that, at least. I shouldn't have tried to force myself on you.. I don't know why I even did it. I'm here, right now, to try and get your forgiveness. To do or take whatever comes my way. I don't mind if Natsu kicks my ass, or you yell at me, or use your celestial spirits on me.."

It was a little odd to see this head strong, buff, tall and towering hunk of a man being reduced to an apologizing heap of nerves. Natsu felt like laughing at him, but he kept his snarl in place. He would be strong for Lucy, because that's what she needed at the moment. Lucy had heard all that Laxus had said and brought up a little bit of the courage she had pushed aside and looked over Natsu's shoulder, to peek at the would-be-rapist. He looked sincere enough, but she had to wonder what made him change his mind. Last night, he was a totally different person.

"L-Laxus.. Why are you so sorry today..? I mean.. What made you see why you were wrong?" The blonde male looked at the small woman standing safely behind her boyfriend. The lightening wizard looked from the celestial to her fire user boyfriend, "I knew I was wrong last night. But, that doesn't mean I would have stopped. Cana, she helped me realize that I had someone already, just didn't know it. And, even though I would have came to see you two on my own.. The old man said if I didn't amend my actions, I'd be kicked out." He gave the two an unsure look, not knowing how they would take the admission.

Natsu had begun to see red. 'He only came because the old man threatened to expel him?' Before her boyfriend could act out a reenactment of the night before's fight, Lucy stepped up. She could tell that Laxus had been trying to apologize, even if he was to get expelled for lack of acceptance. Though she could not yet give him a smile of reassurance, Lucy nodded her head to the taller man. "Laxus.. I know you're trying really hard.. And I want to forgive you, eventually, I know I will.." Looking down and to the side of her, she continued to speak. Natsu had grabbed one of Lucy's hands and gave a reassuring squeeze, telling her she was safe as long as he was there.

"But, right now.. I can't help but to be scared of you. Last night, it could have ended badly." Looking up at Laxus once more from the spot on the ground that had caught her attention, she tried to smile. "And, thanks to Natsu and Cana.. Even Leo, it didn't. I know you didn't mean to do what you did.." For the time being, Natsu had heard enough. He could smell the tears building in Lucy's eyes. They hadn't fallen yet, and that's how the pinkette wanted to keep it. She had cried enough already, he wouldn't let her cry anymore. Taking a stand, to be beside the blonde whose hand he held, Natsu spoke up now. "Laxus, tell Gramps that Lucy will forgive you. It'll just take her some time, but in the meanwhile, consider yourself not expelled." Then, he began walking away from Laxus, having went around his left side.

Laxus was a little stunned. They had so easily said they would forgive him for what he'd done. But why? Lucy was a very understanding and forgiving person, but Natsu.. Shaking his head, he looked over his shoulder. Maybe Gramps was right, Lucy would change Dragneel for the better. Still though, Laxus knew it wasn't over. He wouldn't let Natsu forgive him that easily. And Lucy, she was still terrified of him. He'd have to work on that as well. Until she could talk to him like she did with the other students, to be comfortable around him. With a sigh, he nodded his head. He had a plan, and he would get Natsu to play right into it. "I will get a fight out of you Dragneel, one way or another.." Looking up at the Dean's office window, he shook his head. He wouldn't go back to the old man until those two had really forgiven him. He wanted to make this mistake right.

Makarov had been watching out his window when he'd seen the three come together out in the gardens. Looking as Lucy had stayed behind Natsu for some time, he frowned. He could see her form shaking from the 3rd story of the main building. Had it shaken her that much to have Laxus after her? It must have, because even though she had taken a stand in front on Natsu and between the men, she still seemed to be shaking. The sight made the old man's heart lurch. This girl was attempting to be strong. She had suffered an ordeal the night before and was attempting to stand up to the man who had almost taken that which is most sacred to a girl. His temper was soaring to the surface. His own blood had attempted that such thing.

But, the fact that he looked sincere in his apology, or at least from what the old man could see from his vantage point, told him to calm down. The boy would not end up like his father, a bad seed. He would make his mistake right. How would he though? With a rueful smile, the old man shook his head and stepped back from the window just as Natsu pulled Lucy away from the gardens. "She's doing that boy a favor, making him not feel the urge to fight. Though.. Given the circumstances.. I wouldn't be mad if he had started a fight."

Natsu steered Lucy into the main building and over to a room that could be classified as one of the main libraries in the whole school. The only thing with this library was, no one ever came into it. Natsu didn't know why though. So, it seemed the perfect room to take Lucy to calm her down a bit. The pinkette led the blonde to one of the many tables and sat her on the top of it. Looking into her eyes, he could see the tears from earlier threatening to fall. He didn't like that she looked too cute when she cried. Especially when it wasn't a happy reason to cry.

Placing his hands on either side of her legs, Natsu leaned in and kissed her lips gently. "Hey now.. Luce, there's no reason to cry anymore.. We're far from him, 'kay?" Lucy looked at Natsu, the tears welling up even more as his lips pressed against hers. But, the girl couldn't help but nod to him as he pulled his lips from her own. Bringing up a hands, the girl swiped at the tears in her eyes. "I know Natsu.. Thanks for bringing me here."

The dragon slayer nodded his head and smiled at his girlfriend. "Of course, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't take care of you?" He feigned sadness as he leaned in and gave her another kiss before turning his back to her. "Hop on Luce."

Lucy gave him a confused look before she did as he'd asked and hopped onto his back, her arms clinging to his shoulders as he held her by her thighs. "Where are we going, Natsu?" The pinkette didn't speak as he held her securely to his back. Within a few moments, Natsu was running around with Lucy bouncing against his back. She had to cling tighter to him at the speed he was dashing around the library. Lucy couldn't help but to smile and start laughing, that was the purpose of this activity, at least Natsu had gotten her to stop being sad.

Now that his girl was happy, Natsu walked with her still on his back, out of the library and towards the lounge to hang out with their friends. Today, he wanted no more mention of last night. The next one to make Lucy uncomfortable, or sad, would get it. He would guarantee it.

N/A: Short Chapter.. Sorry.. :/
:o What does LAxus plan on doing, starting a fight with Natsu.. And how will he get Lucy to be comfortable around him? Is there going to be another bad thing that will happen to the ever innocent Lucy!? You know what to do, RXR. Hopefully, I won't procrastinate on the next chapters. As always, thanks for over looking the miniscule or large typos. Though.. If there's major-major ones, please, don't hesitate to tell me. :o