Author's Note: Welcome back everybody! -peeks out from blanket fort of where I am hiding-...so not too many death threats; so that is good! I know last chapter was a bit of a...doozy? But it needed to happen. As I said, I wasn't ready to end this story just yet; but there has to be an end. It is winding down. I think 5 or so more chapters after this one; so there is still plenty of time to get a few more chapters in before I start to work on my next story to post. My goal is that it will be up and ready by next month if I really get to work on it; but seeing as my new job and crazy hours go-I just might be able to pull it off.

So in regarding this chapter; it is one of my favorites, but it was the most draining for me. I have a test on Monday for my work so that adds onto the stress to get it done in time for today. But you all will see what was so draining about it. I'll give you a hint; a lot of the feels in this one. I have to say, when I was writing the rough draft back in March/April I was going through a lot of things, but this chapter not only captures some of what I was experiencing; it was very close to home with me. You never know when someone might be taken from your life; so we need to remember to cherish one another right? I really tried to capture Natsu and his point of view through this. I know I cried more than once when writing it. So this chapter has my tears in it. Hopefully it might make you shed a tear or two as well.

So to go with an emotional chapter, I needed an emotional song to accompany it. My favorite singer, believe it or not, is actually not a real person; but rather a real idea. I am talking, of course, about Miku Hatsune. There are so many songs people have put together. It is always hard to choose just one song, but for this chapter I picked "Alice" by Miku Hatsune. NOT the weird song one, but the pretty melody and about going on alone. If you are curious about where to find it; I will pm a link; or just re-edit this and put a link in the chapter for you all to go and listen. The song captures Natsu best and hopefully everyone gets it. So please, please, please don't forget to read and review! Again LOVE hearing from you all! It makes me want to type up and post faster chapters! I also like to hear your thoughts on the story and your input. You all move me and make feel like the luckiest girl ever! Please pull this song up to give a listen while you read! Enjoy!

Out Of My Reach

~Chapter Twenty Six~

Once the evidence had been collected and documented off of Natsu, he was free to sit in the waiting room with his father and a cup of coffee. His knuckles were lightly bandaged, but he suffered no major injuries as he was the one beating the attackers. he leaned over on his knees in his seat as he started with his trained eye at a spot on the wall ahead of him. One could swear waves of heat and dark energy radiated off of him. Igneel sat stoic besides his son as father and son thought as one with murderous intentions to give back to those who crossed them tenfold. Natsu bounce his one knee impatiently. Not knowing the outcome of Lucy or Luna was something he never thought he would ever have the feeling of experiencing. His entire body was tense and he couldn't seem to really focus as every worst scenario, each one more worse than the last, paraded through his restless mind. The very real possibility that he could lose than at any given moment from the injuries they sustained made his stomach drop out more than once at the thought. Gods help the person who got in his way of revenge should either life be taken over to the other side.

Natsu felt so helpless as the only thing he could really do in this moment was pray and wait for any type of news. He kept playing the day over in his mind and seeing them like that in the condition he found them in...it was unsettling to Natsu; which was a foreign emotion to say the least. Lucy was a bloody, almost unrecognizable mess hidden under his hoodie and Luna has been on the ground with her leg in that angle. Her screams still echoing in his mind. Then there was Happy who had tried to protect his child and best friend. He didn't even know the condition of the beloved pet and it took all Natsu had not to break down at this point. They all were in so much pain and he couldn't stop and apprehend the attackers successfully since they had gotten away. He felt so much guilt and anger as it kept welling up and crashing over him in waves of emotions on this roller coaster. Natsu was a man of emotion and strong passion; but these feelings left him so helpless and unsettled; just what the hell is he supposed to do in this kind of situation?

He leaned over in his chair and put his face in his hands as he released a deep, shaky breath in hopes to settle his nerves for even a moment. This is what his personal hell must be like he decided as his chest tightened at another unexpected image of his family flashed through his mind. Natsu felt the comforting hand of his father rubbing his back as he offered his sympathy and support. Not a word needed to be said between the two as their thoughts and feelings were one in the same; their family was in the lives of the powers that be. For hours the two men stayed like this into the night until finally a doctor approached them looking grim and tired from his tireless work. Natsu and Igneel stood up after the doctor spoke their full names to find where they were located.

"I have an update on your wife and daughter Mr. Dragneel." the doctor formally spoke.

"Luna first." Natsu replied.

"Very well, she suffered several bruising and lacerations. She was shaken badly so we are running tests for internal bleeding or damage. To be safe we are also running scans to see if there were any brain injuries as well such as bleeding or irreversible damage. We want to take every precaution given her age and her condition." Natsu took his first real breath of relief as he steadied himself. Luna was alive and breathing, not out of the woods yet, but alive was better than the harsh alternative.

"However", the doctor continued, "she does have a broken ankle and we are currently working on assessing the best way to set it and get a cast on it."

"But she will live?" Igneel asked.

"Yes, but we are insisting we keep her here for observation and monitor her recovery for the time being. She is still in critical condition from the trauma she received. We are going to have the on staff child psychologist see to her to see if there will be any emotional episodes she might be experiencing. We wish to be able to make sure she has a healthy recovery in all aspects."

"Do what is best." Natsu managed to speak.

"Now as for your wife..." the doctor moved on to the more serious topic. Both men took note of how his expression set more so into a grim look, "She is still in surgery as there have been some complications given her discovered condition." the doctor broke the news.

"Wh-what condition...?" Natsu felt the billowing fear threaten to engulf him again into that darkness of despair he had been experiencing all night.

"...I hate to break this type of news to you Mr. Dragneel and it does make these cases sometimes the most heartbreaking..but I need to do my job. Mr. Dragneel, your wife is pregnant. The beating she took endangered both their lives greatly. I am sorry but we are doing the best we can." the doctor regrettably spoke. Natsu felt his whole world shift. He was a father again and finding out in the worst way. It was like history repeating itself, but this time the situation was much more tragic; he may lose them both all for the actions of some selfish person. Lucy could die and a life without Lucy was a world Natsu knew for certain he didn't want a part of.

"Son, you need to breathe." Igneel placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder and gently gave it a squeeze to keep him here in the moment. Natsu released the breath he had been holding and steady the slight swaying of his body. He felt the weight of the whole world on his mind and body and it was sheer will power alone to keep himself listening instead of dejectedly taking a seat and breaking down in that moment. He began to truly grasp the newfound dangers of the situation. Once the doctor saw that Natsu had collected himself and stable enough to continue to hear what he had to say; he cleared his throat to continue.

"She has a broken arm, broken ribs, and deep lacerations and bruising all over her body. There may have been damage to her head and face, but we are still working on her. We had a plastic surgeon assisting the team in making sure we do all we can to save her life. When she is out of surgery in a couple hours, we will have more information. Is there any questions you might have before I return?" the doctor asked. Natsu took a nervous gulp as he tried to keep his bearings about him.

"H-How far along is she?" he asked.

"We won't know until she is out of surgery and perform an ultrasound if she doesn't already lose the fetus. I actually need you to sign this waiver stating that should it come down to it; we save the mother's life at the expense of the fetus." the doctor handed over a chart he brought with him to Natsu's shaking hands.

"C-Can I think about it?" he whispered.

"Afraid not. For every second we waste talking like this, is another second she loses." the doctor put the situation in perspective. Pain shot through Natsu. This was hard...if he gave permission then would Lucy later hate him when they lost their baby? They hadn't known about this little surprise until this very moment, and yet, in the same sentence its death was very real. Regretting every pen stroke of his name, Natsu gave his consent. They would make another if the time should ever come again, but he couldn't make another Lucy. Although, losing this child, never knowing it for any longer than a few moments, was something he was already attached to. Losing this new life would be a blow and he would mourn it in his own way.

The doctor took the form and placed a comforting hand on Natsu's arm, "We are doing the best we can to save them both. Please keep that in mind." he offered and then headed back to the operation room. Natsu felt like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole and allow him just a few moments of not feeling anything rather than everything that was attacking him in this moment. The tears suddenly began to fall without him realizing it until they just flowed so freely as he stared in the direction the doctor disappeared. Igneel pulled him into his embrace as his boy shook and sobbed. He mumbled and blubbered everything out; it was all too much for even Natsu to handle. Igneel rubbed his back and sat down with his boy and let him cry for his family. He could feel his own tears joining his son's as the thought of losing Lucy and the newest member of the Dragneel family weight down on them. They sat together and wept for there was nothing else they could do, just wait for the results of the surgery-it was in the hands of the powers that be now.

Natsu sobbed hard into his father as he shook and trembled. Igneel could only rub his back and feel the same pain for his child. "D-Dad what am-am I supposed to do...Tell me Dad...I can't...I can't breathe...I can't think...I want to kill those bastards for hurting them! I want to hurt something so they know how I feel right now! Dad I can't...I can't lose them!" Igneel didn't say anything, but offer himself as an embrace for his son to sob and cry. The whole world was upside down for Natsu. Lucy was fine this morning. She was making breakfast while he was playing tag with his daughter. She kissed him goodbye on his way to work. He could still see her waving out the front door saying how much she loved him and to have a good day at work. This wasn't real, this wasn't happening. He wasn't in this stuffy hospital on the verge of losing her and losing it in this waiting room where people could see. All he could do was cry like a small child.

~Morning~

Natsu was shaken awake by Igneel as he jolted up from his position in the chair, "Lucy?!" he yelled startled. Igneel looked sadly at his son. "O-Oh no...no Dad..." his voice broken.

"Calm down Natsu, I just came to tell you that we can go see Luna. They are still working on Lucy, but it seems she and the baby are looking promising." Igneel handed him coffee and some pastries he picked up from the hospital cafe. Natsu rubbed his face as he sat up looking exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot, his hospital clothes were wrinkled since the police took his clothes for evidence, and he looked like a real mess. At least the news was good he reminded himself as he wolfed down the breakfast his father gave him.

"Come on, Jude is with her, but he brought us a change of clothes and a few other things." Igneel explained when he saw his son almost finished with the meal.

"He saw her before me?!" Natsu snarled, but a look from Igneel made his swallow back his bite.

"You look like shit and need to clean up. You don't want to scare Luna by how you look right now. That is not the first thing she needs to see after waking up from the hell from yesterday. He is in there with Luna so she had a familiar face that was neutral from everything that happened. You are in no condition to see her in the state that you are anyway." Igneel handed Natsu his duffle bag.

"Go to the bathroom and change. Clean up and mentally prepare yourself to see your Daughter. She needs her Father more than ever right now and at any moment she could lose her Mother. You need to start preparing her for that." Igneel's serious ton resonated between them.

"Alright Dad, I...I hear you." Natsu said finally and stood up with the bag in his hand.

"I don't say this to add salt to your wounds, but to prepare us for a very real possibility that Lucy may not make this out alive."

"I know...wait for me. We will go see her together." Natsu took his things and headed to change in the hospital bathroom. Natsu changed, shaved, cleaned his face, and ran a brush through his unruly locks. After he exited the bathroom, Igneel took him to the children's intensive care unit to Luna's room. Through the window, as they approached, they saw Jude talking with an awake Luna. Igneel tapped o the door to signal that they were there. They heard Jude tell Luna that Papa was there to see her and opened the door. Igneel hung back as Jude stepped outside with him. Natsu took a spot by Luna's bed. All these wires and monitors were hooked up to her. She was so tiny in this big hospital bed. However, she had a bright smile on her face as she saw her hero.

"Papa!" she tried to crawl to him, but Natsu stopped her. Instead leaned over and hugged his precious girl.

"Yeah baby, Papa is here." he murmured in her hair.

"Papa scaward?"

"Yeah, Papa was scared." he agreed.

"Where Momma?" she asked him after he pulled back.

"Momma, isn't here yet, but she will be here soon." he kept his tone light and his words, he saw, gave Luna a sense of relief.

"Bad people gone?"

"Yeah, they are gone and Papa isn't going to let them come back." he stayed close to her. He took note of her ankle in a cast and felt his chest tightened. She was too little to be hurt this badly. So small to have something so vile happen to her person. He took better note of her other injuries and bruising, "You know that Papa loves you very much right?" he asked her.

"Love Papa too..."

"And so does Momma. Momma loves you so much and I bet she can't wait to be here soon with us." he kept smiling and being strong for them both.

"Why...?" Luna asked curious.

"Momma got hurt too, but she will be okay like you. So don't you worry. Momma is strong like you are and she will be here real soon with us." Natsu hugged her once more. Luna's tiny arms hugged her father tightly.

"It okay Papa. I here." Luna comforted him with her sweet tone of voice. Although Luna had so much of her father's dominating traits; it was in this moment that she was really her mother's daughter. It took all that Natsu had not to break in her tiny arms. He was so worried about Lucy and to see so much of his wife shine through their daughter; knowing how to soothe him when he was at his most troubled, really shown how much Lucy was in their daughter as he was.

"I-I know Baby." Natsu's voice cracked as he tried to pull his bearings together. Already he felt the prickling of unshed tears threatening to fall. He leaned forward and gently kissed Luna's temple. He stayed with her for a while until he exchanged places with Jude and Igneel to visit as the doctor showed up to speak with him about Lucy's results. Natsu stood before the good doctor out in the hallway. Natsu could hear the sweet melodic laughter of his daughter as both grandfather's entertained her. Natsu took a shaky breath. Would Luna be all he had left of his Lucy? Steeling his resolve to keep up the act of being 'strong' Natsu faced the doctor with a look of acceptance of whatever the outcome will be; expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

"How bad Doc..." Natsu forced the words out. A sympathetic hand reached out and gently and patted his arm.

"Not bad; better than we expected actually. Mother and baby are going to be fine. The surgery went well after a couple scares but they are going to pull through. She is resting in the room right across from this one. When she is able, we will take a better ultrasound to see the condition of the baby, but all in all, it does look promising. She made it past the worst parts, but isn't fully out of the woods quite yet." the doctor offered he disheveled father a hopeful smile. Natsu felt the relief and world shift around him at the knowledge of the news given. He had to steady himself against the wall as the look of a man taking a breath after years of being unable to breathe without feeling the world falling on him.

"Th-Thank you doc..." Natsu's voice was thick with emotion. He felt tears start to fall as he couldn't hold back the emotions anymore. Lucy, his Lucy, was looking like she was going to live after all she had been put through.

"Of course." the doctor nodded and helped the man straightened up. Seeing Natsu recovering and fervently wiping the tears from his eyes; the doctor led Natsu into the room where Lucy laid. Her eyes were closed and bandaged up, similar to their daughter, was hooked up to same monitors and IV drips. Natsu gingerly sat down beside her and watched her deep breathing of the rise and fall of her chest. The doctor left them in peace as Natsu gently reached out with his one hand to gently squeeze hers that were limp resting on her stomach. He stayed by her side; daring not to leave it. He didn't want to chance leaving her side in case she took a turn for the worst. All he knew was that he wouldn't dare leave her side save in case Luna needed him.

Carefully, Natsu brought her soft hand to his mouth and gently kissed it. He felt the tears falling once again. "Luce...don't leave us...never ever...don't you remember our promise to each other? We are a team...partners...so don't you dare leave us." He sniffled. Lucy remained still and his only reply was the beeping of the monitors. Natsu sniffled as he used the shoulder of his shirt to brush fallen tears from his eyes.

"Just...fight this Luce. Please don't leave Luna and I behind. You mean too much to us and Luna needs her Mother...Happy will miss your fish fry...and I don't want to live in a world where you aren't a part of it. So you can't go." Natsu's watery plea was replied by the soft, steady beat of her heart on the monitor. Natsu bowed his head on her hand and wept. He didn't want to see Lucy leave this world; not without him following closely behind when they were old and gray.

After an hour or so, Natsu had pulled himself together. He rested his head on the bed and had his eyes closed. He listened to this monitors in case there was a change. He just wanted to be close to Lucy and this is as far as he could be. Lucy's eyes began to flutter open. Natsu felt the shift in her body and slight movement of her fingers with their hands intertwined. He shot up and took her awakening form with newfound appreciation. Natsu gently reached out and brushed some of her hair away from her face; never daring to let go of her hand.

"I'm right here Luce. You are going to be alright." his tone was so broken and he couldn't hide his raw emotion. His voice was raspy from crying and his eyes bloodshot and red rimmed from his crying. Lucy tried to speak, but Natsu could see she was struggling to get words out. He reached over and grabbed the water on the night stand for her to drink. Lucy drank greedily at the water from the straw and looked at him confused, but relieved.

"E-Everything hurts..." she whimpered.

"You-you were beaten and I stopped them. I protected Luna and you both are in a hospital. I am not sure about Happy, but I am sure I can find out."

"Luna...Luna...my baby..." Lucy whimpering turned to sobbing as she shook her head as the memories flooded back; over stimulating her wracked senses.

"She is fine and alive." Natsu reassured her as he tucked back her loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"I-I want her..." Lucy begged with teary eyes. Natsu go up and went to the window to pull back the blinds. Lucy strained to see to what Natsu was doing. She could clearly see that from across the hallway and through the other window of another room was her Luna smiling and laughing as she talked to her grandfathers. Relief flooded Lucy as she smiled softly.

"Thank the gods...I thought...I thought..." the tears fell and Natsu returned to her side. He sat on the edge of the bed and Lucy wormed her way to his lap where she tried to hug his middle. He reached down and pet her hair and rubbed her back soothingly.

"I'll made them pay Luce. I beat them hard...but they got away..." he lowered his face as dishevel hair covered his bangs so she couldn't see his shame. He could feel his own tears returning as he didn't dare to fight them back. He was too emotionally worn out. His eyes snapped to Lucy as he felt a hand run through his locks.

"You saved us Natsu. You protected our baby." she reassured him.

"Not good enough...both our children got hurt." he sniffled.

"Of course it is good enou-children?" Lucy paused confused. Natsu stiffened as he froze from a moment from his slip up. Forcing his gaze to meet up again with hers, Natsu cupped her face with his palms.

"Lucy...I want you to try and remain calm alright?" he gulped in his gentle tone. Realization dawned on Lucy as she significantly paled at the weight of his confirmed news.

"Natsu...oh god...I'm...how...when...?" Lucy's tears fell freely.

"Don't know...but the baby survived and you both are going to be fine." he leaned in and gently kissed her as she kissed him back with a deeper appreciation for who this man was and what he had done for his family; what he continues to do for this family. She deepened the kiss with a heated need and Natsu allowed her to seek her comfort from him. He gently used a hand to rub her abdomen much like he did with Luna when she was safely tucked away in Lucy's womb. Lucy sniffled against him; weakly, she fell back among the pillows and closed her eyes. She took several labored breaths with closed eyes until she finally opened them once more. Natsu allowed her to take her time to register everything; careful not to push her and allow her to come to terms.

"How bad?" she asked him.

"Bad enough...you have been in surgery all night. You have broken bones and your arm...when I found you...there was so much blood and didn't know..." Lucy winced as she sat up and grabbed his hand.

"No. Don't go to that place. I can't bear to see you blame yourself. You didn't do thsi to me; they did. You saved your family's lives."

"Barely."

"But we are here regardless."

"I should have never let them take the patrols away."

"How could we have known?

"I don't know! But all I keep doing is letting you get hurt!"

"That is enough Natsu Dragneel! If you are going to self-loathe yourself, I much prefer you don't do it here! I need you to be the strong one and realize you didn't beat me, but saved me." Lucy sternly glared. Natsu adverted her gaze as he sighed heavily.

"Lucy...I'm sorry...you are right..." he apologized.

"You need to tell me more about what happened?" Lucy redirected his focus and lightly rubbed her thumb over his holding hand.

"I...I didn't get to check on you once I beat the hell out of those masked fuckers. I heard Luna screaming and had to save her. She was being shaken and thrown around. Her ankle is broken so they have her in a cast and she needs to be seen by a specialist child psychologist. But other than that, she should be alright." Natsu sniffled.

"The house?"

"Well, can't expect our insurance to be thrilled. Surprised they haven't dropped us by now. But we will replace it with some of the settlement money."

"And me..." Lucy dared to finally ask.

"Not sure until the doctor gets back here and looks at you again. My guess is we will be in here for a week or so. Igneel is letting the police handle this." Natsu sighed deeply.

"Thank you Natsu; for everything." Lucy let go of his hand and laid back once more to rest. Her arm draped over his middle as she tried to let it all sink in.

"Do...you want to keep it?" Natsu couldn't meet her eye.

"What kind of a question is that? We just made a surprise, but doesn't mean I regret them." Lucy eyed him evenly. Natsu broke out a small smile as he caught her eye.

"Glad you aren't too mad."

"Oh, I'll be mad at you later when I get out of here, but now I wanna just rest and wrap my mind around having another baby."

"You love Luna and pregnancy looks really good on you." Natsu chuckled as he felt their tears starting to relax.

"Do you not remember how much pain I underwent when she was born?" Lucy groaned.

"But you remember how happy we were to have our baby in our arms?" Natsu sweetened the memory.

"Yeah...she was pretty cute." Lucy smiled warmed Natsu. He didn't think he would see that smile again; and yet, here they were planning a new chapter of their lives.

"So...can we have a boy this time?" Lucy laughed at Natsu's logic, but winced at her injuries.

"Natsu, it doesn't work that way. Just be happy there is even another baby going to happen." Lucy snuggled in the bed. Natsu leaned over and kissed her temple. He grabbed the blankets and tucked her better into a warm cocoon.

"Yeah but a boy would be nice to have." Natsu pushed.

"Yeah, yeah. I will think about it." Lucy teased as she let out a soft yawn.

"Looks to me that instead of thinking you might want to sleep." Natsu gently encouraged her.

"Lay with me. I am not the only one who needs sleep." Lucy asked and moved over. Obeying her request, Natsu got into the bed with her. He wrapped his arms around her and let her curl into him and his warmth. Then together, they both drifted off; both relieved that the other was still alive and somewhat well in their own world.