End Act 2


29

The Giving Tree

"Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy."
― Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree


It turned out Natsu's assumption about Gajeel was mostly right. Unfortunately, while the metal dragonslayer was able to transform at will and stomp his opponent he was hindered by Levy and Wendy being unable to do the same.

"Levy!" Lucy called in alarm as Natsu flew close. It was a mercy they hadn't gotten far since they didn't know how long his transformation would last. If they were lucky it would hold out long enough to get them out of the middle of that so Gajeel could get himself out without worrying about it.

"Natsu! Hold out your arm!" She called, and Natsu immediately complied, understanding at once what she wanted.

"Grab hold!" He growled to them both as he dove low enough for them to grab his claws as he passed overhead. And it was a good thing he did as Hoteye immediately turned the area into some kind of mud quicksand. Though he wasn't fast enough to prevent their escape.

"Gihi! Tough luck for you." He growled and unleashed a dragon's roar as he also took to the air. He didn't know how Natsu had transformed, but kept his questions to himself. Escape was more important.

Hoteye had done a lot of talking during their fight, and while that was informative he wasn't about to stick around and risk Lucy getting kidnapped by one of his guildmates.

Natsu's wings flattened themselves down as he saw Gajeel streaking under him, the girls and exceeds in his arm. He had slunk his tail up to let Wendy catch the egg he was carrying since she was the most balance in a dragon's hold.

Which turned out to be a good thing.

They flew without stop, but the poison from Cobra's attacks were burning into Natsu's hind. His flank bled sluggishly, and now that Lucy was safe, as well as everyone else, Natsu suddenly felt exhausted.

His gasped, his wings catching in mid-flap as suddenly he felt him lose hold of his transformation. Red scales flaked off, Natsu's fangs gritting as he fought to keep himself level.

"Gajeel!" Natsu swore warningly as abruptly he lost control of his magic. The transformation faded away and he was dropping through the air with Wendy, Lucy, and Levy in his arms.

He let out a hoarse shout of surprise, and Gajeel swung his metal head around in shock, knowing if they went splat on his iron scales, they were bound to suffer more than a few bumps and bruises.

Natsu twisted around, curling the screaming girls to his chest, grateful Gajeel was at least flying straight and level under him. He cringed, bracing himself for impact and to take the brunt of the fall.

One which never came.

Pantherlily flung his arms around their bodies, transforming into his large, hulking shape at the very last second. On his back he had two large wings, flapping through the air. It was the first time Natsu saw an Exceed in action, so he was absolutely stunned to realize they would not be dying today.

"Way to go Lily!" Natsu shouted in relief as the big cat lowered them safely down onto Gajeel's back. There was a small pop, a puff of smoke, and once it cleared Lily was back to normal in his tiny shape.

"What a relief," Lucy sighed, holding Wendy and Levy to her tightly.

Her friend straightened up and looked at Natsu, reaching over to poke at his cheeks.

"What's the matter? Why did you suddenly lose it like that?" Levy asked the fire dragon, who was still sprawled on his back, looking relieved to be on something very solid.

Natsu just shook his head, "I... don't know."

"Hell, I don't even know how I transformed in the first place," He groaned.

Pain lanced up his leg, and Natsu swore violently, his hands clamping down on the ugly wound, bleeding into his pants, "OW! shit!"

He groaned hazily, his eyes growing heavy with what appeared to be illness. Sure enough they were signs of the poison finally working its way through Natsu's body.

"Oh no!" Wendy exclaimed in alarm as she suddenly realized just how badly Natsu was hurt, "Natsu!" She nudged Lucy over a little and knelt beside him, "It'll be alright Natsu." She smiled at him and pressed her hands over his wound, heedless of the blood oozing out.

Lucy watched in awe as the little dragoness' hands glowed like Chelia's had and she began to heal him.

"Wow... I thought Chelia was the only one who could do that?" She breathed, and Levy shook her head, "It must be a sky related skill." She replied, earning a confused look from Wendy.

"Chelia?" She asked curiously as her magic worked, and Levy smiled, "She's a sky godslayer." She explained, "She's from the guild Lamia Scale, and has healing magic a lot like yours."

Wendy's eyes went wide, "Really?!" She exclaimed, "Wow! I'd like to meet her sometime!"

Natsu groaning a little pulled her attention back to the task at hand and she focused her attention again as she worked to purify the toxins coursing through him. Once she was done there was little more than a raw looking pink spot where the wound had been.

"There." She sighed happily, exhausted but pleased, "It might be stiff and sore for a day or two, but it'll be fine. You just need a light bandage over it while it finishes healing."

Natsu stared at his new little sister in awe, and suddenly treated her to a dazzling bright smile, "You're awesome Wendy!" He exclaimed while Lucy rummaged around for the prescribed bandage, "Thanks!"

Wendy blushed at the praise, pleased she'd made him happy, "I'm glad I could help." She murmured only to sway a little as her own exhaustion hit her.

Natsu hastily wrapped his arms around her so she didn't fall, "You get some rest Wendy." He rumbled softly, "You've earned it."

"Thanks," Wendy sagged, even as Carla huffed at her for taxing herself.

"Poor child," Carla murmured and turned on Natsu, "Now don't go expecting Wendy to heal you of all your bumps and bruises every time you decide to get into a fight ruffian! She is still just a little girl!"

"Yeah, yeah," Natsu positioned Wendy around one of Gajeel's spines, watching as Levy used each one as a handhold to edge her way up onto his head to let him know what was going on.

It was a good idea, since Gajeel didn't really know what was going on back where they stood. For all he knew, Natsu could have bled out all over his scales.

Natsu looked over Wendy as the sky dragon curled up, the wind not bothering her so high up in the air. Not that he expected it would.

Carla was being tucked into her arm with the egg, and Natsu carefully withdrew it to nestle back into his shirt so he could keep it warm.

He swallowed and turned his attention back to Lucy, realizing they were by themselves again.

"Are you okay? You got pretty banged up there," He reached out to tug lightly on her ponytail. Natsu's eyes flashed to her shoulder, afraid she might have exacerbated her pre existing injury.

Lucy smiled a little tiredly at him, "I'll be fine." She replied reassuringly, "I might have some colorful bruises and scrapes for a few days, but none of it was really serious."

Though she might see if Wendy could give her a checkup once she recovered. Just in case.

She leaned a little against him, smiling happily when he curled his arm around her waist. He couldn't pull her into his lap, but she liked how he was trying to keep her warm anyway.

Which... reminded her.

She pulled out Leo's key and held it out to him, smiling at how it had cooled down from before, but was still warm to the touch, "Here." She grinned, "Thanks for letting me borrow the key to summon Leo. You were right. He made a serious difference."

Natsu stared at the key in shock, hardly able to believe his eyes. She was giving it back to him? A priceless treasure he knew she wanted to have, and she was giving it back?

He took it from her gently, studying it as if he'd never seen it before, "You're giving it back?" He asked, his confusion apparent.

Lucy stared at him in surprise, "Well sure. Why wouldn't I?" She asked in confusion of her own, "You weren't giving it to me permanently were you?"

That made Natsu pause in consideration. Had he been trying to give her Leo's key permanently? He hadn't exactly thought about it at the time, but there had been a part of him that had never expected her to give it back.

And now that she was...there was a part of him that wanted to give the key back to her again. Permanently this time.

Natsu smoothed his thumb over Leo's sign. His eyes were dark with consideration. It almost didn't seem as if the key belonged in his hands anymore.

He swore he wouldn't give the key to Lucy until she obtained Sagittarius, but when their backs were up against the wall, he had freely given it to her.

Leo wanted to be with her.

And furthermore, if they ran into a situation where Natsu alone couldn't protect her, what would he do?

Probably toss the key to her again...

"Nah," He finally decided. Maybe it wasn't worth the effort it would take in the long run.

"Keep it, he's annoying anyway," Natsu mumbled and pressed the glittering token back into her hand. His arm tightened around her to keep her close to him. He tried to tuck his face away so she wouldn't see how red his face became.

She jolted against his chest, and his hopes she wouldn't notice his blushing, died the moment her large eyes met his. Lucy's mouth had dropped open.

"You really mean it?" She asked in quiet awe, "You'd give me this key? Isn't it part of your hoard?"

Natsu met her eyes steadily. His heart was too busy doing an uncomfortable jig somewhere near his spleen for him to use his brain.

Not that he ever made good use of it on a normal day anyway...

He shrugged.

"Yeah, but Leo is a crappy flirt and unreliable, so don't get used to him hanging around once he goes out on a date or something," Natsu grumbled, "Not worth the hassle for me to hold onto anyway."

But he just couldn't stay grumpy at the shining gratitude right before his eyes. Like the dawn chasing away the dark his pout slowly faded and Natsu's face broke out in a wide smile, one that stretched all the way up to his eyes, something that made Lucy's breath catch from the genuine happiness behind it. No matter how many times she saw it, every time it rose, Lucy felt that familiar hitch to the back of her throat.

It was something handsome and warm.

"Besides, you're getting a lot better at summoning spirits!" Natsu exclaimed, "So consider it a gift I guess."

Lucy felt her heart skip a beat at his praise and she smiled widely as she wrapped her arms around him in a genuinely happy hug, "Thank you Natsu!"

She kissed his cheek as she pulled back, a little blush dusting her cheeks matching the one on his, and curled her hand around the precious key, "I promise I'll take good care of this."

She smiled at the key itself, aware now that Leo could hear her, "And I'll make a contract with you once we land." She promised.

Natsu grinned broadly at her, something in him going all soft and squishy at the sight of her joy, and pulled her into his lap fully this time, "You're gonna get cold." He shrugged by way of explanation when she looked at him, and his heart thumped a little when she just smiled and snuggled up to him.

He tucked her in comfortably and tried not to think about the way his cheek still tingled from the feel of her soft lips pressing against it, or how soft and wonderful she felt in his arms.

Which, of course, meant that was all he could think about.

Lucy was doing weird things to him, there was no question about that, but he found he didn't actually mind that. They were good feelings, and he liked it. He just wished he understood what they were.

Whatever they were, he would figure it out later. For now he had more important things to do.

So their job as a whole ended in failure thanks to Oracian Seis crashing the party and basically ruining the entire dig site. As such, retreat was in order. And while that normally would have displeased Natsu more than anything to even admit such a thing, Lucy had a lot of strange people coming after her.

This couldn't be ignored anymore. In her world, and now in this one. The thought made him uncomfortable, because the idea of someone coming near her filled him with a passionate rage that couldn't be quenched.

Her safety was the highest of priorities.

Which was weird, because when had that changed?

Natsu felt Gajeel's body shift underneath him, his hips riding confidently on the smooth metal scales. He kept Lucy upright as suddenly they shifted laterally, Gajeel's large form turning to head back towards Magnolia.

Lucy didn't scream like she normally would have, seemingly secure in the knowledge Natsu wouldn't let her fall.

It filled him with another odd sense of warmth. One he belatedly realized was trust.

Natsu swallowed thickly, the thought branding itself into his skin wherever Lucy was pressing against him. Did she really trust him...?

He supposed she did...

Because somewhere along the lines, his motivation had slipped from wanting to kill her - to always wondering where she was. To looking for her. To protecting her.

To trusting her.

His fingers pressed into her skin as they swept downward, back into the familiar territory of Magnolia, Gajeel getting them there in record time. Natsu's hands lingered over Lucy, just long enough for his thoughts to run in circles.

Lucy, without him ever realizing it, had become a friend.

More than that, she had become family.

Lucy smiled at him as Gajeel landed and gently untangled herself, but rather than let her scramble down the dragon's side like he usually did, Natsu surprised her by scooping her up in his arms and leaping lightly to the ground.

"Thanks." She murmured, heat rushing to her cheeks again as he gently set her down, and was rewarded with another bright grin. Natsu's hands lingered across her waist, his eyes drawn to her face and a breathless smile curving his lips.

Lucy's fingers grazed his forearms, opening her mouth to ask him if he was really alright when the doors to the guild pushed open.

"Lucy, Natsu, Levy Gajeel, you four are back early." Makarov said as he walked out to greet them with the rest of the guild currently in town, "Has something happened?"

"We were attacked Master." Levy replied as she circled around Gajeel as well and the dragon began transforming down, "By the Oracion Seis."

That news was greeted with a collective gasp and Makarov's expression turned very grave, "I see. Do you know what prompted the attack?"

"They were after me." Lucy admitted her worry slamming into her full force now that the danger was over. She twisted from Natsu's grasp to face the master, "They wanted to force me to join them or something."

She didn't want to pull Fairy Tail into a fight like this, but she wasn't sure how she could prevent it. She didn't want to go any more than she wanted her friends hurt.

She didn't take into account the fact that this was Fairy Tail and these people had become both friends and family. Or that such bonds went both ways.

The reaction to her announcement was met with stunned silence and then fury as each member tried to out shout the others on what they would do if any of those slimy dark guild bastards so much as tried to breathe on her.

The outpouring was unexpected and warmed her heart even as it brought tears to her eyes, "Well... I don't know how well three of them will be fighting." She half laughed and half cried, "Leo helped me beat up Angel and her spirits and Natsu and Gajeel stomped on the other two."

"Then we will bring the entire might of the guild down to crush them," Erza said with a fierce calmness that had Lucy's bottom lip trembling. She set a hand on her shoulder and pressed the other on the crown of Lucy's head, tugging her into a hug.

It would have been a gentle embrace had it not been for her breastplate. However even the slight sting of steel on Lucy's cheek was welcome. She felt warm and happy, the overwhelming sense of belonging washing over her.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me though," Lucy's voice came muffled in Erza's armor.

"C'mon Lucy," Gray's voice came nearby, and she peeked her head up just enough up to look at him. He was staring over at Natsu, but for once didn't seem to have a look of aggression on his face.

"You know better than that, right?" He grinned at her, his expression cool, but firm with belief that what they were doing would be what was good.

"You're part of this crazy guild. Which means no stupid dark guild are going to get their hands on you," He cocked his head towards her partner, "Isn't that right, Natsu?"

Natsu snorted and walked around to look at Lucy, "'Course it is!"

The dragon pushed his face in close to Lucy's flushed cheeks, a smile relaxing his fierce features, "You want to stay here in Fairy Tail, so no one will take you anywhere you don't wanna go. Promise."

Lucy's heart thumped with emotion as she stared back at Natsu. She didn't want any of her friends hurt, they meant so very much to her, but for them to support her so freely like this. Without any hesitation, and with all the confidence in the world that what they decreed would happen... it overwhelmed her.

"Natsu..." She choked and pulled him into a tight hug, her threatening tears finally sliding hotly down her cheeks. No one had ever fought for her like this. No one. Not even her mother had done that. She hadn't needed to, but that little fact didn't make this moment any less poignant.

"Thank you." She muttered into his scarf, trying to convey just how much this meant to her by how tightly she clung to him. She thought maybe that he, of all people, would understand. A thought that was confirmed when he wrapped his own arms around her and gently squeezed back, an entire conversation passing between them with that one motion.

'I understand.' It whispered.

'Thank you.' Her gentle nuzzle against his jaw whispered back before she pulled away to give him a bright, if somewhat wet, smile.

Natsu's own grin widened as she wiped her cheeks and bobbed her head determinedly, "Fairy Tail is my home." She told him fiercely, "I'm not leaving it!"

"That's the spirit!" Levy crowed happily, a fierce look that reminded Lucy strongly of Gajeel, on her own face. It was a look she couldn't help laughing at, which seemed to set the rest of the guild off too.

It was in that moment she noticed Wendy and the Exceed hiding shyly behind Gajeel. Or, rather, Wendy and Carla were. Pantherlily had apparently decided that Gajeel's shoulders made a good place to sit.

She headed over to them, drawing everyone's attention to the newcomers and held out her hand to Wendy, "It's alright." She smiled, "We won't let the dark guilds get to you either. Won't you come meet everyone?"

Wendy smiled and hesitantly took Lucy's hand, her eyes flitting around to the rest of the group shyly, "Hello"

Almost at once Wendy was bombarded by the enthusiastic crowd, all of the members who had previously not seen her at first, rushing to greet her now.

"Whoa, and what's your name?" Macao leaned in, grinning at Wendy approvingly, "And how did you get tangled up in all these crazy people?"

"Watch it ya drunk," Gajeel growled at Macao, but a hint of good nature gleamed behind his red eyes, "The girlie here is one of us."

He dropped a heavy, but protective hand on the top of Wendy's head, "She's part of our nest now. Me, her, and Salamander over there are all in one place."

"Huh, how'd you get that to happen?" Gray asked, peering around Gajeel to glance at Natsu's turned back. At some point he had separated from the group after comforting Lucy, but for once it didn't seem to be out of any sort of grumpy behavior.

In fact he didn't even seem to hear Gray's slight. He was too busy staring down.

"Oy, you hear me flame brain?" Gray goaded.

All it earned him was a vague blink and Natsu turning his head towards him curiously.

"Huh, you say something Gray?" He asked. His expression cleared for a second and he smirked at Gray snottily, "It's a dragon thing. You wouldn't get it."

Looking a little dismayed by the lack of rise out of the normally hot-headed dragon, Gray wandered over to look over Natsu's shoulder. Just what was distracting him from Wendy and getting her settled into the guild?

But he stopped as soon as he saw what Natsu had in his hands. A large egg was balanced in his palms, a crack splintering through the shell's membrane.

Natsu's head snapped back towards it in a split second. At the poking and prodding of it, Natsu turned back excitedly towards Wendy, "Look! It's hatching!"

Wendy let out a happy sounding laugh of delight as she realized what was happening, and Natsu found himself being dragged towards the center of the guild. All of the nosy guild members began to press in close to watch the small thing hatch, and Natsu lightly set it on a table to give it room.

"C'mon buddy, you can do it," Natsu breathed to the small creature struggling to find its way into life.

A fissure broke through the side and Natsu's eyes brightened with a childish delight that was shared with Wendy. A tufty tail of blue fur curled out from the egg, before a bright light shone and a loud crack! rang out.

Suddenly the egg was split apart, and something soft and light had landed on the top of Natsu's head.

There, a sleepy blue kitten had made itself a nest, sitting upright enough to cheerfully chirp out a squeaky 'aye!' before settling back down.

Wild cheering broke out through the guild, shaking the ground and lifting the roofs shingles. Natsu looked around in bewilderment and he gathered the small kitten from his head into his arms.

"It's nice here," Wendy whispered next to him, just loud enough to catch his attention, "So happy."

Natsu swallowed, his eyes softening on the girl so close to him. She lifted her small hand up to bury into the fresh, blue fur he held. Natsu could smell the salt of tears in her eyes. Happy ones.

A calming sensation ran through his chest, spreading through his limbs and finally settling in his heart. It was a sense of filling rightness. Of a completion he hadn't known before. And in truth, he was overjoyed she could experience that for herself.

"I guess you picked his name then, huh?" He held the feline up in the air, who waggled its tail and fluttered tiny white wings, "Happy!"

And just like that, Natsu felt as if their family was complete.

-::-

That night found their new family arranging a place for Happy to sleep. The little kitten was tired from all the excitement the guild brought, but he certainly lived up to his namesake.

Lucy laughed as Natsu gathered up every blanket in their apartment to swaddle him like a baby. Of course Happy, even while freshly hatched, was still perfectly capable of sassing Natsu with a charm Lucy would never tire of. Which resulted in the dragon laughing as he carried the blue furball around.

Retreating back to the room for the moment while Natsu went to get something to eat for Happy, a strange pulse of magic came from her nightstand.

She went still, her eyes widening as she realized where the source was coming from.

The book.

Checking over her shoulder to ensure Natsu was still busy, Lucy retrieved it from its hiding spot. Hesitant fingers ran over the old leather cover.

It was still warm.

Once again, the book had updated.

Her grip tightened around the spine and she opened the book, looking at all the new pages that had appeared since the last time she had read it. There was so much new material to read.

Her heart thumped with sudden nerves and fresh guilt.

What would be her excuse this time?

"Hey Lucy!" Natsu's voice laughed from the kitchen, sending a jolt of awareness through her, "C'mon and help me! What do you think baby kittens eat? Milk? Eh - a whole fish will probably be fine."

Blinking at the openness in his voice, Lucy looked at the book, heavy in her hands. And with one shuddering breath, she closed it. Almost at once, Lucy felt better.

She didn't need to sneak a look into Natsu's head. Lucy hadn't needed to for a while. She stowed the book back where she had hidden it in the bottom drawer, her heart fluttering in her chest. She wouldn't look into his head anymore. If there was something bothering him, she would trust him to tell her.

And he wouldn't hurt her. She knew that now.

Maybe sometime soon, when they both were ready, Lucy would pull out the book again. But the next time she did it, it would be to read their story together.

She got up and dusted herself off before rushing to stop Natsu from setting their kitchen on fire.

"You can't give fish to a kitten!"

"Watch me!"

End Act 2

I SEND OUT ALL MY REVIEW RESPONSES EARLIER! SO NOW I'M DOING ANON REVIEWS! I hope this works out better, I didn't want pad the end of the chapter too much! SO HERE ARE GUEST RESPONSES!

Animallover (Lucy is great at shredding peoples egos. I think she's super skilled at it. I'm glad you picked up on stuff you did!) - GraceRoyal (Thanks for the offer but we're not really asking for titles of books right now, I was just joking! Also the books have to be stories with an impact on the literary world (or just me and Kytrin), so we can't use made up titles! Thanks though!) - Skylovesdragons (You are welcome! You guys blew my mind again so you get another sneak peek!) - Etrinity (ohohoho, yes he was!) - Aurora (Oh man, Lucy TOTALLY won against Angel. That was a W. Urano Metria seems to be a popular choice) - Kotori-sama (Hahahaaha, man you guys are like YIEEEE DRAGON. And we took it away. Oh don't worry. Just wait, Natsu will repay the favor. 65 chapters is SO not short.) - ajdrakes (thanks! We do try really hard!) - Chipmunk (THE BOOK IS AWESOME. Also Loke is in his eclipse form before he's contracted.) - anonymous (what? Don't cry! Do you want us to STOP updating?) - Little Red (be patient, they will make their way back) - Guest (Oh I'm glad you liked it so much! TRANSFORMATIONS!) - I.9785 (I'm glad you liked the pace we're setting with this fic! Ah, Kytrin and I talked about maybe adding more stories to Perpendicular and making it an anthology, but we're both burned out from writing this fic so if we do, it won't be for a while yet! There is a bit of handwaving with the opening gates and we fudge certain abilities some.) - Guest (*smooches*) - Guest (Yes he does!) - Anon (Uhm. It's usually past midnight whenever I update. So there might be a few discrepancies between hours? I'm not sure why it matters though because the fic updates once every two days regardless of timezones.) - Avengerika (It didn't let me send you a message, so here we are! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you'll like this one just as much!)


GUYS WE HAD 65 REVIEWS. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO BREATHE INTO A PAPER BAG.

HERE IS YOUR WELL DESERVED SNEAK PEEK. JFC. I NEED TO GO LIE DOWN.


"...mom...?" Her voice whispered, Lucy's gaze riveted away from Natsu.

This time a flicker of alarm pushed through Natsu, his eyes widening at the way she seemed to look right through him. Lucy's gaze drifted over towards the cot he normally slept in, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.

She looked indecisive, but something called her to the door and her jaw set with determination.

Quietly, she crept from bed as if Natsu wasn't sitting directly next to her.

"Lucy, wait!" He hissed, reaching out to catch her arm, "Where are you going?"