Read on~

"Natsu," Lucy murmured quietly. Her hand rested on his arm, keeping him from advancing further. "Get behind me. Please."

"What're you talking about?" he shot back, staring at her with furrowed brows, and getting behind her. But Lucy wasn't looking at him – she was staring at Jark and Capricorn, tension lining her features. Despite herself, she couldn't stop her eyes from drifting to Jark. Jark's presence made her insides curl in fear and rage.

Jark was just as large as she remembered, made of muscles meant only to enact violence. His gold nose ring shone out savagely against his dark skin and his smirking features were filled with malice.

Lucy noticed with a bit of satisfaction that the scar on his ear still remained and it looked like it'd been freshly opened. Whoever had given him that injury deserved Lucy's thanks.

Still, looking into his eyes, she was transported to a different time, lying on the cobblestone streets of Bornsting, broken and bleeding, dreaming of escape and freedom, as he dragged her back.

"You will never be able to escape, bitch."

Even years later, those words haunted her in her sleep. And he was right – here he stood.

"Lucy," Capricorn murmured. Lucy's eyes slid to his. Even now, she didn't blame him. He'd always done his best, trying to protect her from the brunt of Jude's anger, caring for her like family. But that didn't stop the fact that she wished she'd never have to see him again.

Natsu turned to Capricorn and frowned. Without turning away from them he said to Lucy, "Do you know these guys?"

"Natsu, I - "

"What," Jark drawled, interrupting her, "never told boy-toy over there about us? I'm hurt."

"Shut up," Lucy snapped. Before she left Bornsting she never would've thought of saying anything like that to him, but this time away had changed her. She still felt fear when looking at him but it no longer drove her to submission.

"Bitch," Jark snarled back.

"Don't call her that," Natsu growled, eyes narrowing. Lucy could feel heat start to spill off of him. Lucy rested a calming hand on his arm again. Insult like those didn't bother her anymore.

"It's time to come home," Capricorn said quietly, cutting the tension. "We've been sent to escort you."

Lucy scoffed in disdain, anger filling her.

"Escort?" she spat. "You brought Jark, Capricorn. Let's use the correct terminology, shall we? Kidnap would be better suited."

Capricorn didn't say anything, only pursing his lips. Jark smirked and cracked his knuckles.

"You're coming home one way or another, miss. Your father doesn't care about the state of you as long as we deliver you." With each word Natsu grew tenser and tenser, features contorting in rage.

"I don't know what's going on," Natsu snarled, "but Lucy isn't going anywhere and you are not touching her."

Jark's smirk turned vicious. "Looking for a fight, pink head?" Jark paused, ignoring Natsu's irritated snarl, giving Natsu a considering glance over. Lucy stiffened when Jark's eyes lit up in realization and he threw back his head in laughter.

"You're," he choked out, barely able to contain his laughter, "the prince, aren't you? Natsu Dragneel."

"Jark," Lucy said lowly, stepping in front of Natsu, blocking his view.

"Weren't you supposed to kill this guy?" Jark asked, laughter dying down. "And yet here he stands. Interesting."

Lucy felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, all thought leaving her mind, leaving behind a swirl of emotions, panic being one of them. Her head whipped to Natsu to only see he'd already been looking at her.

His gaze was filled with not only confusion, but also, for the first time ever, wariness and a bit of mistrust.

"What is he talking about, Lucy?" Natsu's tone was so lost and innocent, as if he expected her to laugh it off and call Jark crazy. But how could she? She'd lied over and over to Natsu – about who she was, why she was here. She'd wanted to tell him but she'd been so afraid of seeing the exact look he was giving her now. Lucy wanted to lie again but she couldn't bear to again.

"Shall you tell him, or should I?" Jark taunted.

Lucy shot him a glare. What had gotten into him? Even if he meant to bring her back, he shouldn't be giving away Heartfilia Home secrets like her identity to the Prince of Fiore. Why was he being so blasé about it?

Unless it didn't matter anymore.

Before she could even begin down that terrible line of thought Natsu repeated her name with more urgency. Right.

"Tell me what," Natsu asked, though it was less of a question now and more of a demand. His tone was flat.

"I'm sorry," Lucy got out, turning to look Natsu directly in the eyes. Because, no matter what, she wanted him to know that she was so sorry above anything else. For the lies, the deceit, all of it.

"I never told you my full name." She took a deep breath and prepared herself to say the one thing that might make her lose him forever. Her hands were shaking. "It's Lucy Heartfilia, of the Heartfilia Home."

Comments, suggestions, reviews? Yes, no, maybe so?

It took me THIRTY NINE CHAPTERS to get to this moment. 15yo me would not have believed it. And there's still so much more to do! The reveal isn't even over! My goodness. Big shout out to the reviewer hyancinthie for their review - highkey made me bawl my eyes out, and give me inspiration to continue. I'd jump in front of a train for you at this point.

Anyway, Spring semester has started and it's heavy but I'll do my best. I WILL be finishing this story, even if it takes me decades, try and STOP ME.

Reviews=love 3