Natsu watched as Lucy ran out of the room, stunned. He had felt her shifting in the chair beside him moments earlier, making him aware that something was bothering her.

He stood and started towards the door before Erza stopped him, "I'll go check on her, Natsu. Wait here." She commanded, making her way out of the room.

Annoyed that Erza thought Lucy would want her and not him, Natsu nonetheless obliged, not wanting to overwhelm Lucy with too many people. When he was back in his seat, he noticed Gray looking at him. Juvia and Wendy on the other side of Gray were talking quietly together about Lucy.

"She wasn't feeling well last night. Natsu even asked me to look after Happy." Wendy was telling the water mage who brow was furrowed in concern.

Mirajane and Makarov were talking about Guild business, polite enough to not voice their concerns about Lucy's sudden change in behaviour. Happy and Carla were entertaining Meredy.

Gray leaned over to Natsu, "Do you know what that was about? You see her more often than anyone else here. I can't remember the last time she was at the guild hall." He said with a frown.

Natsu shrugged, growing impatient the longer Erza was out of the room. Maybe he should go and check on Lucy despite worrying about smothering her; she could need him. He was confused at what to do, he and Lucy's relationship had changed since last night, but they hadn't talked about what that change really entailed. He cared deeply for her, but he didn't know if she wanted to announce their new relationship to the guild, and it held him back. As it was, Lucy had many friends in Fairy Tail, and while Natsu considered himself her best friend, and she his, he knew there were others who were more capable to help her through whatever had upset her.

Standing, Natsu made his way to the door, determined to go and make sure Lucy was okay, that she didn't need him, and he was worrying for nothing. When he went to open the door, it swung in too easily, causing Lisanna who was opening it from the other side to crash into him. He grabbed onto her, steadying her.

"Oh! Sorry, Natsu!" She said as she righted herself, giving him a bright smile before her face became confused, "Where are you going? I thought this was where we were having the meeting?"

Erza walked up behind her, "It is." Turning to Natsu, she said, "Please move, Natsu. You're standing in the way." Natsu stepped aside, holding the door open, as Lisanna, Elfman and Warren joined the meeting. Erza walked in last, stopping next to Natsu and lowered her voice to speak to only him, "Gajeel heard someone crying and sent Levy to check. She's in good hands. Please, take your seat so we can finish this meeting quickly and then you can go see her for yourself." Natsu nodded, closing the door and retaking his seat as Erza restarted the meeting after its brief interruption.

The meeting dragged on for Natsu. He was never one to strategize before a job, but he understood the reasoning behind why Erza and Meredy would insist on it this time around. They had some information on those they were to be up against, and the enemy seemed prone to work with tricks rather than face their fights head on if the intel on their magical abilities was correct. They would need to have a plan in place that allowed half the party to engage while the others made their way around the enemies' defenses in order to take down the ring leaders from behind.

After awhile of plan building, Mirajane stood and walked around the table behind the chairs where Natsu was sitting. As she passed him, she paused to lean down and speak to him quietly, "I'm not needed here in this meeting, so I'm going to take my leave. Did you want me to check on Lucy for you? I could come back and give you an update?"

"I'll check on her when we break." He replied, his voice just as soft as Mira's, "This shouldn't go on much longer, I hope." Mira nodded her assent before leaving the room.

An hour later, Erza straightened from her position of leaning over the map. "Let's break for lunch. I think we have a good grasp on the lay of the land and what to expect. While we have a solid plan, I would like to prepare a few contingencies in case something goes wrong."

Natsu quickly left the meeting room and made his way out into the mall hall. He surveyed the room, looking for Lucy's bright blonde hair, but he couldn't see it in the sea of people hanging out at the tables. Walking over to the bar, he attempted to get Mira's attention. She was busy filling orders for the lunch crowd that was in full swing.

"Mira? Do you know where Lucy went?" Natsu called out to her.

Mira turned from pouring drinks when she heard her name. She frowned and looked out over the tables, "She was here half an hour ago with Levy. The table they were sitting at is filled with newcomers. I'm sorry, I didn't notice them leave." She said as she turned back to serving drinks to those seated at the bar.

Natsu huffed in frustration. Taking a deep breath, he tried to distinguish Lucy's scent from the room. Her scent had become so ingrained into his mind over the years that it was easy for him to pick it up despite the crowded area. It was faint and growing fainter by the minute, telling him that she was no longer in the building. Frowning, Natsu debated leaving to go and look for her. He knew Erza would not be happy if he skipped out on the rest of the meeting; he wasn't sure if he was ready to face Erza's wrath just to find out what was wrong with Lucy when he could find out later when he returned home.

Sighing, he ordered a drink from Mira who had come over after finish serving those before him before making his way back to the meeting room.

Natsu made his way back home, Happy asleep in his arms. The night sky was devoid of clouds, allowing the stars to shine through. Natsu was tired after the meeting which had finished an hour ago. The meeting had dragged on all day. Every time Natsu thought they had reached a natural ending point someone would ask a question and the meeting would go back into full swing much to Natsu's annoyance. Those who had been in attendance had sat down to a late dinner at the guild hall before each of them parted and headed home. They were leaving at dawn the next morning, leaving little time for everyone to pack what they needed for what was sounding like a two-week round trip. Luckily for Natsu, he always had his bag relatively ready and packed due to jobs often popping up without much notice.

The door of his house was unlocked, indicating that Lucy was inside. Entering into the living room, Natsu placed Happy down in his bed next to the fire which was burning low. Adding another log, Natsu helped the fire begin burning it with his magic. He listened as he stoked the fire higher but could hear no other sounds other than the softly snoring Happy.

Making his way to the bedroom, he peaked inside to see Lucy was fast asleep. The blankets were pulled low around her hips allowing him to see she was sleeping in one of his old t-shirts, making him smile softly. Walking over to her, he pulled the blanket up around her shoulders and kissed her temple before leaving the room and shutting the door gently behind him. He had to add some rations to his bag before he forgot.

As he made his way back across the living room to where he kept his go-bag next to the door, he noticed a piece of paper on the coffee table. It was folded with his name on it.

Picking it up he read the note left by Levy:

Natsu,

Lucy has not been handling her loss of magic as well as we all originally thought. She has fears that the zodiacs she has keys to are not well, perhaps affected by the magic ice like she is. She is however refusing to have another celestial mage try and call them as she is still hopeful her magic will return soon.

I'm sorry if this upsets you, but she also told me about the two of you. I really think you need to have a good, long talk with her about what this relationship means to you as she has worries you're not serious.

Signed, Levy.

Natsu's heart gave a hard thump at Levy's last sentence. Not serious? How could Lucy think he wasn't serious about her? It felt like his whole life revolved around her. There must be more that Levy wasn't saying that he needed to hear from Lucy herself.

Gathering the additional rations he and Happy would need for their journey, Natsu quickly finished packing his bag before going back to the bedroom.

Lucy was sleeping on the side of the bed she had occupied the night before, the other side of the bed left open. Natsu took it as an invitation on her part for him to join her in the bed.

Changing out of the clothes he wore that day, Natsu slipped under the covers, pulling Lucy against his chest. "I'm very serious about you, precious." He whispered into her hair before promptly falling asleep with Lucy's scent dancing in his nose.

Lucy woke to the sun shining in the bedroom. By the looks of it, it was later in the morning than she usually slept. Stretching, she noticed the bedding on the other side was rumpled and Natsu's scent was lingering in the air.

Getting out of bed, she put on her fuzzy pink robe, cinching it around her waist. "Natsu?" She called as she left the bedroom. The fireplace had a fire burning, the log nearly gone indicating that Natsu had woken up long before her and fed the flames. Walking over, she added another log to the fire to keep it burning before going to look in the kitchen.

There was no indication that Natsu had made anything to eat. Maybe he's at the guild, Lucy thought as she continued down the hallway to the bathroom. After she had brushed her teeth and combed her hair, she went back out to the living room.

Noticing that Natsu's backpack was missing, Lucy's heart began to thump. She ran back to the bedroom with the intention of quickly getting dressed but stopped when she saw a note on the bedside table next to the pouch Natsu had given her; the handwriting clearly Natsu's.

It simply read: When I get back, we should talk.