A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry I didn't post last week, Life got kinda crazy! I just didn't have a lot of energy to post or write out the chapter! Also wanted to give a heads up that I'll be on vacation for the next 2 weeks, so we'll be taking a short break from posting new chapters! However after that I'll be back and ready to continue on! I promise! I can't wait for you all to see what I have planned for Natsu and Lucy! Enjoy this chapter!

"I know bud, but you have to trust me okay? I can get you out of here in no time. But I need you to do two things for me. I need you to take a deep breath and close your eyes. Can you do that for me?"

"I think so."

Natsu picked up the little boy, his brown hair lighter from the cinders. "Okay buddy, on my count. 1...2..3!"

Natsu sprinted towards the door, his blood roaring in his ears from the burst of adrenaline. The little boy clung to Natsu's soot stained shirt, as he leaped and lurched around the fire surrounding them. 'We can make it,'' he thought to himself. 'I just have to get to the door.' The boy coughed, the sound raspy and sputtering. He could feel him shake like a leaf at every fit he had. That wasn't good. If he was starting to get smoke inhalation then Natsu had to get out of here quicker than he expected to. Even his vision was starting to blur. Natsu scanned the room to where the most stable peace of wood would be. The house was covered in fire at this point. An uncontrollable beast that ate everything in sight. The fire began to eat away at the ceiling, the rasters beginning to shine through.

"Okay pal, I know it's hard but breathe slower for me okay?"

Another coughing fit, but the feeling of a shake of his head against his chest confirmed enough for him.

Natsu hopped over the next bit of fire, not knowing that the ceiling was caving in on top of him. Another leap and the wood groaned in protest, not wanting to support either of their weights, he was so close to the door, it was the next room over and he'd be out.

Natsu coughed as the plume of smoke rushed into his face, scorching every bit of skin exposed to air. He thought he was boiling at this point, every breath heavy and hot, it made his skin itch.

He toed around the fire licking his heels, he wished he wore something other than sandals today, his toes were blistered and burned for sure, and he felt himself wavering with another onset of blurred vision. His steps staggered, faltering when he needed them the most. Gritting his teeth he kept himself from stumbling and marched onward to the door, the outline of the door seeming so close and yet so far. He made it to the next room when he noticed the door frame, the flames had escaped their fiery prison and were now exposed to the top floor. "Damnit." he groaned. Natsu picked up the pace, each step more tiring than the last, his vision was beginning to darken around the edges. If he was getting like this, then he wondered how the kid was doing. Looking down at the boy, he noticed that his grip on his shirt was softer, his breathing more labored and had quickend.

"I'm sleepy." the boy whined. "I wanna see mommy."

Natsu shushed the boy comfortingly, "You will bud I promise. But you can not sleep, you hear me. Stay awake as long as you can."

Natsu reached the entrance of the apartment room, and his fears were confirmed, the whole floor was on fire. 'Stairs. I need to find the stairs.' He talked to himself, that was the only way out now, and gods help him if he doesn't have an escape. This little boy was too young for death, and he had some unfinished business he needed to take care of.

Steeling his nerves, he jogged out of the apartment and turned to the stairs, 'Fuck!', his eyes tinted with fear, the stairs were covered in small spurts of flame, while the fire consumed the walls leaving black smudges and soot in its wake. Natsu wasted no time, he prayed that he wouldn't fall through the steps, the first two proved to be okay, but come the next four he swore silently at the sight in front of him, the fire had caught on some of the tapestries hanging along the wall, only wound iron rods lay in their wake anlong with a lonely looking nail. Facing the fire he slowly took the next step, leaning lightly on it to test how much it could hold, it squealed in protest but was ultimately okay, however that next step was his undoing.

Natsu's foot fell though, resulting in Natsu casting the boy aside, the boy rolled and cried out in pain. He was about six steps lower than him but the stairs looked sturdy enough, "GO!" he yelled at the boy, he needed to get to the next flight of stairs. "Now! Get out of here pal! You have to get off these steps!" he shouted on the top of his lungs, they burned in protest along with his eyes and throat. He could taste ash in the back of his throat, he tried yanking his foot out, it wouldn't give. The edges piercing into his skin and setting his leg on fire. Embers invaded where skin met wood, he could smell the skin burning around him. He grabbed his ankle and pulled, leaning his body back as much as he dared on these stairs. He let out a yowl of pain, his adrenaline wearing off. Looking back up the boy was crying on the floor, when he wasn't sobbing he was having coughing fits. "It's okay buddy, I'll be fine." Natsu plastered on a sunny smile that was too bright to be real. The brunette looked at him sorrowfully, "I can't, I'm too scared."

"I know buddy, but you have to be brave for me. Can you do that?"

"I can't. I can't do it!" he cried.

"You can and you will. Think of your mom! She would be so proud and happy if you were a big boy and made it out of here. Safe and sound." Natsu twisted his foot around again to see if it would budge. Nothing. 'I can't move around a lot unless I want this whole flight coming down with me.' With a softer smile he encouraged him, "How about this," he spoke softly, his voice huskier than normal from the rawness in the back of his throat, "I'll meet you at the end of the next stair okay? It's not too far away, that way if you get scared you can come right back. Sound good?"

"Okay." The boy got up and began haphazardly walking towards the next flight of stairs. Good. Now he could worm about a little more recklessly. Using his hand, natsu tried to peel the wood away, finding a weak point in the board, he tore off whatever he could and fidgeted around until he got his foot free. Standing once more Natsu placed a sleeve over his mouth and looked for the little boy.

He saw him nowhere.

Panic raced through his veins, not spotting the boy anywhere. "Hello!" he screamed. "Pal, where are you?!" he frantically looked, he made it to the new flight of stairs, hand bracing the wall, he stumbled into it. His vision was blackening, and he coughed violently, gagging at the end and clutching his stomach in pain. That's when he noticed the boy lying on the ground unconscious. 'Shit!' Picking the boy up and clutching him to his chest, he took the flight two at a time, barreling down the hallway, racing the flames hot on his heels, the beast greedy for more.

"Hang in there, we're almost home free."

By the last flight of stairs, the fire hadn't reached them yet, however the smoke was everywhere, couching, Natsu wheezed for air, throat dry and gritty begging for water. His tongue felt thick in his mouth.

Then all at once Natsu stumbles out the last door, greeted by open air and the sounds of sirens. Gasps can be heard around him but he doesn't pay mind to it, all he can really hear is his weezing and the sound of his heartbeat in his ears. He drops to his knees, holding the boy tightly in his arms. Fingers black from the soot, smoke, and ash. A hand lays on his shoulder, covered in heavy kevlar to withstand the heat and stress of the disasters they see.

"Hey son you okay? You look like you've been through hell. Then noticing his clothing, the fireman walks to face him and gasps, shouting into his walkie he says, "We have a T59. I repeat a T59. I need EMT's out here stat! Over."

Natsu looked at him dazed but looked down at the little boy, he wondered where his mother is. More importantly if she was around. He felt heavier than normal in his hands, his muscles beginning to protest against the amount of stress they endured.

"Hold on son, help is coming. Can you tell me your name?" the man questioned.

Natsu began to talk when his voice wouldn't give, his entire body burned. Inside and out. His voice was gone, and even if it wasn't his throat was so raw and dry. He grabbed his throat and looked apologetically at the fireman. He mouthed. NATSU. Eventually he got it and the EMT's arrived.

That was the last thing Natsu saw before blacking out, the little boy on his chest and his breaths coming out labored and rapid.

A/N: Well everyone that was it for this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed! I'm sorry for any misspellings I kinda rushed this one a bit so forgive the errors XD. As I said earlier I'll be out for two weeks, then back to Saturdays! I wonder what happens next. See you all in 2 weeks!

Special thank you to those who reviewed! Niniflwr, MaraDragneel3113, Amanny, Copperreign12, and rao hyuga 18! Have a great week! 3