Lucy tossed in her bed again and again. Sleep eluded her as her mind kept replying the days events over and over again. Maybe she missed something...?
Dread filled her as she gnawed her lip with worry. What was she going to do? Should she accept Sting as her mate and live with him? She considered the possibility that she could convince him to join Fairytail. But that was a slim possibility after she saw that he dedicated his life to Sabertooth for the past 7years. That was much longer than the 2 or so years Lucy did to Fairtail- she couldn't ask him to leave his Nakama like that.
But...Lucy didn't want to leave Fairytail either.
Tears began to spill as the weight of it all weighed heavily on her chest. Lucy barely noticed as her bedroom window slid open quietly and two intruders slipped in.
She felt Happy rest on her stomach quietly as Natsu kneeled in front of her bed on the floor. They didn't say anything as Lucy continued to cry.
"Natsu… what am I going to do? " She saw her partner through blurry tears. "what if Sting dies if I refuse to be his mate? I can't- I can't do that… but I don't, I don't want to leave Fairytail. I'm a horrible person!"
Natsu felt a knife rip through his chest at the sight of Lucy crying into her pillow.
"No you're not a horrible person Lucy." He wiped her tears away before gently getting into bed. Natsu wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his chest. His heat warming her trembling figure.
"It's going to be alright." Natsu spoke softly. Happy hugged Lucy as tears escaped his own eyes.
"We're going to figure this out. I promise." He stroked her head reassuringly.
"But...If I accept being his mate.." Lucy spoke into Natsu's chest muffling her words. "I'd basically be accepting to marry him."
Natsu slightly squeezed Lucy and swallowed his dry throat. That would mean she couldn't be by his side anymore…
After a few long moments Lucy's sniffling began to quiet down and her breathing became softer. Good she's asleep. Happy had managed to snuggle in between the two mages, falling asleep, feeling safe in their arms.
Natsu's own thoughts troubled him. What about their family here? What's going to happen to their friendship? They wouldn't be able to see each other like this everyday. They couldn't go on missions together either…
Most of all what if Lucy became happier with Sting…
Maybe that's what scared him the most.
Feeling his uneasiness grow Natsu nuzzled Lucy's face gently. He felt Happy's soft fur nezzeld in between their arms. Taking a deep breath he could smell Lucy's scent reassuring him and calming his nerves.
He's going to find a way to fix this. No matter what.
Natsu wasn't going to give up on Lucy.
———
Lucy slowly felt herself waking up. The bed was comfortable, and warm. Really warm… Lucy didn't think about it too much until she felt something poke her cheek. Pause. It poked her again before hesitating. Seeing that Lucy wasn't going to react it kept poking her cheek until she forced an eye open. Oh yeah… that's right...
"Well GOODMORNING." Natsu laughed at her pouting face. He still had his arms wrapped around her. Happy giggled while nibbling on a fish above them.
"Geez you slept like a rock! I thought it was going to take forever before you woke up lazy bones." Happy settled down on top of the bed. Embarrassed Lucy rolled her eyes and untangled herself from Natsu's arms, trying to hide the blush on her face.
"You guys are lucky I'm in such a good mood." Lucy muttered as Natsu got out of bed and stretched. Trust him it took a lot of will power to get outta bed. He wouldn't mind laying there all day cuddling with Lucy, but he was starving. Not to mention one of his arms had fallen asleep and now tingled with prickly pain.
"Think I'll make some pancakes this morning." Lucy bounded into her kitchen space as Natsu perked up.
"You're gonna make us some?!" His eyes flashed green with excitement. Lucy spun around hands on hips, she pointed a finger directly at the boys and firmly said
"ONLY if you two take a good hot shower-WITH SOAP!"
Natsu groaned while Happy protested.
"Please Lucy anything but that! Natsu doesn't know the meaning of the word hot! He always turns the temperature up way too high and I nearly get burned to death!" Happy cried out.
Lucy shrugged.
"Sorry big guy but you're just gonna have to deal."
"Lucy likes seeing us miserable huh Happy?" Natsu muttered to his blue furry friend.
"Aye!"
"Hmmm maybe I'll just eat all of these delicious pancakes allllllll by myself…" Lucy turned back to fixing up the ingredients.
"Knowing Lucy, THATS totally possible!" Happy yelped
"Aye let's hurry up before she eats them all." Natsu and Happy disappeared into the bathroom.
Lucy shook her head. Those two could wake up abandoned in the middle of the desert and still find the energy to tease her. In a way though, she was grateful. They were acting like they usually do. If it was anyone else Lucy worried they'd be walking on eggshells around her after seeing her breakdown last night.
Lucy heard a loud splash and the loud bangs of things falling over in her bathroom. Immediately, arguing could be heard through the walls. Lucy sighed. She was going to have to clean up whatever mess they made in there wasn't she…
—-
The second they walked through the guild doors Lucy was pulled into a neck breaking bear hug of Fairtail's own red head wizard.
"LUCY!" Erza took a step back and spun her around checking for injuries. "Thank goodness, you're unharmed." Ezra sighed relieved while Lucy struggled to stand on her own two feet.
"Heya Erza." Lucy squeaked, feeling dizzy.
"I heard about what happened while I was gone. I swear to you if this Sting fellow ever shows up here unannounced again and so much as touches you." An evil aura radiated from her as a sword appeared out of thin air. Lucy yelped back in fear "I'll make sure he's unable to bear any offspring and continue his family line!"
Natsu and Happy took a big step back from the almighty Titiana. Lucy laughed nervously.
"Thanks Erza." Lucy smiled. Erza was sweet like that, she always seemed to be protective of her like an older sister. Lucy was grateful. Grey joined up with them along with Wendy and Carla.
"So… Whaddya guys say to going on a job request?" He held up the poster for Team Natsu to see.
"Aye!"
"Is that even a question?" Natsu grinned.
"Of course! We'd love to go on a job. Clara and I are trying to save up some money for new clothes." Wendy giggled excitedly at Carla who pretended to be indifferent.
"I don't see why not. It's been a little while since Team Natsu all went out on a mission." Erza put her sword away, Looking content.
"You know I'm all for it but Hold on, Erza. you, Natsu, and Happy just got back from a difficult job. You guys must be Exhausted!" Lucy looked at her friends with worry. Natsu laughed and waved a hand away.
"It wasn't that hard. Honestly I'm surprised Blue Pegasus couldn't handle that dark wizard themselves." Natsu smiled warmly at Lucy.
That's just like her.
Worrying about them when she's going through something like this. Natsu felt his heart warm at her big concerned chocolate eyes. She was beautiful.
"I agree with Natsu. If anything I'm feeling a bit restless. That last mission was more tedious than anything." Erza smiled reassuringly towards the younger blonde.
That was far from the truth though. In all honesty? Erza was completely drained from her last mission. Both mentally and physically. Between keeping Natsu in check, fighting a skilled Dark wizard, and warding off Ichiya's creepy advances Erza was really looking forward to a few days of relaxation. She ended up sleeping all day yesterday.
"Well come on guys! The sooner we get packed the sooner we get paid!" Grey went off to drop the request for Mirajane to approve of.
Lucy felt her spirits lift and she couldn't help but grin.
"That request said 400,000 jewels right? I should have plenty to pay for my rent for the next two months!"
Her friends were so sweet, she felt undeserving of how they spoiled her. Lucy knew her friends were trying to keep her mind off of Sting Eucliffe and it was working.
"Alright! I'm all fired up!"
"Hey! That's my line" Natsu ruffled Lucy's hair affectionately. She yelped and laughed in response causing the others to laugh along with her.
Yes. Everything is going to be fine, as long as she had her friends by her side like this.
If Lucy knew what was going to happen that week she would have insisted on staying at the guild…