A/N:

I decided to post this with no notice and for that I'm sorry. This chapter is an apology for going back on a deadline I'd set. I hope you guys enjoy it and it sheds a bit of light into more of the characters. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! And I apologize again for completely missing my deadline.

Lucy's lips pulled back into a small smile as her fingers ran through Natsu's pink locks of hair while he laid resting across her lap. He'd fallen asleep some time ago and she hadn't the heart to wake him. Besides… he looked too cute.

Erza stood across the room packing up her purse while her boyfriend waited for her by the door. Finishing packing her bag to head home for the night she looks to Jellal unable to miss the soft smile on his face as he watched Lucy's treatment of Natsu. It also brought a small smile to her face to see the simple loving gesture Lucy displayed despite Natsu being fast asleep. It reminded her of one of the many romance novels she and Levy would read when they were in high school, but it was more than just the gesture that made her break out into a smile… it was the love reflected from within the blonde's deep brown eyes. It made her happy to know her friend had finally found someone worthy of him, 'You're a lucky man, Natsu.' The redhead thought walking towards her boyfriend.

Jellal's eyes shifted to her as she walked up to him, "Ready?" he asked receiving a nod of confirmation. Jellal turned back to Lucy, "Night you two!" He says low enough that he doesn't wake Natsu.

Lucy jerked out of her skin forgetting that they'd been there, but she smiled nonetheless, "Night, it was nice to finally meet you guys!" she replies with reddened cheeks. She couldn't help but wonder how long she'd stared off into space as she caressed Natsu's hair in front of them.

Erza nods, "Same here." She says waving at Lucy as Jellal opened the door for her holding it open. Erza takes two steps out of the room but stops watching as four people suspiciously raced towards the room. Erza looked at them confused as they stopped in front of Natsu's room, "Uh, can I help you?" She questions looking to the three women and man with crossed arms. Her eyes scanning over them cautiously.

Lucy heard Kylie's voice, "It's alright Erza," she says catching Erza's attention. "Their friends of mine. I asked them to bring me some things from my apartment." She explains watching as Erza looked towards her for a good moment before allowing them inside.

Nina rushes into the room first ignoring Kylie who told her to slow down. Nina crashed into Lucy pulling her into a secure hug, "Stupid, why didn't you call us earlier." She begins.

Mary sighed, "And here comes helicopter mom Nina… Shouldn't your first question be something along the lines of are you alright?" her little sister asks stepping in behind her big sister with Conrad's arm draped over her shoulder. Noticing Natsu's resting form Mary adjusts her tone, "Are you two alright?" she whispered.

Lucy smiles as Nina pulled away from the hug worriedly inspecting her for injuries, "Nina, cool it I'm sure if she'd been hurt, she would have told us." Kylie says as she enters the room, Erza and Jellal cautiously staying by the door unsure if they could trust these new people in their friends' room despite three of the four members introducing themselves to them. Kylie sighs grabbing Nina by the back of her shirt pulling her away from Lucy to give the girl some space. Kylie smiles, "Here you go Lucy," she states holding out a bag for the younger blonde who in turn smiles and thanks her.

Lucy didn't even look inside of it trusting in Kylie's judgments of her style to pick her clothes, "Thank you guys," She tells them with an apologetic smile, "Sorry for not calling you guys sooner… I just didn't want to be a bother if I wasn't hurt." She continues.

Nina growled at her words, "I don't give a damn that you're not injured! You should have called us dam…" she started only to stop when Kylie tugged at the back of her shirt again temporarily choking her with the sudden jerk.

"I'm glad you're not hurt Lucy," Kylie says with a smile releasing Nina to cough and touch her throat as a result of her actions. Kylie steps forward opening her arms to give the younger girl a hug, "Nina's right though. Even if her delivery was a little over the top. We may only be friends, but we still worry…" She tells Lucy.

Lucy nodded, "S-Sorry," she muttered.

"Don't be. Just keep in mind you have people that care about you and you're well being too." Kylie tells her gently running her hand over Lucy's back. Tears whelmed into Lucy's eyes at the words, but she only nodded as a response.

"I-I was so scared. I-I-I thought Natsu-I thought Natsu…" Lucy began Nina watched Kylie's eyes water.

Kylie nodded, "I know," She says with a sniffle. Remembering Nina's motorcycle accident a few years back that could have claimed her life. As much as she wanted to forget that truly terrifying moment… she never wanted to forget it either because it was only after nearly losing her that she'd come to realize that she'd fallen in love with her best friend.

"Young lady! Young lady!" She heard them yell at her as she raced down the long white hallway, barefoot heels in hand. The lights above her beaming down on her like a second sun but the AC turned down enough for it to be considered penguin cold causing her to shiver.

'Idiot!' Kylie mentally screamed at herself. It had been her fault… If she hadn't have cried none of this would have happened to her friend. Sliding around the corner she nearly ended up tackling an unsuspecting Nurse in the process. The group of people yelled that the Nurse telling them to stop her, but it was too little too late.

Kylie pulled back the curtain… Her heart dropped there was blood everywhere and one of Nina's arms were severed who her leg was nearly severed. It was the words that were spoken next that made her heart nearly stop, "Time of dead is…" the person stopped to turn to the person who entered the room. Though the beeping was silenced the flatline darting across the screen spoke volumes. Kylie's eyes widened and something inside of her broke at the sight she couldn't move… couldn't breathe, "Young lady, you shouldn't be in here." The man who'd been speaking spoke up again.

"I'm so sorry sir! She's the girl's emergency contact. She ended up rushing in when I told her I'd get some information on what was going on for her." A woman said bowing her head a few times as she grabbed the girl's hand trying to escort her away. The girl shouldn't have to see this…

The male doctor pointed at a few people seeing the girl wasn't listening ordering the people to escort her out. The girl shouldn't have to see this… she shouldn't have to hear this… Kylie fought against the hands that grabbed her… the hands that pulled her, "Nina, I love you don't do this to me please!" she cried out her voice echoing loudly within the room, her heart skipped a beat by her own words. Kylie's eyes widened again as her hand flew up to cover her lips, 'I-I…'

"I said to get her out of here now!" The man yelled at them again this time far less patient. He didn't like the idea of having to call time of death in front of his patient's loved one. There was nothing more they could do for this girl… He hated feeling so powerless…

"Sir!" Someone else shouted alarmed.

"What!" he yells turning towards said person who merely pointed towards the screen a shocked look on their face, "W-What in the hell?!" the doctor shrieked in confusion.

Kylie held Lucy tighter, "I know,"

~oooOOOooo~

Two days and a hospital discharge later, Lucy leaves her apartment early leaving a resting Natsu in dreamland. Conrad meets her downstairs with a welcoming smile, "Aye Lucy mornin," he said also holding a big black sports duffle bag.

Lucy smiles back, "Morning!" she says back as they both began walking off in the same direction.

"How's Natsu?" Conrad questioned a slight bit of concern lacing his voice.

Lucy sighed reaching up to drag her hands through her hair, pulling her hair back to tie it off into a high ponytail as they walked the street, "My old man's taking care of him while I'm out, but his burns are nearly unexistent." She tells him.

Conrad's eyes widen at this, "Your dads here?" he askes shocked by the news. Lucy nodded and began explaining that she and her father were on better terms.

Lucy felt a stab in her chest every time she explained things but didn't tell them the whole truth.

"We may only be friends, but we still worry…"

'How can I be so happy to hear we're friends when I keep refusing to tell them the whole truth…' she thinks sadly. Lucy looked down at the pavement her bangs dipping over her eyes casting a shadow to hide the looming sadness behind them, "He is." She answers.

"Was he physically abusive?" Nina asked and seconds later Mary's arm swiftly whiplashed back into her older sisters' stomach. Nina turned to her hand slapping the ground hard, "What was that for?!" she growled.

Mary's eyes shifted discreetly from her older sister to Lucy and back again. "No, but he didn't have to be," Lucy said quietly collecting both of their attention. Mary went to say something, but Nina's hand touched her shoulder and she stopped. The look in her eyes… looked broken.

Conrad's face set with a protective stare, "If he gets out of hand... I want you to remember I live here too," He starts shifting the strap of his bag on his shoulder ever so slightly.

Conrad breathed in relief pulling the headset off his head with pride finally having enough material to finish his homework. His bedroom door slammed open to reveal his father. Fear coursing through him at the fury on his father's face, "Who said you could touch my computer you little bastard!" he spits out as he messily rushes over delivering a swift kick to his sons' side.

Conrad shook his head not wanting to continue seeing the rest of that memory. No all he wanted to keep was good memories. Those memories could burn in eternity for all he cared. He didn't want to remember the abuse… not the physical or the mental trauma. It was in the past, somewhere he wanted it to stay. Lucy's eyes met his and she was taken back by the serious stare that stared back at her, "Come get me immediately." He orders her.