It was raining outside. Not a storm of any sort, just soft rain that children often played in. He couldn't help but wonder what that felt like, to have the rain fall onto your skin and dampen your hair and clothing. Would he be able to find out it he learned out to go solid? Or would the rain still pass through him only to hit the ground beneath his feet as he walked.

Natsu walked through the streets and the people walked through him. A constant reminder of what he was and why his pathetic wish for normality was foolish at best. Still, every time he thought about it his chest swelled and his stomach felt different. Was it really so wrong for him to hope for something?

Natsu found himself hoping for many things recently which was strange for him. He tried not to think of it if he could avoid it, he wasn't sure what it meant to hope for certain things that he had no business even thinking of in the first place.

His entire body started feeling the familiar sensation of dissapearing and for the first time Natsu closed his eyes and paid attention. It wasn't exactly a painful feeling but it also wasn't entirely pleasant. His body felt like tiny needles were being pressed into him just hard enough to be felt. His stomach felt as though it were in his chest and it churned slightly. He had always tried to avoid paying attention but now that he was trying to he noticed that it really was not a nice feeling.

When he appeared in a small room he didn't realize what had happened at first. He looked around and could see that this death must have been violent. There was blood on the floor and walls, the room itself had no windows. Natsu noticed the body and for a moment his entire chest felt as though it would be crushed under a weight he didn't understand. It was a girl, chained up completely naked. Her blond hair covered most of her face and had blood streaking through it. Still, as he walked closer and got a better look...

Natsu almost fell to his knees. It looked like Lucy. He looked down at his list and seen that her name was Lucy but her last name was Ashley, not Heartfilia. Still she looked so much like his Lucy that it unnerved him to his very core.

He couldn't help the flashes that came to his mind of Lucy smiling at him, saying his name, holding his hand. He couldn't help the noise that tore it's way from his throat at the idea that something like this could ever happen to his Lucy.

He was torn from his thoughts from the sound of a small voice coming from the corner of the room. The soul he was meant to collect.

"It's brutal, isn't it?"

Natsu swallowed down the lump in his throat. He had a job to do, he couldn't lose his head this way. He straightened his back and walk toward her. He had to force his legs to move with every step he took.

"You're going to a better place now, your suffering is over." Natsu could hear his own voice and how it cracked.

"Please cut the bullshit and just take me to wherever it is I am going. I'm done with this life anyway."

Natsu nodded his head and took the girls hand to guide her.

"If you ever have to take the bloke who did this to me. Take him to hell. He deserves it."

"Okay."

"I didn't deserve this."

"Nobody does."

"No I mean, his only reason for taking me was my hair colour. It could have been anyone else and yet... never mind. Do I walk through there?" The soul pointed toward the veil and Natsu nodded as he watched her walk through. When she was finally out of his sight he allowed his knees to give out.

Natsu stared up at the window that he didn't really have the energy to climb. The light was on and the window was wide open as always. He wondered if she left it open for him or if it was just a coincidence. He could still pass through it even if she shut it but seeing it open made him feel more welcome.

He decided to get it over with and started climbing up the wall every brick taking him closer to the one thing he knew could make him feel normal. The thing her knew would make him feel better.

He paused when he was half way in her window with one leg dangling on each side. Lucy was dressed in a long blue skirt with golden thread stitched into patterns. With every move she made he could hear bells tinkling and she was moving a lot. She spun in circles and he skirt flowed around her, she stomped her feet and jumped and clapped her hands and spun some more. Her now shoulder length hair looked as wild as her movements and her white shirt was tight and showed her stomach.

She looked so different. He had never seen her look so unburdened and care free before, like nothing could ever hurt her. Natsu cleared his throat and Lucy jumped and turned to face him.

"Natsu, you startled me!" She chided as she placed her hands on her hips and looked at him with a mock pout.

"What we're you doing?" His voice sounded horse so her cleared his throat again.

"Dancing."

"Okay but what are you wearing?" He raised an eyebrow at her for a second her smile faltered.

"Um, what I felt like wearing? Why?" Lucy's face tightened and her brows furrowed as if she was waiting for Natsu's response before deciding what to feel.

"You looked so happy, I thought maybe it was because you were dressed different." Natsu shrugged and finally climbed the rest of the way through the window. Lucy's eyes widened and she nodded slowly but didn't say anything else about it. Instead she held out her hand to him with a wicked smirk plastered to her face.

"Dance with me?"

"I'm not really much of a dancer." Natsu put his hands in his pockets and kicked at the ground.

"Have you ever tried it?" Natsu shook his head and she continued. "How do you know you aren't much of a dancer if you have never danced, just move and have fun. It's only me here."

And he did. He took her hand and moved with her, jumping around and following her lead. Spun with her and jumped with her. When she jumped into his arms he caught her and continued to spin while she smiled down at him. Then he stopped and looked her, she made no indication that she would move away from him.

He could feel her chest moving with deep breaths against his. Her brown eyes shone and he skin was slicked with sweat. Her face was so close to his, her lips were so close to his and if he leaned in just a few centimetres they would be touching. He found himself really wanting to lean in and close any distance between them.

It took all his strength to put her down and step away from her when an image of her cold dead body flashed through his mind.

No. Not her. It wasn't her, he reminded himself. It was just someone that looked like her, it would never be her.

"Natsu are you okay?" Lucy whispered.

"Huh?"

"You just got this really strange expression on your face. Is there something you want to talk about?"

Natsu didn't know where he got the courage to speak the words that flew from his mouth but they were out before he could stop them.

"Can I hold you tonight?"

"What? Natsu where is this coming from?" Lucy looked at him with confusion laced in worry.

"Just... Please? I just need to keep reminding myself that you are safe and I know you are safe if I am holding you." He was looking at the ground. It was a stupid idea anyway, he didn't know where it came from but hearing the words spill from his lips made them sound all the more stupid and pathetic.

"Okay"

Natsu's head snapped up and he looked at Lucy but her expression gave nothing away.

"Really?" God he sounded so pathetic. He knew he did, but he couldn't help it. It was like he was slowly losing control of himself and his own actions.

"Yeah, but only for tonight. Then it's back to the foot of the bed for you okay?"

Natsu nodded enthusiastically before clearing his throat.

"Thankyou Lucy."

"You're welcome. Now turn around, I need to get into my pyjamas."

Natsu did as he was told and after Lucy was dressed he layed down beside her as she placed the blankets over them both. At first he wasn't really sure what to do with his hands but he quickly figured it out when Lucy put her head against his chest and he hand on his stomach. He wrapped one arm around her waist and placed his free hand on top of hers.

"Natsu, I know you don't tell me a lot of different things. I don't know why. Promise you will be honest with me one day?" As Lucy whispered Natsu could feel the warm air coming from her mouth tickle his chest.

"I promise one day I will tell you anything you want to know. But I can't right now. I want to but I just can't bring myself to talk about some things." It was true, how could he even begin to tell her that he was the reason her mother died? Layla had understood but he had a feeling that Lucy would react very differently.

"Like why you always watched me even before you knew I could see you?"

"Yeah, something like that." He mumbled feeling slightly guilty.

"You mean a whole lot to me you know?" Her voice sounded nervous but Natsu couldn't quite help the surprise. It was meant to be his job to take care of her and look out for her. It was a part of his promise. He knew she cared about him, but he didn't realize she cared enough to word it the way she had.

"I do?"

"Yeah... in case you didn't notice, you're sort of the most important person in my life."

Natsu could help the smile that found its way onto his face or the subconscious way that he pulled her against him tighter then before. He didn't know enough about humans to realize the true meaning behind her words.

Natsu groaned audibly knowing that nobody could hear him anyway not only because nobody could see him but also because nobody was even around. He had been waiting at the same spot in the same store for what felt like a really long time. He was going to strangle Gray when he finally got here. He understood it was very early hours of the morning but it's not like they ever slept anyway. Besides he was on a mission and he needed help to complete it.

"What do you want flame brain?" Natsu turned around to see the guy in question looking very bored.

"It's Lucy's birthday today." Natsu answered.

"And that matters to me because?"

"Because you are going to help me get Lucy a present." Natsu crossed his arms and stared at Gray. He probably should have asked more nicely but he really didn't want to. Not for the Ice queen.

"Why do you need my help?" Gray looked at him with a confused expression.

"You can go solid. Since you won't teach me how to, I need you to grab the gift."

"You mean steal it?"

"Well, yeah. Will you help me or not?" Natsu bit out, starting to feel A bit impatient.

"You're really lucky I am your friend."

"We aren't friends."

"Then I'm not helping." Gray smirked at him with his arms crossed. "Admit we are friends or find someone else who would be willing to break the rules and who can also go solid."

"Fine." Natsu hissed through clenched teeth. "We are friends."

"Was that so hard?" Gray slapped Natsu of the back with a grin. "So what are we getting?"

Natsu pointed box filled with books. On the box it said 'The works of William Shakespeare'.

"You're shit a picking presents. Books? Really?"

"Lucy loves reading and we have been studying Shakespeare in class. She seems to really like it."

"You've been going to school with her?" Gray hissed.

"Education is oh so important my dear friend." Natsu smiled, his voice filled with sarcasm.

Gray shook his head but didn't comment.

"Are there any security camera's?"

"Nope, looked and couldn't find a single one."

"Okay." Gray stretched his arms in front of him and rolled his neck. The difference was subtle but since Natsu was watching closely he could see it. Gray looked more... alive. His cheeks took on a faint amount of colour and his hair developed a kind of shine to it. It was more than that though, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Gray grabbed the box off books and started walking with Natsu beside him, they escaped through the fire exit and continued on the long walk to Lucy's house. It was a good thing it was so late or they would look rather suspicious.

"I am sorry by the way. In case you didn't figure that out already." Gray mumbled as though it was really hard for him to say, adjusting the grip on the box slightly as he walked.

"About what?" Natsu quirked his eyebrow and searched his memories for a reason Gray might be sorry. He was a right prick at times, but he also never apologized for it. If he was apologizing he must have meant it.

"For that day, with Lucy's mum. I know that wasn't easy for you and I made it harder it's just that, you keep breaking the rules. Even now you are breaking the rules and I am helping you and I know it's not a good idea."

"What do you mean? What's not a good idea?" Natsu questioned.

"Getting so attached to a human. Natsu there are so many reasons that the rules exist the way they do. This can only ever end badly."

"You don't know that."

"Okay, prove me wrong by answering some questions." Gray challenged him.

"Fine." Natsu bit out, his fist were clenched and his head was starting to feel hot.

"What will you do when Lucy dies?"

Natsu was caught off guard. He really didn't know the answer to that question and Gray nodded at his silence.

"What about if she falls in love with you, how do you picture that ending?"

"Lucy wouldn't -."

"Don't bullshit me Natsu, we all seek the way she was looking at you. If she isn't already there then she is close. If you confessed to you, would you be able to break her heart for her own good?"

"How could hurting Lucy ever be good?" Natsu raised his voice slightly more then he needed to, he didn't like all these questions.

"How do you picture a relationship between the two of you ending? It can only end in two ways Natsu, either you break up or she dies. That's it, those are the only options. Then what will you do knowing that you can never ever follow her soul wherever it went?" Gray voice was surprisingly gentle as he spoke. His eyes were pleading to Natsu as if begging him to see reason.

"I can't give her up okay? I know what you are saying is true, I get it! But Lucy... She makes me feel, Gray. I don't expect you to understand."

"I do. I understand better than you could possibly know. She makes you feel and I'm guessing it's all these cool new feelings that you don't quite understand but you still like. Feelings work both ways though, they bring you up or they can tear you down. The higher you climb, the longer the fall. I don't wanna see my newest friend hurt."

Natsu nodded his head and looked at the pavement in front of them. He knew Gray was right but, was he so wrong to try and chase the one bit of happiness he had ever known?

"I know that you will do whatever you feel you have to, just be careful okay? And don't be too proud to ask advice if you get in over your head. When this all crashes and burns you remember, Lucy isn't all you had. You have you're friends even after she is gone."

"Gray, I am glad we are friends but, can we still fight from time to time too? I don't really know how this friend thing works."

"Oh you try and stop me from picking fights with you fire princess." Gray smirked and adjusted his grip on the box so he could punch Natsu in the arm.

"Wouldn't dream of it Ice Prick."

Natsu paced Lucy's room, nervous for her to wake up. He hadn't been to see her the previous night because he was too preoccupied with wanting to get her a gift so he was excited to see how she would react to it. His stomach fluttered and his palms were hot, every second she layed sleeping was another second that he felt beyond tempted to wake her up.

But she looked so peaceful. So he just continued his pacing back and forth and stared at the box of books that Gray had placed on the floor.

What if she hated it? What if she thought it was a boring gift? It's the thought that counts right but what if he hadn't thought hard enough?

Those questions flew back and forth through his head and made him feel ill, which was a rather new and unpleasant experience.

He was shaken put of his thought by Lucy's shout.

"What are you doing in my room while I was asleep?"

Natsu jumped back and put his hands up defensively.

"I'm almost always in your room when you sleep."

"Yeah but normally it's because I know you are here, not because you came around at whatever time to pace around my room while I don't know you are here!" Lucy growled, her brows furrowed and her eyes wild.

"I just wanted to be here when you woke up for your birthday." Natsu cringed, half expecting her to throw something at him. It would go straight through him... unless she threw her fist. That could be unpleasant. Surprisingly Lucy's expression changed to one of shock.

"Oh, you remembered my birthday?"

"What? Of course I remembered your birthday." Natsu felt slightly offended that she even had to ask. "I Even got you a present." Natsu pointed to the box on the floor.

"How did you get me a present?" Lucy started climbing out of bed and walking toward him.

"Well, Gray helped a bit but I picked it Out and..." Natsu started to rambled but was silenced by the feeling of Lucy's arms wrapping around his waist and he head pressed again his chest.

"Thankyou Natsu."

"You don't even know what it is yet."

"I don't need to. It's from you" Natsu was confused by the way she said the words. As though they were a complete explanation of why she would like a gift she had never even seen.

"Please just look at it, the suspense is killing me." He grumbled half heartedly.

"Fine, if it will make you feel better." Lucy let go of him and rolled her eyes with a smile on her face before looking at the box, then tearing it open and smiling brightly as she went through all the books inside.

"I can't believe you did this." Through her smile he noticed that her voice cracked slightly and she coughed to clear her throat.

"Are you just going to oggle at them or are you going to read one to me?" Natsu crossed his arms and grinned at her.

"I thought you got bored by this kind of thing? You don't seem to like it much in class."

Natsu wanted to point out that she in class she wasn't the one reading it but thought better of it.

"I can put up with it for your birthday."

Lucy beamed at him again with the smile that crinkled her eyes.

"Which one do you think?"

Natsu looked down at the titles before pointing at one and saying the name as he did so.

"The taming of the shrew."

Natsu layed on his stomach looking at Lucy who was sitting with her legs crossed as she finished the last few lines before closing the book and eyeing him with an almost worried look.

"What did you think?" She spoke through almost clenched teeth and look as though she was suppressing the urge to cringe.

"Honestly I hated it." Natsu shrugged and Lucy looked relieved and exhaled deeply.

"Right! How could anyone think that was romantic?"

"I know! Like who starves someone and isolates them like that then pretends it's out of love? And why was she so happy to be the most obedient wife? Like what the fuck was that about?" Natsu sat up and ranted while Lucy nodded in agreement.

"Stockholm syndrome. Petruchio is literally a garbage fire of a human being."

"Almost everyone in the story is garbage but he is definitely the worst of the bunch." Natsu crossed his arms and pouted.

"I hope my dad never forces me to marry a man like that. I think I'd rather just never get married." Even though Lucy's tone remained light her eyes changed slightly with the weight of what she said and Natsu's frown deepened.

"I would kidnap you myself before I would ever let you be sold of to some jerk like that."

"Could you even actually do that?" Lucy smirked at him.

"Nobody could stop me. Besides your mum put money away for you in case that ever happened so it's not like it would be impossible." Natsu stopped talking quickly. He hadn't actually told Lucy about that yet.

"What do you mean?" Lucy's expression was completely unreadable and her tone was void of emotion.

"I didn't want to tell you unless you needed it. I didn't want to worry you or make you sad... Your mum... She told me before she went to the afterlife... She left a bunch of money in an account under your name that only you can access or something." Natsu mumbled the words.

"I wish you would have told me sooner Natsu." Her tone was completely diplomatic and Natsu hated it.

"I didn't want you to be sad hearing about your mum." Natsu kept his head low but looked at her through his hooded eyes. "I'm sorry."

"We can talk about it more later, it's my birthday. I don't want to be so serious on my birthday." Lucy shrugged and her smile returned just as there was a knock on the door. Natsu watched as Lucy opened it to a person he didn't recognize. The woman didn't speak, only handed Lucy an envelope then bowed and walked away.

Lucy walked back to the bed and Natsu noticed how her body shook as she grasped the letter tightly in her hand.

"What is it?" He whispered, a sinking feeling took over his stomach.

Lucy didn't reply, she instead opened the envelope with shaky fingers. She stared at it blankly and Natsu stood up to get a closer look.

Dear Miss Lucy Heartfilia

I invite you to attend a party in your honour tonight at 6pm in the ballroom.

You are now sixteen and as you know this comes with many responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is choosing your intended and entering a political contract of engagement.

I am selected a small list of worthy suitors who will also be in attendance tonight.

It is up to you to bring honour to the family name and be a lady worthy of the men in your presence.

I expect you to be on your best behaviour.

A stylist will arrive at 3pm to help you look the part.

Regards

Jude Heartfilia

Natsu could feel himself shaking as he read the intentions Lucy's father had for her. Fuck. He wasn't much of a father at all.

He looked at Lucy who stared at him with wide, terrified eyes.

"I don't want to do this. I am too young to buy a house on my own. I can't run away." Lucy's words were interrupted by her own violent sobs that tore from her throat. "Natsu, how can I get out of this?"

Natsu wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest, stroking he head as he done so.

"We will find a way Lucy. We will figure this out." He whispered through the cracking of his voice.

In his arms Lucy continued sobbing and shaking as a lump developed in his throat and grew large enough for him to choke on.

A/N

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Please read and review!

Pretty please leave reviews, they actually motivate me so much right now. With working so much it is hard to find the motivation to write. I am currently finishing this chapter at 12:15am after forcing myself to stay awake knowing I need to get up and get ready for work early.

So all your support means the world to me!

Also knew chapter for IFASL should be coming this weekend (provided I manage to finish the editing process after my 13 hour shift on Saturday)

If I don't it may be a little late sorry!

Lots of love and well wishes to all of you!