Hey :)

Guess what everyone? It's the day I have been waiting for, do you know what day it is? Of course you do! That's right, today, on the 24th of June 2013 I, Feathers, have finally finished my GCSE's! *Happy dance* I wish I could say I ran out of school dancing and squealing happily, but I didn't... My friends who are to 'normal' for their own good wouldn't celebrate with me! But oh well, I am still happy!

Anyways, it's time people, in the words of Fall Out Boy, 'It's the beginning of the end' (AN: I don't own these lyrics). Not quite the last chapter yet, but we are reaching the stories climax!

I would like to thank everyone for their comments, and to all who think it, yep. Rogue is rather possessive, but he is still sexy (Still thinking I need a therapist) ;D

I haven't checked my grammar massively today because I am so tired! I'm so sorry for any mistakes! It wont happen again, I would normally check :(

Anyway, it's Lucy again today!

Enjoy! :3

Chapter Twenty Four-

Tell you that I care, just so you know

"Let me go! Rogue, no! Please!"

Everything is happening so fast.

I can feel Rogue's breath on my neck. Feel the proximity of his teeth to my skin, and all I can do against my slowly dawning fate is squirm in his iron grip, trying to free myself before he marks me. I cry out, pushing against his arm again, but it is no use. No matter how much I am pushing or punching, squirming and fighting I can't seem to escape from the black haired Dragon Slayer holding me close against his chest. With every millisecond that flies by, the more a gloomy, heavy fog is settling inside of my chest. One of despair. For a moment, I open my eyes which allows the tears that were trapped behind my lids to slip down my cheeks as I decide to steal a look at the pink haired man who seems to be just out of my reach. The man who always has been.

I'm not sure what it'll achieve but break my heart further, knowing that he came to save me only for me to not be strong enough to stop myself being stolen in front of his eyes. Taken away even though I will be near him everyday, but I feel right now I need to just see him. I need to look into his deep, dark eyes and over his perfect face, and I will know that somehow, it'll be aright. No matter how bleak everything appears, ever has appeared, Natsu has always made it okay. I want to believe that now too.

As I look to where he had been after bursting into the clearing, however, I find he is no longer there. Only a shocked looking slim man with the bottom half of his chest exposed, showing his muscles. Hair a similar colour to mine and eyes a dark blue, his right eye marked with a scar. I briefly recall knowing this man, and quickly place a name to his face. It couldn't really be anyone else, since there is a white Sabertooth mark decorating his shoulder and his fellow Twin Dragon Slayer is pinning me to his chest. He's Sting Eucliffe, the Light Dragon Slayer. But there is no Natsu.

Whimpering at the thought he has left me again, I close my eyes tightly once again as I shiver, feeling the tips of Rogue's sharp canines finding the skin of my neck. Breathing in, I finally concede and accept what is about to happen.

Rogue is going to bite me, and I will be his, whether I like it or not... I wont be able to be Natsu's, I never even... Releasing a whimper I can almost feel my heart beginning to crack. Even got to tell him that I love him, not properly...

Squeezing my eyes shut, I wait for the pain and sorrow and beginning of the end to set the rest of my to be miserable life in motion. But there is no pain, no teeth sinking into skin.

Suddenly, the cold feeling against my neck is gone, replaced with a hot sensation. The feeling of Rogue's canines grating my skin, ready to sink his teeth into me, lifts from the sensitive skin on the crook of my neck. A sensation of burning grates past my cheek ever so slightly as I hear a roar sound from beside me, and turning my head quickly while opening my eyes, I am met with a flash of pink and a fist engulfed in fire.

"Fire Dragons Iron Fist!"

"Nat-"

I begin to say Natsu's name in shock, but he flies by too quickly to allow me to finish it. All of a sudden, the tight grip Rogue had on me a moment ago loosens, yet it is still enough to drag me down to the floor with him as Natsu's flaming fists makes contact with his face with such a force Rogue is thrown to the ground. Yelping as may back makes contact with the hard ground beneath me, I groan as my world spins slightly and a thudding pain emits from where my head had hit the ground. As I hear the man beside me stirring and throwing his hands to the side moaning my name, I shake my throbbing head. Ignoring the pain, I claw across the ground trying to get away from the Shadow Dragon Slayer who I landed beside. Trying to get away from him before he can grab me again. I was given this chance to escape his grasp and teeth, I wont allow myself to fall into his hands again.

Suddenly, I feel arms scooping under my body and lifting me up from the ground. I turn in my captors arms ready to attack Rogue with all the strength I have, to get the Shadow Dragon Slayer away from me. But instead of being in the arms of the black haired man I expected to see, I am instead faced with pink hair shading the dark eyes I know lie beneath. Sucking in my breath quickly, I stare up at Natsu's shaded face, realising as I am cradled in his strong arms, that I have never seen him move this fast before. Look this serious. I feel my eyes grow wide.

"Natsu."

I smile weakly, staring up at him. However, when his gaze falls on me his face is still serious, angered, almost. At this expression, I look away quickly. He's mad at me. I grimace, knowing it is probably due to the fact that once again, it is Natsu saving me from trouble I got myself into.

Maybe that bite and fate bound to Rogue wasn't going to be as horrible as the feeling of disappointing Natsu... Again.

Reaching the clearing edge, Natsu gently lowers me to the floor next the the brush and greenery. For a moment, I feel a stab in my chest at the fact that the pink haired man no longer held me in his arms. The feeling doesn't compare to the horrid look still on Natsu's face I spot as I quickly glance at him.

Averting my eyes once again, I open my mouth quickly, my words tumbling out.

"I'm so sorry, Natsu, I should have listened to you. I- I- I should have listened to you, and m- myself and... I'm so-"

"Lucy." My words are cut off by his firm voice. Looking back at him I see Natsu's eyes clearly for the first time in a while. But they aren't angered like I believed they would be, nor are they full of hate and loathing for having to save me once more. Instead, I see they are brimming with... Tears. Tears? "I thought I had lost you, Lucy."

He whispers, the tears now falling. Staring at him in shock, I am vaguely aware of the blond Dragon Slayer staring at us both with an odd look on his face, or Rogue's moaning as he lays on the floor, slowly and unsteadily pushing himself to his feet. His movements clumsy after he had been knocked off of his feet while off guard.

My word is as quiet as the pink haired man kneeling next to me as I speak. As I do, I place my hand on Natsu's flushed cheek.

"Natsu..."

"I thought I had lost you! I don't know what I'd do if that happened, Lucy! I care about you, and I know-." He looks down ashamed, breathing in a ragged breath as he continues, a dusted blush the same colour as his hair covering his cheeks. "I know I haven't proven it recently, but I didn't know how too. I was scared, Lucy... Scared I'd do something wrong, and I didn't want to screw up... Lucy, I- I lo-"

"Salamander!" A sudden shout cuts Natsu's words short, the words which, as he spoke, were rapidly causing my heart to flutter in anticipation of his words.

Turning my head hastily, I notice that Rogue is now on his feet, looking as if he is going to explode in anger any minute much like an atomic bomb. His snake like eyes are narrowed, fists clenched and knuckles burning white. His words forced out through gritted teeth and thin wisps of shadows starting to seep from his skin. A dark aura is oozing from his very being, and out of the corner of my eye I can see that Sting is also shocked at Rogue's demeanour. "Give me back my mate. Now."

With his demand uttered, I watch as his body ignites into black shadows, similar to how Natsu's burst into fire. His hair is standing on end and strange black marking cover his face. I have seen this before. At the Grand Magic Games. This is the epiphany of the third generation of Dragon Slayer.

This is their Dragon Force.

Gulping, I turn back to Natsu who's face is as hard as his muscles. I watch as slowly he starts to get to his feet, but before he can fully stand I grab at his clothes, trying to hold him down. I can feel a fear pooling at the pit of my stomach, causing me to shake as I grip onto him for dear life.

"Natsu, no. What if he hurts you?!"

"Don't worry, Lucy." He looks at me, stroking my hair and pushing a strand behind my ear. His smile is reassuring as he pries my fingers from his shirt and gets to his feet, leaving me sitting on the floor holding my balled fists close to my chest. With every step he takes, a pain shooting through my chest. When he addresses Rogue, his voice is cold and full of hatred. "If you want Lucy, you'll have to kill me first."

Natsu, Natsu please be safe.