Hello! Well, this chapter ended up longer than I meant it to but I'm still pretty happy with it. This will be the last chapter for this mini story. One-shots and other mini stories will follow in the coming weeks. I'm so excited to be expanding this timeline! E.N.D is honestly kind of fun to write sometimes, especially when he's talking to Natsu. He's just so done with this mess. Hope you enjoy this!

Sincerely,
PagesInTheLibrary

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters and make no money off of this.

(He) Is Here To Stay

When Lucy woke up, part of her body felt like it had been roasted over an open fire. The black marks themselves pulsed in time with her heartbeat and stung like a bitch.

She lowered her gaze to her body, or at least what she could see of it from the infirmary gown. The skin wasn't burned at all, it just looked flushed, and she was sure her face was the same. This wasn't the first time the scarring had hurt her, and Lucy always came out of it feeling like she had broken a fever trying its best to cook her alive.

"Lucy."

The Celestial Spirit mage turned her head to the right, it was Porlyusica. She smiled and opened her mouth –

"What happened?!" The old healer snapped. The older woman looked haggard, lips pursed tightly, eyes pinched.

"Porlyusica." Lucy muttered. "It was bad, wasn't it?"

"Bad? Bad? We had to tie you down or you would've done gods know what to yourself! The pain you were in is the kind people will do anything if it'll make the agony stop." She turned around roughly, red cape swishing with the motion. "You don't remember, do you?"

"Its. . . hazy." Lucy admitted numbly. The memory of Natsu, his expression tight with obvious discomfort as he climbed through her window (again!) came to mind. Happy fluttering over their heads with agitation as she urged the pink haired mage to lay down. The blue cat didn't tease them, even when Lucy held Natsu's hand or pushed back his hair. While Natsu rested, he whispered that the Dragon Slayer was getting distant, and it hurt her to see Happy's lost expression.

What if he was thinking about leaving again?

When the pain hit her, she was still aware enough to remember Natsu holding her, his face carefully serious. Her arm steadily got worse and by the time they reached Fairy Tail Lucy would have thrown herself into Mirajane's Soul Extinction attack if it meant the burning would stop. It had already spread to the marks on her torso and face.

Gray had taken her from Natsu, the Ice from his magic already covering his arms and torso to protect himself. She was pretty sure the Dragon Slayer hadn't wanted to let her go but she managed to tug a little at his scarf and Natsu handed her over.

What followed that was harder to remember, but Lucy knew that besides Gray and Porlyusica, Wendy was also at her side. She could remember the familiar brush of the Sky Dragon Slayer mage's magic against her skin.

"It's when Gray brought me in that it gets hard to remember." Lucy muttered. She looked around as best she could from the bed and saw no one else. "Wendy was here too, right?"

The healer gave a sharp nod. It was silent for a moment.

"Do you have any idea what could have triggered this?"

Lucy shook her head. "I was just making tea."

"Natsu and Happy were with you, yes?" When Lucy nodded Porlyusica narrowed her eyes. "The boy had a migraine, Happy told me. Would say it was getting worse or better at the time of the attack?"

"I don't think it really changed." The Celestial Spirit mage said.

More questions followed. Were there any new spells she was learning? Did she come into contact with anything unusual recently? Were there any spikes in pain leading up to the attack?

"From what I can tell, it seems the Ethernano left behind in the corruption from the Book. . . activated. It responded to something."

That was something Lucy hadn't expected to hear, in past her attacks were intense but didn't last long. This was the first time the healer was able to study the actual attack instead of treating her during the aftermath. She quirked an eyebrow, looking at the older woman curiously. "How?"

"That's what we need to figure out!" Porlyusica sighed grumpily. "In the meantime, you are not to leave this bed for the rest of the week. No serious physical activities, and therapy for that arm. We need to minimize any nerve damage caused by this."

Well, it was a good thing Lucy had money saved up for once, rent would be ok.

"Another thing." The healer looked down at her and said. "I know we discussed giving you an artificial eye like Erza's after the serious injuries from the war were dealt with. However, at this point in time, giving it to you would be too dangerous."

"What?" Lucy said, startled.

"I took samples of the magic during treatment. It occurred to me while you slept that it would be better to stay on the side of caution so I tested the materials I would have used for the eye against it."

She looked Lucy dead in the eye. "Every single one I introduced melted. Some faster than others. I don't have to go into detail about how disastrous it would be if that scenario played out with an eye that's been implanted in your skull."

Lucy swallowed. "No, you don't. It would be better to wait."

Porlyusica crossed her arms. "I can't guarantee I'll find a material or magic that can withstand that demonic fire. You'll need to face the possibility of never getting a replacement. At the very least, you'll be waiting more than a few years."

The Celestial Spirit mage touched the eyepatch that covered the scarred left eyelid and empty eye socket. Her beauty was something she long accepted could never be the same as what it once was. Lucy's most recent injuries weren't like the pale marks left behind by Jackal's Explosions, or the few, puckered, scars made by the indifferent jagged rocks the sadist's attacks had thrown her into. While it had taken a while to adjust to whenever she looked in the mirror, the former heiress could cover those with clothes, she had a choice.

Her new ones were on display for everyone to see though, there was no hiding them and Lucy could reluctantly admit to herself at least that she struggled with the stares they got her in the beginning. It wasn't the injuries in and of themselves that bothered her – it was the reactions to it and how awkward things could get at times.

Months had passed since then though, and Lucy adjusted. She would never be ashamed of her scars from the war. They were reminders of what she fought for and reassurance that she could save her friends. Her looks were a small price to pay.

That said, she had been looking forward to being able to see out of two eyes again. It wasn't the end of the world to be told that it might never happen – Lucy was adaptable – but it was still. . . disappointing.

"I understand." The Celestial Spirit mage said.

Porlyusica sighed. "I want you to eat something and get more rest. Depending on your condition after that I'll allow visitors."

Lucy cheered up a bit at that. "Deal!"

She wondered how everyone else was doing.

xXxXxXxXx

E.N.D resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose when he noticed the twerp approaching his space. The demonic half fell down from the tree branch he'd been perched on, landing on a bed of purple and lavender leaves. They crunched softly under his feet as he walked to the edge of his sanctuary and waited for the bane of his existence to speak.

There was a tense silence, and the boy took in a deep breath as E.N.D scowled impatiently.

"How is Lucy?"

E.N.D pressed his lips together; he'd let the twerp look in when Marvell and Fullbuster left the infirmary. What more did he want? Why did the brat have to keep bringing it up?

Lucy would take some time to recover but she would be fine.

He must've taken a touch too long because the dragon brat's lips twisted up in a half snarl, sharp teeth biting into his lower lip to keep the nasty sound in his throat. A very frustrated and grudging attempt to hold back his anger after the harsh lesson E.N.D had imparted yesterday.

It did not feel like a victory. The demonic half of the two ignored the taste of bitter ash in his mouth and coolly said, "How many times do you need to hear that she'll be fine? Do I need to replay Marv -,"

"I'm not talkin' about that!" The pinkette snapped. "I wanna know how she's doing! Is she scared about it? Is she frustrated that she can't make it stop? He swallowed. "Is she crying?"

Is she lonely?

The last part went unsaid but both heard it anyway in the new suddenly painful quiet that followed. One of the things the Celestial Spirit mage hated the most was loneliness. It wasn't surprising, after the way her father treated her when her mother died. Sure, the staff loved her, and she could always go to them for help but even Lucy had admitted to Nat – the twerp once that it didn't make up for having no friends her age. It didn't make up for how her father had abandoned her and then isolated the girl.

It was one of the reasons the obnoxious fire idiot kept breaking into her apartment besides to annoy her. Even if he didn't realize it himself sometimes, which E.N.D knew for a fact was only sometimes. The boy wasn't as oblivious as he pretended to be, he just didn't like sudden or big changes to his life. Especially when it came to his friends.

E.N.D wasn't big on change either – the shittiness of his current very unpredictable situation being a good example – but because of said shitty situation, he'd been forced to learn how to deal with it better. At least the twerp knew he wouldn't be erased in a power struggle.

That also meant he was willing to admit things to himself that the boy still stubbornly ignored. The Etherious didn't mind using this against the brat – he was petty, and it made everything a little more bearable whenever he won an argument.

Which was often. The added insult to injury was so satisfying.

"Are you listen'?" The twerp snapped.

"The healer hasn't let anyone inside yet." E.N.D said curtly. "So, I can't answer any of your questions."

This time a snarl slipped past the boy's lips. The Etherious watched with disinterest as his other half reined himself in.

"I'll be back again and again." The boy said tightly. "Until you're able to tell me then."

E.N.D grimaced as the bane of his existence stalked back into the mists. The boy was stubborn enough to do it, no matter how much they wanted to give each other a wide berth after yesterday. Karma was a bitch.

Lucy better be ready for visitors soon.

xXxXxXxXx

He was the first person she asked for, him and Happy. E.N.D was almost relieved to play the part of the twerp – a mask was a mask and he needed one for this.

She was clearly exhausted, skin on the pale side and looked so small in the infirmary bed. The arm, torso, and face that bore the black marks was wrapped in bandages that the Etherious could sense had Ice Devil Slayer Magic imbedded in it. He could smell the tinge of enhancements in the cloth too, which was no doubt Marvell's work.

"Hey guys." Lucy smiled as he closed the door behind him. Due to the bandaging covering her only eye she couldn't see him or the Exceed.

"LUCY!" Happy wailed. He flew over to the bed and snuggled the unbandaged part of her face, fur brushing the pale pink eyepatch that protected her left eye socket. She brought up her good hand and patted his head, fingers moving to scratch behind an ear. "You're okay now, right?!"

"I will be. I just need to rest. I'm sorry for worrying you."

Happy shook his head. "There's nothing to be sorry for. I'm just happy you pulled through."

E.N.D took a seat at her side and took her bandaged hand in his own. "Hey Luce."

Her smile widened. "Hey Natsu."

He tried to ignore the weird feeling that smile gave him as she continued. "Thanks, both of you. I don't want to think about what would've happened if I was alone."

"Let's not think about that, okay?" E.N.D said. "I wanna know how you're doin'. When are you gettin' outta the infirmary?"

They filled the room for mindless chatter for a few minutes. Lucy would be in the infirmary for a week at least. Happy asked about the bandages.

"Porlyusica wanted to see if this would help with the pain. She asked Wendy to enchant the cloth after Gray put some of his magic in it. It does feel better."

"That's good!" The blue cat yawned. He hadn't slept that well, anxious over Lucy's condition and had already made himself comfortable on the pillow by her head. It wasn't a surprise when he nodded off.

"He was really worried, wasn't he?" The Celestial Spirit wizard muttered, reaching up with her good hand to brush the Exceed's back with her fingers.

"Yeah." E.N.D admitted, watching her shift to the direction of his voice. "He was."

It was silent for a moment, and then she said gently. "He's worried about you too."

The Etherious stiffened.

"You've been a bit distant Natsu. I thought maybe. . . maybe I was worrying too much because of what happened after we fought Tartarus. I wanted to believe that you just needed some time to sort through your thoughts. Zeref was your brother and you found out that you aren't entirely human because of him. I thought that at least you would be talking to Happy but he told me you've been a bit closed off." She bit her lip. "I'm not trying to force you to talk or anything like that, I just want to make sure you're okay." I want you to say that you're not leaving again. Was what she really wanted to say but she held her tongue. This talk wasn't about her, it was about Natsu.

It was quiet, and she started to worry that she had pushed too far when. . .

"What do you think about it?" He asked stiffly. "That I'm an Etherious. Not. . . human."

"Is that what's bothering you?" Lucy asked, startled. "That. . . that you being an Etherious would make us hate you?"

"Gray was willin' ta fight me to the death." He said dryly. "So yeah, the thought mighta made me worry sometimes. Hell, I'd be dead for over a year if he destroyed the Book when we were fightin' Tartarus like he wanted to."

Lucy cringed. Gray did have a sore spot for Zeref and his creations in general. She couldn't blame him for it but if it was one of the reasons Natsu was hurting like this than it might be becoming a problem. . .

"Gray lost everything because of Zeref's demons when he was a kid, and he thought Juvia was dead at the time." She said gently. "He wasn't really in the right mind. He helped me rewrite your Book when it came to it."

She couldn't see his face, but Lucy had a feeling her partner wasn't convinced. She hesitated, and softly added. "No one hates you or thinks they can't trust you. I don't care that you're an Etherious. . . I mean, when you woke up in that place and saw Dimaria took my eye. . . Yeah, you were a lot more brutal when you beat her up. She still hasn't woken up from her coma from what I've heard. But. . . you didn't hurt me. You got me out of that chair and left me where I was safe. You only fought with Gray because he wouldn't let you pass. It only happened at all because you thought you lost someone again. There's nothing evil about why you slipped into. . . E.N.D mode."

Lucy had let her free hand fall on her stomach by this point and jumped a little when callous fingers tightened around her own. He was holding her hand.

"You really think that Luce?"

"Yeah." She swallowed. There was a vulnerability in his voice she never heard before. "Natsu is Natsu. You've just found out there's a part of yourself you need to figure out, that's all. You're still you." My partner. My best friend. The reason I've been able to hold it all together when I feel like I'm falling apart.

"Thanks." He sounded like he might be smiling. She hoped so. "I needed to hear that."

Calloused thumbs rubbed over her knuckles, and she hoped to Mavis that her partner wouldn't notice her blush.

He did, but lucky for him she couldn't see the faint dusting of pink on his cheeks. E.N.D was very, very grateful that the blonde couldn't see him at the moment and happy that his other half couldn't see this either. He had no problem rubbing this in the boy's face later but right now, the moment as it was happening, it belonged to him.

It was the way he felt ever since he realized the twerp couldn't see the outside unless E.N.D let him. For all the headaches and stress of trying to pass as his other half, that time was his and the boy would only have access to it if E.N.D allowed it. No one could take it from him, those memories would be with him to the bitter end.

They were all he had to his name and if he didn't figure a way out of this clusterfuck, he would lose even that bit of himself. He tightened his hold on Lucy's hand, his palms warming it easily, as he thought of the hell it would be to deal with the brat's voice 24/7.

That was not going to happen. He wouldn't let it happen. No one was going to get rid of him that easily, no one would take from him that easily.

Natsu didn't want to accept him? Fine, the idiot was only hurting himself. . . but E.N.D wouldn't let him ignore what he was doing. Lucy was right about one thing.

He had a lot to figure out.