Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and all associated characters are the property of Mashima Hiro et al. This story is for entertainment purposes only. Please see the full disclaimer in the first chapter.

Cinderella's on her bedroom floor

She's got a crush on the guy at the liquor store

'Cause Mr. Charming don't come home anymore

And she forgets why she came here

"Fairytale" Sara Bareilles

It was a surprisingly quick meeting, considering the matter at hand. Makarov explained succinctly about Eli's new found interest in Fairy Tail, and gave a general briefing about how the information had come to him, without involving Lucy or her situation too heavily in the matter. Lucy found that she herself did not have to input much, other than verifying what information she was able to provide. However, the end of the meeting saw the gang members breaking off into smaller groups, and she was beckoned over to a group that contained Makarov, Natsu, Gajeel, Levy, the red-headed woman and surprisingly, Mirajane.

"Lucy-chan, for the time being you'll be residing in a Fairy Tail owned apartment." Master Makarov began.

"It's just a few doors down from mine!" Levy chimed in, more excited than Lucy thought she ought to be, considering all that had happened only hours earlier.

"Yes, ahem." Makarov shot the young woman a look that was a cross between irritation and affection. "It is not acceptable to have any more incidents like the one today, nor is it acceptable for Fairy Tail to become entangled in Magnolia politics at this time. We have certain other concerns, and a corrupt district attorney's office is not one of them."

"I understand." Lucy was both awed and humbled that they were still willing to help her out, despite the trouble she had caused so far.

"Please be aware, Lucy, that this isn't charity." Mirajane added. "We know that you are friends with Hibiki Lates, and we also realize that through your father, you have access to certain sensitive information regarding Hearfilia Enterprises. What we ask is that you be willing to work with Hibiki on occasion, and provide as much information about the conglomerate as possible."

Lucy gulped. Hibiki knew who her father really was, but did it even matter at this point? Here was an opportunity to free herself from the silken cords that had bound her since her mother's death. "Yes, I'm willing to help."

"Are you willing to become an official member of Fairy Tail?" Makarov again. "I assure you, it is not a simple task. The membership ceremony alone can be tasking, and the bonds of brotherhood within the guild are for life."

Lucy felt the other shoe drop. This, then, was the price to pay for freedom. Escaping her father and Eli only to run headlong into the clutches of what was, for all intents and purposes, one of the most notoriously vicious gangs in Magnolia. Certainly, everyone seemed kind, but a gang like Fairy Tail did not build up a reputation for bloody and violent methods without some sort of evidence. She wavered.

"You do not have to decide tonight." The redhead, Erza, interjected. "All recruited members are given 72 hours to contemplate their decision. You may have the same, on one condition."

"Which is?" Lucy asked warily.

"I need to know a security code that will get me past the public floors of the Heartfilia Tower. I assume you have one?"

Lucy did. She used it often in the past when visiting her father at work. "But all personnel access codes are traced by computer. If mine is used, security will think I have entered the building."

"It is all right. Hibiki can change the information attached to the code through the Heartfilia link in Source, but he can't generate a new code since each one is individual to the owner."

Lucy knew. She knew all too well. "All right. I have no intentions to ever return there, so my code is as good as yours."

"Excellent." Makarov rubbed his hands. "Now, shall we go and visit your home for the indefinite future?"

It did not surprise Lucy that Master Makarov had a car with a driver. It was a sleek tan Cadillac DeVille, with windows tinted as black as night. Not legal at all, Lucy thought bemusedly. What did surprise Lucy was how both Mirajane and Erza rode with the Master and Levy climbed comfortably behind the hulking Gajeel, leaving Lucy standing awkwardly next to the sleek black Harley that she remembered just so well.

Natsu looked at her as if she were losing her mind and handed the second helmet back. "Well, did you want to go or stay?"

Embarrassed but not sure why, Lucy made a show of buckling the chin strap to hide her flaming cheeks. Swinging on behind the young man, she tried not to think about how warm he was through his leather vest. She clutched at him as securely as she could, while still maintaining her distance, but she jumped and held tighter when the machine roared to life. There was something so intimate about riding pillion that she was glad for the rushing wind to cool the heat that had risen along her neck and face.

Luckily the ride was short, and they pulled up in front of a building that was indeed only a few doors down from Levy's apartment. Lucy jumped off and held out the helmet without meeting Natsu's eyes, and he took it from her without a word. She hurried to where Levy stood at the bottom of the stairs.

"It's a second floor room, I hope you don't mind." Levy pointed. "They all are; they're more defensible that way."

Defensible against what? Lucy wondered, but she didn't ask. She had learned from the blow of a fist that there were things in this world she was better off not knowing.

"I'm going home, and Erza is upstairs with your key. She'll stay until Natsu comes back."

"Until Natsu comes back with what?" Lucy looked at the smaller woman, dumbfounded.

"With his things, of course. It was decided by Master that since Elijah has seen you here, and has seen you with me, that you and I will have a guard for the time being. Gajeel will stay on my couch, of course, but Natsu will have to make do with the floor." Levy giggled.

"Oh." Lucy's mind was racing. Did she mean the floor outside the apartment door? That hardly seemed fair. Lucy was a grown woman, she could handle a strange man sleeping in the same apartment as she slept... probably.

"Uh, Levy, why Gajeel and Natsu? I heard Master Makarov refer to Gajeel as an "Enforcer" but I don't know what that means exactly."

Levy smiled, in the manner of a mother who's child has said something especially cute. "Fairy Tail has two Enforcers, Gajeel and Natsu. It's no secret. They do all the dirty work for the guild, work that other guild members might want to keep their names out of."

"But why acting as bodyguard?"

"Simple. They're our dragon slayers, you know? They can take down anyone who tries to come against us. Since your ex-boyfriend already knows Fairy Tail is involved, better to have them here than someone like Erza, who does work not associated with the guild at all."

Lucy's mouth had formed a silent "O" shape. With every piece of information that was revealed, it became obvious how sheltered she had been for her entire life. Growing up the daughter of Jude Heartfilia, she'd been aware that the gangs existed, and that sometimes their turf wars spilled into the city proper and not just the outskirts; the city slums and shanty town by the southern shipyards. Her own mother had been killed in a drive-by shooting outside of a high-class department store in the middle of western Magnolia. Jude had drilled into Lucy's head over and over that Magnolia's gangs were dangerous. Casualties filled the news every night. With her own eyes, Lucy had witnessed Gajeel, an "Enforcer", casually kill a man.

She shuddered. Yes, always the news was filled with gang violence. Never stories of politicians who mysteriously disappears in the night; men and women who opposed the pyramid of power with Lucy's own father at the top. There were never stories of the children trafficked out of Fiore, to meet god-only-knew what ends. Never stories of corrupt ADA's who beat women. Of drug queen-pins whose heroin filled the veins of teen-agers, dead behind the sheltering walls of private schools.

What was the truth, and what were lies? Lucy's head spun, and she did not even hear Levy's words as she made her way to the apartment door. 2C. Yes, a fitting room. To see, only, clearly this time.

The door was unlocked, and Lucy started when she saw the interior. It looked as if no human had set foot in the apartment in years. Completely bare, the tile flooring of the common area had layers of grime between the cracked grout. The dining room was furnished with a card table and two rickety folding chairs. Erza sat in one, primly, clearly not happy with the situation. The apartment key rested on the table in front of her. Lucy was somewhat timid as she approached the stern-looking woman.

"Is... is this it?"

"Yes."

Lucy took the key and looked around again. The broken Venetian blinds covered windows so dirty she was certain that no light could managed to make its way inside, even at the peak of day. Down the hall revealed a tiny bathroom, in the same shape as the rest of the place. It was the bedroom, however, that shocked her into an audible gasp. A bare bulb over a single twin mattress on a plastic frame that looked near to collapsing, and nothing else. No sheets, blankets, pillows. Returning to Erza, Lucy shook her head. "I can't do this, I just can't. There is no pillow!"

Erza let out a sigh that was not unkind. "It is too expensive for the guild to maintain these apartments. If you plan on staying a while, you might need to do some housekeeping."

Lucy gaped like a fish. In her mind, she had imagined a place similar to Levy's. Of course, that could not be possible. Levy's apartment was her home. This was just Lucy's refuge.

Erza seemed to take pity on the younger woman. "If it makes you feel better, Natsu is supposed to bring bedding, for you and him. Of course, it is Natsu so..." her voice trailed off, but Lucy did not know exactly what was being implied.

As if on cue, there was the rumbling of a very loud vehicle from outside, and Erza stood, brushing her seat. "I will see if he needs help with anything."

Not sure if she should stay, or follow Erza, Lucy chose the option that seemed less like a pampered princess and headed down the steps. At the bottom she could see a bobbing pile of sheets and pillows, with just a bit of salmon hair peeking over the top. 'Don't drop him, dammit!" Natsu was hollering back to Erza who was free of any baggage but for a black duffle on her shoulder. It only took Lucy a moment to see that the duffle actually had mesh panels, and seemed to jiggle on its own.

Natsu shouldered past her, and Lucy saw his own duffle, huge and bulging. She could only imagine what was inside, but since neither of the two seemed to need her help, she dutifully followed Natsu back inside, and closed the door once Erza made it through. Natsu had already dumped his bundle on the cot in her so-called "bedroom", and pulled a grimy blanket and pillow from somewhere in the depths. When he brought them out to the common area, Erza sighed, and shook her head.

"I told you last time, you need to wash your bedding, and towels too, Natsu, not just your clothes."

He looked at them and shrugged. "Not like any one sees them, and Happy likes the scent."

At that declaration, a plaintive "aye" came from the carrier Erza had set down, and Lucy gasped. "Something is in there?"

"Of course." Natsu unzipped the bag and lifted out a plump cat. "This is Happy. He goes everywhere with me."

It was the same cat she had seen at the bus stop, Lucy realized. Fur in gray that was nearly blue, and such a distinctive meow. Today, Happy wore a yellow scarf tied jauntily around his neck, and he rubbed at Natsu's legs. Lucy had to stifle a giggle at the sight of the blue hairs clinging to the man's dark jeans.

"He's quite friendly", She commented, leaning down and extending a hand. Happy sniffed her and mewled "aye!" before turning his attention to this new human.

"He likes you." Natsu rumbled, a strange glint in his eye. Erza simply shook her head, and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "That damn cat", before turning around with a wave of her hand. "I have to get home. I told Jellal I would not be late tonight, so he will get suspicious if I am not home on time."

"I still think it's weird you let your boyfriend believe you work in legal aide." Natsu hollered at her retreating back, only to be rewarded with a middle finger salute before the door slammed closed. He made his way around Lucy and the cat and flipped two deadbolts and a chain latch, before turning back to her. Lucy wondered about the awkward way he rubbed at the nape of his neck. Before, both at her home and at the guild, his easy sincerity was almost infectious. She might have thought him a damn idiot, but she remembered the way Happy had approached her at the bus stop, and how quickly Gajeel had shown up when she had run into Eli. At first, she had thought Levy had called him, but taking it all into consideration, Lucy did not think so.

"Do you need your arm looked at?" Natsu finally asked, after a pregnant pause.

Lucy's own thoughts had been wandering, so she jumped a bit when he spoke. "Oh, no. I don't think so. It's sore but it doesn't ache anymore."

"Hmm." He eyed the bruises visible beneath the bandages on her nose and cheek. "So, your blue blood boyfriend really did all that to you?"

Lucy paused, and remembered that he had not been present when she originally told her story to Master Makarov and the others. She wondered how much she should say, how much she could trust this stranger. Before she could decide, he spoke again.

"When I found you, I thought you were dead. You'd collapsed only ten feet from Fairy Tail, and I nearly ran you over."

His tone was so solemn, Lucy couldn't help but feel that it didn't fit. Just as the way that empty smile which had not reached his eyes seemed to feel so wrong back at her apartment, this eerie morbidity hung around Natsu like a cape that she wanted to rip away. Smile, dammit! She screamed, internally.

"Wendy thought maybe you'd escaped from a trafficking ring. They sometimes beat the girls to death." He looked her dead in the eye. "Lucy, if your pimp is looking for you, you don't need to lie. Fairy Tail will still protect you."

Lucy reeled back as if she'd been hit, again. They don't believe me. She thought, desperately. Even here, they don't believe me.

With the evidence - Gajeel had seen Eli with his own eyes, had called him by name - and Lucy's own testimony, there was no reason to doubt her words, even as someone unknown to the guild. Lucy straightened, brushing Happy away. "I was not trafficked. Elijah Featherstone is as I say he is. You, and your guild, don't have to believe me." With that, she retreated to the empty bedroom, and slammed the paper-thin door. It was always the same. It was always Eli who stood, head above the crowd, while poor Lucy Heartfilia was pushed down, down, down.

Not anymore. If Fairy Tail didn't believe, she'd go to Blue Pegasus. Hibiki knew her, knew she would not lie. Lucy would stop Eli from doing to another woman what he had done to her, and in the process, she would stop her father from turning a blind eye to the evil in the city.

Natsu lay on the hard floor, Happy curled up next to him, and listened to Lucy cry softly in the bedroom. He was not sure what about his question had upset her. After all, hadn't he made it clear that Fairy Tail would help her, regardless? But he'd seen the tiny flicker of light go out of her eyes, had seen her rigid posture. He was reckless, but he wasn't totally clueless. If his probing had hurt her, he supposed it was worth the cost. Fairy Tail were his friends, his family, and he would protect family at any expense.

Ever since that time, he'd been with the guild. He'd started out as an errand boy, then a grunt, always working harder and harder to improve. He'd honed his skills with a knife under Makarov's watchful eye, and then learned everything there was to know about guns and ammunition from Makarov's son, and heir, Laxus. He'd worked his way up to Enforcer, earning the title over stronger men. He was the Salamander of Fairy Tail, as his tendency to leave things burning in his wake was well known throughout the city and its slums.

It was the life he had built, to protect those who had protected him, in his own time of need. He'd be damned if he let limpid chestnut eyes and an amazing rack bring it all to pieces. So yes, he would ask the hard questions. His very job was to be the bad guy, and he'd do his job as he always had.

Even if being the bad guy meant listening to pretty girls cry, alone.

Author's Note: My greatest apologize about the HUGE delay between chapters, I never intended to go nearly half the year without updating. If you have an inkling of curiosity about what has delayed this chapter, that info is on my profile. Now, for the fun stuff - I do know that I previously said this story will be told from 100% Lucy's point of view, but have you ever tried to build a romance with someone, without knowing a single thought running through their head? Yeah, it's like that. So we will see some of what Natsu is thinking, as evidenced by this chapter. As usual I'm taking many liberties, while still trying to maintain character, and as usual, I'd love a beta reader to help me out! Especially since I still am not up to date on the manga. All the info is in my profile, of course, and if you want more information about updates, follow me on Twitter or Tumblr, both are "rockermystic". Thank you for reading! xo

Edit: I had to fix a minor continuity error - like I said, it has been almost eight months since I've read the manga, and longer since I've watched the anime! If you didn't notice, it was no big deal, just a little thing that bugged me. This is why I need a beta, you guys. ;_;