Thankya everyone that gave me some new show ideas! I sincerely appreciate it(:

And alot of you readers were rather... pissed that Natsu... **cough cough** I mean Salamander (he doesn't like when we use his real name xD) had so many terrible things to say about Lucy. Well to those who reacted that way n didn't review, it's because he was acting selfish.

I've made everyone in this story, Wendy and Rogue included, very very selfish. Because I've grown to realize people are selfish. But on different levels.

Lucy and Salamander and blunt with it, Wendy is discreet-she wants Lucy to straighten up so she can live a normal life, not because she wants Lucy to get better or anything. Maybe deep down she does want that, who knows?

N I'm not sayen you all need to believe people are like that, there could be unselfish people. But we're all human, am I right? And not everything we do is selfish, we may genuinly do things for other people but sometimes people, including ourselves, are cruel.

And that's the only way I can describe it I guess.

Really hope my views on that didn't piss anyone off... I hate bad reviews...

Anywho, here goes(;


Salamander POV

"Yes it's him, now open the damn door!" A voice that could only be Evergreen called yelled from the hallway. She hasn't changed on bit.

I scoffed at her angry tone and unlocked the door before swinging it open. What I came face to face with made my blood boil. Ever was missing her glasses, her typical green dress was torn and she had small bruises that covered parts of her face and body. Though she didn't look too bad compared to Freed. Freed looked like an utter wreck. He had dried blood below his lip and a nasty shiner that decorated his right eye.

Despite his tattered appearance, Freed seemed to carry himself with more dignity. Ever looked exhausted and generally pissed off, while he held his back straight and he had a smile on his face that told the world that he survived the horrors he faced and he was pretty damn proud of himself.

Ever spoke first, "Ya gonna let us in? I'm beat and think I deserve a nice shower or something."

I nodded in agreement and stepped aside to let them through. I didn't really have words.

How the hell did they escape?

"Uh...," I muttered like a total idiot after they stepped through and I closed the door.

Ever started heading into the bathroom and waved over her hand, calling out over her shoulder, "You explain to him. I wont be out for an hour or so."

I continued to watch her trot down the hall like she owned the place. It kinda irked me that she was being cocky like this, but I didn't act on my irritation out of sheer curiosity.

So when she disappeared into the bathroom I turned my attention to the green haired man who still stood stiffly next to me and gave him a look that said, 'I want answers, now.'

Freed quickly nodded and cut to the chase, "I can't really tell you much-"

"What do you mean you can't tell me?" I growled.

"-yet. We have a message for a girl who we were told was a new recruit."

He can't mean...

Freed stared off past me for a minute and muttered, "I think her name was L..." he dragged out the sound for a moment before finishing, "-ily."

I internally groaned, why does she come up everywhere? In every damn conversation! There's no mistaking that he was talking about her.

"Can we go see Lucy now?" Wendy suddenly asked from behind me. She must have changed like she said and from the confused and look she was giving me when I turned around, she didn't know I had visitors.

Freed chuckled and stated, "That's it! Lucy, not Lily!" I heard a smack when he palmed his forehead but continued to laugh at his mistake.

Wendy gave a nervous, forced laugh and backed away slowly, her eyes glued to Freed. I forgot, she get's weird around new people. It took her a solid week to be able to sit comfortable in the same room with me. When she first showed up here what seems like forever ago, she would just sit by herself and play with Happy and Carla. But then I had Romeo talk to her about how nice the gang really was and she slowly opened up and now she's pretty much family.

"Who's this lovely young lady?" Freed politely asked.

I rolled my eyes but didn't have time to answer.

She ended up speaking for herself shockingly, "W-Wendy..."

I looked over and saw Freed had a bright smile on his face. He replied with a wave, "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wendy."

God these introductions were slightly pissing me off. I want to get this done and over with. "Enough with these stupid formalities! If ya wanna see her, Wendy's going there today. So you and Ever can escort her. That saves me a hell of a lot of time."

Wendy shook her head slightly in disagreement, Freed following her lead.

He gave me a sad smile and said, "Can't do boss."

I groaned loudly and walked away from them, turning my face from Wendy. She hasn't seen me mad since the day that I slapped Lucy. I try to hide it from her because she's a flight risk. I sneered slowly, "And. Why. The. Hell. Not."

"You have to come with us."


"That god awful thing was just watching me...," Evergreen shuddered for the fifth time. And that's only since we entered the damn hospital.

I never would'a guessed that she didn't like cats. And I mean she really doesn't like cats. She saw Happy and screamed and pretty much fell outta the shower, or so she tells us. And she claimed he was evil because he was blue.

Is it really so unusual? It's not like he stood up on his hind legs and talked or magically grew wings and started flying. Now that would be weird as fuck.

But that'd totally be awesome! I would so own a cat that could talk, walk and fly. Now if only one existed...

Anyway, we were now walking toward Lucy's hospital room. I was being forced to come her against my will. I was completely against coming here. I was curious about the 'message' Ever and Freed held but the thought of being in a room with Lucy instantly soured the urge to find out.

"My kitty's cuter." Wendy said matter of factly.

Freed chuckled, "I bet she is, it's a shame she was hiding from us."

"She only likes me, Happy, and Natsu," Wendy practically bragged. She had a small bounce to her step and she was walking ahead of us. She led the way, Freed and Ever fallowed her and I dragged me feet behind them. "Isn't that right?"

I looked up to find Wendy walking backwards, her arms crossed behind her back, and her brown round eyes peering into me. She looked so happy, excited even to go see Lucy. And I'd feel bad if I was the reason she was being brought down. So I gave her a nod and a smile before looking back down to my feet.

We were getting close to her room and I was really dreading it. After everything, would it really be alright for me to go in there? I've spoken with Erza but all she tells me is that she's okay and she's going to be discharged soon. Never anything more than I need to know.

"How much farther?" Wendy whined from the front of the group.

I rolled my eyes and told her again, "Keep an eye out for room I202."

"I196... I198...I200.." Wendy spoke as we passed each room. Each time she spoke I felt my heart jump. We were almost there... "I202!" Wendy screeched and suddenly stopped in front of the room I so desperately did not want to go in. "Lucy!" I watched as her blue head blurred into the room uninvited.

Though I'm so no one in the room minded. Lucy definitely wanted to see her-that was obvious from the constant complaints I got from Erza and Gray- and Erza has grown to like her.

I heard Lucy giggle back, "Wendy! Come here baby girl! I've missed you!"

Next Ever and Freed slowly made their way into the room. Though it was obvious they were uncomfortable from the way they hesitated before stepping in.

Next was my turn... I hid behind the wall right next to her door and took a few breaths. I got this! It's for business matters. A message. A message from Saber, just focus on that damn message.

"Hibiki, don't hog her all to yourself!" I heard Lucy giggle from inside the room. She sounded so playful, happy even. How could she be happy after what just happened?

Knowing that bellboy was in there sent my nerves over the edge. Now I have to deal with him too? My life's a giant joke.

Well might as well get this over with.

I took one more deep breath then stepped into the room. Lucy's eyes instantly found mine and her face fell. Her eyes betrayed her attempt at a poker face and I could see her shoulders slump with sadness.

Besides the sudden mood change, she actually looked great compared to what I last saw her as. She was putting on a little bit of weight and the bruises that covered her arms and face were started to turn yellow. Well except the black eyes she had, those were still very much bruised. And her left eye still was red from having a blood vessel pop. But even her eyes looked better today than they did when I first got her back.

I attempted to give Lucy a smile but it quickly turned upside down when I watched bellboy walk closer to her and drape his arm across her shoulders. He pulled her closer to him and they both stood there, watching me watch them.

It was awkward and... put a shitty feeling in my stomach. I don't like that he's touching her, but at the same time I don't like that I care. She's not mine. So why does it matter?

"Yo," I calmly greeted the couple.

Lucy blatantly stiffened, but replied, "Thank you for bringing Wendy here."

Bellboy nodded in agreement, adding on, "You don't need to sit in here while she visits."

Did he just try to dismiss me?

"Actually I do," I sneered back at him. I walked farther into the room and plopped down on the chair that usually sat next to her bed. I spread my legs apart in a stretch, slipping down in the chair a little to relax and smirked up at Hibiki who glared down at me. "Those two over there requested a meeting with me and Lucy so it's you who should go away for a little while."

Bellboy started, "Now listen here-"

"Hibiki's not leaving, Salamander," Lucy sternly cut him off. She held a hand against his chest and I could sense her confidence wavering but she held her ground.

I shrugged and moved my arm up so it was covering my eyes. "Whatever," I muttered, playing like I didn't care. Though I really wouldn't mind if he disappeared for a while. "Now what did ya need to tell us, Freed?"

I could hear Freed clear his throat and shuffle closer to me. He started with, "I should introduce myself, I'm Freed and this lovely lady next to me is Evergreen-"

"The one's that got kidnapped by Saber?" Lucy put the pieces together. Gee she's so smart... "How did you escape?"

Ever spoke up, her voice strong and clear, "That's the thing. We didn't escape. We were released," I moved my arm slowly from my eyes and peeked at her, disbelief creeping into my head. "By the second in command, Rogue. And well... he let us go so we could warn you two-"

"Sting's plotting revenge against Fairy tail, our Boss, and especially Lucy." Freed finished for her.

"What do you mean?" Erza questioned for me. I hadn't even noticed her before, she was standing on the other side of the room against the white hospital wall. Her red hair stuck out so much it's crazy that I missed her.

Freed looked down with a dark expression. He spoke with so much disgust in his voice, "We don't know exactly what but Rogue believes he plans to hurt her."

I heard Lucy whimper and when I looked over I found her face buried into bellboys chest, his hand was patting her head while the other was across her back, holding her closer. And Wendy was behind Lucy, her little arms snaked between bellboy and Lucy. They looked like a little family, it made me internally gag.

Bellboy whispered, "Don't worry, Lucy. I'll protect you."

My eyes grew wide and before I knew it, I was standing and yelling, "No, I'll protect her! You can't do shit, bellboy. You wouldn't stand a chance against Sabertooth. She would be safest with me! Not with you."

The room grew silent, Lucy moved from his grasp and turned to face me. She had tears in the corners of her eyes yet she smiled. She was the only one who reacted to my sudden outburst. Even I was speechless after what I said. Way to play it cool and show that you don't care...

Suddenly Erza started laughing maniacally and she pushed herself off of the wall. She started walking closer to the group of us and she continued to laugh, "Yeah, bellboy. Let the pro's handle this."


Okei, how was that for an update?

I kinda liked this chapter alot, I tried to throw in a small amount of humor because well... it was getting very gloomy and I don't feel like it fit the characters.

And If Natsu see's a threat, of course he's gonna toy with it and make whoever feel inferior to them.

Erza's just goin along with the fun xD

And Wendy's just happy to see Lucy so it's only natural that she'd be happy.

Well anywho, take it easy everyone and stay wonderful

xoxo

-Bean