Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters: that right belongs to Hiro do I own the rights to Xenosaga: that right belongs to Tetsuya Takahashi.

Author's Note: Time Frame, still before the GMG, but after Tenrou Island. About late April to early May. Meaning they didn't get to start the training for the Grand Magic Games yet, due to the mission from the Council and Lucy's kidnapping. Also, I fixed a small mistake in the first chapter concerning the year.

Author's Note 2: November is National Novelist Writers Month, aka Nanowrimo! I will again be participating in it. And this year I am going to solely focus on all my Fairy Tail Stories. So, my other stories will not be updated during the month of November. Sorry, not sorry. I am still going to leave this fandom after they are all done. And if, at some point, down the road I find my love for FT again, I will come back with new stories and hopefully a less toxic fandom.

Lucy just sat silently at her team's normal table, her eyes unfocused as she listened to the hushed and excited whispers of her guildmates. Master had gathered them all there for the announcement of the Grand Magic Games. Of course, he had talked to her privately to see if she wanted to participate, but she had turned him down. She was weak and had lost several of her friends (Golden keys) when she had been kidnapped.

"Quiet!"

Her body instantly stiffened as she lifted her head enough to look at the second floor, where Master Makarov was standing on the railing. A part of her was glad that he had accepted her decline to join the Games. Understanding that right now, she was seriously weakened magic wise without her Golden Keys. That and still having nightmares from the whole thing. Lucy hated having woken up to being in extreme pain and too physically exhausted to do anything. Seeing the worry on her friends and families faces, along with the Rune Knights that had been there. Yeah, she was done.

"I am going to announce the teams for the Grand Magic Games. We will have two teams participating this year," Makarov said, his voice booming out across the guild. "Team A will consist of Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Chaos, and as a reserve our own Wendy Marvell."

The rounds of cheers that went up had Lucy smiling. She had recommended that Chaos take her place. While new, she had reasoned that he was talented and could think and adapt quickly and that he was an unknown to all the other Magic Guilds. This had Makarov laughing as he told her that her mind was a logistical steel trap. Of course, she knew that her team, which comprised all of Team A, were still not happy with Chaos because she had been kidnapped. Well, Erza had come around a little and understood. Gray and Natsu were so pissy that it had happened even after Freed and Mirajane had ripped them apart, and well... Mira had gone to the demon again.

"Shut it, you brats!" Makarov bellowed, causing the room to go instantly silent. "Now Team B will be Laxus Dreyar, Mirajane Strauss, Gajeel Redfox, Juvia Lockser, and Cana Alberone will be the reserve."

A small smile tugged at her lips as Lucy listened to everyone start to freak out once more. While they were all openly distracted, Lucy chose to stand up and slip out of the Guild. She still didn't feel right and hadn't told anyone about the fact that the strange, warped magic her capture had used was still lingering in her system. It didn't impede her own magic, but still, she was wary of it because she had never heard of someone else's magic sticking and not disappearing. And besides, the Master still had to tell them that they had just enough time to train before the games. Meaning that Team A would have to learn to work with Chaos.

Steps heavy as she made her way to the large Oak tree that stood on the hill overlooking Magnolia, where their new guild resided, and they had yet to move back into, Lucy plopped down and leaned back. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with the bickering that would take place. At the same time, Natsu had accepted that she didn't feel the same as he did and chose to accept friendship. He was still a bit anal about Chaos and her being more than friends. Gray was an overprotective big brother, while Erza was just herself and stated she'd protect and defend Lucy's honor.

Then again, Chaos had just smiled, nodded his head, and said he accepted those terms, but that everything was all based on her, Lucy's feelings. And that if they cared about her, they'd acknowledge and accept her choices. It had made her feel so warm inside to hear those words. He was a good friend. And when she had woken up to see his clear, tranquil cerulean eyes clouded over in worry and guilt, it had hurt.

"Can I join you?"

Lucy blinked her eyes as she was pulled out of her thoughts only to see the person she was thinking about. She wasn't surprised that he was the first to notice she wasn't in the Guild anymore. Plastering a smile on her face, she nodded her head to the right as an indication for him to do so. Her eyes tracked him as he moved slowly, with measured steps, and sat down a few feet from her. Lucy still didn't know how or why his quiet presence made her feel safer, and she wouldn't question it either.

"Thank you for recommending me to be a participant in the Games, Lucy."

Unable to stop herself as her eyes opened widely, and her mouth dropped open. The low, deep, and soft chuckle she got for it, though, had her snorting at him.

"I mean it; thank you. I hope to live up to what you expect of me in the games," Chaos said softly. "Master Makarov told me, explaining your reasoning."

Feeling a bit of heat creep up her neck to her cheeks, Lucy looked forward and took in the sight of Magnolia.

"You're welcome," was all she said in a whisper.

Chaos sat there, taking in the scenery and enjoying the company, though he knew he wanted to press. To ask her about the lingering magical residue of the man who had kidnapped her. He still felt like it was his fault. Her team (mostly Natsu) still blamed him for her being taken in the first place. And Chaos also knew that their intentions were well-meant, again mostly. Lucy was an important and integral member of their team. She wasn't as weak as they had all thought, not after the magical explosion that occurred.

It amazed him how much magic had been released inside that Rune Barrier. Though it had been two shields deep, Lahar, the Captain of the Knight Team that had accompanied them, had proved he used Rune Magic as well and put up a third. Lucy had blasted open her second origin, which was why she was so weak afterward. Erza stated then and there that Lucy held just as much magic as she, herself, did. And Chaos had silently agreed.

"What's on your mind, Chaos?"

Jerking a little as he turned to look at Lucy, who was staring intently at him, he let a smile play across his lips.

"I want to apologize again. I know there is nothing I could have done with a Shadow mage whisking you away like that. Especially in complete darkness. But I do feel guilty about it, especially when you looked like you were enjoying yourself," He said. "And that I understand the loss of friends, Lucy. I have talked with you about what happened before I came here as a... shooting star of all things. Having practiced with you while you used your keys, I know how precious they are. How much you loved them."

He meant every word he said and watched as Lucy's eyes darkened with the pain she did her best to hide from the others in the Guild and her Team. But having lived a couple of thousand years, he knew the signs. It wasn't on purpose; he wanted to make her hurt more by thinking about it, but holding it in never did anybody any good. So when Lucy's bottom lip trembled, Chaos shifted, so he was facing her. The moment the first tear fell, streaking a glowing crystalline path down her cheek, he leaned in and hugged her.

"I know... I know... I forgive you, Chaos. It isn't your fault. And it does hurt so much," Lucy sobbed into his shoulder. "I feel like I have failed them, that I don't deserve to have them as my friends and family. That I am a useless mage, who is so weak and easily taken advantage of in any situation."

He stiffened at the self-deprecating words that spewed muffled from her mouth. Tightening his arms, Chaos laid his cheek against the crown of her head.

"Lucy, you are not weak. It was a planned attack, and we walked right into it," he muttered, feeling a small coil of anger bubble deep inside him. "And you had no chance being suddenly sucked into those shadows. It knocked you unconscious, allowing them to cuff you like they did and nulling your contracts with all your keys. If you'd been awake, I am sure this person or people knew you'd fight and do some damage. It is why they chose to do it the way they did."

The sudden feel of Lucy's body trembling as she had begun to cry harder had Chaos closing his eyes. He knew that she was traumatized in many ways. That she had a lot of self-doubt in her mind. It had become obvious when he had asked her about her spirits and trained with them. In fact, it had shocked him deeply when they all took the time to talk to him about Lucy and his intentions. He had been clear with her teammates; it all depended on what Lucy wanted, how she felt. Which was his way of saying he had grown to like the bubbly woman.

"I know, Chaos. But it seems it doesn't make it any easier. Hell, now I have a hard time even sleeping at night," Lucy spoke, her words broken and muffled still. "I am afraid that if I let it get dark and go to sleep, then I will be taken again. That man... he seemed to be shrouded in the shadows and his eyes just never stopped glowing red. And I am jumping like a fool at every little noise that makes me go back to my imprisonment."

Giving a small hum as Lucy started to confess her fears and worries, Chaos opened his senses and felt six presences approaching. Shifting his head as he opened his eyes, he pinned Team Natsu and Wendy, along with Charle and Happy. He didn't care if his gaze was cold and hard; it had the effect of making them all stop and stay silent. Lucy continued to cry and vent.

"You know, I haven't even tried to call the spirits of my Silver keys to redo the contracts. I don't feel I have the right, not until I get my Golden Keys back," she said, her voice trailing off as she hiccuped. "I am a failure, a weak, scared failure. And because of me, my Team seems to hate you even more. I let my guard down, you were holding me while we danced, then it was dark, and I woke up chained and my magic canceled... And then me being irrational and fearing everything."

Slowly Chaos began to rub soothing circles on her back. His gaze never left the six that now stood with eyes wide and heads slightly hung in shame. Even Natsu, who was an interesting shade of red, as Chaos watched him curl his hands into a fist.

"Lucy, where I come from, what you are experiencing is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," he spoke, making sure the others heard him clearly. "And it happens when someone has gone through something that is life-altering and traumatizing; as the name states. It will take time for you to find yourself, stand on your own two feet. But you are not a failure. You're not weak. No, you fought back, didn't you? You survived and have gained a different kind of strength. A type of strength that isn't physical or even magical. No, it is the strength of mind and heart. And you are not alone, so don't shut yourself off like you are trying. There are those who do care for you, in their own weird ways, that you need to let in and open up to."

The moment the words died away, Chaos shifted and pushed Lucy away from his chest, giving her a small amused smile as he tilted his head to the side. When her eyes glanced to the side, he saw a mix of horror and hope flicker in the depths of her brown eyes. Slowly he stood and then helped Lucy up and waved for her team to come over. Once they surrounded her, he silently excused himself and walked back down the hill. It was not his place to help her right now. She was in good hands, and she needed to be reminded that she had people who did love her unconditionally.

At the bottom of the hill, Chaos went still and waited. Sure enough, his own Team stepped into view. The looks of awe and respect on their faces were all he needed as he shrugged and started to walk back towards the Guild.

"What you did was amazing."

Rolling his shoulders nonchalantly, Chaos stayed quiet.

"I agree with Ever. Lucy is truly one of the great lights of our Guild. And you just gave her back some of that light, even if it meant taking her focus from yourself."

At Bickslow's words, Chaos stopped and looked up at the tall man, enjoying as his babies floated around and giggled. Then with a shake of his head, he continued.

"Bix's right there, Chaos," Freed spoke up. "Lucy accepts and forgives everyone so easily. To see her beat herself up and not forgive herself for what happened is almost painful. A feeling we all know on this team."

Chaos let a smile appear and turned to look at Laxus, who just grunted and shrugged before he replied, "What they said it all for me. Want a gold star?"

Unable to suppress it, Chaos let out a small laugh and shoved his hands into the hidden pockets of sweats. Their words meant a lot, but now it was time for him to focus on the upcoming Magic Games. And he knew that Lucy would be coming to train with Team A regardless of what she wanted. He would help drag her along because she needed it. Chaos knew he'd ask them all to help him get her to renew those contracts with her Silver Keys too.

TBC!

NEXT STORY TO UPDATE is Glass of Dieserto