Hey... sorry for not updating in the last three days like I wanted to. I went with my grandmother to take her dog to the vet Wednesday because she was really worried about him... turned out to be cancer... and as of February 2nd, doggy heaven gained another angel. I'm really depressed about it considering he's been with us for 13+ years. It's amazing how attached we become to animals. It's even more amazing how much we come to love them as if they were born of us. I can't seem to fall asleep right now so I'll spend the night writing some more chapters for you all. 😞😞😞

Cradling his best friend close, a rumbling purr leaving his cheats, Natsu could only glare at the tan colored walls as he tried to suppress his anger.

How could be have been so blind? How could he have never noticed or even scented the two of them on each other? Of course it made sense why he didn't when she explained about a scent masking potion Virgo had provided for them, but Natsu still felt as if he should have been able to still tell. But instead he had been too wrapped up in his own life, in his relationship with Lisanna and missions to really spend time with Lucy and notice these things.

To know that he wasn't there for her when she needed it, that Mira, Cana, Loke and the rest of her spirits had been there to comfort her instead of him... it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Don't get him wrong. He was happy she had a support system, but knowing he wasn't a part of it, knowing he had basically left his best friend behind, hurt.

The guilt ate at him.

He should have been there for Lucy.

Because if he had been there, he would have seen all the fucking signs.

He would have realized what was going on and why- and how to help Lucy and Laxus.

But he wasn't there and now he was left with a broken and crying blonde with a hole in her heart.

And he had no doubt that Laxus was also suffering too.

But even knowing this- knowing that Laxus didn't know any better, that he wasn't raised like him, Gajeel and Wendy had been, it still didn't excuse the things he had done and said.

"Natsu..."

Glaring down at her head of blonde hair, Natsu hummed in response, hand reaching up to run along her hair as he waited.

"...I can't do this anymore..."

"What do you mean?"

"I-I think... I think it's best if I... left the guild f-"

"What!" Natsu exclaimed, jerking back as if burned, pulling Lucy away to stare at her. "Lucy, you can't-" but the sight of her blood shot eyes, the defeated and tired look of her face stopped him from speaking.

"Just hear me out. Please." She begged him.

Olive eyes, wide in shock, could only stare. Out off all the things he had expected her to say, telling him she wanted to leave the guild wasn't one of them.

Word Count: 413 (off I go to write the next one 😞)