Chapter 6
It broke Gray's heart watching them as he heard Erza and the other coming it. Quickly as they were coming inside, he stood in front of them pushing them out. "No guys, not here. Outside" he said as he saw Natsu look at him with a thankful expression. He nodded as he shut the door behind him. Pushing them into the waiting room ,impatient Erza said "What the hell happened Gray?" "Lucy was attacked again" he said lowly. "By who!" "What did they do!" Bitterly he responded " who the hell do you think it was…this bastard ..he ripped Lucy's bandages open, there's no way she could have done it herself..." he stopped barely able to believe the next words that were going to come out of his mouth as he started deeply breathing. "Gray…what else happened?" asked Jellal frank.. "Lucy, she tried to kill herself…she dug at her wounds" He slammed his fist into the door. "This fucker is going to burn" he said incensed. "Has anyone been in contact with Levy and Layla?" Erza asked. "No and don't even think about it. Natsu wont want Layla anywhere near this" said Gray. "Has she said anything yet?" Jellal asked lightly. "She hasn't woken up yet. I don't think it's a good idea for us to be there when she does." "Gray, we're her family, she!" Erza started as the door opened as Natsu with a very melancholy face walked in.
He closed the door and slit down it sitting on the floor with his hands over his knees. "Natsu" Erza said softly. "It wasn't enough to shatter her body…he had to completely destroy her spirit and all" he said sadly. "You mean he..." said Jellal. Natsu nodded his head not looking at them. "Yes..that bastard..he raped her again" " I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL HIM!" screamed Erza outraged as Jellal grabbed her and turned her towards him holding her arms down. "Jellal, he's going to die!. That fucker!" tears of anger came down her face as he let go as she wrapped her arms around his neck as he soothingly rubbed her back. "Yes he will Erza, that's a vow..but not now" he whispered calmly to her. "Get up Natsu" said Gajeel bluntly. "Gajeel, shut your damn mouth" snapped Gray. "This isn't the time for him to be sitting, he needs to get his ass up and find Zeref and fucking kill him" he argued. "No!" Gray said angrily waving his hand to the side. "Natsu is not in the condition to do that" "He's our leader." "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!" shouted Gray. "He's still a person and his wife was just attacked..twice!. Right now he needs to be with her, not worrying about what's out there" he said defending his friend "Hmph" went Gajeel as he got ready to say something else when Jellal stepped between them. "Gajeel, Gray is right. This is not the time for Natsu to charge" Finally Natsu lifted his head up as Jellal warmly smiled at him and said " let yourself rest Natsu. Spend time with Lucy. We will take care of everything else" "Thank you" he replied appreciative Feeling the door move, Natsu jumped to his feet and turned towards it as the nurse came in and said kindly "She's awake" Feeling his breath catch in his throat, he froze for a second as the others looked at him understanding. "Go see her" Erza said tenderly.
He opened the door and stepped through walking into Lucy's room. He took off his jacket as she didn't lift her head to look at him this time. Nervous inside, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Lucy" he said quietly as she turned her head towards him. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at her face. She looked completely broken and her eyes held no warmth. They looked empty. "Why are you here?" she asked. It killed him hearing her sound completely devoid of any emotion at all. "I..came to see you baby. I wouldn't be anywhere else" he answered trying to keep his voice as steady as he could. All he wanted to do was completely break down but he didn't want to cause her anymore pain. " when are you leaving again?" "I'm not going anywhere!, I promise!" he said strongly. He tried grabbing her hand to reassure him when she pulled away. "I'm dirty Natsu…not worth being touched by anyone" "But Lucy..I'm not anyone..it's me Luce" he said as he grabbed for her hand again making her eyes flash in anger. "Let go Natsu" she growled. "No" " I said let me go!" she said with more force. "No! Lucy, be pissed all you want but I aint letting go" he squeezed her hand as she tried to pull it away but he held it tight. "Natsu, don't you get it. I AM CONTAINMATED !" she yelled out. "I don't care! You aren't pushing me away" he argued as she pushed at him but he wouldn't budge as he wrapped his arms around her.
She punched at his chest. "Let me go!, let me go!, I'm..I'm not..worthy of being loved anymore!"Getting his attention, he responded "yes you are Luce." "No!" she cried. Shaking her head, her poundings started to lessen. "no.. I can't be" she said tearfully. He wouldn't let go as he closed his eyes listening. "Natsu…" She stopped as she finally stopped fighting it and let herself go. "Finally" thought Natsu relieved. " I don't want to lose you" Snapping his eyes open, he held her out to him as he told her in a straight forward voice " Lucy, I want you to listen to me. I am not going anywhere ever. I love you. I didn't fall in love with you because of money, I loved you for all of who you are. A optimistic woman who loves to sing and defends her family with all her might. I hate what he has done to you but it will not keep me away..Luce, your are my one and only soulmate" Looking up at him, her eyes filled with tears as they slid down her face. He gently wiped them away with his thumbs as he grabbed her face. "You don't have to cry baby. We , you and me will get through this one day at a time. No rush" Her face slowly turned into a teary eyed bright smile warming Natsu's heart as he saw it. "There you are. I wondered when you were going to come back, almost thought I lost you for good" he said warmly as she happily cried "Natsuuu". Squeezing her arms around his stomach as he hugged her. "I'm right here"
A few days went by when Natsu could finally take Lucy home. Erza and the others said they would handle things at the mafia while Natsu protected Lucy at their home. He got her settled into their bed when she said "you know I'm not handicapped" " I know Luce but I'll take care of whatever needs to be done. You need to stay and heal. Your wounds aren't fully healed yet but I am glad to see your face again without those bruises" he said with a light smile as she touched at her face. Propping up her pillow, Natsu had her lay back as she laughed at him. "What?" "You are just adorable" she answered. "What can I say, I'll do anything for you" he said light hearted. "Natsu?" "What's up Luce?" "When is Layla coming home?..I miss my baby" she said with some sadness. " well actually." He stopped hearing the doorbell ring making him grin. "Ha, son of a bitch" he said amused as he left leaving a slightly confused Lucy until she heard the happy cry of "MOMMY!" She raced up the stairs jumping onto the bed as she threw her arms around Lucy's stomach hugging her. "I missed you so much mommy!" "I missed you too baby, more then you will ever know" she glanced up seeing Natsu lean against the doorframe with a loving smile on his face. "Daddy!, daddy!" Layla yelled cheerfully hitting the bed. "Okay,okay" said Natsu as he came and sat on the bed as she jumped straight onto his legs making him gasp in pain for a second. "careful baby don't break him" said Lucy. "Oops, sorry daddy" she apologized. "Nahh, don't worry about it" he replied messing up her hair as she giggled. "Mommy, what happened? why didn't you sing?" she asked. Their smiles dropped as they looked at each other unsure of what to say. "Did I say something wrong?" Layla asked seeing the looks on their faces. "No baby..mommy just..uhh" she froze not knowing what to say. "You were hurt weren't you?" she said grimly. They were speechless as they stared at her.
"I see the bandages mommy..on your arms and I felt them under your shirt". Not knowing what else to do Lucy said in an sincere, calm voice "yes Layla..I did get hurt. But I am healing. Just need to be careful with me for a little bit" "Did you get who did it?" "Not yet" answered Natsu. "We will catch him Layla , don't worry" "I know you will daddy. You don't let anyone hurt mommy" she said proudly. " I wont let anybody touch either of you Layla" he said. Layla went to move around the bed when she grabbed hold of Lucy's leg where one of the bandages was making her groan slightly in pain. "Easy on her legs Layla, mommy's body is fragile right now" he said softly. "Okay daddy" she replied. He got up from the bed for a moment grabbing something off the dresser as he came and sat back down. In a very serious voice, he said "Layla, if you ever see this man around your school or anywhere near you. I don't care where you are, you scream as loud as you can and run away. If anyone gives you trouble, you tell them he's your daddy's enemy. That should get their attention. Do you hear me?" She nodded her head as he looked in her eyes to see if there was any doubt, but he was relieved when he saw she understood. "Is this him? Moving to sit between them, they all scooched in as Layla asked "is this him?, the man who hurt mommy?" "Yes" they answered in unison. Natsu looked at the picture someone caught of him on a surveillance camera and wished he could burn it right then and there. The sight of him made Natsu want to puke. He wanted nothing more then to see him tortured and burnt alive for what he had done to Lucy. "So who is hungry?" he asked. "Me!,me!" yelled Layla. "alright, come on little dragon let's go start cooking" he said excited as she jumped off the bed.
"Natsu, you know she is only five right?" "Relax Luce, It's not like I'm going to give her a knife" he joked as they went downstairs to cook dinner. Lucy laughed as she heard noises coming from them every so often. It made her so happy hearing Natsu laugh knowing she had made him miserable for a few days. Eventually she heard footsteps running up as the stairs as Layla held her arms out like she was presenting someone. "Aaaand without further ado, here's daddy!" Natsu almost dropped the food from laughing so hard as he walked in with a tray setting it down in front of Lucy. "My lady" he said nicely. Layla jumped up sitting in front of the tray as she grabbed her plate off it. "This looks delicious Natsu" she complimented as she looked at her plate with a medium cooked steak with carrots and mashed potaoes while Layla ate white cheddar macaroni and cheese. He grabbed his plate of steak while she looked at him wondering why he didn't take the tray away. "the tray is for you Luce, not us. It's alright don't worry" "You are way too good to me you know that?' "Nope, you are worth everything" Layla nodded her head in agreement.
Once they were finished, Natsu took all the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Coming back up, Lucy asked " can we watch a movie?" "Sure" he said as he came and picked her up surprising her. "I can walk ya know" "I know but I want to take care of you" he replied making her blush as he took them down the stairs as Layla walked down after them. "So watcha want to watch Luce?" he asked. "Hmmm..how about beauty and the beast?" "Should've known. Book lover and singer" he said playfully. "Hey! There's nothing wrong with that. You big meanie" she insulted making him chuckle as he put it in and sat back on the couch as Layla hopped on and put her head on Natsu's lap as he laid his hand on her shoulder. They all sat there enjoying their time as Natsu and Lucy both let out a sigh of happiness that they were all together. The movie ended as Natsu turned his head to see both of them asleep. "Oh boy, now what" he thought highly amused as he gently laid Lucy down on the couch as he carefully got up and picked up Layla putting his head on his shoulder as he carried up the stairs and tucked her into her bed as he placed her stuffed red dragon in her hands which her hands tucked around. "Goodnight baby girl" he whispered as he kissed her head and headed back downstairs. "Now your turn" he said teasingly as he delicately picked her up putting her arms around his neck as he quietly walked up the stairs. Placing her into bed, he tucked the blanket around her as he whispered "goodnight my love" as he took everything off except his boxers as he slid in next to her wrapping his arms around her stomach carefully bringing himself to her as he felt her grab hold of them.
He smiled as he let sleep take him over. He woke in the middle of the night to Lucy with her eyes wide open in fear as she had her hand over her heart. "Easy baby" he said calmly as he leaned down to hear her heartbeat. His eyes grew big as he heard how rapid her heart was beating. "It was another nightmare wasn't it?" She quickly nodded her head afraid to say anything. "Come here" he said soothingly putting his arms around her. " You need to breath Luce, your heartbeat is moving way too fast right now" he said mildly. Taking a deep breathe, she slowly let it out. "There we go, nice job Lucy..do u want to tell me what it was about?" he asked cautiously. He knew how sensitive she was right now. She shook her head no fast as he grabbed it to stop her shaking. "I'm sorry" she said quietly. "No, no, Lucy , you don't have to apologize baby. Your fine okay? He asked with his eyebrows raised as she softly nodded her head. He laid her back down as she laid on her side facing him. Putting a hand to her cheek, he moved her hair behind her ear as she said in a timid voice "Natsu..I'm afraid of him coming after me" Pulling her to him, she was brought into his chest as he put a hand to the back of her head. "He won't touch you again" he said hard. "He'll burn before he ever lays a hand on her again" he thought to himself as he held her until she fell back asleep.