As always, thanks for all the love and happy reading.

Lucy watched Natsu continue to grow and flourish over the years. He was unsuccessful at acquiring her any more followers, but she didn't mind. Since he was her only one, besides Zeref's occasional visits, she could lavish all her attention on him, and lavish she did. She brought him foods from her world, and clothes that were muted in looks, but rich in quality. She provided clothing sometimes for Zeref as well, but he was old enough by then he wasn't growing anymore and didn't need replacements as often as Natsu.

Natsu began to join her more often when he turned thirteen. Lucy became his teacher, helping him learn everything he needed to know to get by in the world, and all that she could tell him about the other gods. Once every so often, he would join her at her temple at night while she worked, and she would tell him the stories of her constellations as she continued to expand the night sky. He would visit her more often when Zeref was away, on business that he did not tell Natsu about, but that had given them enough money to finally buy them a home.

Lucy found herself growing more and more attached to Natsu as the years passed. For the most part, the other gods continued to ignore her existence, as they had for centuries, except for Levy. Despite spending so much time with the Fareetal pantheon, every time she was back, she would visit with Lucy. Usually, her visits were filled with her telling Lucy about her parents or about their jobs as goddesses. On the rare occasion, Levy would scold Lucy for abusing her power.

"You're not supposed to help him outside of the holy lands," Levy reminded Lucy as she watched Natsu through her vision bowl. A bowl of water infused with magic, a vision bowl allowed gods and goddesses to keep an eye on the humans outside of the holy lands. Lucy was currently watching Natsu in hers as he was confronted by a trio of men.

"Technically, I am not helping him," Lucy said. She reached into her hair and pulled out a couple of stars. Leo formed in her hand and jumped off her palm to land in the bowl without even a ripple.

In the vision, Natsu suddenly pulled himself upright and argued with the men who had just had him cowering. When one of them made a move to raise his hand, Natsu merely glared at him, his shoulders back, his chest out. Eventually the men scurried away and Natsu's eyes widened in surprise as he suddenly grabbed his chest and let out a large breath. Lucy smiled when she saw Leo reveal himself on Natsu's shoulder. The little lion butted his head against Natsu's cheek before disappearing and reappearing in Lucy's hair. Natsu smiled and grabbed the medallion hanging from his neck as he began to say the prayer he'd made up for her. Lucy smiled as well when she heard his words to her.

"May your eyes sparkle as bright as the stars

That you hung high in the sky.

May my dreams be as vast as the heavens

That I gleen only from your vision.

May my words find you amongst the beauty

That is your creations.

Thank you, my goddess, for your aid."

Levy stood in front of her with a frown and crossed arms. "You're getting too attached to this human."

"I can get as attached as I want," Lucy corrected her as the bowl faded and she returned it to its shelf.

"Lu, humans are fragile creatures. They live such short lives that we can't get too close to them, or our hearts will always be broken." She sighed. "If we were to treat every follower the way you treat this one, we'd be in a never ending cycle of despair as they die year after year. He will live his life in the blink of an eye, and you will still be here when he is gone." Levy gave her a sad smile. "I'm just trying to help."

"I know," Lucy said, her fingers still resting lightly on the bowl. "I just… I can't help it." She forced her arms to move and turned around. "I know this is a brief respite from my loneliness, and when he dies I will return to what I was before. Which is why it's okay," she said, tears shimmering in her eyes as she met Levy's gaze, "because we rely on their allegiance for our humanity. For our emotions. When Natsu dies, I'll return to being a goddess without a following. I will lose that connection, and in no time at all, I will lose my emotions again. So it's okay."

Lucy shrugged, desperately trying to hide her growing fear from her oldest friend. "I won't feel anything after he's gone, so for now I feel like I should embrace every little bit I can get."