Lucy was worried and called Gray because he was Natsu's best friend. Currently he was in ER getting treatment. He just fainted when medics took him in ventilation and giving emergency oxygen. Lucy never felt this much helpless before.

"Lucy?" Gray was wearing night clothing and his looks were dishevelled. He came as fast as he could after he got called from her.

"What's going on with him?" Lucy asked him directly. She knew it was something serious because you don't get admit for normal things. She saw Gray hesitates and avoids her. She stood in front of him.

"I've right to know about his situation Gray. Please tell me because I know Natsu will not share his burden with me. He doesn't know that I am capable enough to support him. I can also protect him like he did all this time for me."

"He was suffering from internal problems it was not serious but Natsu was busy with work and uncle Igneel's health that he forgot about his own pain. It's gotten worse and doctors recommended him surgery few months back but he kept stalling it. That's why he fainted all of sudden because his body can't take it anymore."

Lucy felt her world collapse. How she felt everything was alright between them when he was enduring all this pain alone. She knew he was unknown to the pattern of sharing emotions.

" Only you can help him now. Uncle Gildart is out of town so he wasn't able to come." Gray informed her. She felt all the mysterious circumstances were clear now. His behaviour and actions now clearly makes sense.

After few hours doctor announced that Natsu was out of danger and was sleeping quietly and only family members are allowed to meet.

Lucy entered the room which was plain blend and dull white. And her eyes stopped on the sleeping figure. She sat next to him holding his hands into her. His face was not grumpy or knitted brows anymore.

"You nearly gave me heart attack. You dare to faint on me when I was showing that maybe we can have something between us. But you are Natsu Dragneel always doing something like this and making me confused and worrying over you." Lucy brushed his hair and raked her hands in his head. It was soft and silky. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. He act like big bad alpha but was like a abandoned puppy always behving good that maybe someday he will get noticed in this world. Her heart clearly bleeds at the moment when she thinks about his painful past.

X-X

It was noon already and Lucy was out to get something to eat and little porridge for Natau. When she came back and was shocked when she saw he was already up and buttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing?" she could not believe he was leaving hospital on his own. Natsu looked back at her and blinking for few seconds. "Going to work I've important meeting."

"You aren't going anywhere mister. And you have things to explain first."

Lucy was fuming when she put the porridge on the table and locked herself in the bathroom. Natsu sighed.

"Luce".

It was rare—especially rare—for Natsu to address her by this name it was something only her parents used. She had forgotten when was the last time he had done so.

she can feel his presence in the other side of the door. He was there. Her heart beat quickens.

"It's okay. No matter what you say right now, I won't take any of it to heart."

She was scared of him,scared that his emotions would be too volatile, and then they would quarrel again.

"I did indeed lie to you."

"It's no big deal."

Sensing her emotional strain, he did not dare touch her.

"There are a lot of things in our past where I was the one at fault." His right palm was pressed against the door, and as he leaned his forehead against the back of that hand, his voice carried a never-before-heard dejectedness. "This time, I am in the wrong, too. I'm sorry. I had wanted to just continue refusing surgery and allow my condition to turn more serious because I was afraid that you'll be more worried about me. We are just newly wed and you are supposed to be happy and positive with me. I didn't want to expose my burdens to you before giving you time to settle in my world. But I was wrong, I am sorry for all the trouble you have been through because of me."

Her heart felt as if something was clenching it.

It was to the point that she dared not even breathe and merely looked dazedly at him.

Was this really him? She had known him for twenty years now, but never before had he been like this. Words like "I can't take it" or "I'm sorry" had never been spoken from him before. Even when he had gotten into that huge trouble, even in his most depressed times, he had never said them. He was someone who never conceded, never admitted his mistake.

"I can't take it, Luce. I'm sorry…"

Natsu heard the click of door opening With his own hand, opened the door for her.

In the short period from when the door had been pulled open by just a crack to when it was open wide, her heart had softened unbearably.

But after holding herself back for a long time, she still ended up not saying a single word.

Looking at this woman who still had on a green dress she wore during their first true kiss he wondered if he really ruined the memory of their first kiss by fainting.

Natsu looked dejected and lost Lucy knew he just woke up from sleep and was in extreme pain. She approached him and put her palm on his right cheek while other hand around his waist.

"You are okay that's all matters to me. We got plenty of time to discuss about things. We will learn more about each other. I've enough strength to fight for you and protect you same way you do to me." she spoke gently every word bringing out the hidden meaning of her sincerest feelings for him.

Natsu leaned into her touch and cupped her face in his palms and bring her face near his and gently placed his lips on hers.

This kiss wasn't fast, rushed or furious. It was soft, slow and tender but most heartfelt. Lucy closed her eyes and pulled him closer to her and Natsu held her tightly to his body. Air can't pass between them there was no space. They were like perfect mould. Lucy tilted her face and deepen the kiss this time Natsu took the initiative and took her breath away. Her arms around him and playing with his hairs while he held her with her waist.

After few seconds they pulled apart. Lips swollen and panting heavily. Lucy was satisfied with the situation even they still need to clean up the mess between them. She embraced him and put her head on his chest. Natsu kisses her head.

Out in the hallway, Gray knocked on the door, asking about Natsu health."Lucy is Natsu awake?"

Natsu motion her to lie to him. He didn't want to meet anyone right now.

"Gray he just fell asleep after eating the porridge. You can come again he still needs to recover."

"Oh OK. See you later."

Lucy was feeling terrible but she knows Natsu can't face any emotional stress right now.

Lucy tried to pull away but Natsu didn't let her go. She patted his chest playfully and gathered her breath. "If it's inconvenient for you to tell me about it, then just get some good rest. Don't tire yourself out too much."

They both knew there was stress between them. She felt that the atmosphere between them right now was not very good and was afraid that they would quarrel again. Consciously choosing to retreat from there, she opened the door. However, she had just pulled it open by a crack when the man behind her strode over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You know I'll mess up but I'll try to be the guy who can share his everything with you." he put his head on her shoulder. Lucy turned and kissed his forehead again on her tip toes.

"You already shared your love and happiness with me but I want your pain and suffering as well. Don't forget your vows during wedding mister." Lucy placed a small kiss on his chest just over his heart. Natsu felt lightheaded and drowsy.

"You need to sleep. Don't dare to leave hospital again." she saw he was in his business shirt. She gently shoved him on bed and unbuttoned his shirt. Natsu kept looking at her while she slipped his shirt off his body. Lucy felt electricity ran through her body when her hand brushed with her hard chest muscles.

Natsu knew just by looking at her flushed face. But he didn't dare to tease the poor girl. Lucy was wondering if he noticed she was knowingly touching his body. She was such a pervert but she was his wife. And he didn't opposed her. It should be fine.

Natsu tried to remain calm but he was borderline of loosing control and he was afraid of doing something they both will regret.

"Is it hard to put on a simple shirt?"

Lucy was suddenly pulled back to reality.

"No!" she stepped away from him in lightening speed.

"You can Button up the rest. I am going out to meet doctors. You rest OK." and she ran out of the room.

X-X.

A/n: Maybe there is hope for both of them...Eh??