Loke and Az end up dragging me to the guild. I'm a mess, my hair is sticking to my back and saturated with blood. I need them to stop every couple of minutes so that I can cough up blood. The lightening hit me hard. Once reaching the guild, Loke lays me down inside the rubble. I lay there, my head rolling to the side in exhaustion. Loke gets up, running out and saying something about getting help. I nod, or attempt to, and let my eyes fall shut. My consciousness fading as Az lays next to me keeping me warm.

A little while later, I am awakened by a frantic Az. I open my eyes, trying to focus on him. His fur is standing on end, so I weakly reach my hand out to pet him, trying to calm him down. Suddenly Az has scooped me onto his back, and he is darting out of the guild. I try to hang on, but I have no strength to do so. Out in the fresh air I watch as 'Jupiter' gets ready to fire again. All my guildmates are staring in disbelief and hugging each other. Then suddenly the entire thing breaks down. Everyone erupting into cheers and tears of happiness. A smile spreads across my face as I lay on Az's back.

'It's over,' relief in Az's voice. I nod and let myself fall into the darkness of unconsciousness.

I wake up to the sound of yelling, "What do you mean she may be like that forever?"

The voice is intense and sounds almost unnatural, like their voice isn't normally that rough. I force my eyes open only to be met with blinding white walls. I instantly close my eyes and moan in pain, drawing attention to myself.

"Lilli?" comes the voice from before, this time it is softer, more natural. A warm hand grabs mine. I force my eyes half open to allow myself time to adjust.

"Where am I?" I ask, my voice cracking from lack of moisture.

"The hospital," Natsu's voice says almost as if he is the one in pain.

"What happened?" I ask my voice barely a whisper, but I know he can hear me.

"You lost consciousness from blood loss. You've been out for a week." I can hear his voice crack in pain. My body feels heavy and I can feel my eyes starting to shut. "Lilli don't close your eyes. You need to keep them open!"

Natsu's voice sounds desperate as though this has happened before. I force myself to keep my eyes open. I squeeze his hand for his assurance and mine. I don't feel as though I am there. My consciousness feels as though it is elsewhere outside of my body.

A nurse enters the room and checks my vitals as well as bringing me some ice chips to bring moisture back to my mouth. Natsu stays in the room the entire time, constantly watching me. The nurse ends up replacing my bandage on my right shoulder. I wince in pain as she touches it. Natsu tenses but settles down after the bandage is changed.

I am stuck in the hospital for two weeks. The doctors say it's for the best with the injury and the amount of blood I lost. Everyday Natsu comes to tell me how the construction of the guild is going. Lucy sees me every so often as well. Gray refuses because he can't bear to see me stuck in a hospital bed again. Erza is always busy helping to rebuild the guild that she has only seen me twice. Az on the other hand has not left. He sleeps under my hospital bed to stay out of the way but is still close enough to me.

In the middle of my second weeks stay, Gray comes to visit. He tells me that he and the rest have gotten tickets to a resort from Loke. So, they won't be back when I get out. I just smile at the news; happy that they are doing something other than hovering around town because of me. Before he leaves, he hugs me tightly.

"Don't ever do anything that reckless again, Lilliana." Gray whispers into my ear.

I smile at his words and reply, "Well if I wasn't, I would never have any good stories to tell. They would all be, 'Oh this scar? I got it from tripping on my own foot and cutting myself on a table edge on the way down."

Gray laughs at me and ruffles my hair playfully, "We'll be back soon."

I smile as he leaves. Later in the day everyone comes in to say goodbye to me. Happy doesn't want to leave, but he gives me a big hug and some fish. Erza brings me strawberry cake and laments about how she didn't want to go and how she wants to be here for when I'm released. Natsu is sulking in the corner and says nothing. Lucy gives me a giant hug before they all file out the door to go on their vacation. I smile and wave at them as they leave. Once they have all left my face falls and I roll over to sleep.

The next day I am released with the doctors saying I made wonderful healing time. I thank them and then head to the guild with Az. I go straight to the request board to find a longer job to occupy my time for a while. Once finding one that will take me two months, I head to Mira to get the details.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Mira asks with her eyebrow raised.

"Doctor gave me the okay," I say with a smile on my face.

She gives me the details and sends me on my way. I head home with Az at my side to go back for our trip. I get my small duffel bag out of my closet and pack for two months. I pay my rent for those two months and write a note to Natsu.

Dear Natsu,

I have taken a job that will take me two months to complete. I will be back soon I promise. Take care of everyone for me.

-Lilli and Az