A/N Another MASSIVE thankyou to everyone who is taking the time to read my story. It means so much to me and makes me so happy and proud to know that there are people out there who enjoy it. It may not seem like a lot to you, but it means the world to me and I appreciate every single one of you. Please feel free to comment any suggestions you may have or what you would like to see happen. Thankyou all!

Natsu felt helpless as Lucy lay unconscious in the bed in front of him. Her skin was littered in cuts and bruises, she looked so hurt yet so innocent. If Natsu tried really hard he could almost imagine that she was just sleeping and that the injuries were not actually there.

Porlyusica had done all she could do and until Wendy got back from the mission she was on, nothing else could be done. All Natsu could do was wait beside her and hope she woke up soon.

Over a week... She had been laying in that bed unconscious for over a week and there was nothing he could do about it besides sit beside her and wait. So he waited. He waited for any sign of movement, a flicker of her eyelids, anything. Anything would be better then this.

Everyone in the guild was concerned for Lucy. They all visited and offered comfort, each person asking the same questions as the last. Each person wanting to help but being powerless to do so.

Levy was taking it almost as bad as Natsu.

"If it wasn't for me this wouldn't have happened, she came to save me and now there is nothing I can do!" She had screamed.

Truth me told Natsu couldn't blame Levy for this. It was nobodies fault but his. He was to blame and if anything happened to Lucy it was his cross to bear up until the moment he died.

Even now when he thought back to each moment from that day, he could pinpoint exactly where he fucked up. The exact moment where his actions led to Lucy -his Lucy- nearly dying.

And that memory haunted his every waking hour.

~Flash back~

Natsu felt terrible. All he could do was lay with his head in Lucy's lap and try to pay attention to what her and Gajeel were talking about. He couldn't speak without nearly throwing up so he was not a big contributor to this conversation at all.

"Gajeel?" Lucy looked at the iron dragon slayer rather sceptically.

"Mmm?" Gajeel didn't seem to want to talk, he had a fire in his eyes and his soul spoke through it. He only want two things, to get Levy back and to kill whoever had dared take her in the first place.

"How come you aren't getting motion sick like Natsu?"

"Because Levy and I are mated, officially mated dragon slayers are stronger. Their weakness changes. They can't afford to get motion sick when they have a mate to protect at all times".

"Oh, well that's good to know".

The rest of the train ride passed in almost complete silence. Gejeel explained how somebody he didn't know had taken Levy, one moment she was in bed and he was making her something to eat. Then she screamed for him and he ran to her, he only made it in time to see the person who grabbed her fading into thin air and taking Levy with them.

He didn't see their face, or even if they were male or female. They had no idea what or whom they were up against. All they knew was that they left a note on the bed.

"Want your mate back? Come to The Forest Of Nightmares, bring only the fire dragon and his mate. If you bring anyone else your mate dies".

So in conclusion there was only a few things they could be certain of. The first being that this was probably a trap, the second being that Levy was a hostage and not the main target and the third being that whoever they were going up again was powerful. How powerful they did not know, but powerful none the less.

Natsu tried to tell Lucy to go home, to not risk walking into a situation that was clearly very dangerous but both her and Gajeel were having none of it. They both wanted nothing more then to save Levy and Natsu wanted nothing more then to protect Lucy.

They train arrived at their stop early the next morning and they still had the walk ahead of them. They were irritable, tired and very angry. They were all desperate to see Levy, to know she was okay.

"She isn't in any pain, I would have felt it... she is scared though. I need to get to her" Gajeel had stopped being as emotional and had settle for a cold rage. It presented itself both in his tone of voice and facial expression.

Natsu didn't once let go of Lucy's hand. He held it like a lifeline as they walked, believing that as long as she was with him she was safe. He would die before he let any harm come to her. They would get Levy back and go home where he could keep her safe and loved forever.

~End flashback~

Natsu punched the wall again, it was his job to protect her! He was so sure he could protect her! How could he be so arrogant?

Why didn't he just force her to stay behind? He could have enlisted Erza to keep an eye on her. If he told Erza that Lucy would be in danger then she would have happily done it.

No... he could never do that to Lucy, he could never force her to do anything she didn't want to do.

Maybe that was the problem? Maybe he needed to start taking control, if it were for her own good then how could she argue? He only wanted what was best for her.

He felt the hot tears streaming down his face and his shoulder shook as he looked a Lucy. She was so beautiful.

"Lucy, please wake up... I'll do anything". His voice cracked with tears as he spoke words for only her to hear.