A/N: Hello all my wonderfully faithful fans. I'd like to give you all my sincerest apologies for not having updated anything on this fanfic sooner…. It makes me sad to think that I left this story for as long as I did. However, I was busy with finishing high school, spending time with my boyfriend, traveling Europe, xmas and finally turning 18! Then starting University. A lots bin happening with me in 2014 in other words. Oh and I also lost my hard drive which had all my original writing and future ideas – another reason I have had to post pone this story :/ I'm finally uploading chapter 8 now though, all from scratch (I wrote about half of it before….). Anyways, I hope you all enjoy.

Last Time:

There was a crunch further down the hill and his eyes snapped up, narrowing on several members of his guild who all stood there crying and obviously wanting to come forward, but refraining to avoid setting Natsu off again.

With no sense of a threat, Natsu returned to looking down at his Luce. After a few moments he stood with the Celestial mage clutched to his chest, her head resting on his shoulder, and began the trek down the hill with a shadowed expression. He gave the mages on the hillside a wide berth and walked through the town of Magnolia, a few colourful cherry blossom petals floating past and giving Natsu a faraway look. Tears continued rolling down his cheeks as he held onto his Luce.

And Now:

Everything was peacefully quiet, here in the forest. The only other creatures there besides the Salamander and his Celestial Mage were the fuzzy little woodland creatures who stuck their heads in and out of the clearing every so often, but they tended to keep their distance.

It had been a few days now, since Natsu had walked away from that hill and his nakama. A few days in which he had sheltered Lucy from the rest of the world. He reasoned that it was to give her more time to recover before reuniting with the rest of Fairy Tail. But he also knew it was his selfish need to keep her all to himself, to make sure she was safe and protected, while also attempting to rid the scents of the others from her flesh. No matter how much she'd bathed their smell never left. Natsu couldn't even rub his own scent on her. It was frustrating because his touch pained her, always caused her to flinch away from him no matter how comfortable and accepting she'd become of his presence.

But the marks, those left by the Clan, and the injuries he couldn't fix were what angered him most. They were physical evidence that his Luce had been taken from him and irrefutably damaged. There was nothing he could do about what happened, except support her until she was ready to accept him. And to eventually track down the bastards who had the balls to break what was his.

For the time being though, Lucy was his main concern. She slept at the base of the ancient tree designated as their covert shelter, the soft mosses providing comfort to her abused body.

Natsu knew it was coming time to return Lucy to the guild though. While he had been able to treat her bruises, cuts and scrapes, her bones were still broken and the bites and marks had begun to fester. She needed more medical attention than he could provide here in the forest, and he accepted that. It was just that Natsu didn't feel he was ready to share Lucy with everyone again. But she was more important than his needs and wants.

He would let her sleep a little longer though. She looked too exhausted to be pulled out of sleep just yet, laying on those mosses so green they emphasised how pale and bruised she was. Natsu couldn't help but reach out and twirl those silky gold strands of hair between his fingers. It saddened him further that they lacked their usual lustre and shine because it was another sign of how she had been changed.

It wasn't until about noon that she awoke drearily and in terror once again. Natsu calmed and comforted his Celestial Mage, then fed her the colourful fish and berries he had scavenged. He watched silently as she ate, taking the small delicate bites of someone pained both physically and emotionally. His fists clenched and unclenched.

It was time to go. Natsu quietly stood and lifted Lucy into his arms. He never said a word, and neither did she. He just growled softly, soothingly to her, his chest vibrating and lulling the blonde into a tranquil state as he carried her prone form through the wildly vibrant forest and back to civilisation. When they reached the thinned brush at the edge of the ancient jungle, Lucy began to tremble. He squeezed her tighter to his chest and murmured affectionately in her ear; "shhh its okay Luce. I can bring you back to our spot whenever you want to come back." Her body slumped further in his arms.

They made their way over paddocks, through the town of Magnolia and up the stone path to the mass of totem wood which served as the entrance to the Fairy Tail guild, their home.

Natsu took a deep breath and kicked the doors in.

The entrance hall was dark and quiet when Natsu strode forward, Lucy's slight and quivering weight the only thing keeping him from taking her back to the forest. At least half the guild was present in the hall, all their eyes glued to the shirtless salmon-haired man striding among them and the remaining wreck of tables, then to the small blonde bundle in his arms wearing his vest and waist coat as makeshift shirt and skirt. Natsu said nothing and looked at no one until he was passing the bar and climbing the stairs. "Send for Porlyusica."

He didn't stop for anyone until he reached the infirmary. It was still a mess, but a tidy mess. Most of the debris had been swept to one side of the room, and the only bed left whole was flipped back the right way and on the far side of the room. His sandals caught on the cracks left in the floor as he walked to the cot. Lucy whimpered as he gently placed her down, but she slept.

When he turned, Mira stood in the doorway with a sad look in her eyes. "Is she ok?" Natsu just stared for a moment before shaking his head. Mira eyelashes dampened but she didn't let the tears come. "Jet went for Porlyusica. She should be here shortly."

Erza and some of the others came to the door then, trying to catch a glimpse of Lucy. Natsu only glared and growled until they got the hint that they were unwanted.

Natsu leaned against the doorway, keeping his eyes on all entrances. He could hear his guild mates downstairs, discussing their relief and worries over Lucy. Some expressed their distress over the fire mage being a danger to her, but everyone knew he wouldn't hurt a hair on her body.

It wasn't too much longer before he finally heard Porlyusica arrive, heard her steady footfalls on the wooden floors, then the stairs. When she finally came into sight, she looked no different from the last time. She was old, but barely showed it. It was the silver hair and the eyes that expressed her years of knowledge and experience. Yet she still had that disdainful tilt to her lips from being around so many people. A very secluded woman.

He let her in. she took one look at mottled bruises and scrapes still adorning Lucy's frail body and her eyes saddened a touch before sharpening with a healers eye. "The reason as to why you didn't bring her to me for treatment when you found her, I don't care for. You may wait outside, Dragon."

"I'm not leaving her." He replied gruffly.

"And I'm not asking. It is inappropriate for you to be here while I work." Wendy walked in then, carrying scissors, a bowl of water, bandages and a smaller bowl. She cried silently when she spotted Lucy on the cot behind him.

He glared but did as he was bid. He waited outside the door, listening as the women cleansed the wounds and bound the bones, all the while having to hold himself in check as he listened to Lucy whimpering and moaning in pain.

When the healers finally came out, Wendy was white-faced with a blank stare as she walked away down the hall. Porlyusica only had an anger in her eyes as she came to him. The guild Master came to them then.

"Is she going to be alright, Porlyusica?"

"The Celestial Mage is going to be fine. Wendy sealed the last of the open wounds and healed most of the bruises. The bindings on her arm, ribs and ankle are to remain for a few weeks. I doubt she will scar from those injuries. Internally, she received a beating, though that will heal eventually as well. Though whether or not she will be able to produce a child remains to be seen."

Natsu's heart thudded heavily. Porlyusica sniffed in dismissal and left the guild, the Master following with a few of his own inquiries.

The next day, Natsu sat beside Lucy's bed, watching her slow breaths raise and lower her bandaged chest, as he had been all night. During the early hours of the morning some of the other guild members had passed by the infirmary door to take a peek at Lucy. He could smell the relief perspiring from all of them to see she was home, safe and sound. None of them approached of course. Not with the Dragonslayer acting guard dog.

Natsu just sat there, basking in the sight before him. The golden locks splayed over the white, downy pillow which cushioned her head. They were slowly regaining their lustre. Her pale skin was almost porcelain though, and Natsu couldn't wait for the moment when the apple returned to her cheek. It pained him to see the gauntness haunting her face, and the lack of nutrition plaguing her body. But he stared all the more for it, imagining how he would return the lustre and plumpness to her body.

Her scent was still tainted, but faint. He could finally begin to scent himself on her, the corner of his lips twitching in the ghost of a smirk at the thought.

Lucy's face was calm in the throes of sleep. Wendy had spelled her mind to keep the nightmares away and induce a healing slumber. But her brows drew down into a frown now, her lips twisting in distaste as her body began to tremble and sweat broke out over her forehead. Natsu placed a firm hand on her cheek as the other brought a cold towel to rest on her forehead. Lucy calmed a bit, but then gasped awake, staring blankly at the ceiling while she continued panting.

"Lucy?" Her eyes connected with his, and a slight whimper escaped her lips. Her trembling hands rose to hold his on her cheek, but her grip was weak and her eyes were desperate. What was she begging for? Then a weak scent hit his nose and his whole body went rigid, like a cat whose fur stood on end.

A deep growl emanated from his chest as he turned away from Lucy and stormed out of the infirmary. He took the stairs down two at a time, his sandaled feet hammering against the wooden planks. All the mages of Fairy Tale had their wide eyes on him, moving out of the way as he brusquely strode to the front of the hall, fire in his eyes.

The guild door was open, two shadowy figures standing just within the vast space. The first, and most notable, was about as tall as Elfman, shoulders almost as broad, jet black hair and a dark glint to his eyes. The second, much shorter, was the blonde boy with the golden eyes. It was pleasing to see that the boy still carried the cuts and bruises from their fight. But Natsu hadn't stopped striding towards them, not until he had one hand around each of their throats and slammed them both on the floor quicker than the eye could see. Their pained grunts were music to his ears.

The shock of his peers was astounding. But they didn't see the monsters he did because they hadn't seen the boy with his hands on Lucy. Natsu bared his teeth and growled.

The boy gasped out; "we're here to see… Lucy." Natsu squeezed tighter and the boy gripped his wrist. The other one scarcely reacted, merely watched Natsu's responses.

"Natsu! What the hell are you doing?!" Erza strode forward and was about to pull him away when he snarled at her. She stopped, her hand paused between them.

"They're Dragon Slayers, Erza." He snapped. "Ones who hurt Lucy."

"But we didn't! We helped her." The boy pleaded.

"We are not your enemy." That cool response was fluid, flowing from the dark strangers lips.

"Don't you dare claim not to be my enemy!" The venom and hatred in his voice was almost tangible, even to his own ears.

"Natsu…." He froze. "Please… don't…." Just like that he let the two strange Slayers go with a growl before turning his face up to Lucy, who was collapsed to her knees at the top of the stairs, wheezing. Wendy was beside her, worry written all over her face as she tried to calm the injured Celestial Mage. "Please don't hurt them." She reiterated in a hoarse whisper. Tears ran down those pale cheeks. He was torn between running to her side and standing between what was his and the tyrants who sought to take her away.

The two strangers sat up, both with looks of wonder etched on their faces as their gazes, too, landed on Lucy. The boy smiled weakly at her. And Natsu glared at him until he shied away from the heat, cheeks pink and a slight pout to his lips.

That's when the Master arrived, bellowing about the ruckus. He and Wendy escorted Lucy down the stairs after she refused to return to the infirmary. They walked her forward until she was at his side, at which point he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her firmly to his side. "She is not taking another step near them." The Master simply nodded, and turned to the strangers who now stood before them.

"Who are you and what is your purpose here?"

"My name is Lukas, and this is my brother, Nox." The boy hesitated, wiping his nervously sweaty hands on his pants. "We are here for Lucy. To serve and protect her."

Eyes watched warily, studying the two. "Why?" Gray piped up.

"Because, she is ours. Any of your Dragon Slayers can confirm that for you." Nox stated monotonously, a statement which had Natsu snarling, fangs and all.

"Its true." Lukas smiled at Lucy. "But we marked her because it was the only way to get her out. Look for yourself. Nox marked her neck. Mines on her wrist."

"The rest of the story can wait. Lucy is about to pass-out." Just as Nox said, Natsu could see Lucy's already pale face whiten further, could feel Lucy's body turned to jelly in his arms and her legs give out as she did exactly as the Slayer had predicted. Both Nox and Lukas stepped forward, coming closer to Lucy, but Natsu growled again, lifted his Celestial mage in his arms and took her away, back to the infirmary. Let the rest of the guild handle those two. For now anyway.

A/N: So. It finally happened. The next chapter. Sorry that there wasn't more happening, but I figured I would save the rest of the story to be given from Lucy's perspective :3 Let me know what you thought