Around midnight, Natsu made it home. Feeling nauseous from the train ride and heavy hearted, he walked in to his house and collapsed onto the couch. Happy trudged inside and shut the door behind him.

"I'm sorry Natsu, I really thought we were gonna get her back." Happy whimpered.

Natsu didn't answer, he simply shifted on the couch so his back was to the blue cat. Ignoring Happy was mean, and Natsu knew that. None of this was Happy's fault, Natsu simply wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone right now. After what felt like years of silence, Happy whispered,

"Okay, well, if you're sleeping on the couch, i'll take the hammock." The cat sounded on the verge of tears, Natsu simply buried his face in the back of the couch. "Im gonna go to the guild tomorrow and…and tell them what happened. You don't have to come." Happy finished.

Natsu heard the cat fly up to the hammock and twist and turn for a bit. He waited until the cat was sound asleep before turning over on the couch again to face the room. As he shifted, Natsu felt a weight in his pocket dig into his hip, and he went rigid.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out Lucy's gate keys. He ran his hand over the keys, much like Lucy had when he'd shown them to her back at the mansion. He couldn't see them in the dark house, but he was okay with that. If he could see them he knew the guilt would suffocate him.

"Guard my keys with your life. Promise me!"

"I promise Lucy, they're safe with me." Natsu whispered to himself, gently placing the keys on the coffee table. Natsu dared not put them out of his sight. They were all he had left of Lucy.

Natsu stared at the ceiling, feeling heavy. He had been so close. They could have made it, the balcony was a second away, but he'd still lost her.

'Why can't I ever keep her safe?' Natsu thought bitterly.

It seemed ever since the Phantom Lord chaos started, Lucy kept getting hurt and Natsu was never there to stop it. She'd gotten kidnapped and beaten and now she was trapped in her own home, and Natsu couldn't do anything. Suddenly, he remembered what Lucy said.

"When the time came that you were all in danger, there was nothing I could do to protect you all."

Suddenly he understood. How he was feeling right now, the guilt, the sadness, that was exactly how Lucy felt. But he had been dense and hadn't understood at the time and now it was too late. His mind raced. He tossed and turned, playing the scene over and over again in his head, wondering what he did wrong.

'I just want Lucy back.' He thought. 'Come back, come back dammit.' He thought over and over again, maybe if he thought hard enough it would happen. Maybe he would open his eyes and Lucy would be there, with her big brown eyes full of wonder and her contagious smile.

Lucy with her golden hair that reminded Natsu of the stars in the constellations she always tried to explain to him but he'd never understood. Lucy sitting in the guild hall with her nose in a book that was bigger than her. Lucy laughing until tears welled up in the corners of her eyes when Natsu made a fool of himself. Lucy punching him in the arm playfully when he did something dumb and scarred her. Lucy rolling her eyes and biting her lip to try and avoid laughing as she watched Natsu fight Gray and accidentally set the guild hall on fire again.

Lucy doing everything and anything that made her Lucy.

Natsu's heart hurt. Why did he miss her so much? Why was it only now that she was gone he realized how amazing she was, how much of their time together he had taken for granted. Why did he feel so… what did Levy call it? Empty?

It wasn't emptiness this time, this was a little different, he wanted her back. He wanted her back so bad he would burn that whole mansion down just to see her again. Natsu wished he understood his emotions more. It didn't help that said emotions were about the girl he may never see again.

Though Natsu hated thinking that way, what if it was true? Going back to the mansion would put Lucy in more danger, and if he couldn't go back…

Natsu's own words rang in his ears.

"Lucy please, I need you."

He hadn't though about the words as he said them, they just seemed right at the time. Now he realized how true they were. He still didn't understand why he needed her so much, but he did, and more importantly, he needed her to come back.

Natsu tossed and turned until his eyelids grew too heavy to hold open.

Then he was awake again. And he was back in Lucy's room, at the Heartfilia mansion, he was standing facing the open balcony doors, just a step away. Exactly where he had been desperately tugging on Lucy's hand just hours before. Only this time, Lucy wasn't behind him, she was in front.

She stood on the balcony in a long, white, silky strapless dress. The dress showed off the five bruises on her shoulder, and it looked more like a flowing nightgown than Royal attire. Lucy's hair was down rather than in a tight bun, and it was much longer then before, now going down to her hips. It was night outside and Lucy's skin bathed in moonlight, she smiled at Natsu, and he felt warmth rush through his body.

"Lucy?" He choked, reaching out for her. He tried to step towards her, but his feet wouldn't move. Panic filled Natsu's chest as he desperately tried to get to her. She was so close, but Natsu's legs wouldn't budge.

Lucy didn't say anything, she simply stood there, still smiling sweetly.

All of a sudden, there were a series of loud bangs. Natsu recognized them.

Jude's footsteps. Though they were much louder than before. Lucy's face changed. Her look became filled with terror. She looked around, as if trying to locate where the noise was coming from, she seemed to have forgotten Natsu was there.

"Lucy! Run, Lucy!" Natsu screamed, frantically trying to reach her, but he was frozen.

Lucy turned to look at Natsu again, the footsteps grew ear piercingly loud. She gave Natsu another smile, but this time it seemed sad. She put her hand in a pocket of her dress Natsu hadn't known was there, and pulled out her gate keys. She threw them to Natsu and he caught them with ease.

Only then did Natsu noticed that at some point the balcony's railings had disappeared.

"Go." Lucy whispered, her voice seemingly carried to Natsu by the wind.

The she leaned back, and fell off the balcony.

"NO!" Natsu screamed, clutching her keys, he used all his muscles to try and move, get to her, save her. But it was useless. Tears ran down his face as he could do nothing but watch as Lucy's body fell down towards the ground.


Natsu sat up so fast he fell off the couch. He felt like he couldn't breath. His body was covered in a slick layer of sweat. He landed in the floor on his hands and knees, gasping for breath. He waited until the stars left his vision before he moved. He sat on the floor with his back leaning against the couch for support. Natsu felt something hot run down his cheek, and realized he was still crying. He quickly wiped his tears away and took another deep breath to calm down.

"Just a dream, it was a dream." He gasped, repeating it over and over again until he calmed down. When he felt stable, Natsu stood up and looked around the house.

"Happy?" He croaked, but he got no answer.

The house was silent.

Natsu was alone.


Happy flew in circles in front of the guild hall doors. He didn't want to tell everyone the news. That Lucy wasn't back, that they had failed. He supposed he'd first have to tell them they actually went to the Heartfilia mansion, since Natsu had told Erza they were going home.

How would the guild react? Would they be angry? Disappointed? He was especially scared of Levy, Gray, and Erza. After getting so close only to fail, it made it all seem…

hopeless.

"Ahg! I can't do this!" Happy yelled, turning to fly back home, but before he got far, he heard a voice.

"Happy? You're back." A calm voice said. "I thought I heard someone out here. Were you locked out or something?"

Happy turned to see Gray standing in the doorway, holding one of the large wooden doors open. The cat could hear the eerie lack of noise that continued to plague the guild hall since Lucy's disappearance.

"Gray! Uh…I was just coming inside to tell you…tell you…" Happy trailed off nervously.

Gray's look shifted to one full of anxiety.

"You guys went to get Lucy right?" He asked carefully.

"Yeah…" Happy whimpered.

"Is she with Natsu?" Gray's voice was quieter this time.

Happy looked down at the ground and frantically tried to blink away forming tears.

"No…" Happy sobbed.

Gray clenched his fists, looking back into the guild to avoid eye contact with the now crying cat.

"She didn't come back." Gray whispered.

Happy couldn't stop the tears from falling. He flew into Gray, hiding his face in the boys shoulder.

"Im sorry! We tried so hard, and we," Happy hiccuped, "we were so close! But she couldn't, and now she's gone!" Happy sobbed into the ice mages shoulder.

Gray leaned back a little, clearly uncomfortable with the contact, but lifted a hand to give the cat a small pat on the head.

"It's okay Happy, you tried your best."

Happy took a minute hiding in Gray's shoulder to compose himself, before looking up at the boy through watery eyes.

"I have to tell the others." Happy muttered sadly.

"We can tell them together." Gray said with a strained voice. Happy wasn't sure if the strain was from the news on Lucy or because he was uncomfortable with the emotional situation.

"You're the best Gray." Happy sighed. The cat settled onto Gray's shoulder, and the two of them entered the guild.

Within seconds of their arrival all eyes were on them. It became very apparent to Happy that everyone already knew he and Natsu had gone to see Lucy. And it became very apparent that it should have been Natsu, Happy, and Lucy walking through those doors together, not just Happy alone. The cat snuggled into Gray's shoulder a little more.

Levy and Erza approached the group quietly. Erza's look was stoic, in comparison to Levy, who walked beside her, worry riddling her features. Happy inhaled slowly in attempt to prepare himself to share the bad news. He opened his mouth but before he could speak, Erza raised a hand to stop him.

"Of course I already know where you've been. You don't need to explain yourself to me. Just understand that you shouldn't have lied." Erza boomed. "I would have let you go anyway." She said much softer.

"Did it work?" Levy questioned anxiously. "Is Lucy back?"

Happy opened his mouth to speak, but for a minute, no sound came out. The brief silence that followed would be enough to drive a stable man insane. Levy fiddled with her hair nervously, her eyes darting from Happy, to Gray, back to Happy. Erza stared Happy dead in the eyes, her hand clutching her swords hilt tightly.

Happy cracked. Hot tears ran down his cheeks for the second time that day. He shook his head vigorously.

"Lucy isn't…she won't come back. I'm sorry!"

The guild quickly went into chaos. Apparently, everyone had been waiting eagerly to hear Happy's answer. People yelled in anger and confusion. Various fights broke out, people searching for any way to vent their emotions. Those who weren't fighting crowded around Happy and Gray, demanding to hear what had happened.

Levy's gaze fell to the floor, clearly on the brink of tears, Erza looked away, her face still showing no clear emotions.

"The hell happened to her?"

"Why won't she come back?"

"Where is she now?"

"Where's the fire breathing moron?

"Is Natsu with her?"

People barked questions at Happy from left and right. The cat wanted to be invisible. He trembled and buried himself in Gray's neck. He covered his ears with his paws in attempt to drown out all the yelling.

"Stop it! Please! I'm sorry. I don't know!" Happy whimpered. The yelling and rioting continued ruthlessly. Gray petted Happy, trying to calm him down. Gray only let the yelling happen for a second longer.

"EVERYONE SHUT IT!" He screamed. The guild froze, everyone going silent.

"Stop being assholes, Happy can't answer all of you at once."

Levy stepped up to Happy, she gently pulled the cat off Gray's shoulder. She cradled and petted him until he calmed down.

"Everyone take a seat!" Erza commanded. "Happy will tell his story when he's ready. he will tell it once, and if you decide to be an idiot and interrupt, it will be the last story you ever hear.

At Erza's threat, the entire guild ran to get a seat like scared children. Levy carried Happy to the bar and set him down. Gray and Erza followed and stood next to the script wizard.

"Happy, please tell us what happened." Erza pushed gently.

Happy looked around the guild hall, dried his tears, and told them everything.


Lucy's heart pounded. With every step towards Jude's office her heart rate sped up and new beads of sweat popped up on her forehead.

Then before she knew it, she was in front of his office doors. She clenched the skirt of her dress, wrinkling the fabric.

She felt a weight on her right hand, the hand still wearing a single satin glove to cover the forbidden guild mark it bore. She looked to see a young servant had placed her hand on top of Lucy's. The servant gave Lucy a comforting smile.

Lucy slowly let her skirt go. She smiled sweetly back at the servant, though it was forced.

The servant opened the door for Lucy, and Lucy entered the office.

Her father sat in his normal spot. Behind his desk, looking out the window, with his back to Lucy.

She took her seat in front of the desk, her father spun around in his chair, rather dramatically, to face her.

"Hello Father."

"Welcome Lucy, I'm glad to see you're on time." He stated coldly.

Lucy gave a firm nod.

"We have important business to discuss."

"Yes, my keys." Lucy growled.

"Indeed, your mothers keys fell into your possession after her death. Until now i've tolerated the filthy magic associated with them and left then under your care. However, after…recent events, it's come to my attention that the keys may be a distraction of sorts." Jude eyed her glove covered hand, "In order for your full focus to be on your future marriage and the company, I need you to relinquish all past ties with your guild and magic in general. So I'm going to need you to hand your keys over to me."

Lucy had seen this coming, but it still made her chest tighten and her hands shake.

'Breath, Lucy, breath.' Lucy was ready, she had practiced this.

"Im sorry father, but I can't give you the keys."

Jude raised an eyebrow. Lucy tried her best to look devastated.

"Please understand, I lost them in my battle with Phantom Lord, they were never found or returned." Lucy lied. She would not give her father the keys, and she would most definitely not rope Natsu into this. Lucy had prepared this answer, for once, she was one step ahead. Or so she had thought.

"Yes, I predicted you would say that." Jude said. Lucy tensed.

"You see Lucy, I gave the Phantom Lord guild orders to make sure your keys were not destroyed in the battle. They reported very clearly that after the battle they returned to the spot of your kidnapping only to discover a friend of yours had already picked up the keys. If these sources are correct, the keys should have made it back to you by now."

Lucy was speechless. He had caught her, what would she say now. Jude stood up and leaned over the desk.

"So either my sources are incorrect, or you're lying to me, Lucy." Jude leered.

Lucy rose to her feet as well, refusing to let her father overpower her.

"Well then clearly, your sources are wrong. The keys are not in my possession." Lucy retorted.

Jude grabbed Lucy's arm with an iron grip, and she knew there would be more bruises to match her shoulder later on.

"Don't lie to me Lucy!" He spit. Lucy was growing angry to. She ripped her arm from his grasp, wincing as she felt a muscle in her shoulder pull. Lucy decided lying wasn't getting her anywhere.

"As long as I'm alive, you are never getting your hands on those keys!" Lucy snapped.

She turned to storm out of the office before her father could ask anymore questions, but his voice locked her in place.

"Natsu." Jude stated cooly, knowing he had just won.

Lucy's voice caught in her through, all confidence she'd had vanished.

'No, no, no, does he know he has my keys? How could he possibly know?' Lucy's thoughts raced, panic consuming her. She turned to face her father, no longer hiding her fear and rage.

Jude simply smirked. "Thats his name right? The fire wizard with the pink hair?"

Lucy clenched her jaw shut. She didn't know how much Jude knew, and she dared not risk giving him information he could use against Natsu.

"You two seem rather close. Considering he stopped by for a visit the other night."

Lucy was as stiff as a board, her hands trembled.

"Where are you going with this father?" She demanded nervously.

"I was just thinking that if you were to harbour any, how should I put this? Lingering feelings for the boy, well, I would hate to have to eliminate any of duke Schwan's potential competition."

Lucy exploded. She ran to his desk, slamming her hands onto the wood and staring him down.

"You so much as lay a finger on Natsu and I swear to you father I will-"

"You'll what? Run away again? Don't make me laugh." Jude snapped. He reached up and grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him. "Face it Lucy, in this house, you're powerless." Jude dropped her chin, and Lucy realized she'd been holding her breath.

She stumbled away from the desk in shock.

'Powerless, helpless, useless. That's all you'll ever be.' Lucy's thoughts tried to control her. Her negative emotions were overwhelming her, drowning her mind.

"You have one day." Jude had gone back to looking out the window, as if nothing had happened. "If the keys aren't on my desk by the end of tomorrow, I shall be forced to take matters into my own hands." Jude threatened.

"Yes, father." The words tasted bitter on her tongue.

"You are dismissed." Jude waved her away.

Lucy walked back to her room, fear enveloped her.

She had to come up with something quick. She would not allow herself to drag Natsu into this. But Lucy came up with nothing.

The next day came and went, and the deadline passed.

The hooded men came for Lucy at midnight.


I call this one the never ending chapter! So sorry this took so long. I totally blanked as to how I wanted to organize it, but I finally got it done, so I sincerely apologize for the wait! (I hope the novel length of this chapter makes up for it a little bit!) I debated dividing this chapter into two, but decided it just wouldn't be as smooth, so instead you get this one mega chapter.

It was a little less intense and had a slower pace but I hope you guys enjoyed it none the less!

A little side note: I will be uping the fic's rating to T due to language and upcoming violence.

Thank you to anyone and everyone who has, followed, favourited or left a lovely review on this story! :)

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