[Lucy POV]

I awoke to seven faces hanging above me, all with worried looks on their faces. "What happened?" I mumbled.

"Lucy you're awake! Thank goodness you didn't get hurt!" Levy smiled pulling me off my back. I sat up to find myself in an unfamiliar bedroom. "W-Where am I?" I stuttered. The last thing I remember was falling asleep in Natsu's arms after he pulled me off the edge of the roof.

"You're at my place." Natsu spoke holding my hand. He sat on the floor next to the bed gripping my hand. I yanked my hand away from him causing him to slump down in disappointment.

"Why did you do that? I was going to be free! I was going to be away from…" I didn't know if they had read the note or not. Wait did they look at my arms? I began to panic when I felt a warmth draped around me.

"Because we couldn't lose you." Natsu whispered. He shook as he sighed as I felt a warm breath of air rush past my ear. Tears brimmed my eyes as I pulled my legs close to me. I curled my head into my knees as I tried to hide the tears.

"Oh Lucy! Why won't you ever tell us about your feelings? Your thoughts? We can help you through whatever you're going through! You just have to tell us!" Juvia comforted as the rest of the group agreed.

"I'm sorry guys. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm fine now. I don't know what was going through my head. I'll tell you guys if anything happens." I lied. That's all I did then. I just lied and lied and lied. I lied about my family. I lied about the bruises that ran up and down my arms and legs. I lied about how I'm fine when I'm not. But if I told them everything, it would just end up to be a giant mess that would end in my friends leaving my side, and I would be alone, trying to fight the pain I go home to each night.

Everyone sighed. They could probably see straight through my lies, but they didn't try and push it.

"Lucy, we know you're not okay. People just don't go try and kill themselves, but if you don't want to talk about it, we won't force you. Just know that we are always open to talk to you. You don't have to hide anything from us." Erza groaned taking Jellal's hand and turning to leave. Everyone else said their goodbyes and left. Natsu tightened his grip before releasing me from the embrace. I started to leave, but Natsu stopped me.

"No, I don't want you leaving. I-I just don't want you to leave just to go and kill yourself." Natsu stuttered. I thought for a moment. "My brother! I have to go get him! I can't leave him home….alone." I shouted rushing to the door.

"No!" Natsu yelled throwing himself in front of the door. "But you don't understand! Natsu, I need to get my brother! I can't leave him there! He'll get….hurt!" I yelled. I tried to shove him out of the way, but he didn't budge one bit. He contemplated me leaving to get my brother.

"Natsu, I'm begging you….please." I whispered. I placed my head on his chest feeling the tears beginning to form again.

"Okay, but I'm going with you." He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back and lifted my head. I smiled at his mercy.

"There's the smile I've looking for." He smiled back opening the door and throwing a coat of his around me. I blushed in response as I joined him outside.

"Come on, Andy! We are going to go spend a few nights at a friend of mine's house! It'll be fun!"I smiled. "We aren't going to see daddy?" I cringed at the way he still called that man 'daddy', but I never told Andy to call him anything else.

"Yeah! You ready to go?" I asked.

"Yep! I packed my toothbrush, too!" I smiled at his response. He's so young and cute. It's almost impossible to believe his father would ever abuse him.

"Alright! Let's go." I grabbed my bag that I packed in less than five minutes and rushed Andy out the door to Natsu's waiting car.

"Hi Andy! I'm Natsu, Lucy's friend. I'm gonna be taking care of you guys, okay?" Natsu beamed as I got into the car.

"Natsu's your boyfriend?" Andy asked innocently.

"No, Andy. He's j-just my friend." I stuttered blushing at Andy's response. Natsu just laughed at the question.

"You know what Andy, I think we are going to get along just fine!" Natsu giggled with a light blush.

"Really?" Andy smiled.

"Really."

"You wanna hear the song I learned today in music?" Andy chimed. I hadn't seen him this happy since before mom got sick.

"That's okay Natsu, you don't have to-" I started but Natsu interrupted.

"Of course I do!" Natsu grinned.

Andy smiled and began singing. "A, B, C, D, E, F, G…" Andy sang as Natsu drove down the road. I sat marveling at how good Natsu was with kids. With every verse Andy sang, Natsu smiled into the rear-view mirror. "...next time won't you sing with me!" Andy finished with the biggest grin on his face.

"Well I think I will! Let's sing it together! You too, Luce!" Natsu laughed beginning the song again. Andy and I giggled before joining in.

That was probably the best car ride I had ever ridden. Andy was happy, and….so was I. When we reached Natsu's home, I looked back to find Andy sound asleep.

"I'll wake him up to go inside." I stated, but Natsu swept Andy out of the seat and began carrying him into the house.

"I got him Luce." Natsu whispered shooting a smile my way. I blushed and smiled back walking up the stairs to Natsu's apartment.

I watched as Natsu laid Andy down on the bed as if he were a porcelain doll. I smiled watching from the door frame. Natsu tucked him in and looked over to me. I worded the words 'thank you' and smiled once more. He grinned and turned out the light and turned on a night light he had found in a box in the bedroom.

"Has anyone told you you are amazing with children, because you are!" I remarked plopping down on the couch next to him.

"Oh, thanks!" He smiled. He then pulled out the homework from the school day. Crap. I forgot, I have homework. My smile drifted away as I thought about the late night I had ahead of me.

"What's wrong, Luce?"

"I just forgot I have a ton of homework….plus the classes I missed because of…."

"Oh, I can help you if you want." Natsu smiled scooting over closer to me.

"I don't understand any of this though. I don't want you to stay up trying to help me!"

"Luce. It's fine! I'll survive and you gotta know at least some of this." Natsu pulled out the algebra binder first. I stared at the first question. My mind, blank. I began to nibble at my pencil, but nothing came to mind. I glanced over to Natsu who had already finished the first five problems in the time I was thinking.

He glanced back over causing me to revert my focus back to the paper in front of me. "So first you take the coefficient…." He then explained to me how to do the whole problem and helped me on a few others. Then we moved to the next subject.

Time flew quickly and by the time I finished the last problem it was already four-thirty in the morning.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! I kept you up! I'm just really stupid and…" I stammered bringing my hands to head.

"It's fine, really. You're not stupid you just struggle with some of the classes, but I do too." He smiled. I smiled pulling my hands slowly down.

Suddenly Natsu's face went taut with a brooding expression. He yanked my arm towards him pushing the sleeve up, revealing the discolored wounds and cuts that decorated my arms. He then pulled my other arm to reveal the same thing. He was no longer happy, it seemed to be a look of sympathy, worry, confusion, and anger.

"Lucy! Who did this to you?" He asked looking up at me. My heart dropped to my feet as I yanked my arms away and pulled down the sleeves to conceal the wounds once more.

"No one! I'm just…just…just-"

"Is someone abusing you or not?!" He yelled with the most serious expression painting his face. He had grabbed my arms and pulled them back towards him to try and keep my focus. I trembled.

"I-I'm j-j-just c-clumsy." I cried. I hung my head to hide my weakness.

"No, Luce. That's not it. I just know it. Is it your father?"

I stopped at his words. I shot my head up questioning what I heard.

"Is it?" He asked once more. He read the note. The note explaining everything. No! No! No! This cannot be happening right now! No! No! No!

"You read it…" I muttered. His face suddenly softened as he gently embraced me.

"No, no, no…" I mumbled, tears falling, heart aching. "Why did you have to read it? Why did I write it? Now everything is ruined. I'm not safe. I'm going to die. No one's going to like me. Everyone's going to think I'm a freak." I ranted on and on. Natsu just sat there listening. "I'm not safe! I'm going to die!" I screamed into his shirt. I choked causing more tears to run down my saturated face. "No Luce. You're not going to die. I'm going to protect you! I will make sure you're are safe, away from him."

I suddenly felt a sharp feeling in my heart for what seemed like half a second long. But it wasn't a feeling of sadness, anger, or hate. It felt like happiness, security, and….love.

A/N: Alright guys... I'm so sorry, but I've been struggling with this technology. Sorry about the last 2 chapter 3's... I didn't mean for it to screw up twice. I hope this actually works this time and I hope you enjoyed it.