Chapter 5

Natsu, for the first time in his memory, was stunned motionless. It was as if his mind could not decide to be angry, confused, sad, or tempted. He generally took a head on approach at life, well aware that most people thought him a little dense or just a goofball, but that was his choice. Not wanting to be weighed down by life, he just tried to accept things as they came. It was one of the first lessons his father, Igneel, had taught to him, but somehow this had floored him. Until her heard her voice, the bitterness, the sorrow, and even hints of shame. His feet moved on their own, only stopped by Gray's hand on his arm.

"Natsu?" he asked, dealing with his own shock and anger. The dragon slayer seemed to almost be under a trance.

"She's breaking, Gray," he told him, pulling away and rushing toward her even as the sounds of her sorrow filled the guild hall. The ice mage followed directly after him, not being able to stand the sound, both feeling her pain soul deep.

Loke followed behind as well, tears in his eyes. He wanted so bad to comfort her, but he and Draco both felt that she would not want it from them at the moment. In their minds, they wondered if Lucy would come to resent them, realizing that if it were not for her connection to the spiritual world, she would not have to suffer through this at all.

Draco's fingers dug into the palms of his hands as he watched her fall to pieces, unable to bear the weight of her tears. Ezra too reached out to her, but was unsure how to comfort her, or help in any way.

The door burst open, Natsu nearly knocking them over in the rush to get to her. Without hesitation, he wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. "Lucy" he called to her, his face buried in her hair just the way he always did when she allowed him that close. "It will be alright."

Gray followed suit, his arms going around her waist as he rested his head against her back. "We are here for you." His voice vibrated her back, bringing her around a little, her fingers curling into Natsu's vest, holding on for dear life. Happy wiggled his way on her lap, crying with her. Loke came and sat before them, not quite touching her, resting his head in his hands.

Outside the room, Laxus pressed his back against the wall, his arms crossed his chest, his face giving nothing away. The rest of the thunder tribe and Makarov waited as well, the master and Evergreen having a fine sheen to their eyes. Mira and Freed stood off to the side, Mira's arms around her younger sister as she cried softly. Throughout the building, a rage built in the hearts of all those who belonged to it. One of their own had been hurt and continued to hurt. The ones responsible would be hunted down and punished for it, no matter what it took.

Lucy had no idea how much time had passed. When she became aware again, she was stiff and sore, her legs asleep from the way she had them tucked under her for so long. Natsu still held her to him, one arm around her shoulders, his other hand stoking her hair as he rested his chin on her head. Gray's arm was still around her waist, his forehead against her back, and his legs against hers. Happy had cried himself to sleep, still clinging to the table cloth she had wrapped around her earlier. Loke was actually bent forward, his hair just brushing her knee. Draco was next to them; she could see his long legs stretched out as he was rested on the other side of Natsu. Directly across from where they were, she saw Ezra her head laying in her arm that was braced against the bathroom counter where the double sinks were. There were tear tracts on her face. Lucy sighed, her throat raw. Way to keep it together, she told herself sarcastically.

"Lucy?" Natsu's tone was quiet and soft. "Are you better now?"

"Yeah," she raised up enough to look him in the eyes, feeling Gray's embrace loosen and Loki shift, sitting up. "Sorry for freaking out on you guys." She attempted to smile. "Thank you."

"We are here for you, Luce," Natsu told her, stretching, but not moving away from her.

"Yeah, for whatever you may need." Gray said as he sat up, unable to keep the slight teasing vibe from his words.

"you sure you want to say that being as I am apparently joining the league of cosmic hos'?" she managed a dry chuckle, dropping back stretching herself, trying not to disturb the little blue cat. It seemed as if she was truly thinking better. After all, she was positive there were worse things than having a vast amount of sex, not that she knew that from experience, but it probably beat the hell out of dying slowly and painfully as her magic was basically sucked out of her body.

"ah, don't think like that Luce," Natsu said, draping his arm back around her as he stretched his legs out, shoulder to shoulder now with the celestial dragon, "Cana goes through at least ten men a month and we don't think any less of her"

"Bite me, Natsu!" Cana yelled good naturedly through the door, grinning with those who waited outside of the ladies bathroom. She had her father's luck with love, but it didn't bother her.

Natsu and Gray laughed at her antics, things starting to feel normal again. Loke slowly got up on his knees, "are you sure you are alright now?" He asked anxiously, "do you want for Draco and me to stay?" Draco also waited for her answer as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Why wouldn't I want you to stay?" she asked, trying to move her legs out from under her. They were really starting to go numb with little pin pricks of pain throughout her calve muscles. "I can't say that I am really alright, you know, cursed and all, but I can deal. Fairy Tail mages do not give up, no matter the cost, right?" she said, giggling a little.

"That is correct!" Makarov said, opening the door, "though I will admit this is the first challenge like this for our guild."

"Gramps," Laxus said from his place by the door, "you should not say that red faced with a perverted grin."

Gray snickered at the comment, "yeah old man, aren't you supposed to look after us like a parent would?"

Ezra worked her way to her feet, relived to see her friend smile again. Never again did she want to see Lucy weep like that. It comforted her as well to see those around them acting just as nuts as they always did, it was home. The beat of Fairy Tail was picking back up, they would conquer this hurdle and move on, just like always.

"Lisanna, she's awake." Mira shook the younger woman softly. She had cried herself to sleep on her lap not long after Lucy had quieted.

"Lucy?" she sat up, rubbing her eyes, "She's awake?" Lisanna got up and flung herself through the doorway, just missing the guild master. She crashed into the group that had yet to move from the floor, jostling Happy awake as she hugged the blonde mage tightly. "Lucy!"

She tried not to wheeze as her stomach was plowed into, holding onto Happy with one arm while patting Lisanna on her back. "I'm sorry I scared you," Lucy said, fighting a yawn. Between losing her mind and her magic seeping away, she was still feeling exhausted. Master Maky's next words jolted her somewhat awake.

"That is so, Gray." The old man nodded sagely, "And as the parental figure of the guild, I must start compiling a list of…partners for our dear Lucy."

"List?!" Lucy whispered. She needed a drink badly.

"I agree, it must be done soon." Draco said, glad that everyone was supporting her. Laylee had not been as lucky in her friends. "I have been scanning everyone's magic levels to see who here might be suitable, we should compare lists."

"Lists." Lucy closed her eyes. Yep, a big glass of Cana's strongest concoction, she thought to herself as her cheeks began to heat.

"There's a list," Natsu said, starting to get up, "So what, as long as I am on it."

"Right," Gray said, also getting up, "sign me up." He grinned down at her.

Lucy groaned and hid her face in Lisanna's hair as echoes of "me too!" came from throughout the guild hall, some in seriousness and others just to tease their little blonde mage.

Lisanna was also having trouble, giggling and hiccupping at the same time. "You know, Lucy, I am not really all that surprised." She sat back, her light eyes sparkling wickedly, "Mira always said that it was like you belonged to the whole guild from the moment you joined Fairy Tail!"

"Not you too, Lissy!" Lucy rubbed her hand over her face, then sat the chuckling Happy on the floor. There was no help for it, she needed to get up and this over with before embarrassment took her before the curse did. Unfortunately, it looked like her legs were just not going to cooperate with her.

Looking up, it seemed everyone around her was having their own perverse comment competition, with the exception of her two spirits. They both seemed to be worried about something. She had not yet contracted with Draco, but she could feel Loke's turbulent emotions. "Loke, Draco, could you come help me up? My legs are asleep," Lucy asked, wanting to figure them out.

They were by her side in an instant, slipping in behind Natsu and Gray and lifting her to her feet. Lisanna backed away, leaving the room to go help Mira straighten up the mess left behind from the day, taking Happy with her. "Let's move this to my office." Makarov said, the hallway beginning to clear out. Nodding, Loke picked her up and carried her toward the stairs.

As she passed by Ezra, the requip mage touched her shoulder and used her magic to turn Lucy's sparse clothing into a long, white sundress, glad to be able to help her in some way. Lucy smiled gratefully, thanking her from over Loke's shoulder as he ran up the steps with her. Entering the smallish office just before the short man and tall dragon, he moved to the couch that took up one whole wall of the room. Turning, he sat down, settling her into his lap, one arm across her waist, the other stretched across her back, his fingers just a breath away from brushing her breast.

"Loke!" Lucy tried to wiggle away from him, but he was not having it.

"Not going to happen, princess." He grinned, pressing his fingers into her hip and side slightly, "you're not moving so just relax."

She sighed heavily, but settled down, laying her head on his shoulder. Damn she was drowsy, despite the short nap she took in the team Natsu dog pile earlier. Draco began to sit down in the floor by the couch, not meeting he eyes. "Why don't you sit here? There is plenty of room." She shuffled her legs over. He paused for a moment, as if she would change her mind, but then slid beside Loke.

Watching him carefully, she laid her legs across his lap, one, because they were still tingly, and two, she wanted to see how he would react. Part of her wondered if he really wanted to do this and was afraid that she would not contract with him if he didn't. Which was not the case at all, she loved him and all of the celestial beings way too much to deny them. They were hers and she theirs.

Draco nearly closed his eyes as she laid her legs across him. It never failed to amaze him how much that connection meant to him, felt right in all of his soul. His hands trembled slightly as he rested them against her. It was a wonder, even a creature as old and powerful as he, was weak in the presence of love. Lucy carried that inside her even more that Laylee had, who could be a bit cold at times. It was truly his honor to meet someone like her.

Makarov was the last to go into the room. Looking back, he saw several of his 'children' making their way up to his office. Hiding his grin, he shook his head and closed the door on them. He was blessed with each and every one of those idiots. Looking at Lucy, his heart ached, seeing the dark circles forming around her eyes and the paleness of her face. There was no other less deserving of this. She had been a light to them, forgiving and accepting even those who had badly hurt her without even a thought. It angered him to the point that he wanted to find that bastard and rip his head from his body. Fairy Tail mages did not kill unless absolutely necessary because death takes away a person's ability to change and become something more, but damned if he wasn't tempted.

On the upside, he thought as he sat on his desk facing them, it did provide a good opportunity to play with half the guild, in particular team Natsu, who were responsible for over half of the paperwork he did in a week all on their own. With that though in mind, he put on his professional expression and cleared his throat. "Now then, about this list…"