"You're gonna have to tell her at some point, you know."

"Why?"

"Maybe because she needs to know?"

"Yeah and what good would that do, mm? I can't get her away from that bastard father of hers! I've tried that, remember? Look what happened then! I lost her for seven years!"

Keeping her eyes closed and remaining very still, Lucy woke to voices softly arguing above her. The first thing she noticed was her head was on something very soft, very warm and very comfortable. What she assumed was a hand ran slowly and gently through her hair, smoothing the golden strands down over her temple, the side of her neck, stopping lightly against her shoulder, moving up and gently starting again. This was something that her mother used to do to help her sleep when she was a little girl...run her hands through her daughters hair, singing softly. It brought back such cherished memories and Lucy found herself leaning closer to the touch, wanting more, missing her mother so much it hurt. However, the moment was soon over for her at the next words spoken.

"Natsu...you're being a complete fool. Just tell the girl how you feel! You've been friends for years!"

"Well, yeah not anymore. She was the one that said she hated and never wanted to see me again!"

There was a grunt and the thing her head was on shifted very slightly, stirring her fully awake. Lucy shifted a little, taking her time of stretching, making a show of waking up. When her hand touched something rough and a little scratchy, immediately she snatched it away as if burned, sitting up. She didn't have to work very hard at being surprised! She had a hunch Natsu's lap was the one she was on, but she didn't expect to be in bed with him!

"Natsu!? What the hell!?"

Looking around in mortification, Lucy took in the surroundings. She was in Natsu's room with him on the bed, he was leaning against the headboard, a closed book in his lap while Gajeel sat on a backwards turned chair, Levy beside him on Natsu's dresser.

What the hell, were they all watching me sleep?!

"Lucy, sweetheart, lie still. You're not done healing."

At the soft spoken voice, she turned and noticed the dark eyes and long pinkish coloured hair...almost the same as Natsu but without the beard...it was a little disturbing how alike mother and son looked. Before Lucy was able to really delve into her current thoughts, Carla reached out and moved to brush aside her bangs...at her soft touch and caring eyes, Lucy remembered when she was little how she wished Carla was her mother ever since her own had passed. Natsu, Gajeel and Wendy always looked happy and smiling. They were allowed to speak their minds and were listened to, not talked down to like some – child. Carla and Greyson treated their kids with respect and love, earning it in return. How desperately Lucy wanted that for her own! How desperately she wanted to get away from her father and just live in this world of joy and happiness with the Marvel / Redfox / Dragneel family!

"Mom, how'd you know we'd need you? How'd you get your boss to let you leave work?"

At Natsu's question, his mother immediately turned all her attention to her son, there was no mistake she was listening fully. The way there was silence a moment was even more proof that she was actually listening, caring enough to give a thoughtful answer. A worried expression passed over her eyes a moment before she smiled sheepishly, like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, knowing they were allowed.

"Well, honey...Grayson ran into your fathers secretary while she was shopping for your school supplies – he was getting the boys and Wendy's things – and she mentioned that you would be going to Magnolia High! The only celestial mage there! That must be a challenge, mm? Oh, how I love your spirits! How are they? Especially that cute one, he's always busting out of his gate. What's his name? Wears a suit...polite manners...? Logan? Loki?"

Gajeel burst out laughing while Natsu reached around Lucy and poked his mom in the forehead, glaring when he gave her a look. Jolting like she had just been electrocuted, Carla squealed softly, spooking Lucy so she jerked back into Natsu. Immediately his arms came around her and the short second she was held to his chest, she could've sworn she'd heard...growling? A deep rumble deep in his chest, almost feral in nature. Quick as she was pressed against him, she was shoved away. Choosing to ignore Natsu, she elbowed his stomach and focused on his mother.

"Let's go downstairs, then we can talk over tea and pancakes. Come along, Gajeel, Levy...we'll give Natsu and Lucy some alone time so he can help her dress!"

As the door shut behind them, Gajeel's laughter could be heard through the hall, Levy's softer laughter mingling with the boom of his.

At the words "alone time so he can help her dress", Lucy gasped and tugged the blankets up to her chin. When Natsu panicked and tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge! Lucy could only stare at his back in horror. This was just to much! They had so much to talk about, to discuss and work through and here she was trapped in a room with him, possibly naked! And he was in bed with her! Yes, above the covers while she was under them, but he had his hands on her hair! And her shoulder! Oh god, what if he saw something?! Thoughts raced through her mind as she panicked, looking around for her clothes. Worried at what he might've seen, she did her best to clutch the sheets and blankets around her, hiding every piece of skin she could.

Working her way slowly off the bed, she'd almost gotten to the small attached bathroom when her knee banged hard against Natsu's desk, old and new papers alike, drawings, snippets of homework clean and folded socks – and to her great embarrassment, his clean and folded boxers! - all fell off the great pile of mess that was Natsu's desk. When he turned around and noticed her hopping around and biting her lip against the pain, a rough sigh worked it's way passed his lips.

"Lucy...why did you trash my bed and desk?"

"Maybe if you cleaned up a little in here, it wouldn't be such a mess! Natsu, you're a pig!"

A look came over him, one she didn't like in the least. Like a predator stalking it's prey, Natsu slowly worked his way through the maze of junk that was his and his brothers' room. When he was standing in front of Lucy, his hands slowly slid up her arms, tugging her once more against him. When he spoke, his voice was monotone. Lucy knew him well enough to just catch the sadness and pain in it's undertones.

"Answer me one thing, Lucy and I will tell you a secret."

The very same words he'd spoke that day. The day she locked away her heart for good. The day she'd said good bye to her best friend. Her confidante, her partner in crime...the day she said goodbye to her heart. Now Natsu was here, again with those venomous words, so filled with pain and sadness when before they held anger and desperation. When Natsu whispered his first secret all those years ago, she'd never really paid any attention to them. He'd made a promise they both knew he couldn't keep. And here they were again, seven years later at seventeen. No longer little ten year olds, running around and playing house. No more disillusions of Natsu using is "magic dragon powers" to come and save her from the "Horrible Beast" that was her father. Now when he spoke those words, they held nothing but pain and sorrow. But still, the ritual was ingrained even after so many years hidden in darkness of sorrow filled hearts...still Lucy spoke the words they both knew she would.

"What's your question to unlock my secret?"

"When you ran away...why didn't you come to me...?"

At his words, Lucy's blood froze to ice in her veins. He knew she'd run away? How did he know?! No one was supposed to know her secret! Least of all, Natsu! It just complicated things more...confused and hurt more. Made it harder to walk away when she wanted nothing more then to once again hold his hand and feel so safe, so happy, so certain...just like when they were kids...

Instead, she closed her heart. Instead she forced her gaze away from his own, to hide her own pain, her own questions. To hide from the flood of guilt she felt rising. The day she'd cut off ties with him, not once did he come to her! For a month straight, no matter the weather, she left her window open for him! Not once did he climb through and hold her like she so desired, like she dreamed of, like she thought of, curled alone with no one for company but her pain and memories...

A few moments passed and a soft sigh could be heard from him. Almost reluctantly it seemed, he let her go, stepping back and turning away. When he spoke, tears fell down her cheeks, silently voicing the words she couldn't speak. Silently asking the questions she couldn't ask.

Why didn't you come for me?! Why didn't you save me!? You always promised you'd be there, no matter what, Natsu!

She'd waited to the point where it got to be over those seven years, she only had herself. She needed him then and he didn't come. She needed him now, though she refused to admit it. Last time, it was she who turned him away from her. This time, it was Natsu turning Lucy away from him. As he got to the door and yanked it off it's hinges, he paused, voice devoid of any emotion what so ever as he spoke.

"By the way...your secret? You're fully dressed under those blankets."

As he left, Lucy fell to her knees and gathered the blankets to her, hiding her tears in the Natsu scented sheets. Left alone in his room, she did the only thing should could...held the sheets close, wrapping them around her. Allowing herself – just this once – the illusion that it was he who held her tightly together. He who desperately clung to her, trying to keep her from shattering into a million shards of agony...