Author's Note: Little short, but you'll see why next chapter!

She was in such a hurry, Lucy slipped and fell head first down the stairs! As the wood sped towards her, studded arms passed through her line of sight, yanking her against a hard chest and pampering the blow. When Lucy opened her eyes, red eyes stared right back at her, fear, worry and stress written over Gajeel's features.

"He's gone, isn't he."

It wasn't a question, but a statement of a fact already know. Mutely, Lucy passed the letter to the iron dragon slayer while Levy helped her up and into her boots. A loud curse burst out, spooking the two women and Levy just managed to get the letter out of his grip before her boyfriend punched a hole through the wall beside him, anger coiling through and tensing his entire body. Tentatively but worriedly, Levy read over the letter, tears springing to her eyes.

"Natsu..."

"That son of a bitch! Where the hell did he go!? Back to that warehouse place he said he found you?"

Anxiously, Lucy tried to think where Natsu might have gone, but she was so filled with panic, so filled with worry for him and honestly, still in shock. Natsu loved her? For how long? Why? So many questions ringing through her mind...so many questions she wanted to ask him! Knew she had to ask herself. How did she really feel about him? Was it love, truly and honestly? Natsu admitted that he was the one who would leave her the blanket and note with "I promise" in the warehouse. Still the questions remained however. Did Lucy love the fire dragon slayer as he deserved, some one to hold, a partner in life, a woman that made him smile, laugh, give him enjoyment and fulfilment, stood by him, even in the darkest of times! In his own way, Natsu was there when she most needed him – could that be why she loved him? Unlike her father, he made her feel so safe and so – what she knew now to be loved...was it just a simple crush of a girl on her hero, doomed to fade with the passage of time? So many questions!

"Lucy!"

Levy's hand lifting her chin forced her to refocus on the situation. They needed to figure out where Natsu was! Immediately her hands flew to her side where she kept her Keys. Just as she got a hold of Loke's golden key, the very same Celestial spirit appeared before her, his mask of perfection warped into that of worry. All it took was a look around and the letter read over and immediately the spirit understood the situation.

"He said 'the bastard will pay'...Lucy, could Natsu be going after you father? For what he did?"

Like a jolt of lightening it struck her, immediately followed by guilt for thinking such thoughts of Natsu. Levy hugged her to her side as Gajeel angrily bit and chewed iron the solid script mage was making him. Leo paced in the small hallway, trying to think of a different conclusion.

"He wouldn't go to the warehouse, Lucy...he only ever went there if you were there."

At her spirit's words, the blonde mage couldn't help but wonder. She'd never really asked how Natsu knew she was always there...

"Loke...how...how did Natsu know I would be at the warehouse? I only ever went -"

"On your mother's birthday and death anniversary. He may be an idiot at times, but he remembered...the first few times, I had to call him and let him know that you were there – sorry Princess, I had to 'borrow' your phone for that...I always deleted the call after so you wouldn't find out. After a few times, we realized there was a pattern...so he began to sit in wait."

The spirit paused a moment, leaning against the door frame, legs crossed at the ankles. When next he spoke, his voice seemed a little far away, as if lost in memories he alone could see.

"The first time he saw you like that Lucy – I can't even begin to describe the rage. I had never seen anyone so angry before! It started off...well, as simple as it could be really...he just sat there and cried a little bit, cursing at the world, your father, himself, me...anything in site. Even a poor stray cat, though he apologized to the cat immediately after! Never mind me lying there out cold with a goose egg on my head...! Anyways. His hands burst into flame and he punched a wall, clean through the support beams and everything! When he was done, his hand was busted, arms, face and feet so cut up and scraped, I had to drive his stupid car back home for his mom and sister to heal. That's when the other issues in their home started – a second time - the burning and such..."

Gajeel and Levy nodded in agreement, having previously heard this story, been witness to Natsu's second bout of rage, this time in this home. Lucy, hearing it for the first time was so surprised and shocked at Natsu's behaviour. Yes, they'd gotten passed the past, but...the fact that he watched over her like that...left one of the few things that got her through some of the hardest times of her life...! Tears racked her body as she began to shiver, silently screaming while inside her mind, she called and reached out to Natsu, wanting nothing more then to wrap her arms around him and for once be his shield! For once protect him as he had her through all these years! Clinging to Loke as she cried, Lucy was mute with emotion and so over come at Loke's confession, she didn't know what to do...

As if just thinking about him was enough, where Natsu touched her and kissed her cheek began to pleasantly burn...almost a tingling sensation. In her mind, it was Natsu that held her in the library back at her father's home...his body that shielded her against the blows rained down by her father...his soft whisper that stilled her tears

I promise...I promise, Lucy...I promise...

"I promise..."

"What, Lucy?"

Without even realizing she'd said it out loud, a jolt of electricity shot through her and she bolted up, quickly drying her eyes and grabbing a very surprised Gajeel by the arms, practically screaming in the poor man's face.

"I know where he is! I know where Natsu went! Grab your keys!"

Dismissing himself with a wave over his shoulder, Loke vanished back into the spirit world as with Levy's help, Lucy limped over to the car, Gajeel right behind with a very confused Wendy over his shoulder, her backpack in his other hand.

Hold on, Natsu...Gajeel, Levy and I are coming! Just hold on...please, please, don't do anything stupid until we get there...!