A/N: Sorry for the delay, but real life is tough right now (ahahahahahaha yeah I'm not doing so great). I know I said this chapter would be up quickly, but I made you wait a few days because I just honestly forgot to post it. Oops.

Thank you to all who have liked this story so far! I hope you keep on liking it even though it's no longer 100% fluff. Maybe more like 50%. I started writing this for my own satisfaction, but seeing that other people are enjoying it makes me super happy. I don't usually post my writing publicly so even the smallest praise from random internet strangers makes me super happy. So yeah, thanks ^^

It's a bit of an angsty chapter, as you might imagine if you remember what happened last time (letter from the killer!) Hold onto your hearts, everyone!

The police arrived quickly after we called them and snatched the envelopes from Natsu's shaking hands as evidence. They questioned Natsu and I to get the suspect's description. It had been so unexpected that I didn't really have much to say. But he seemed young, with straight black hair. That's about all I remembered. Natsu's memory wasn't much better.

Once they were done with us, they sent us away so they could continue investigating, me back to my apartment and Natsu to visit the crematorium with Uncle Atlas.

Daddy was waiting for me when I got back.

"You're late," he said, a bit snappish.

I sighed, letting my hair down as I took off my shoes. "It was a funeral."

"A long one."

"Yeah."

I didn't feel like arguing with him right now. I felt so drained, so shaken. While I hadn't been the one to interact with him directly, just knowing that I was that close to a serial killer was terrifying. All I wanted to do right now was take a warm bath and take some time to myself so I could properly process what just happened.

The funeral, the scent of incense, the hushed murmurs, the bright smile on Natsu's face as he assured person after person that he was holding up just fine. The wave of cold air that hit my bones when I read the letter. The police. Questions. Everything became a blur.

I needed to lie down.

"I'll be in my room," I said, running for the door.

"Now, Lucy—"

I shut it behind me and threw myself onto the bed just as the dizziness was becoming too much. I willed the pounding in my head to stop. But I was too scared, too overwhelmed. And Daddy was in the other room, so I couldn't even cry.

Pain pricking the corners of my eyes, I smooshed my face into a pillow and let the tears fall.

At school, there were murmurs in the hallway again, and this time even I was involved. But as usual, interest faded quickly. Life goes on.

"Gray." He paused at hearing his name, letting me catch up to him in the hallway after school. "I have some questions to ask you."

"Shoot."

"It's about Lyon."

As expected, Gray bristled at the mention of his half-brother. "What about him?"

"Well, it's been going on for almost a year now so I figure I should ask soon before it becomes serious."

"Okay, really, what is it?"

"I just want to know if he's a good guy." He still looked confused and suspicious, so I elaborated. "If I'm going to entrust Juvia to him, I need to know he's a good guy. He comes around from time to time, but I don't know him well enough to make an assessment. And, well, I figured you might be able to help me with that."

"Oh. That."

"So?"

Gray looked extremely uncomfortable. "Um, I guess he's a decent dude. He's a good-for-nothing, but his personality's all right sometimes."

I frowned. "Very helpful, Gray."

"Look, I don't know what you want from me."

"He's been wooing Juvia for months. If she decided she's giving him a chance and they start dating, would I be able to trust him not to break her heart or do anything bad to her?"

"I-I think so," Gray stuttered. The bewildered look was back. "Why, does...does Juvia want to date him?" That wasn't the case, actually; I was mostly just being a belatedly overprotective friend who'd realized I didn't know much about Lyon other than his crush on Juvia.

"That's Juvia's business," I said. "I don't go around talking about my friends' crushes."

"Oh." Gray looked nervous, so I patted his back.

"Don't worry," I said. "I can start rooting for him if you want. I know you don't have any intention of dating Juvia, so I'd really rather her fall in love with someone who loves her back, you know? That's mainly what this is about. As for Juvia's feelings, well, you'd have to ask her because it's not my place to talk about it."

"That...that's not really necessary..." he mumbled. And was that...was that a blush on his cheeks? Was I seeing that right? Did Juvia have some hope after all?

I asked Gray about Lyon because I was serious about switching sides to support Lyon over Gray. I was tired of seeing Juvia frustrated with Gray never reciprocating her affections. Sometimes it felt like he didn't even want to be friends with her, and I think that's what hurt her most. But she claimed there were moments that gave her hope, and I was starting to see what she was talking about. A lot of Gray's behavior concerning Lyon's affections for Juvia could be attributed to his petty rivalry with his older brother, but Gray blushing? This was new. This might mean something.

"Well, thanks I guess. And good luck."

"With what?"

I smiled a bit. Juvia was planning on giving him an official confession of her feelings soon, and I hoped it would go well for her. As for Gray, well, I'd just have to see what his reaction would be. "Nothing," I said.

I ran off to go to my student council meeting. I gave Erza a thumbs-up when I entered. Mission accomplished.

We met up with Juvia when the meeting was over, and I reported my conversation with Gray.

"He said Lyon has an all right personality," I said, triggering laughter from the other two.

"Then Juvia has Gray's endorsement of Lyon as a rebound if Gray rejects Juvia," Juvia said.

Erza grinned. "Do what you gotta do, girl. But hopefully a rebound won't be necessary."

"Speaking of boys and rejection, how are things with Jellal?" I asked her. The two of them were awkward last I saw them together at the funeral, but Erza said they were working things out.

"We still have to sit down and talk properly," Erza said, "but we hung out at the bakery yesterday and it wasn't too bad. If my parents noticed anything weird between us, they didn't mention it."

"You should really figure this stuff out sooner rather than later," I said.

Erza sighed. "I know. It's just always so dramatic when it comes to the two of us."

"Jellal is a drama queen," Juvia said.

"Erza is, too, a little," I added. I gave her a quick look to check her reaction, but she just laughed.

"We've been like that since we were little," she said. "I doubt it will change anytime soon. We'll be fine."

I exhaled. "You're so strong, Erza. I don't know if I could deal with everything as calmly as you."

"It takes a lot of practice and discipline," she said, nodding sagely.

My phone began to ring. Natsu. I quickly apologized to the others and put it to my ear.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Where are you right now? Is the meeting over?"

"Yeah. I'm with Erza and Juvia now."

"Oh. Sorry to interrupt, but can you come over? They found Wendy's mom."

"Thanks for coming," Natsu said. Wendy was curled up on the couch, silent. The police had left a long time ago, her friend Chelia came over (Chelia was busy at first, which was why Natsu had asked for me in the meantime), Chelia eventually had to go home, and now darkness had fallen.

"Yeah, of course. I'm glad I can at least lend moral support. I feel so helpless."

"We all do," Natsu said, sighing. His brow furrowed. "I don't know who this 'Acnologia' person is, but I wanna beat 'em to a pulp. If I ever get my eyes on them, I'll grind them into dust."

"I'm with you there," I said, "but I'll leave all the ass-kicking to you and Wendy and Gajeel."

"We're holding the funeral this weekend after forensics are finished," he said.

"I hope they find evidence this time."

"Me too."

"Ah."

"Hm?"

I pointed to Wendy. Her eyes were close and her breathing steady. She'd fallen asleep.

Wordlessly, Natsu scooped his little sister into his arms. She turned a bit, eyes half-opening to locate the person carrying her. She wrapped her arms around Natsu's neck as he brought her into her bedroom. I helped by opening the door and pulling back the sheets. Then we tucked her in together.

"Poor thing," I said once we were out of her room. We wandered across the hall into Natsu's instead, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"She's a strong girl," Natsu said. "She'll be all right."

"Even so, it's a lot to go through. There's too much drama these days. That Acnologia person, whoever they are, really needs to get arrested already."

"They should've been arrested a long time ago."

"Yeah."

"Hey, Lucy?"

"Mm?"

"Can you hold me for a sec?"

A pang of sadness tugged on my heartstrings. "Of course, Natsu," I said, pulling his head to my chest as he wrapped his arms around my stomach. "You don't even have to ask."

"It's just really hard these days."

"I know."

"Happy's here, but it isn't enough sometimes."

"Speaking of which, where is he right now?"

"I saw him and Charle in Wendy's room."

"Ah. I guess she needs them the most right now."

His arms squeezed me a little tighter. "Besides, I have you."

I smiled. I ran my fingers through his hair and trailed them down his cheek. "Always," I said.

As I caressed his head, I felt Natsu shift in my arms, turning to kiss below my collarbone.

My heart rate shot up instantly and tingly sensations spread all throughout my body. My heart was only inches from where his lips had touched my skin, and it felt as if he had kissed my heart itself.

I relaxed my hold on Natsu, and he lifted his head up to look at me.

"Lucy," he said, his voice rough.

I didn't trust myself to speak.

"Lucy."

"Y-yeah?"

"You know I love you, right?"

My heart pounded in my chest. Here in my arms, one of the best people I knew wanted to make sure I knew how much he loved me. This wonderful, strange, overenthusiastic, kind, selfless, beautiful man was telling me he loved me.

I took Natsu's face in my hands and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his lips. Tears were pooling in my eyes and I felt like an idiot, but I was just so happy and sad at the same time. Happy at the words he had uttered, sad at the circumstances that led him to do it.

"Of course I know, Natsu," I said, kissing him again. "I love you, too. So, so much."

"Mm," he mumbled, leaning up into me. "It's scary so I didn't say it for a long time."

"You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."

"But I want you to know."

I smiled against his lips, pulling him just a little closer. "And now I do."

A/N: *blushes*

I hope that makes the angst worth it a bit, maybe. Stay tuned!