Chapter 2!

Thanks for reading! I don't own Fairy Tail!

That first meeting of Fairy Tail member's to decide what to do about Lucy Hartfillia ended with a fight and a consensus. All the members agreed, it was ultimately Lucy's choice to stay. But whatever she chose to do, Jose and Phantom Lord had moved to the top of Fairy Tail's black list.

Members filed out past Gajeel, still seated in Makarov's chair, his head in his hands. A few members put a gentle hand on his shoulder or gave some other sign of support. Some looked the other way as they past, unable to stomach at the moment what he had been before. Mira gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and whispered some soft words in his ear. The look on Gajeel's tiered face was hopeful for a moment as he looked up at her, but the shadow quickly fell back over his eyes.

Gray was the last to leave. He hung back from the crowd waiting for the rest to clear out before he stopped in front of the chair and waited. Gray's arms were folded on across his chest and the silver cross he always wore seemed dim, reflecting the somber gloom that hung heavy in the empty bar.

Gajeel knew what Gray wanted; he had been depending on him, or Natsu, to deliver after they had heard some of the details of his past life. He lifted his head; his strong jaw jetting out ready to take what Gray could do to him.

The first punch was liberating, pain blossoming along his face reminding him he was still alive, he could still make up for what he had done. Gajeel let Gray's fist connect again and again, remember the past that could not be erased or forgiven. Only atoned for.

He could taste blood clotting on his lip and one of his eyes was swelling before his fighting spirit rose to the challenge. His Left hook grazed Gray's chin and he staggered back. The silver glint in Grays eyes was sharp as he watched Gajeel cock his fist.

"Remember your past is not your present Gajeel. You've done some fucked up shit, But so have we all."

The next few days flew by in a blur for Lucy. She technically had a last name again, but she was refusing to use it, that name and its connections held nothing but pain and grief for her.

Lucy stayed in Natsu's small apartment for a day and half while Natsu had fixed her door. Master Makarov had been to see her with Mira and Natsu, to discuss her past, and her options.

The whole thing was overwhelming. For two years she survived her father's greed, and for three more years she had evaded him. All of which she had accomplished mostly alone. Certainly no one had ever known the extent of what she was dealing with, even the one person she had trusted while she was kept under her fathers roof had not known the extent to her trauma. Lucy had kept it that way for Levy's sake.

But now, across the room sat Master Makarov. The leader of what she now understood was a vigilante crime syndicate called Fairy Tail. The Fiore government did not sanction their operations, but they didn't condemn them either. Makarov explained that all the regulars had some specialty that Fairy Tail used to keep organized crime in Magnolia and Fiore at bay.

Suddenly, all the muscle around the bar made sense. The Extra tight security, the regulars who frequently went into the back rooms to meet with Makarov, all a part of the daily operations for a vigilante gang.

She was staring wide eyed as Makarov extended an offer she had never thought to consider before now. The protection of Fairy Tail.

Makarov explained that Phantom Lord had been on their black list for years, her fathers name had even started to raise flags in the government watch lists they were (illegally) tapped into. Makarove explained that if she was interested in staying, putting all of the running behind her, he could offer her protection as a member of Fairy Tail.

Hope began to build in Lucy's chest, an ally, a strong ally, was here in front of her and it had been under her nose for the past two months. These people, all of them that she had begun to fall in love with, the town, her apartment, and the bar. All were a part of the thing that could very well be her salvation.

As joy began building in her chest, reality began to shoot giant holes into her plan. Scenarios began to flash through her head. How could this possibly play out?

Her eyes shot to Natsu and Mira, each standing behind Makarov. Would they become a casualty of her problems? What about the rest of the Fairy Tail regulars? How much harm could Jose do to Fairy Tail? To all these people she was growing to care for like a family? Images of her friends began to swirl, some in misery, some dead, all because of her. She had seen what he could do to a person, to families, and even to towns who had stood against his greedy and cruel tactics. How much suffering could she bring to Magnolia with her selfish desire to stay

Lucy's resolve was instant; she almost shot out of her seat in that moment, ready to book it to the other side of Fiore. "No Master. I can't put you in that kind of situation. Jose is ruthless. He would stop at nothing so hurt Fairy Tail because of me."

At once Natsu and Mira both began to speak in loud and vehement tones but Masters hand silenced them both with a hand. "I think you misunderstood me Lucy. Weather you join us or not, we are going after Phantom. Jose's time has come, and you have not seen ruthless until you have seen what Fairy Tail does to those who hurt our family."

Makarov stern face softened as he smiled at Lucy with grandfatherly affection. "I cannot make you stay Lucy. But I am asking you, please do not leave."

Emotions warred openly across Lucy's face as Master Makarov asked her to think it over. Mira stayed and sat with her on the bed, but Natsu followed Makarov out of his own apartment door. Lucy looked helplessly to Mirajane. This decision had to be made, and the obvious answer was looming large and impossible to ignore. She must stay and join Fairy Tail. There was no other option but to plant her feet firmly and stop looking back.

But how could she stop running when it was all that she knew how to do?

Makarov stared silently back at Natsu, turning the young man's recent request over in his mind. It didn't take much for someone to notice the tension between Natsu and Lucy, but Natsu was the last person Makarov had expected to see it. He smiled a secretive smile; already liking the changes he could see rippling out from his decision to accept Lucy into Fairy Tail.

"I am not quite sure what you are asking Natsu. I don't dictate where the girl goes or who she sees." Feigning ignorance was always one of Makarov's favorite ways to goad his kids. It always worked the best on Natsu, and sure enough today was no exception.

"Fine, then I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. I'm sticking with Lucy."

The fire in Natsu's eyes was so like his Fathers. Igneel had always felt deep and passionate loyalty, not to mention a similar abrupt way of finding a love interest. Not that Makarov thought Natsu had realized his own romantic feelings for the girl, it had taken Igneel three years to figure it out. Makarov felt a pang deep in his chest, the ache of loosing Igneel still sharp after so many years.

He left with some parting words and a knowing smile. "That is all fine Natsu. But what if she doesn't want you around?"

The fire in Natsu's eyes didn't flicker despite Masters parting words. He knew most of Fairy Tail thought he was clueless when it came to women. Frankly the notion that a 22 year old full blooded male wouldn't give much thought to a woman like Lucy was insane. He spent close to a quarter of his day thinking about women, but if Natsu was being honest with himself, it was closer to three quarters. And most of that 75% fell into the Lucy category.

The attraction he felt for Lucy was primal and stronger than anything he had felt before. He wanted nothing more than to curl and arm around her and keep her by his side. Natsu was undeterred by the problems she was facing. He knew every other member of Fairy Tail had come here with a past, he included. Most of the people who were a part of Fairy Tail were here because the Gang had helped them out of a dire situation. Some members were still looking for their resolutions.

After putting a name to the shadows he could see in her deep brown eyes weeks before, Natsu had already decided he would be by Lucy's side to help her through what ever it was that had caused them. Knowing the true circumstances of her fear only meant it was time to take action. Regardless of what romantic feelings grew between them; Natsu was determined to help Lucy find herself again. To stay in one place, plant roots and build meaningful relationships, she needed to face Jose and her father head on. Now that Lucy had him and Fairy Tail on her side, nothing would hurt her like that again.

Natsu thought about Master warning and almost laughed out loud. The thought of a woman not wanting him around was ridiculous. He would sit back and watch things unfold. He was happy to let Lucy set the pace, especially knowing more about her past. He had all the time in the world to wait, he wasn't going anywhere, and neither was Lucy.

Natsu turned to climb the stairs back to his apartment. He had been told often that he must have gotten his confidence from his father, but Natsu like to think it was just a benefit of being awesome.

Three weeks after her fateful meeting with Makarov, Lucy was finding that Letting go of the fear and anxiety she had harbored for the past 5 years was harder than it had sounded. She held onto her apartment, preferring her lower rent to the cost of living in the Fairy Apartments. She had not been able to give up her increased security; the rope ladder remained tucked under the window now, for easier access. But her escape plan had changed a bit following the out the window part.

Lucy knew Gray's apartment was across the street from hers and she and the access code to his building. Erza Scarlett drove through her neighborhood twice a day with her FBI Partner Jellal, both undercover Fairy Tail members with an ear the ground listening for nefarious activities. Natsu was constantly over, either checking up on her, or visiting to sooth is own loneliness. She also had a phone with all the fairy tail members on speed dial. Even Laxus had taken her phone and programed himself in, claiming he was just in it for the chance to fight.

Lucy was much less jumpy, regaining her confidence in slow increments. She was rediscovering herself. Each day that past she learned something new and wonderful about planting roots and letting herself have a home. She was now the head Bartender, freeing Mira up to run the kitchen and the wait staff, like she had always wanted to. There was a really nice bookstore a few blocks down, and Lucy's library card was already starting to fray at the edges from constant used. She had started to write again and she had picked up another deck of tarot cards, trying to tap back into the astrology skills she had inherited from her mother.

Natsu would sit and watch her flip through astronomy books or shuffle the tarot cards quietly, always eventually giving in and begging her to read him. He would sit there and pout when she adamantly refused. Natsu didn't understand, and she wouldn't take any chances explaining it to him. She would rarely read people from fairy tail if asked. She had found out Cana also had a gift with the cards, but like Lucy she was stingy with readings. And Lucy was sure it was for similar reasons to her own. Lucy didn't have the heart to face what the cards might have revealed about her friends futures.

For Natsu in particular, the question of how she played into his cards was to close to the surface of her mind. She absolutely did not want to know if her appearance at Fairy Tail put him in danger, and she didn't have the courage to see where she played out in his love life in the near future.

The feelings she had for him were so foreign it was hard to interpret her own thoughts at times, but she knew what she wanted from him. Those strong arms that were never far away, the onyx eyes that always held a softness for her, and his infectious laugh that was just so damn attractive. In the few short weeks since her past had been revealed, Natsu had been an incentive to stay.

At times the need to bolt was close to overwhelming, but she had stayed for him. She wanted to put roots down, wanted to hold onto Magnolia, and hold onto Natsu. If he were to give any indication that he was interested in her as more than a friend, Lucy had no doubt she would act on it. The promise of a future was stronger than it had ever been before. It held more power over her than her prevailing instincts of fight or flight. The pieces of her life were all falling back into place, thanks to Fairy Tail.

Magnolia was getting chillier as fall was settling in and Lucy was embracing the changing weather with a newfound appreciation for Life. She could identify a new feeling in herself. She was going to hold onto this. There would be no going backwards or running anymore, she had things holding her down now. Lucy was ready to stand up to her past, for better or for worse, Magnolia and Fairy tail were her new home and she wouldn't give it up, not for her father, and not for Jose.

Natsu watched from the stool near the door. He and Gray were on duty until the bar closed and Gray was taking his turn walking around the inside. It was slowing down early tonight, most likely due to the chill in the air; no one wanted to stumble home drunk when it was below freezing. But even with the thinning crowd, the bar was always bustling with laughter and activity. Mira swept in and out, running food, checking on guests and over seeing the kitchen. She was much happier not being stuck behind the bar. He could see Laxus watching her from the balcony on the second floor. Natsu could feel the smirk on his face at the thought. Mira was scary when crossed, he couldn't wait to see Laxus get put in his place, but he also knew they would be good for each other.

Bouncing was one of his favorite jobs at Fairy Tail. He liked the people watching aspect of this job, and of course he got to beat people up almost nightly. There was just enough intrigue and excitement to keep the job interesting. It also afforded him time to keep an eye Lucy, who was fast becoming one of his most important people. It was shocking for him to think that it hadn't been too long ago she had walked into the bar and applied for the bartending job. Even less time since he had found out about the ghosts that haunted her.

He found himself watching Lucy the most, even now his eyes were drawn to her blond head bobbing back and forth behind the bar, keeping the crowd well supplied and entertained. Cana and Lucy had become something of a dynamic duo behind the bar. Their surprising combined talents in astrology were a huge hit with locals and the bar often found itself crowded with people wanting a reading. Of course on busy nights there was only a lucky few who ever got one. But when it was slower like tonight, when there was a surprising amount of open space, Lucy and Cana had been switching on and off reading eager patrons.

Natsu couldn't hide the smirk that bloomed into a full smile. Lucy wasn't anything like the shy and tiered girl that had come to Fairy Tail months before. She had accomplished a lot since settling down in Magnolia. There hadn't been a peep out of Phantom or her Father, and that made him uneasy. But Lucy no longer had to be as worried about that. His entire vigilante organization was prepared for anything that could come up on that front. All Lucy needed now was to finish confronting her own demons.

Natsu couldn't be sure, but he was fairly confident he was having an affect on her. He enjoyed the kind of game they had going. They flirted outrageously with each other but played it so innocent that most of the guild thought they were the two densest individuals to ever meet. Natsu was almost certain Lucy was sincere in her flirtations, and sometimes the stark longing he saw in her gaze when her brown eyes caught his was gut wrenching. He just didn't know how to start the shift from flirtatious friends to something more. Especially when he considered how cautious Lucy had ben in the past about letting people in.

He signed wistfully, letting the sound of her laugh wash over him from across the room. Nothing had changed for him; he was still confidant something would become of the feelings between them. Natsu was biding his time looking for the right moment. He liked Lucy too much and valued her friendship above anything else; he would never put that in jeopardy. He needed to be certain there was something there before he risked the relationship they had now.

Natsu had his eye on one particularly drunk man who was getting his fortune told by Cana while Lucy served the other patrons at the bar. The man was obviously upset with his reading, but the angry slurred words had Natsu pulling himself out of his seat by the door. Cana was more than capable of handling herself, and Gray would be over there in a second if it got to be more than she could handle. But Natsu was hoping he could get their first, to him there was nothing better than a bar fight.

Just as Natsu was getting ready to intercede, there was a commotion at the door. Gajeel had come back, but he was holding someone close to his chest. Gajeel never used the main door. Natsu wasn't sure if Gajeel thought it was safer to use one of the hidden back entrances or if he just thought he was too cool for the front door. Either way, seeing Gajeel and the mystery person in his arms was odd.

As Gajeel made it up the front steps, Gray unceremoniously tossed out the drunk from the Bar, but Gajeel rushed past him with haste. His red eyes looking meaner than usual and Natsu could smell blood and read the urgency in the angry gaze as he ushered Gajeel in past him.

"What's this Metal head?"

Gajeel didn't pause, heading straight for the stairs; the bundle in his arms wasn't moving but in the light Natsu could make out a human shape and a head of dark hair.

"I need Master. And Lucy."

Natsu knew that was the most information he was going to get out of Gajeel. The smell of blood had Natsu on edge. Gray agreed to take the door, and Natus turned to the bar to get Lucy. He was a little apprehensive making her go to Gajeel. But Natsu trusted him. And over the weeks, it seemed they had worked some sort of understanding out. Not to avoid each other, but rather Lucy had forgiven him. Natsu knew that meant a lot to Gajeel, but it wasn't enough just yet. Lucy was still a little more jumpy around him and they had never been alone together in a room.

They weren't about to be either. Natsu had no intentions of sending her up there alone.

A few hours earlier Gajeel was sitting in the dark corner of seedy dive bar on the other side of Magnolia. Twilight Ogre was not a nice place. There were no bubbly bartenders, and people didn't just wander in off the streets. There was no dance floor, or a selection of beers on tap. There was crappy scotch and whiskey, and cans of bud light that didn't come with a glass. No one really came here for the atmosphere.

Gajeel was following one of the only leads they had on Phantom Lord, if he had his way it would take him right into the dingy back room of this awful bar. If things were really looking up for him he would be able to beat the shit out of some low life Phantom thugs too. All he had to do was wait for the door to open again. It had opened a few minutes after he had arrived at his dirty high top in the corner to let in two rather dirty looking creatures. He hadn't been able to hear anything coming from the room over the screamo metal music they were playing.

He sipped his warm can of beer and continued to look right at home waiting for his opportunity. When the door nob began to turn he wasted no time. The bar was mostly empty and his movements across the room were tracked only by the bar tender, who was the only other occupant not drunk or stoned off their ass. The middle-aged man was smart enough to read the intent in Gajeel's red eyes, or maybe it was the intimating set to his heavily pierced face. Either way Gajeel didn't care so long as the man continued to pretend he hadn't seen anything.

A wave of cigarette smoke washed across him as he pushed the door all the way open, hitting one of the cretins he had seen disappear inside earlier in the face. The room was very dimly lit, but he was sure all of its occupants could see the flashing of his white teeth and the silver glints of his piercings. Gajeel appreciated the dramatic mood lighting; it was almost like they knew he was coming.

Gajeel used the moment of surprise at his arrival to quickly take out the two standing at the door. He knew there was a larger prize to be had. The one with the information he needed was further inside the dimly lit back room. Moving further in he felt in front of him for the pull string to the light bulb he remembered hung in the middle of the interrogation room. Twilight Ogre had been one of his old stomping grounds, back when Phantom Lord had needed a base of operations, before Jose had really gotten a strong following of supporters.

With the click of a light string a circle of pale light cut the dim room. The yellow light was harsh against the shadows, it reached almost to the corners of the room, not quite banishing the darkness from the edges.

There were no other phantom members to be seen, a hidden door, a new addition on the back wall, was swinging haphazardly on loose hinges. Instead of finding some Phantom low life, tied to a chair in the center of the room was a small boned blue haired woman. She was so battered and bloody, he couldn't make out if she was breathing at first.

A wave of horrible fury washed over him and the pale circle of yellow light seemed to narrow to a pinprick for a moment as his vision swam. Gajeel was not a tender person; there was no gentleness about him. He would not be lying if he said that most of his feelings could be expressed through violence. However his recent past had changed something fundamental about is make up. Violence was no longer his only outlet, and violence against the innocent, against women and children was not something he could turn a cheek to any longer.

He knew from the looks of her that it would not be a comfortable ride back to Fairy Tail. As Gajeel checked her hands and saw the raw rope burn on the wrists, the cuts covering her arms and thighs, her split lip and the dried blood that had crusted down her chin and under her closed left eye, he found it in himself to use a tenderness he did know he was capable of.

He untied her ankles form the chair legs first then moved to her writs tied behind the back of the chair. Gajeel was working carefully to pull the rope as gently as possible; he missed the way her body tensed. In the space of a second the chair shoved back hard into his ducked head. The captive's tiny body flew from the chair towards the hidden door. A chair to the face had not been what Gajeel was expecting, but it had only startled him for a second, not enough time for tiny blue haired woman to make it to the escape door.

Gajeel slid in front of the door, blocking her path to escape. He knew she wasn't one of the low lives who would usually be hanging around Twilight Ogre or Phantom, her tattered yellow sundress was a dead give away, not to mention she had been the one strapped to a chair in terrible condition. It did make sense she would try to get away from him however, she had no idea he was a good guy. Gajeel could acknowledge he didn't really look the part.

There were large panicked honey eyes darting between him and the only other way out of the back room. Adrenalin was keeping her going, but he couldn't see it lasting much longer. He was no good at calming people down, but he had to reassure her some how, he wasn't sure she would be so keen about coming with him no matter how nice he was to her.

"Cool it shrimp. I'm not with them. I was only looking for some information."

It wasn't the nicest he had ever been, but it was the nicest he had been in a long while. The woman had no reason to trust him based on one statement, but she also didn't have much of a choice.

"Please, I need to find Lucy Heartfillia." Her voice was strong for someone who was covered in her own blood and swaying on her feet.

Gajeel stared at her, his red eyes giving away his surprise at the sudden statement. Both of them seemed in a very trusting mood at the moment. There was something about her that put him at ease. Despite the fact that anyone looking for Lucy could only mean bad news, this little blue haired lady didn't look like a threat.

"I can take you to her."

If Gajeel needed anymore evidence, the way she sank down to her knees in relief was enough. He dropped his jacket over her slim shoulders and lifted her up. The only way he could hold her with out hurting her further was to cradle her in his arms like a child. The blue haired woman had nothing to say about it, she was out cold.

Gajeel made his way out of the back room, stepping over the two goons still unconscious by the door. He debated dragging one of them along as well. But his hands were full and the woman had also been in the room, she was likely to know as much or more than the two Twilight Ogre lackeys.

The bartender wisely said nothing as Gajeel passed the bar and walked out the door into the chill night.

Levy McGarden was not having a good month and her current state only echoed how hard her life on the run had been thus far.

The aches and pains she felt all over her body echoed the sharp pain in her head, but the pain was secondary to her panic. She was somewhere new and unknown, under a heavy blanket, and even though the soft mattress and the warm smells of sandalwood and man were comforting beyond anything she had felt in a long while, she desperately needed to go. Go anywhere where she could learn the whereabouts of one Lucy Heartfillia.

She battled her sore and aching muscles to push the blanket off of herself, it was heavier than expected, and it meowed. She looked around in surprise, noticing for the first time the gray cat now seated in her lap.

The last time she had woken up in a new place she had been tied to a chair, this time was proving to be much better, but she couldn't let her self stay. Levy pushed her legs over the edge of the bed; it was a longer drop than expected to the floor. Her legs dangling off the edge were bandaged nicely, and for the first time she noticed the white wrappings on her wrists covering her rope burns. Before she could jump a little kitty head bumped into her elbow. She caved for a minute sighing and petting the soft head nuzzling her arm.

Levy knew she needed to be prepared for what ever was to come. She was trying to remember what had happened at Twilight Ogre. No sooner than she had stepped off the train in Magnolia, she had been followed. She had known about the tail, but had fallen for the faulty info some other twilight goon had fed her. As soon as she approached the door to the seedy bar, she had known there was no way Lucy worked there. But the man who had been following her got the Jump on her in unfamiliar territory.

That had been yesterday, only 24 hours ago. She could remember what they did to her. They had known who she was and they wanted to know what she knew. Levy swallowed hard pushing those dark thoughts away. She had eventually passed out, and her memory of the rest of the time was hazy, but she knew there had been someone else. There had to have been, she would have needed help to pull off the escape she could not remember. But where were they now?

The three weeks since she had escaped the Hartfillia Corporation had been hell. But she needed to find Lucy, needed to help her get further away from her father and Jose. The past three years she had been planting false leads, and interfering with as much as she could to help keep Lucy's trail hidden. She had gotten caught, Jude Hartfillia knew, at least generally, where Lucy was. Levy just hoped she could get to her first.

The door to her new room opened suddenly, there had been no warning steps in the hallway or any sort of knock. Levy grabbed the cat and held it tight to her chest, scooting back into the wall. It was too late to pretend to be still asleep.

A very short man entered first, followed by a much taller man who she instantly recognized from last night. The wild mane of dark hair and the ominous glint of his piercings some how having a calming effect on her. Last night he had saved her from a fate worse than death, and despite the hazy details, Levy knew she owed this man her life. She hoped he was worthy of it.

It is hard to write Fanifiction, when there is so many good ones out there to read. I hope you enjoyed, sorry for any spelling or grammar errors, I always end up editing at 3am!