Disclaimer: I still don't own Fairy Tail, nor do I own the character's(that right belongs to Hiro Mashima) only the plot, ect. Some characters might be OOC, but I'm going to try my best to not let that happen!

Chapter 4

Voices. There were different voices around her, deep gruff voices, soft kind voices, and loud obnoxious voices. Lucy felt like she knew those voices, but who were they? She wanted to move, to open her eyes, but she couldn't. Why? She hadn't had a clue. Her body just felt like lead, heavy and held down.

"What happened?" a small girl's voice asked someone. The voice was very familiar. Who was it?

She could hear voices going in and out, like she was going in between conscious and unconsciousness. When she slipped back into consciousness, she could hear an older woman's voice. "She's fine." the woman said, "She's just resting, I don't know when she'll wake up, it's only a matter of time." Was the woman talking about her? I am awake! She could hear them speak. She wanted to tell them she could hear them and she was awake, but she couldn't get her body to listen to her.

"Natsu?" the young girl's voice was heard again. Natsu?

Lucy then remembered Natsu was her best friend and teammate. Was he okay? The girl's voice was filled with worry as she said Natsu's name. Lucy couldn't fight - even if she wanted to - the feeling of unconsciousness settling over her like a blanket and she welcomed it, slipping under again.

When she slipped back into consciousness, she could feel a big, calloused hand wrapped around hers. She could also hear another voice, it was deep and gruff. "Please wake up, Bunny. I need you." Bunny? Who is that? Oh, it's me. She realized, and the only person to call her that was.. Gajeel! He was holding her hand? He needed her? What?

Lucy felt like she would blush if she could. She had no idea Gajeel liked her - not even a little bit. She was shocked to say the least. She liked him a lot, she didn't remember when she started liking the raven haired slayer. All she knew is she had to force her feelings away because of her blue haired best friend. She thought Levy liked Gajeel. But it didn't help, not when she saw him everyday at the guild, Levy sitting next to him with her nose pressed into a book.

Gajeel... Lucy wanted so badly to open her eyes, look at the slayer with a soft smile. She wanted to tell him how she felt. Hell, she wanted to kiss him. I have to wake up. She told herself. I have to see his face... I have to tell him. She could feel herself slipping under again and all she could do was welcome it.

xxxxxx

A week has went by since Lucy's fell into a coma. All the guild members are extremely worried. Mostly Gajeel and Natsu. Both slayers would be by the girls side. Natsu during the day, and Gajeel at night. They were worried about the blonde.

"Why hasn't she woken up yet!?" Groaned Natsu as he slumped against the bar. "Have patience, Natsu.. She'll wake up when she's ready." Mira said with a smile, placing a plate of fire chicken on the bar in-front of him.

"Yeah, I know.. but c'mon! It's been a week!" He groaned again, his gaze watching the fire chicken in front of him.

"Quit yer bellyachin', Salamander." Came the gruff response of Gajeel.

"What'd you say, ya iron headed bastard!?"

"You heard me." Gajeel growled.

"You wanna fight!?" Natsu snarled as he got up in Gajeel's face. "Yeah! Bring it on!"

"That's enough!" Master Makarov's voice growled from the top of the stairs, causing both slayers to stop and look at him.

"Gramps, is she?" Natsu asked softly.

Makarov smiled gently, his arms folding behind his back. "Yes, she's awake.. but don't-" He didn't get to finish because Natsu rushed up the stairs heading straight for the infirmary. Reaching out with a large hand, wrapping it around Natsu's middle, Makarov stopped him before he got too far. "Like I was saying, don't go rushing in there, she hasn't completely woken up. Shes still somewhat groggy. Wendy and Porlyusica are in there with her now." He narrowed his eyes at the pink haired slayer, daring him to go in there until he said so.

"Yeah, okay." Grumbled Natsu who crossed his arms.

"Good." Makarov set him down on the first floor again.

Gajeel stayed in his spot, going over everything in his mind. Lucy, his Bunny Girl was awake, finally. He wondered if she had actually heard him.

xxxxxx

For a week, Lucy has been in and out of consciousness. She would hear voices telling her to wake up. Gajeel's, Natsu's, Wendy's and even Laxus'. Hearing Laxus was a total shock (no pun intended) to the blonde that the lighting dragon slayer wanted her to wake up just as much as the others did. She had a soft spot for the hulking blonde. He was like an older brother she never had.

Finally, Lucy had begun to feel her body become her own again. She would twitch to toes or fingers ever so slightly as she listened to the voices. She had told her body that she wouldn't let her own body not move when she wanted it to. Now that she had complete - and utter - control of her body, Lucy willed herself to wake up.

It was early in the day. when Lucy first opened her eyes. When she glanced around, no one was there. Just her in the infirmary. Heaving a sigh, she forced herself to sleep a little more, wanting to be well rested when she faced the guild after being asleep for how ever long she was. When Lucy woke up again, it was daytime also, but when she looked around, Wendy, Porlyusica and the master were in the room, watching her.

Seeing the blonde open her eyes and look around, Wendy gave a small gasp. "Lucy.."

The blonde in question gave a small smile, clearing her throat a bit. "Hi, Wendy.." Her voice was raspy and hoarse - what would you expect from someone who's been asleep for a week without anything to drink, or eat.

"How are you feeling, child?" Makarov asked, watching his 'child'.

"Fine, just really thirsty and really hungry.." she replied and the old man nodded.

"That is to be expected," he said with a very small smile. "When Porlyusica says you are fit enough to leave the room, I will let everyone know you've awoken.. If you want me to do that?" He arched a brow, watching her.

Pursing her lips, Lucy thought about all that happened when she was out. All the voices she heard. Smiling a bit, the stellar mage nodded a bit. "Let's wait until I get the okay.." She paused with a small grimace. "You know how my team is."

"Indeed." Makarov replied causing Wendy to giggle and Porlyusica to snort softly.

"Okay, girl. Let me take a look." the old healer grunted as she moved Wendy and Makarov out of the way to check her over. After a few minutes, she nodded. "You're fine. You can leave the infirmary, but no missions for a week. You need to completely recover your strength." Lucy smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Porlyusica."

"Think nothing of it, Wendy did most of it." Wendy blushed at that. "It was nothing."

Lucy laughed a bit at the girl's reaction and laid back against the pillows a bit. "Well, since you have the okay, you can go downstairs and get some food from Mira." Makarov smiled and Lucy perked up. "Great!" She flung the covers off of herself and threw her legs over the edge of the bed, standing up with a stretch. Glancing down at her clothes, Lucy blinked a few times. "When did my clothes change?"

"Oh, um, Virgo opened her own gate and changed your clothes two days ago." Wendy said somewhat sheepishly.

"Oh, okay. Well, lets get this over with.." Lucy sighed lightly, glancing towards the infirmary doors. It was now or never. Now to face the guild after being out for a week. Now to face her team, since they were worried about her. And, now it was time to face Gajeel. The hulky slayer that stole her heart without even trying.

xxxxxx

When Lucy got to the stairs that lead to the first floor, the whole guild got quiet and all heads turned towards her. "Luce!" Natsu cheered, darting up the stairs to his best friend, but he was cut off by a blue ball of fur. "Lushy!" Happy cried, clinging to her chest. "I was worried! You wouldn't wake up." sobbed the blue exceed.

"I'm sorry to make you worry, Happy." She said softly, looking up at the rest of the guild. "All of you." She added with a smile. Holding Happy close - since he wouldn't let go - Lucy made her wait down the stairs wanting to get to the bar so she could have some food.

When she made it a few steps away from the stairs, she was surrounded by people. Erza, Gray, Juvia, Cana, Levy, Jet, and Droy to name a few and a lot of other members. But one she wanted to see, wasn't in the circle of people surrounding her. Moving her gaze around the room, she spotted Gajeel munching on some iron, not looking her way. As if he could feel her eyes on him, the raven haired slayer looked her way.

Smiling at the slayer, Lucy wanted to go over there and talk to him, but her heart sank when he looked away from her. Sighing a bit, she gave a small smile to her friends. "Sorry, I'm really hungry.." She said softly.

"Oh, I am a horrible friend," Erza spoke. "Rushing up to you without thinking about what you need first." She thumped a armored fist to her chest. "If you wish you may strike me."

"Uh, no thanks." Lucy sweat-dropped.

"Lucy, I have you a plate and a strawberry milkshake ready for you." Mira called and Lucy grinned. "Thanks Mira!" She called, making her way over to the bar so she could sit down and eat.

Finally sitting at the bar, Lucy thanked Mira again before she dug into her food and the milkshake. Sighing at the delightful taste of the food, the blonde stellar mage hummed somewhat happily.

"So, you finally decide to rejoin the living, eh, Blondie?"

Turning her head at the voice, Lucy furrowed her brows and swallowed what she had in her mouth. "You're blonde too, Sparky."

"Sparky?" Laxus arched a brow, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Of course, I have to give a nickname to my big brother, don't I?" She grinned at him.

Laughing, Laxus shrugged before he scrubbed his big hand against the top of her head in a brotherly manner. "Yeah, I suppose so, Blondie." He teased her. Laughing softly, she playfully jabbed her fist into his side. "Yeah, yeah."

"Oh, yeah.. You're apartment.. I paid the rent for you while you were sleeping."

Lucy blinked up at him. "You didn't have to do that!" She gaped at him. Chuckling at her reaction, Laxus shrugged. "Everyone pitched in to help. Your rent is paid for up to three months." He turned and headed back to his table with a small wave.

When Laxus went back to the table where his team sat, Lucy sighed softly as she allowed her mind to wander. Everyone helped pay for her rent? Did Gajeel help? Had she been dreaming about Gajeel talking to her while she was out? Saying that he needed her? Was it all fake?

Sighing again, she pushed around her foot for a bit before she forced herself to eat the rest of it. Lucy hadn't been paying attention to Mira, who had a smirk on her face. As soon as she finished the last bite, Lucy blinked owlishly when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Oi, Bunny, can I speak to you alone?"

xxxxxx

A/N: What could Gajeel be wanting to talk to Lucy about, hmm? If you want to find out, you know what you have to do! Review, review, review. Also, I'm sorry this update took so long.. I've been busy helping my aunt since she just had surgery. Please bare with me while I work around her to write these chapters.

Jessa