Oeps, I'm uploading this a day too late again… Oh well, at least I'm getting better at keeping deadlines I made for myself. I used to ignore them completely. But seeing as it is the 5th of December and that means Sinterklaas of anyone who's Dutch (It's kinda like Christmas) consider this my present for you guys! This chapter is slightly more serious and sad then the others, so be warned. R&R!

The peaceful summer night turned out to be too much to handle for Natsu. He had gone home early, not even bothering with trying to get into Lucy's apartment for today. All he wanted was to fall asleep fast, so that this horrible day could finally end. But things never seemed to turn out the way he planned them on this day, and he couldn't fall asleep.

That was nothing like him, he always managed to fall asleep in mere minutes, no matter where he was. But now he just stared into his dark room, listening to Happy who was muttering nonsense in his sleep and his thoughts kept jumping around Igneel.

He hated it. This feeling of utter loneliness and the pain of being abandoned. It had been hard on him when it happened, and the years still hadn't managed to wipe all the pain away. More than anything on this day, he just missed his father. He missed the love and companionship, he missed the help, he missed their training sessions, he missed feeling so safe. He wasn't angry or bitter like Gajeel still was. Igneel hadn't abandoned him without a good reason. He would never do that, the love between him and his dad had been too real, too strong for that. It was the only thing he never doubted. But it didn't make him feel any less miserable. And being so alone in the woods, in his own little house, in the middle of the night, made it worse. Like his nakama was nothing more than an illusion he made up to feel better. They weren't here now. He couldn't touch them to feel they were real. He couldn't smell them. Couldn't see them. Couldn't hear them. More than ever, he was scared of losing the only things he had left.

And then Lucy popped in his mind, her radiant smile lighting up his own dark thoughts. Ever since he found her that day in Hargeon, she hadn't left his side. They were partners, teammates, best friends, nakama.

She was the only one –apart from Happy- who managed to come closer to him than anyone else had ever done is such a small amount of time. And suddenly, he wanted nothing more than go to her house and just crash in her bed. Just feel normal and happy and safe again.

And then he remembered that she wouldn't be happy. Not today. Because she remembered her mother's death today, just like he remembered Igneel's disappearance. And suddenly he was up, rushing out of his little house in the woods and running down the streets of Magnolia. When he stopped in front of her house he only hesitated for a second before he jumped up to the window, grabbed the edge of her roof and pulled himself up to look inside.

He could smell her salt tears before he saw them, and hear her desperate sobbing before he even reached her window.

She was sitting on her bed with her arms around her knees, her head buried in her arms. Soft, golden hair hang in her face, succeeding in the attempt to cover up the tears. It didn't make much of a difference though, because she was shaking violently with each sob that tore out of her throat.

It ripped his heart out to see her like this. Lucy shouldn't cry. It was far better when she smiled, lighting up the whole world with that special warmth and kindness of her. He wanted to make her smile again, but he also know he couldn't. Not with this. The pain was far too bad, the hole her mother's passing left behind way too big for him to heal.

And he understood.

Because he felt the same way. He lost his dad, just like she lost her mother. Igneel had been the only family he had when he was just a little child. The sudden disappearance was almost too much to take. And while his dad was still alive -he had to be, he just had to, Natsu refused to believe someone as strong as Igneel could die- he wasn't here either, and there was no guarantee he would be here in the future. So that left them both alone.

He didn't know what exactly had driven him here, but when he realized she would be miserable too tonight, he couldn't stay away.

Happy was fast asleep at home. That cat wouldn't be waking up before morning. And he would be back by then. He just wanted to be there for Luce now. And if he was honest, he didn't want to be alone himself. So he quietly opened the window -it wasn't locked- and let himself slide inside. Her head snapped up at the sound of his feet touching the ground. Red, puffed eyes looked at him with such sadness it send a stab through his heart.

"Natsu..." She whispered, not really believing her eyes at the moment.

No way he was here. Not now. And yet... he was, eyes so full of worry and sadness that it made new tears roll down her cheeks.

He was here. And suddenly she didn't care that it was the middle of the night and that she looked like crap with her messed up hair and those stupid, weak tears falling down her face. Because he was here and that was all that mattered when she stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, lying her face against his warm, bare chest.

He didn't move for a few seconds, trying to progress the fact that Lucy was crying and holding onto him instead of yelling and kicking him out. But then he slipped his arms around her, inhaling her sweet, calming scent while pulling her closer. She reacted by tightening her grip, as if she wasn't planning on letting him go anytime. But he didn't care much about that. Instead he scooped her up and climbed on top of her soft, comfy bed. Sitting her down in his lap he buried his own head in her neck. He always loved her scent. It made him feel calm and happy. It smelled like home. And suddenly he felt the wall he built so carefully around his own feelings break and he let out a muffled sob.

Keeping her carefully in his arms, he let himself go. There was no stopping himself anyway. He never let himself go in front of others, always making sure they didn't worry about him. He was fine. Would be fine. And while he really was most of the time, not being the kind of person to be depressed for longer than a day, he wasn't now. Not today. And Lucy managed to take away the last barrier that kept him from showing his pain. So he just hold her close, afraid that she might disappear too and cried on her shoulder.

When Natsu pulled Lucy closer, it send her into another round of almost hysterical sobs. It was as if the pressure from years was released in that single moment. She just couldn't stop crying. Her tears were soaking his chest and beloved scarf, her own clothes and her hair. She was shaking so hard that it took her a while to actually notice her surroundings, other than that Natsu was holding her.

When she finally calmed down just a little, she realized they were on her bed, that she was sitting in his lap and he had buried his head in her neck. And then her heart skipped a beat. Because not only was she feeling her own tears on her face, the back of her neck was wet too. He was crying. She didn't notice before, but her body was shaking with every sob that tore out of his throat. Lucy didn't know what to do for a second, but then settled on just holding him, waiting for the both of them to run out of tears.

They both lost their family at a very young age and they still felt the pain.

But it didn't matter at the moment. Nothing mattered, except for the fact that they still had each other.

"N-Natsu?"

Lucy voice was barely a whisper, trembling softly. He heard her anyway, answering her through humming into her hair.

"Don't you dare to die on me. Promise me you'll stay alive."

It was a strange request, but she couldn't keep herself from saying it. If Natsu died, then there was no way she would ever be able to live on.

Natsu stayed quiet so long Lucy began to fear he wouldn't answer her at all. But just as she wanted to tell him to forget it, he replied. It was so soft she would have missed it if he hadn't had his head next to her ear.

"Only of you promise me you won't disappear. Don't leave me. Ever."

Her throat felt dry when she tried to answer him, a large lump getting in the way of talking. Finally, she managed to whisper back.

"I promise."

Natsu's grip on her tightened and lose again. She made a promise, a real promise to never leave him. And Celestial Spirit Mages never broke their promises. A huge grin broke through, lopsided and crooked, fangs showing. She promised. She would always be there.

He grinned into her skin, tears finally slowing and stopping as he found his voice back.

"Then I promise too."

They had their own pain and sad past, but they would get through it. As long as they had each other.

Okay, how many of you expected that after all those other chapters that were so much happier? Not me at least. Well this is the end. I hope you all enjoyed it. :) I know I did. I'm very happy how it came out, even though part of me is still whispering it should have been more serious, sadder and with more angst… and another part of me is angry about not taking the shipping any further. But both sides have to shut up because it's gonna be like this and I'm satisfied with that. ^^ (I also like the humor in the earlier chapters, it fits Gajeel more. XD)

Hope you guys had as much fun reading this as I had writing it! Oh and thank you guys for following/reviewing/favoriting! Your reactions make me smile. :D Please review!