Author's Note: Welcome back to another chapter guys! I hope you are enjoying this so far! From the likes and reviews I keep hearing, it must mean I am on the right path or something! Just keep letting me know if you like it, and I will keep writing!

Just a quick again reminder; my poll is still up and there are 2 votes so far that are for me making a sequel! So if I get at least 8 more (that equals at least 10) I will make that sequel! Just keep letting me know what you want and I'll do my best to not to disappoint!

Anyway, the song for this chapter is "Saltwater Room" by Owl City. He is one of my favorite artists and I felt that, that song pictured this chapter perfectly. Anyway pull it up to listen as you read and Enjoy!

What Will It Take To Make Or Break This Hint Of Love?

~Chapter Fifteen~

Lucy was extremely lucky they had made it back to the village and saved her children's lives just in time. She laid in the hospital bed curled up and staring at the blank white wall. Lucy felt numb as her eyes barely blinked as she wallowed in her own despair. Once again she was at the mercy of the stars as it would seem. Just when she felt that they took a step forward; she just kept finding herself back at square one. Her heart was heavy with dread and she didn't bother to stop the small tears pool down from her eyes onto the clean sheets of her hospital pillow. Subconsciously, she wrapped her arms around herself and felt herself trembling. She didn't care if she woke up anymore. She didn't care if she ever slept and saw Loke. She was falling into the dark pit that threatened to swallow her up. All her fight, all her hopes, were now lost the moment Virgo took the globe from the.

In the tiny waiting room that wasn't far from Lucy's room, Levy was beside herself; and no amount of comfort Gajeel gave her could stop herself blaming. She buried her face into her hands as she was hunched over in her seat. Gajeel was gently rubbing her tiny shoulders as they shook with her small tears. She had led Virgo right to them, and handed over the damn globe. It was no better than just shooting Lucy in the back of the head. She killed her best friend's happiness and ruined any chance of a happy ending with the family. The worst part was that she almost gotten Lucy killed, as well, she handed the enemy the one thing that signed their death warrants. In short, the tiny mage blamed it all on herself; this was her fault. She let out soft sobs into her hands as Gajeel brought his face to her shoulder and gently nuzzled her neck in an uncharacteristic fashion for the dark, metal dragon slayer. No words needed to be said between the two, Levy blamed herself and Gajeel, in his own way, told her that it was not.

Both exceeds were out patrolling the hospital halls as there was too much tension for both that they felt that maybe in the morning they would talk to their partners. As for Natsu, he was pacing outside Lucy's door debating what to say or do when he finally decided to just enter the room, and damn the consequences. For the internal battle in his mind, he had justified that things went from bad to worse since he didn't know if there would be a way to fix and of this. All he knew was that his friend was lying in bed not doing well. In a Natsu like fashion, he knocked at the door, and, when there came no answer, he gently opened the door and peered in as he saw her curled up with her back to the door. Much like a child that checks on a sleeping parent, he cautiously stepped in by slowly moving towards her bed where the celestial mage was curled up. As he began to approach, her body shifted to see who had entered the dim room. Natsu stood by her bed and looked at her with gently eyes.

"Lucy...?" he gently spoke as he brushed her hair back. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. "Lucy we-"

"Just save it Natsu... Loke is good as dead and it is all my fault..." her voice was watery as it waivered. She let out a small hiccup as she forced herself to speak.

"Are you so easily swayed to just give up?" Natsu narrowed his eyes as his innate nature to fight against the odds that were not in their favor was bubbling inside of him.

"How can you even talk to me like that?" Lucy glared up at him with her red rimmed eyes. She felt disbelief as the dragon slayer could even suggest that everything she had done up to this point was her not fighting for her small family.

"Because you are being stupid and insulting Loke. You so easily want to give up. Maybe you deserve to lose him." he spoke unusually cold. Lucy's glare turned from glaring to widen in shock. She wasn't expecting that sort of rebuttal from him.

"Shut up! You don't know anything!" Lucy sat up angry once she had gotten over her initial shock. Natsu did not fault her cold gaze as he was lighting the fire under Lucy once more.

"Then prove it! Stop moping about and feeling sorry for yourself! How do you think Loke feels?! Get up and get him back!" he demanded.

"Natsu..."

"You are never alone in this Lucy. Haven't you realized that yet? You have everyone backing you up on this. We are Fairy Tail wizards; of course the chips are always stacked against us, but we always win in the end. Now start really fighting. So they played dirty and you just want to let them win? We are the guild that never knows when to give up, or have you forgotten that as well? If Loke won't come back then you have to make him and every last spirit while you are at it!" Natsu's glare turned to his naturalistic grin. Lucy stared at Natsu in disbelief for a few moments then her gaze softened. The idiot was just the pep talk she needed.

"Still insane as always..." she softly spoke smiling. Natsu grin only widened as he crossed his arms.

"Get plenty of rest, we leave in the morning." He pat her head and then went to leave, but Lucy held her blanket close as she watched him but spoke as something occurred to her.

"Natsu..." she began; he paused to look back over at her.

"Hmmm?"

"Thanks...I needed to hear that." He gave a nod. "And...one more thing? Can I have Loke's jacket? It helps me to sleep better." sheepishly she requested. Natsu looked to the worn suit jacket and he pulled it off the chair that was across the room and handed it to her. Lucy pressed the material close to her chest as she smiled up at the dragon slayer gratefully as more of the unshed tears glistened in the dim light. Natsu reached down his hand, and with his thumb, lightly brushed them away.

"Get some rest Luce." he nodded and let her settle back down. Sadly, Lucy looked down at the jacket in her arms. Why is it that every time she saw him, she always had bad news? It seems good news was running in short supplies these days. With a heavy heart, she nestled back down, and clutched the fabric close to her. Her one hand rested over her belly as she replayed what Virgo had done to her in her mind's eye. She almost lost them today, and Virgo just laughed at her pain. These spirits meant everything to her, and now she didn't mean a damn thing to them. She pressed her face to the jacket and closed her eyes. She knew Loke would be waiting for her in that realm of his; she just didn't know how she was going to explain to him the situation without him killing everyone in the process.

~Loke~

By now Loke was getting used to this waiting game he was forced to participate in. He did not venture too far from the hut in case Lucy appeared in the bed. He was finishing up his meal of fish and fruit on his self made table and chair, when he looked over to see her materializing. Quickly getting up from his seat, he went to her side and took her hand into his own. Her eyes fluttered open as confusion always overtook her, but then focused when they settled on Loke. He was close to her; and having him here was nice to see that familiar face of his. She slowly sat up with his help and she reached out to bring him into a tight embrace.

"Loke...My Leo...Oh Leo..." she breathed in relief.

"You found out..." he spoke already knowing the answer.

"Virgo trapped us and took the globe. Leo...she attacked me and there was so much blood..." Lucy told him straight out without thinking of the consequences. When she was with him, it seems her filter always was lapsed in explaining things properly. She felt his grip tighten around her as he let out a deep seeded growl.

"I'm going to fucking kill her. I'll tear her to pieces!" he shook.

"I-I don't want that! She wasn't herself!" Lucy defended

"Our children almost died! Damnit Lucy! What the hell were you doing fighting?!" he was pissed, as he had her at arm's length. Anger radiated off of him in strong waves as he couldn't believe one of his own tried to kill the love of his life and the precious gifts that were growing inside her.

'Trying to save you! I didn't know she was going to be there, much less do what she did! None of us did! I was only supposed to research information to help us!" Lucy yelled back at him.

"Damnit you silly girl!" he snapped. Loke was so angry that he felt that he could just snap at that very moment. "You should be doing none of this! Do our children mean so little to you?! Do I?!"

"How can you even suggest that Leo! Of course you and our children are the most important things to me!" Lucy was feeling the anger now as he dared to even think that she was doing this because she didn't care about him. The whole reason she was even risking her neck was to save her families.

"You have a funny way of showing it! Every time you fucking waltz in here and we see each other, you are doing something stupid and foolish!" Loke was up and pacing now as he couldn't control his temper. He had been in this place too long, been threatened too much, and now his family was slipping through his fingers. He was feeling like a feral animal on the brink of letting loose and taking people down with him. Lucy crossed her arms as she was so angry with the whole situation; and what Loke was especially saying.

"I am only doing these things to get you back!" she cried in frustration.

"Well maybe you shouldn't! Gods Lucy! Maybe this was all just a big fucking mistake!" he roared out the words before he could even think to stop himself. The moment they stung the air, he regretted them. The look on her face, that spread over her features, was one that he swore that he would never be the one responsible for causing.

"Fuck you." was all she said as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stormed off.

"Lucy wait!" he went after her, but she wouldn't turn around.

"Leave me alone asshole!" she screamed at him as she kept walking angrily. Loke caught up and grabbed her arm and whirled her around into his chest. Out of anger, Lucy hit and slapped his chest as she screamed at him to release her.

"No way in hell am I ever going to do that." he spoke in a low, dangerous tone that almost stopped Lucy's antics. "I don't care what the hell you think you want right now, but I am not letting you go. I told you that you are mine damnit!" he snapped as he looked at her intensely.

"Go to hell!" Lucy shot back. She almost lost her heated resolve as he let out a dry laugh.

"Look around Lucy, I think I'm already there."

"Since you regret me so much then I will never be coming back here!" she threatened.

"Go ahead, but when I find a way out, I am coming for you. I will find a way to you, so help me gods, and when I do; I'll ravage you so badly that you won't remember who you are or where you come from, only that you belong to solely me." he didn't waiver from her empty threat. He took a shaky breath as he tried to regain some of his composer. He squeezed his eyes before opening them to continue his intense gaze of her; strong determination focused on teary, confusion. "Yes, it has crossed my mind more than once that this was a mistake; that we should have been smarter about it." he wrapped her closer as Lucy looked away from him. Hearing those confirmed words hurt her more than when she sometimes thought of them herself in her insecurities.

"But, I do not regret any of it. Hell, given the chance again, I would do things a little bit differently, but the outcome would always be the same, because Lucy, I love you and I love our children. I would rather give up my own magic, my life force, and yes, my own heart if that meant that I spend only a few more moments with you all. You mean more to me than any of the stars in the heavens." he tilted her chin as the tears glistened in her orbs.

"This is our first fight..." she whimpered.

"Yes it is." he confirmed.

"...What would you change?" she dared to ask after a moment of silence. She chewed on her bottom lip as Loke let out a dark chuckle.

"Well, taking you in my bed the first day we met, and marrying you the next is definitely on my top of my list." He loosen his hold on her and buried his face in her shoulder as he whispered seductively into her ear. Lucy was blushing so deeply just she had done back in that cottage the night of their first love making.

"I-I would have never agreed to either of those things on our first meeting." she stammered out, but her heart was fluttering around at the idea of it actually happening. If she had known then, what she known now, she would have been the one to pursue Loke than the other way around.

"I have been told that I am very persuasive. I got you in the end didn't I?" he pulled back to wink at her. This earned him a playful slap on his shoulder.

"Bastard." she blushed even more so.

"Damn straight. Are we done fighting? Can we make up now?" he brought her close to his lips and she kissed him in response. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her body to him in her straddle.

"Okay..." she spoke softly.

"But I am dead serious Luce." his eyes shown no humor as he did just a few moments ago. "I am going to marry you."

"Stop joking Leo." Lucy looked away suddenly feeling bashful.

"Guess I will have to show you up. Boy, do I love proving you wrong." he purred in her ear as he grinned. He tucked a loose strand behind her ear and as he did so, he saw the mark once more. "I marked you..." he whispered.

"Huh? Oh yeah this!" Lucy looked down at her expose shoulder. Her eyes went from soften, to narrowed to show her displeasure at the mark. "Thanks by the way! It is there permanently ! Levy noticed it and it is only a matter of time before anyone else at the guild does!" she crossed her arms as the playful banter that had taken place a few moments ago was replaced by this awkward exposure. Loke didn't pay no mind as his focus was on the mark; his gaze was on it intensely.

"I...I marked you Lucy...you really do belong to me." he spoke softly as his thumb traced the mark lightly.

"Okay?" she replied confused. The moment the light touch from the soft pad of his thumb brushed it, she felt her lower insides shudder as a familiar, dull heat spread.

"It means I'm forever connected to you. Your soul is now linked with mine through a bond." he spoke not brave enough to look into her face. Lucy felt there was much more to this connection than what he just told her; and she decided to press on it.

"Isn't that one of the unforgivable sins?" Lucy asked cautiously.

"Not quite. Our souls are not fused just linked. At least it makes sense now why I felt your emotions. I will get an idea what you are feeling from now on without you really telling me. Think of it as a deeper connection than just simply being together. Anyway that is all you really need to worry about now. Just, please trust me okay?"

"Alright...Anyway, it sounds like this will come in handy later when you return to us." Lucy spoke thoughtfully.

"It will. Anyway Lucy, I want you to promise me something." he spoke evenly as he moved the conversation to a different aspect.

"Depends on what it is." she eyed him.

"No more researching for information on this stuff or missions. I know you want me back, but I think you need to leave this up to Fairy Tail. I don't want you risking your lives anymore. Our children are too important."

"No, I am-"

"No." he spoke firmly as he cut her off. The two were in a standstill; Lion verses Mage. "You almost miscarried. How many brushes with death is it going to take until you learn your lesson? I want to see them when I get back to you; not their graves." a silence hung in the air as his words stung deep. Lucy, inwardly, shuddered at the thought of her little ones never being able to take their first breath of fresh air. However, her resolve made her press forward.

"Virgo showing up was not anyone's fault. I was just helping Levy read." she spoke to her defense, but it was already wavering.

"You left Magnolia with one of the mages that isn't good at defense." he pointed out.

"Natsu and Gajeel were there." came her rebuttal.

"Really?! And they allowed a hair on your head to be harmed! They are now at the top of my list with Virgo when I return." he spoke humorlessly.

"You will be doing no such thing. They did their jobs correctly, and better than anyone in that situation. If it wasn't for them, I would have miscarried. They saved us in time. Virgo was just too quick and she fought dirty." Lucy glared.

"No more leaving Magnolia." he put his foot down.

"I have to go to Heron for the springs."

"Fine, no leaving Magnolia unless to Heron for the spring." he gave leeway.

"But what about-" Lucy smirked.

"Oh when I get my hands on you!" he went to grab her, but she was quick back on her feet since she was ready this time for his antics. She took off as he playfully chased her. The serious conversation had reached a compromise as they sealed it with their playful banter. Loke's sights were on his mate; the hunt was on and she was his reward. She went to race down by the waves and they played by the water. Lucy would reach down into the waves and spray him as it would temporarily give her a few moments to get ahead of him. Finally done with thinking she was winning, he crashed into her, eventually, into the water and kissed her deeply. The waves gently covered them as they were in the sand that glowed like tiny blue gems. " I love you." he looked down at her under him.

"Leo..." she smiled softly, but that smile quickly vanished as she began to disappear.

"You have the worst timing." he joked.

"Let's hope our children follow you more than me." she kissed him once more before she was gone.

~Hospital Room~

A nurse opened the curtain and let the light in; it was already a new day. Lucy blinked awake as she had the jacket pressed so close to her. It was morning and gods would she give anything to have that blasted sunlight destroyed. Stretched awake, she was starting to surrender to the notion of waking up and getting on with her day.

"Hello Miss. Heartfilia, would you like some breakfast?" the nurse kindly asked.

"That sounds lovely, thank you." she replied with her voice heavy and wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"We wish for your doctor to look at you before we discharge you today. Would you like to see your friends? They have been waiting patiently to see you Miss. Heartfilia."

"Yes please." came Lucy's reply as she was starting to register what was going on. The nurse gave a nod and as she went to get her patient her breakfast. She allowed the waiting group outside to come in as they filed in one after the other. Lucy put on a smile and acted cheerful since she knew she needed to keep up the low morale. Poor Levy tried her best to show that she was fine, but Lucy could read on her face that she felt guilty, despite the words she was saying. Lucy stuck to happy topics over her meal and tried to make the mood sound light and airy as she possibly cook to alleviate some of the tension. Once breakfast arrived and gone; the doctor came by.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"A lot better." she replied sitting back on the pillows.

"Good, good. So we want to do an exam of the pregnancy to make sure there isn't any long term or short term damage, and we want to have an ultrasound done." he explained.

"She will get to see the babies?" Natsu grinned excitedly.

"I just want Levy in the room with me." Lucy spoke as if an afterthought.

"Awww but Lucy!" Natsu whined.

"Understood." Gajeel got up and dragged an unhappy Natsu behind him with the exceeds. Lucy smiled as she heard the kicking and screaming of the idiot boy as he called out for her injustice. Lucy focused her gaze on Levy who was staring at the ground and unable to make eye contact.

"I will get the paperwork then." the doctor also took his leave as Levy moved to sit down in the chair by Lucy's bed. She looked unhappy and guilt was written all over her form. She let down her guarded walls to let Lucy just see how much pain the blue haired mage was feeling. Then there was that moment of heavy silence.

"Lucy-" Levy timidly began

"Stop right there. No self moping. If I don't get to, then neither do you." Lucy smiled.

"But it-"

"Virgo's fault. Yes, I know." she reached out and squeezed Levy's trembling hands. "Please stop beating yourself up Levy, it is breaking my heart more than it already has been." she spoke kindly.

"If I hadn't given up the globe..."

"Then Loke's children would have died and so would have I. I would have done the same thing in that impossible situation if the roles were reversed. My friend saved me. Thank you Levy." she encouraged sincerely.

"Lu-chan.." she whimpered and hugged her crying. Lucy held her and let her cry it out. Once Levy calmed down , the doctor and the nurse returned. They examined Lucy. The incident left some damage, but nothing that a few days rest couldn't fix. She was instructed to take it easy from here on out since the pregnancy was delicate. The nurse wheeled in the ultrasound machine once the doctor was washing his hands. They hooked the machine up to her and Lucy laid back. As the monitor focused in, there were two small forms beginning to appear.

"Lucy..." Levy breathed. Lucy reached her hand out and lightly, her fingers touched the monitor. Small tears of joy fell from the corners of her eyes.

"They are perfect..." she whispered.

"Would you like to know the sex? They looked pretty developed so I believe we can tell." the doctor offered. Both Lucy and Levy shook their heads in earnest.

"Yes please." she replied with the biggest smile on her face.

"Well this one," he pointed to the one on the right, "is a boy."

"Then this one," he pointed to the left, "is a girl."

"A little boy and girl...oh Loke will be so happy..." she sniffled. She felt her heart was going to burst with all the happiness within her.

"A boy and girl Lucy! You really are lucky!" Levy smiled widely as she felt so happy for her friend. The nurse and doctor also had to hide back their happy emotions as this was Lucy's moment, and from what they have learned from her story, it did touch them to see her so excited for the new lives growing inside her.

"I take it you also would like a photo?" he chuckled.

"I'll take ten!" Lucy beamed.

~Back to Magnolia~

The doctor talked Lucy down to only three printed photos of the ultrasound; and Lucy swore Levy to secrecy to no reveal the sex of the twins yet to anyone. She decided on how the photos would be distributed. The first photo would be given to the Master upon their return to the guild. This would help, or they hoped, to soften the blow of telling him the news of what had happened. The second photo was given to Levy to help remind her of what she had saved when she gave up the globe. Levy needed much reassurance as, even with Lucy's reassurance, she still felt some self blame. However, Lucy didn't worry too much about her as Gajeel had, uncharacteristically, been spending most of his time around her; cheering her up and giving her a shoulder to lean on. It made Lucy happy to see this. The last photo, however, she was going to keep.

The whole way back, Natsu complained about not seeing them first and that next time he was going to be there for her next doctor ultrasound appointment. Lucy gazed out the window absent mindedly with her photo in her hand of her two children. She couldn't keep the small smile off her face as she felt a bit of pride. She was going to be a mother of two beautiful children.

'Soon Leo, you will have to come home and see them.' She thought softly to herself as the train continued to head back to Magnolia.