A/N Waa~ at last… Right, I was about to upload this last night but I fell asleep… Hihihi. I'm really sorry for the late update again. In case you haven't read the note I left on my profile, I'd like you all to know that I could only promise an update at least once a month – yep, at least once a month – that means I could still upload more chapters if given the chance. And also, I removed the review responses from Chapters 1-10. I'm really sorry for being insensitive… I should have replied through PMs from the start. But to those who don't have an account, I'll still post a response here. Just that, when I upload the next chapter, I'd be removing it too… :( I hope you understand. :) Yoshi! You all should keep in mind, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Thank you for supporting this story. I'm so moved I want to cry (and never work, just write. Haha! Gaaah! Not possible.) Guest responses are posted at the end of the chapter.

Ah, also... this chapter is dedicated to Lavander7795 as a late birthday gift. Belated happy birthday Lavander-chan~ :)

Without further ado, I present to you…

Notice: All review responses on this chapter has been removed. :)

Chapter 11: SHE FALLS, HE CATCHES, HE CARRIES

Lucy's eyes widened in both astonishment and distress, Sting just hit her lion spirit without a justifiable reason. She pushed her marker and winced as her stung foot touched the ground, the anger on her features evident as she kicked Sting straight in the groin, making the other scowl in distraught. "You!" Sting snapped out.

The white dragon slayer stumbled a few steps backward, as the celestial spirit mage strived to run towards her attacked spirit, despite the pricking sensation on one of her foot. "Loke?" she yelled in worry. "Are you alright?"

The lion spirit stood up, brushing his coat nonchalantly, he instantly caught his mistress and glared at the dragon slayer who was currently in a state of discomfort, "Lucy…" he said, "Was this what you were about to tell me?"

Lucy tightly gripped on his spirit's hands, gnashing her teeth in an attempt to reduce the pain on her foot, she smiled awkwardly and nodded, "Yeah," she breathed and then worry spread throughout her face, "I'm so sorry, Loke. That was totally unacceptable for him to do…" she apologized as she scanned Loke's face for any trace of injuries, "Are you hurt anywhere? You have to go back to the spirit world this instant and get better…"

Loke suppressed the anger inside of him, "You were marked… by that dragon slayer? How?"

"The drinking competition…" Lucy chewed her lower lip anxiously, "Fairy Tail had lost…"

A pang of guilt hit Loke as he stared at his mistress' brown orbs, "I-I'm sorry, Lucy… I wasn't able to protect you…" he apologized.

Lucy shook her head, "Nobody's at fault…" she said, and she knew her spirit was taking the blame for her misfortune.

Loke glared at his mistress' marker, "I suppose you love your life as much as I love my mistress… So, as long as she has your mark, I trust you are to protect her at all cost." He was really thinking of charging back but screw that, he would never hurt Lucy. Though he knew Lucy won't feel the pain, having her life bonded with the dragon slayer, he would respect him just like how he would respect Lucy… for now. And yes, receiving Sting's punch was a good sign, that meant he was indeed keeping Lucy safe.

Sting glared back, a smirk lining on his lips. "What a devoted spirit? And let me correct that… as long as she has my mark, she will be my slave. Making you," he pointed a finger at Loke, "…my slave as well."

Lucy marched angrily towards Sting, disregarding the pain in her foot, she slapped him with all her might. She knew it was her luck that she was able to catch him off guard, but still, the frustration burning inside Lucy was too much to bear. "I don't mind being your slave Eucliffe, but don't you include my spirits in the package! They're not just my spirits, they're my friends!" she yelled.

With this, he leered as he jerked his head back and looked at Lucy straight into the eye, "You're too emotional, dorei… Friends? You're losing your temper just because somebody made fun of your friends? Do you even know how to spell fun?" He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, "Ask him to go back to where he came from…" He ordered, referring to Loke.

"They're my family!" the Fairy Tail mage kept a firm face as she glowered at him sharply and shook his hand away, "…my only family left. You'll never understand because you only care about your stupid self!"

Sting was taken aback, is that how other people see it? Screw other people. Is that how she sees him? Well, that was partly true… but isn't she exaggerating everything?

Lucy heatedly turned her back and walk away, pulling her smirking spirit who was looking at Sting tauntingly. Before Lucy stepped inside the house, Rogue called for her attention, making her pause on the spot.

"We're going back to the Donel Konzern… Don't take too long in soothing that wound." The shadow dragon slayer said emotionless.

The blonde fairy tail mage's feature softened, she knew exactly what he was talking about. She nodded gently as a blush crept across her cheeks and walked inside the half-destroyed house.

Sting, however, dropped his butt at the spot where he was standing, all stunned and speechless. This is why I hate working with girls, shit!

"Rogue, what wound?" Sting mumbled impatiently.

The shadow dragon slayer stepped forward, his hands folded across his chest, "I don't know," he glanced at the unconscious green-haired girl in front of him, "…but she did a good job."

Inside the house...

"Argh! That damn bastard!" Lucy ranted as she met Loke's gaze, "He sure knows how to get on my nerve! I can't take this anymore! This is… so frustrating!" she continued on and on. She sat on the couch, slightly wondering how the two exceeds could sleep through the whole commotion. Plue, right now, was back to the spirit world.

The lion spirit placed a basin half full of warm water and vinegar in front of her as he listened intently to his mistress, not making any usual flirtatious moves he would always pull out… he figured, what Lucy needs now is someone who would listen to her. The blonde soaked her feet to the water, "Aw…" she sighed, "And damn that sea urchin, pricking my foot with its spines!" she cursed, submerging her feet as it absorbed the heat, grateful that it somehow reduced the pain.

Lucy must be having a hard time at the sudden need of adjustment, thought Loke."Lucy…" the lion spirit called, making the blonde stop wiggling her feet. "I'm really sorry…"

The blonde's eyes moderated as she looked at Loke, "It's not your fault, Loke. It was my fault that I wasn't able to prevent him from marking me. That bastard… he allowed me to go back the morning after the contest. If it wasn't for the mark, I must have gotten back to Fairy Tail." She then lifted her head up and gazed at the ceiling, suddenly finding it fascinating, she forced a smile, "I wonder how the guild is doing right now…" her thoughts drifted to a scene where the whole guild is partying after placing 2nd and 4th in the Grand Magic Games, her smile grew wider. "Erza must be eating a lot of cake… Natsu and Gray must be starting a brawl where almost all the men would join in later… Master and Cana must be indulging their selves in alcohol… Happy must be wooing Charle with fishes and Lily must be observing Gajeel and the others. Mira must be taking orders as the other female members would try to stop the boys from destroying the guild." She placed a hand on her cheek, "and I was supposed to be on the bar counter, drinking my favorite milk shake and stressing over my rent…"

An apologetic look crossed Loke's eyes, "I'm sorry…" he adjusted his glasses on his nose and stared at Lucy's feet. "Call me whenever you feel lonely…"

A smile grew on Lucy's lips as he ruffled Loke's hair, "Of course, of course… Don't worry much about me, Loke… I assure you… they are–" she glanced at the two exceed and thought of Rogue and Mai, "–nice people…" she assured.

After some time...

It was almost dawn when they reached the Donel Konzern. Lucy, despite the soreness on her foot, quietly walked with them, carrying the two sleeping exceeds, while Yumi was being carried by Virgo. Sting and Rogue trailing after.

The midget, overjoyed that the Donel ojou-sama had come back, screamed in delight, waking the whole house in the process.

By then, Yumi had woken up too and Virgo had gone back to the spirit world.

Yun, excited to see his daughter, ran towards the entrance and embraced Yumi tightly. Both were crying in each other's arms.

The blonde watched the dramatic reunion between the father and daughter, her heart clenching as she remember her own, "Papa…" she whispered under her breath.

Sting and Rogue's eyes were both focused at the Fairy Tail mage. Virgo, after asking for a punishment, went back to the spirit world.

Both father and daughter kneeled in front of Lucy, who was by now feeling all the heat from her body rush up to her face in both embarrassment and discomfort. She floundered her arms in protest, unintentionally shaking the two sleeping exceeds she was embracing. "Y-you're embarrassing me, Uncle Yun." She yelled, flustered.

"Lucy-chan," Yun spoke, his head bowed low on the ground, the butlers doing the same behind them. "Thank you so much for bringing my daughter back… As promised, I will give you everything…"

The blonde Fairy Tail mage chewed the inside of her lips as she pouted, "It wasn't me who actually did it, Uncle Yun… It was them." She nudged her lips to the two Sabertooth mages standing behind her. "You should thank them instead."

Rogue and Sting blinked, a bit stunned by what they heard.

Yun lifted his head and shifted his position to face the two dragon slayer duo, "Thank you Ecliffe-san, Cheney-san…" he cried, tears cascading on his face.

Sting didn't know if he'd feel disgraced or insulted. Of course, if they had taken the job, it would be as easy as falling off a log. But why do they have to take the credit of a job they had rejected in the first place? Just as he was about to open his mouth, Rogue spoke.

"The job was to take back your daughter, right?" the shadow dragon slayer said impassively, "Well, it wasn't us who took her back to her senses, it was the Fairy Tail mage."

Sting frowned at this. Why does it seem like Rogue is the nice guy?

Lucy raised a brow, unsure of what to think. She guessed the Sabertooth mages had their own principles, too… or was it just Rogue? She wouldn't dare to say it out loud but she was starting to like the shadow dragon slayer.

And then she blinked a few times, her vision getting blurry all of a sudden and she was starting to feel light headed. Shifting her weight on her heel, she breathed deeply, trying to soothe the woozy feeling inside of her. She unconsciously tightened her grip onto the two exceeds which both moaned, a signal that they had woken up.

Sting noticed her pale face, sweat dripping on her forehead, "Oi, blondie… What's with you?"

She took a step closer to him, dragging her injured foot lightly, "Fairy-san, c-can't breathe!" they heard Lector groaned.

Lucy handed Sting the two poor exceeds who were both gasping for air desperately. He raised a brow questionably and allowed the two exceeds to stand down. She weakly pulled back her hands and asked, "C-can I… use the bathroom?"

Right at that time, she roamed her unfocused eyes around, trying to figure out what to do. She tried clearing her mind, trying to regain her fluctuating consciousness. She lifted her hand to wipe the sweat on her forehead, she looked at the people surrounding her, their mouths opening and closing as if they were saying something… that she couldn't clearly grasp. Are they talking to me? And she felt feeble… she gawped at the two dragon slayers who were both standing in front of her, curious as to what's going on with her.

And then everything went black…

The two exceeds panicked, as well as Yun, Yumi and the butlers. Thanks to Rogue's quick reflex, he was able to catch the blonde Fairy Tail mage who just lost her consciousness. Sting wasn't fast enough, though. But he was in the position to catch her… if only he was a bit alert than Rogue was.

As soon as Lucy's skin touched Rogue's, he felt her burning in high temperature and he could obviously tell this has something to do with the wound she obtained while chasing after Yumi. He overheard Lucy and her spirit's conversation earlier, so he knew they might have overlooked some spines embedded on her skin that must be attended before the irritation worsens.

Sting straightened up, taking in the sight before him. Rogue stooped down and secured the lady on her arms, carrying her bridal-style.

The white dragon slayer's eyebrow twitched, irresolute of what to do. "Oi, Rogue, hand her to me!"

Everyone panicked.

Yun and Yumi ordered the butlers to fetch all the best doctors of Freesia. Frosch cried yelling "Fairy-san, don't die!" Over and over again while Lector was scolding the former yet his concern was also obvious.

"Rogue."

Acknowledging his dragon slayer partner, Rogue turned to look at Sting. "Can you hold her like this?"

Sting timidly scowled, "I-I can throw her over my shoulders?"

"You can't. She's sick." Rogue declared firmly, "She doesn't interest me, so you shouldn't mind me holding her li–"

Rogue was interrupted by what his partner did next.

With a pale face and shaking hands, Sting snatched the unconscious Celestial Spirit mage from the shadow dragon slayer and queerly walked towards the entrance of the mansion. "I-I'm taking her in." the blonde boy yelled to no one in particular.

Rogue, Lector and Frosch stared at the retreating back of the white dragon slayer, bemused expressions written all over their faces.

Sting had never done something like this. He hates carrying anyone this way. Be it his own exceed or the girl he used to fancy.

Rogue wondered if it was still the mark – after all, this was the first time Sting had marked somebody – that was pushing him to act this funny as well.

Just then, he smelled something… Cake? He roamed his eyes around, he strained his ears to hear any noises that'll conclude that there was/were people spying on them ever since this mission started. But Frosch's loud cry wasn't helping.

"Rogue-kun, will Fairy-san live?" he cried out loud.

"Don't be an idiot, Frosch! She won't die…" Lector yelled at his fellow exceed and then glanced up to Rogue in hesitation, "…right, Rogue-kun?"

Rogue drew out a small smile, "She'll be fine when she wakes up."

Relief washed over the two exceeds' faces as their set of wings spread out, flying their way towards the house. But before they could enter the mansion, Frosch looked back, "Rogue-kun, let's check on Fairy-san… Hurry! Hurry!" he yelled, tears still streaming on his face.

Rogue nodded, taking one last cautious look at the surroundings and then followed the two exceeds inside. Maybe he was just being a paranoid, no?

Somewhere behind the bushes and trees...

"Ah, this cake almost got us caught." Erza stared at a box of cake she brought on their way while following Lucy and the other Sabertooth mages. She was worried about their resident celestial mage of course, but passing through an aromatic alley where a bakery stood was just so tough.

Gajeel unnervingly hissed, "We should've shown ourselves so we don't have to hide like this, damn it!"

Flying above their heads, Lily crossed his paws against his chest and asked, "What's your plan now, Earthland Erza?"

Erza cupped her chin in deep concentration, "Hm, you two sit there." She pointed a finger on a bush six feet away, question marks animatedly hung on Gajeel and Lily's heads. "And I'll punish this cake." She continued, still stiff.

Gajeel almost went berserk if not only with Lily restraining him to beat up Erza, who was now eating the cake as the punishment – she claims.

.

to be continued…