Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor anything else associated with Fairy Tail. I only own the plot of the following story and my OCs who help move the story along. (Of course, some of the ideas for my OCs come from research on certain things, or if I found nothing on that, I created it for the sole purpose of this fanfic.)

Author's Note: Two chapters in such a short amount of time! You guys must be really lucky since I've had the creative juices flowing through me.~ So, this chapter, I must say, I enjoyed writing. The thoughts just appeared and I had to write before I lost is all. I'm extrememly excited to have another couple of weeks off from classes. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more. I hope you enjoy this chapter and let the suspense kill you as to what happens next, as my mind is reeling with what should come next. Oh there are so many directions. I know how I want this to end though. Just how do I get there?! Well, as I won't be posting another chapter until after Christmas, Happy Holiday! R&R. Enjoy!~

Chapter 9

Lucy pulled back from the kiss first.

"Lucy, I don't want anyone taking you to him. That's what Vesper's men are going to do if they find us… Please let me look to see if anyone is there for myself."

Lucy complied. "And if no one's there, can we please head back to the cave for now? The sky is creeping me out a bit."

Natsu nodded, glancing up at the sky. The now blood red dawn gave him the creeps too. It made him feel that they wouldn't have much time with each other as he turned and headed towards the brush.

He really wished he hadn't agreed to head back if he didn't see anyone in the brush. He had known someone was there. He had had that feeling that someone definitely was there. If only he had reached in he would've been able to find that person and beat him to a pulp. But now, that didn't matter. Nothing matter but her, yet he couldn't do anything for her. He could only think about her.

Lucy leaned into Natsu, attempting to get as much warmth or more from his as she was getting from the fire.

"Cold, huh?" He smirked.

"A little," she replied. She looked away, leaving Natsu to only see her golden hair shimmer in the fire light. He watched her awhile before he couldn't take it anymore.

Natsu turned her head towards his. He leaned in slowly, letting his nose touch hers. He left their noses touching and rested his forehead to hers. For a moment, or longer, they just sat there, both their eyes closed, as if they were having a mental conversation. Then, Natsu kissed her, slowly.

"Lucy," he whipsered. "I l..."

What was happening to her? Where was she? Was she safe? Natsu hit his head against the wall as best he could. "Lucy can fend for herself… I know she can," he told himself, but his heart didn't agree. Lucy could handle herself well in a fight, but what if she didn't have enough magic energy to summon even Plue...

Lucy snuggled into Natsu. She rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. "Natsu…"

He kissed the top of her head in response. If you can't protect yourself, I will, he thought. He sat staring into the fire, both of them drifting off to sleep.

"NO!" He shook his head. He grappled with the chains that suspended him in midair close to a wall in a pale white-walled chamber, unable to free himself. The chains were made of the densest material known to man, the kind that could even withstand magical attacks. "Let me out of here! Lucy! Lucy!" He couldn't escape the chains.

He couldn't move. Something bound his arms and legs together when he came to. Lucy was not next to him. She was no where in sight. "Lucy?" Natsu whispered, staring at the ground.

"Blondy isn't here, Flamehead."

That smell… Natsu shot his head up toward the voice. "Where is she?" he growled.

"Well, as I approached, someone appeared and whisked her away into thin air."

"Loke…."

"Oh so you know this person? Where might I find them?"

"How should I know?" Natsu barked. He jolted forwards a bit only to find he couldn't even hop to his feet. "Pfft. If I knew, I wouldn't tell you anyway."

"Could it be…" The man grew closer to him. "She's the celestial spirit wizard the whole country adores?"

"I'm such an idiot!" Natsu smacked his head into the wall again, not doing any damaged. (Just how thick is his skull anyway?) "I can't protect her…. not from here… not like this…."

The anklet still glowed red around his ankle. Since he had been brought to this chamber, he noticed the glow brighten. He also found out who exactly that minion of Vesper was that he regretted catching.

Lot was his name. Apparently, so the sob story goes, he had been conned into joining. Then, Vesper had grabbed some sort of hold over him. Lot wouldn't tell Natsu what that hold over him was, but that didn't matter to Natsu. Natsu just wanted to protect Lucy. Protect…that could explain why Lot was working for Vesper… No. Natsu couldn't think about that kind of stuff. He only had one thing focused in his mind.

Lucy sat at a table talking with Levy. They were discussing some book that he hadn't read. Not like it mattered. He was going to pick another fight with Gray, even though Erza would stop them.

"Levy… Gray…everyone..." Natsu muttered. "Surely they're looking for us…Lucy…" The glow on the anklet had increased immensely, draining him of more magical energy. Natsu could barely keep his eyes open.

"Loke…I'm counting on you to...protect...her now..."