Chapter eleven! Thank you guys so much for the reviews! You beat last chapter and that was just awesome! Hope you all enjoy this chapter too!

Warning! Some NaLi coming up! You've been warned!

Disclaimer: Same old same old. FT, Mashima Hiro-sensei's.

Beneath The Southern Cross

Chapter XI – Another Person

Levy could have hugged Jellal by the time she was awake enough to take in fully the book he was handing to her.

"I don't really know if it's going to be useful, but I'm sure this is a book about Dragons. A very ancient one."

"Where did you find this?" she asked, looking carefully at the volume on her hands.

"On the cemetery Gajeel-san found during the Daimatou Enbu of two years ago." He explained. "It was hidden beneath the bones."

"Thank you, Jellal. Thank you very much."

He nodded.

"Thank Erza. She is the one who had me looking."

"I will." She smiled, hugging the book tightly.

Levy got back to her working desk, and Jellal nodded to Porlyusica, ready to leave town once again.

"If she needs anything, Erza has a way to contact me."

"Alright. Thank you, Mystogan." Porlyusica also nodded to him, in acknowledgement.

She had known the real Mystogan, the Jellal from Edolas, and because of that, she was naturally inclined to like Earthland Jellal as well. However, more than this, he wasn't one to impose his presence – and that was something Porlyusica valorised enormously.

With the man gone, she took her eyes back to the bluenette girl working on the book as if her own life depended on it. Rogue had sat by her side, watching her intently. Porlyusica pitied him – she knew how one sided love could be hurtful.

"Is this a language you understand?" he asked as she passed yet another page of the old book.

"No, not really. But it's not too different from the basic ancient language, so all I have to do is figure out some of the vocabulary and syntax."

"And that's easy?"

"Oh, yes. After you're used to it."

She never failed in amazing him. Maybe it was that the reason why he admired her so much. No one could really surprise Rogue like Levy did so frequently. Putting her glasses back on, her reading speed increased more than ten times. She would take less than thirty minutes to finish that book.

"Here, I find it!" she exclaimed, her fingers pointing the passages on the book.

Rogue looked at them, but those runes meant absolutely nothing to him.

"It explains about the marks… Nothing you guys hadn't told us already…"

She kept going through the lines, this time more carefully, in a slower pace.

"In the case of a duel… if two dragons are fighting for the same mate, the stronger one will always have the stronger mark."

Rogue grimaced.

"Natsu-san humiliated us in battle. If that's the answer… Is no answer at all, really."

"Shush, is not all." She didn't even bothered to look at him. "If the mark is done accidentally, which, apparently, is common between real dragons… The only way of undoing it is by the marker showing its love for someone else."

Levy dropped the book, her eyes filling up with tears. It could be done. She could undo the mess she had turned her friend's life into.

"I need to go see Lisanna."

Rogue raised an eyebrow.

"Why her?"

Levy smiled to him, the tears running through her cheeks.

"She will be the one to save Lu-chan."

Natsu had fallen asleep on her lap. Her face was bright red as she stared at his face. It was good to see him relaxing a little bit. And it was even better to see he felt so comfortable around her.

"Hmmm…" he moaned in his sleep. "Lisanna…"

Lisanna laughed softly. What could he possibly be dreaming about? She ran a hand through his hair, undoing some of the tangles. She wondered if he ever brushed his hair. She was sure the answer was "no". Natsu was pretty much careless about everything that didn't involve his magical power.

In a sudden swift move, he pulled her by the arm, making her lie beside him. Lisanna felt her face grow hotter.

"Natsu?"

However, he wasn't awake. His eyes were still closed, and his face was still serene. She blushed even more. A sleeping man was trying to take advantage of her. However, her heart was more than content. If a sleeping moment was all she was going to have… It was fine by her.

She knew Natsu had really no space in his life to romantic love. He was very busy getting stronger in order to meet with his father once again. She had always been hopeful, though. Lisanna always told herself that, once Natsu found Igneel, he would open his heart to love.

But, then, she met Lucy, and she was sure the Stellar Spirit Mage was the one he had chosen. Until she started dating Sting. Lisanna felt guilty for being so selfish, but when she heard about that… It was one of the best days of her life.

But Natsu was still clueless, so, she was forced to go back to her first theory. And now, there she was… Lying beside him on her couch, with his nose very close to her neck and his arms firmly wrapped around her.

"Lisanna…" he mumbled again in his sleep.

She smiled.

"I'm here, Natsu." She said in a soft tone. "I'll always be here."

With a boldness she never knew she held inside her, she touched his lips with her own, pressing lightly.

The touch was enough to make him open his eyes, shocked.

"Lisanna?" he mumbled to her lips.

She just smiled to him.

"I won't apologize for that, Natsu. You were the one taking advantage of me on your sleep."

He was serious for a minute, his brows closed together, as if he was thinking very hard about something.

"You know, when Lucy first started going out with Sting, I was so mad about it I kissed her."

Lisanna felt her heart twist in pain. Where was he leading that conversation?

"Why are you telling me this, Natsu?"

"I kissed her, but I didn't feel anything. I only did it because… Well, I didn't trust Sting and I surely didn't want my best friend around him." He looked at her more intently, gently placing a hand on her cheek. "I don't exactly what I felt right now, but… I felt something, Lisanna."

Lisanna felt her eyes fill up with tears. Was he really telling her what she thought he was telling her?

"Can you explain to me what is this feeling?"

"No, Natsu, I can't explain it to you."

He saw disappointment on his eyes, and it made her chuckle in amusement.

"But I surely can show you."

Getting on top of him, she pressed her lips against his. He opened his mouth to let her tongue in, immediately tangling his on hers. Her taste felt delicious. There were still some traces of the tea they drank earlier. Green tea with Lisanna. What a good mix.

Sting dropped the bowl he was washing when he heard Lucy scream. He hurried to her room.

"Lucy!"

She was holding her neck, her beautiful face twisted in a painful expression.

"Sting!" she called, standing a hand to him. "Sting, make it stop, please."

He took her hand, kneeling beside her bed.

"What are you feeling?"

"It's burning… It hurts, please make it stop."

He gently brushed away the hand holding her neck. Natsu's mark was glowing in tones of yellow, red and orange, just like a real flame. He got in bed with her, holding her tightly against him.

"I'm sorry, Luce, but I don't know what's happening." He hated to admit it. How many times would he have to see her suffer without being able to do anything?

However, when she hugged him back, he understood whatever was happening, it would turn out to be good. She was hugging him. She wasn't nauseated.

"I'm here, okay? Everything will be fine."

She nodded to his chest, holding him even tighter, trying not to succumb to the horrible feeling. The fire seemed to be eating her from the inside out. However, holding Sting made her feel safe like she never thought she could be. Even inside all that maddening pain, it felt just so right.

He told her she had just forgotten him… But how could she forget such a feeling? That was when she noticed she wasn't feeling nauseated. So, all along, was it the mark's fault?

Lisanna was loving to feel his strong hands on her waist, burning her skin with the intimate touch. Fairies! She had dreamed about it for so damn long! Her hands wandered through his muscular chest, trying to memorize every little detail. She needed him desperately.

"Natsu…" she moaned in pleasure, biting his lower lip lovingly. She wouldn't mind if they lost some of their clothes. It would definitely feel nice to have his bare skin against hers.

"Lisanna." He groaned.

They were slightly aware that there was someone knocking on the door, however, they were too caught up into each other to care about it. But as the person persisted, they started to realize it might be something important.

"Don't move." She asked him as she got up from the couch and headed to the house's entrance.

"Levy? Is anything wrong?"

"Lisanna, I need your help!" the bluenette shouted, desperate. "You're the only who can-" however, the words got caught up in her throat.

Suddenly take in Lisanna's state, Levy was just speechless. Her hair was a mess and so were her clothes, which she was trying very hard to fix. Levy's eyes filled up with tears.

"Were you and Natsu making out?" she asked, her tone not betraying her true feelings.

Lisanna's pale skin got redder than Erza's hair.

"I… uuuhhh… We…"

With no warnings, Levy jumped into her neck, hugging her nakama with true adoration.

"Thank you, Lisanna! Thank you so much!"

"What? I don't understand." Lisanna was even more embarrassed now.

"I read on the book! If the Dragon Slayer who did the mark shows love towards another person other than his marked mate, the mark will disappear!"

Natsu was behind Lisanna in less than one second.

"Are you serious, Levy?" he asked, filled with a hope that had been missing inside him ever since he marked Lucy.

"Yes, I am!" the McGarden was already crying freely.

"Should we head to her place?" Lisanna asked, as excited as her two friends.

"No." Natsu was the one to answer. "Sting is with her now, let's let them have their moment."

Lucy slowly opened her eyes. The pain was gone, finally. She felt lucid again, finally. And to add with all that, the hole in her heart was finally gone. As everything came back to her in one violent wave, she hugged Sting tighter, letting the tears flow once again.

He felt her hugging her back, and she couldn't be more thankful for that small caring gesture.

"I'm so sorry, Sting. So, so sorry."

"What are you talking about?" he asked, smiling at her. He couldn't know she had remembered it all, could he?

"I love you, Sting. I'm so sorry I made you suffer like that."

The words hit him deeply. Was she… Has she just…?

He pulled her a bit, wanting to see her face.

"Do you… Do you remember?"

She nodded.

"I'm really sorry."

"Don't be silly. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't even his fault, the more I hate to admit this. He saved you, Lucy. If you forgetting me was the price of your life… I can't blame him for doing it."

"It's over now. I remember everything. I love you. I love you. I love you."

He gently wiped her tears away.

"I love you too, Lucy."

"Thank you for not abandoning me."

That made he feel a little bit guilty.

"You have to thank Yukino for that too. If it wasn't for her… I might have been in a dark place right now."

Lucy nodded.

"I'll do that."

With her feelings rightly poured out, that was still another thing she wanted to cry for.

"I lost our baby."

Although he loved the way that sounded, "our baby", unfortunately, there was nothing for him to be happy about.

"I didn't even know but… It's so depressing. I had this little life inside of me for 8 weeks. A life there was half me, half you. But now…"

He held her once again.

"Shhh…" he whispered soothing. "It doesn't matter, babe. You remember. We can try again any time you want, okay?"

She snuggled into his warm embrace.

"Do you really want to have this kind of bond with me forever, Sting?"

He snorted.

"Are you fucking kidding me? After all this shit I'm staying with you forever."

She smiled, even though he couldn't see her face at the time.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm dead serious."

"I'm glad."

He also smiled, resting his chin on the top of her head. With a sudden inspiration, he got up, bringing her up with him. He, then, kneeled in front of her.

Lucy felt her heart accelerate. What was he going to do?

"Lucy Heartfilia, Stellar Mage of Fairy Tail, would you give me the honour to be my wife?"

Lucy placed a hand over her mouth, trying to hide the sobs caused by her tears.

"Yes! Of course, yes!"

He got up once again, smiling the biggest smile she had ever seen on his face.

"Then, I guess I'm moving to Fairy Tail."