Chapter 3: I'll always protect you

*In the present time at Lucy's apartment*

"Nice place you have her, Lucy-chan." Sting said looking around, analyzing each and every part of her apartment.

"You and Rogue stay here while I get some refreshments and maybe we can catch up later." Lucy said heading towards the kitchen. Rogue as usual just kept quiet while putting his exceed, Frosch, on his laps as he sit down on Lucy's couch. For Lucy it was unusual for Rogue to remain quiet since he used to be really talkative when they were still young.

"Here you go." Lucy said coming out from the kitchen bringing out their drinks. Lucy walked towards the two dragon slayers bringing their drinks in a tray when she suddenly tripped herself. Luckily, Lucy was caught by Rogue while Sting caught their drinks when it was about to fall off Lucy's hands.

"You need to be careful, Lucy-chan." Rogue said still holding Lucy next to his chest making Lucy to blush.

"Rogue likes Lucy-chan." Lector said mimicking Happy's everyday catch phrase.

"Fro thinks so too." Frosch said raising her paw with agreement.

"Hmph. You two never changed at all." Sting said snickering at them. Rogue didn't denied what the three commented as he was still holding Lucy next to his chest. When Lucy finally pushed the dark-haired dragon slayer away from her, it made Rogue a bit sad.

After everything that happened a few moments ago, the three friends sat together in Lucy's couch as Lucy was seated in the middle of the two dragon slayers. Two hours had passed ever since their arrival at Lucy's house while they were still chatting the two exceeds had already fallen asleep on the laps of their masters. As they continue to chat, Sting suddenly put his arm around Lucy.

"Do you still remember the night that you gave each of us a kiss on the cheek while we were asleep?" Sting asked looking up to the ceiling.

"W-wha…" Lucy said looking at both dragon slayers with astonishment on her face. She couldn't believe that they knew about that nor she couldn't believe that he still remembered after a long time.

"It has already been 18 years since that day." Rogue said as he petted his exceed. Looking at the time both dragon slayers stood up holding there exceeds on there hands and saying their goodbyes to Lucy. When they were about to go outside, a sudden rumble was heard outside followed by water falling out of the sky.

"I think you guys should spend a night here. I don't want you nor Frosch and Lector to get wet." Lucy said worrying about her friends' condition.

"Thanks Lucy." Sting said accepting Lucy's offer

"No thanks, we'll be alright." Rogue said thinking that they might be a burden to her. Even though Rogue rejected the offer, both Sting and Lucy insisted to Rogue with pleading eyes until Rogue finally gave up and stayed at her place.

"Here you go." Lucy said carrying another set of beds for her childhood friends while their two exceeds who were still asleep took over the couch area. When Lucy finally finish helping Sting and Rogue, she mindlessly walked towards her bed and threw herself in. Two more hours had passed yet Lucy was still wide awake thinking that maybe Sting and Rogue might be awake, too. When she took a quick peek at Sting and Rogue, she saw that both boys were in a deep sleep when she was about to walk away she heard a voice calling out her.

"You couldn't go to sleep, huh, Lucy-chan?" Rogue asked looking at Lucy's restless face.

"It seems like you haven't change at all, Lucy-chan." Sting said awakening from his slumber. Lucy just nodded at both of them thinking that she disturbed them from a restful sleep.

"If you want, you can sleep next to us just like when we were little." Sting suggested rubbing his eyelids. Lucy nodded at them and quickly slept between the two dragon slayers. When Lucy was finally resting she felt someone hugging her. When she opened her eyes, she saw that the two boys were hugging her. Lucy didn't mind if they were kinda squeezing her since she missed the two boys' embrace. Before Lucy fell asleep she whispered to both boys "Thank you…Sting-kun… Rogue-kun" making them to embrace her more. When Lucy had fallen asleep, she didn't know that she moved around facing Rogue. Rogue blushed looking at the sleeping Lucy in front of him.

"Why do you get Lucy-chan all for yourself?" Sting complained to Rogue still hugging Lucy. Rogue looking at Lucy with a soft smile on his face ignoring Sting complained. A few moments later, Sting had fallen asleep after complaining to Rogue but Rogue remained awake looking at Lucy non-stop while brushing her hair with his hands.

"I'll always protect you, Lucy-chan." Rogue whispered kissing Lucy's delicate forehead.

The next day…

It was a beautiful day in Magnolia when the sun was shining and the sky was blue as ever .It was almost eight when the sun rays from the window shone onto the three friends.

Sting was the first one to wake up from the bright light. While he was stretching his arms, he noticed that Rogue and Lucy were still asleep hugging each other. Sting just grin at them and left the room quietly hoping that he won't bother them. A few minutes after Sting left, both friends woke up at the same time just to be surprised by each other's faces.

"G-good morning Rogue." Lucy said backing away from Rogue.

"Good morning to you, too, Lucy-chan." Rogue said calmly after letting go Lucy's body. Both became silent for a longtime until the silence was broken by Sting's voice.

"Oi! Rogue, we should better be going before the salamander comes here." Sting said entering the room. Rogue nodded nonchalantly. As he was about to stand up, he felt a grip on his arms which made him turn around.

"No need to hurry you guys. Natsu went on a mission with Lisanna yesterday and he probably won't be back for another 5 days." Lucy said looking up to Rogue. Suddenly, Sting thought of an idea for the three of them to do.

"If the salamander won't be back for another 5 days, why won't you come along on a mission with us?" Sting said sharing his idea. Lucy thought it wasn't a bad idea since she can hang out with her childhood friends while being on a mission.

"Okay but we need to eat some breakfast before we leave." Lucy said releasing her hand from Rogue's. After eating breakfast, the five headed for Sabertooth since the two dragon slayers can't handle transportation.

"Why didn't we leave last night?" Lector asked flying around his partner.

"It was raining hard last night so Lucy suggested that we stay at her place, aren't you glad that Lucy took as in while it was raining?" Sting said looking up at his flying cat.

"Fro's glad that you took as in." Frosch said flying towards Lucy to thank her face to face. Lucy smiled at Frosch's appreciation for her.

"Fro, don't you get tired of flying for a long time? Do you want me to carry you until we reach Sabertooth?" Lucy asked the frog costume-wearing exceed. Frosch nodded at Lucy and flew towards her hands.

"Fro, thanks Miss Lucy." Frosch said as she made herself comfortable on Lucy's arms. Rogue glanced at his exceed who was in Lucy's arms and smiled thinking that his exceed is already making friends with his childhood friend. Finally arriving at the Sabertooth guild, Sting and Rogue advised Lucy to stay outside while they look for a request on their request board since it's a bit risky if she followed them inside so Lucy was forced to stay outside. Luckily, Lucy wasn't alone. Frosch stayed with her so that Lucy won't feel lonely while waiting for Sting and Rogue.

"So Frosch…"Lucy said getting the attention of the exceed.

"Has Rogue been a nice partner to you?"

"Fro was saved by Rogue and Fro became his partner." Frosch said smiling at Lucy. Lucy was glad to hear that Rogue was still helping people even though he wasn't the same Rogue 18 years ago. As Lucy and Frosch were continuing their talk about Rogue a masked man suddenly interrupted them.

"Lucy Heartfilia, I presume?" asked the masked person. Lucy had a bad feeling with the guy so she reached out for her keys when she was stopped by another man at her back. The man just touched Lucy's neck and Lucy just suddenly fell unconscious into the man's hands. The man also touched Frosch's body so that she won't try to stop them. Before they left, one guy put a note in Frosch's frog costume for some reason and then they suddenly disappear into thin air carrying Lucy with them.

When Sting and Rogue finally went out of the guild, they notice that Lucy wasn't around. While searching for her, Lector discovered Frosch's unconscious body under a tree.

"Oi! I found Frosch but Fairy-san wasn't with." Lector shouted while carrying Frosch towards Rogue.

"Where could she be? I can't even smell her scent." Sting said getting worried.

"Tell me this is not happening again." Rogue said trembling after reading the note that was in Frosch's costume.

"What do you mean?" Sting said getting even more worried after seeing Rogue tremble in fear. Rogue started to run really fast while carrying Frosch in his hands. Before Sting could follow his partner, he was curious to know what was written in the note that made his partner to run really fast. To his surprise, the writings on the note said:

If you want your precious Heartfilia to remain unharmed,

All you have to do is go to Star Island

And have a match with me.

If you win, you can have her but

If you're defeated,

We'll kill her, understand?

I'll only give you 72 hours to come to Star Island

If you're even a minute late,

We'll start to torment her

Until you two appear

Your time starts now.

After reading the note, Sting crumpled it with anger and threw it away.

"No wonder Rogue got all mad" Sting said starting to run after his partner. Lector just looked at his partner, still wondering what Rogue meant by "again."

Sorry if the last sentence is kinda lame
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Sorry for also jumbling the chapter names
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Enjoy and please review it after X3