Lucy stirred from the strange noises in her room. Trying to blink sleep away she opened her eyes to see the outline of Natsu and Happy sitting on her bed. "Guys? What are you doing here so late?" She asked sleep riddling her voice as she started to sit up.

Happy was the first to respond. With fresh tears in his eyes he lunged forward and clung to the celestial mage, "Lucy! We had really bad nightmares again! Can we please stay here?"

Startled she instantly responded to the bundle of fur by wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Shhh it's ok Happy." She cooed in a motherly fashion while she began stroking his fur in an attempt to sooth his tears. Finally taking in what he had said she realized that he didn't only refer to himself but also Natsu. Furrowing her brow she looked to the man sitting on her bed, "Natsu what happened?"

The aforementioned man looked down embarrassed and scratched his head. "It's like he said." He mumbled out.

Lucy frowned. Looking down to Happy who had finally stopped sobbing she asked, "Happy, can you tell me what the nightmare was about?"

Happy shook a little remembering. Taking a look to Natsu he wanted to be sure the man would let him tell her this time. When he noticed he sat quietly Happy started talking, "Well, it's the same one we've been having for a while. Since we came back from Crocus." Fresh tears welled up as he continued, "It's about… it's when…" Sobbing once more and burrowing into Lucy's embrace he wailed, "YOU DIED!"

Shocked, she absentmindedly continued to shush the poor exceed while stroking him. He had said since they came back. So for weeks they had been plagued with this? Her frown deepened, why hadn't they told her? Was this the reason they clung to her so much? Sighing she took in the forlorn look on her friends face. Natsu looked to be in a battle within his mind and she could only guess that it was whether or not to feel like his pride had been damaged. Happy had ousted him in a sense. Smiling sadly she scooted over and lifted the covers to her side. "Come on Natsu," she said patting the bed next to her.

Natsu was startled by her request. Given that her offer was exactly what he wanted, it didn't seem normal for her however. As he had guessed Happy was received with open arms, but his companion had told her about his plight as well. As he watched Happy be consoled he couldn't help be slightly jealous of the fact. Normally he wanted to hold or touch Lucy in some way but with recent events it had been hard to keep himself from doing so. Because of this she would lash out more often about him being to close. That was another reason he didn't want her to know just how bad these damn nightmare were affecting him.

Normally she would just give the bed up to the two of them but here she was telling him to climb in with her and Happy. Was he right? Now that she knew would she willingly console him as well? Would she remember in the morning? "You're not going to get mad and kick me in the morning are you?" he asked still unsure if he should accept the offer.

Chuckling a bit at his question she replied, "Well so long as you don't act like an idiot and wake me up in the morning or burn my place down, I promise I won't kick you in the morning." Meeting his eyes she smiled, "Who knows if I wake up in a good mood I might even make you guys some breakfast." Adjusting the now sleeping exceed to her stomach she laid back down looking once more to Natsu. She couldn't help laugh lightly when she saw his grin.

As her words wormed their way into his skull he couldn't help the smile. Not only did he get to sleep in Lucy's bed but she'd be there too and on top of that if he let her sleep she'd make him breakfast! All hesitation left as he kicked off his shoes and tossed himself onto the bed and pulled the blankets over. He sighed deeply and mumbled, "Comfiest bed in the world." Taking a deep breath through his nose he relished in the scent that screamed of Lucy. He was startled from his almost slumber when he felt a hand in his hair. It was soothing and he had to admit he liked it. Was this what it was like for Happy? Wondering if Lucy was doing this on purpose or not he called out to her in a whisper, "Luce?"

In the moments it took for Natsu to make himself comfortable Lucy's mind raced. They too had been just as affect as her yet none of them spoke about it. She was sure Happy would have spoke up sooner if not for Natsu stopping him. But that left the question as to why he would stop him. She could only guess his own pride had tried to make him act 'manly' as Elfmen would say, and bear the weight on his own. That thought made her frown. Everyone was deserving of comfort once in a while, and if the expression she had seen moments earlier had been any indication he needed some now.

Not only him, but she as well needed something. Given with him so close she could tell he was there but still she needed to confirm in her mind that both of them were there with her. Since Happy was snoring peacefully on her stomach he was easy. Biting her lip she made a decision. Blushing a bit at what she was about to do she steeled her resolve and reached over. Trying to be comforting to the man she began stroking his head like she does for Happy so often and hoped it would work. She pulled away as if he had lit himself on fire however, when he called her name. "Sorry, I thought it would help." She mumbled quietly blushing harder than she was before.

Natsu frowned at the loss of her hand. It had left such a nice feeling and he hadn't meant for her to stop. Rolling over to look at her he said, "It did, but…" He hesitated for a moment. Should he do what he wanted? She was normally so against close contact but he really just wanted that at the moment. Shaking his head he said to hell with it, he wasn't one to second guess his actions. He'd give her some warning though in hopes she wouldn't try to beat the hell out of him for what he was about to do. "Hey Lucy?" He asked. Hearing her hum of response he continued, "I'm going to try something but if you get mad just tell me, ok? I'll stop I promise."

Lucy opened her eyes only to be met with a strange expression she couldn't quite read on Natsu's face. Intrigued at his request she nodded and said, "Ok, I trust you."

Nodding to his own determination Natsu wasted no time in closing the distance between them. Lifting her arm up he dropped his head to her chest so his ear was directly above her heart and placed her hand back onto his head, while he wrapped his arms around her hips careful not to wake up Happy. Normally if he listened he could hear her heart beat but from his new position it sounded like an out of control drum. He frowned again, "I'm sorry you're mad I'll move." He said dejectedly. Before he could move though she stopped him.

"No wait." She said as she moved her arm to his shoulders trying to keep him in place. "I'm not mad…. just... surprised." A bit embarrassed and flustered too if she might add. Shaking that thought she did realize that the position they were in wasn't only intimate, but in this case it was more like a child seeking comfort. Trying to focus on that outlook of how they were she forced her heart to slow down. All three of them needed just this in this moment and she wouldn't let her other emotions get in the way. Smiling a bit to herself she returned to stroking his head in a calming manner. The action wasn't only soothing to him but she felt herself falling asleep as well. "Goodnight Natsu."

"Night Luce," he mumbled a reply against her shifting closer and burrowing further into her embrace.

So this is where I am in this... I'd really like some feedback I mean I could keep going with this but I don't really want to if no one wants to read it... If that's the case I'll pull this and add it to the trash bin with many other random ideas I've had LOL