I left the room as quickly as I could without making any noise, taking a step back slightly as if someone had struck me. My eyes were glossy.

Why did the sight of the blonde crying, curled up on my bed and begging for her mother disturb me so much, why did it anger me so much? I felt like I was a monster for making her cry. She was the only Captain out there now that rivaled my title as most feared and ruthless. I had seen her in action. She was a strong girl yet there she was on my bed crying asking for her mother's help.

Surely if she loved her mother so much she wouldn't have run away? Wait does this mean she can feel love?

What did she mean when she spoke to Gray, saying that in real life Princes don't save Princesses? Of course they do. Who else would save them?

I shook my head, rubbing my face. I was exhausted. The few hours I had gotten of sleep this week, if not haunted by nightmares, were uncomfortable trying to share ice freaks bed which reeked of Gray. I scowled, walking back into my room, not trying to stay quiet now as I looked at the still freezing blonde. She looked up in alarm, her mouth closing and her eyes hardening. I could tell she was holding her breath, tears still came from her glaring eyes. I sighed and walked over, sitting on the bed and moving till I was comfy before wrapping my arms around the curled up blonde who had leaned away but hadn't looked at me since I moved to the bed. She jumped as I tugged on her gently, her wet cheeks and puffy eyes looking at me with surprised, dangerous eyes. The mask hid most of the effects of her crying but you could tell they were red. She didn't say anything, just asked with her eyes. I could practically hear her think it. 'What the hell are you doing?' I didn't answer her, I didn't have an answer; so I just gave her a look and pulled her down gently, laying back into my comfy bed, her curled into my side. I closed my eyes, not planning to sleep. She sniffed but she didn't move as I rose my body temp and she very hesitantly moved closer to me, her shivering slowing down and calming till it eventually stopped.

Her breathing slowed and a few minutes later I was startled that she was asleep. From what Happy had been telling me the only time she slept soundly was when Wendy healed her. A sudden wave of exhaustion rolled over me and I fought it for a moment, starting to open my eyes but when another one hit I closed my eyes, giving in to the call of sleep my body was desperately in need of.

-/-/_?_

I heard a cough and I blearily opened my eyes, wanting to go back into the first peaceful sleep I had had in six months. I saw my first and second mate staring at me, Gray with his arms crossed, standing at an angle slightly, Erza behind him by an inch, angled the other way, her hand on her sword. Both were scowling. I felt something shift beside me and the scent of strawberries and vanilla filled my nose. I turned and saw my enemy in my arms. I gasped and quickly ripped myself off my bed, standing and whipping around as she shrieked and fell off the bed, hitting the ground with a loud thud. She looked up in confusion and surprise, instantly alert yet still disoriented and I snarled, angry more at myself than her for falling asleep.

"What the hell were you doing?!" I barked at her and she furrowed her brows under the mask.

"Nothing?" She asked, slowly starting to pick herself up.

"You were cuddled into our Captains side while he was sleeping." Erza said from behind me, using a my title in the presence of the blonde. Lucy narrowed her eyes.

"What? HE grabbed ME and held me against him." She defended and I could feel their gazes bearing into my back. I snarled and kicked her, hard in the ribs causing her to fall back to the floor. She gasped in pain, looking up for a second to glare in my eyes but I kicked her again, causing her to cough. We both knew the truth, but I was angry at myself and the fact that it was Erza and Gray that found us like that made me angrier and just embarrassed.

"Don't lie." I snapped, reaching my foot back to kick her again in anger but I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back to see Erza giving me a hard look and I growled, spinning around and storming out. Erza followed me and we got onto the helm, me grabbing the railing tightly as I tried to calm myself down.

"Natsu..." Erza said gently and I shook my head. She saw right through my actions.

"I know I know I'm an idiot." I said, covering my face with my hands as I heard her sigh.

"I don't think we should deliver her to her father...something feels wrong." Erza said and I opened my mouth to say something but closed it when the door opened, the blonde walking out with her head down, Gray's hands on her shoulders, guiding her to what I assumed would be his room. I looked at Erza and tilted my head toward my room and we both stepped in.

?-?

I watched Gray carefully as we got into his room. He had a decent sized bed bolted to the floor against the wall, blue sheets and comforter.

"Why am I in here?" I said doubtfully towards him, fixing my mask.

"Because flame brain has anger issues and if he's going to act like that then you need to be in here unless you want him to beat the shit out of you." He said bluntly and I looked down, shuffling my feet slightly.

"Oh..." Was all I said, looking around not knowing what to do. He leaned against a small desk and crossed his arms.

"You can have the bed, I'll share with Erza for tonight." He said simply and I slowly sat down, looking up at him.

"What about the other nights?" I asked and he pointed to the bed.

"I'll be in my bed."

"Where will I be?"

"I don't know...the palace?" He asked and I froze, my face palming.

"A-are we that close?" I whispered and he frowned, tilting his head slightly.

"Well, from what I remember we'll be arriving in Magnolia by morning, then you'll be escorted by a team to right outside the capital. Then we hand you off and get paid." I flinched at what he said and my hands tightened around the edges of his bed.

"O-oh..." I trailed off and it was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"You know...I don't understand why you're so adamant about not going back. If it were me I'd be begging to get there faster. Being waited on hand and foot doesn't sound too bad. You're so ungrateful, choosing this life while others have no choice. You know being a pirate isn't all fun and games." I tensed slightly and shot up, glaring at him.

"You don't know how life like that is. You don't understand. And you have no idea how grateful I am Mr. Tough Ice boy! I was grateful for the people who took me in and hid me from the fucking dogs, who defended me against the soldiers. I didn't care if they were pirates. They took me in and while we may not have all been a close knit group we were damn loyal and it was more than I had had in a long time. If you think that life is so good be my guest and YOU take my place and I'll stay in my ship." I yelled at him and his look of surprise didn't stop me. I was on a roll.

"You're all ignorant! You don't know anything but yet you waltz around like you're better than me, like I'm a child. I'm not. Really how good could my life have had been if I ran away and don't want to go back?" I snapped at him and spun on my heel, walking out quickly. I needed to find Happy, he was the only one close to a friend I had on this ship even if he was annoying. I spotted the blue cat headed toward me, he tilted his head, confused at the upset aura coming off of me.

"Hey Lucy what's wrong?" He asked and I sniffed, looking down, not bothering to correct him. He landed on my shoulder.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asked quietly and I nodded, walking over to a corner of the ship where no one was. I sat down on a barrel and he sat on the edge of the boat, looking tired.

He noticed my look and grinned slightly.

"Sorry, I'm almost out of energy because I've been flying around and carrying things all day." He explained and I nodded. "So what's wrong?" He asked and I sighed.

"I just...I don't wanna go back...and no one understands." I started and he nodded, showing he was listening. "My life at the palace wasn't good...it was really lonely. My mother died when I was little. Before that everything was perfect, my father was kind and loving, Salamander was actually my only friend~" Happy cut me off.

"WHAT?!" He exclaimed and I let out a breath, pushing some hair up and off of my mask.

"It was my mother's idea, to have a bodyguard that was also my friend. The plan was to have us grow up together and he'd serve me for as long as possible. Everything was great. Then when my mom passed away...ehm...after she passed away things changed. Suddenly Salamander disappeared and when I asked my maid she said my father had killed him for trying to steal my crown. My father became distant and cold, he stopped loving me. The only outside interaction I ever got was the parties I was forced to attend to, I had to know the names of every prissy brat around, had to bite my tongue at the pervy rich dukes and Princes. That's how I met June...or as you were told Juvia, at a party. She had a smile on her face but it was like mine. Both of us were miserable. We became friends and held on for each other, only seeing each other on the rare occasion of when we were both at a party but we spoke through letters often. Sometimes when I would try to sneak out of the palace or did something wrong my father would have me beaten. Two years ago after a week of complete isolation and a beating I had had enough and ran. The security were the ones who sent dogs out to look for me. My father didn't care otherwise I would have been caught. The question I keep asking myself is why now...? Two years and suddenly he wants me back?" Happy looked at me with sad eyes, standing and putting a paw on my arm to help balance himself but also to comfort me.

"I'm really sorry Lucy...I didn't know..." He trailed off and we both turned as the door to the captain's room opened and the redhead~ Erza stomped out, clearly pissed off. I moved my arm closer to me subconsciously and I heard a gasp then a squeal. I gasped myself when I looked back over and saw Happy falling down. I waited for his wings to sprout but he hit the water. I waited for a second and he didn't come back up.

Then it hit me. 'Sorry, I'm almost out of energy because I've been flying around and carrying things all day.' My eyes widened.

"HAPPY!" I yelled, drawing attention from everyone on the deck. I ripped off my waist coat and jumped, in the diving position. I hit the water and the breath I was holding left me, the cold shock going through me as I opened my eyes, seeing the exceede starting to sink lower. I forced my frozen legs to move along with my arms, it felt like a century had passed when my arm wrapped around Happy, arching my back and kicking my legs as hard as I could. I broke the surface and gasped for air, the cold water stealing it away as I kept Happy's face above water. I heard yelling and looked to see the ship a few meters in front of us, the waves rolling back and sending the exceed and I both back under water. I almost lost grip of Happy but I dug my nails into his fur. Not worrying if it hurt him at the moment. I saw someone from the ship jump into the water and I narrowed my eyes, starting to swim the best I could with one arm, holding Happy's head above water. I met the person halfway and I recognized Gray. I was breathless and Happy was still unconscious. I grabbed onto Gray desperately, not caring as his hands grabbed my body. Another wave washed over us, sending us apart. I bent, holding Happy tightly I fought for the surface again. My head broke the water and I pulled Happys head up, my body shaking violently.

"Princess Lucy!" Gray yelled, swimming towards me. The ship had slowed down, many heads poking over the railing to watch. I let out a snotty sob, trying to catch my breath as my limbs went numb, coughing up seawater. Gray reached us, grabbing me tightly and pulling me flush against him. He shoved his other hand into the water and an icy bridge formed. He started to pull the three of us up and I tried to help him but my frozen body wasn't of much help. Then, we were out of the water and I was in Grays arms, him cradling me as I cradled Happy. I was shaking hard but Gray seemed almost uneffected. Tch. Ice wizards.

Then we were moving, fast. Was this guy skating? I couldn't really see because my mind was in a haze. A minute later we were being lifted onto the ship and then I was gone from Grays arms and on the deck of the ship, Happy being taken from my grasp. I didn't move, my limbs not responding. I blinked hard as I was picked up again, this time the arms were warm, really warm, but it didn't seem to seep into me. I groaned lowly, the icy feeling acting as if I was on fire but without the heat. I was laid down on something soft and saw pink hair. Wendy turned Happy over on his side and a second later he was barfing up water onto the deck of the ship. I was panting hard and I distantly heard a female voice speak up.

"Get her clothes off before she goes into complete shock!" My gaze was stuck on the pink haired man as he hesitated for half a second before reaching forward, popping my corset and pushing it off of me. I wanted to shriek and slap him but again, I was frozen. I felt my boots, socks, and pants come off before, "I'm not taking off any more." Salamander growled awkwardly. Thank God.

"You don't have too, just grab Happy and hold Princess Lucy tightly. Raise your temperature high." The girls voice commanded.

"But-" he tried to argue and the girl cut him off.

"Natsu half of her body is blue! Do you want her to die from hypothermia?!" He growled at the voice before falling on his side. I felt my body tugged tightly against him, Happy's body laid on his side. Both of us were shivering hard, my teeth chattering slightly. Suddenly there was an immense heat radiating off of Salamander. I slowly started to close my eyes, exhaustion taking over my body and everything went black.

-edited version-