This was hard to write... in many ways...

Natsu's eyes widened as the information processed. "Lucy's in surgery?" He said finally. "And no body told me?!" His voice became dark, almost a feral growl. "What the hell happened?"

Gray, or at least he thought it was Gray, shifted uncomfortably as Erza continued, ignoring his interruption. "She's gone under surgery to repair the scar tissue in her ears that renders her hearing... sub-parr. She's been in there for about an hour and should be out soon. There is. No need. For you. To panic."

"Panicking?" Natsu asked, incredulous, his throat feeling a lot better now. "Panicking? Why should I panic? The love of my life is in surgery for something I don't understand and oh, yeah, NO BODY TOLD ME FOR A FREAKING HOUR!"

"You were asleep." Erza offered easily. "Porlyusica forbade us from waking you."

Natsu shivered, his rage slowly ebbed away at the unspoken horror of defying the people-hating doctor. "Alright," He finally said. "What do we do now?"

"For now," Gray answered. "We wait."

Lucy cracked her eyes open slowly and turned her head to the side. A slight rustling registered low in her ear and she froze. Timidly she repeated the action, not sure if she was actually hearing or if she was still dreaming.

Light footsteps entered the room followed by a deep, male voice. "I see you've awoken, Miss Lucy." She looked up to see the slim but fit form of Rogue approaching as he fiddled with wires and machines that were placed around the room. "Can you hear me?"

She nodded and then winced as her head began to spin. Closing her eyes tightly she gritted her teeth until the tumbling sensation passed. Rogue continued his fiddling, though. "I see the anaesthetics have yet to wear off fully, you shouldn't be woozy for much longer but I don't advise any sudden movements."

He finally approached her and reached for her ears, gingerly removing the wrappings that ran along her forehead. Once removed he smiled. "You're healing nicely. The bandages need to stay on for a few more days, though, to protect the ear from infection or damage." He proceeded to rewrap her head as the blonde did nothing more than stare.

"I can hear you." She finally said. Rogue had turned away to scratch something onto a clip board, but she heard the soft rumble of a chuckle erupt from him. He smiled when he turned back to her, "Yes, Miss Lucy. Maybe not a lot now, because those cute little ears of your's are still healing but yes, you can." Th e last bit was softer and more tender.

Lucy's smile split her face as she felt tears running down her cheeks. "I can hear you." She repeated softly, more to herself. "I can hear me."

Rogue watched this with a smile of his own. Reaching over to the controls he raised the blonde's bed to a more seated arrangement and helped her settle herself. "I'll go let that cute little Wendy that you're awake. Is there anything you need?"

The blonde seemed to think before she looked at him and nodded. "A glass of water, a radio, and..." She trailed off, her eyes suddenly uneasy as they looked up through her thick lashes. "I-if you could, I-i'd like a... piano." The word was spoken so softly he barely caught it and although the request seemed a bit odd to him, he nodded.

If she wanted a piano, then he'd do his best to get her one.

Natsu watched as the dark haired man left, said something to Wendy, and then returned a while later, sporting a large box under his shoulder. Wendy had disappeared after speaking with the man and Natsu was sure he knew something about Lucy.

"Hey, dude with the giant box of unknown contents!" He shouted, effectively gaining the man's attention. He pointed to himself in questioning because there was totally another dude with a giant box. "Yes, you!" The dark haired man raised a brow, but complied, leaning the bow precariously against the wall.

"What is it dude with pink hair of unknown origin?" The man greeted easily, effectively mocking him two-fold.

Natsu, however, uncharacteristically brushed the remark off and got down to business. "Is Lucy out of surgery yet?" The man smiled and raised a brow. "Oh?" He asked mischievously. "You wish to know about Miss Lucy? Well if you must know, she's been out of surgery for a while. The actual procedure only takes about twenty minutes, you see. She just recently woke from the anaesthetics and asked me to get this."

He gestured to the box and then smirked. "Wanna guess what's in it?"

Natsu took a second to ponder this, only a second mind you, before blurting confidently, "A piano."

The dark haired man seemed to falter before nodding, reshouldering the box. "She'll be okay for visitors in a bit. I'll let you know when she's ready."

That said he returned to his original task and carried to electric piano easily back to the room Lucy was using to recover.

The blonde turned gleaming eyes to him as he entered, eyeing the box almost hungrily. The radio was set on a station that played music from recent bands and singers and Lucy appeared to be quite content listening to Young Volcanoes by Fall Out Boy. "I've got the piano," He announced. "But it appears some assembly is required. Bare with me?"

She nodded eagerly, then closed her eyes tight as her brain scrambled. He chuckled at this and ripped the box open, plugging the large plank into the wall and laying it over her lap. The blonde's eyes were wide and watery as her fingers brushed the plastic keys. Tentetively she depressed the Eb key, breathing in and out slowly as the sound swelled and then faded.

With determination in her movements she splayed her fingers over the white and black keys. with easy movements she played quick scales one after the other. Her face lit with her smile as she played an insrtumental to the songs that were just being played. Her fingers fanning and striking with practised ease. Her eyes slid closed as she changed songs.

The slow melody swelling and growing with every key stroke, fading and swooping with every strike. Rogue found himself closing his eyes as the music filled the room. He now knew why he had met this woman. He was to return to her a virtue that had been wisked from her grasp. One that she needed, it's absence was a trial, a test of will and strength.

She had appearantly passed.

So this is not, in fact, the last chapter. That would be cruel. But, it is coming. Next time.