CHAPTER ONE

6 months later

...

The guild was silent as Lucy entered. It had been three months since she had disappeared and speculations had gone around, nothing was good. She nervously walked towards her boyfriend who had his head down with a glaring Lisanna beside him, hoping to hear his cheerful voice.

"Natsu..." At her voice, Natsu raised his head suddenly to stare at her. Looking at her wounded body he sneered nastily.

"So your happy ever after was never true huh? What happened with your prince?" At this Lucy flinched. They said it was going to turn out like this, said she still suffer while laughing at her pitiful form as she tried to escape. "Did he find you to be the bitch you really are HUH?"

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" At her outbreak, she received more glares than before. Lisanna stood up and took a threatening step towards her. "Natsu please listen to me! I didn't abandon you! I promise I wasn't part of what happened! You have to believe me!"

SLAP

The sound resounded throughout the whole guild like a bomb. Lisanna stood in front of Lucy, her hand still held up, as if about to deliver another blow.

"So you're saying that I didn't walk in and see Natsu half dead on the floor? If you weren't part of the plan, WHERE WERE YOU? Why take so long to come back? Afraid, scared? GUILTY?" At the last word, Lisanna slapped her so hard she fell. Nobody moved to stop the attack, or even help. Lucy did not have the strength to lift herself off the ground, staring pleadingly towards Natsu.

"Please Natsu, you have to help me..."

"Oh, so you need help now? Why should I help you when all I will get is betrayal in return?"

"NATSU! Please, you have to believe me!" The boy just looked at the scene before him emotionlessly. There was no hurt, no anger left on his face. It was like a punch to Lucy's guts, his lack of feelings showing the end of their relationship. "What about the promise Natsu? What happened to the trust?"

"What promise? You really think I would promise to trust a whore like yourself?" His smirk was the final straw. Understanding that she was never going to be heard above the rumours, Lucy lost confidence and belief. Showing no pain in her expression, she got to her feet slowly and stared at the man she loved with all her heart. The man she would still love after this incident.

"I understand"

...

Natsu stared in front of him, shocked. He had expected a big confrontation, expected Lucy to beg for him to take her back to the point of sobbing. He had not expected the tired look in her eyes, or a face wiped of any feelings. In her state, he had predicted her not even able to stand up; forget about walking out of the guild again, with her head held high.

"I understand" Her last statement spoke of finality, the last thing he had wanted. However, her own actions had caused this. Natsu shook his head to clear it of any guilt; Yes, Lucy had caused this by betraying her guild, her friends, and her so called love. She deserved the pain and the anger towards her.

Grimly, he got to his feet and headed towards the door.

"Hey, where you goin'?" Macao had noticed his actions. "You gonna apologise or somethin'?"

Several members murmured nastily at that comment. Natsu himself just bared his teeth at the thought, finding humour in Lucy's pain.

"No, just gonna warn the bitch never to come back!" His words were reflected in the slam of the door and the cheer of the crowd.

...

"Lucy!"

At the call of her name, Lucy turned back to see Natsu following her. Tamping down any hopes, she waited for him to stop beside her and speak.

"So you gave up huh? Knew that it wouldn't do you any good?" Lucy smiled resignedly, she knew it was too good to be true; however she didn't speak, just waited patiently for Natsu to carry on. "I just came to let you know that the guild does not welcome you back."

Ah! The reason came at last. Chuckling humourlessly to herself, she just stared at the man in front of her and waited for more.

"I couldn't care less what happens to you but even if you might die, don't come back. We won't help you in any way, shape or form. You are nothing to us now and will remain nothing for the rest of your life." With everything said Natsu glanced at Lucy, surprised to see no reaction.

"Did you really expect me to come back? Wow, you really never did trust me did you?" looking ahead of her, Lucy swallowed a sob and knew she could not hold up a brave front any longer. She sharply turned back to the road and started her journey forward again.

"I will never return, even if you beg me to."

She continued on and turned to walk down an alleyway to release anymore tears in the quiet and the dark. After some time, she noticed another presence beside her.

"Who is it?"

Gray stepped into the light, watching her emotionlessly as he blocked the way behind him with an ice wall.

"I've heard Natsu and Lisanna's story of what happened on the mission, but I won't believe it until I hear yours. Did you really plan Natsu's death?"

Lucy shook her head, not bothering to wipe the evidence of tears. She took in a shaky breath and knew that Gray may be her saviour if he did believe her.

"I can tell you my side of the story, but only if you first promise to help me."

Continuing to look at the person in front of him, Gray thought of what the promise may be. The frantic shaking displayed a genuine fear for something and he knew it was the only way to figure out the truth.

"Tell me first, what is it you want me to help you with?"

"Protect Natsu's baby after I die."

To Be Continued

GASP!

Oh my gosh , the TENSION! Lol anyway for the people who may not get this chapter. The truth will be revealed soon. Just support this story by reading as I update and hopefully I will get the next chapter ready in a few days

Au Revoir!