This chapter is dedicated to my beautiful friend Talulah! Congrats on your recovery girl! On a side note… 1, 000 reviews! OMG! I love you all so much, thank you for sticking with me I hope for this to go on a while longer but I'm running out of ideas fast. D: Anyway, cover competition is still open, post your entry on Devianart and PM me your name so I can look at it! Thanks again and here is the story.

Rose: Can someone say the disclaimer please?

Gajeel: The Disclaimer please.

Rose: *loading, loading, loading, loa-* YOU LITTLE SMART ASS!
Gajeel: Gi hee.

Rose: I was going to be nice and update something about Levy so you knew what was happening with her. But I won't now.

Gajeel: *panics* Levy!

Rose: *runs clutching her computer* NO! NOT TELLING!

Gajeel: ROSE DOESN'T OWN FAIRY TAIL! OKAY I SAID IT NOW HAND OVER THAT COMPUTER!
Rose: I DELETED IT *sticks out tongue*

Gajeel: I WILL KILL YOU!

Also to the people I was PMing, I'm sorry I teased you. ('Cept Ta-neechan, because that will really happen. Maybe. XD) When the people are talking to themselves. When it's like this it's them and when it's like this, it's that stupid little voice in the back of their heads.

-Lucy-

I look down at his pale face and hold back the tears that are threatening to spill over. Don't die, don't die, please Rogue, don't die, don't die, don't… Please.

"You're still alive." I say it so quietly I couldn't hear it myself, but I felt like it was important to say. I was trying to convince myself he wasn't dead.

He'll be okay Lucy. I look up at Cobra and he smiles tightly. I frown.

Lier.

Your worried face isn't doing him any good. We need to start training. Fro and Lector said they'll stay with him.

I shake my head vigorously. I won't leave him. What if Sting comes back?

Cobra strides over and pulls me up by my arm. Do you honestly think that Laxus will let Sting out of his sight? And if he did come back, you wouldn't be able to stop him.

He tugs on my arm and I squeak in pain. There was no way I could leave him. Not now, I didn't need to train today. I wasn't going to do the fighting anyway. Cobra lets me go and I land on the bed. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs.

Whatever.

He walks away and I give a half-hearted smile.

Thanks.

I sit in the chair beside his bed. Wendy had left with Carla and Wendy about half an hour ago. Natsu and Happy were waiting for Cobra so they could leave and Laxus… Well, he was probably putting Sting in his place. Again. Fro comes over to sit in my lap, I wrap one arm around her and rest on Rogue's arm.

"Lucy is Rogue-kun going to be okay?"

"Yeah." I say, I can't help it. Her eyes are staring into me and I feel as though she could break if I tell her the truth. I don't know.

Absently I stroke Fro's head, she'd pulled back the hood and her ears stood straight. One of her ears had a large chunk missing. It looked like it'd been torn out with teeth, the edges of it were light pink and and it didn't seem to hurt her. I scratch behind the ear and Fro purrs.

"Fro thinks so too!" I smile at the Exceed, this was obviously taking a huge toll on her. I knew the feeling. Rogue hadn't spoken, his eyes stayed closed and the only movement was the shallow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. I couldn't leave the room for fear he would start coughing up blood again, and I wouldn't hear. I was scared he would choke on his own blood. I hear a sort of gurgling noise and look around the room. Lector, who was picking up feathers and torn bits of fabric, stands up with an embarrassed expression on his face.

"Sorry. I didn't eat this morning. Where can I get some grub around here?"

"There's food on the table." I inform him obligingly. "You should eat to Fro-nyan.
Fro giggles at the nickname then looks up at me with her big eyes. "You'll stay with Rogue-kun right?"

I nod and she leaves the room with Lector. I take Rogue's hand in mine and flinch when I feel that there's no warmth coming from him anymore. A few seconds later I hear some loud crashes.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Slightly worried I tune in to their minds.

What the hell? Stupid Dragon Slayers ate all the god damned food. And I'm starving.

Rogue-kun didn't get to eat today. I'm a little hungry, but Lector eats lots more than I do. Did Lucy eat? I hope she's not hungry…

Lector comes storming into the room. "LUCY! THEY ATE EVERYTHING! AND LOOK!" He thrusts a spoon under my nose. Well, it used to be a spoon. The handle had been torn off and teeth marks decorated the edge. I raise an eyebrow.

"When did Gajeel get back?"

"That's not the point! He ate everything else! All the knives and forks and spoons and he even ate parts of the pots!"

"He's good. I didn't even know he came back. And Dragon Slayers are pretty noisy eaters you know."

He crosses his arms and I hold back a laugh. "Doesn't change the fact that I'm hungry."

This time I laugh outright. He glares at me until I've calmed down. "Sorry. It's just that Sting said the exact same thing with the same expression on his face awhile back."

Fro wanders into the room and the Mirajane in me sparks.

"Why don't you both go shopping for more utensils? And you can grab something to eat while you're at it."

Fro's eyes regain some of their original sparkle. "And a present for Rogue-kun?"

I nod. "Why not?" I toss my purse to Lector and he catches it no problem. I couldn't be sure but I thought he was blushing under that coat of his.

"Lucy, you won't leave him will you? Even to use the bathroom? You'll make sure he's safe?"

"I'm not going anywhere Fro." I assure her. After I do, she practically drags Lector out of the room. I turn back to Rogue. I wouldn't have been half as worried if I could hear him, but there was nothing. Not even a fuzzy connection. It worried me, according to Cobra I should be able to hear sleeping and unconscious people, though it wouldn't be as clear, if someone was dreaming I would be able to read their dream and the like. But I couldn't get anything from Rogue. I push deeper into his mind but after 15 minutes of strenuous 'digging' I couldn't find anything and had exhausted myself from the effort. I lay my torso on the bed, head resting on Rogue's chest. My eyes flutter shut as the movement of his chest and sound of his heart beat lull me to sleep.

-Rogue- (So yeah, he's not dead. At least…*Evil smirk* Not yet.)

"You're still alive." That voice, I know it. I know this voice. It's so beautiful and soothing. I can't help but believe it. But this pain in my chest is terrible. I wonder what happened? Was I in a fight or something? Why can I only hear voices? Why not other sounds too? I want to see who this voice belongs to. I wonder what she looks like? An angel maybe? I want to see her face. I try to open my eyes but for some reason my body won't respond. I stare gloomily into the darkness when I see a small girl with long blue hair walk towards me. Her name comes to my lips without much effort.

"Wendy."

But my real body isn't the one who says it. It's the phantom of my body that's in my mind right now.

"Hi Rogue-san. I'm glad to see you're doing okay. I'm not the real Wendy though." She smiles.

"You're not?"

"No. When Wendy practices her magic on certain people I appear and guide them in returning to their bodies. She's not even aware of it you see."

"Return to my body? Am I not in it anymore?"

"Listen, and tell me what you hear."

I strain my ears but I can't hear a sound, not even my own breathing.

"Nothing." I say.

"You see? Your soul is still intact but your spirit is gone."

"I'm not going to have to go on one of those agonisingly long 'spirit trips' to recover my lost spirit and love and whatever am I?"

She laughs. "No. That'd take too long and be very cliched and Rose couldn't be bothered writing about it."

"Huh?"

She laughs again and continues to talk as though she hadn't said something totally random. "I just want you to figure out why you still live."

"What? Why?"

She frowns like she's a teacher and her pupil just spoke back to her. "Those wounds," She jabs a finger and I collapse on the ground in white-hot agony. She doesn't stop talking, seemingly oblivious to the pain she's causing me. "With those wounds you should have died. You didn't which means you have a big tie to the world you live in. I'm guessing it has something to do with that girl. She looks down at me, still writhing around on the floor.

"Sorry." She moves her finger away and I can breath again.

"You're a lot more sadistic than the real Wendy." I tell her. What girl? Who was she talking about?

"He's good. I didn't even know he came back. And Dragon Slayers are pretty noisy eaters you know."

My head jerks up at the sound and I search frantically for the source. Who? Who is it? Where is she? I want to see her. I stop as the image of a beautiful blonde girl popped (Was about to update when I realised this said pooped XD) into my mind. Warmth flooded my being and I felt entranced by her. I couldn't stop staring. Those eyes, that looked so deep that you would drown if you looked into them for too long. Her hair, falling into little waves and settling around her shoulder, looked to be made of the finest silk thread in the world. Her curves, so well proportioned not sharp like so many of the girls who starved themselves to be beautiful. Her lips, they captured my attention and held it. I wanted them, I could feel her warmth, I wanted her embrace. I needed everything she had, I needed to be near her. Wendy smiles gently, her next words so softly spoken I almost don't hear her as she fades away.

"Fight for her."

I drift away into unconsciousness and dream of the girl whose name I know now to be Lucy.

-Natsu-

I kick a rock that's in my way. Why did she refuse to leave his side? Had she ever done the same for me? I think back, but I can never actually remember being hurt so badly that I was reduced to unconsciousness. Except that time I ate Etherion, but I was really sleeping that time. She shouldn't hang around weak people. I can keep her safe. That little- I pull up my thoughts right there. Horrified at myself. Wow, Natsu, way to be a bastard. If she wants to be friends with him, you can't stop her. She can do what she wants, I don't really mind. I sigh. That's not entirely true is it? Yes. No, you're lying to yourself. I don't care if she becomes friends with him. As long as she always remembers to turn back to me. So long as I am always her most special person, it's okay if she makes new friends. What happens when she gets a boyfriend? She won't. Wow, way to be kind to your 'most special person' I didn't mean it that way. I meant I'll stay with her all the time. Then people think that we're dating and leave her alone. That's being incredibly selfish, you'd purposely sabotage her happiness, to be happy yourself? What if she doesn't want you? She's my best friend! That may be all you'll ever be to her. We kissed! YOU kissed her. I seem to recall her pushing you away the last time. I flinch.

"We're here." I look up at the sound of Happy's voice. We are not finished with this conversation buddy. Of course not, I await your return. Beside me, Cobra's smirking. No doubt he heard my entire conversation with myself and found it hilarious.

"What are you going to do first?" I shrug. Lucy said, speed, stamina, strength and battle smarts.

"Running works for me." Cobra says. "As a warm up, then we can have ourselves a little re-match."

"Bring it on!"

-Rouge-

I wake up and this time my eyes open at my command. There's a weight on my chest, but it's not excessively heavy and it's warm. I look down and see hair. Her scent hung in the air intoxicating me. I bring one hand to her hair and gently comb it through her soft tresses. Beautiful. She makes a noise and her head moves so her face it toward me. Her mouth is partly open and her face is content and peaceful. I can hear again. This thought makes me confused. Couldn't I hear before? I think back to what happened. Dragon instincts had taken over, forcing Sting to fight me. He thought I was in love with Lucy-and I was-and Dragons decree you must fight to the death for your mate. Would I have died? If Lucy wasn't there? Would I have been killed? Or would my instincts have taken over and made me fight back, making me stronger too? I don't want to lose you to him Lucy. I want you to love me. But, if you don't… I guess I could get over it. If you were happy, I think I would be too. I really, really love you, you know.

I lean forward and brush my lips against the top of her head. She mumbles something unintelligible and her eyes flicker open and stare into mine. My face inches from hers, and a hand on her head and another wrapped around her shoulders, I could be mistaken for doing something perverted. She draws back quickly and watches me with tense eyes, seeming to be frantically searching for something. I feel a strange shift in the back of my mind as I sit up and Lucy flies toward me. I flinch, thinking she going to attack me. Instead, she moves so she's sitting on the bed she wraps her arms securely around my shoulders and nuzzles my neck. My eyes flying open in surprise as I return the hug automatically.

"You're awake." Why is she… She pulls back and her hands slide up my bare back to rest on my shoulders. Her eyes are filled with unspilt tears and I watch a a single one slides down her cheek. "I thought you were dying!" Her voice is accusing. "I was scared, that you were going to die…" She's quieter now, but a few more tears leak out of her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Lifting a hand I cup her face and wipe them away with my thumb. She doesn't flinch, she doesn't move away and I find myself thinking, it's now or never. I bring my face closer to hers and our lips almost meet when I chicken out. Instead I rest my forehead on her shoulder and close my eyes.

"Sorry."

"Why?"

"I didn't mean to scare you Lucy-san." She pushes me away.

"Why are you calling me Lucy-san?" She stresses the honorific and a half-smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "You called me Lucy before right?"

"That was an accident."

She sticks out her tongue. "We're friends now right? Only a few people in Fairy Tail use honorifics. It's just weird." She screw up her nose and I resist the overwhelming urge to kiss her.

"You call Laxus, Laxus-niichan." I point out. She pouts cutely.

"You call Laxus by his name but not me?"

"You're not going to let this go, are you?"

She grins. "Not a chance!" She says cheerfully.

"Fine." I look away, but she takes my face in her hands and forces me to look at her, she raises an eyebrow, expectant. Childishly I poke my tongue out at her, but she grabs it with two fingers. That's a new one.

"Lucy."

I make a sound that somewhat resembles her name and she laughs and lets me go. She gets off the bed and kisses me on the cheek.

"I'll get you a drink!" She dances out of the room and I bring my hand up to where she kissed me. Most likely, she did it without thinking and nothing was meant by it. But… I can pretend right?

-Lucy-

I don't want to lose you to him Lucy. I want you to love me. But, if you don't… I guess I could get over it. If you were happy, I think I would be too. I really, really love you, you know. His thoughts replay over and over in my mind. How could he feel that way? Was he really so selfless that he would give me up to make me happy? Did he love me so much he was willing to let me go?

"Rogue." His name slips through my teeth and I can taste it on my tongue. I hadn't meant to kiss him. But I don't regret it. He was going to kiss me before, no-one was around to stop us. No-one would have to know. So why didn't he? His thought were filled with nothing but me so why did he stop? He had thought of a flash of pink before… Natsu. I bang my head on a cupboard. Natsu was the reason, he though we were together, or something, just like Laxus. Only… I wasn't with Natsu. Did that mean I could be with Rogue, if I wanted? Could I belong to him like Levy belonged to Gajeel? Did I even want to? When I was with Rogue, all I could think about was him. When I was with Natsu, I couldn't concentrate on anything else. And Sting, him too. I groan and smack my head again. This calls for an all girls conference.

Done! Thanks to Ta-neechan, Rho-chan, Sa-chan and Tazzle (who need to learn to listen to doctors!) Read and Review because when you do I'll update for you! (Who likes my rhyme? ^_^)

Much love,

Rose-chan

Or Ata-chan (for my middle name)