"Natsu? Natsu, baby- I have something that belongs to you."

"Hmm?"

Natsu blinked his large eyes and turned to face Gray who began to slowly reach up and carefully unwind a familiar muffler from around his neck. Natsu's eyes widen and tears sparkled as Gray smiled and reached over with Rogue moved away slightly to allow him more access and began gently wrapping the familiar scarf around the pinkette's throat.

"My scarf-" Natsu whispered after a long while, gently touching the fabric around his neck before nuzzling his face into it. He sniffled as tears shone brightly. "My scarf. It- It wasn't- He didn't- You had it? All this time?"

"Yeah... Bastard left it back at the house with the most 'heart-warming' message ever," Gray smiled before gasping and nearly thrown backwards as Natsu flung himself and at the ravenette and wrapped his arm around his neck in a tight one arm hug. He smiled and returned the hug. "Been keeping it safe... For you. I knew I was going to get you back. I'll admit, there were times I was beginning to lose hope and that scarf's been there, helping to remind me to stay focused and helped keep me going."

"Thank you."

They pulled apart long enough to nuzzle noses before Natsu leaned in and captured Gray's lips into a gentle kiss. It didn't last long as the door was thrown open with a loud bang, startling everyone present, followed by a combined loud cry of "NATSU!"

Both men turned to look behind Gray and immediately found themselves jumped upon by none of then Wendy Marvell, Happy, Frosch and Lector, all with bright smiles and tears on their faces leaving Lisanna and two other white-haired women at the door who carried flowers and gift bags.

"Natsu! Natsu! Are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry Natsu!"

"We missed you!"

"Does your arm hurt?"

"I heard your whole leg burst open like a balloon! Is it true?"

"I didn't realize how insensitive I was and- and"

"Did Miss Erza's car really do that?"

"It all looks so painful!"

"Can you forgive me?"

"Fro thinks so too!"

Natsu felt like his head was going to explode as he was bombarded by all the talking the kids were doing. He whined.

"Guys. Enough." Gray called gently over the din. "One at a time."

"Sorry," They replied in unison.

"Oh Natsu! We brought you some presents!" Wendy smiled. "To help you relax and feel better."

"Oh?"

Wendy was a small petite girl with fair skin with long, dark blue hair that reached down to her waist but was kept into two pigtails that held cat-like hair pieces, with two bangs framing her face which reach down to her chest alongside her brown eyes. She wiggled on her bottom as she held a pink ribbon bag filled to the brim with matching tissue paper. She held it out with trembling hands she flushed and started to tremble.

"I-I hope you like it."

Natsu blinked before he slowly reached his arm out and took the pink bag from Wendy's arm and carefully began pulling the tissue paper from the bag and dug deeper until he pulled out a couple of boxes of bath salts and oils. He blinked and studied them carefully.

"They're peppermint and lavender," she clapped her hands excitedly. "They're non-scented and hypoallergenic so they won't hurt your nose but they contain the same properties as any other regular bath salts and bath oils. To help you relax."

"Aw~ Thanks Wendy," Natsu beamed which the girl returned. He sighed. "It's a shame I won't be able to use them until that stupid hippie removes all of my stitches..."

"Uwaah! I didn't think!" Wendy gasped, clasping both her hands to her mouth as tears sparkled. "I forgot!"

"Oh it's okay, Wendy," Natsu grinned, pulling the blubbering girl into a tight hug. "It's the thought that counts right?"

"Y-Yeah. Right!"

"Natsu! Natsu! Look at the picture I drew for you," Frosch said, holding up a large piece of paper that covered various crayon scratches that formed hearts, flowers and little stick people Gray had to assume was Sting, Rogue, Natsu, Lector, Happy, Frosch and Gajeel. "It's a get well card! I made it by myself."

"Aw~ That's sweet, Frosch," Natsu grinned taking the picture into his hand before pulling the small boy into a hug. "It's us as a big family- Like back at the orphanage."

"Fro thinks so, too."

"OH! Natsu!" Lector suddenly jumped up and down. "I finally got my own copy of Smash Brothers for the 3DS! So now we can totally fight!"

"Neat! But that's gonna have to wait," Natsu chuckled, jousting his still slinged hand. "For about another three months-"

"Three months?! WHAT?! Urgh!" Lector whined, clasping both hands over his eyes. "Lame!"

Natsu chuckled. "Sorry. But tell you what-"

"What?" Lector peeked an eye from between his fingers.

"Once my cast comes off~" Natsu grinned, winking at him. "First game's yours."

"Yeah! It's mine!" Lector exclaimed, sitting upright. "I'm soo gonna kick your ass as Pit!"

"LECTOR!" Rogue hissed, glaring hard at the boy who froze before turning slowly to face the dark haired male. "What did you just say?"

"I'm so going to kick your butt as Pit?"

"That's better."

Natsu and Gray both shared a look amongst one another before grinning and before Natsu found his attention diverted to Happy who grinned and held up his present; a new fishing rod.

"Aw~ Thanks Happy."

"Now we can fish together again." Happy beamed. "Once you're healed. Of course."

"Sure buddy." Natsu beamed back. "We can go fishing the weekend after my cast comes off."

"Aye."

"Hey Natsu."

"Lisanna."

"Yukino and I brought you some flowers." She beamed as she and an another rather slender, well-endowed young woman with short, light-colored hair and fringes framing her face, looking almost identical to Lisanna with the exception of her brown eyes carried in blue, pink and purple lilacs.

"To help brighten the room." The other, Yukino said smiling. "I hope you're doing okay... I can't imagine going through such terrible terrible things you did."

"It's okay." Natsu grinned. "It's all over for me now."

"That's good to hear." Yukino beamed. "Where did you want these?"

"On the bedside table. Please."

"Here Natsu. I brought you this."

A young girl, who looked to be no older then Wendy with sparkling white hair with pink highlights that she kept in a low but rather elegant ponytail that was draped over her shoulder and light brown eyes, which were lighter in color to Yukino's eyes. She wore a large pink bow near the end of her ponytail and she was dressed up like she was ready to go to somewhere important with a mustard yellow and pink top with a pink skirt. She held out a book which Gray took and handed to Natsu with confusion.

"I know how much you and Sting love the adventures of the Dragon Slayer Children manga, so I got you the newest volume." She said with a bright pink blush on her face. "It came out just this morning."

"Really?!" Natsu asked as he turned the book in his hand, looking at it front to back. "Thanks Carla! Does Sting know?"

"Don't know," The girl, Carla, shrugged. "And if we're honest, I honestly don't care."

"Neat," Natsu replied, unfocused as he began to slowly opened the book. "Now I get to see if Natsumi finally finds her mother. After she kicks Jenna's ass for making Elsie cry first, of course."*

Gray couldn't help but chuckle at Natsu.

So cute.

"Hey Natsu!"

Everyone blinked and turned their attention to the door and found themselves face to face with the sunny face of Owen who carried a full arms of bandages. Gray turned away from Owen to look back at Natsu to find that the pinkette froze and was looking rather- timid.

"Hey... Owen." Natsu grinned a grin that didn't meet his eyes. "W-Why are you here?"

"Time to clean your wounds, silly." Owen laughed as he maneuvered around the sudden increase of guests and placed the bandages onto the table top. "We have to clean them once a day in order for them to heal faster and avoid infection. I told that yesterday, remember?"

"O-oh yeah. R-right. You did..." Natsu bit his lip. He looked to Gray briefly before he looked away with a faint trace of tears sparkling in his eyes. "I f-forgot."

Gray blinked. He found Natsu's change in behavior rather odd as Natsu often liked hearing the mention of a change in bandages meaning he was bound to leave the hospital faster. It worried Gray.

What was he so scared about?

Why was he scared?

"I guess that means it's time for us to go kids," Lisanna smiled sweetly.

"Aw~" The kids all whined in unison.

"Do we have to?"

"Yes," Yukino answered warmly as she and Lisanna began to usher them out. "We can come see Natsu again tomorrow-"

"YAY!"

"Right after you finished your homework."

"Ughhhhh."

"I guess I will take my leave as well," Evergreen smiled, patting Natsu's leg lightly earning her a small smile from the pinkette before standing up. "I'll be right outside the door if you ever need me Freed."

Freed nodded. "Thank you Evergreen."

Evergreen returned the gesture before following Lisanna, Yukino and the kids before closing the door behind her with a small click.

"Freed, can I borrow you?"

"Sure Owen." Freed nodded, standing up and making his way to the dark haired man. "How can I assist?"

"Grab these please-"

"Certainly."

"Gray..."

Gray didn't answer as continued to stare into the space that was the door. Granted, he supposed, he should have expected that Natsu might suffer some form of post traumatic stress but at the same time, since seeing him, he thought it wasn't going to be a happening thing. But if Natsu was suffering PTS then- Why was he more concerned for his wounds? Why wasn't he suffering the same way other PTSD victims did by have paralyzing nightmares or terrifying flashbacks?

"Gray?"

Gray blinked and found himself staring at a tear-eyed Natsu, who bit his lip and his hand faltered from Gray's own. Gray gently grasped the trembling limb earning him a shiver.

Something just wasn't adding up.

"Yeah?"

"Can- Can you leave?"

"What?" Gray was completely taken back by Natsu's request. "Why?"

"I-I... I can't," He whispered, shaking his head. "I can't. I just can't."

"Can't what?" Gray was beyond lost now. "You can't tell me something?"

Natsu nodded.

"Does it involve one of your wounds?"

Another nod.

"What-"

"Gray. Please." Natsu whispered, his whole form trembling as silent sobs escaped from his throat. "I can't say! I just can't!"

"Why-"

"You won't understand!" Natsu cried, hanging his head while shaking it rapidly. "You won't understand."

"Natsu." Gray could feel his own heart breaking. "Of cour-"

"Gray. Enough."

Gray turned and found himself staring into the face of a heartbroken Rogue. He bit his lip as Natsu hugged himself and trembled while Freed and Owen watched apprensively from the side lines.

"Please." Rogue said, voice barely above a whisper with tears in his own eyes. "You must understand, it truly is rather hard to explain and he wishes for neither Freed nor myself to explain it. Now's not the right time. You must understand."

"I don't- I can't-"

"I know. It's going to be frustrating, but you must bare with me." Rogue cut in before Gray could put in a word. "This is something that's- It's going to need time."

Gray stared long and hard into Rogue's teary red eyes as if trying to find a deception or a flaw before his eyes quickly flitted toward Freed, who hung his head and looked like he was ready to cry himself. After a long silence, Gray sighed and turned to look at Natsu.

"Natsu... Natsu. Baby." Gray whispered, reaching a hand out and gently raising Natsu's chin until their eyes locked. "I'm going to leave... Okay?"

Natsu blinked, eyes wide with shock. "L-leave?"

"Yeah." Gray smiled. "I'm going to Fairy-"

"I didn't want you to leave!" Natsu suddenly cried, good hand latching onto Gray's own. He looked like he was about ready to cry. "It's not what I meant!"

"Ehh-?" Gray was at a loss with Natsu's words. Looking conflicted and guilty at the sight of the scene before him. "But-"

"I just wanted you to step outside," Natsu babbled, stray tears dripping down onto his bed sheets. "That's all. I don't want you to leave me."

A broken sob escaped his throat as the grip on his arm trembled and weakened.

"Please... Please don't leave me..."

It then clicked.

"Baby, I'm not going to leave you."

"You're... You're not?" Natsu blinked. "Then-"

Gray chuckled as he gathered the pinkette into a tight hug. "I have to go to Fairy Tail. This bastard isn't going to capture himself."

"So- So you're... You're not mad?" Natsu sniffled, taking his free hand a rubbing his eyes clean of tears.

"No no. Should I be?" Gray asked. "Baby, this is something you're not comfortable with and I don't want to pressure you until you are ready but please promise me that you will be with someone at all times and I promise I'll drop the subject about your wound until you're ready okay?"

Natsu swallowed before he slowly nodded. "O-okay. I promise."

Gray smiled. "I love you."

With that, Gray leaned in and sealed the distance between them with a kiss. It was warm and soft, nothing pressuring or testing as Gray pulled back and placed another kiss onto the pinkette's bandaged forehead before he pulled away and began walking to the door. Natsu blinked.

"GRAY!"

Gray halted and looked behind him with a curious look that had Natsu blushing and settled himself back onto his bed.

"Yes?"

"I-I... I love you too." He whispered. He looked up shyly at the dark haired man. "You promised... Does that mean you promise not to tell anyone? About the wound- Thingy? Sting especially?"

Gray smiled. "I promise. No one is going to know, not even Sting. Now get some rest, okay love?"

"Okay."

Gray chuckled at the pinkette's antics before he opened the door and walked out the door, closing it behind him with a soft click. Gray took a deep breath before he turned on his heel and began making his way out of the hospital and toward his car.

He had some work to do.

Days were beginning to run together and there was still no sign, hide or hair of Jeremy and Gray could feel his cool composure slipping as his boiling temper seemed to be taking more and more control to the point that most of his actions and decisions were based off his anger alone. As a result, it cause a bit of uncertainty amongst the rest of Fairy Tail that many attempted to stay as far out of his way as humanly possible leaving only Erza, Laxus and few selected others to be considered brave enough to approach Gray.

Not that Gray either seemed to notice or cared.

His only focus was to capture and possibly murder the very man who put his lover in so much Hell.

The one upside of life that seemed to brighten Gray's mood was that Montoya was deemed healed and was discharged from the hospital few days later, allowing Fairy Tail to arrest him right on the spot. Another came that Natsu still remained safe in the custody of both the hospital with Owen, Rogue and Freed during the mornings and Laxus and Gajeel during the nights. It only seemed to prove- both to Gray's irritation and relief- that Jeremy truly wasn't a fool as he claimed and wouldn't dare to try and snatch up the pinkette in broad daylight in the middle of a large crowd full of eye witnesses. This development didn't really help Gray in relaxing since it defiantly proved that the bastard seemed to like with the idea of kidnapping Natsu the minute the pinkette was left alone with no one around within a certain amount of distance better.

That was how Gray lost all of his pens and pencils that week.

Although by the end of the week, Gray's mood did improve at the news that Natsu was finally going to be let loose from the hospital but under strict orders and supervision from Owen since the stitches had to remain in his flesh for at least another week. Gray didn't mind since it gave him an excuse to ask for all of next week off so as to keep a closer eye on his lover. Natsu seemed to be recovering just fine, other then sitting and doing absolutely nothing was starting to irk him.

He was chipper, bright eyed and still full of energy; Like the whole kidnapping thing never happened, which filled Gray with relief that his lover wasn't broken but would find it snatched the minute Owen or Rogue mentioned that Natsu needed a change of clothes or a change of bandages. Natsu's whole attitude would then change; he became more timid, begging- actually begging- everyone but either Rogue and or Freed to leave. He became fearful, more protective of his clothes and looked like he was about ready to cry, in which most cases, when Freed nor Rogue could be located, he often did. It broke Gray's heart each and every time it had happened. It seemed that only Owen, Freed and Rogue knew why and neither were compelled to tell anyone anything as they had promised Natsu that they wouldn't speak of it until he was ready and that seemed to make Gray feel like he didn't matter.

At all.

Couples don't keep secrets from each other.

Right?

"It not that you don't matter- It's just that the poor boy is scared and confused and he really doesn't know how to cope with it."

Cope.

At least, according to Freed, that was what that was. Gray wasn't so sure but if anything it made him feel slightly better that he wasn't the only one kept in the dark; Laxus, Gajeel and nearly everyone else involved wasn't told anything about Natsu's strange behavior but that didn't stop the them from trying to find out. While they all in the end just accepted Natsu's strange behavior without question, Sting on the other hand; Not so much.

At first, granted, it would be understandable that he was angry that nobody and even Natsu, his own brother refused to tell him anything and still wouldn't say anything up to the point that after the pinkette's third denial of information there was no sympathy or understanding toward the blonde's actions as Sting yelled at Natsu causing the pinkette to burst into tears and cry out for his 'mama' that lead up to both Rogue and Sting getting into a rather very heated argument outside Natsu's room about Rogue's coddling of the pinkette to Sting's inability to allow Natsu a sense of freedom since he was a child that ended just as quickly as it had started with Rogue slapping Sting hard across the face with angry tears in his eyes, got the blonde kicked out of the house as well as denied visitation rights under Rogue's orders for however long it would take for the dark haired male to calm down but after that was said and done, Sting, having calmed down, realized his actions and lamented over the fact that he truly was a terrible big brother and husband and wished to find a way to make it up to both Rogue and Natsu.

"Help me capture this prick and I'm sure you'll have made up for it tenfold."

"Deal."

Gray sat down while waiting for Natsu and Rogue to leave Owen's office, mulling over his thoughts as he waited. If there was one thing he managed to piece together was that not only was it a wound that quickly unsettled Natsu but it seemed to be located somewhere on his back since the pinkette often pressed his back into the mattress as deeply as possible when it came either time to change his bandages or clothes or if he was pressed about it. Like he was trying to hide something.

It made Gray's blood boil.

What did these sick bastards do to his poor baby?

He clenched his fist tighter. The minute he got his hands on that sick freak's neck, he was going to find out if it was really true a human with just his bare hands could snap a neck; like in the movies and TV crime dramas- He was quickly shaken from his thoughts the minute the doctor's office opened and Natsu, looking rather annoyed and irated, was rolled out in a wheelchair by Rogue who was still talking to Owen.

"- Just be mindful of the stitches on his leg and his broken arm especially. Clean the around the area with warm water and simple dish soap."

"Alright. And his arm-?"

"Same thing," Owen smiled with a shrug, "Come back to me this upcoming Friday and we'll see if the stitches will be ready to be removed."

"Okay. Thank you for everything Mr. Lane," Rogue bowed with a small smile before he turned to Natsu. "Ready to go home?"

"Hmph."

"What's got Natsu all crabby?" Gray asked, having a hard time keeping a smile off his face.

"He's all crabby because that mean old doctor told him he had to stay in his stupid wheelchair and in his bed or in a recliner til the end of next week," Rogue smiled. "And personally, I agree with the doctor."

"I can walk fine. I can look after myself just fine," Natsu retorted childishly, trying with some difficulty to fold his arms across his chest. "My ankle's not broken- It's just sprained- I don't need a stupid wheelchair or someone constantly pushing it or looking after me."

"Mm hmm," Rogue hummed sharing a look with Gray, who winked. "What about Gray? I think you really hurt his feelings. He was just telling me all last night that he was really looking forward to 'looking' after you over the next week."

Gray let out an over dramatic sigh for effect.

"Wha- NO! Gray! I didn't mean it!" Natsu wailed when his eyes fell upon his dark haired lover. "I don't mind you but- This sucks! Being in a wheelchair and being babied- It sucks! I don't like being dependent on people and you know that!"

"And to think I requested the week off," Gray sighed dramatically with a smirk painted on his lips. "Such a waste. I was going to shower you in endless torrents of love, care, attention-"

"You asshat!" Natsu cried. "I do want you to take care of me! But only you!"

"Do you?" Gray leaned back in his chair, pretending to think about it. "Do you really want me to 'baby' you? Me, truly?"

"You're a fucking asshole. You know that right?"

"Natsu!"

"But he is!"

"It's okay Baby." Gray chuckled, leaning forward and capturing the pinkette's lips in a soft chaste kiss. "You know I was just teasing you."

"Prick." Natsu huffed.

"You looooooooove me though." Gray sang as he tapped Natsu on the nose.

Natsu giggled as a smile tugged at his lips, batting at Gray's hand rather playfully before he finally looked up into those famialiar warm dark blue eyes. Both men sharing a smile as Gray leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Natsu's nose.

"Yeah... I love you."

They shared another kiss before Gray stood up and moved to take the wheelchair from Rogue, who only smiled and allowed it to happen. "Shall we go home?"

"Yeah," Natsu sighed, smiling as he looked up to Gray and leaned back into his chair. "Let's go home."

* = See what I did there? X3