Lucy and Natsu had collapsed onto the hard wooden floor of the Library the second Evion touched their heads. Instantly, Erza and Gray rushed forward. Natsu hit the ground with full force. But Gray managed to snag Lucy just in time. Carefully easing her next to the rose haired man.

For several minutes, everyone studied them in anticipation. Their expressionless faces began to worry a few as the time passed. Gray placed himself next to Lucy, gripping her soft hand in his gently. Eva stood in front of Evion, who showed no sign of fret.

"What is happening to them?" Lucy's aunt questioned, her protective instinct attempting to force itself to the surface.

Evion's eyes flashed to Eva. "I put them in a memory spell. Each of them are currently experiencing certain events. I do not know what Natsu wished to see, but Lucy, I gifted her a fraction of one of my own memories. One, I believe will answer her question."

Eva fell silent, her eyes trailing over to her sister's beloved daughter. Even now, Lucy looked much like a clone of Layla. Her lovely sunshine colored hair was scattered on the contrasting dark toned wood beneath her. Lucy's delicate features gave her such a peaceful look as she lay completely still, surrounded by those who loved her most.

As the moments dragged on, Eva became more and more worried. Lyon watched his mother silently. He could see the concern in her eyes as she paid close attention to Lucy. His large hand encased his mother's gallantly.

After Eva's inquiry, the entire group stayed still. The atmosphere around them had become painfully noiseless. Happy sat patiently on Natsu's chest, gazing up at his best friends face. Neither him, nor Lucy stirred. An uneasy look spread through Happy's large, normally sparkling orbs.

Levy let out a soft gasp as she witnessed Lucy's eyes clench together tightly. A tension filled groan escaped her lips, her head filled with a harsh pounding. She shook her head slightly before forcing her eyes open. Instantly, her blurred gaze landed on Evion, Eva, and Gray. Her face took on a temporarily confused expression. But soon enough her vision cleared up and she her memory caught up to her.

"I saw it.." She breathed lightly.

"Lucy! Oh dear, are you alright?" Eva rushed down next to her, taking her place beside Gray.

Lucy attempted to hoist herself up. But the farthest she could get was her elbows. The incredible pain in her head had subsided. Her eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings. Levy, Erza, Lyon, and Evion stood around her, warm smiles had overtaken their faces. Kneeling beside her were her Aunt and Gray, who both held very disturbed expressions.

Then, her eyes landed on Natsu. His unconscious state had yet to change. The rose colored locks that Lucy had become so fond of were scattered motionlessly about near his head. Happy sat on his knees on Natsu's chest, waiting for him to wake up just as she had. As she watched him she remembered the scarlet haired man. The coldness of his voice had sent shivers down her spine at the mere thought.

She recalled several times when his name came from Natsu's lips. He had always talked so incredibly well of him. It was truly hard to believe they could be the same being. But there was no mistaking it, she had listened earlier when Evion talked of the very same Igneel as if he were an old friend. Then to watch the scene that played out before her eyes, Lucy hardly knew what to think. Would she be able to tell Natsu what happened in the memory?

Lucy found herself frowning. How could someone who had been talk so highly about be the same one who caused all her pain, all her suffering? The reason her kind is feared, the reason her parents are dead. But he gave Natsu's life meaning, none of it truly added up. There was a simple answer to that though, time changes things.

She turned her head and locked eyes with Evion, who was now standing directly in front of her. Gray wrapped his arm underneath Lucy's and pulled her up, making sure she was completely stable on her feet before releasing her from his grip. Lucy nodded in thanks before seeing that Evion had opened her mouth to speak.

"Is what you saw, what you wished to see?" She questioned, the composure in her voice was far different than the pain filled tone she had when speaking to Igneel.

Lucy nodded. "Yes. I have the answer I traveled all this way for."

As Lucy spoke those words, Natsu's eyes fluttered open. The reality he had been forced into had faded away but the gut wrenching pain he felt in his heart had yet to vanish. The thick feeling that started in his head, rushed through his entire body within seconds. His dark narrowed eyes met the widened orbs of his best friend, Happy. Who was worried moments before that he wouldn't wake up.

Natsu glanced around, seeing everyone around him standing and facing the same figure. He pushed himself up so that he was now sitting on his knees. He was staring sadly at the girl who had caught everyone's attention. His eyes trailing up and down her body as he recalled everything he had just seen.

He stared speechlessly up at her. A waterfall of sun colored hair trailed down to her mid back. Her slender frame was being hugged tightly by the same short satin snow white dress she had been wearing the day he first laid his eyes on her. She was speaking but he didn't hear a word she was saying. Only the sound of her voice reached his ears.

Unable to think, he grabbed Happy and placed him on the hard wood next to him. He felt as if his body was moving on its own. Forcing himself off the ground, he stumbled slightly. Finding his balance after a few seconds of his head becoming light. Still unnoticed by his friends, Natsu slowly reached his hand out towards her. He found himself shaking.

What's happening to me? He thought to himself.

Shaking his head somewhat, he pulled his hand back. Before he could even think of what to do next, a single word slipped from his lips and cut through the on going conversation. "Lucy."

Lucy became suddenly silent, her body whirling around slowly to face where the sound had come from. Natsu didn't realize the effect his experience had on him until his eyes met Lucy's dark brown orbs. The images of the five year old version of her flashed through his mind. The fear he saw, the anguish he witnessed. All of it came flooding back when he saw her face.

She was much different now than she had been then. He no longer saw the horror hiding behind her eyes. But he knew just what she had gone through. This girl who he had taken in and ruthlessly rejected, had endured pains he never knew. She was strong, he could see that clearly.

When Lucy's name had been uttered among her words she froze. The sound of his voice instantly caused her heart to ache. Without even thinking she turned, everyone else around her seemed to vanish when her gaze met his. Lucy's eyes scanned him carefully. Natsu's rose colored hair fell over his forehead gently. He appeared to be greatly troubled. The look on his face made the pit in her stomach surface once more.

But despite the gut wrenching emotion she was feeling, caused by the pain in his dark eyes. She let a tender smile spread across her lips. Everything she had wished to tell him about her vision fled her mind when she saw him. Her smile pushed Natsu right over the edge. He moved forward, quicker than he'd expected. Reaching out, he grabbed her gently by the arm and pulled her forcefully to his chest. Wrapping his muscular arms tightly around her smaller body.

At first, Lucy was shocked. The hold he had on her was vigorous yet benevolent. His warmth spread through her like wild fire. Without even realizing it, Lucy had slipped her arms around his back and held him just as passionately. She wasn't sure why but when she returned the embrace, Natsu's body began to shake faintly.

His right hand trailed up her back until it reached her head. Running his fingers softly over her hair, interweaving his fingers in the silk strands. He firmly held her against him. Lucy felt every feeble quake Natsu emitted. He buried his head into her neck, warm drops fell onto her bare skin.

"Natsu?" She breathed, the faint sound of her voice not traveling farther than his own ears.

"I'm so sorry, Luc. I...I'm sorry..." Natsu's words were broken up and she could tell he had forced them.

Lucy pushed Natsu away and placed her hands firmly on his broad shoulders. His head hung low, unable to meet her gaze. She watched him with a sorrowful expression. His cheeks were shinning in the light of a flickering torch behind her. A lone tear slipped from his eye and fell down his face, following the path of one before it.

"Why are you apologizing?" She questioned, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

Natsu forced his head up, their eyes meeting once again. She could still clearly see the despair dancing in them but he had regained his composure. He shook his head, staring down at her. He was slightly amazed that she could be the same girl he watched suffer.

"Because I don't think even I could have survived what you did. I will find the men that made your life hell for so many years and I will make them pay." The anger that had been washed over by sadness had resurfaced at the end.

Lucy's eyes widened as he spoke those words. Knowing he had no reason to bring that up now other than what he saw was not about his father. But about her. Natsu placed both his large hands on each one of her pale cheeks, nearly encasing her face.

"Y-you...saw my life?"

Natsu nodded. "I not only saw it, I felt it too. Even ounce of your pain. You don't have to carry that burden alone, Lucy. I understand completely, now. I won't ever let you feel that way again for as long as I live. I swear it."