Another one-shot!  Don't worry, I plan to update the second chapter of "The Stone of the Cartographer" soon!  Just thought I could throw in a little one-shot, is all! ~♥ I hope you all enjoy it, too!  My first day of volleyball started yesterday; I know, really early huh!!  It's just open gym, then we have camp, tryouts, and then actual practice. c:  This one-shot is a little long, haha! ♥ But I still hope you guys enjoy it!

Multimedia is a really great song called "Light Up the Sky" by The Afters!  I hope you all enjoy it!!

I dedicate this one-shot to Luvli_Gurl!  I haven't dedicated anything to this person in awhile, so here ya go! ♥ This person deserves it!  Please remember minna, feedback is greatly appreciated!!  Please comment, vote, etc!  I hope you all enjoy this one-shot, haha!  Until next time, then!

я y - c н α η ,

т н є и α ℓ υ ω я ι т є я - - ♣

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"Help!"  Happy exclaimed, his voice panicked.  "Lucy's hurt!"

He was carrying Lucy, battered and bruised, and bleeding severely in multiple places.  Unconscious, the Celestial Mage was completely depleted of magic, and Happy wondered how a simple mission could have turned out like this.

The others were gathered around a small area, rocky terrain around them.  They had just taken down a large monster summoned to wreak havoc in that area, something Erza claimed as a golem.  It had been large, burly, and made of mud and boulders.  The mission was consisted of Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Happy and Charle.  They had taken the mission in order to pay for all of their bills, since it was more on the dangerous scale.  However, they believed they could handle it; after all, they had done things like this before.

Yet they didn't get out without some grave injuries.  Other than Lucy, Natsu had taken a horrible blow to the head, blood running from his forehead and over his left eye.  He had cuts and gashes along his legs and his clothing was torn, his scarf scuffed with dirt and grime.  Gray had two deep gashes in his abdomen, and bruises everywhere else.  His hair had been strained, so it was wild in some places, his lip busted.  Erza's armor had been dismissed, blows to her face visible.  However, she didn't suffer as many injuries as the others.  She was, however, using one of her swords as a cane to keep her balance.  Wendy was injured as well, but the others had ordered her to a more safer area and wasn't to be worried about.

They all turned to Happy's calls, their eyes wide and their expression strained.

"Lucy!"  Natsu exclaimed, ignoring his injuries and running over to the cat who was floating slowly towards them.

The exceed dropped her into Natsu's arms silently, and the dragon slayer dropped to the ground from the sudden weight and his own tired muscles.  His expression was severely worried, but he struggled to mask it as the others came rushing forward.

"Is Lucy alright?!"  Erza exclaimed.

"I think so..."  Wendy replied, checking her.  "She's just hurt like the rest of us but—!"

"What is it, Wendy?"  Natsu asked, his eyes wide.

"When that golem threw the rocks at her...?"  Wendy questioned.

"Yeah...?"  Gray asked, asking her to continue.

Wendy craddled Lucy's right arm softly.  "Lucy must have hurt her arm then.  Because it feels broken to me!"

"Shit..."  Gray muttered.

"We better get back to the guild,"  Erza replied, standing indignantly.  "We all need treatment.  Wendy, do you think you could spare some of your magic?"

"Of course!"  Wendy exclaimed, determined.  "Whatever you need!"

"Let's go,"  Erza replied, looking back at Natsu as everyone began progressing forward.  "Natsu, do you need help carrying her?"

Natsu shook his head silently, his eyes shadowed.

--

Lucy opened her eyes, which were heavy and crusted.  She felt sore all over, and with the memories of the mission returning, she sighed in defeat.  When they had been fighting the golem, she had been used as a distraction.  Natsu had, oddly, been severely against the plan, but Lucy had excepted feeling the need to not be the weak link of the team.  It hadn't ended well, however, when there was a slip up in the plan and she hadn't been able to retreat in time.  She had been caught in the miss fire and had to fight, but the sudden burial under mounds of stone had caught her off short.  All of them must have made it out alright, however, is she was alive and well.

Looking around the room, Lucy realized she was in the hospital of Fairy Tail, back in the guild.  She felt bandages wrapped around her head, on her cheek, and on her stomach and thighs.  However, she noticed her right arm was within a makeshift sling, wrapped in a cast.

Did I break my arm?  Lucy wondered, her mind flashing back to the time the showers of boulders had rained down on her.

She was lucky she hadn't been squished, since the rocks hadn't fit right and had created a small space between them which Lucy managed to be in.  She remembered her arm being pinned wrong, however, and the noise it had made caused a shiver to run down her spine in present time.  She wondered if everyone else was okay; hopefully her accident was the only one.  No one was in the infirmary with her, and the normal ruckus of Fairy Tail was transpiring out in the main hall.  So if they were so cheery, then everyone must've been alright.

With that thought, Lucy went back to sleep, thankful for her friends safety and scolding herself for not being more prepared.

When Lucy awoke once more, she could tell a day had went by.  It was dark when she had first awoken, but now it was light and the noise of morning rang through the air.  Yet, Lucy kept her eyes closed for some reason, because she felt a heavy pressure on the side of the bed; something she could only guess as someone else.  Peaking, Lucy opened her eyes fully in surprise to see Natsu lying there, asleep.  Happy was there as well, laying at the foot of her bed.  Lucy blushed slightly, seeing Natsu hanging onto her hand in his sleep.

She flinched, however, when she saw tear stains on Natsu's cheeks.

--

"Good morning, Lucy!"

Lucy was back in her home, to her surprise.  She had fallen asleep after brushing the stains from Natsu's face, brushing his bangs out of his eyes, and seeing he was bandaged up as well.  Glad that he had been alright, Lucy had fallen back asleep after that.

Now, she was home.

Happy was the one who had spoken, and she blinked a few times to get rid of the tiredness.  However, she then realized that if Happy was here, then a certain pink-haired mage would be as well.

"Luce!  You're finally awake!"

Lucy sat up, turning her eyes to Natsu who was walking towards her happily with his bright onyx eyes.  Lucy smiled, happy to see him, just like she secretly was everyday.  He was bandaged around his head, a few wrappings around his feet and upper arms.  Other than that, he looked intact.

"Natsu..."  Lucy replied, sleepiness still in her voice.  "Happy..."

"We were getting worried, ya' know!"  Happy exclaimed, floating above her.

Lucy laughed slightly.  "Gomen.  I didn't mean to scare you."

Natsu settled down at her feet, looking at her contentedly.

"What happened after I...fainted...?"  Lucy admitted embarrassingly, aiming her question at Natsu.

But it was Happy who answered.  "Nat-zu and the others defeated the golem, and I after I pulled you out, Natsu carried you all the way back to town!"

Warmth spread in Lucy's chest.  "You did that?  Thank you—Hey, Natsu?"  She had stopped her words of gratitude, seeing Natsu's absent and troubled expression.

He snapped out of his reverie.  "Y-Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"  Lucy asked, worried.

Natsu waved her off.  "C-Course I'm alright!  You're the one with the broken arm, hehe!  I'm just gonna go, I have to do things back at the guild..."  Practically mumbling, Natsu left through the door without looking back, ignoring Lucy's calls for him.

"Happy, what's gotten into him?"  Lucy asked cautiously, looking at the door where the pink-haired mage had left.

Happy's expression was sad.  "I'm not really sure.  He was really quiet and glum all the way back here while he was carrying you.  He wouldn't stop fussing over you either..."

"Really?"

Happy nodded.  "I should go after him.  Get some rest Lu-shee, we'll be back tomorrow!"

"Mh-Mm..."  Lucy agreed, watching the cat leave from the window and out into the air where a setting sun resided.

And then it hit Lucy.

"E-Eh?!"  She exclaimed into the air.

Natsu had used the door.

--

The next day, Lucy awoke to hearing her door shutting.  She was facing her window, so she opened her eyes slightly, wondering who it was who entered.

There was a loud thump.

"Dammit..."  A voice muttered, annoyance plastered in their tone.

Lucy smiled slightly despite herself.  Natsu must not have been paying attention and ran into the new table she had gotten.  After all, she was forced to get a new one after he and Gray got into a fight and broke it into a million pieces.  It was still sunrise, so dark shadows had been cast across her room and Natsu must've not noticed the different height of the table.  She closed her eyes and lost the grin, however, when she felt him sit down on the edge of her bed next to her.

This is stupid.  Why am I pretending to be asleep anyways?

Natsu's voice rendered even her thoughts silent, however.

"I'm sorry, Luce..."

For what?  She wanted to ask, but decided to stay still for a little longer.  She felt the covers that had drifted down to her mid-section being pulled back up to her shoulders, wrapping her in warmth again.

"You got hurt because of me..."  Natsu was replying, his voice low.

Lucy's breath barely hitched.  He thought it was his fault?  Was that why he'd been acting weird yesterday?  It wasn't his fault!  It was Lucy's; she had been the one to throw herself in like that, and hadn't thought of the consequences.  Strange; usually Natsu would be the one to do that, and Lucy be the uncertain one.

"I should have protected you..."  He murmured, and Lucy could feel his eyes on her fake-sleeping form.  "Though you're strong enough already, I still can't help but want to.  What does that mean?  Am I sick?"

Lucy waited, holding her breath as she heard a sigh, and after a few moments she heard the door shut.  Her eyes popping open, she turned over, seeing that Natsu had gone.  She was blushing slightly, her eyes wide, the words she heard still ringing through her mind.

"I still can't help but want to."

Natsu wanted to protect her?

What the Hell did that mean?

--

The next few days, when Lucy was able to walk upright again, she went to the guild those days but didn't see Natsu.  On the days she did, he would already have an excuse and be hurrying out, and Lucy wouldn't have any time to catch him.  Happy would follow Natsu, giving the dragon slayer an excuse for him.  He would be nice to her, sure, but would often leave early and give her sad looks when he thought she wasn't looking.  He hadn't visited her at home either, and to be honest, it was driving Lucy crazy.  She'd never been avoided by him before, and she didn't like it; she felt separated from him.  Especially since she knew why he was avoiding her.

Frustrated, Lucy knew she needed to speak to Natsu.  She felt weird and tingly when she thought about what he had said to her, and had felt strangely comforted when he said he wanted to protect her.  She also felt satisfied, which she didn't know how to explain either.

Four days after the incident, Lucy decided to catch Natsu whether or not he wanted to talk to her.  She was determined to tell him how she really felt, and put his mind at ease.  There was no way it was ever Natsu's fault; well, except when he broke things.  Then it was his fault.  That besides the point, Lucy didn't want him thinking that any longer; he must actually be worried by it.  What, did he think she was mad at him too?  Why on earth would she be?!  He'd carried her all the way back to town, and...had said...those things.

Huffing, Lucy sat in the guild on day four, during the afternoon.  She was watching the door, waiting for Natsu to come inside with Happy, tapping the table with her fingers on her left hand since her arm was still wrapped tight in her sling.

"What's wrong, Lucy?"  Mira asked, appearing at the table the Celestial Mage was sitting at alone.

"Nothing..."  Lucy mumbled.  "Just...waiting for Natsu..."

Mira giggled, but left her at that, and Lucy began to get impatient.  If she had to search the whole town for him, she would!  As if God had read her mind, Natsu entered just a few seconds later, Happy trailing behind him through the air.  The exceed instantly went and talked to Wendy and Charle, greeting them first.  Mira, being the clever person she sometimes could be, already knew the incident by guessing and began talking to the dragon slayer.

Speak of the devil...  Lucy thought.

Getting up, Lucy sneaked around the side of the building, planning to grab Natsu and pull him out of the guild for a stern talking to.  Sitting at the bar area, Mira glanced up at the Celestial Mage as she talked to the dragon slayer, and Lucy nodded slightly in thanks.

"Natsu."  Lucy replied, grabbing his wrist.

Natsu stiffened, glancing at her before breaking out into a cold sweat.  "O-Oi, hey, Lucy!"  He replied, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

Lucy gave him a stern look.  "Come with me.  Now.  Or so help me, I'll get Erza to torment you for a whole month!"

"T-That's cruel!!"  Natsu exclaimed, having no choice but to give in.

Lucy dragged him out of the guild, walking defiantly towards the garden beside the guild that stretched for blocks.  Natsu was curious as to why she had grabbed him, but he was more nervous since he really had been trying to leave her alone these past few days.  Making sure they were out of sight of the guild, Lucy stopped and thrust Natsu's arm down, turning around abruptly.

"O-Oi!"  Natsu protested, stopping in front of her a little too close and then stepping back.  "What're you—"

He stopped when he saw Lucy's hurt and frustrated expression, not expecting to see it there.

"L-Lucy?"  He asked, his eye twitching.

"Don't you 'Lucy' me!"  The blonde exclaimed.  "Idiot!"

"W-What did I do?!"

"You honestly don't think I wouldn't notice you avoiding me?!"

Natsu flinched, being rendered speechless for a few seconds.  "A-Ah—"

"You really know how to frustrate me, you know that?!"  Lucy replied, sighing heavily.  "Can you just give me a chance to say something before you go wandering off...?  Geez...!"

Natsu's surprised expression relaxed, his shoulders drooping.  "Lucy..."

The Stellar Mage sighed, turning to him with a soft yet serious expression.  "It isn't you're fault I got hurt, idiot.  So stop beating yourself up about it..."

There was a small silence, and Natsu's expression actually saddened. "It is my fault.  If I would've known that would've happened, I could have saved you in time!"

"Accidents happen, Natsu!  You can't protect me from everything, I can get hurt too and I'm fully aware of that!"

"The hell I can't protect you..."  Natsu muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Lucy blushed slightly, nervous she was going to admit this.  The flamed-bastard left her no choice, however.  "I-I heard what you said that morning..."

Natsu actually blushed.  "Y-You did...?"

Lucy nodded, not going back now.  "You idiot..."  she mumbled.  "For some reason, hearing that made me really happy...what on earth does that mean?"

"Lucy..."  Natsu murmured, staring at her with a slightly surprised expression.

Lucy gave him a stern look, shaking the thought away though the blush remained.  "Get rid of the guilt, got it?  We're all okay, we completed the mission, and I have the knowledge for our next mission to be more cautious.  It wasn't your fault, Natsu!  You saved me; you carried me all the way back into town, despite your injuries!  No one ever does something as nice as that for me...except for you!"  Lucy glanced at the ground, moving her eyes to the road with an annoyed look in her eyes despite the redness of her face.  "You're always there for me.  I couldn't thank you enough, Natsu."

There was a small silence, and Lucy's breath hitched when she felt him come towards her.  He silently wrapped her in a tight embrace, smiling to himself.  Lucy's eyes were wide with surprise, but soon she relaxed and bit the inside of her cheek, looking in the opposite direction as she wrapped her arms around him softly.

"Thanks, Luce.  I feel better now."

"Good..."  Lucy replied lowly, a little preoccupied by his presence.  "I don't like being away from you, idiot."

"Hai, hai.  I don't either; you're my favorite person to be around, Luce!"  Natsu replied, pulling away and putting on his signature grin.

Lucy smiled softly, liking those words.  "Yeah."

"Nat-zu!  Lu-shee!  What are you too doing?!"

Natsu smirked.  "There's Happy!  Come on, Luce!"

Lucy didn't protest as he grabbed her hand.

Thank you, Natsu.

.

.

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I hope you all enjoyed~!