A/N: Please enjoy? 😢

"So, will she okay?" Erza asked, while sitting next to a sleeping blonde.

"She will be fine. She needs lots of rest so her injuries will heal correctly. Especially her ribs. Her bruises are bad. But it's noting that can't be treated." The doctor spoke while looking at his  clipboard.

Erza sighed. "If she wakes up, when can she leave?"

"It's up to Lucy. However, I would recommend somebody to help her around. Just to be safe."

"That I can do." Erza smiled.

The doctor excused himself and left the room, leaving Erza alone with the sleeping blonde.

Erza glazed at Lucy, studying her features. Her mouth, her nose, her eyes, hair...so peaceful. And yet, she had almost allowed the blonde to be taken away...or worst. She will do better, she will protect her better.

"Lucy, It's all over now. You're safe. We're all safe. It's over now." Erza muttered.

Erza took Lucy's hand in hers and held it gingerly and rubbed the back of her hand with her thumb. It was soft and seemed so delicate. Lucy is delicate, but she is strong as well. Erza is proud of the person that Lucy had become.

"I don't think I can love you if I can't keep my promise... that if I can't protect you. But I want to love you. Because I do and I will. But do I really deserve it?" Tears streamed down on her left eye. "I'm so sorry Lucy." Erza laid her head on the bed, still holding onto Lucy's hand for comfort and allowed herself to fall into deep salty slumber.

...

It hurts. My body hurts. It's dark. I can't see.

"Lucy." A voice called out.

Lucy tried to look around, but it's too dark to see.

"Who's there!?" The blonde asked, alert and afraid.

"Lucy." The voice repeated.

Lucy tried to look around again, but it was still too dark. The dark void of darkness, the blackness of the void. She wondered if she was dead...was she?

"Am...I dead?" Lucy called out to no one in particular.

"Lucy." The voice called out again.

"Who are you!?" Lucy shouted, not knowing who was calling out to her terrified her.

"I love you."

Lucy paused.

"Can I really protect you?"

Was it...Erza? Lucy thought.

"But I want to love you."

Lucy felt heavy. Why?

"I'm sorry Lucy."

Lucy speculated why Erza was apologizing.

Then there was a blinding light which forced Lucy to cover her eyes. When it was over, she peeked through her hands and found herself in front of the guild, with the members standing in front. They were smiling, cheering, talking to one another.

Lucy stood there, wondering what was going on.

"Lucy." The voice was closer and clear now.

Lucy turned to the source of the voice and found Erza standing next to her, smiling gently at Lucy.

"Erza..." Lucy muttered.

"It's over." Erza grabbed Lucy's hand and held it gingerly. "You're safe."

Luc glazed at Erza with happiness.

"Lucy." A stern voice called out. Lucy could recognize it, and it made her shiver, and her hair stood up in fear.

She turned around to find her Father standing there with a frown. Erza was gone now, she was no longer holding her hand. The cheering of her guild mates was silent. It was just Lucy and her father now.

"It's time."

...

Lucy tried to get up in a frenzy, but regretted it terribly, as her stomach was hating the movement. She heaved, as the pain was too painful.

"Lucy."

Lucy turned and found Erza looking at her with concerned eyes.

"Erza..." Lucy muttered.

"Nightmares?" Erza asked, already used to this type of behavior.

Lucy nodded. Erza sighed.

"How are you feeling?" Erza smiled sadly.

Lucy sighed. "Like I had been hit by a train" ...which it had felt like. "How long I been out?"

"2 days."

Lucy sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Lucy turned to Erza.

"If...I kept my promise and kept you safe, you wouldn't be in here...I shouldn't had let Mira take you." The redhead spoke as she lowered her head in shame, feeling ashamed for not keeping her promises.

Lucy stared at her redhead friend, and recalled the fight when she had to face the iron dragon slayer. "I wasn't your fault. I don't blame you."

Erza looked at Lucy, still ashamed. "But you're hurt."

"And I'm alive. Please stop beating yourself up." Lucy said, knowing how Erza would be struck with grief, on how this was her fault, which it wasn't.

"Lucy...I promised to protect you...but-"

Lucy interrupted Erza, "Sure, you promised. But, this was inevitable. This was not your fault. Nobody would've guess that they would go after me."

Erza and Lucy remained silent, thinking about their problems. Erza was thinking on other ways to make sure that Lucy was safe. Lucy was recalling her dream...her Father...

Lucy broke the silence, looking Erza in the eyes, "This isn't over yet...if my Father really wants me to go back, he will hire another guild to bring me back."

Erza stared at the blonde, repeating the words she had said in her head.

"I-I...think talking to him will clear things up." Lucy said, not really fond of talking to his father.

Erza stood up for her chair. "I don't think this is a good idea!"

"Before my mother died, she told me that talking solves everything...maybe that's what I need to do."

Erza clenched her fist. "If you're going, then so am I." Erza will not let Lucy go by herself.

Lucy smiled. "I'm glad, because I was about to ask you to come with me."

Erza sighed. "But first, you need to rest."

"No...I have to do this now...otherwise it would be too late." Lucy protested.

Erza sighed. "Then we leave tomorrow."

Lucy smiled. "Thanks."

Erza glazed at her blonde crush and smiled. "Anything for you."

Lucy smiled back.

...

The next day, Erza and Lucy sat on the train. Their destination? Lucy's old home.

Lucy sat next to the window and watched the landscape pass by in a frenzy. And the knight mage sat next to Lucy, and held her hand...because she wanted to feel her touch... Nothing wrong with that right?

"Lucy...what are you planning on telling him?" Erza asked, looking over her shoulder.

Lucy did not move. "To leave me alone, threaten him if he comes close...things like that."

Erza tightened her grip on Lucy's hand. "Are you afraid?"

"Of course." Lucy said, like it was the most obvious thing ever. "It's been four years since I last saw him."

Erza sighed. "I'm here for you."

Lucy smiled and turned to look Erza in the eyes. "That's why I want you here."

Erza smiled back and intertwined their hands together. Erza will let not let Lucy go. She will make sure of it.

They sat in their seat in silence for the rest of the ride. It was nice, knowing that you're not alone...Lucy was happy, the only person that could destroy her happiness was her father. Lucy will have to claim her happiness as her own again... And Erza will help her at every step of the way.

When they arrived, Erza had to help Lucy get off the train, since her injuries were still raw and tender. But Lucy needed to do this, wanted to do this...or more of her friends will get hurt.

The girls walked in silence, Erza making sure Lucy was not pushing herself, and Lucy was debating on what she shall say to her father.

Erza suddenly paused, mesmerized by the scenery before her. "This is beautiful...was it hard to run away from this?"

Lucy paused to catch her breath and look back at the place she fled from. "A little...memories of my Mother, the things that we did together. It was hard to leave the place I grew up with my Mother, the happy memories."

Erza stayed silent, sensing that Lucy had something else to say.

"Then one day, I swore that I had heard my Mother to tell me to do what I wished, which was to run away. So I did...then I ran into you." Lucy smiled at the memory, when it all had started.

Erza took Lucy's hand in hers. "I'm glad I met you Lucy. I'd gladly fight for you."

Lucy blushed a little...no...that was an understatement. Lucy was embarrassed. "That's cheesy."

Erza chuckled. "Shall we keep moving?'

Lucy nodded and walked forward.

Couple minutes later, Erza and Lucy found themselves in front of a huge mansion, and there was a person sweeping the ground.

Lucy smiled. "Ms. Supetto!" Lucy called out.

The said person looked up and when she saw that it was Lucy, she began to cry waterfalls. Then more people who worked for Lucy's father came running out with tears in their eyes, happy to see Lucy again.

Erza stood next to Lucy, examining their behaviors. If these people really has cared for Lucy, then why didn't they help her? When she was being abused? She wanted to ask

Lucy put her hand on Erza's shoulder, sensing that Erza was not happy, knowing what she was thinking about. "It's fine Erza. They had no choice."

Erza sighed, also taken back that the blonde could understand her feelings about these people... If Lucy could read her thoughts on the matter, then why not her feelings about the blonde? So difficult.

"Miss!" A voiced called out. "The master asked for you presence in the study."

This silenced everybody immediately. The girls were was Tensed at the message spoken. Erza was angry, and Lucy was anxious for the event yet to unfold.

Lucy took a deep breath and walked inside the mansion. Erza followed behind. The blonde was to put on a dress, but she refused for couple of reasons. Her injuries are still hurting, and there is no reason to wear a dress.

The blonde rebel stood in front of the door to her Father's study and her red knight stood next to her.

"Lucy, you don't have to do this .I can do it for you." Erza offered.

Lucy smiled. "No, I have to do this. This is my problem, and I need to settle this."

Erza sighed, and placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Very well. Want me to stay out here, or go in there with me?" Erza asked.

Lucy took Erza's hand into hers. "Can you accompany me? While I talk to my Father?" She always felt comfortable knowing that the knight mage was by her side.

Erza smiled. "Of course."

Lucy took a deep breath and opened the door without knocking. The first stage of rebellion. Check.

"So you've finally come back, Lucy." Jude Heartfilia said, ignoring Erza, and the fact that the blonde didn't knock.

Erza had to fight her temptation to beat him up senseless for his heartless tone.

Lucy only frowned. "Yes."

"This was a wise decision, coming from you. Had you remained in that guild, I would have been forced to use my money and power to destroy it. You've finally grown up, Lucy. I take it you've gained some firsthand experience into how much trouble your selfish actions can cause for those around you." Jude rambled.

Lucy frowned angrily and Erza trembled with anger.

"You are a Heartfilia. You aren't like other people-"

Erza had it, she couldn't say quiet anymore. "Don't talk like you know her!" Erza went and stood between Jude and Lucy, her eyes wide with anger. "You abused your own daughter, your threatened her, hurt her, her friends, her guild. Don't you dare talk like you know her!"

"Erza!" Lucy shouted, surprised at Erza's actions, so was Jude.

"And who may you be?" Jude asked, finally acknowledging her presence.

"I'm Erza of Fairy Tail. Lucy's my friend. And I will not show mercy to those that hurt my friends." Erza summoned a sword. She wanted to kill this man, for everything he had done to her blonde crush....

"Erza!" Lucy placed her hand on Erza's hand that held the sword. Erza forced herself to calm down and look at Lucy in the eyes.

Lucy stared at her, then turned to her Father. "Whatever reason you wanted me to come for, I came for one reason and one reason only." Lucy said, with all of her pent-up anger embedded in it.

Jude was surprised at the change of tone. Erza was too. She had never heard Lucy's tone be this angry. Lucy grabbed the sword Erza was holding and held it gingerly.

"Please don't get the wrong idea. But I only came back to make things clear between us. The things you did back then...the things you had said...the things you had committed. I will never forgive you for them." Lucy frowned. She takes the sword and points it at her Father.

"Mess with me and Fairy Tail again, we will consider you an enemy, and I will not hesitate to kill another human being." Lucy was panting now. Her injuries was becoming painful now. She brought her free hand and held it to her injured side.

"My Father...is already dead. So I do not know who I am talking to right now. But I have one thing to say to my Father: My Mother loved you, and I had tried to love you as well...but it was a lost cause. My family is dead. But I have another family. Fairy Tail...a much warmhearted family than what I had here."

Jude was surprised at Lucy's words...Ezra grinned at his reaction, and felt happy for Lucy sticking up like that.

"This is a goodbye." Lucy lowered the sword and handed it back to Erza and started to walk out, but Erza stopped her.

"Jude Heartfilia. What you had done to your daughter is unforgivable. I should be handing you to the police for child abuse. However, I believe in second chances...even though I want to gut you alive. Live the rest of you pathetic life, knowing what you did to Lucy." Erza glared murderously at Jude before gently pushing Lucy out of the room.

"You didn't have to say that Erza." Lucy muttered, after Erza closed the door behind her.

Erza sighed. "Your Father should at least regret what he did, otherwise, he is good as dead."

Lucy smiled. "Thanks for being there. I can't believe I just did that..." Lucy was surprised, her actions surprised her, she wasn't even thinking.

Erza took Lucy's hand in hers. "You're strong. You can do anything."

"Thanks...for everything." Lucy murmured, blushing.

Erza smirked. "Anything for a princess."

Lucy frowned. "No...I'm no Princess."

Erza chuckled. "Of course not. You're just my plain old 'Lucy'."

Lucy softly laughed. "It's over now. We should go back now."

"Yes...how is your injuries? I noticed it was bothering you while you were talking to you father."

"It hurts." Lucy smiled.

Erza sighed. "Should I carry you bridal style then." Erza smirked.

Lucy laughed. "No. That won't be necessary."

"I love you Lucy." Erza softly spoke, smiling gently at her blonde crush.

...

The next day, Lucy moaned like she was dying. Her sides hurt, her ribs are painfully poking out, and her bruises looks horrible.

Lucy sat at their temporary reception desk, engaged in a conservation with Mira. Erza was angrily talking to another person, Laxus with murderous look on her face.

Lucy noticed this and decided to watch the scary exchange. It somehow reminded her when she first came to Fairy Tail.

"Try saying that again!" Erza shouted.

"Since I'm here, let me make things nice and clear. Weaklings don't belong in this guild." Laxus grinned. He turned to Jet and Droy, "Man, you guys are pathetic, letting Phantom make a mockery of you. Actually, I don't even know your names."

Then Laxus turned to Lucy. "And you, rich celestial wizard girl. You were the main culprit. It was your fault that-"

Erza attempted to punch Laxus in the face, but disappeared before Erza could make contact with him. "It's no one's fault! You didn't even fight, so don't you dare say stuff like that!"

Laxus laughed manically before disappearing.

Lucy wondered how Laxus had become so evil, he was nice before. She wondered what had happened for his sudden change of attitude?

Erza walked and sat next to Lucy and sighed. "The nerve of that man!" Erza gritted before taking another deep breath and smiled at Lucy gently. "How your injuries?"

Lucy frowned. "It still hurts. I don't think I can do any jobs for a while."

"Oh, my. Then in that case, here some pass for the hot spring. There's one for Erza since she'll never leave your side." Mira smirked handing Lucy two passes for the hot spring.

Lucy smiled. "Thanks! But...what's the catch? Your smirk is scaring me." Lucy frowned, seeing the creepy smiling that belonged to Mira.

"You're injured. The hot spring should help speed up the process." Mira smiled, and smirked again, aimed at Erza, who knows that she liked Lucy. Erza blushed, knowing what was going on in her head.

Lucy smiled. "Thanks Mira!" Lucy turned to Erza, "You'll go with me, right?" Lucy asked.

Erza blushed. "Of course."

Lucy wrapped her arms around Erza's and tugged to go to their place and start packing for their spa time. Erza sweatdropped as she could feel the creepy smile on Mira's face...and...somehow she felt some murderous intent coming from someone...but who?

...

"The bath water is really nice." Lucy muttered dreamily, as she carefully sunk deeper into the hot water.

"The moon is nice." Erza said, standing up.

Lucy looked in her direction and facepalmed. "Erza...why are you in your armor?" Lucy was still not used to this type of behavior, Erza can be weird sometimes.

"I feel comfortable with it on." Erza said so simply, smiling at Lucy

Lucy sighed. Still feel uneasy about your past? When will you feel more comfortable without it? "Can you at least take it off, and enjoy the spa...you should be fine here."

Erza eagerly complied and ex-quip out of her armor.

Erza went and sat next to Lucy and intertwined their hands together. Erza was debating if she should confess in the spa or after.

"Hey Erza..."

Erza turned to Lucy. "Yes?"

"Is it me, or I am I feeling that someone's watching us?" Lucy murmured.

Erza gulped. She wasn't talking about me...was she? "Want to get out then?"

Lucy nodded.

...

Lucy and Erza changed into their Kimonos and Erza was red. Red from blushing.

"Erza? Do you have a fever?" Lucy asked, seeing how red Erza was.

"Ah...no..." Erza gulped. Here it goes. "Lucy...I-I...Lo-"

"PILLOW FIGHT!" Natsu roared as he busted through the door, holding bunch of pillows, followed by Happy who screamed, "Uppa!"

Lucy jumped at the sudden burst and hid behind Erza. Erza, on the other hand, was even redder from rage. She snapped and requipped into her armor and summoned a sword.

"Natsu!" Erza growled angrily, glaring at Natsu and Happy murderously.

"Oi! What's sup" Why did ya'll go to the spa without us?" Gray casually spoke, walking in completely naked. Lucy screamed and ran out of the inn, seeing how murderous Erza was, and the fact that Gray was also naked.

Screams and shouts could be heard from Gray and Natsu as Erza rained hell upon them. Lucy took a quick stroll away from the brawl. Lucy wondered why Erza was so angry...

She sat down on a bench and stared at the starry sky. It was a beautiful night, and Lucy was happy. Her injuries are already healing...but it still hurt.

A couple walked past her, muttering stuff of love and life, and personal things. Lucy didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when they had said 'I love you' and started kissing, Lucy's eyes widened in surprised.

After they disappeared, Lucy sighed, and lowered her head.

Erza had been saying 'I love you' a lot...is this what she had meant? Does Erza really love that way? Even though we're both girls? Sure, Erza is pretty and nice...but...

"Um...Lucy...?" A soft voice called out.

Lucy looked up, but not finding anyone. "Who's there?"

"Um...Juvia wants to say sorry."

Lucy turned and found that Phantom girl, Juvia was hiding behind a tree.

"You!?" Lucy stood, and quickly regretted it. Her injuries screamed at her to not to move too much.

"Juvia is sorry."

Lucy blinked, while placing her hand on her injured side. "Sorry? About the attack?"

Juvia nodded. "Juvia is sorry and wish to be friends."

Lucy was in a dilemma. Whether to trust her or to run from her...but Lucy would not get too far with her injuries.

"Juvia did not know Gajeel would take it too far."

Lucy gulped. She doesn't know what was going on now. "What do you want?"

"Juvia wants to be friends."

Lucy does not where Juvia's going with this.

"LUCY!"

Lucy turned and see Erza running at full speed with a sword in hand, and she did not look happy.

Erza got between Lucy and Juvia and aimed her sword toward Juvia.

"What are you doing?" Erza ordered.

"Ah...Juvia...wants to be part of Fairy Tail, and hop to be friends with everybody." Juvia said, squirming under Erza's murderous glaze.

"Lucy. This woman didn't try to hurt you did she?" Erza said, not taking her eye off Juvia.

"No...but she kept saying that she was sorry..." Lucy said.

Erza studied the rain girl. "Why do you want to be part of Fairy Tail?"

"Because Juvia sees that it's full of fun, plus Juvia wants friends." Juvia smiled.

Erza sighed and lowered her sword. She doesn't sense any murderous intent from the girl. "Fine, but stay away from Lucy."

Juvia frowned. "Are you saying that you are my love rival?" Juvia said with unspeakable glint in her eyes.

Lucy and Erza was dumbstruck. "Huh?" They said in confusion.

Then Erza realized what she had meant. Lucy was still confused. Erza grabbed Lucy's hand and tugged her back to the inn, away from the rain woman.

Once back at the inn, Erza faced Lucy again by placing her hands on her shoulders.

"Lucy."

"Yes?" Lucy wondered...if Erza did like her in that way...

"Lucy...I..."

"ERZA! FIGHT ME!" Natsu, who had bandage all over his body, barged into the room, fire spewing out of his mouth.

Lucy paled as Erza requipped into a different armor and left no mercy for Natsu.