Finished - October 19, 2021

Word Count - 20520

Music - Thomas Bergersen - Heart

Summary:
Finally home from their experience in Elderwood, the Guild notices Natsu and Lucy's strange behavior. Why aren't they talking? Why are they suddenly so close? Mira is brave enough to ask the question, "What happened?"

**********************************

"Did you see that?"

"Something just fell from the sky!"

Strange voices floated around Natsu's brain. His body too sore to move, his fuzzy mind caught pieces of the sound around him.

"See their marks?"

"Someone get Fairytail quick! They can help."

Natsu drifted in and out of consciousness, his eyelids too heavy to open, but he could imagine what he looked like. The urgency of the voices told him that he was not in good shape. His energy was completely depleted to do anything more than listen. He mentally thanked the locals for their help. 

"They're here!" The same unfamiliar voice caught his attention again. He must have fallen asleep, because it seemed only moment ago they they left for help.

"Oh my god..." A much more familiar voice gasped, it sounded like Erza. His heart leapt in relief, he truly was home...finally.

"Flip him over." A famanine voice started barking rushed orders. Her tone laced with urgency, worry and relief. "Keep that pressure."

Natsu's tired mind couldn't keep up with all the commotion around him. Even with closed eyes, his awareness was flickering.

"She needs water immediately." The voice, Natsu now recognized as Wendy, urged.

"Find her keys, they should be around here, I think I saw one when we arrived." Erza's voice came closer.

With the mention of Lucy, the memories suddenly flooded back into his mind. She was alive, they both made it out. Out of Elderwood. He didn't know what he would do if he came back without her.

"Wendy..." A softer voice chimed, it sounded like it was right next to Natsu's ear. "Thats a lot of blood."

"I know Happy..." The previously firm tone in Wendy's voice was gone, replaced with sorrow.

"I can't believe they are alive."

**********************************

Natsu awoke suddenly, his body recovering from the sensation of falling. Catching his breath, he regained his bearings.

The comforting walls of the Fairytail Infirmary washed over his tense soul. He was really home? Did he dare allow himself to believe it?

As his heart calmed its rapid beating, he sat up slowly. As the covers fell off him, he realized how carefully his chest had been wrapped. His injuries of repetitive whipping; now cleaned and dressed. He was not accustomed to this type of kindness anymore.

Sharing the bed with him was Happy, curled up in a fluffy ball upon his legs. Natsu gently placed his rough hand upon Happy's blue fur, the warm feeling was  familiar. He sat there petting his companion until the feline woke up. The moment the cat stirred, he jumped up with enthusiasm and tackled Natsu into a massive hug.

"You were gone for so long! No one knew where you were! We were so worried! Never leave me like that again!" Happy rambled, not stopping for breath.

Though, during his outburst, he paused and noticed Natsu's odd behavior. Natsu simply smiled silently, letting Happy go on and on, never arguing back. He didn't answer, he didn't defend. Natsu just sat there, still, watching Happy freak out.

Happy found this very bizarre behavior for Natsu, he always had something to say.

Natsu's eyes found something across the room, his mind completely captured by its presence. Still asleep, Lucy rested in her own bed. She looked much better than last he saw her.

Unintentionally, Natsu ignored Happy's questions and tuned all his focus to the sleeping girl. Happy noticed how Natsu's attention shifted, he smiled and sighed to himself, knowingly.

"Come on, let's go see her." Happy pulled the covers off Natsu's legs and hopped off the bed.

Taking a deep breath, Natsu gained the courage to take his first step back into the real world. It was only fitting that it would be towards Lucy. His body took one slow step at a time, still sore from its torment.

Happy had pulled a chair next to Lucy's bed and Natsu sat himself down, his eyes not leaving her for a moment.

Happy started to feel awkward, sitting there in silence. It was going to be a long healing process, both physically and mentally. However, Happy had an idea. He knew what would make Natsu feel better. It was a strategy that never failed!

"I'll go tell Mira that you're awake. While I'm there I can order us some food!" He jeared, hoping for a reaction.

Instead, Natsu turned his head, smiled and fluffed Happy's hair in thanks. A bit disappointed, and very confused; Happy left the infirmary.

Once the small feline left the room, Natsu slumped his shoulders and returned his attention to Lucy. He examined her condition, seeing bandages wrapped around her leg and jaw. Even though she was injured, he was glad to see her alive. The last time he had seen her, she was ready to give up her life and save his.

He shouldn't feel angry, Natsu would have done the same thing if he was in her position. However, the sting in his heart ached at the thought of continuing without her. He wouldn't know what he would have done if she was left in Elderwood, the thought haunted him. Too many times had he seen her almost leave his side, their adventure almost cut short. Nothing would be the same without Lucy.

Natsu gently took her hand and squeezed it gently, taking in her familiar smell, he loved her. He has for too long without telling her. He was just too scared, but their shared experience in a foreign land really brought them closer. It grew their already strong friendship into something...else.

Before Natsu could think any further, the door opened quietly. Mira and Happy creeped inside, a shared look of concern upon their faces.

Natsu clutched Lucy's hand a bit tighter before letting go to meet his friends.

"Hey Natsu." Mira greeted shyly. "How are you feeling?"

Natsu shrugged his shoulders and looked back to Lucy.

Mira and Happy exchanged an uneasy glance.

"I brought you some food." She placed a small tray on the side table. The food was simple soup, but the smell alone made Natsu's mouth water. He hadn't eaten anything made for people in weeks! In Elderwood they were fed scraps or garbage, if any food at all.

Without hesitation, he started eating Mira's decadent soup, savoring every bite quickly.

"At least you eat like normal." Mira sighed in relief. She was happy to see that his behavior hadn't completely disappeared, because so far, she didn't recognize this Natsu.

She never expected Natsu to sit still and quietly, especially when someone engaged in conversation.

The body underneath the covers started to awake, smelling the delicious food so close to their bed. Lucy opened her eyes to see Natsu eating something that smelled amazing.

The moment she sat up, all attention was on her. Natsu grabbed her hand, gazing at her with compassion. Using her free hand, she pat his hand, letting him know she was alright.

He could tell that Lucy was eyeing his soup, so he offered her some. Lucy placed the warm bowl in her lap and carefully started sipping the soup. Her jaw hurt too much to chew, so she mostly drank the broth and soft veggies.

Mira watched Natsu and Lucy's interaction in awe. They were communicating to each other without words! Natsu didn't make a peep when Lucy woke up. This was definitely not normal.

As Natsu and Lucy took turns eating, Mira gained the courage to start talking, she had to break the silence.

"On your mission, Erza and Grey saw you and Lucy disappear into the sky. They looked for you for weeks, until finally coming back to the Guild heartbroken. We sent out search parties everywhere, asking around, trying to find you. But everyone slowly came back empty. After so long, we lost hope." Mira started crying, remembering the Guilds solemn faces when they returned. "Not even the other Dragon Slayers could pick up your scents."

Neither Natsu or Lucy were eating now, they simply starred at the bed covers, feeling guilty. They didn't mean to put the Guild through such hardship, yet, it was still their fault.

Finally, Mira asks the question, "What happened to you?"

Lucy lifted her eyes to see Natsu starring back at her, their expressions tense. Their comrades deserved an explanation, they deserved to know the truth. Nevertheless, neither Natsu or Lucy had physically spoken in over a month. Unable to speak in Elderwood. But now they were too scared that if they tried, nothing would come out. They didn't trust their mouths to work properly.

Squeezing Natsu's hand, Lucy mentally asked him for strength. Taking a deep breath she gathered the courage to tell her story.

"We were forcibly taken into another universe called Elderwood. This universe was not ruled by humans or mages, instead, Timberman controlled the society. Large, tree-like beings with intelligence. They hunted humans for sport, sold them as pets and slaves. We were captured and separated. I was taken to live with a Timberman named Bartus. He owned dozens of other humans, dressed us up and forced us to preform for him." Lucy's voice shook with emotion and tears fell from her eyes. The memories powerful and scary.

"He turned us into entertainment, a circus for his enjoyment. I hated every second of it and tried to escape many times. He always caught me and dragged me back, then punished me for trying to leave. Until...my last escape. He set traps and I was eventually caught.

"At that point, he was done with me. He had his fun, but I wasn't fun anymore. So he left me in the forest to die."

Once Lucy started, she couldn't stop her words from spilling out of her mouth. Her story filled with sobs and many tears. Her surrounding friends also broke down from her sad tale.

Natsu listened to every word, an aching in his heart and bitterness in his soul. Yet also, a love which overpowered it all. Simply hearing Lucy's voice was honey in his ears, even though her words were sour.

Mira wiped her eyes, she couldn't imagine what they went through. But she was happy to help in any way she could. They were finally home and Mira couldn't help notice how physically close Natsu was to Lucy. Every minute he seemed to inch closer to her. Even through horrible circumstances, she was very pleased that this situation brought them together.

"I just want to go home, sleep in my bed and recover." Lucy sighed, her many tears drying.

These words made Mira cringe, she hadn't told them something important yet. Looks like she couldn't put it off any longer.

"About that..." Mira gulped. "We thought you were both dead and with no one to pay your rent. Lucy, your apartment was lost."

"What?" Lucy looked extremely disappointed.

"Your land lady wasn't willing to wait for you again, not after disappearing for seven years. With no one to pay the rent, we were forced to remove all your things."

Lucy's shoulders sagged, her mind already spinning.

"Luckily, we still have all your stuff. It's being stored in the basement." Mira tried to brighten the mood.

"Where will I go?" Her voice soft and sorrowful. Her mind spiraling into a haze of depression. He had no home and no where to go.

"Was my house sold too?" Natsu asked.

Mira shook her head. "No, you don't have a regular payment and Happy has still been living there. So it should still be there."

Natsu smiled upon hearing this, he knew exactly what to do.

"You can move in with me Luce." Natsu rubbed her shoulder gently. Lucy's heart fluttered upon hearing Natsu's voice again. It had been too long since she heard his comforting tone.

Meeting Natsu's eyes, she smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, I would love that."

"I wouldn't have you anywhere else." Natsu placed a kiss on her head and held her tightly. Noting could separate them anymore.