It had been almost four months now since the accident. Gray had made the impossible call right after it happened and called Natsu's parents in America. It broke his heart when he made the call, but he informed them of everything that was going on up until that point. They immediately flew out and had been in Magnolia ever since. Lucy had been much harder to handle, it took several weeks before he and Natsu's parents were finally able to convince her to go home some. 

"I don't want him to wake up, and I not be here," she had cried. They had finally convinced her that one of the four of them would be there at all times, and would call her immediately if anything should happen. Ultimately though, Natsu's parents being there had been a great help. They took control of the situation and at least one of them were always with Lucy, making sure that she took care of herself and their future grandchild. 

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Gray sat in the hospital room next to the bed looking at the three pictures that he held in his hand. One from the past long ago. He smiled as looked at a young Natsu, with his right arm thrown over Gray's shoulder, and his left thrown over Luvy's. All three were grinning wide as they were covered in mud. "Remember this?" He asked a still sleeping Natsu. "We got in so much trouble that day for ruining our good clothes, but we had a blast." He said as smiled at the memory. He moved the picture to the one behind it. Also a picture from the past, but much more recent. "This was probably the best day we ever had man," He said as he looked at the picture of all the couples standing together on the night of Lucy's Birthday, "You couldn't have been more blessed Natsu. That girl really loves you." The third picture was the hardest for Gray to look at. This picture held the future. He looked down at the black and white picture as a tear fell from his eye. He looked over at his friend. "This is your daughter Natsu." He said as his voice broke. "You've got to wake up so you can be here for her. I don't see Lucy being able to handle a future Dragneel without you." He set the pictures on the table next to Natsu's bed. 

He turned back towards his friend, and took his hand as he started to cry. "I'm sorry man. I should have done more to protect you. But you have to fight this. Come on man. You're the fuckin fire dragon aren't you?! I know how strong you are, you've got to pull out of this. You've got too much to live for, dammit!" He yelled. "Lucy needs you, you made her that promise, you can't break it! You two have fought your entire lives to be together. You can't let something like this come between you. You're daughter is going to need you too. She's gonna need her daddy to teach her all the important things in life. You know..." He laughed between his tears, "How to walk, how to ride a bike, hell, how to beat up boys. That one is obviously the most important because between her mother and you, I know she is going to be beautiful." The thought of his unborn god daughter without her father made his tears fall harder. "And... And I need you too dude. You're not my friend, you're my brother. You've got to be there with me when I ask Juvia to marry me.  Stand beside me when I watch her walk down the aisle, and tell me I'm a bitch when I cry. We've got to raise our families together, and watch our kids grow up to be little hell raisers just like we were. You're the only person I've always had. No matter what happened you always had my back, and I failed you. I didn't protect you when you needed it most.  I'm so sorry, man. Please Natsu! Come back to us!" He begged as he laid his head on the bed next to his friend and let the sobs break free from his chest. 

He felt a strong hand on his shoulder as he looked up to see Igneel Dragneel standing at his side looking down at his son. "He knows you're here with him son." The old white haired man said calmly. "He can feel the love ya'll have for him. I can honestly say that you kids were the best thing that ever happened to my son." He looked down at Gray. "No matter what happens always know that you are family to us also. We watched you and Lucy grow up with him. I remember so many nights when you would sneak over to the house when you're mother became abusive towards you."

"You always knew didn't you?" Gray asked wiping his tears away. "That Natsu was always looking after me?" He said turning his head back to his friend.

"Of course, I knew." Igneel said with a somber smile. "Where do you think he got it from? I always told him if you make friends for life, then no matter what you will always have a family. That's what you were to him. You we're his family, his brother. And that will never change, but know that what happened to him. What put him here, it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done in that moment to protect him. And Natsu, if nothing else, is as stubborn as they come. I believe whole heartedly that he will wake up. He will return to us because he refuses to give up on those he loves."

Gray starred at his friend. "You're right he is stubborn. And he definitely is a fighter."

"That he is, so don't give up hope on him okay?" Igneel said sitting in the chair next to Gray. The two sat there silently for a while until they heard a noise. They looked up at the monitors. 

Igneel looked at Gray, and quickly spoke. "Call them," he said. Gray pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number saved in his phone. 

"Hello?" the voice answered impatiently.

"Luce, get down here quick." Gray said before hanging up the phone.