The pure white walls pressed down upon him like a suffocating blanket, slowly sucking away every ounce of hope and energy he once had. The infuriating beeping engulfed the room and echoed throughout his head as a constant reminder that the one he loves may never wake up. He watched the sluggish rise of his chest as he struggled to stay alive. His face was excruciatingly pale, matching the snow he loved so much and his raven hair hung loosely in his closed deep blue eyes. Hesitantly, the pink haired dragon slayer reached out his hand and gently ran his hand over his love's cold, alabaster cheek. Natsu tried to hold back his tears as the overwhelming guilt and fear threatened to resurface as it has been doing since Gray had almost left him forever. According to Wendy, if Natsu hadn't done what he did, Gray wouldn't have been lying in the infirmary; he would be lying six feet under. What troubled the dragon slayer was he could barely remember what he had done after Gray had closed his eyes.

Natsu let his hand trail down from the ice mage's pale face and down his neck until his hand rested on the bandaged scar that will forever mar his throat, collar bone and shoulder. His hand trembled as the tears broke through his emotional barrier and slid down his face. It wouldn't be as bad if the bastard was at fault for the scarring, but, Natsu was just as much at fault as him…

"Natsu, you freed me from my darkness, you freed me because," Gray coughed and blood trickled out of his mouth, "I… love you. I love you so much and I'm sorry that I'm only telling you know when I'm about to leave you."

"N-No…" Natsu clutched the hand on his cheek, "You're not leaving, you can't leave! I love you too!"

"T-Thank you for unf-freeing my f-frozen heart my dear Natsu…"

"GRAY!"

Simply responding to his emotions, his flames immediately roared to life. A wall of fire encased the two mages as Gray's deep blue eyes slid closed for the last time. Natsu's body trembled as if an earthquake was shaking his entire body. He could hear people calling out to him, but his mind couldn't or refused to acknowledge the voices. Natsu was just entranced by grief and the sluggish rise and fall of his lover's chest. The blood continued to flow across Natsu's hands as Gray's pulse continued to get slower and slower.

The flames pressed against their bodies and for once Natsu could actually feel how hot his flames were for others; he felt like his own skin was going to be singed right off his bones. If he, as a fire mage, was having difficulty standing the flame, then Gray may not stand a chance. He tried to urge the flames back, but they refused to respond to his grief stricken mind. The flames continued to relentlessly press against them and out of instinct Natsu gently pulled Gray against him in order to keep the flames at bay. The dragon instincts within Natsu were beginning to overwhelm his human ones and if that happened all hell would break loose.

Natsu Dragneel! You can save him!

His head whipped up and glanced into the flames that surrounded them. No shadows could be seen, but he was sure that he heard a voice speaking to him through the flames.

Natsu Dragneel! You must seal his wound using your flames it's the only way to ensure his survival!

I can't do that! Natsu argued, My flames would kill him!

Believe in your magic young dragon slayer; you'll without a doubt save his life, not end it. Let your love for him fill you up and feed your power. Your love for him saved him once Natsu Dragneel and your love will save him again.

The pink haired dragon slayer closed his eyes and held onto Gray tightly. He willed his flames to obey him; he willed his flames to heal instead of destroy, he willed his flames to save the one he loved. He refused to lose anyone else who was important to him!

His flames instantaneously responded to him and they licked Gray's neck hungrily. The ice mage's body subconsciously flinched at the intense heat causing Natsu to whisper a string of apologies into the ice mage's ear. At his words Gray's body relaxed slightly, although his face was still contorted painfully. After a few moments the flames started to retreat of their own accord; slowly making their way back towards Natsu's body. As his flames returned to him a wave of exhaustion swallowed him causing his vision to waver unwillingly. Natsu heard the sound of running footsteps coming towards them and he instinctively held Gray closer. In doing so, Natsu noticed the blistering, raw skin that decorated the ice mage's usually flawless pale skin. Tears welled up in his half lidded eyes as he realized the damage and pain he had inflicted on him.

I'm sorry… he whispered sadly, before darkness consumed him.

Natsu continued to run his hand through Gray's raven hair soothingly; distracting himself from thinking about what he had done.

"Gray…" He whispered as a tear slid down his burning cheek.

"C'mon ice block," His voice whispered brokenly, "I know you can pull through this."

The dragon slayer leaned forward and hesitantly pressed his lips on Gray's smooth forehead,

"I love you Gray, please come back to me."

He laid his head beside the ice mage's hand and held onto the only lifeline he felt that he had before allowing much needed sleep to drag him under.

FTFTFTFTFTFT

The grassy field was full of life as the blissful wind danced through each blade of grass and every blooming flower. The sun beat comfortingly on his bare back without draining every ounce of energy that he had. The sound of bird song carried down towards him, reminding him of something from his memory. He laid back in the soft field and let the grass tickle his back and sooth the pain that lingered on his neck, collar bone and shoulder. He couldn't remember what he did to have this pain, but it was damn annoying.

Gray…

He sat up and searched around him frantically. The voice sounded so familiar and the word it said, 'Gray', was it important to him in some way?

C'mon ice block, the voice cracked, I know you can pull through this.

There it was again. Why did that voice sound so familiar? It was beginning to get under his skin and fast.

"Hello?!" He called out, "Is anyone there?!"

No one answered him; all was silent. The birds had stopped singing and the wind had completely stopped. The heat of the sun seemed to have strengthened dramatically, but it still wasn't scorching his skin and sucking away his energy. The heat felt comforting; almost like a second presence that was only there to keep him safe. Almost like Na…

A sharp pain shot through his head as the image of a pink haired teen flashed across his mind's eye. The images didn't stop there either; people he couldn't name flashed like pictures through his head. A bubbly, slightly over dramatic blonde girl, a blue winged cat and a terrifying red haired, armoured girl joined that of the pink haired boy. His heart warmed at the thought of them; they felt like family… they felt safe. Other people he couldn't remember the names of flashed through his mind until the familiar voice echoed throughout the field once more,

I love you Gray, please come back to me.

"N-Natsu?" Gray whispered hesitantly.

Pain laced through his body as his memories returned; it was almost completely unbearable. He almost wished that he could forget all over again; but the want to feel safe with Natsu and his family overrode that wish almost immediately. He closed his eyes and thought of Natsu, he wanted to return to him; he wanted to comfort Natsu like he had comforted him.

Suddenly his body felt like lead and his eyelids were extremely heavy. Gathering every ounce of his will Gray forced his eyes to open only to be greeted with a blinding fluorescent light. He gazed around him as best as he could, but he instantly felt extremely exhausted. He could feel a hand wrapped tightly around his and smiled when he saw the shock of pink hair lying by his arm sound asleep.

"N-Natsu?" His voice cracked painfully from under use, "Flame brain wake the hell up before I go back to sleep."

The pink haired dragon slayer twitched in his sleep and opened his eyes sleepily. Gray couldn't help but notice the dark rings around the onyx eyes and immediately felt guilty. Natsu seemed a lot thinner and his tanned skin seemed to have lost its glow.

Did I do this to him?

Gray sighed sadly and squeezed Natsu's hand to gain his attention. The dragon slayer jumped and a look of disbelief and relief swallowed his face. He looked at Gray's hand and up the pale arm to finally rest on Gray's face and on his exhausted deep blue eyes.

"G-Gray?!"

"Morning flame bastard," Gray smirked, "You should really take care of yourself better."

FTFTFTFTFTFT

Natsu's heart was pounding in his chest and his mouth hung open in complete surprise. He couldn't help but keep staring at the now awakened ice mage. His hand held onto Gray's tightly out of fear that he would disappear into the darkness of sleep once again if he were to let go. Without his permission, tears rolled down his cheeks as the relief and guilt clashed against each other. A smooth thumb rubbed the tears of his cheeks as they fell and he instinctively leaned into the cool and comforting touch. With his free hand, the dragon slayer wrapped his fingers around Gray's other hand and held it against his cheek.

"G-Gray…"

"Shhh," Gray smiled exhaustedly, "I'm okay and you're okay; everyone is okay."

"I-I'm so sorry Gray," Natsu sobbed, "It's my fault."

Gray raised his dark eyebrow in confusion and then finally noticed his bandaged shoulder. He tried to think back to that night, but after he passed out he couldn't remember anything except an intense heat. His eyes softened in realization; the heat was Natsu's fire magic and if he was feeling guilty, than his flames must have burned him. He carefully put his weight on his forearms and tried to push himself into a sitting position. Natsu protested against his movements, but Gray ignored him and continued despite the intense pain that shot through his neck, collarbone and shoulder. When he finally got himself into the sitting position he closed his eyes and sighed in physical and emotional exhaustion.

"You shouldn't have done that." Natsu said without meeting the ice mage's gaze.

Gray rolled his eyes and used his hand to force Natsu to look him in the eye,

"You're such a dumbass."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me just fine Natsu," Gray caressed his cheek comfortingly, "But if you need me to repeat it I will."

"But…"

"It's not your fault." Gray whispered, "It's Yakumo's fault that I'm like this right now, not yours."

Natsu hesitantly placed his hand on Gray's bandaged shoulder and stared into his eyes darkly,

"But I did this."

"And if you didn't do it, I wouldn't be alive right now and you know it."

"And if I was strong enough to protect you, that bastard wouldn't have gotten to you in the first place!"

"Forgive me." Gray whispered.

Natsu stared at the ice mage with his mouth slightly agape,

"Why would I have to forgive you?!"

"If I stayed put and not attacked Yakumo, I would not have exhausted myself and caused you all this pain."

Natsu stared at his love with complete confusion. In his opinion, Gray had nothing to apologize for and he was crazy if he thought he had to. The pink hair teen watched the raven-haired uncertainly to see what the ice mage was getting at. After a few moments, a light bulb went off in Natsu's head and he couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his lips,

"You're one crafty ice bastard you know that right?"

Gray smirked and ran his thumb along Natsu's cheekbone,

"I know, but I had to fix you somehow."

Natsu leaned over and placed his lips on Gray's forehead. Gray leaned into the kiss and his eyes closed his exhaustedly as the need for sleep surfaced. Natsu noticed his eyes closing and started to move away to let the ice mage rest. He turned to leave the infirmary and inform the other guild members that he was awake when Gray's small hand latched onto the back of his black vest. He looked back at the ice mage and smiled at the pout that appeared on Gray's face.

"Please stay." He whispered as he moved to the side in attempt to make room for the dragon slayer on the bed, "I don't want to be alone right now."

Natsu ran his hand through Gray's raven locks and nodded. He carefully crawled into the bed, being aware of the wires connecting Gray to the heart monitor and pulled him close to his side. The ice mage propped his injured side across Natsu's chest and nuzzled his head into the crook of Natsu's warm neck.

"I love you Natsu," He whispered against Natsu's neck, "And I'm sorry for almost leaving you."

"And I love you," Natsu ran his hand soothingly through the ice mage's hair, "There's no need to apologize, you came back."