Lucy was in the midst of a mission alongside her friends, Gray, Erza and Natsu when she called on Aquarius. Aquarius continually pushed her, "Got a boyfriend yet, Lucy?" "It's probably because you look like a stupid bimbo?"

"Just help me to help the team! Please!" Lucy exclaimed. Lucy looked around only to see all her friends doing their best. It was times like this that really hurt her; times when it was devastatingly obvious how powerless, useless she was compared to her friends. They were all so inspiring and incredible. She couldn't help but be in awe of the three mages; their powers, so different; ice, fire, weaponry - total polar opposites. For once, Lucy just wanted to help; for once to be useful to her friends. Was that really too much to ask for?

Aquarius scoffed, but sprayed water at the dark mage opposite them.

"Thank you, Aquarius!" Lucy exclaimed gratefully, before sending her back to the spirit world. Lucy was about to summon another spirit, but she slipped on water left behind from Aquarius. Lucy had no doubt that Aquarius had planned that; that girl always had to have the final word in any argument. Lucy let out a small squeal as her ankle twisted beneath her and she fell with a light thud. The opposing mage used the young mages' distraction to his advantage, speeding away like a cannon being fired.

Natsu let out an angry yell, "We've gotta follow him!"

Lucy cowered, her ankle stung. She wouldn't be able to run. "You guys go on without me. I'll see you later." She said, feigning confidence.

"Are you sure?" Erza asked sceptically, way too used to her cry baby friend's antics, "I wouldn't usually entertain the idea, but he's dangerous…"

"It's fine." Lucy urged, "I'll get one of my celestial spirits to help me. Now go get him!" she exclaimed the last part enthusiastically.

Her friends didn't waste another moment before turning in the direction the evil mage went in. "Sorry, Lucy!" Natsu called over his shoulder.

"We'll make it up to you later!" Gray called to his ditsy friend.

"Be careful!" Lucy called after them. Lucy let out a disgruntled sigh. Once again, she was alone. No matter how hard she tried, she always, always ended up being left behind. Lucy had to recognise frequently that she was really just a strain on the great and powerful team. They would be better off without her, but she was too selfish to distance herself. And besides, even if she tried to, she was fairly sure, or at least she hoped, they would put up a fight for their strong friendship.

"I summon the lion, Loke!" she calls out to no one in particular, weakly stabbing a gold key into thin air. Almost instantly, the red haired young man appeared, standing above her in his usual well-made suit and red tie.

"Lucy! It's been too long! I suppose you couldn't stay away forever!" he says with a wink.

Lucy ignored his comment, "Help me please?" she asked with a weak smile, "I think I twisted my ankle…"

His eyes darken almost immediately, "How? Why didn't you call me before? And where are your friends? They should be looking after you." He frowns. He leans down and inspects my ankle, making me wince a few times, "I think you've broken it, Luce."

"They had to finish a mission and I'm sure it's just bruised or twisted. So, what do you say? Will you help me?" she stretches her arms out for him to pick her up.

He smiles at her, "Of course." His smile turns to a grin, "After all, I love Lucy! I have to look after my favourite girl, especially when she has broken her ankle!"

Lucy groaned in reply but was glad when he picked her up. She allowed him to hold her tightly in a fashion that only made Lucy think of a bride and groom on their big day.

"Where are we heading, Lucy?" He asked. It had started to rain and Lucy wasn't too fond of the idea of trekking to a train station – which she knew was at least four miles away – in the pouring rain, especially with her sore ankle.

"A local inn, I think." She spoke nervously, "It would be good to get out of the rain."

"Right. I think a storms starting too." Loke added. It wasn't long before they arrived at a small local inn. "Sweetheart, you wait here." Loke said as he sat her down on a small sofa in the reception of a motel, being careful of her injured ankle. She was about to tell him not to call her that, but he was already talking to a petite girl over the counter, booking a room. Maybe she didn't reprimand him because it would be rude for her to interrupt them, or possibly because she didn't really mind the endearing name.

"Here you go!" exclaimed the way too eager girl as she handed a key to Loke. She was smiling animatedly in a way Lucy had to admit was friendlier to him than any staff members had ever been to her. Lucy supposed it couldn't be helped, what with Loke looking the way he did. Having said that, the unknown girl wasn't exactly a wallflower herself. She had long, pretty light brown hair that hung in a loose braid other one shoulder, crystal blue eyes that sparkled enigmatically and a perfect figure. She grinned at Loke, but when he turned to walk towards me, her eyes moved over to Lucy, they narrowed immediately. Lucy ignored her and simply looked at Loke instead. His red hair was hanging over his glasses, water droplets falling from the strands. The girl's expression reversed to its former cheerful grin, eyes squinted, when Loke turned around, Lucy secured in his arms. The two were about to leave, on their way to their room, when Loke stopped once more. He said to the girl, "I think my girlfriend has broken her ankle, please call for a doctor?" his tone implied that it wasn't a question, more of a statement. The girl replied with a simple "yes" and the usual, "enjoy your stay".

"It's not broken, Loke." Lucy muttered as they headed in the direction of Room 7. Loke didn't reply.

Lucy ignored Loke for the rest of the walk to the room, despite his struggles for conversation. Once they were in the room, he laid her down on the king size bed then rolled onto it beside her.

With a wink he said, "The storm has gotten worse. It might be a while before the doctor gets here." He smirks, "I know something we could do in the meantime." He leans down to kiss her but she pushes his forehead away with the palm of her hand. Loke sighed, "Oh Lucy, you wound me so."

She scoffed "I'm sure you'll recover."

He sighed and looked down at her despairingly, "Why won't you believe that I love you, Lucy?"

"Loke, you don't love me. You just-" she was cut off by Loke.

"You talk the talk about how I'm the same as you - how I'm human! But when it comes to human emotions, you don't believe me. I love you Lucy! I know I do! I'm sure of it! What do I have to do to make you believe that I love you? You are stubborn, immature, occasionally ditsy, beautiful, sweet and kind. The kindest person I've ever met. Those are the things I love about you, Lucy. Please believe me!"

Lucy was speechless. She had never thought of his love in that way. She'd always believed it was friendship, not love. Never for a moment had she suspected that he really truly loved her. But that much was obvious from his confession. The only real question now was how Lucy felt. Lucy opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to categorise her thoughts enough to answer him.

"I don't know what to say, Loke." Lucy finally replied.

Loke looked crestfallen, but before he could speak again, the phone in their room sounded. Loke answered it after staring at Lucy for a few moments. Lucy heard the girl from the reception's chipper voice, but couldn't decipher her words. Loke nodded, his expression frustrated.

"Well Lucy." Loke said as he put the phone back down, "The doctor won't get here until tomorrow because of the storm, so it looks like you have plenty of time to decide your answer."

Lucy stared at him in shock. Was he going to demand an answer? Yes, he was. But what would it be? Even Lucy wasn't sure.