"Lucy!"

Lucy looked out her bedroom window to find Natsu standing out on the street looking up at her with that signature smile of his that she loves so much.

"Natsu, why won't you just come up here?"

"The last time I did, you kicked me out of your window and told me to stay out."

Lucy sighed. He really isn't that bright is he.

"That's because you barged on me while I was changing. Just come up here already."

Natsu seems to forget that Lucy is a girl and that he can't just waltz in whenever he feels like it. Lucy was expecting Natsu to enter through the wimdow like he always does but instead, she turned around to see Natsu kick down the front door to her apartment screaming,

"Where's the food?!"

"Hey, you have to pay for that!"

Lucy stood in her living room, hands on her hips, as she watched Natsu searched her room, trying to find where Lucy hid her groceries this time. She has to find a new spot at least twice a week.

Why does he always have to eat while he's here?

Natsu suddenly stopped dead in his tracks as his nose picked up another scent. It was an old but familiar scent that Natsu recognized from a long time ago. It brought back memories of death and chaos that he had shoved to the back of his mimd, hoping to forget the terror of that day.

"Someone was here."

"Huh? Who could have possibly..."

Natsu looked at her with frantic eyes.

"Zeref."

"That's impossible. No one's seen Zeref since Tenroujima, seven years ago."

Lucy had a hard time believing this sudden news that he had been in her house.

"There's no mistake; Zeref was here."

Her head began to spin as she tried to undertand what all of this meant. Zeref had stood right where they were standing, watching Lucy. The question is, why?

"Natsu, what does he want?"

He just shook his head.

"I don't know but you're not safe here anymore."

"What do we do? Should we tell the guild?"

This wasn't right. Normally she's the one answering Natsu's questions. Even the mention of Zeref has shook her to her core. This wasn't how things were supposed to be.

If Zeref's back, does that mean that Achnolognia's back as well?

All of this was too much for her to take. It brought back unwanted memories of the terror and fear she felt while facing Achnolognia and Grimoire Heart. Her heart was racing, she felt like it was going to explode. Lucy fell to her knees and began to tremble.

"Lucy!"

"This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening."

"Lucy, snap out of it!"

"This can't be happening. This can't..."

"That's it, we're going to see Gramps."

He bent over and picked up Lucy in his arms. Lucy came back to her senses as she felt the heat of his skin come in contact with her own.

"S..Stop it Natsu. I can walk on my own."

She started to protest but fell silent as she looked at his face. The last time she'd seen him this angry was in Edolas when the guild's lacrima was being chipped away.

"No one messes with Fairy Tail and gets away with it. Don't worry Lucy; I swear, I will protect you."

As Natsu ran across Magnolia to the guild hall, Lucy never said a word, she just closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart.

"Thank you Natsu."