Note: I had a lot of fun writing this. I hope you guys have just as much fun reading it. The title is subject to change. I'm sure you will realize eventually but I will let you know regardless.

Constructive criticism is always appreciated. I've been out of the writing scene for a while and I'm trying to get my sea legs back!

Paper Moon

Chapter One

Iambic

March 30th, X794

Lucy again awoke that morning, blindly pawing for the familiar warmth that was always there next to her. When her fingers brushed against something soft, she rolled over, smiling softly at the sight next to her.

"Luuuu-cy…" Big, round eyes opened up and looked at her, hopeful and sad. "I miss Natsu."

She smiled sadly. "Me too, Happy." She rubbed his head comfortingly. "I'm sure it won't be much longer now."

"Aye." The luster was long since gone from his small voice. Happy was nearly unrecognizable these days, the mirth that he commonly exuded replaced by a sadness that was not customary for the Exceed. It broke her heart to see him so forlorn and empty.

She sat up in the bed, mustering up the most genuine smile she could. "How about I buy you the biggest, freshest fish for breakfast?" She coaxed him gently, trying to ignite more life into her furry companion.

Happy barely reacted. "If you want."

Lucy frowned. That had been the sixth fish he turned down from her. She could not blame him. She was having just as hard a time as he was with this.

Two months.

It had been two months since the first time and the last time he kissed her. Even to this day, her lips still burned with his touch. It lasted only a moment but it felt like it had gone on for days and the sensation had lasted all this time. What she had been hoping for from her absent-minded partner for so long ended as quickly as it had begun. It was as if a wildfire had been set off inside her but now she was lingering in the smoldering ashes without a clue on where to go next, or even how to.

It did not take her long to come to the conclusion: Lucy Heartfilia was hopelessly lost.

She had always been so confident in herself, ready to give it her all even if she knew she could not keep up. She had always pulled through by sheer willpower and stubbornness – much like her knuckleheaded partner. But with Natsu not around, she felt a little more of that assurance dwindle away with each passing moment.

Her best friend was gone, just when she thought they were something more. And she did not know when, or if, he would be back.

She silently berated herself at that thought. Natsu had a knack for defying the odds and he would again, hopefully soon.

"Just let me know if you change your mind, Happy. I'm going to get ready." Lucy shifted off the bed.

"Aye."

She left Happy alone on the bed, unsure about leaving him but not wanting to press him too hard. He would have to come around eventually, whether on his own or by someone else's means. He knew where to find her if he got up.

The guildhall was not as lively as she was accustomed to, the spirits of its patrons significantly depleted from their absent companion. They had begun to return to their usual activities but their enthusiasm was not as bright. It was tough on everyone but they all still had lives to live, bills to pay, mouths to feed.

She found Gray sitting at the bar, hunched over and poking at his half-eaten food.

"Good morning." She greeted, taking the stool next to him.

"Mornin'." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You going today?"

She nodded, accepting the coffee that Mirajane brought her. "I just wanted to stop by the guild to see how everyone was doing."

He snorted. "Not much better than you." He took a bite of his potatoes.

Lucy sighed dejectedly. It was true. She would not even attempt to deny it. "I know."

They were quiet for a while, finishing their food and drink.

She turned in her seat, fixing him with a firm but hopeful stare. "What about you?"

Gray read through her aloofness easily. "Maybe tomorrow."

"You've been saying that for two months. You should stop by." She placed a reassuring hand on his forearm, leaning into him. "You two are like brothers and you haven't stopped by once for him. You owe it to Natsu and to yourself. Don't beat yourself up. This wasn't your fault –" it was mine, "—so please, just once. Please, Gray."

His eyes were downcast, his bangs shielding the world from the emotions that stormed in them. He was depressed, they all were, but he was taking it hard. Finally, he sighed deeply and reluctantly, he said, "Okay."

Lucy smiled, releasing the grip she had on him. "Thank you." She hopped off the stool, heading for the guild exit with just a little more happiness in her than she had felt in a long time.

"Lu-chan!" Levy called, running up to her. She clutched her hand in her own. "You're heading out already?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I just wanted to come by here for a few minutes. Have you seen Erza by any chance?"

The solid script mage shook her head. "No, she's still out on her mission."

"Oh."

Erza had been taking missions back to back a lot lately, she would be gone for days or weeks and she would return to the hall, pick up another mission and head out again within an hour. This was her coping mechanism. It was starting to worry Lucy but she maintained silence on the issue. It would take time for all of them to heal and that nothing could be forced on anyone.

And so Lucy would do her best to keep herself together for the sake of everyone. Even though she was so broken inside and she would cry for hours on end when she was alone, even though she could barely eat or sleep or muster the energy to get out of bed, she had to stay strong. She had to make sure the rest of her family could make it through such a rough time. She needed to help them but not impose them. So every day, she would try what she could to lift their spirits, to lift them up without pressuring them.

Levy poked her shoulder. "You can go ahead, Lucy. We'll be fine here." The petite girl smiled and Lucy gave her a hug. Levy had been there to help hold her up on the days when she could not find the strength to herself and she would help her to look out for the rest of the guild when could not be there.

"Thank you, for everything." Lucy said, not relinquishing her hold.

"Go. I'm sure he's waiting for you." She whispered.

Lucy nodded and left the guild, heading straight for her destination.

She looked down at her guild mark, smiling as she remembered the first time she met Natsu. He was such a goof and he risked so much just to save her and invite her to join Fairy Tail. The memory brought her so much joy.

Tears started to well in her eyes as she thought about all the fun times she has had since she joined the guild, all her times with Natsu.

She walked through the doors of the large building, making her way to the front desk. "Good morning, Lucy-san. You can go on ahead."

"Thank you." She smiled as she quickly made her way to the elevator. Everyone was becoming so familiar to her. It irked a little bit to know that they knew her by her name, instead of "ma'am" or "miss." She sighed. What do I expect? I've been here everyday for two months.

She made her way down the halls, knowing exactly where to go and the quickest paths to it. She smiled, greeting everyone as they did her.

Finally she made it to the room she was looking for and she pushed the door open. "Good morning, Natsu."

The only reply was the rhythmic sound of the heart monitor.

She took her seat next to the bed. "Gray is going to come by sometime today to see you. I hope he doesn't try to start a fight with you because he doesn't like the way you're breathing." She giggled lightly to herself. "To be honest, I half expect you start yelling for him to fight you the moment he walks in. Then we'd have to go on five missions just to pay for all damages." She smiled sadly. "Of course, you'd probably destroy the towns we go to so that wouldn't leave much for the money we'd owe here. Jeesh, I just can't win with you, can I, Natsu?"

The monitor maintained its beat.

"I still find it hilarious that the doctors were so worked up over your temperature when you first came in. They thought your 'fever' was going to kill you. They didn't expect someone with a resting body temperature of one-hundred-thirteen degrees Fahrenheit to be normal." A giggle escaped her lips as she recalled that incident. It had lightened the solemn mood they were in for a moment, if only slightly.

Still the hollow beep of monitor was his only response.

Lucy hated the quiet when she was around him. She had grown so used to the sound that the room felt practically silent, which was not normal when around the dragon slayer. It was unsettling.

He had been comatose for two months now. There was practically no change in his status from the day he first arrived to this moment.

Everyday the weight on her chest was heavier with the unfortunate news she continuously received: Natsu has not woken up. She finally stopped asking just over a week ago. She already knew the answer every time she came in.

She reached a tentative hand up to his forehead, brushing a loose strand of his salmon hair aside. "Happy really misses you. He turned down another fish today." She had her hands in her lap, absently wringing the hem of her skirt. "Everyone misses you. I miss you…" Her hand reached up to his, careful not to jar any of the equipment attached to his person.

"The guild has been so quiet lately. You'd think we were in the cathedral it's so quiet. You wouldn't believe it." She stroked her thumb over the back of his hand like she had so many times before, the action soothing her. This was what she was needed, his contact, his warmth.

"You're going to have to wake up sometime, you know. The guild really needs you. And if Happy keeps turning down fish, I think the world just might end." This was how their conversations went everyday. She would be charming and funny, she would be as natural as she could and they would have practically the same conversation everyday. She would say whatever and his heart would respond, offering a gentle poetry of steady cadence. Even if the only thing it told her was that we was still alive, she accepted it, albeit ruefully.

What she really wanted was to hear his voice, to hear his laugh and to be able to look into those wide, expressive eyes of his. She missed those eyes so much. No matter what he was thinking, his eyes always told her.

The tears returned, blurring her vision. "I really need you, Natsu." She choked out, lifting his hand to her chest and clutching it desperately. "I need you to wake up and open your eyes. It's been two months already, Natsu!" Her voice lowered as she calmed herself, tears still spilling from her eyes as her breathing evened out. "I can't do this without you. You need to come back to me."

She brought his hand up to her lips and placed a gentle kiss to it, hoping that life would suddenly spring out of him from the gesture.

There was a tiny pressure on her hand, so subtle that she nearly missed it entire. She looked at Natsu's hand wrapped up in her own.

He was holding her hand.

Lucy's heart began thudding erratically, completely opposite from Natsu's steady rhythm. She did not dare move or even breathe as she turned her eyes to his face, studying his every feature fervently. He had released the grip moments after she realized but she sat there, still, silent and breathless. She was not sure how long it was before she finally leaned in near his face.

"Natsu?" The word was nearly inaudible, tumbling hopefully off her lips.

She waited, never relinquishing the grip she had on his hand.

She tried again. "Natsu, can you hear me?"

And she waited.

The only response she got was one she was familiar with and it was the first time she had ever wished she had not heard it: his heart beat.

Dejected and disheartened, she leaned back into her seat. He still was not awake yet. Her hands covered her face, attempting to shield herself from the vision before her and to keep her tears at bay. But it was futile; the image of him was burned into her memory so vividly. He was never able to close her eyes without seeing him lying there motionless, unconscious and frail.

She could not recall the events of their mission clearly. Small bits of her memory would occasionally shatter any small amount of sleep she hoped for, quelling her natural desire for slumber and leaving her staring at the ceiling for hours in the stillness of the night.

There was a massive attack, aimed at her, but he protected her. He always protected her. He was terribly wounded and in those last moments, he kissed her. It was brief and simple. It ended as quickly as it happened and when his eyes fell shut, she was sure he was dead.

In two minutes, her world had crumbled.

Her memory was still spotty and she was told she might never get it back, she was not sure she wanted it back.
These days, the only thing she wanted back was Natsu. She wanted to be going on missions with him and getting into trouble. She wanted to yell at him for breaking into her apartment and stealing her bed and eating her food. She wanted to scold him for causing so much of a ruckus in the guild. She wanted for him to kiss her again.

Everything felt like it was falling apart in her world because Natsu was what bound them all together.

She leaned onto the side of the bed, hiding her face in her crossed arms.

Muffled sobs and the even beeps of the surrounding machines, it was the sound she had come to be so accustomed to and a sound she was beginning to loathe as it continued to remind her that he was still not really there with her. Lucy finally lifted her head, looking at the young dragon slayer's peaceful face. She wiped some tears away and sighed. "Natsu…how did we end up here?"

Note: I've made some minor adjustments to chapters 1 - 8 - dates, typos and rewording (04/15/2015)