"Lucy, no!"

The chef's knife was snatched from my hands just before the blade even grazed my shirt. My vision snaps to the one who took my weapon.

"Loke!" I abruptly shout out, trying to lunge for the knife again.

"Lucy, get a hold of yourself!" Loke shoved me away from him and the knife. "What the hell were you doing!?" His face was twisting with anger and incredulity. He gripped the knife high above his head, the blade brushing against his forearm, his other hand outstretched in front of him, preventing me from even trying to get the knife back. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Give it back! I can't do this! I don't want to--" I felt weak all of a sudden. "Please! I don't want this--!" A dreaded hiccup shrinks my throat again, as well as heavy drops of hot, salty liquids burning out of my tear ducts.

Loke blocked my hands, grabbing a hold of my left wrist, frowning as I broke down again.

"Lucy..."

"I don't want to have look at my flesh and blood and fear that one day he'll ask where his father is or how he came to be, okay!!" I snap, another sob racks inside my chest. My knees buckle and I'm on the floor again. "I don't want a child from this!! It doesn't deserve a broken person like me as its mother!"

As I began to drown in my own self depression and hot tears, Loke set the knife on the floor, but far enough away, out of my reach. He crouched down in front of me, taking me in his arms. Letting me wail into his dress shirt.

It was silent, given for my near silent sobs. Until Loke spoke up again.

"I..." He began, but he hesitated on talking. "I visited Fairy Tail. I know said I wouldn't cause trouble."

I wanted to respond. But could I? I should've told him. He's my friend. I should've told him when it happened! That nasty and painful lump throbbed within my throat.

"I just thought you'd like to know, " Loke pulled back a little, so we could meet eye-to-eye, he had a satisfied grin forming on his mischief face. "I got a few lucky punches before Makarov stopped me."

I gaped up at him through blurry vision. "What? Loke!" I narrow my eyes, scolding him. "I said no!"

"Forgive me, Lucy." He hung his head, grimacing. "I wasn't going to do anything, just observe. But the second I saw..." His hair shadowed over his glasses. "I saw red the second I heard him. I couldn't control myself."

Loke's body shook as he attempted to control himself.

"Hey." I press my hands onto his shoulders. "It's okay. Well, it's not. But right now, it can't be helped."

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Lucy." He leaned his forehead onto my left shoulder. "I wish I could've protected you from this."

Yeah. I know. I wished the same thing.

___we'll back after this short break____

Makarov coughed into his sleeve, sparing long glances toward Natsu and the group that formed around him. Wendy healed him up after picking many of the splinters that were caused by the rafts.

It has been only twenty minutes but to the old man, it was like a long hour in a meeting with other Guild Masters. Meanwhile, others were cleaning the broken wood and readying to repair the broken rafts.

"Say, Master?" Mira softly asked, her normal warm voice was reduced to a timid tone. "What did Loke mean earlier?" She approached from behind the bar.

"I..." Makarov paused reluctantly. He mustn't give out the accusation without complete evidence. He knew He would have to make that trip to Lucy's. She was a sweet young woman. She wouldn't jeopardize a guildmates' life with a lie if it was a lie. He couldn't tell. "I'm not sure, child. I will look into this quickly."

Natsu was a dense idiot, but he'd never hurt his friends on purpose...would he?

No. Loke must have his facts wrong. But the man said something about Natsu hurting Lucy. Was his attack fueled by whatever happened? If it was, they needed to settle it before there were any more dangerous blows.

"When I come to think of it, I haven't seen Lucy in a while. I guess I've been too busy preparing for Lisa's engagement to notice. If I knew where she lived, I would have gone to visit by now--huh? Master?" Mira became sidetracked when Makarov hopped from the counter to the floor.

"I will be back." He said gruffly. "Watch over things for me, will ya?"

Mira raised an eyebrow, "Of course, but where--"

"I have business to attend." Makarov merely said, leaving the Take-Over mage silent and staring after him while he walked toward the exit.

Some guild members barely spared a glance at the small old man, as they were too enthralled with their own chatter and lives.

Makarov had hoped to receive full answers.

He had to know.