Fairy Tail Guild

"Are you sure you're alright, Sweetie?" Lisanna's voice was laced with absolute concern and her eyebrows were scrunched together.

She had a hand on Natsu's insignia. The pretty woman frowned when Natsu didn't respond. It's been a few hours after Loke had attacked him, accusing him of something she couldn't quite catch. Her Fiancee had been silent for a while. It was unlike him to not be the loudmouth he occasionally was.

"Huh?" Natsu perked up, his voice slightly muffled behind his hands, he pulled his fists to his lap, glancing at Lisanna. "Sorry, Lis, I just got a lot on my mind."

"Wait, you're actually thinking?" Gray plopped into the seat across the table. "Don't overexert yourself, Pyro. Your brain might implode." As usual, Gray decided he was gonna mock the pink-haired man with some of the "insulting" nicknames they've given each other over the years.

Natsu was quick to glare at his teammate, "Shut up, Stripper! Just 'cause I don't use my brain doesn't mean I can't think every once in a while!" The pink-haired man retorted.

A giggle escaped Mira as she appeared behind the bar, cleaning a glass with a rag. "It's rare for you to think, Natsu." she teased.

"You're all so mean!" Natsu grunted.

"Natsu?" Happy slowly began, just next to his partner, holding his untouched fish with a sudden unappetizing feeling. "What did Loke mean earlier? About Lucy being hurt?"

The cat didn't understand. Lucy hadn't been around for a while, he noticed, but he assumed she went on solo missions, that is until Loke showed up, punching at Natsu like a merciless street fighter. The familiar feeling of torment ate at his cat stomach. It was the same feeling when Lisanna "died" and was sent to Edolas. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

"What he said...you wouldn't really hurt her...right? Lucy's our friend..." Happy whimpered, his bottom jaw quivering, large, fat tears threatened to fall.

Natsu frowned, but immediately pat his friend's head, "He didn't mean it. I'd never hurt Lucy. We can go check on her later, okay, 'lil buddy?" He smirked on the inside, seeing Happy spring up with that innocent smile and frantic nodding.

"I'm going to get my secret stash of fishies for her!" Happy's wings sprung out from under the little green baggie on his back, instantly taking flight.

"He's so sweet." Lisanna smiled proudly, turning her attention back onto her fiancee, "You know, we all haven't seen Lucy in a while, perhaps, all of us should visit her."

"You're too kind, Lis, but Lucy has a pet peeve about too many guests. Maybe you should stay here with Mira and talk about the wedding plans some more." Natsu smiled his boyish, charming smile and Lisanna blushed.

"O-oh, um, all right!" She nodded, timidly smiling.

Natsu twisted around in his chair only to be confronted by Erza.

"You shouldn't go either. Loke made it pretty clear that he's harboring an unconditional rage toward you." She said, folding her arms over her breastplate.

"She's right, Natsu. The Master left a little while ago. I assume he's at Lucy's place now, talking it out, I suppose." Mira informed, placing the glass she was cleaning, on the counter.

Something within the Dragon Slayer clicked harshly. The Master was at Lucy's? No! She'd destroy him if she told--no. She'd do anything to keep those dumb keys safe. They were her only family, after all.

To seem less suspicious, he forced a chuckle out, "I didn't know, at least we know she's in safe hands!"

The women chuckled in agreement with his response. They didn't suspect anything...for now. If they ever found out, he'd be cast out. Shunned by anyone and everyone. What he did...he couldn't control the urge, the intense screaming of the creature within. Lisanna didn't want to do anything with sex until after they were married, but the creature couldn't deal with that since the wedding date was seven--now six--months away. He felt no regret now.

The urge was long gone now, and that, he was glad for.

~(let's get back to Lucy and the others, yes?)~

"I see." Makarov shakingly retracted his hands from the sides of my forehead. Horror painted heavily on his aging face. A dark shadow covered his narrowing eyes.

I hang my head in shame, pressing my knees closer together, even though they were already touching. My hands were laced together, still clammy and sweaty. I could hear my heart and blood pulsate in my ears. What was he going to do? To say? Am I still in trouble? Am I going to be disciplined? Was my mark going to be erased? Was I going to be kicked out of the guild? All these negative thoughts circled my brain. It wasn't my fault, I knew. I've told the only one who had the power to erase one from Fairy Tail about this.

I never thought I'd get this far. Makarov was so sure Natsu was the innocent child he watched grow up. I'd have some doubt inside, too.

"M-Master, I'd like to ask you something." I cringe, hearing my own voice crack like glass, "What should I do? The baby--"

"You needn't fret about the baby, Child, " The old man placed a comforting pat on my shoulder, "You'll both be safe, I promise."

"Makarov, if I may, " Loke stepped up, serious than any time I've seen the serious side of him, "You shouldn't let this slip. If word got out to that shithead--I mean Natsu, he'd barrel his way down here, knowing him, he would."

"What are you saying, Loke?" I ask, glancing tearfully up at my trustworthy spirit.

"We should relocate you, only until the baby is born. That way, you can say you adopted it. Trust me, I don't want you having to hide from the guild because of that bastard's cruel--" He took a deep breath, "All I'm saying is, we should keep this a secret for now."

"What will everyone else think--" I'm cut off by the master.

"I will tell those who are concerned you have gone off on a year-long requested job." Makarov piped up, "And I will build a report for the Council to see. It will take some time to convince them of this."

"I'm not sure about that," I say, but it was obvious they didn't hear me.

I glance into the kitchen and past the counters. I notice Cobra speaking to Midnight about something. I wonder what it was? I know since he's a dragon slayer (implanted lacrima) he most likely heard us and was informing Midnight, or not. It's just guessing. Bad guessing, but it's a start.

I'm so confused about my life now.

I frown deeply, my eyes heating up with the same acidic tears I had earlier. My jaw clenched tightly.

Is this what you wanted Natsu? To destroy me from the outside to the inside? Why did you strip me of my dignity and force this burden on my shoulders? What did I ever do you to deserve this?