Chapter 20

The team managed to turn in the man over to Jellal as he was in the area as well looking for the criminal.

He was explained what had happened to Lucy, Jellal checked the status of Lucy's health might as well he was there.

He calmed Erza and the rest that Lucy was fine, but they needed to wait until she woke up. Till then he bid farewell to the group as he went to go turn in the criminal on behalf of them. They didn't care about the reward anymore…

They just wanted Lucy to be okay….

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Lucy was in a bed at the fairy tail infirmary as Wendy kept tabs on her while she slept through two days in recovery.

Wendy didn't find any internal or external injuries so she couldn't do much but wait for her to wake up to ask her questions. Natsu found himself sitting by the window in Lucy's warden as he was like a big dragon pacing back in forth anxious about his mate.

*lucy felt the stinging light enter through her eyelids as she slowly opened them. She saw a small girl by her side as she sat up on the bed slowly.*

"Becareful Lucy! Don't sit up right away!"

*wendy stopped her as Lucy felt a splitting headache invade her brain suddenly. Lucy winced as she held her head but looked at the girl again to realize it was wendy who was their with her.*

"Wendy?… how did I get here?"

*lucy said disoriented as she relaxed back into her bed as she felt the room grow silent.*

".. you got here 2 days ago… you have been unconscious ever since…"

*wendy replied as she began checking Lucy's condition once more.*

"Oh.. I see… how are the others?.."

*lucy asked as she remembered she was with a group of people but wasn't sure exactly who they were..*

"Ah! They are fine.. erza and gray are downstairs if you want me to bring them here.. "

*wendy asked as Lucy nodded her head with a small smile. but, there was someone else in the room Lucy hadn't noticed until they came forward.*

".. luce?.. "

*lucy looked at the man now who had pink hair, tired eyes, and looked a bit sad...*

".. yes?.."

*natsu sighed a breath of relief that this wasn't a dream, she had finally woken up. he kneeled close to her bed as wendy excused herself to give them some privacy.*

" oh mavis.. lucy you scared me... I thought I wouldn't be able to hear your voice again.."

*natsu grabbed her hand as he kisses the inside of her palm, he looked up as he wasn't hearing any response from her?*

"... oh. um, .. thanks?... but can I know who are you?.."

*natsus world came crashing down as he saw Lucy's eyes tell him everything after her response, she didn't remember him...*

••••••••••••••••••

wendy had came back as quickly as she could as natsu had come downstairs quickly to get her. behind wendy gray and erza came after her as they worried what had happened to lucy.

wendy began asking questions to lucy that involved her recalling what she remembered doing in her every day life routine. so far it seemed good as she would recall having to wake up from bed, brush her teeth, make breakfast, get dressed, and then go to the guild to come back home later if their wasn't any work to he done. but when wendy asked her if she was in a relationship with someone she remembered, lucy answered with a no.

this broke natsus heart as he heard lucy say clearly she had no interest in anyone at the moment, that she had been single for these past 4 years (7 years time gap) after she left her home. wendy only nodded in understanding as she took natsu to tell him what she could see had happened to lucy.

"natsu?.. "

"don't. even. tell me. ... I know. "

*natsu leaned against the wall as he sighed a hopeless air of empty space.*

"natsu... lucy can regain her memory if you try hanging out with her, I still believe there's hope.. she did remember happy and the past battles we all fought together, but she can't quite remember your name.. what I'm saying is, give it some time for her to reciver.."

*wendy said as natsu looked at her with a heavy heart, he didn't like waiting for things that he already had... why did lucy have to forget him of all people...*

••••••••••••••••

Natsu offered the help to take Lucy back to her apartment the day after as Lucy was still skeptical about him.

Lucy sighed as she was finally home and was given a month worth of vacation time to rest. Natsu of course took advantage of this time to rest as well as he brought over a sleeping bag as he was planning to spend the night with her.

"So… we are in a relationship you say?.."

*lucy asked shyly as natsu put down the groceries they had gotten before arriving, Lucy had asked why he had bought so much groceries. Natsu sighed as he had assured her, this was nothing and actually she had bought more then this to keep in her fridge.*

"Yes… it's about… hmm? I would like to say a year and a half?"

*natsu said as he stretched, Lucy only looked at him as she couldn't see why or how she came to like a guy like him. She was more into the charming, towering tall, beautiful men… natsu was good looking don't get her wrong.. but he was messy, only taller then her by a few inches, and seemed to be reckless.. she worried if maybe she was being tricked or something.*

"Ah I see… well I'm going to go take a bath.. don't come in or sleep in my bed… "

*lucy warned as she disappeared into the bathroom.*

"*sigh* … it's gonna be a pain in the neck sleeping on the floor again…"

*natsu said as he instead placed the sleeping bag in the couch. He wasn't going to sacrifice his spine and neck to the floor this whole month.*

•••••••

Weeks passed as there was no progress in Lucy's memory, natsu showed Lucy different places where he had taken her in dates. Lucy only sighed as she shook her head not remembering any of it.

Natsu was determined not to give up yet!

Natsu only had this last week left before he was to be sent to a S-class mission tgat desperately needed him for a bodyguard and guard against a assassination attempt predicted to happen. Natsu can't leave lucy alone while she was under the impression she was single.. he refused to lose her heart to another.

"Come on luce! Your such a slow poke!"

*natsu teased as he climbed a mountain with Lucy right behind him, she hated this.. she was cold and the sun was barely setting now.. she wanted to go home already.*

"Wow! Look at that view luce! I remember I brought you here a couple of times to enjoy the sunset and the stars.."

*natsu said hopeful as he waited for Lucy to come to her feet. She shivered as she stood up and wasn't at all pleased or impressed with the scenery.*

"Ttttttthats nnnnnnice, caaan wwwe g-go home now?"

"What? No! We have to see the sunset and the stars! You love the stars luce! Come on.. live a little.."

*natsu said as he noticed her shivering, he tried wrapping a arm around her to warm her up but she moved away from him as she stood away from him in a irritated mood.*

"Luce? Are you cold?.."

"Yes! And I wouldn't be cold if you hadn't brought me on this stupid trip up here!!"

*lucy was angry, she finally had it with the romantic dates that she was forced to try remembering and the useless trips to dumb locations.. she wanted natsu to stop and realize she doesn't love or remember him anymore! Why couldn't he just let her go!!*

"Ah.. well, I forgot about that.. sorry but, if you come here I'll warm you up.."

*natsu came twords her now as Lucy glared at him.*

"No! I've had it! You stay away from me! Why can't you just leave me alone already! You've tried bringing back my memories of you for these past 3 weeks! Nothing has improved so why can't you just move on?! …"

*lucy finally let out her frustration on natsu as the sun finally went down. Natsu stared at her as he felt his hopes vanishing quick with the sun.. no! He refused to give up now!*

Natsu reached for Lucy's arms as he pulled her close to him, she fought back against him as he forced a kiss into those soft lips he missed so much. He held her in place as he tried saving this flame of his love for her but was caught off suddenly when he felt it..

*SLAP!*