The Black Mage

Later that night, Lucy offered to take over night watch so Erza could lay and take a rest. She knew the red-head was just as tired as she was before she had a nap herself. Erza was against it at first, saying she was fine and that Lucy should just go back to sleep caring for her teammate and friend than need be, but Lucy insisted on it and so Erza was left with no choice but to concede.

Lucy decided to take a short tour to the kitchen, being up late in the middle of the night made her want to whip up something to satiate her griping stomach, and made Plue keep her company.

"Do you want anything, Plue?"

"Pupupuuun!" The creature replied in its own unique language as it continued to shiver like it always do.

She only giggled, guessing it probably would want to eat something too so she made two sandwiches.

"You always skip dinner and now you're grumbling about being hungry, huh? Here you go, Ze.. Huh?" Lucy trailed off as she was about to say something—or call a name.

What was I gonna say?

"Pupuun?" Plue looked worried about his master and tilted his head.

Lucy noticed Plue do this and immediately shrugged it off her mind before smiling and handing Plue the other sandwich to which it happily dug in.

Hours quickly passed by and the first rays of light started to cast its shine on the nature that laid before them. Natsu came to take over the watch and Lucy wasn't really against it since after eating, she'd begun feeling sleepy. Such a pig she was.

"Goodnight, Natsu." She said with a yawn and smiled sheepishly.

"Good Morning, Lucy." Natsu replied with a gentle smile.

Lately, with how his demeanor had changed from being rowdy to proper before going back to his usual self, something with how Natsu treated her had become somewhat peculiar; like Lucy had become something very fragile that needs constant attention and must be handled with utmost care and gentleness.

She decided to sleep in the nearest couch she could find and got comfortable enough so she drifted off to sleep as soon as her head hit the comfort of the soft cushion of the throw pillows. She only planned to take a short nap though and surely the master of the house won't mind it, right?

Everything was still, peaceful and quiet. A silhouette—a shadow of a man who was not supposed to be there slowly approached the quiescent form of the slumbering lady and sat beside her, gently swiping the fringes that veiled the beautiful face of the woman he learned to love.

Inching close to her, he planted a brief, silent and ghostly kiss on her lips before whispering in the short distance of their parted lips the words he withheld in his heart since he left her.

"I miss you, my beloved Lucy."

"Mmm." Lucy moaned as she stirred awake that quite alerted the man as he quickly got up to his feet and was about to facilitate his escape.

"Is that you, Mr. Weiss?" she asked in her bedroom and sleepy voice that sounded oh so alluring to the man. "I'm sorry I ended up sleeping on the couch. I hope I didn't make you mad."

Zeref stilled in his place. He couldn't move. He was frozen by his wanting to throw himself out of there or onto that woman's arms and not let go again, but he knew better than to let his heart take over his decisions.

Lucy, curious as to why the master of the mansion wasn't replying to her or even moving, shuffled up to her feet and took slow and unsure steps towards the hooded man standing by the open window.

That was close a while ago, right? He couldn't be the thief we're hired to subdue, could he?

Lucy's thoughts raced as she thought of ways to battle it out with the thief if it came down to that. Strange how she was first considering a battle despite not liking it even a little bit.

The guys have certainly rubbed their raucous behavior on me, huh?

She thought to herself as she suppressed a grin threatening to break out onto her face as she agreed to her thoughts. It wasn't exactly the right moment to be smiling, either.

"Mr… Weiss?" she called yet again and extended a chary hand to the man's shoulders before a roar and fire grazed just past her, attempting to burn the man.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM, LUCY!" Natsu roared, fists alight with the most brilliant fire before he lunged at the hooded man. "YOU BASTARD!"

"Natsu?!" Lucy instantly went into full alert as she reached for her key pocket and grabbed whatever key she could nab.

And yet… why don't I feel alarmed? As if… he's someone I know?

"Lucy! What are you still doing here?! Go to Erza and Gray! Now!" Natsu screamed his commands and Lucy just stood up, letting go of the keys before she walked right next to Natsu, who was duking it out with the hooded figure, and reached for the hood to pull it down.

Lucy felt him flinch and was about to escape again when she caught his arm. There was that tingling sensation that felt all too familiar to her. The way how, once their skins touched, it felt like the air inside her lungs was punched out of her and she stilled. The quickening and loudening beat of her heart drumming happily as if celebrating for something she wasn't quite sure what. The way she instantly felt this feeling of being at home wash over her and she felt safe.. and warm.

She pulled down his hood and it revealed the most beautiful pair of rubies staring straight at her, blemished with fear, anxiety and all those cloudy emotions. But between all those, shone a look of want, needing, longing, and love.

Lucy smiled, finally connecting it, as she slowly held out her hand for him to take and intertwine their fingers. She was taking her chances.

He looked as if all he wanted was to get away—far, far away from her—and though it saddened her, she was still willing to take the risk of the possibility of having her heart broken for the second time.

Zeref gingerly reached out for Lucy's hand as well, taking her soft and small hands into his and relishing in that tiny little moment where he could feel her warmth in his cold skin again—where he had her in his life again.

"It's you." Lucy whispered, feeling her voice break as she choked on her sobs impending to spill out at any moment. "Where were you?"

"Lucy. You… remember me?"

"I forgot you. You made me forget, didn't you?" Lucy asked as she stared straight into the guilty orbs of the man, who couldn't help but turn his head away in shame and guilt. ".. but I remember you, not by name or memories, but by heart."

"What?"

"Welcome back." Lucy smiled lovingly at him as the streak of tears that flowed down made her all the more beautiful to Zeref, as he abandoned all his restraints and embraced Lucy tightly; desperate to have her in his arms again.

"What the hell?" they heard a low and menacing growl mutter beside them as flames roared from his curled fists and snaked up all the way to his arms. "You abandoned her and you think it's as easy as that to take her back? Are you seriously shitting with me?"

"Natsu?" Lucy called him before flames burst from his body, turning the living room into a sea of flames. "What are you doing, Natsu?! Stop this!"

"What's wrong? What's going on?" Erza's voice suddenly chimed in before they heard her gasp and watched the scene before her. "Zer? Why are you here? I-I thought you died?"

"What are you doing here dumbass?" Gray, who was just on Erza's tail, came and started stripping out of his clothes.

"Perfect! Gray! The room! It's burning! Put it out with your ice!" Lucy cried and pointed at the fire as if the other cannot see it.

In one smooth gesture, Gray extinguished all the fire and froze the place. All except for the one who was still burning very brightly.

"Let go of her. Right. Now." Natsu said with a dangerous edge to his voice and took steps close to the couple, who still had each other in their arms.

"Na-Natsu! Snap out of it! What's wrong with you?!" Lucy tried to call out once again, hoping that Natsu will somehow listen to her voice.

"Did you know that he was the black mage who killed your mother, Lucy?" Natsu revealed that shook Lucy to her core. She felt Zer's hold on her tightened and she looked up to see the pain and guilt in his eyes.

It's true.

"I'm sorry you had to know it like this. But I'm trying to help you! Stay away from that man, Luce! He'll kill you as well when he gets the chance!"

"That's… That's just wrong, Natsu." Lucy voiced. "He had plenty of chances and yet I remain standing here in front of you. He would never do such a thing to me."

"Luce.."

"Lucy.. Natsu's… Natsu is right. If you stay with me, you'll die." Zeref said and pulled Lucy's hold on him off and gently pushed her away. "This is enough. I got to see you and feel you again. It's enough, Lucy."

"No."

"Come back here, Luce."

"Shut up!" Lucy burst and sprinted towards the window just a few steps away from where she and Zeref stood. She climbed up and turned back to Zeref, who was extending out his hand to try and stop her.

"Let me force my way then." Lucy said and turned to Zeref, who looked incredibly alarmed and scared. "If I'm really gonna die by staying at your side, will you let me fall to my death? Or save me?"

Without even waiting for the man's answer, Lucy let go of the window's frame and her body tilted back before she disappeared from their sights.

"Lucy!" everyone screamed and raced towards the window.

Zeref, who was a lot closer than everyone, did not even think twice about leaping down from the window and caught Lucy in his arms, engulfing her in a tight embrace, encasing her so he'd be the one to take the full brunt of their fall.

Zeref heard a soft giggle and he looked down to find a very happy and smiling Lucy peering up at him.

"I knew you'd jump to save me."

"Then why?"

"So you'll never let me go again." Lucy said and kissed Zeref full on his lips.

"I'll never let you go again."

And they vanished into thin air. Never to be seen by any of the fairy tail members again.

Hello! Halloween G. here! I kind of rewrote this chapter because I was unsatisfied with how I wrote the last one. So, hope you read it! Thank you!

Xoxo,

Halloween G.