Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated this story in forever. I've been working so diligently on 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' ;) And I haven't updated that one in a while either... Sorry! Something... happened. But now that I'll be doing absolutely NOTHING but watch TV all day, I'll be updating much more frequently. :)

Hope you guys like it!

Don't Be Scared

By Ashley-Myth

Full Summary: Lucy is haunted by a young man who is continuously putting Lucy's life on the line. Fearing that she is putting her friends in danger, Lucy disentangles herself from Fairy Tail and leaves to her father, avoiding Gray and Erza's constant visits and letters. What happens when Natsu comes back from a long solo mission to find her gone? Will he go after her? And more importantly, will he save her from the dangerous ghost?

Chapter One- And he's getting stronger.

"The greatest gift I recieved from God- my Family."

Lucy woke up the next morning and was still pretty tired, but as she looked out the window, she saw the sun high up in the sky and knew immediately it was mid-afternoon.

Why hadn't Natsu woken her up?

Looking around groggily, Lucy vaguely remembered what had happened last night.

Natsu. She was in Natsu's house. Natsu had been there last night, and he had talked to her... but where was he now?

Sitting up on the couch, she yawned sleepily and stretched her arms out toward the ceiling before calling uncertainly to the seemingly empty house, "N-Natsu? Natsu, are you here?"

No reply.

"I guess you went to the guild then," She sighed as she pulled off his green sweater, wondering again why he hadn't woken her up. He knows that she hates to sleep in.

Lucy was smiling as she walked up to the Fairy Tail guild. She had, for the first time in her life, felt happy that she had felt alone that morning.

After leaving Natsu's house, she had left for her own, and had gotten cleaned up leisurely in the bathroom with absolutely no disturbance or any kind of funny feeling.

And now, with a clean face and brushed hair, she pushed the Fairy Tail doors open and called to all of her friends, "Hey everyone, I'm here!"

"L-Lucy! Everyone, she's here!" Mira yelled before resting her relieved face on the cool counters of the bar.

"Luce?" Someone gasped.

"Lucy-chan!" Another cried.

"Yo! Lucy, are you hurt?" Gray demanded, running up to her and gently poking her face.

"E-Eh?" She blushed, embarrassed by all of the sudden attention. "N-No, I'm fine, Gray, thanks."

"LUCY!" Erza growled, her eyes narrowed in anger as she marched up to Lucy, her fingers lingering slightly on her sword hilt. "Lucy, how dare you worry us? Where have you been?"

"I was sleeping. I slept... in..." She explained, trailing off pathetically at all the glares from everyone in the guild. "I-I'm sorry, everyone... I didn't mean to worry-"

"You weren't home," A voice snarled in her ear as a sudden warm hand grasped her wrist and roughly yanked her outside the guild.

As the doors slammed shut behind her, she jerked her hand from his grip indignantly, and demanded, "Natsu! What the-?"

"Where were you? Your boyfriend's house?" He sneered, "Or maybe a club? Were you up all night dancing, Lucy?"

"Natsu, what has gotten into you?" She gasped, shocked his harsh words.

Sighing, Natsu rubbed his temples and Lucy suddenly noticed how tired he looked. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a mess and there were bags under his eyes.

"N-Natsu?" She started uncertainly, reaching for him hesitantly. "Are you okay? You look sleepy."

"Sleepy? I didn't go to fucking bed last night, Lucy. I'm exhausted," he snapped, falling immediately back to his angry mood.

"But why? I'm so confused! What happened?"

"You weren't home. You never came home. I couldn't find your scent. Where did you sleep?" He said impatiently, cutting himself off several times.

"I- I was at... I was- but-" Lucy blushed furiously. How could she put this? Oh, I was at your house since I was too scared of mine since there's a terrifying, violent ghost that lives there with me. Oh, yeah, way to go Lucy.

He pouted, staring into her eyes deeply as he stated, "You really were at your boyfriend's house..."

She blushed furiously, "N-No! Of course not! I don't even have a boyfriend! Why would you think that?"

He smiled immediately, looking almost relieved as he raised his hands to let them rest on the back of his head carelessly. "Dunno. You just seemed like you were hiding something."

"I- I was at your house," She blurted, lowering her head so her bangs would cover her tomato red face.

"What?" He asked dumbfounded, dropping his hands to his sides.

"Your house... I was at your house," She blushed.

"..." He was speechless. Why would she be at his house?

"I was waiting for you... I um, got locked out of mine," She quickly lied, deciding to wait for later to tell him the truth.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" He demanded, running a hand through his hair angrily.

"I don't know. I guess-" Suddenly, Lucy was struck by a troubling thought and she raised her face to peer at him curiously. "E-Eh? Natsu, weren't you there?"

He raised an eyebrow, replying slowly, "No. I was looking for you the whole stupid night. What are you talking about?"

He wasn't there? No, he had to be! Lucy heard him! He had touched her face and...

Suddenly, realization dawned on her and Lucy felt her heart begin to beat erratically. "N-Nothing..." She whispered, fear enveloping her entire body. There was no doubt about it. It was the ghost and it was getting stronger.

It didn't look like Natsu was totally assured, but he didn't say anything else on the subject. Leaning toward her, he pulled her trembling body in and embraced her tightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Lucy blushed, patting his back comfortingly.

She could feel his warm breath tickling her skin as he murmured, "Luce, don't ever scare me like that again..."

Touched, Lucy felt tears begin to fill her eyes and she blinked several times, praying she wouldn't lose it.

Nodding, she muttered, "Sorry, Natsu..."

His grip tightened and Lucy grunted, "H-Hey, to make it up, let's go on a mission."

Natsu let her go as quickly as he had hugged her, and took an uncertain step back, staring at her sadly.

"W-What?" She asked, swallowing hard at his intensity.

"I need to tell you something..."

If he wasn't looking so glum, Lucy would have figured he was going to confess, but now dread started to fill her entire being. Taking a deep breath as she prepared for the worst, she asked cautiously, "What is it?"

"I'm leaving."

Kind of short, but an update is an update, right?

Review?:)