AN – Companionship was only meant to be a one-shot. Something to combat all the hundred of 'Lucy gets kicked out of Fairy Tail' fics. Seriously? Are we watching the same programme? In what universe would Team Natsu allow that to happen? And is there a rule that says both Lucy and Lisanna can't be part of the team? It confuses me. But I digress. It was pointed out to me that in the original Companionship story, I missed out Happy, something that I never intended to do as I absolutely love Happy and his relationship with Lucy. And I couldn't just leave it alone like a normal person, so this was born. I'm not sure I like it as much as the previous chapter, but I hope it fills the Happy shaped hole in your hearts.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it's always great to get feedback.

...

"Lucy!" cries the small cat, "you can't sleep! Wake up!"

A small paw connects with the side of your face and your head jolts up in surprise. You stare at Happy's worried features, your eyes glazed as you struggle with the aching pain running rampant in your head.

It was supposed to be a simple job. Venture into the forest, beat up some bandits, get home in time for a slice of Mirajane's famous fish pie. You, however, in a fit of poor decision making, neglected to heed the advice of the weather mage stationed at the edge of the tree line and wandered in on the cusp of the biggest storm of the year with only Natsu's feline sidekick for backup. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

At the time it had seemed like a fantastic idea. The job paid well and you and Happy are easily the least destructive members of your little family. There would be no shelling out your hard earned jewels to pay for damages, you reasoned. Of course, that was before it started to rain. And naturally, the bandits you were hunting saw this as a perfect opportunity for an ambush. Hopelessly outnumbered and stuck in less than ideal conditions for ass-kicking, you and Happy had glanced at each other and mutually reached the decision that a rapid retreat was in your best interest. In true Lucy fashion, however, you then proceeded to slip on the soaking forest floor; your arms flailing wildly, and cracked your head open on an inconveniently placed rock. The little blue cat had understandably freaked out at the sudden gush of sticky red liquid that was suddenly oozing from the back of your head and had hurriedly grabbed the back of your shirt, hoisting you into the air with ease. It was then the conundrum occurred. Happy may be a cat, but he has been Natsu's partner for long enough to know what a concussion looks like. He had also realised that there was no way he could fly in the rapidly worsening storm and you, in your current condition, wouldn't last very long in the horrific weather. His only option was to find shelter, wait, and hope your team find you.

And that is how you found yourself leaning against the freezing rock wall of a small cavern, your head lolling against your chest as the storm rages outside. You fight the urge to sleep, knowing that Happy is right and that it will only make things worse, but you're so tired. Exhaustion settles on you like a thick blanket and your eyelids droop.

"Talk to me, Happy," you mumble, searching for a way to keep yourself awake.

"A-aye, sir!" exclaims the cat, "what about?"

"Anything," you huff, "silly cat. Tell me a story."

"Aye," frowns Happy, worry evident on his little furry features, "okay, a story..."

He taps his chin with a paw and you chuckle at the sight, regretting it as soon as the vibrations reach your already aching head.

"I have a story!" the Exceed declares, noticing your drowsiness, "but you can't sleep through it, okay?"

"Okay," you agree good-naturedly.

"There once lived a blue fish. His name was...Fishy."

"How imaginative."

"Don't interrupt!"

"Sorry."

"Hmmm. Anyway, Fishy lived in an enormous ocean with his best friend, Fishtsu."

"Fishtsu?"

"Aye! He was pink!"

"Of course he was."

"Fishy and Fishtsu lived in an underwater palace run by a master fish called Fishkarov."

"I'm sensing a theme here."

"Many fish travelled from all over the ocean to visit the underwater palace because Master Fishkarov issued quests to any fish willing to prove themselves in trials of bravery and skill. Unfortunately, however, Fishy and Fishtsu could not accept a noble quest as they were already involved in a mission to find Fishtsu's father who had been kidnapped when Fishtsu was merely a guppy."

You gasp for dramatic effect, ignoring the pain that shoots through you as you do so.

"Aye," nods Happy sagely, "t'was truly a terrible fate for poor Fishneel. Fishtsu was never the same after his father's disappearance. He became reckless, brash and, most of all, lonely. Fishy wished to help his hurting friend but did not know how."

"Oh no," you murmur. You don't know whether it is a result of the concussion, but you have become truly invested in Happy's tale and the fate of his fishy, and suspiciously familiar, characters.

"But one day," continues the cat, watching you carefully out of the corner of his eye for any signs of sleeping, "Fishy and Fishtsu travelled to a far-off town. They had uncovered a lead, you see. They had heard rumours of a magical fish performing the same sort of craft practised by the mighty Fishneel and Fishtsu was convinced that it was his long-lost father."

"And was it?"

"Alas, t'was not to be," sighs the cat, "the magical fish was naught but an imposter and he was using his magic to cast a web of confusion and mystification upon the pretty young female fish of the town. They were completely mesmerised by his dashing good looks and charming smile."

"Fish can smile?"

"Aye," nods Happy, "charmingly. But one female fish was not fooled by his trickery. Her name was...Fishcy."

"Is that me?"

"No," frowns your companion, "don't be stupid. Are you a fish?"

"No."

"Is your name Fishcy?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then why would you think it was you? Geez, Lucy, stop trying to steal the spotlight."

"Sorry," you offer weakly.

"Hmph. Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, Fishcy realised the wickedness of the imposter's magic thanks to a daring entrance by Fishy and Fishtsu. I guess you could say they saved her, really."

"I don't think I would say that."

"Well, you're not telling the story, are you?"

"...no."

"Aye, didn't think so. As a thank you for saving her from a truly terrible fate, Fishcy decided to treat our heroes to a meal. During this meal, she expressed her desire to travel to the underwater palace to seek a quest from Master Fishkarov, but she left before Fishy and Fishtsu could offer to escort her there. Along the way, she bumped into the imposter and he somehow managed to convince the foolish, naïve young guppy-"

"Watch it, cat."

"Relax, Lucy. I'm talking about Fishcy, remember?"

"Hmmmm."

"Managed to convince her that he was a knight, serving under the might Master Fishkarov. He invited poor Fishcy to a party in his anemone, declaring that if she attended, he would personally introduce her to the Master. But he was a liar and a scoundrel. The imposter's real plan was to sell her to the two-legged creatures that roamed the mysterious surface world. Fishy and Fishtsu discovered his dastardly plot and raced to rescue the distressed maiden."

"I don't think I was distressed at any point in that situation."

"Your concussion must be worse that I thought," frowned Happy, "you keep thinking you're Fishcy. She's not real, Lucy. I made her up."

"Just finish the story," you sigh.

"Fishy and Fishtsu raced to the anemone and defeated the imposter with ease, rescuing Fishcy and saving her from a horrific fate. Their good deed done, Fishy expected his friend to bid the maiden farewell and carry on his frantic search for Fishneel, but Fishtsu did something that completely took Fishy by surprise."

"Really?"

"Aye. He offered to take Fishcy to the underwater palace, postponing his hunt for his father. He had seen something in Fishcy, something that resonated within him. It may have been the loneliness in her eyes, the same loneliness that resided in Fishtsu himself. He was drawn to her like an Exceed to a fish, completely taken in by her pure heart and gentle soul."

"What happened next?" you ask softly.

"Slowly but surely, they helped each other heal," shrugged Happy, "they had both been abandoned by their family so they made their own. Fishtsu had been so focussed on the search for his father, he had completely closed everyone else out but Fishcy helped him see that there were other people who loved him. Soon the trio became a five-some with the additions of Fishza and Fishray, two of Fishtsu's childhood friends and they became the greatest adventurers in the entire ocean."

Happy looks at you and then glances down at his paws.

"Fishtsu was the happiest Fishy had ever seen him and Fishy knew it was all thanks to Fishcy. Fishcy had made his best friend whole again, something he himself had struggled with his entire life, and no matter how many times he helped her or protected her or saved her life, it would never be thanks enough. And so Fishy was honoured to be part of her family. The end."

You blink back tears at Happy's confession. The two of you may fight, you've always secretly been a dog girl, but you hold a deep affection for the cat, one that stems from the many times you've been forced to the sidelines of battles together. Happy is the only other member of your family who knows what it's like to be viewed as a tag-along, a mascot, a sidekick. You two are the babies of your makeshift family, the two unruly children who sit in the back of the car and bicker until Erza whirls round, her eyes ablaze, and threatens to turn you all around and take you back to the Guild if you don't stop arguing. And as soon as she looks away, you both exchange subtle high-fives, argument forgotten. So yes, you love Happy and you are aware he feels some affection towards you, but you had no idea his feelings ran as deep as his tale suggests.

"Thank you," you murmur, your voice thick, "for the story."

You both know it's for more than just the story, however, and Happy shrugs self-consciously, not meeting your eye.

"Aye, well, I don't want to think what Erza would do to me if I let you fall asleep," offers the cat, "we're going to be in enough trouble already for trying to do the job in this storm."

Oh yes. The storm. Sluggishly, you turn your head to face the entrance of the cave. The weather is still horrific, the rain crashing down like iron pellets falling from the sky and the wind roaring like a disgruntled Minotaur. You shiver. Happy's story had transported you to another world, an underwater paradise where Fishy, Fishtsu and Fishcy were happily adventuring without a care in the world. The reality of your situation crashes down on you like an asteroid. You're stranded in an isolated cave during the fiercest storm you've ever witnessed, your family have absolutely no idea where you are, you're too weak to summon any of your spirits and you are desperately fighting a losing battle against the crushing weariness that envelops your body like smog. Tears spring to your eyes yet again and Happy cries out in protest.

"No!" he yells, jumping onto your knees and grasping your pale face in his tiny paws, "we're gonna get home, okay? Natsu is gonna find us and he and Gray are gonna destroy those bandits for even thinking about ambushing us. Erza is gonna yell at us for being stupid, then notice you're hurt and worry like crazy. Then we're gonna go home and demand Mira make us some fish pie because, damnit, it's cold and wet and we DESERVE IT!"

By the end of his speech, there are tears in Happy's eyes and you realise that he's just as terrified as you are. You grab him in your arms and hug him to your chest.

"This is my fault," you utter, "I should never have dragged you along with me."

"Don't be stupid," sniffs the cat, "if I wasn't here, you'd be stuck with those bandits and that would suck. We both made the decision to go into the storm but when Erza asks, I will be blaming you."

"Thanks," you laugh weakly. You suddenly sober at the thought of an angry Erza, "do you really think she'll be mad?"

"Aye," nodded Happy, "furious. We're going to be punished for weeks."

"That sucks," you huff.

"She loves us," shrugs your companion, "she doesn't like not being able to protect us and we don't exactly make it easy for her in that area."

You think back to your adventure on Galuna Island and realise the cat does have a point. You, Natsu and Happy seem to purposefully go out of your way to cause the scarlet-haired mage as much stress as possible.

"What do you think they're doing right now?" you ask, shivering as a gust of freezing air sneaks through the cave entrance.

"Gray will definitely be stripping," chirps Happy, "that one's a no brainer. But worried stripping, the kind he does when one of us is in the infirmary."

You laugh. You've been a victim of Gray's worried stripping before. Unsurprisingly, it's much like his normal stripping but done with a clenched jaw and creased brow.

"Erza will be pacing," continues the little blue feline, "pacing and cursing and thinking up awful punishments and declaring that we shall never be let out of her sight ever again."

You gulp, already dreading facing your overprotective friend.

"And Natsu?" you ask.

"He'll be locked in one of the cells in the basement," laughs Happy.

"What!?"

"Aye, he'll have tried to run out into the storm to find us, probably beating up anyone who tried to stop him. I reckon it will have been Mira who will have finally snapped and locked him up for his own good."

"I'm glad," you admit.

It seems horrible, wishing imprisonment on your best friend but you'd much rather he was in the safety of the Guild than out here, braving the elements and risking his life. Happy seems to understand and curls deeper into your body, sharing his warmth with you. Your eyes droop as sleep begins to descend.

"Lucy? Lucy!"

Happy's panicked voice snaps you out of your slumber and you blink at him drowsily.

"No sleeping!" he cries.

You nod slowly; trying to shake the firm grasp sleep has on you.

"Tell me another story," you whisper.

"O-okay," frowns the cat, gazing up at you in fear, "how about a story about a fish named Fishvia?"

"Fishvia?"

"Aye. You see, Fishvia was a princess from a far-off corner of the ocean. One day she was cursed by an awful water witch to forever be haunted by gloom. She could never feel happiness."

"That sounds horrible," you frown.

"Oh it was," Happy assures you, "there was only one was to break the curse, through true love..."

And the tale of Fishvia certainly is not the last of Happy's stories. He stays up with you all night, crafting magnificent adventures with his words, making sure you don't drift off. You hear the story of the mighty warrior, Fishza, and how she struggled against the evil Lord Fishllal, the tragic saga of Fishray and the death of his mentor and the dramatic tale of Fishcy and her battle against her controlling father. And that is how Erza finds you when dawn finally breaks and the storm subsides, curled up around Happy as he regales you with the story of how Fishtsu battled a fearsome grey warrior fish to rescue Fishcy who, for some reason, was a damsel in distress yet again.

The armour-clad mage rushes towards you and Happy lets out an excited cheer of 'Erza!' You merely glance groggily at your friend, the blood loss and sleep deprivation finally getting to you.

"Erza?" you whisper.

"Yes?" responds the red-head in an icy tone, crouching down next to you, her gentle fingers examining your wound.

"Are you mad?"

You know she's angry; her cold tone is a clear giveaway. You just hope if you make the question as cute and childlike as possible, some of her anger might disappear. Happy seems to have the same idea and widens his eyes, making them as large and soulful as he physically can. Erza sighs and glances at you.

"I was worried," she admits, "we all were. What were you thinking?"

You have no answer for that and look away guiltily.

"Where are Natsu and Gray?" you whisper.

"Taking out the bandits," answers Erza, "I assume they were the ones who inflicted this wound?"

You really don't want to tell her that you slipped and fell on a rock so you nod. Happy shoots you an amused look but you ignore him.

"Then I'm sure Natsu and Gray will take a great deal more pleasure in their task then."

"I'm sorry," you offer, "I didn't mean to cause a bother."

Some of the tension leaves Erza's body and she finally smiles. It's a small smile but one filled with affection and fondness.

"You're an idiot," she sighs, bending down, sliding one hand behind your knees and another behind your back and easily lifting you up, "I'm not angry at you for causing a bother. I'm angry because you both recklessly endangered your lives. And if you died, I don't know how we'd function."

"Oh."

"Natsu had to be locked up last night."

"Yes!" cries Happy from where he is seated on your stomach, "I knew it."

"Gray was worry stripping."

"Called it again!"

"And I nearly paced a hole through the Guild floor."

"I'm sorry," you apologise again, staring at your hands and feeling awful for the worry you've put your family through.

"I know you are," answers Erza, "and that's the only reason I'm not going absolutely nuts at you. Well, that and the fact you're concussed. But when you're better, you can forget going on any more solo missions."

You tilt your head and frown, knowing that it's fair but unhappy with the decision. You don't challenge the judgement, however, knowing that Erza is holding back a lot of rage and is merely using the 'disappointed mother' technique. You have to admit, she seems to have mastered it. You sigh and lean your head against the cool metal of her armour. All you want to do now is curl up and sleep but you know that, despite being safe in Erza's arms, you are still most definitely concussed and sleep is still the enemy. You glance at the small cat on your stomach. He blinks at you with affection and shoots you a grin.

"Want me to finish the story?" he asks, "it might take your mind off whatever Erza has in store for our punishment."

"Concussion isn't punishment enough?" you ask in terror, your face paling.

Erza merely arches an eyebrow and glances down at you.

"No."

You blink, a shiver running down your spine and glance at Happy.

"Please continue," you whisper, "at least someone else might get a happy ending."

"Aye, sir!"