What If?

Lucy! Are you alright?" A flustered Natsu shouts, as he runs as fast as his feet can get him to, to Lucy.

"Lucy… hang in there!" He encouraged as he carried her and ran as fast as he could to their guild, or home, or hospital—anything.

Hearing the rucks, Lucy tries opening her eyes, the brightness blinding her, "N-Natsu…Y-you're too loud." Lucy muttered.
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He grinned weakly, "Heh."

Lucy slowly opened her eyes, blinking one or two times, as she tries to get up.

A-ah! Lucy thinks, as a shot of pain ran through her body. "Damn. My head hurts. What happened…?"

"You don't remember?" Gray asks, smiling though he looked like a mess.

"Gray…did you stay the whole time?"

He shook his head, "No. Natsu did though. He wouldn't leave. I finally persuaded him into taking a rest."

Lucy was dumbfounded. What had happened? "Gray, what happened…?"

"You really don't know?"

She shook her head once more, "No."

He looked down, "We were on our way home from a mission until someone came and…and… pushed you down a cliff." He fidgeted a bit.

As you looked carefully, you could see bruises and scratches on Gray's body.

"Lucy, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Gray whispered, quiet enough for Lucy not to hear.

"What?"

"Huh? Nothing."

Before Lucy could pester him to get him to talk, Natsu takes this opportunity to enter the hospital room.

"Lucy! I'm glad you're awake! We can finally start doing missions soon, again!" Natsu exclaimed, smiling excitedly at the sight of Lucy awake.

"Baka. She just woke up. She's still weak."

Natsu stuck his tongue out at Gray, "Beh...!"

"You—!" Gray growled as they started to fight only to stop when they heard Lucy's

soft laughter.

"L-Lucy…" Natsu said, a tinge of pink covering his face.

Lucy laughed a bit more, "Hm?" She asked in between her small giggles.

"I'm glad you can finally laugh it off." Natsu said, his eyes softening.

Now, it was Lucy's turn to be embarrassed. "B-baka! Did you think I'd never laugh again? Think again! I'm the great Lucy Heartfilia!" She said, as she grins.

"I'll let you two lovebirds have your time." Gray mumbles as he stalks toward the door to receive no answer from his two friends.

"You sure are." Natsu says, grinning as he leans down to kiss Lucy's nose.

"I love you, Natsu." Lucy whispering, as she nuzzles in Natsu's warm neck as he hugs her.

"I love you too."

"Lucy, what if it was me? What if I was the one that confessed first? Would it be me in there right now? Lucy, what about me? Why do you choose him? I love you, too. And if you gave me a chance, I'm sure I could protect you too.. What if?" Gray whispers, as he stands in the doorway of the room.