Thanks for 700 votes!!!! I'm so happy that this book even have votes!💋😊🤧😭❤️

Chapter dedicated to EstherOmoyele !!!!! 😘😘

________________________

~Gray's POV

Jesus man, how long does it take for Natsu to wake up?! It has been longer than a week already and no progress.

Damn it!

I feel bad for Lucy. They just made it up and then BAM! An accident. But may we don't forget about Wendy. She is so little and has to go through this. She is probably thinking about losing him sometimes. Just the same way she lost her parents.

I went for a day check on Natsu. I came into his room and saw Lucy sleeping with her head on the bed and herself sitting on a chair.

I sighed. Her face looked sad and her hair was messy. I slowly picked her up and stood still for awhile.

Now I was just hoping for Natsu to wake up, get angry and say 'Get your filthy hands away from MY Luce!!'

But no reaction of him. I can't say I don't miss that stupid Flame Brain.

What can I say? He is my best friend. We always fight, but that makes it fun. Not brothers by blood, but we are surely brothers by bond.

The only sounds in this room are the soft exhales and the heart monitor. I took Lucy to a spare room and placed her down.

I went back to Natsu's room because I wanted some alone time with him. I just sat on the same chair Lucy did and stared at him.

Once again a sigh escaped my lips. I stood up and clenched my fist.

"Why don't you just wake up, damn it!! Don't you see you are putting everyone in sorrow? Just survive like you always did! Face the problems and win. So do me a favor and WAKE UP YOU STUPID MORON!!"

Insulting him in his sleep. Our love language. He would have loved that.

I sighed and left the room.

It was late in the night and I was still awake. It was my time to guard the mafia. It was dark, but when you learn to see in the dark it is pretty clear, the view I mean.

I was walking back and forth, thinking and watching at the same time. I suddenly heard a door open. I narrowed my eyes, being more on guard now. I saw a small shadow walking in the room. I was hiding in the shadows.

"H-hello? I-is someone here?" The small little voice said. My lips parted when I recognized it. I turned on the light, making her jump in surprise.

"Wendy..." I said softly, "what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

I looked at her closer and saw her moist eyes. She rubbed her eyes, not even trying to hide the fact that see was crying, because if Natsu was awake he would murder the first person who he saw and who made her cry. I knew I was exaggerating by the first point, but I spoke the truth with the second. He would murder the person who made her cry.

I am always thinking about Natsu lately.

.

.

Eww... no.... I sounded gay...

Of course I have nothing against gay people, only I'm definitely not gay.

Wendy still didn't answer my question. "Well...? What are you doing here and why are you crying?"

After a couple silence minutes she finally spoke. "I dreamt that Natsu didn't survive, so I came here as fast as possible."

Exactly when I was thinking that Wendy could think that, she thinks that. Woah, that are a lot of 'think' words, even I myself am confused now.

I shook away my thoughts and went to Wendy. I kneeled a little so I am the exact height as her. I pulled her into a hug.

"Don't worry. He will fight through all of this," I assured. His wounds aren't in crtical condition anymore. What I do know it's that everything depends on his will now. And he has the strongest will out of everyone here.

Being friends with Natsu for so long, of course I consider Wendy as my sister.

"I'm sorry for sneaking in, Gray-san."

(That sounds weird... how does Wendy call him in the anime?)

"Don't worry. Do you want to stay here for the night? I will send Zeref a message."

She nodded hesitantly. "If that isn't a bother."

I scoffed followed by a small smile. "You're too cute, Wendy," I said and pinched her cheeks. Her cheeks reddened and she slapped my hand away.

I stood up and grabbed her hand. I walked to Lucy's room. That was the only room available, besides, I don't think Wendy nor Lucy would mind.

She went in the bed and Lucy woke up due to the moving. I wanted to explain, but Wendy beat me to it.

"Sorry Lucy-nee. But I was worried about Natsu-nii, so I came. Now I am too tired to go home so I will be sleeping with you, is that okay?"

Lucy smiled lazily. "Of course Wendy," she said and swung an arm around Wendy and lay down again.

If they had the same hair colour I would say they were sisters. I smiled a little and left the room.

~Old Beggar's POV

I knew that woman was close to Natsu.

It was late in the night and I was sitting on the same bench as in the morning, watching the moonlight. I wondered how Natsu could be wounded. I know he was trained and became one of the best.

Natsu Dragneel, the same person who helped me days ago. I should have known it. He always had a soft spot for beggars. But knowing he was really trying to help them warmed my heart.

I sighed, when am I going to face my mistakes and try to make them right? It has been years already and I can't seem to have the courage to face my son, my own son.

Natsu Dragneel...

My own son is wounded and hurt. And I can't be there for him. I am such a coward.

I faked my own death, I told every elder he knew they had to say I'm dead. Only to cover up the fault I made. The stupid mistake that put him, Zeref and Wendy in sorrow.

My baby girl and baby boys. I miss them. He surely won't forgive me. You could say I just left him there when he was a teenager. I wiped my tears away, but they weren't going away, just like my fears.

The fear that they will hate me, disgust me, loathe me and more. How could I ever think that faking my dead was for the better?

My husband, Igneel, was ill for a very long time. We always faked our health in front of our children. The doctors said he could make it out alive. But he couldn't. He gave up, because the pain was overwhelming and nothing could stop him.

And the fault I made was not supporting him when he needed it. He had to hear meaningful words from me, but I didn't said a thing. I was always by his side, but when he needed me the most I wasn't there. I couldn't support him, tell him to fight back and say I believe in him. He had to hear it, but I was too late. My mistake...

So thinking that if I was dead too that would be less stress for my children. I know, so naive. I had to be there for them, but I didn't. I was repeating it...

I was selfish, only thinking that it would help me.

I don't want Natsu to give up too. The pain he is facing is probably horrible, but I hope that that won't stop him. The progress is always between 1 or 2 weeks. Then he has to choose.

Life or death.

To live so you can experience how beautiful life is, or to end your pain right away.

I have to be sure Natsu chooses to live, but I can't. I sighed.

I saw boys running to me. They gave the typical bad ass vibe. Heartless... till they find their loved ones.

They stopped in front of me. "Look what we have here. Do you think we can get money out of here?" one Guy said.

I'm living on the streets. Why the hell do these guys think I have money? Are kids that stupid nowadays?

I knew where this was leading too. I immediately stood up and went to fight everyone. I wasn't old, just in the fourties. But my dirt made it look like that.

They intantly became guarded, but they weren't prepared against me.

I have lost almost everything but not my skills.

After awhile they finally gave up against me and ran away.

I knew al these skills from the mafia. Makarov was a good man to lead it. It was a shame he retired. I was in FTM too, along with Igneel.

But like you can guess, I quit being a member. I knew FTM found Zeref and Natsu. I even heard that Natsu was the leader now.

And let me tell you that, you're very special if you have reached that title.

Very special. One of the best if not the best.

I shook my head, I have to go to Natsu.

I walked to the mafia base and knocked on the locked door. As expected someone opened the door, looking guarded.

"Hello? Can I help you miss?" a man with raven coloured hair asked. His voice showed a little worry, probably wondering why the hell I was here.

"Can I speak to Natsu Dragneel?" I asked, but more like demanded.

"W-who? I'm sorry, I think you got the wrong adress... Wait! You are the same person Lucy talked to."

So that woman's name is Lucy huh?. Such a lovely name for a lovely woman. I nodded "Can I please pay him a visit?" I begged.

He raised his eyebrow, becoming suspicious. "I thought I told you he isn't—"

"Just stop, please, I know he is in here. I mean no harm, just please let me see my—" Right there I stopped, I can't tell him yet. I knew from the expression he made he didn't trust me.

But after awhile he sighed. "Only this once. But first let me do a quick search."

I nodded and spread my arms to the side, you know, then cops are going to touch you, but not on private area, feeling if you have something.

He raised his eyebrow again, snorting.

"Do you think we do it that way? Bullshit. We have a scan device. We aren't dumb. You can still sneak in something if I do that tactic."

Okay so technology definitely evolved. Pretty logic if you say so, I just didn't expect it.

"You are very rude, you know? How should I know how people do it?" I fired harshly back. This man was testing my patience, and my courage will slowly drown that way.

He rolled his eyes and led me inside. We went in a new room, it wasn't there when I was a member, and he scanned me.

I was clear from everything and he went to wake up Lucy. I, of course, had to follow him. But when I went in the room my heart picked space.

I saw that Lucy girl sleeping with my baby girl. With Wendy. I am sure it is her. She looks around 12 years, and she should be, and she has my blue hair colour.

The man shook her awake.

"What do you want Gray?" Lucy said. Ah, his name is Gray. Lol, sounds like the colour grey. He pointed at me.

Lucy followed his finger and when she saw me her eyes widened a little bit. "Hey... What are you doing here?" she said awkwardly. Luckily Wendy didn't wake up.

Gray explained everything to her, though he also told her how he didn't know that I know.

After agreeing she finally led me to Natsu's room. Gray went further with his shift. I saw him 'sleeping' and the sight made me think about Igneel.

Not now Grandeeney... not the time... you can't change the past... but you can change the future, and now that's all that matters.

I walked slowly to his side of the bed. "Can I touch him?" I asked, carefully. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, but nodded.

My hand slowly went to stroke his cheek. I almost can't stop the tears falling.

"Can you watch me from a distant? I have personal things to say to him," I said. She looked into my eyes, searching for any trace of mishievous. She didn't find one, but then again some people are great pretenders.

"You better not make me regret this. If you do something to Natsu there will be big consequences," she threatened. It warmed my heart again, knowing he made some loyal friends.

I nodded.

Her icy cold glare vanished and she gave me a gentle smile. "Though I doubt that you will do that. I'm sorry for my rudeness, I stay on guard with strangers."

I smiled, Lucy is perfect for Natsu...

She made her way somewhere farther, out of hearing range but still in sight. I turned to Natsu and began my sort of speech I wanted to say for a long time.

"Natsu... How are you feeling? I hope you are doing fine, with your fight I mean. You must think 'who are you?' Well, to make it short, I'm your mother. I'm so sorry for leaving you and your siblings. But for now, know that I, the one who brought you on earth, am here for you. You will go thought this, don't you ever give up. I know you can do it. But I will come and face you soon when you wake up. I will be ready for your hatred towards me. But know, even though you may hate me, I will always keep loving you. Like a mother should love her child."

With that I ended it and gave him a hug. I was in an uncomfortable posistion though, but it was all worth it.

Lucy came after a while and she led me to a room where she cleaned the mess. I thanked her for letting me, a stranger, stay.

And she just smiled at me.

"You're welcome!"

________________________