She HAS to

+NaLu+

Lucy breaths deep and evenly, her chest slightly rising and falling with each intake of air. Her eyes don't even stir to show she's dreaming, and no mumbles of sleep cross her lips. Her fingers or toes haven't twitched at all. She just stays in the same peaceful position that the others put her in last week.

Natsu frowns as the neutral expression on her face. He's never seen her without some type of expression, be it angry, happy, or even peaceful. Even when he stayed over her house for the night because he was too lazy to walk home, Lucy's face always reflected the dream she was having, good or bad.

The blankets feel strange on Natsu's skin. They're too scratchy, not at all like the ones Lucy has at home that are like silk. He knows Lucy will hate them, and probably that pillow too. It's too flat. He'd try to puff it up, but he didn't want Lucy to wake up and snap at him.

Despite what they said, Natsu knows Lucy will wake up. So what if most of her magical power had been drained before they got there and stopped them? She still has some! She's still breathing! Coma his ass! She would be up and running by next week!

She has too!

"You've been here for four hours, Natsu," Levy sighs, giving Natsu a concerned look. Her eyes are baggy with lack of sleep and ready to close any minute even though she's been here less time than Natsu. If she's tired, he must be exhausted. "I know your concerned, but maybe you should take a break. We…We don't know if she's-"

"She is," Natsu says happily. "I know she is. We need to make sure she's not confused when she wakes up." He waves Levy away, still smiling. "One of us should stay, so you can go ahead." He turns back to Lucy, leaning forward on his elbows.

Levy looks at Happy, who's asleep on a free bed and sighs. Will they ever leave? "I'll bring back some food," she relents. Natsu hums in acknowledgment.

The doctor passes by Levy as she leaves, immediately catching sight of Natsu. He sighs and walks forward, placing a hand on the Dragon Slayer's shoulder and squeezing to get his attention. He's seen people like this before, completely in denial that their loved one might not wake up. The sooner the doctor can get it through his head, the sooner Natsu can move on.

"You know it's almost impossible that she's going to wake up, right?" Natsu gives him a blank look. "Her magic power isn't able to 'recharge.' She can't live without it, and there's no way to transplant it in her. Unless her brain activity gets high enough that her power can regenerate, she's not moving." He smiles kindly down at Natsu. "You can't hold your breath. Why don't you leave-"

"But she's going to wake up," Natsu replies stubbornly. The doctor flinches a little at the look in his eye, like the boy is daring him to contradict. "Lucy has to wake up. I mean, missions won't be the same. Her house isn't her house without her. She has a book she needs to finish." He gestures to the sleeping girl, a desperate tone to his voice when he says, "Lucy has to."

The doctor's eyebrow twitches in annoyance despite his sympathy. How thick is this guy? "She doesn't have to do anything. She either will or won't!" Natsu recoils at the harsh tone. The doctor takes a deep breath and makes his voice more soothing. "I'm sorry, but it might not happen."

Natsu stands up, shaking his head. "No! You're wrong!" His sudden outburst wakes up Happy, who stares at the enraged Natsu. He's never seen him like this before! "She can't leave! She has to wake up! She's important to me! I love her! She...she can't just abandon me like Igneel!" He collapses back down, tugging at his hair.

At a loss for what to do, the doctor stands still, stupidly staring at the boy. Even Happy doesn't know what to do.

"Natsu..." Happy flies over to his friend. "I won't leave. I'm sure Lucy will wake up." The cat sticks its tongue out at the doctor. "I know she will. She won't go away, and neither will any of us."

The Dragon Slayer smiles at Happy and looks back to Lucy, not noticing the doctor leave. He knows a helpless case when he sees one. "You're right. I now she'll wake up." Natsu brushes some of her hair from her face. "She has to."