Moment of truth. Natsu was feeling those last minute jitters again. Already he could see himself telling Lucy to just forget it since it wasn't anything important. But she would stop him. That's the kind of girl she is. She'd stop him and then regret it. Another regret to add to her shoulders. He didn't want that.

"We finally came back from Tenrou island 7 years later so of course the first thing you did was go visit your dad's guild. He...wasn't there anymore. The clerk there then told you what happened."

Dammit this was going to break her. Natsu didn't want this dammit.

"He got sick sometime during those 7 years. And then about one month before we made it back...he...Lucy...he..." Natsu was stumbling at the last step and his voice was growing more and more uncertain.

"He died, Lucy." There was never a time in Natsu's life where he hated himself more than this moment.