Christmas Makes Chapter 1: A Winter Worry, a fairy tail fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, its characters and its plot. The circumstances found in this story are purely fictional.

A Winter Worry

"Listen up everybody!"

Erza Scarlet burst in the guild, smashing the doors open. The sudden bang of the door and the familiar bluster coming from the Requip mage's direction halted the rumble the guys from the guild were tangled in. The girls were seated at the counter, busy chatting with Mirajane, totally ignoring the ruckus.

"Master has suggested that we hold a Christmas party."

The girls jumped around in delight planning everything down to the very details. They chipped in their crazy suggestions while the guys didn't try to hide their disapproval. Christmas party meant gifts and even if they cracked their heads open searching ideas for gifts to the Fairy Tail girls, they came up empty.

The members spoke all at once and Erza's head was about to burst with all the discordant squealing and whining the guild members were making. So, she pierced her sharpened sword in the middle and climbed on top of the table.

"Enough!"

The dark atmosphere that fell upon the Requip mage and their knowledge of her pint-sized patience were enough to shut the hell up on the guys while the girls celebrated their little victory.

"This Christmas party is happening and there's nothing you can do about it."

Erza was a girl, she was on their side. She pulled out her sword and jumped on the floor. The wooden table behind her was sliced in half. The scarlet warrior headed towards the bar when she saw the slice of strawberry cake Mira just placed on the counter. The young barmaid knew better to calm the monster before she started lashing out on the stupid whiners they call men of Fairy Tail.

"This year, we are all gonna help."

And when she said 'we' she meant the boys. The girls would only help with the designs and the hanging of decors here in there but the heavy lifting and the callous jobs were done by men. Whoever said it was unfair came flying off and crashing against the wall.

"Anyone else wants to share a piece of their mind?"

The threatening look paired with her murderous tone made the rest of the Fairy Tail male population stammer a unified agreement. Erza took a spoon of the cake and flashed a villain smirk.

"Good."

She spun on her stool and finished her plate before asking Mira for another one. Lucy, who was occupying the chair next to the Scarlet mage, watched her comrades ran around and about like lost and terrified little herd of sheep. She shook her head on the growing bully that was her team mate.

"So I guess we will be sleeping over Fairy Hills tonight?"

"Correct. Make sure you inform the other girls."

Erza responded with a sharp tone before she had enough and decided to attack the source of these ridiculously small slices of cake served her way. Seriously, she was on an S-Class mission and Mira should know better than tease her.

Cana popped out of nowhere. She warned Mira of what she was expecting in this 'sleep-over' then emptied the beer mug in one gallop. Surprisingly, she only finished one barrel today when she decided to be a lady and drink from an actual mug.

"If we're doing it again with her, we'll be needing alcohol."

Both women diverted their attention away from whatever they were doing and to where the clamor was coming from. They watched in horror as Erza swayed her sword in the air to keep away her guild mates from the tasty treat.

"Lots of it."

Mira couldn't agree more.

"Cana, no one's going to understand your handwriting."

Lisanna dangled the piece of paper in front of her and squinted to make a name out of the smudge on the paper. Cana hanged her arm around the younger girl's shoulders. The latter jerked away with the strong alcohol she smelled in the card mage's breath.

"It shays Natshu. See?"

She slurred on her words. True enough, the drunkard couldn't be sober for this.

The girls were slumped on the floor. They were the opposite of eager when they wrote names on a small piece of paper, rolled it and putin a fishbowl. Only one certain bluenette was enjoying this bloody ordeal, even adding a heart at the end of Gray's name.

"Juvia has an idea!"

She gladly announced.

"Why don't we separate the girls from the boys' name then only let the boys pick from the girls bowl and vice versa?"

"Why?"

Juvia's confidence level plummeted when Evergreen stood and questioned her. She lowered her gaze and became more interested about the small crack on the floor.

"Well... Juvia just thought... She just thought maybe..."

She twisted around nervously. Her hands were clasped behind her back and she shifted in her place restlessly.

"You want Gray to pick out your name?"

Juvia's entire aura changed quickly from a bashful schoolgirl to a murderous woman. Lucy raised her hands in surrender when the bluenette hovered over her with a deadly glare.

"Love rival wants to pick Gray-sama's name too!" She accused.

"It's a nice idea."

Juvia and Lucy both looked at Erza when she spoke. There was pure confusion and then betrayal in the bluenette's eyes when a frightening thought hit her hard.

"D-D-Does… Does Erza-san think… Does Erza-san think love rival is better for G-G-Gray-sama… than Juvia?"

"That's not what she means."

Of course Juvia was drowned in her own false sorrow to even hear Lucy.

"We have to be fair. I hope you understand."

Even if Erza's announcement upset her, Juvia never let it show. She gave her friend a weak smile to not make anyone uncomfortable.

"Juvia understands."

The water mage's voice never betrayed her but Erza could see right through her. The older of the two placed a comforting hand on the other's shoulders and lightly squeezed it.

"Besides, if it's meant to be then it's meant to be."

Juvia was so excited she was literally shaking. Erza roamed around the guild to let the members pick a name out of the fishbowl.

The bluenette stared at the members' reaction once they pulled their hands out of the bowl and unroll the paper. She couldn't hide the giggle once she saw the other men flinch once they read the writing. Only a girl's name would elicit that kind of response. The others just kept their cool and sometimes sighed in relief. It's a boy's name then.

She focused her universe on Gray's reaction once it was his turn. Juvia actually prayed to all the gods she knew, even she didn't actually believe them. She clasped her hands together in front of her and waited for Gray's reaction.

"Huh."

Was the only word he uttered before Gray cramped the paper and hid it in his pocket.

Juvia's face almost fell on the floor. She should have known better not to expect any emotions on his beloved's gorgeous face. But with a cool response could it be that Gray-sama picked out a boy's name? She almost fainted with the idea.

"No. I'm not doing it."

The water mage spun around to find the irritated dragon-slayer behind her. Gajeel had both his arms crossed against his chest with a disgusted look on his face.

Juvia actually feared the dark aura growing around the Requip mage.

"Everyone needs to participate."

Erza said in a steel voice that rivaled her body armor. Gajeel just stared at her, which Juvia knew would only anger the Requip mage. She hated people who didn't respond quickly. The scarlet haired shoved the bowl against him but the boy didn't budge. He studied her expression. The truth was his courage was depleting fast. Erza nudged him again, sporting a glare that promised bodily harm. Finally, he gave in.

"Fine. But just because you keep asking."

His jaw dropped when he read silently the name written on the paper. Erza left him in that state and walked towards the girl's table.

"Your turn."

Juvia waited for Erza to offer her the bowl. Her slender hands were now shaking from the mixture of excitement and anxiety. Her imagination instantly sprang to life but ended abruptly. Her head almost fell off when the red-haired shook the life out of her.

"Erza, I think she's awake."

Juvia couldn't feel her neck when the S-Class mage finally let her go. She wobbled a little before her butt hit the floor and she started seeing stars around her head. She was only pulled back to reality when she heard Lucy announce her excitement over the name she picked.

The curious water mage tried to peek over the blonde's shoulder but the latter hid it away from her.

"Uh-uh. No peeking!"

She gasped and immediately covered her mouth with both her hands when a horrifying idea hit her.

"Love rival. She got. She got Gray-sama's name!"

Although it wasn't true, Lucy could only shake her head.

"Just go pick one already."

"Love rival's right! Juvia needs to get one now."

With a new determination shining in her blue eyes and ignoring Lucy's cry to stop calling her love rival, Juvia put her hand inside the bowl and entrusted everything on her instincts. If it's meant to be then it's meant to be. She recited the words in her head like a mantra. Her fingers led her to a particular rolled paper and her heart leaped in happiness. She was sure, she was a hundred percent sure she picked her Gray-sama's name. She quickly drew her hand and unrolled the piece of paper.

The water mage's blue eyes grew big. Her breath hitched in her throat. She couldn't believe was she was seeing. Her heart leaped when she ran her eyes over the name again. She really couldn't believe it. Juvia Lockser spiraled into total darkness.

"Juvia? Juvia! Wake up!"

Juvia couldn't remember how long she had been walking. She looked to her right, then her left. Even the cute and colorful merchandise displayed around her, which normally did the trick, couldn't lift her spirits up. She spun around to search for the landmark where she started her walk. It was no longer in sight. She sighed. The merchants offered her their best items but it wasn't enough for Juvia. She walked past Fiore's best stores but her hands were still empty. She sighed again, heavier this time.

"Juvia does not know what to buy for... Eeep!"

She squeaked when she felt a small pair of hands pinched her butt.

"Cana-san shouldn't surprise Juvia like that."

Juvia felt her cheeks burnt with scarlet red. She never felt comfortable parading her naked body around, even if they were all girls. Then without warning, Cana would just freely invade her space and touch things she shouldn't. But she's Juvia and instead of reprimanding the older woman she shrank into her little bubble and blushed like a tomato.

"So have you found a gift for the Stupid Santa thing?"

"Cana-san shouldn't call it stupid. Mira-san will feel sad if you keep calling her idea stupid."

Cana shrugged and continued to walk beside her. She took notice of the younger woman's sagged shoulders though.

"You have no idea what to get as a gift?"

Juvia shook her head lightly in response, feeling a little more embarrassed. With a proud and determined spirit, Cana declared she would help her in this little situation. If it was Gray-sama's name, everything would have been easier. She already found a gift for the man, sitting prettily on her nightstand back home. It has been beautifully wrapped since November and the bluenette was just waiting to give it to him. And even if fate was against her, she was still going to give it.

"C'mon. I will help you!"

"But Mira-san said not to share. That's why she named it Secret Santa."

"Right. I'll help you after I get a few drinks." Cana said distractedly.

Totally missing what Juvia just told her. The card-mage disappeared behind the western pair of doors. The bluenette looked up to read the establishment's name. It didn't take much time for her to realize it was the most talked about western bar in Fiore. She shook her head in defeat and decided to follow the drunken mage inside.

All the members of the guild stared curiously at the tall and narrow box wrapped perfectly beside Cana. They all wanted a peek of what was inside. It was a size of a coffin, big enough to put a person in it. That made them want to rip it open even more. The drunken card mage just finished downing a whole barrel before she turned to her nosy guild mates.

"Yes. Yes. Be jealous!" she spoke in between hiccups.

She turned to her fellow female member who looked so nervous that she stared at her own playing fingers.

"Oi, Juvia! You don't have to worry anymore. I told you he will like it."

"Juvia is not worried about the gift Cana-san." She defended.

The truth was, her current state was caused by the impending revelation that someone else would give her Gray-sama a Christmas gift. And what if he felt special about it and harbor feelings towards the culprit? Worse, Gray-sama could give someone else a well-thought gift other than herself. Besides, didn't she just hear him taunt Natsu about it? Oh the sheer horror of a girl fawning over her Gray-sama. She slammed her small fists on the table. What if Gray-sama bought a gift for love rival? She almost fainted at the idea.

"Juvia? Juvia! Wake up!"

"What was the commotion about?"

Natsu wondered aloud. He poked his sakura head on the entrance and almost gave in to curiosity when his guild mates crowded around something. He immediately abandoned the idea of walking up to them and gossip around when he saw an opportunity to challenge ice princess.

"And what is a mistletoe?"

Natsu stomped towards the smaller crowd to gloat to Gray's face.

"Pfft. You don't know?"

"Why, do you, flame-brain?"

"Yes, ice-brain. It's a bomb."

"I don't think it's used for that, Natsu."

Lisanna, who just climbed down his older brother's shoulders after hanging the decor, politely cut-in.

"Then why do you call it a missile toe?"

Gray almost fell on his ass laughing. Even the others laughed with him too.

"It's a mistletoe, you idiot!"

"You wanna go at it, droopy eyes?"

"Sure, slanty eyes."

Before the two ruined the whole night with their childish antics, Erza stepped in between them. Both the boys linked their arms like they were the best of friends. They even greeted each other Merry Christmas.

Erza craned her neck to stare at the thing hanged above her.

"What is that?"

Mira came up behind the Requip mage, with Juvia now fully awake trailing behind her, to explain about the historical decoration.

"I heard couples kiss under it, especially during Christmas. I think it's a tradition or something."

"That's stupid! Why would anyone do that?"

Juvia tried hard to appease her older friend when she couldn't stop crying. It was her Gray-sama's fault after all, muttering an offhand comment like that.

Author's Corner

So here I am with my Christmas special! It's gonna be a two-shot. Hope I made it unpredictable by not letting Juvia pick Gray's name. But who did she buy the gift for? Stay tuned!

As usual, reviews and comments are appreciated and I am in dire need of a beta. Anyone interested?