A/N: My first ft fanfic...plz review otherwise I wud be let down. All this hard-work isn't for nothing...so ppl plz R&R it. Well, hope I gave my best in this story and this is gonna be a love triangle b/w gruvia and Lyon. so more the fun and more the excitement! And happy new year to all of you in advance. :)

-CHAPTER 1-

—NEW YEAR BASH—

At the new year's eve, everyone at Fairy Tail guild were having a get-together bash where the masters of various guilds, including the Fairy Tail guild had gathered. Everyone from various guilds had gathered from far and wide to celebrate and unite on this occasion of the year and begin afresh a new and eagerly-awaited year, but at the moment everyone could be seen forgetting all their worries and busy partying hard, as it was the end to an enormous and perfectly glorious year.

Everyone, as far as the eye went, were busy partying hard and enjoying the end of the season with pleasure. The four other guilds who were present at the party were: Blue Pegasus, Twilight Ogre, Lamia scale and Sabertooth. They were also enjoying the party with the others.

"Cheers," Nastu said as he clicked his glass with Lucy's and Happy's.

"This is to the end of this year and the start of a brilliant new year."

"Aye, sir!", Happy exclaimed as he spread his wings in the air.

"This year's been a lot lucky for us... hasn't it, Lucy?", Natsu asked as he gave her his toothy grin.

"Of course, sure leaves behind a lot of memories," Lucy said, as she blushed a little, looking at the moonlit night sky above studded with stars.

This moment was just her and Natsu's, she thought. She always loved being with him, no matter what. And after eight long years, she had felt a sudden surge of growing attraction for him.

Until she heard a sound prop up from behind—Loke—who was overly-dressed tonight with all the white tuxedo and black coat thing, was seemingly trying to grab her attention. "Hey Lucy, don't you think today...today is our night...just the two of us...in a lonely moonlit night," he said, leaning forward so as to kiss her but she leaped back before he could do anything.

"Ah...what are you doing?", she asked, clearly surprised and taken aback by his action.

"Nothing, I just thought you looked pretty cute tonight..." he answered, withdrawing himself and backing away a little from her.

"Thanks for the compliment and all but can you please leave now...?" Lucy demanded with crossed arms.

"Sure...bye Lucy, let's meet again on a moonlit night like this...the day when you're ready to be my princess..." he said and vanished.

"How did he vanish all of a sudden?" Lucy asked in surprise.

"He's your celestial spirit, know?" Happy answered her.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot that!" Lucy replied, almost sighing.

"Aww...poor Loke, don't you really think his feelings for you grew a lot more all along?" Happy started in his usual pampering voice.

"Stop it, Kitty-cat! You haven't even changed or grown either in these eight years too," Lucy managed, making a bad face at Happy.

"Oh, you're so lame, Lucy. At least, you're lucky Natsu hasn't realized your feelings for him yet, so, I'll keep it a secret for you, OK?" Happy claimed.

"Say what, Kitty-cat?" Lucy burst out in anger, as she chased the blue cat.

While the others at the guild were enjoying a little game of what they called "trump cards" and some were drinking large barrels like Cana and Gajeel was already out on the enormous, rounded stage with his rockstar guitar and his usual super performance of "Shooby Dooby Bop". Natsu was like on the top of Gajeel in a second and they started fighting in no time.

Lisanna, Levy and Wendy were already on the dance floor singing and dancing. Surprisingly, a new couple had emerged in Fairy Tail...it seemed. Mirajane and Freed Justine were dancing hand in hand with each other around the center of the dance floor, in perfect oblivion to their surroundings. Alzack and Bisca were also visible dancing very comfortably with each other, doing twirls and many other sweet moves on the dance floor.

While Erza was sitting on a high-legged chair, enjoying watching the others and had a nice little glass of champagne to accompany her. Although, even now she preferred her armor over her other outfits, she looked beautiful and amazing in her armor, nevertheless. It was for the boys from the Blue Pegasus to join the fun as they saw Erza sitting alone, sipping the champagne all by herself. Hibiki offered a bright and a shining golden chair for her to be seated and was offering curtsies before she could refuse.

"Ah...your beauty Ma'am...its just unnatural and electrifying and so touching...O Great Erza..." Hibiki spoke in his flirtatious tone.

"Would you like a strawberry cake?" Hibiki asked. "Or a juice perhaps, the champagne wouldn't be enough to quench your thirst?"

"Oh, I am feeling so touched, right now." Erza managed, sarcastically. "Hey, wait a sec...is that Ichiya guy around or something?" she asked suddenly nervous.

"No..he is off on a vacation and won't be around until the New Year's gone." Hibiki answered.

"Phew..." Erza heaved a sigh of relief, when she heard that. That "parfum guy" or in other words...the troublemaker was enough to disrupt the mood of the party. She was utterly glad that he did not come to join the party.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to ask where's the other boy who was with you...I mean the "tanned one"...right?" she asked, noticing that there were only two of them, Hibiki and Eve.

"Oh, you must mean, Ren, take a look over there, Erza," Hibiki said, pointing to the direction of the dance floor. Ren was there dancing with the most beautiful woman, if its "that" you could call her, it was Sherry Blendi, both linked arm in arm, slow dancing with each other. They seemed to be very comfortable in each other's arms.

"Oh, I didn't figure out that your guildmate was kinda dating...hehe," she said with a nervous smile. But, instead in her mind she cursed him... for being such a womanizer. If he would have been in her own guild, she would have thrashed him into pieces by now, for flirting with woman in such a way.

"By the way, do they know each other?" Erza asked with a little suspicion that was beginning to form in her mind.

"Well, I think so, they were kind of already close to each other... you know, they both do complement each other well," Hibiki stated.

"And why does it matter to you when you can have both of us for the new year dinner tonight, Erza...O Great Erza..." Eve said, bowing to her.

"...Eh?" Erza sweatdropped. "Sure, I do hope you guys are both prepared to... get yourselves down into my big, fat stomach, aren't you?" she offered them a nervous smile.

"It'll be a great honor for us to get ourselves down to your big stomach...," and they both bowed, leaving Erza in utter confusion and bafflement.

"These two are sure funny..." Erza said to herself.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Lamia Scale were looking suspiciously at the dance floor from their table. "Hey, seriously, since when did these two start seeing each other?" Yuka asked eyeing the couple suspiciously.

"Oh, I am not sure about that, what's your opinion about this... Lyon?" Toby asked, seeing that Lyon had both his arms on the table his finger crosslinked in the air, thinking hard about something with his eyes closed. He opened them quickly and answered, "I really don't care. I don't give a damn to whether they are dating or are just friends..." he said nonchalantly, waving one of his hand as if to dismiss the conversation that they were having.

"Hey, what happened to you Lyon, you haven't talked to us a bit after we came here? Is it that you're jealous?", Yuka asked him in a cold tone.

"What? Oh no, didn't I tell you before...I don't give a damn to those two guys...I was just thinking about something..that's all...you know," Lyon said, returning back to his trance.

"What were you thinking Lyon, tell us about it," Toby said. Suddenly, Lyon grew nervous and started muttering something under his breath. His hands were almost clammy by sweating now, he wanted to avoid the subject in the front of his guildmates but he thought they should know about it, at least.

"Well...you see, guys, its just...something like this...well...its about," Lyon started, sweating profusely but at last, trailed off speaking to himself more.

"Lyon, just get it out or else..." Yuka said threateningly.

"Well, what if I don't tell you..." Lyon trailed off.

Yuka got off his chair in rage and was about to punch him on the face but was held back by Toby.

"Shut up, and tell us what's the matter, man?" Yuka demanded, as he finally took his seat back on his chair.

"Yeah, tell us, Lyon..." Toby insisted.

"Oh, its just...well, it so happens that...that I-I'm...waiting for someone." Lyon said, feeling self-conscious for the first time. "Someone special."

"Someone... special? Who's that?" Yuka asked, surprised.

Toby had the same eager expression in his eyes to find out about who was he talking about.

"Well..." Lyon gulped. "Its a g-girl...who also happens to be my f-first crush...she's beautiful and my first love...well, I am waiting for her to arrive. I want to see her badly enough. We've met only once last year...and she was pretty and I want to meet her badly again. This is my greatest chance." he concluded.

"What...Lyon in love?" Yuka said airily. "Why hadn't you told us earlier about this?"

"Because...I wanted to keep it a secret...to myself..." Lyon answered quite honestly.

Toby said, "Wow! Why didn't you tell us this earlier, Lyon...sure that Sherry will be hell jealous...who is that woman anyways?"

"Well, if I would've told you...you guys would've teased me for a whole year about that...so, I didn't tell you and that woman is from the Fairy Tail Guild and her name is.. Juvia."

"Oh, Juvia. You mean the water mage." Yuka said, forming an answer.

"Huh? You know her?" Lyon asked in surprise.

"Well, yeah, I've heard of her, alright!" Yuka said. "As much as I have heard of the Phantom lord."

"Oh! You knew her identity all along, and yet you didn't tell me...Yuka. That's very bad of you to not tell me," Lyon said disdainfully.

"Oh, come on, you didn't ever mention her to us!" Yuka said, shrugging. "Why should we have bothered you with that?"

"You knew too, Toby?" Lyon asked him.

"No, I have no idea about this woman or whatever he is talking about."

"Oh, great, where the heck is she? Yuka can you spot her anywhere here?" Lyon asked impatiently.

"Nopes...no trace of her," Yuka said, after looking around.

Gray had appeared very late, yawning at the party. He was busy the whole day as he had to take care of Juvia, who was a bit sick in her apartment due a silly cold she caught during the winter. But, now she appeared quite well as she walked alongside Gray to the party.

"Hey Juvia," Everyone greeted her as they saw her. "Is your cold alright?"

"Oh yeah, now its fine, thank you Wakaba," Juvia said, waving at him.

"It means Gray tended you well, Juvia," everyone hooted for her.

"Yeah, Juvia here is very lucky to have Gray-sama tend to her and now that she is alright, she will join the party with all of you," Juvia smiled.

Everyone cheered. Lyon looked around to see his rival Gray, who was perverted as usual, as he wore nothing today except his pants, he wasn't much surprised, and to his extreme surprise and horror, walking alongside with him was his beauty—

*WOW*

His eyes started to fill with hearts and bubbles surrounded him as he saw his ultimate dream girl float (float*) past him with his rival Gray. He was astounded by her beauty; as she was today, despite having a cold, looked stunning and gorgeous in her flawless blue and backless gown, flowing magnificently down to her knees, having the brightest gold necklace adorned across her chest, which bore the symbol of her guild.

All he wanted to do today was to ask her for a new year eve dance. And after that it may be possible for her to get infatuated by his charms and fall in love with him. But, did he had the nerve to ask her?, he thought to himself. Rubbish. Of course, he had but he was afraid that she might turn him down. But he had to ask her; he won't know unless he tried, before anyone else would go up to her and ask her first.

He had to pull himself together and ask her , before its too late. He nervously tried to smoothen his hair, before he went up to Juvia, who was now sitting on a high legged stool on the counter with her beloved Gray-sama and was talking to him.

He didn't mind Gray, so he went up to her and asked- "Juvia, can I have this dance with you tonight?", and held out his hands to her.

Gray fell out of his chair when he heard Lyon speaking to her like this.

"Wow, I seriously didn't know you believed in such crap!" he commented.

"Shut up, Gray Fullbuster, you don't have to be such a drag," Lyon answered back coolly.

"Juvia will be glad to, but say again, what is your name?"

"Oh...did you completely forget me? We only met last year remember, I am Lyon from Lamia Scale!"

"No need to tell, Juvia. She remembers but not your name," Juvia said. "Its an honor to meet you, Lyon and of all people you're supposed to be Gray-sama's rival , aren't you?" she smiled at him.

"Oh well, yes, in a way, but Gray and I both have a deep bond from childhood. I guess nobody told you that," Lyon said.

"Oh well, Juvia considers it a pride to be asked to dance by Gray-sama's biggest childhood rival like you," Juvia stated.

"Man, she's gotta be crazy!" Gray blurted out.

"Yeah, kind of, " Lyon commented at her weird reaction.

"So, Lyon, let's go and hit the dance floor!" Juvia said as she got off her stool and extended her hand to Lyon.

Lyon grabbed it and blushed a little at her sentence. "Yeah, Let's go."

He was happy that she had readily accepted his offer to dance, despite not remembering his name at first. But now, glad that she knew his name , he went with her to the dance floor, which was starting to fill in by now, so that they were barely visible among all of the couples on the dance floor.

Slow music started to play. He held both of her hands in his ans they started swirling around the dance floor in rhythm with the music.

"You dance well, Lyon-san. Juvia has to say...she is greatly impressed by that," Juvia said as she held onto his arms tighter.

"Thanks for the compliment, Juvia," Lyon replied modestly. "You know you are very beautiful...Juvia."

"Thanks for yours too, Lyon-san," Juvia who hugged him for the first time throughout the dance. "Let's just continue this bliss...all through the night," she said as she hugged him tighter.

Wonderful, does she like me? thought Lyon inside his head. Lyon asked her after a moment who did she really wanted to dance with the whole night.

"Well, Juvia actually wanted...to dance with Gray-sama, you know. But since, he would've rejected my offer anyways, so she didn't ask him. And to be dancing with someone like you, Lyon, Juvia considers it a honor," she said.

"Oh really, of all people...Gray," Lyon said.

Then reality hit him. Oh, she is in love with Gray, his rival, all along.

"Oh, yes, because Juvia is in love with Gray-sama and she didn't confess it to him yet," she said, making the hug more and more tighter. "But Juvia is sure, he knows," Juvia said calmly.

Lyon stood there in shock for a moment after learning that she loved Gray more than him and she yearned for Gray more than him. He almost stopped dancing for a moment, making Juvia to stop and look at him. "What is it, Lyon-san?"

"Oh nothing, let's continue dancing," Lyon said as he searched for Gray from the dance-floor and saw him pick a fight with a bunch of guys from Fairy tail.

Then, he experienced a feeling course through him, a feeling that had nothing to do with his gut or his childhood rivalry with Gray.

Gray, you're certainly my rival. You're my rival in love.

He thought inside his head as he continued to dance with Juvia.

A/N: To find out what happens next, stay tuned to read the next chapter. Haha, in the end Lyon just said it like Juvia says "You're my rival in love". Can you spot the similarities between the two? Haha, I really hope that leads them to a good relationship in the near future. Please review! :)