Disclaimer: Mashima-sensei owns Fairy Tail…sigh…

Warnings: Shounen-ai/Yaoi, Language

The snow fell from the sky in dancing patterns before landing gracefully on the slowly freezing ground. The leaves had long since fell from the trees and left the branches bare except for the weak frost that tried to cling onto the limbs. Unsurprisingly, the cold didn't bother him like it bothered the others; hell, the mist that collected in front of everyone's mouths hasn't existed for him in a very long time. There are times when the mist had appeared when he used his magic, but even then it was abnormal if solely for the fact that his ice magic could descend to temperatures colder than an average winter. He shoved his hands in his pockets before gazing up at the starless sky and smiling bitterly.

He thought that after all these years that today would get easier; every year he seemed to prove himself wrong. He often preferred to be alone, even if it allowed him to drown himself in his depressing thoughts, but today always seemed to want someone to be near him. However, he always ignored that feeling; just because he couldn't get over the past didn't mean he had to drag everybody else down with him. Plus, no one would want to approach him anyway; after Galuna Island, his past was blown wide open for everyone to see…now they just left him alone on their own accord thinking that was what he wanted…

He couldn't blame them for that though; that's exactly what he wanted them to do. He didn't want them to see him like this…he couldn't let them see him like this. At one point, each and every one of his family members have tried to break down the ice covered walls that sealed his heart away and each one of them had failed. Surprisingly, or maybe not, the only one who came closest to freeing him from his darkness brought on by the guilt he carried for killing his family and his teacher was none other than Natsu Dragneel. He smiled softly as the thought of the pink haired dragon slayer shot across his morbid mind.

He thought about how warm Natsu was and how something as simple as his smile could light up a room that was dark for days. He always thought that he hated the dragon slayer because he was boisterous, annoying, pathetic (when it came to transportation), and just too damn happy all the time, but, now he wasn't so sure. After what happened on that damn island, he couldn't help but think that he hated Natsu because he always knew that he would be the one; he knew that Natsu would be the one who would free him from his darkness…he just didn't think he deserved to be saved.

Hell, sometimes he thinks that he still doesn't deserve to be saved…

He knew that he was starting to tread on thin ice now; just as he always had on today of all days. He always fell into these depressive thoughts like he was jumping off a cliff and hoping no one would be there to catch him on the way down. After all, he was nothing more than the king of isolation; forever pushing others away out of fear that one day fate would strike him down once again and steal another person that he cared about. Sometimes, he just spent his days waiting for fate to come steal Fairy Tail away from him; he just woke up some mornings thinking that when he walked to the guild hall like he did every day, it just wouldn't be there anymore and everyone would be dead…

The thought of his surrogate brothers, sisters, fathers, and grandfathers just disappearing in the blink of an eye all because he wasn't there to protect them would surely be the death of him someday. He felt the familiar burning of tears pressing against his eyelids; he hadn't even realized he closed them until a salty drop fell of his lashes and down his alabaster cheek only to land on the partially frozen ground. His eyes snapped open in disbelief only for more tears to escape the ice cold barricade he had erected all those years ago. He didn't know why and he didn't even think about it, but he suddenly let his legs take over his mind as he ran through the slightly crowded streets of Magnolia.

He knew that he had run into a few people from the shouts of annoyance that reached his buzzing ears, but he just had to get away; he had to leave before anyone could see. They couldn't see him like this, they couldn't see him breaking and crumbling away like shattered pieces of ice. He didn't want them to worry about him; he didn't want them to know that he cared about them so much that their lives were in danger with him just being around. He loved his parents and Deliora killed them, he loved Ur and she sacrificed herself to save him, he loved Lyon and he hated him and nearly killed himself trying to save him, and Ultear…he couldn't risk anyone else; he didn't want to think about what would happen if everyone else died because of him! He'd rather die th…

His thoughts were immediately stopped when he ran face first into something warm; it was as if every last bit of cold that resided in his body disappeared in that moment. Only one person would be able to do that, and it was the last person that he wanted to see him like this. He kept his head down and his eyes on the ground resolutely as more tears started to cascade down his face. He was about to move around the warmth and keep going when firm arms wrapped around his bare back comfortingly. Every muscle in his body froze as tan skin met pale and the smell of campfire immediately engulfed his senses.

"It's going to be okay…"

He blinked owlishly at the soft spoken words; not even sure if it came from the dragon slayer wrapped around him. He slowly lifted his head and found himself looking into concerned green eyes; the emotion in them made him flinch away. He tried to force his signature smirk on his face in an attempt to reassure his rival that everything was alright; he even tried to push his hands against Natsu's chest, hoping to regain his personal space and rebuild his barriers that had recently given away to tears only for the pinkette's grip to tighten dramatically.

"You don't need to pretend anymore Gray," He hissed sadly, "Not in front of me; it's alright, you can let it go…I won't tell anyone…"

Gray stiffened as if he had been struck and mustered as much strength as he possibly could in order to push the dragon slayer away from him. The flame head didn't know what he was talking about; he didn't understand what it was like for him…he would never get it. He noticed the pinkette shift in front of him as if he was going to take a step forward, but Gray quickly took a step back and took up a defensive posture.

"I'm fine Natsu," He mumbled, "Just go back to the guild."

The pinkette stared at him for a moment before a familiar fire ignited in his green eyes,

"Don't lie to me! I know you're as fine as I am on July 7th!"

The raven clenched his fist at his sides; a cold wind sweeping through the secluded area as the winter air reacted to his ice magic. Why didn't the flame asshole get it?! Why didn't he understand that he deserved to be alone; why couldn't he get it through his good for nothing skull that he wanted to be alone?!

"Because that's not true, not really; we both know you don't like being alone…just like I don't like being alone, or Erza, or Lucy or the rest of Fairy Tail!"

His eyes widened as he realized that he had said his thoughts out loud; he really had no control of his own body anymore…it was starting to melt…everything was starting to melt. Gray pursed his lips into a tight line and refused to answer his rival. I tense silence quickly surrounded them, leaving the howling wind to fill the space for them. The pinkette huffed loudly causing the ice mage to look at him; confusion, guilt and anger evident on his pale face.

"What's going to make you understand that we'll never leave you?" He whispered.

Gray's eyes widened as the accusation tumbled out Natsu's mouth as if it had meant nothing. He clenched his fists so tight that his pale knuckles started to turn even whiter.

"Be realistic you damn idiot!" He roared, "Shit happens even if you don't want it to; don't make promises that you can't keep!"

The pinkette growled under his breath as he started to advance on the raven,

"You're the one who always tries to leave us! I told you on Galuna Island; doing this to yourself, drowning yourself in guilt over something you can't control, you're just running away! Let us help you Gray…stop pushing us away!"

"I. Don't. NEED. YOUR. HELP!"

"You don't need it or you don't want it?" Natsu muttered, "There is a difference…"

Gray ran towards the pinkette and drove his fist into his rival's face immediately sending the pinkette flying into the ground. Before Natsu could even move Gray was straddling him and punching him without giving him any time to react. The raven could feel his emotions building inside him; pushing on his ice walls, trying to break free…but he couldn't let them. He couldn't let Natsu see him for what he was; he wouldn't allow him to. He was about to strike the pinkette again when a tanned hand wrapped firmly around his wrist.

"That's right ice block," Natsu smiled sadly, "Let it go…"

That's when he noticed that his entire body was shaking and tears were once again slipping through. He tried to make them stop, but no matter how much he yelled at himself internally, they wouldn't cease. He stared at Natsu expecting to see disgust and awkwardness at his rare display of emotions only to see understanding and sadness running through those burning green eyes. Gray's head slowly dropped forward as Natsu slowly sat up and tangled his warm fingers into Gray's raven locks. A broken sob burst through the ice mage's parted lips as his head was slowly brought towards the crook of his rival's neck; the warmth finally breaking the ice that protected him for so long.

He didn't know how much time passed as he sat in his friend's lap and cried for the first time in what felt like forever. He slowly raised his arms and clutched onto the back of Natsu's black vest and buried his nose into the pinkette's white muffler. He was aware of the pinkette running his hand down the plains of his back; his hand soothing any of the tense muscles that may have gathered there. He didn't know when or how, but he started spilling out all his guilt and fears to the dragon slayer; his heart feeling just a little lighter with each confession. When his tears had finally come to an end, either from crying himself dry or from Natsu simply listening, Gray lifted his head from the pinkette's neck; his eyes feeling heavy and exhausted.

"Natsu…" Gray whispered thickly.

The pinkette stared at him; a soft smile gracing his lips,

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry…I was being stupid…"

He could feel his eyes drifting closed as exhaustion started to sweep over him. He felt the arms tighten around him and a warm breath caress his hair. He wanted nothing more than to sleep right there, but he knew it would be weird if he fell asleep on top of his rival; even if he was as warm as a fireplace. Gray was about to move out of Natsu's arms when the pinkette just adjusted the raven and lifted him up so that he could carry the ice mage. Gray wanted to protest, and was even sure some semblance of a complaint escaped his lips, but in a matter of moments sleep consumed him.

FTFTFT

Natsu watched over the ice mage silently as he slept in his arms; his normally furrowed brow smoothed out for once. The pinkette leaned forward and placed his lips on Gray's forehead softly as not to wake the exhausted teen. He pulled Gray closer to his chest and started to head towards the ice mage's home.

"I would never leave you alone," He whispered to the sleeping ice mage, "The cold never bothered me anyway."

TBC

Woo! More writer's block on my other stories so I decided to make another story because apparently that's the smart thing to do O.o' Well for once my story won't center solely on Natsu x Gray (shock!), but I listened to "Let It Go" from the Frozen Soundtrack and I was just like this would be a perfect song for Gray, Lyon and Ultear! And thus this story was born! It will be a three parter and they won't be in chronological order, but I hope you enjoy it! Waiting on your reviews!

-sktrgrl

PS. As I have said "Let It Go" belongs to Frozen, it is not mine!