(A/N : Hey guys this is my first Gratsu/Natray one-shot and this is mostly for a secret Santa thing. And I'm really happy I'm doing this cause I've wanted to do one of these for a while. And as I'm suppose to do this for someone. I'd like to dedicate this one-shot to LelYoGirlAngel. I hope you like it when you read it. Also in this Gray is just an ice demon slayer and all the slayers minus the god slayers have little characteristics with what they slay. For example since Natsu is a dragon slayer he's going to have wings,a tail,horns,and scales every now and then on his body.)
The guild was decorated with colorful lights. A large evergreen tree covered with ornaments,lights,string,candy canes,and tinsel stood in the middle of the floor. To Natsu Christmas was just another holiday in the winter where you go crazy and buy your friends expensive gifts. But this Christmas was different and at first Natsu was happy but as the days moved closer the reason for Natsu's happiness just got more depressed. What was Natsu's reason to look forward to this Christmas? It was his mate,Gray. He never noticed it before but as it got closer to this holiday the more Gray seemed to wear down in mood standards. So Natsu asked the closest person to Gray to see why this was happening and that person was Gray's long lost cousin Eclipse. They weren't blood cousins but they treated each other as cousins. The doors to the guild opened and a brisk winter breeze flew in making everyone but Natsu shiver from the sudden chill. But in walked the person he wanted to see,Eclipse. She was a beautiful woman. Long brown hair,fair skin,a few tattoos on her body as well as scars too,and duel colored eyes. The left was pacific blue with bright red flecks. The right was forest green with neon green flecks. Right now she was wearing a top hat with goggles above the ridge. The top hat she was wearing had holes so her ears had space to twitch. What she also had on was a dress that had the skirt reach just barely above her knees. The dress was mainly white at the top with gold highlights and designs. The corset was white with gold and red strings and black in the middle. The skirt was mainly black with red designs. She was wearing fishnets under the skirt just showing her dragon mark on her left outer thigh with black heeled boots. Walking over th Natsu,Eclipse sat down on a seat across from him.
Eclipse : Hey Natsu. How's Gray?
Natsu : To be honest I don't know how he's doing.
Eclipse : What do you mean!?
A shadow came over Eclipse's face with a dark aura around her body.
Natsu : *sweatdrop* I mean I don't know why he's so emotionally drained around this time.
Eclipse : Oh. *sigh* I know why he is.
Natsu : Why's he so down Eclipse?
Eclipse : *sigh* The snow around this time reminds him of his village being destroyed. You see it was always snowing there and around this time the village was destroyed.
Natsu : Oh that explains it.
Eclipse : Yeah.
Natsu : How can I cheer him up?
Eclipse placed a hand on her chin and tapped her lip. Then the image of Gray's necklace came to mind.
Eclipse : I know what you can do.
Natsu : What?
Eclipse : You know Gray's necklace?
Natsu : Yeah.
Eclipse : That's an heirloom from his family and all those who wore it in his family have had a special jewel made by their mate's magic. Then they give them the jewel and that shows the commitment of their mate.
Natsu : Really?
Eclipse : In fact I actually have the jewel for that now you just need to add your magic into it.
Natsu : That's great give it to me!
Eclipse : There is one draw back Natsu.
Natsu : What?
Eclipse : *awkward pause* It takes years to store the magic in the jewel to be significant to be noticed as a commitment stone.
Natsu looked down dejectedly. Feeling horrible that he can't lift Gray's mood this winter. Eclipse seeing his look and then thinking about her cousin and his secret that he was going to reveal to Natsu.
*small flashback*
Gray : I'm going to tell him but
Eclipse : Buuuuut?
Gray : I'm afraid he'll flip out and reject me after he finds out.
*end flashback*
Eclipse : *groans awkwardly while twisting body slightly side to side* There is a way to speed up the process in a way.
Natsu : *perks up* Really?!
Eclipse : Yes but...
Natsu : Buuuut?
Eclipse : If you do it then to you it'll feel like years but here juse a few hours.
Natsu : Whaaaat?
Eclipse : *sigh* I'm going to send you into my Elder scroll to give you the time you need to complete the jewel. To you it'll feel like years but here it's just a few hours.
Natsu looked down weighing the options.
Natsu : I'll do it.
Eclipse : Are you sure?
Natsu : If it'll improve Gray's mood and help him deal with the loss he's been through I'm willing to do it.
Eclipse : Alright. I'll check on you here every few minutes there every few days to give you someone to talk to and check your progress.
Natsu nodded ready for Eclipse to send him into her scroll. Eclipse gave him a concerned look as she summoned her scroll. Holding the scroll she tapped the jewels then opened it having Natsu step in. After Natsu entered and the scroll closed he saw he was in a world full of sharp white and clear crystal. After a few minutes Eclipse appeared and handed him the crystal with a smile. With the exchange done she vanished and Natsu started filling the crystal with his magic and like she said every few days Eclipse came to give Natsu company and to check his progress but during one visit Natsu asked why he wasn't hungry Eclipse explained that his body won't feel like it's been here for years but a few hours because here time exists but doesn't exist at the same time just like her scroll. How it can exist in one plane of reality physically and also another. But being Natsu at the end of the explanation she just said.
Eclipse : It's way too complicated for your mind Natsu just don't think about it and get to work on the jewel.
After that Natsu just dismissed it and continued on with his work.
*timeskip*
Finally done with the jewel Eclipse took Natsu out of the scroll to show it was the day before Christmas.
Natsu : So now what?
Eclipse : *facepalm* Baka. You wait for the jewel to cool. Then give it to him tomorrow.
Natsu : How do I cool it?
Eclipse : *facepalm x2 and sigh* You cool it in his element so then it has a mix of his and your magic.
Natsu : Oooohhhh. Okay thanks.
Eclipse : No problem. Also don't tell him about this.
Natsu : Yeah yeah. I got it.
Eclipse : Good. Now go.
Natsu waved goodbye to Eclipse and did what she told him. Now it's Christmas day and Natsu has the jewel ready to give to Gray,but he wanted to wait for tonight.
*timeskip*
Natsu dragged Gray to a lake ready to present the jewel.
Gray : Natsu why'd you take me here?
Natsu : I have to give you something.
Gray : What is it?
Natsu : This.
Natsu pulled the jewel out of his pocket and handed it to Gray.
Gray : What's this?
Natsu : Eclipse told me that when demons have mates they give jewels to prove commitment.
Gray : *wide eyed and in awe* Eclipse told you that?
Natsu : Yeah sorry I didn't ask you but then that would ruin the surprise. And I figured you wouldn't mind me asking your cousin.
Gray stood quietly staring at the ruby with royal blue flecks. Tears forming in his eyes as he stared at the jewel. Seeing the fire red color with the cold blue showed their union perfectly. His hand covered his mouth as his navy blue with white leopard spotted cat ears laid flat on his head almost being hidden by his hair and his navy blue,white-blue leopard spotted black tipped tail curled around his leg. Natsu looked at Gray with concern worried he'd reject the jewel.
Gray : When did you get the time to make this?
Natsu : Well I asked Eclipse about this a few days ago and she told me that it takes years to fill a jewel with magic.
Gray : Then how?
Natsu : Eclipse and her time stuff. She said and I quote. "If I tell you it'll just give you a headache and delay your progress. After you give this to Gray the next day I might tell you."
Gray : Now that I get.
Natsu : So do you accept it and me as your mate?
Gray looked to the jewel and his hand drifted slowly to his stomach. He then looked to Natsu with teary eyes and a watery smile on his face.
Gray : *whispers softly* Yes.
Natsu put on a brilliant smile and watched as Gray placed the jewel in his necklace. Once placed the jewel gave off a magnificent glow. With the jewel in place Natsu looked expectantly at Gray.
Gray : What flame brain?
Natsu : Where's my present?!
Gray : *sigh* You really want to know?
Natsu : *nods*
Gray : Promise you won't run for the hills?
Natsu : I just gave you a jewel that I put my own magic into which for you shows commitment. What does that tell you?
Gray : You promise !?
Natsu : *sigh* Gray dragons don't leave their mates and don't take new mates even if their mate dies. But if it makes you feel better. *sigh* I promise not to run for the hills ice princess.
Gray grunts at the comment then pushes Natsu to his knees by his shoulders.
Natsu : Gray what are you doing?
Gray : *sigh* Don't get the wrong idea and just listen ash breath!
Gray placed a hand on the back of Natsu's head and pushed it to his tummy. Holding it there and waiting that is until Natsu got aggravated.
Natsu : Why are you doing this? This seriously has no...
Natsu suddenly stops when he hears another heart beat. But it's not his or Gray's. Looking up at Gray who was red faced and looking away from Natsu with his ears flat against his head and tail twitching between his legs. Natsu placed his ear to Gray's tummy again and heard it again. The faint but steady beating of a little heart.
Natsu : When?
Gray : A few months ago I found out. And Eclipse confirmed it. It's part of how my people work. Some males get pregnant.
Natsu looked at the belly then at Gray's eyes.
Natsu : It is mine isn't it?
Gray nodded then felt Natsu rub his face against his tummy. Natsu's horns if sharper would've cut the skin. Gray then heard purring and a thumping sound on the dirt. Looking to the ground he saw Natsu's red scaled tail tapping the ground. Chuckling at the cute sight until Natsu rose to his feet unfurling his red with orange webbing wings casting a shadow over his face only his glowing dark olive green eyes giving him a scary and intimidating look. Gray stopped and gulped the lump now in his throat. Natsu smiled showing his sharp white teeth and fangs then the next thing Gray knew was he was in the air causing him to cling to Natsu for dear life with his tail between his legs.
Natsu : *laughs* Don't worry I won't drop you.
Gray : *glares* Don't you dare joke about that ash brain!
Natsu : Okay okay. Ice princess.
Gray just snorts at Natsu's comment and rolled his eyes. Once Natsu landed Gray saw he was in front of Natsu's house.
Gray : Why are we at your house Natsu?
Natsu : When a dragon knows its mate is pregnant it hides the mate away and protects it. Meaning you're staying here till the baby is ready to pop.
Natsu said with a closed eyed smile. But Gray just gave him an embarrassed,shocked,and scared face.
Gray : *gulp* But what about money for food?
? : I'll handle that.
Both looked in to the shadow of the tree line to see Eclipse with a smirking face. Gray looked shocked and embarrassed with a blush covering his whole face and his ears flat against his head. While Natsu had a bit of a competitive face ready to protect his mate at all cost.
Eclipse : Natsu you can stop making that face. I'm only going to go and get money for the food Gray's going to need during this.
Natsu relaxed and went to put Gray in the house. When he was outside Eclipse was still there but he gave her a friendly smile.
Natsu : Thanks Eclipse. You're the best.
Eclipse : Hey it's what I do. Now if you excuse me I have a long night with my special other. I'll be back in the morning with the food Gray needs. Oh and good luck cause he's going to get very moody.
Eclipse walked away in the path of the moonlight with a skip in her step while waving her fingers bye to Natsu. Natsu just smiled and looked at his house.
Natsu : Best winter ever!
(I hope you all liked this. I'm open to requests. Have a happy Christmas and New Year everyone I love all of you my beloved pack mates.)
