Gajeel was sitting at his usual table in the back, where he could watch the guild. He rolled his eyes. Stupid Santa, stupid Christmas, stupid outfits, and stupid Demon! He hated Christmas so much that last year he didn't even show up for the guild Christmas party. Though that had actually been 8 years ago, due to the Tenrou Island incident. It reminded him of his father, and how he abandoned him. Gajeel believed he had no reason to celebrate, or be happy.

He was brooding, which wasn't anything new. The Demon had told him, if he didn't come, or in costume, she would make him pay for his own iron, and the beer for three months. The stupid Santa outfit was way too tight, and was almost suffocating him. He felt a little ridiculous, maybe he should have come without it and receive the punishment. Gajeel shuddered. Never mind, Mira was too scary for that bargain.

"You do know if you relax a bit you'd have fun, right?" Her voice had a bite to it, but he was now immune to it. They had become far too close, for either of their venom to work on the other. It wasn't Gajeel's idea to be so close. But, when Levy wanted something, no wasn't a word. She'd get it if she had to solid script lightning you until you agreed. He shuddered at the memory, then quickly shook the thoughts away. Why she wanted his friendship so bad, he'll never know.

"I don't do Holiday's. Especially Christmas." Levy gave him a small smile.

"I used to be that way. Still am sometimes. It's hard to enjoy gatherings when our loved ones aren't here to celebrate with us." Gajeel grunted. "But, we're family now. You and I." Her bright smile made his stomach flip. He had fallen for the bluenette. He'd never admit it, and definitely would never act on it. He lived in a fantasy where she'd be his real family one day. As a wife. He felt his heart strings pull, and the growing depression was almost crippling.

"Yer too wise Levy." Her face flushed. He said her name, she had wondered if he had even known it. It's always been; Short Stack, Bookworm, Shrimp, Shorty, or the one he knew not to use anymore, Tiny. After she bitched at him in front of the whole guild, and made him apologize in front of them, he never used that word with her again.

"G-Gajeel, I got you something for Christmas." He looked at her stunned. For him? Why?

Levy stood up, and for the first time that evening Gajeel looked at her. He bit back his growl. Her elf outfit, had a higher neckline, but was shorter than the other girls'. If that was even possible. Her beautiful, creamy thighs were showing, as well as her perfectly sculpted ass. Her backside was barely covered, which pissed him off. No one else needed to see that except him. He mentally slapped himself. She wasn't his. He had no right to her.

Levy bent over to get into her bag. Gajeel was trying so hard to behave. Look but don't touch, he kept reminding himself. As she straightened herself, she heard his slight growl. She smiled proudly at herself.

"I saw this, and instantly thought of your father. I know it may be hard to open, which is why I gave you the warning. You don't have to open it here. I just wanted you to have it." She said shyly, as she handed him the red and green striped box.

"Levy, why?" Second time tonight using her name. It made her blush feverously. Her smile grew brighter though.

"Because you just lost your dad again, and because you and I are family."

"I-I don't have…" She laughed lightly.

"I don't want anything in return. It was an out-of-the-blue purchase. You'll make it up me, I know you."

"You wanna take a walk out back, in the garden?" Levy nodded.

Once they reached the garden, after Levy had changed into sweats and a baggy sweatshirt, they fell into a pleasant conversation. Gajeel was animatedly talking about his Christmas' with his father. After a while they decided to sit on a bench. Gajeel unwrapped his gift slowly. His breath caught in his throat. He saw a replica of his father in his hands. She didn't just stumble upon this.

"Levy," Gajeel looked deeply at her.

"You're too smart, Gajeel." She said tears in her own eyes. "You weren't supposed," she was cutoff when Gajeel's lips met hers. She could feel his hot tears fall onto her face. She wasn't going to say anything about them. He made her heart break in ways she had never known. He had every reason to hate Christmas. Now he had lost his father, again, and she'd be here to pick him up every time. She promised herself.

"God, Levy." She smirked into the kiss, third time. She pulled away from him.

"You've had a rough couple of months. I just wanted to show you, I'm here. I'll always be here, till the very end."

"I love you." He meant to say it in his head. He was going to play the kiss off as an appreciative act, but he said it aloud. "I'm sorry, I" Levy attacked his lips with her own. She didn't push the kiss far, she just wanted to show him, he had nothing to fear.

"Silly dragon, I love you too." They spent the rest of the night joking, sharing stories, and a couple more kisses.

And after that night, Gajeel started to believe in Christmas again. The girl he loved more than anything, had turned his worst Holiday into his favorite. He'd forever be grateful for that.