AN: I would like to thank sparkles princess and andIJDC for their much appreciated reviews. To andIJDC I would like to apologize about the lack of flow. It's been a very long while since I've written something that wasn't an essay or research paper. Thank you for your review though I'll try to work on that. To sparkles princess thanks for your words of encouragement! Also thanks to those who favorite-d, and put this story on their alerts.

p.s. just in advance, if his hangover symptoms or behavior isn't accurate, I would like to apologize and point out that, I've never really drank before, much less gotten a hangover so… if it's wrong , well sorry.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Peace out

-Straight A Procrastinator


Chapter Two: Nervous

When Gray woke up to the sounds of guild members entering, he noticed two things immediately. He wasn't at home, and he had the hangover to end all hangovers. Removing his face from the bar counter, Gray rubbed at the crick in his neck groaning all the while. Mira taking pity on him placed two painkillers and glass of ice water in front of him. He grumbled his gratitude before taking his medicine and sipping at his water. He doubted the nausea in his stomach could take more than that at the moment. Mira sauntered off, placing breakfast orders and making her rounds. She would wait until Gray was a little more lucid before she set him straight. Ten minutes passed before she couldn't take the waiting anymore. She walked towards Gray's spot at the bar and brought him his usual. With most of his regular teammates still out she was going to take advantage of the unusual peace. The guild was still mostly empty, only the few early risers would be coming in soon, so the likely hood of being overheard was low. Placing his regular breakfast order in front him, she plastered on her false smile that spoke of inhuman torture should he piss her off. Gray looked up from his newly arrived meal, and felt a certain sense of dread and nervousness at the pit of his guts that certainly wasn't caused by the poison he consumed last night. "Good morning Gray." Mira almost sang it out, daring him to say otherwise.

"Er..Morning Mira." He put on a poker face, hoping she wouldn't be able to see his nervousness. It was never good to show Mira fear when she got like this. Those are times when she would act as the proverbial lion about to eat her prey.

"Gray… do you remember what we talked about last night?" the smile was in full force still. He had a feeling that regardless of whether or not he did, she was going to remind him of it either way. Gulping and truthfully shaking his head "No" Mira continued talking. "Juvia is coming back tomorrow, and when she does you're going to apologize for being a complete ass, and then take her out for dinner!"

About to protest, She cut him off. "Last night you said you didn't know anything about her, and a conversation over dinner is just the way to do it."

"What am I apologizing for?" He asked almost indignantly. Mira glared at him.

"The Ball you moron! Also because you've been avoiding her!"

"…I have not been avoiding-"

"Not what you said last night." Mira countered. Flustered, Gray couldn't come up with any excuse; so instead he asked the one thing that he absolutely needed to know.

"What did I say last night..?" in truth he couldn't remember much after his last whiskey. Stupid Alberona special. Mira soften her glare, but not by much.

"In short you're an insensitive asshole who doesn't know anything about the woman who's in love with him, but thinks she's sweet." Gray groaned, he knew he was going to regret that drink, and now he has the meddlesome matchmaker breathing down his neck.


"Gajeel-kun…do you think Juvia is weird?" Juvia and Gajeel were taking a break from their mission. They had to subdue several monsters in a forest that was nearby a small town. So far they had taken out quite a few, but not much could be done until night fall. Currently they were laying down on the grass waiting for the sun to retire, and for the moon to light their way, as they waited for the nocturnal beast to come out.

"Gihi… What kind of question is that?" the response was said in a gruff yet teasing manner that is rarely heard from the dragon iron slayer. Juvia frowned. Noticing her sudden sully mood he decided to confirm his thoughts. "Did the stripper say something to you?" his eyes narrowed at the thought. They're few people in this world that he could consider himself close to, and the rain woman, not that he would ever admit it was the closest thing to a sister he ever had.

"…No."

"Pfft, you're a terrible liar. Come on spit it out dammit."

" …You have to promise Juvia you won't hurt Gray-Sama..." He scoffed at her use of "Sama", but she ignored it.

"Depends on what happened…" Juvia pouted, but didn't say anything. Glancing over Gajeel relented. "Fine, I promise not to hurt the stripper." Didn't say anything about sicking Titania and bunny-girl on him though. He thought smugly.

"…Juvia told him. Told him that Juvia loved him. Juvia even told him in normal speech too, but Gray-sama said 'I don't' and then called Juvia weird, that's all."

"WHAT?!" his rage was evident. Even if he didn't return her feelings he didn't have to be a bastard about it!

"It's okay Gajeel-kun. Juvia was expecting his answer, honest! Juvia knew when she told him that he wasn't going to feel the same-"

"Then why tell him?!" He was seething. He knew or at least had an idea about how Juvia viewed herself, but he couldn't, and never would be able to comprehend her thought process where HE was concerned.

"Because!" her shout startled them both, her emotions were running high "because," she softly started again, "Gray-sama almost died that day the dragons came, He almost died protecting Juvia, and…Juvia, I couldn't live with myself if he died before I got to tell him. Even if he didn't feel that way." Juvia was sitting now, her knees brought to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. The moon was high in the sky now, the sun completely gone. Gajeel sighed. Standing up he held a hand out to her so they could get a move on. He was out of his comfort zone. He sucked at expressing and talking about feelings, in truth Lily was surprising much better at them, but that cat had to go and ditch him to hang out with levy, the traitor.

"That stripper is right, you're definitely weird Juvia, but you wouldn't be you if you weren't. So don't change, not for any one, ya got that?" he offered her a toothy grin. Juvia smiled and took his hand, helping herself to stand up and continue their mission. She smiled, internally thinking that no matter how gruff her closest friend was, he was still a big softy in side. Chuckling she decided to comment.

"You know Gajeel-kun, Levy-san is lucky to have fallen for you." She took off then laughing all the while. The iron dragon slayer was left sputtering over himself as he tried to digest that comment, and then growling at his own flustered reaction. When he finally caught up to her, she was still giggling. He replied with a quick "I don't know what you're talking about." before catching sight of one of their targets. Her reply was lost amongst the continuation of their mission and the heart battle cries.