Gray flexed his powerful shoulders, still embalmed in his bandages he turns his dark gaze upon the landscape out of his window, his hand presses to the wounded shoulder as he re imagines the pain of the strike, dark hair ruffling in the wind of a sudden gust, watching the peaceful scene from the oak lodge, the birds flying through the setting sky with hues of honey and violet that streak across the atmosphere. Looking back to the scene of the peaceful room. Cozy came to mind, the single bed with green blanket draped over the bed, the small lamp atop the pine wood bedside table. The two chair's aside the bed from when company had stopped by, the small entrance hall with a bathroom that leads off, a chest of draws, and in the corner a plush green velvet arm chair currently supporting the sleeping form of the scarlet haired woman that had not left the room since arriving in it, her form was peaceful, Gray even dared think cute. As if the very thought upset the air waves, Erza began a sudden stir from her dreaming state, her eyes darting to the bed immediately, shock took to her. Leaping from the arm chair, her expression alarmed to say the least, she tears into the sheets, fraying them as she glares around the room, before seeing the muscular and toned form of Gray, wrapped in bandages, standing by the window, his deep set gaze fell on the expanse of lush forest out before them.

"Gray?! what are you doing out of bed? I thought-" She stops as he turns to her, pressing a finger against his pursed lips.

"Shhh, I'm right here, just listening to the sounds outside, it's pretty hey?" he sighs as he rolls his shoulders, eyes close as he basks in the light of the oncoming dusk. his necklace dangling in the wind, the chink of it shaking in the wind as he took in breaths of the fresh air. A knock at the door had Erza shift her gaze toward the sudden shock.

"Room service" a young female voice called from behind the oak panel door. Gray seeming un phased by this continues his contact with the dimming horizon, his eyes lit by the suns final gasp of the day.

"Go ahead, come in" Gray called as Erza quirked a brow, the young woman entering into the small room, a silver oval tray held between her hands, a lid over the top, relieving the platter of the lid, she sets down the lid upon the chair for a moment, as she unloads a portion of steak with roast potatoes and grilled corn, whilst the other is a plate with a large slice of strawberry sponge cake, the extra cream crowning the edge of the slice. before retrieving the lid and making way out of the room.

"Figured you would be hungry." he spoke, gaze unfaltering upon the field of snow capped trees, the fresh winter snow beginning its fall as clouds consumed the sky in haste. Erza's hazel eyes darted between the food and the teen, unsure of the situation, she hesitated before cautiously walking toward the table by the armchair, wait, she didn't even remember falling asleep in that armchair, Gray must have moved her. She sighed turning back to him.

"Gray, what's this?" she questions as she sits down, taking the plate of steak, though eyeing the cake with greed, as she took the knife and fork on the side of the plate and began to eat, Gray finally turning to face her, back to the cold of the outside, though he didn't feel it being an ice wizard. His dark blue eyes watch as she begins to tuck in, Erza only now realizing how hungry she really is, as she begins to devour more and more of the offering, Gray offering the woman a chuckle as he remembers back when they where kids, how they used to fight back in the guild hall, an odd memory at this moment, but a fond one.

"Its thanks for saving my life Erza." he brims a smile as he watches her tuck into the meal, as she does so he begins to peel away the bandages, first the ones that embalm his right arm, pulling the material away, after the first few tugs they seem to unravel with ease, the site leaves Gray to chuckle cockily.

"More scars to add to my collection then, seems to be an emerging feature in me hey?" he continues in his chuckle as Erza looks up to see the four long streaks that run down his arm, the slightly pinker hues of the fresher skin that indicated the scaring. A pang of guilt thumped against Erza's chest, she had given him those scars, it was her fault he got hurt, his body now marked with her failure like a continuous reminder, but she was glad that it was all it was, just scars and that it wasn't a stone with him six feet under. Gray seemed to notice she was distant.

"Hey, food okay for you Erza, everything to your liking?" He arches a brow as the scarlet haired woman. The warrior only just realizing now she was paused with half chewed carrots and steak. Swallowing the mouthful of food.

"Hmmm? Oh yes, very nice thank you Gray, catering for me now, hmm? Even in your state?" The redhead posed the question curiously, her brown eyes focus on him, the look made Gray give off a warm smile.

"Since the day I saw you at the river, all those years ago, I've been taking care of you, and I made a promise I would never stop, what's changed?" he chuckled, seeming to think nothing of his own word's. Erza just sat there looking dumbfounded upon the boy, her hazel eyes fixed on him, feeling...she wasn't sure, anger seemed to prod at her, the fact he said HE was protecting HER? she could scoff at that, but there was another feeling that pronged her senses though, another, more... flattered side, she felt...appreciation, connection.

"You? Protecting me? Gray do you need another beating to show you who looks after who?" she passed off the comment as she moved the empty plate to the table, picking the second off the table, the cake tantalizing her taste-buds just from the look of it. Gray simply shook his head, a palm presses to his forehead as he laughs it off, not really thinking he should build into depth of what he meant. There was a sudden knock at the door, Gray leaving his window to answer it.

"Hello? who is it?" the Ice wielder asks as he presses a hand to the door, another to the door knob as he begins to twist it, pulling firmly to open it, his dark eyes fall upon Lucy as she stands at the door.

"Oh Gray! Hi I see you're up and about, same with you Erza!" the blonde speaks cheerily as he moves aside to let the girl in, only to be hit in the side by a speeding pillow, a salmon haired boy standing by the open window, wild grin on his face

"I challenge you Gray! I wanna see-" his proud words cut short by the sudden cry of an angered goddess

"STOP IT NOW NATSU YOU BRAT!" The woman in the corner had risen from her chair, demonic glint in her eyes as she bore into Natsu, Gray's comeback silenced in the moment.

"Put an end to your childish way's or I will do it for you!" Erza commanded, her armored digit pointing at the dragon slayer with an accusing crucifying gaze upon him.

"Uh okay Erza, yea! sure! no problem! Don't need to tell me twice!" he says as he retreats into the corner of the room, hands stretched outward waving away from himself as he retreated. Gray gave a gracious nod to Erza, at least he could relax for now.