Chapter 3

"It sure is a nice night." I smiled, looking at how the town was bathed in the milky light of the moon. The river glinted, its water running smoothly around a bend and out of sight. The crickets were chorusing their nightly song and far away, a bird was singing a lullaby.

There was no reply, and I turned to see Gray a gazing at me, his eyes gentle and full of... affection. We were probably very close friends, before I lost my memory.

He seemed to notice I was staring at him, and snapped out of his daze, clearing his throat.

"Why were you staring at me?" I mused.

"I... You... You look really beautiful." He said quickly, before blushing and looking at the floor.

I felt my cheeks get hot. "Thanks." I smiled, feeling kind of... shy. "You look really cool."

"Thanks." He said, shrugging. Maybe he wasn't used to compliments. "Hey, I'll show you something." He smiled, before turning to the water.

He did some abstract movements, his strong hands moving to a silent rhythm, before sending a curtain of icy mist into the air all around us.

I gasped as the cold hit me, and started shivering.

"Sorry!" He said, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me to him so that he could warm me with his body heat.

I started feeling really hot, and was grateful that the mist could cover my deepening blush.

"Look." He whispered, pointing towards the river.

I squinted, noticing the figure in the mist. It was coming closer... and it looked vaguely familiar.

As the mist cleared slightly, I gasped.

"Mama!" I cried, running towards her.

Gray caught my wrist and wrapped his arm around my waist to stop me.

"You'll fall into the river, Lucy. Relax."

"No, you don't understand! That's my mother!"

"No, Lucy, listen to me. She's just an ice sculpture. Something I made. For you."

I stopped, still staring at the figure. The mist cleared a little more and I saw that it really was an ice sculpture of my mother, with a familiar smile on her face, staring at me lovingly.

I felt him turn me so that I was facing him.

"Lucy, I'm sorry. I didn't know if you wanted to see this... I- I'm so sorry."

The mist started clearing as he spoke, and I could see that his eyes were tearing slightly.

"No, thank you. I miss her." I whispered, looking into his dark blue eyes. I really appreciated it.

The mist cleared completely, and when I turned back, the figure was gone.

"Sorry. The mist helps to stop the ice from melting."

"It's okay. I..."

"Yes?"

"Nothing."

"Lucy, you can tell me anything, you know."

I hesitated. "Could you... could you come to my house and tuck me in bed? She... My mother... used to do that."

He looked a little surprised, but after awhile, he wiped a tear from my cheek and smiled. "Of course."

*** (a little later)

It had only been a day since I had woken up to find myself in this strange new environment, but I was starting to fall in love with it, and especially with Fairytail.

I made a warm drink for Gray, and we laughed over a couple of jokes before I took a shower and changed into my sleepwear.

"By the way, how did you know what my mother looks like?"

Gray grinned, and pointed to one of the photos near my bed. Mama's photo.

"Smart."

"Of course." He grinned.

"Oh and erm, Gray, you've just stripped." I looked warily at him.

He looked down, and jumped, obviously shocked. I giggled. He was so cute.

"Sorry! I- er- I'll just go put on my shirt... Here it is!" He hurried to get his shirt on, struggling with the buttons in the process.

I tried not to laugh, and almost choked.

"Err- you don't have to worry, you know! It's just a habit! I didn't mean to strip here like that! I'm not going to do anything to you, trust me! I was trained in really cold weather so it just seems kinda hot with my clothes on! It's not what you think! I'm not a bad guy!"

I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter.

He stared at me awkwardly, unsure what to think of my reaction.

"I didn't even think of that! I mean, I always see you strip in the guild building anyway! What were you think?" I grinned deviously, before bursting into another fit of giggles.

"I- I- I WASN'T THINKING OF ANYTHING! TOILET!" He shouted, his face super red, and dashed out of the room.

Wasn't the toilet the other way?

I climbed into bed, and waited patiently for him to return, when there was a flash of pink, and Natsu appeared on my window still, giving me the fright of my life. I mean, I used to have nightmares of ghosts flying in through my window, and now-

"Hey Lucy!" He said cheerfully. "What a coincidence!"

"Yeah, yeah. No! You're in my house!"

A flying cat perched itself beside him.

I gulped. "Maybe you would like to get down? It's kind of dangerous, you know."

"It's okay! We're leaving soon! Erza's on her way here and... we don't exactly want to meet her now."

"But I thought she was our teammate..."

"Yeah, but we ate her strawberry cake, aye!"

Gray walked in. "That is very brave of you."He said, actually giving Natsu and Happy a look of admiration. "But she's gonna kick your ass anyway." He said, as- a- matter- of- factly.

"Oh yeah? I-"

"Natsu! I can hear you!" A girl screamed from my living room. How did they all manage to get into my house anyway?

"Oh no, she's here! Let's go, Happy!"

"Aye!"

And with that, the two of them jumped out of the window, calling "Bye Lucy! See you tomorrow!"

"Where did they go?" Erza demanded, as she stomped into the room, looking magnificent in her armour. It was sliver with scary spikes all around and erm ten swords circling her.

"Window." Gray stated simply, seeing I was too terrified to speak.

"NATSU! HAPPY!" She screamed- a war- cry- before jumping out of the window as well.

"Guys, there's a door." I said timidly, but they were already gone.

"Are you okay?" Gray said worriedly, coming to me."

"Y- Yeah." I mumbled.

"Let's get you to sleep." He said, holding the blanket up so that I could get under it.

He tucked me in, differently from how mama used to do it, but it made me feel the same happiness I had felt when she did it.

"Goodnight, Gray." I said, taking his hand and giving it a light peck to show how grateful I was for his company.

"Goodnight, Lucy." He smiled, kissing me gently on the forehead.

A little of chapter 4! Hahaha It's not totally ready yet, but tell me when you want it posted, and I'll try to get it out by then :] I hope you like all this, and if not, please tell me how I can improve! Thank you very much! *bow* heehee~

Chapter 5

Mmmm... I'm awake. I should open my eyes now...

I stretched and opened my eyes, wondering why I felt like something was holding me down, preventing me from stretching.

"GRAY?"

He stirred, tightening his arms around me as he did.

"G- gray, wake up!"

The corners of his lips turned up slightly. "Cute talking bolster." He murmured.