A/N: Big thanks to my reviewer. Two prompts this time.

Crossover

It might have been a normal day in Magnolia if not for the big pirate ship that just arrived at the haven. While most of the people saw unknown pirates as a threat Natsu didn't thought so and with Erza, Gray and an unwillingly Lucy went to the haven to investigate the newcomers.

The first thing everyone noticed was that Natsu got even motion sick when the ship was just laying in the haven, so the meeting between pirates and mages took part on land. While Natsu, now looking a lot better because the ground wasn't moving, immediately began talking to the captain, the rest of the guild was more careful.

It didn't take long for Erza, who was more cautious that these people could be a threat to the guild, to find the strongest one among the crew. Judging by the three swords on his hip and the huge scar across his chest, this man must have fought a lot of battles and surely was a skilled fighter. However that didn't intimidate her in the least.

"What does your crew want here?" The requip mage asked and pointed a sword at him.

"We're not here to cause any trouble, at least not intentionally. This idiot here." He pointed at the captain. "He just wanted to explore and search for an adventure."

Erza should be surprised that this man called his captain an idiot, but seeing that she called Natsu that quite often and still loved him like a little brother, she wasn't one to talk. No matter how strong these people looked and probably were, Erza didn't feel like the swordsman in front of her was lying. They didn't seem like a threat to the guild, so Erza found herself lowing her sword.

"That's an impressive sword that you were about to attack me with. You're a swordswoman." It was more a statement than a question from the man in front of her, but Erza replied none the less with a confident look in her eyes.

"My specialties lay in armor and sword-fighting, but close enough."

"May I have a look at your sword."

"Only if you show me your weapons, it's only fair." Erza challenged and the pirate smirked at her in agreement.

Gray watched the exchange between the green-haired swordsman and Erza critically. He didn't like seeing another man so close to the woman he loved and that they seemed to get along so great bothered him immensely.

"Is there a reason why you're only standing here in your boxers?" A female voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he turned to the side to find an orange-haired woman standing next to him.

"Says the woman, who is only wearing a bikini." He replied unimpressed and faced forward once again to keep an eye on Erza.

"Touche. Is she your girlfriend?" The woman asked. She must have seen him look at Erza.

"No, she isn't." He said truthfully, no matter how much he wished he could say otherwise. Then he saw from the corner of his eyes that the woman looked thoughtfully. "Is he your boyfriend?" He asked the counter question.

"No." She hesitant for a moment. "All he cares about is his training and becoming the best. I'm only a friend to him."

"Yeah, I know how that feels." Gray replied, still not looking away from Erza. Maybe he could tolerate this woman as long as the requip mage was busy talking to the swordsman, after all misery loves company and they both seemed to feel the same about seeing these two together.

At the end of the day everyone sat around a huge campfire and celebrate together. Apparently this crew was just as crazy as their guild, with a love for partying, destroying things and drinking. When they all settled around the fire, everyone busy eating, Gray saw his chance to talk to Erza for the first time since this crew had arrived.

"So how was your talk with that swordsman?" Gray couldn't hold his curiosity and slight jealousy back any longer.

"He is very skilled and a fight against him would probably be rather interesting, but he seems a little distant. Now that I think about it, we're very similar in that aspect."

"So you want to spend more time with him?" Now he was definitely jealous.

"No, a fight maybe, but just like me he has to have a partner who can pull him out of his seriousness and make him realize that there is more than training and missions in life. The orange-haired woman seemed to be that person for him." Erza mused and pointed directly at the navigator and swordsman who were bickering with each other a few feet away.

Understanding what she meant and seeing Erza look so beautiful in the light of the fire, Gray couldn't help but take this chance. He wasn't any good at understanding women, but he had a suspicious that Erza hadn't only talked about the two crew members but about them as well. Taking a deep breath Gray lay his hand over one of Erza's on the ground and lightly interlaced their fingers together before speaking up.

"Maybe they aren't the only ones, who would make a good couple."

Erza looked down at their hands and interlaced their fingers tighter together with a light blush on her face.

"Maybe you're right."

Friends to Lovers

Makarov looked around the guild with a smile on his face. The usual craziness was in full swing again and he was thankful that everyone was so carefree at the moment. All of his children had their own story and difficult past, so seeing them like this always made him happy. However when he saw Erza sitting alone at a table in the far corner he frowned. Normally she would be right in the middle of Natsu and Gray's fight doing her best to scare them into getting along. Something must be bothering her, so Makarov made his way over to her and sat down next to her.

"Master, is there something you need my help with?" Erza asked as soon as he sat down and Makarov could only shake his head at her sense of responsibility. Even when she had her own problems she still worried about the guild.

"Nothing is wrong." Makarov reassured her. "You just seem to have a lot on your mind, so I wanted to see if you want to talk about it."

The old man could see the requip mage hesitant and she only looked at him for a moment before her eyes focused on someone in the guild.

"Can I ask you something personal?" Makarov was surprised by her question, but nodded and she continued. "Do you have a best friend? Someone you trust unconditionally?"

"Of course." He replied, smiling. There was a certain healer who he had met long ago and despite that they fought a lot and had different opinions on some things, she was still his best friend and over time even more.

"I have someone like this as well." Erza's words were quiet and Makarov was almost sure that she was not really talking to him, but rather deep in thoughts and speaking without realizing he was there. He followed her eyes and saw that she was looking at Gray, who now sat at the bar talking with Cana. "I shouldn't feel the way I do about him. He is supposed to be only my best friend, but for me that's not enough."

At hearing that it took everything in Makarov to not cheer in happiness and walk over to Mira to collect his fair share of the bet they had going on. It had been obvious for years to everyone but Erza that Gray was in love with her. Even when they were children Gray had always gotten teased for having a crush on her and the old man had seen it develop in love. Now Erza finally returned Gray's feelings and Makarov couldn't be happier for these two, but the requip mage seemed to hesitant. Makarov took it up on himself to give her a push in the right direction, like every father would do.

"There is no better foundation for love than friendship."

"You really think so?" Erza asked looking at him.

"Yes, it's actually the best way to fall in love in my opinion. You two have already a strong bond and trust each other, two things that are important in a relationship."

"Maybe you're right." The young woman next to him mused, her eyes turning back to look at Gray.

Makarov took his leave then, so Erza could think everything over. All he could hope now was that she took his words to heart and for once let herself be happy.

It was a week later at night when Makarov saw how his conversation with Erza had really turned out. He thought that he was the only one left at the guild when he heard two familiar voices talk in one of the back rooms. It wasn't like he was curious, okay maybe a little, especially after recognizing the voices as Gray and Erza's. Quietly standing near the door, that was ajar, he watched and listened to what was happening between two of the most powerful members of his guild.

"Why are you hesitating? I just told you that I love you and if I'm not completely wrong by your words the other day you feel the same, so why can't we be together?" Gray's voice was a combination between anger and hurt.

"Of course you don't understand." Erza was equally angry.

"Then explain."

Markov could only shake his head at those two. Gray was probably the only one who dared to stand up to Erza and who she accepted protest from. However then again the ice mage was also the only one who she opened up to and that was what happened.

"What if we break up." Erza challenged loudly, but her next words came out in a whisper. "I can't loose you. I just can't."

It was one of the rare moments when the great Titania was truly vulnerable, but Gray seemed to know exactly what to say.

"You won't loose me, no matter what happens." He stepped closer to her and pulled her into his arms. He gently stroke her back and looked deep into her eyes for his next words. "We already have a great friendship and I couldn't wish for a better best friend than you, but we both wish to be even more than that. I love you and I want to be with you. Please give us a chance."

A tear rolled out of Erza's eye at his words and she nodded with a shy smile.

The old man, who was still watching them from his spot behind the door, was glad when he saw Gray smile brighter than he had ever seen. The passionate kiss that followed between the new couple was the moment Makarov left the two young lovers alone. If anyone deserved to be happy it were these two and Makarov couldn't be more thankful that they had finally found true love with each other.