AN: Fairy Tail still belongs to the wonderful, imaginative Hiro Mashima.

Thanks HeartGold12 and Rakasa for the reviews! :D I'm so glad you're enjoying this! :D

Thanks for all the likes and follows, they're seriously appreciated! So, here's chapter 4 as promised – hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4 – Bitter Coffee

Gajeel stared into the cute face of the peacefully sleeping solid script mage as he lay as still as he could in the bed, trying not to wake her or the little exceed. After twenty minutes he decided that he'd get up and make the breakfast – it was his turn after all. Levy had made pancakes with iron-infused honey last week. He loved the fact she took the time to create all these delicious foods for him, all he had to do was grind up the iron to fill up the jar of 'iron dust' she used – in fact, she even made him use the iron that she made using her own magic especially for him! She still puts a little heart at the centre of the 'o' like she did on Tenrou Island. Gajeel tensed as he remembered how close they'd all come to being killed by the legendary dragon four years before, or eleven for those of the guild that were left behind. Gajeel let a small smile appear at the corner of his mouth as he thought of Al and Bis' now not-so-little Asuka.

Gajeel opened the fridge and pulled out the breakfast pack they'd bought a couple of days before when Shrimp had needed grocery shopping after getting back from her mission. He really did need to learn to cook something special for her – especially since she put in so much effort into things like kiwi juice and iron ice cream. He didn't really do anything for her, he thought feeling slightly annoyed with himself, forgetting in the process about how many times he'd protected her, carried her stuff for her, or even carried Levy herself since he'd joined Fairy Tail. Gajeel placed the frying pan on the cooker and emptied the contents of the pack into it. There was supposed to be enough for four but there never was.

Levy could smell the sausages as she lay in bed. She hadn't wanted Gajeel to move so she'd stayed still with her eyes closed, trying to keep her heart and breathing steady, fully aware of his gaze. She'd almost tried to stop him when she'd felt him move, but she knew it would just be awkward if she'd just suddenly pulled on his arm to make him come back to bed when she'd made him think that she was still asleep. Anyway, it wasn't as if they were lying there doing anything, she very much doubted he'd want to do anything anyway...she was just an overly short, weak little bookworm after all.

Levy squeezed the sleeping exceed in her arms, causing him to wake with a start. She apologised, but he hugged her back as he realised she'd gotten upset again. He knew she hadn't realised 'Shrimp' was Gajeel's way of showing he cared, not just him teasing her about her height. He knew Gajeel loved the way he could fit her perfectly into him when they were sitting reading or carry her, curled up, in one arm. However Lily's paws were tied as he knew he just had to wait for the two of them to really wake up.

Gajeel started to plate up the breakfast when he heard Shrimp starting to move. She appeared out of the bedroom in her strappy little yellow pyjama top and orange shorts, which weren't really any longer than the dress Shrimp had been wearing yesterday, Gajeel found himself thinking. He patted her on the head, grunting 'morning' and handed her a plate, trying not to stare at her ass in her tiny orange cotton shorts as she moved towards the sofa where she plopped herself down, saying a quick 'thanks' and hiding the blush rising on her cheeks as she felt his eyes studying her while he just stood there in his black boxers.

After breakfast Levy slipped into the bedroom to get dressed while Gajeel strolled into the bathroom with Lily on his shoulder to brush their teeth. Lily turned into his large, human-sized form and picked up his toothbrush, waiting for Gajeel to finish with the toothpaste. He looked at his partner who just stood there, looking in the mirror.

"What does Shrimp think of my piercings?" He asked out of the blue, "and what about my hair?"

"What?" Responded Lily, totally taken aback. 'Gajeel doesn't care what anyone thinks, hell I doubt he's ever even thought about how he looks to other people before!' The exceed thought to himself, totally confused.

"Shrimp. What does she think when she sees me? ...you know...when she wakes up and sees my face next to her in the morning...does it scare her...?" He asked, clearly slightly worried.

"I believe Levy-san finds your face very intriguing," Lily answered honestly.

"Really?" Gajeel looked at the exceed trying to work out if he was telling the truth.

The exceed looked at his friend and nodded, promptly put the toothbrush back in its holder having finished brushing his teeth and shrunk back to his chibi form. Just then Levy knocked and asked if they were done because she needed into the bathroom, Gajeel nodded with a smirk saying that he'd better go get dressed anyway since he couldn't really walk her to the guild in his boxers.

Levy shut the door behind them and picked up her toothbrush. She stood there wondering what had taken them so long this morning, worrying that if they were much later Lu-chan would start to think she'd forgotten that they were meeting for coffee. She finished brushing her teeth and picked up her hairbrush on the way out of the bathroom. She'd just have to brush her hair on the way to the guild, she was sure Gajeel would stop her from falling if she lost her balance while she was trying to multitask.

...

Levy sat listening to her friend complain about waking up with Natsu and Happy in her bed again – she still couldn't understand why her friend complained about it so much, they both knew she had a crush on Natsu by this point. Lucy had come close to telling him so many times but she was just too concerned about how he'd react. She didn't want to make things awkward. She kinda liked that he'd suddenly jump in through her window at any time of the day, or sneak into her bed at night. She just didn't want the fun things to suddenly stop, like having a laugh at the guild – and what would happen when they went on missions together? It just wasn't worth the risk.

"Lu-chan, just explain to him calmly that it makes you feel uncomfortable when he does that and he'll stop. He cares about you and would be upset that he's making you feel that way. At least until you're ready to tell him how you feel." Levy advised, thinking she should maybe listen to her own advice, recalling the moment at the guild the night before.

"Maybe you're right, Levy-chan. How's things with you and Gajeel?" she asked with an almost knowing look, "I see he walked you to the guild this morning. Isn't his place on the other side of town? I'd ask if he slept on your couch but I'm more interested in how he got a change of clothes!?"

"Why? He just took some out the drawer like he usually does." Replied a slightly confused Levy, wondering what was so strange about it.

"THE DRAWER?! Levy-chan, he has a drawer? I thought the two of you were still 'just friends'!? How long has he had a drawer at your place?!" questioned a shocked Lucy at high speed.

"Huh...? Well, em...I guess a couple of months...? He's had a toothbrush at mine for, I guess, the last seven months? What's so weird about that? And we are just friends, Lu-chan – Gajeel doesn't like me that way, remember?" replied a slightly confused and dejected Levy.

"A couple of months? And he's has a toothbrush there for about seven? Levy-chan, the two of you are in a relationship!" Lucy exclaimed, ecstatic for her friend.

"No, Lu-chan, I just feel bad at making him walk all the way across town after he's been nice enough to walk me home. He just sleeps on the other side of the bed – he never comes onto my side or tries to do anything. Like I said, he doesn't like me that way!" Levy explained feeling increasingly dejected about her situation.

Lucy just nodded, not as convinced as her friend but deciding to let it go. She'd just have to let her best friend work it out for herself.

AN: And again, slight lack of, em, a good 'M' between Gajeel and Levy – got to keep the suspense going! ;) Hope you're still enjoying this, and ta-dah: NaLu has had a little bit of input now. There is some more to come if they're the only reason you started reading this :) And if evidence is needed that Gajeel was not OOC and does care about how Levy feels – watch the water park ova! Especially the bit before the aquarium, they're just too cute! XD Reviews, likes and follows are very much still met with excitement O:) Next chapter should be up about the same time tomorrow!