Hello allllllll, here's the update! ENJOY!


D if for Date

She hadn't been on a date in forever! Jet and Droy had made sure that the next time she was going on a date it was going to be with one of them. Well, she just wouldn't tell them she was going out tonight… or with whom.

She's had this day marked on her calendar for a week. She hadn't expected it, he asked her out of the blue. She hadn't believed him at first, and he had to say it again before it sunk in. That's right, Levy McGarden was just asked out on a date by none other than Gajeel Redfox.

The two had been friends for a while now, slowly getting closer since their less than friendly introduction. Then little things started to change. Gazes lasting a little longer than they should, small brushes of skin on skin, conversations with no real purpose, just because. He had started making excuses to see her again, he would make up some reason or another or simply just follow her home. They unconsciously sought each other out in the guild, even if they started out with other people, they always left together. He would even lounge around in the library with her while she read, sometimes napping sometimes complaining about Salamander or Erza not wanting to fight or what Juvia had done this time to get Gray to notice her. His favorite thing to do was to bug her while she read. Soon he was using her lap as a pillow for his naps, or messing with her hair while she sat in his lap.

All little things that were pushing the boundaries of friendship and lovers, something that Lilly and Lucy would bring up in conversation whenever they had Levy or Gajeel without the other. So what if Levy and Gajeel were getting along? Was that not a good thing? Especially considering how they met?

Levy puffed up her cheeks and pouted as she stood before her closet in a bath towel fresh from the shower her hair still dripping a little. It's not that she didn't have anything to wear, she just didn't have anything to wear! It wasn't like they were to some expensive fancy restaurant, just to a local festival, nothing all that special. Yet she was excited, she couldn't keep the butterflies still in her stomach.

Patting her belly absent mindedly, her amber eyes scanned the various colored clothing before her. Oh, she was terrible at this sort of thing. If only Lucy were here to help! Levy flushed bright red at the thought. No, Lucy couldn't know that she was going on a date! She would never hear the end of it! Erza? Nope, that was just a bad idea all around. Sighing she fingered through a few garments whistle chewing on her cheek.

As she flipped through the fabric, her mind rested on the idea of others knowing about her date… or with whom. Jet and Droy would have a fit! Then try to talk her out of it, begging, no – pleading – that she just not go! If that didn't work then they would follow her out and try to sabotage the date. They would complain about it for day's afterword, starting out with how the night went, acting all innocent and unaware, then become over dramatic after hearing all the things that went wrong. She would be scolded next, with the boys telling her, "I told you so!"

Sure, Gajeel and Jet and Droy weren't the best of friends, but they had gotten better. At least now they could all sit at a table together without it being awkward… Boys… Not worth the trouble. Well, she wouldn't tell them she was going out. They had tried to get her to go to the festival tonight with them, but she had stated that she had reading to catch up on, a valid statement, and they would reluctantly depart for the boy's dorm. If they knew she had a date… oh the things they would do… and if they knew it was Gajeel?... even worse. She loved Jet and Droy to death, but sometimes they were just too damn attached! It was no wonder she hadn't gone on a date in FOREVER, they had made sure of that…

Red…green… yellow… blue…. another yellow… pink… ah…

Her fingers stopped on a dress that she had forgotten about. It was a silk garment the color of new cherry blossoms with a bold red trim and ¾ length sleeves that ended at a much wider diameter than at the shoulder. The dress was open from the tip of the shoulder to the halter string that held it around her heck. The skirt was a little longer than she normally wore, with the front of the skirt reaching just above her knees and the back nipping at her heals. Heals? Heels!

Moving quickly she snatched the dress from the closed and laid it out on her bed then returned to search for a pair of shoes, well THAT pair of shoes. After a little searching which involved moving several heavy books, she tugged out a small shoe box. Opening it, Levy smiled down at the contents before standing and walking back to the bed.

Perfect… Now… make up. Make up wasn't something she normally messed with, unlike the other FaiyTail girls. Still in her bath towel she approached the bathroom counter and looked at herself in the mirror. She was a little pale with flushed cheeks still from the bath, her eyes were bright and almost dancing her lashes were long enough to frame her eyes, but thin. Yanking open the top drawer, then the middle, the bottom, the top on the other side of the sink, then the bottom over there as well, she assembled what little make up she had.

After several minutes, and a few choice words and make up remover, she was finished. A little eyeliner and mascara, a soft baby pink powdering on her cheeks and a hint of natural pink lipstick and she almost didn't recognize herself. Grinning ear from ear, she quickly yanked the towel from her body and bounced in the nude to her dresser and pulled out matching lace bra and panties. It was a special event after all!

Slipping into the dress and buckling on the white pumps with about a two inch heel on them she straightened up and faced the full length mirror by her dorm door. Levy caught her breath and gazed at the beautiful, mature… lovely woman looking back at her not believing that it was her own reflection. Levy gazed at her self for long moments, turning this way and that, watching the dress hug her body in all the right places and move like a silk river.

Giggling to herself she looked at the clock on the night stand and froze. Was it that late already!?

"Shit! I bet he's already here!" panic rose in her throat as she looked around the room, feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Spinning in a circle several times she couldn't quite figure it out. She had to keep pushing her hair out of her face as she turned and suddenly it made sense. Dashing to the bathroom once more she tore a brush through her locks and pulled the shorter strands into a pony-tail while her longer bangs hung over her shoulders.

There. She grinned at herself. Ready.

Heading back to the door she grabbed a little white handbag and her keys. But again stopped. Now the hard part. Sneaking out without any of the other girls finding her. Quickly she locked her dorm door behind her and looked up and down the hall. Erza, Juvia and Wendy all had their lights on, while the rest were dark. As quietly and quickly as she could she snuck down the hall and down the stairs. Trotting across the entryway she slipped out the door. Turning around to make sure it closed quietly she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when she heard a soft "click."

More relaxed now she slowly turned around. Looking up Levy froze once again.

How had she not noticed him there?

How long had she kept him waiting? He hated waiting…

Was he wearing cologne!? Something smelled different…

Red actually looks really good on him…

Levy gaped for several moments before regaining her composure and took a deep breath. The sound seemed to snap the man before her out of his stupor as he cleared his throat and looked away, a hand moving to the back of his neck awkwardly. It may have been the lighting, but Levy swore she saw a tint of pink in the Iron Dragons cheeks.

Shuffling her feet in the now blatantly awkward situation, Levy fumbled around in her mind as to what to say or do next. She didn't realize that Gajeel had stepped forward until she looked up from her hand twisting themselves in her skirt. He was suddenly very close and she reddened instantly. With his usual clam and impassive face Gajeel reached out and lightly took one long strand of her hair between his fingers and stroked it with unknown tenderness.

A smirk twitched on the dragon's mouth, "I like yer hair, Shrimp." Again she reddened and looked away from the red eyes that seemed to be burning holes into her, their gaze hot against her skin as he took her all in his finger still twisting in her hair.

"I hope you weren't waiting too long, shouldn't we be going?" her voice was soft and her nervousness was clear. Gajeel's smirk faded and he nodded slightly. She didn't expect him to extend in arm to her with expectations of her taking it, so when he did it took her a moment to register what was happening.

It's not like she had touched the dragon before, and in much more intimate and romantic ways, but it just didn't feel real. She slowly took his arm with unsure fingers and allowed herself to be guided away from the front steps of the Fariy Hills Dorms. Right away Levy noticed that his normally long strides were shortened to match hers better. As they walked together she stole a peak up at the man at her side. He was dressed in black pants and shoes with a red long sleeve dress shirt with the top two buttons undone. His usual messy black hair had been tamed slightly in to a loose ponytail and it swayed with his movement as the walked along.

Levy was struck by just how handsome Gajeel looked in that moment. Turning away she nibbled on her cheek before tightening her grip on Gajeel's arm, pulling herself a little closer to the man.

Gajeel glanced down at the small woman at his side when she moved closer to him. He smiled. Levy peaked up at him and seeing his smile, returned it shyly. He grinned and let out his characteristic "Gihihi!" as small wrinkles formed at the corner of his eyes, which Levy knew from experience, only appeared when he was truly content and happy. He was letting his guard down, something he only did when they were alone. She felt her face break into a grin of her own at the rare show of emotion from the dragon, giggling at the sound of his voice. Their walk became much more relaxed and easy, Gajeel's strides lengthened slightly as Levy's became more airy.

"Hey, Shrimp?"

"Yes?"

"… Ya, ya look… really nice." He wasn't looking at her but pointedly ahead as they walked along the streets of Magnolia as the last shreds of lite were disappearing.

She giggled, "Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself." She carefully snuggled up against his arm as they went, causing the dragon to look down at her.

Gajeel slipped his arm from her grip and snaked it around her shoulders, pulling her to his side tightly. Levy made no move to vary from her spot at his side and again the dragon chuckled. Softly he bent to her height and buried his nose in her hair planting a soft kiss there.

"Are ya happy, Levy?" his words were muffled by her hair as he whispered to her. Her only response was a small nod and a sigh of contentment. This was going to be a night they both remembered for a long time.


Here's a peak into the next chapter:

E is for Eyes

She turned away quickly when his gaze caught hers, she had been staring at those eyes. Those bright red eyes that seemed to follow her everywhere. She had feared to look in them – once – but now she just wanted to stare into them forever.


WElp! There we go. I had a bit of a hard time with this one... idk why. whooo!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!