I have returned like the pheonix from the ashes! Er, or, you know, writer's block. But STILL, the fourth chapter is here and I hope that you enjoy it! I'll be updating "The Astrologist" right after this too, so please enjoy both chapters!

Disclaimer: I own the outfits? No, wait, way too girly for me...

Chapter Four: Crash Into Me

This wasn't a dream. Lucy Heartfilia paced in her room while she checked her reflection one more time. She wasn't quite sure what she should wear, because Natsu hadn't explained where he was taking her on their date. Lucy instantly blushed at the memory of their interaction the day before. The sensual touches, the deep voice, and their almost kiss. They had kissed once before, yet Lucy had a feeling that this time around wouldn't end so abruptly. Or at just kissing. She smoothed out the skirt of her purple dress, tugging at the lace shoulders. She wore comfortable black flats, Lucy fixing the purple bow wrapped around her side ponytail. She turned to the side, checking out her silhouette before sending herself a confident grin. She looked good!

She glanced at her cell phone, realizing if she didn't hurry she would be late. Not that it would matter, since Natsu was rarely on time. For a split second, worry flashed in Lucy's eyes. What if Natsu had changed his mind? Would he really stand her up on Valentine's Day? She swallowed, and tried to calm her dropping stomach by pressing her hands over the brown belt around her waist. There was no way Natsu would do that to her. He may not have been the brightest guy, but Lucy knew Natsu was reliable. Whenever he said he was going to do something, he did it. The conviction Natsu had was something Lucy had admired from the first day she met him.

Glancing once more at her outfit, Lucy left her room. She jogged down her stairs through her hallway, then paused at the note left on the coffee table near the door. Her eyes softened when recognizing the familiar scene. Her father would be gone all night, as he was every Valentine's Day. Though he claimed it was because he stayed late for work, Lucy knew the truth. She had stumbled upon his routine by accident last year, when she discovered a receipt the day after Valentine's. Before Layla had passed, her father would buy her flowers and her favorite scented candle. Layla had told Lucy that when they first started dating, that was all Jude could afford to get her. With the money they now had, he could have bought her diamonds or gold. But Lucy's mother never wanted those things; she loved flowers and candles more. So it became a tradition, the one time of year Lucy ever saw her father be romantic. Maybe that was why she loved the holiday despite the commercialization.

After her mother died, Lucy was sure that part of him went with her to the grave. But when the receipt only had two specific items, Lucy knew why her father stayed at 'work' so late. He visited her mother's grave every year, with a bouquet of roses and a vanilla scented candle. The day after the candle would be completely burnt out, meaning his visit lasted all night. Lucy was sure it was the only day of the year her father visited her mother's grave.

"Tell her I miss her, dad," Lucy whispered, running her fingers over the note. She smiled before she moved past the coffee table, opening the door to a familiar face. "N-Natsu?"

"Hey." Natsu seemed so uncomfortable, standing in the doorway of her house. His hands were shoved in his jeans, with half his face buried in his scarf and eyes downcast. He wore a black jacket, which she knew wasn't something he owned before today. Lucy had been through his closet several times, and this was never in it. She felt her cheeks pinken at the thought that Natsu bought a new jacket for their date. She shouldn't have been surprised; she had just gone on a shopping spree with Juvia that morning. After the two met up for breakfast and to reconcile (the tension disappeared as soon as Lucy announced her date with Natsu), Lucy asked if she knew what she was wearing for her date with Gray. The emotional girl's panic attack was quick to follow, and Lucy offered to help her pick out an outfit. It gave her the perfect excuse to shop for herself, as well.

"What are you doing here? Weren't we supposed to meet at seven?"She felt herself smile when Natsu finally glanced up at her, his face reddening. She could tell he was taking in her outfit, Lucy trying not to squirm at the once-over. His eyes lingered on her legs, which were bare after her thighs. The February night was cold, but Lucy had sacrificed warmth for style. And from the way Natsu was looking at her, she knew it was worth it. Trying to sound casual, Lucy leaned against the doorframe of her door and spoke. "Natsu?"

"Oh." Her voice seemed to snap Natsu out of his awkward daze, Natsu sending Lucy his signature smile. "I had to do an errand before we met up, and I figured I'd just come here. Good thing I did too, cause the snow at our place would have ruined your shoes."

"Because you're oh so worried about my flats." She rolled her eyes but smiled, turning to grab her white coat from the hanger. Though her legs would be scarcely covered, the fleece North Face would keep her warm through the night.

"Hey, I know fashion. Just look at me; hot merchandise here." She did had to admit that Natsu had a way with pulling off anything he wore. Maybe it was his pink hair? But she wasn't planning on letting him know that anytime soon. Instead of answering him, she changed the subject.

"So you do know how to use the front door."

"When needed." At his casual tone, Lucy glanced to him with an arched eyebrow.

"And tonight was a needed situation?"

"Definitely."

"And why is that?" She asked, her voice teasing him.

"I want you to invite me in tonight." She wasn't sure what caused the warmth to spread in her stomach; the suggestive statement or the heated look he gave her mouth afterwards. For a second, the man she had encountered in the empty classroom came out again. She swallowed and tried to get her brain to think of a witty remark, but Natsu was already moving onto another conversation. "We better get going; I told them we'd be there by seven."

"We?" She slowly shrugged her jacket on, grabbing her keys as she shut the door behind them. Tugging at the zipper, Lucy hesitated to speak. "Are people...coming with us?"

"What? No way! It's a-" He stopped, Lucy instantly knowing what word he was stalling at. How did he switch personas so fast? Where had the self-assured, sexy guy that just made a pass at her go? Feeling self-conscious, Lucy coughed and looked away from him.

"Natsu?"

"...It's just us, remember?" He seemed to fumble over his words while the two walked down the path toward his car. She could feel his nervousness, which was making it harder to hide her own.

"Of course I remember! I just...I didn't..." She trailed off, and Natsu didn't try to pick up the conversation again. The two walked in silence, worrying Lucy more than she wanted to admit. He had opened her door, but no words were exchanged. Even when he pulled onto the main road, silence was wedged between them. For all the years she had known Natsu, Lucy never felt tension or forced to come up with conversation. Whether it was three hours on the phone or five minutes between classes, the two never ran out of things to say. It was the best part of their friendship; how easy it was to just be herself with him. It was why she fell in love with him to begin with. No matter where her thoughts went, she knew Natsu would follow. He didn't always agree; the two had argued over several things before. Lucy and Natsu could do that, because they knew at the end of the day they were still best friends.

Did her confession change that? She glanced over to him, his eyes focusing on the road in front of them. Not once since they had left her house had Natsu looked at her. Normally his reckless driving drove Lucy up the wall. He would play with the radio, look at whoever was in the car, or even try driving with his knees instead of hands. Natsu was not someone who followed the rules of the road. And if Gray happened to be in the car? Their fights caused Natsu to speed like crazy! Though she feared for her life any time she got into a car with him, it was never a dull experience. But this Natsu had both hands on the wheel, eyes forward. And did she mention the lack of words being exchanged?

Lucy wanted to come up with something to talk about, but her brain seemed to shut down. She frowned, then turned her eyes to stare at the glove compartment in front of her. She bit her glossed lip, wondering if she had messed everything up between them. They hadn't really talked the entire day, but she had assumed that was cause they were both busy getting ready for the night. Now she was starting the re-think that. And that wasn't the only thing she was starting to doubt. She had thought she would be okay with his rejection when she admitted her feelings. Even if he didn't love her, she was sure Natsu wouldn't just ditch their friendship, When he had reacted in a positive way toward her confession, Lucy thought everything could only get better. But losing her friendship with Natsu?

This wasn't worth it.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"We don't have to this." Lucy's voice was so soft, she wasn't sure he was going to hear her. When she didn't get a response, Lucy slowly glanced to the driver. He hadn't lost the concentrated look on his face.

"It's really not much further."

"That's not what I meant. I meant..." Feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness, Lucy ducked her head back down. "I appreciate you trying because of what happened yesterday, but I don't want to lose our friendship because of my feelings for you."

"What?" The genuine sound of confusion in Natsu's voice was followed by the slowing of the car. Lucy glanced up, surprised to see that Natsu had pulled to the side of the road. She glanced to him in concern, waving toward the sign on the street.

"Natsu, it says no parking!"

"What were you just rambling about?" He turned to face her in his seat, placing his hands on either shoulder to turn her as well.

"I just...it's nothing! Really, don't worry," she said, trying to turn away from him. His hold stayed on her shoulders, and Lucy quickly looked to her lap to avoid his stare. Her hands balled up in her dress, some of her insecurities slipping past her lips. "It was dumb of me to tell you so close to Valentine's Day. How awkward would it have been if you didn't ask me out, right? You're too nice to hurt someone you care about like that."

"Do you really think that's why I'm taking you out? Because I don't want to hurt you?" Natsu's voice was soft, but Lucy knew he wasn't going to just let this go. The dress was bunched in her hands now, Lucy meekly nodding at his question. She heard his sigh, and her eyes widened when she was yanked over the center console into a hug. "I didn't ask you out because of some obligation, Luce."

"You didn't?" She whispered, instantly wrapping her arms around his neck. He chuckled into her neck, tightening his hold on her.

"I asked you to come with me tonight because I couldn't think of anyone else I'd want to spend it with." He slowly pulled back, but only enough to look at the blushing girl in his passenger seat. "Do you remember the night on the hill?"

"There were so many nights there..." she whispered, her cheeks darkening when one memory popped into her head. "Do you mean the one where you were complaining about Gajeel and Levy?"

"I mean the one where I kissed you." She closed her eyes when Natsu pushed some strands behind her ear, feeling his forehead pressed to her own. "I think...we both felt something that night."

"You felt something?" She asked, holding back a smile when he nodded their heads together.

"But we never really talked about it, you know? So I figured maybe I was just imagining things. I tried to forget about it, and for a while I guess it worked. Until yesterday; when I saw Gray. Knowing that someone else had your heart...I've never really seen you with another guy. Guess that was all it took for me to realize how into you I really was."

"Was that why you were so mad?"

"I thought I was too late," Natsu mumbled, catching her gaze with his own. "Then you told me you loved me and...I knew I couldn't wait any longer. So I just...used Valentine's Day as an excuse."

"So why have you been so awkward?" Natsu blinked once at Lucy's accusation, then tilted his head.

"When?"

"In the car? On the walk to the car? During the whole car ride? You barely said a word." He still seemed confused, but suddenly a light appeared in his eyes.

"I was trying to remember the directions to the restaurant. I've never been; I got the name from a friend that works there. But I didn't write them down, and so I've been repeating them in my head all night. It's hard enough to do when you're looking like that." He gave Lucy a once over, showing her earlier theory was right.

"Seriously? That was why you weren't talking? How hard is it to remember directions?" Lucy smacked his shoulder, Natsu laughing while he pretended to fend off her attacks.

"Well it's completely pointless now, since it's past seven. I hope you're happy; it took a few favors to get that reservation." Lucy smiled apologetically, though her laughter was bubbling from her lips. Natsu groaned as he pressed head to the steering wheel, keeping his hand on her arm. "How am I supposed to be the perfect date if you just go and mess it all up?"

"I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention. I guess my mind gets a little..."

"Melo-dramatic?" At his teasing, Lucy pouted. He simply laughed, enjoying the wrinkle her nose got when annoyed with him. Lucy lost her scowl when Natsu pulled back onto the road, making a complete u-turn.

"Now where are you going?" He grinned at her curiosity, grabbing her hand within his.

"Well, a romantic dinner is out the window. So I'm improvising." Lucy felt herself warm when their fingers laced together, resting on the middle console.

"What does that mean?"

"Well, I remember passing by one of my favorite places as a kid. I'm surprised it's still even open!" The excitement in Natsu's voice made Lucy smile, leaning back in the passenger seat. Most girls would probably be upset about the lack of dinner, or the loss of romance. Lucy was just happy with the warmth of the hand resting in her own. The talk they had wasn't what romance movies would consider perfect, but that was okay with her. Just knowing that Natsu did have feelings for her made her entire night. The rest of the date was just bonus points. They could have ended up at a run down diner, and Lucy would have still considered this Valentine's Day a win.

"And where exactly would that be?" That didn't mean she had lost her curiosity as to where he was driving her to. Natsu sent her a familiar grin, then tilted his head to his right.

"Look out your window and see for yourself." Lucy turned in her seat, surprised to see the neon lights flashing through the air.

"Go carts?" Lucy had never heard of the place. It was probably because it was at the edge of town, and she never really had a reason to come down the dead end road. Natsu parked in the mostly empty parking lot, grinning over to his confused date. "You've never talked about this place before."

"Back when we were younger, Gray and I used to come here whenever we saved up enough money from our summer jobs."

"You two must have been the cutest little go-kart drivers." He grinned at her compliment, nodding.

"I was for sure! Ice princess didn't know a thing about racing; I smoked him every time!" He must have caught the doubtful look on Lucy's face, because Natsu quickly amended his statement. "Okay, so he may have won once or twice. But that's it!"

"Why did you guys stop coming?" Natsu shrugged, glancing to the wheel in front of him.

"Maybe because we got our own cars, so driving those things didn't sound as cool. Instead we started spending more time in Fairy Tail and doing sports. We did come here once in high school, after I met you. For old times sake, you know? We even got Erza and Cana to come along. They would never come when we were younger, cause they used to complain we fought too much to hang out with us in public."

"Well glad to see some things never change." She giggled at his proud smile, knowing Gray and Natsu's friendship would always hold a good amount of rivalry.

"The people who worked here teased us, saying we were taking them out for our 'first dates'. I couldn't tell who was more embarrassed, Erza or Gray. Both of their faces lit up like tomatoes! Those two were such weirdos. Still are, though I would advise not telling Erza that. Last time I did, she...let's not talk about that." Natsu shivered in his seat, making Lucy laugh. He popped his door open, making it around the car in record time. Lucy blinked at the offered hand, then shrugged before letting Natsu help her out of the car. He continued to hold her hand as they walked toward the entrance, Lucy looking down at her outfit and scowling.

"Do you really think this is a good idea with what I'm wearing?" He looked back at her, pressing his thumb to his lips in deep thought. Lucy tugged a little at the dress fabric, emphasizing how light it was.

"You're not going commando, right?" At his blunt question, Lucy flushed and smacked his forehead.

"No, you idiot! What girl wears a dress with nothing underneath it?!"

"Then I don't get why you're worried."

"Because I don't make it a point to show everyone my underwear! I'll have you know I-" Her shouting was cut off when he yanked her to him, his strong arm wrapping around her back. She stiffened when his nose trailed up the side of her neck, hot breath scorching the skin there.

"Who does get to see your underwear, Luce?" His mummer was teasing, making Lucy's breath catch. Though she knew she was blushing, Lucy couldn't pull away from his warm body. Despite the heat there, Lucy felt herself shiver against him. How did he just switch the sex appeal on so effortlessly? Her muddled mind was slightly cleared when she felt his laugh against her neck, making Lucy pout. He was laughing at her! Did he know how much he affected her all this time? Refusing to let him get the best of her again, Lucy pushed her embarrassment down to slip her fingertips against the back of his neck. His back tensed at the unexpected touch, and she felt the swallow slide down his neck. With her confidence momentarily rising, Lucy leaned up on tip-toes to whisper in his ear.

"A lady doesn't show and tell." He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying how her breath curled around his ear. His hand slid down her back, fingers barely brushing the swell of her butt. The daring touch was rewarded with her breath hitching, Natsu knowing he gained slight control of their game.

"But I've told you everything about me." He made sure his lips brushed her neck, intoxicated by the hot atmosphere between them. Lucy may have been the one to open the door to their new relationship, but Natsu had blown it off its hinges. Feeling like he had lost his chance with Lucy was heart-stopping. He wasn't going to ever let his confusion for his best friend stall him again. He knew exactly where he wanted Lucy in his life. And that was beside him, forever. As his best friend, his girlfriend, and whatever else she was willing to give him.

Which, from the way her hands were grasping at his biceps, was a lot.

"You never told me what the bet was, between you and Gray." Instantly his hand paused on her back, Natsu hesitating. He pulled her closer to him, savoring the feel of her chest against his.

"That was a bet; it's different." She hummed at his explanation, letting her hands crawl around to his shoulder blades.

"Then shall we make our own bet?" Lucy took the opportunity to shove against his chest, causing her friend to stumble back into a shrub. She burst out laughing when her stunned date ended up sitting in foliage, seeming unsure how he got there. She pointed down at him, eyes lit with dangerous thoughts. "If I beat you in go-karts, you'll tell me what the bet was with Gray."

"You won't win." He declared loudly, Lucy waving his declaration away. His arms crossed, showing his defiance."Besides, why would I agree to this? I don't get anything out of it!"

"But you will." Deciding to take the teasing to a new level, Lucy let her feisty fingertips tease the hem of her dress, Natsu's eyes widening in shock. The fabric was slow to lift, but Natsu couldn't take his eyes away from the newly exposed skin. "If you win..."

"Lucy," he growled out, hands fisting in the dirt. A quick scan of the deserted parking lot assured him he was the only one given the privilege of seeing the bare thigh now exposed to him. His muscles tightened with every inch, coiling against the urge rising deep in his stomach. The flash of pink lace made Natsu see white-hot desire, his whole body twitching in restraint. As soon as the panties peeked out, Lucy dropped the dress back to it's original spot.

She sent him a wink before rushing into the safety of the building, knowing the feral look Natsu had given her. Normally, it was reserved for a piece of meat he wanted to devour. Just thinking of that made her ears pinked, her heartbeat erratic from their dangerous game. She mentally scolded herself for the behavior, but felt her confidence return when remembering Natsu was the one who started this. Point one for Lucy. She jumped when the door swung open, the cool air from the outside sneaking in. Her eyes met Natsu, who didn't hesitate to stand beside her.

"This place looks just like it used to! Man, I'm really fired up." He sent her a normal grin, Lucy blinking in surprise at the change. Did that mean that he didn't want to take her deal? She coughed when she realized he was waiting for her response, the two walking toward the cashier.

"Hopefully they've kept up with their equipment."

"The guy who used to run it was really into keeping everything as new as he could." Natsu turned to the girl running the register, asking for six rides on the go-karts. He paid for her, meaning that he stilled considered this a date. Natsu handed over three of the tickets while they walked toward the track, which was huge in size. Though it was indoors, it seemed the owner didn't hesitate to make the race track something to attract the masses. She assumed it would normally be full of kids, if not for this particular holiday.

They got a brief overview of the running of the karts, and they got to pick their own vehicle. Lucy chose a pink kart, while Natsu went for red. She had just finished buckling herself in when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She peeked back at Natsu, whose grin had grown wide with excitement.

"After this, want to head to your house? I'd like to collect my winnings." She gasped when he smirked, Lucy quickly turning her head at the sound of the countdown. She looked up at the flashing lights, trying to quell her blush. But it was hard when Natsu made his intentions so clear.

By the end of the night, Natsu was going to see the rest of those panties.


Juvia had been just as clueless about her date as Lucy. It didn't help that Juvia had only been on one date before. When she was in middle school, Juvia never talked to boys. Many of them were scared of her, or thought she was weird. It was the reputation you got whenever people found out you were an orphan. Juvia didn't mind her lack of parents, finding her foster father extremely endearing. He worked as a local blacksmith, and made sure that Juvia never went a day without what she needed. It wasn't just essentials either; Metalicana talked to her. He asked about her day, helped with the homework he could understand, and tried to raise her as well as he could. She was very grateful to him, and promised one day to repay his kindness.

She tried to start by befriending Metalicana's son, Gajeel. Gajeel Redfox was just like his father, which was why the two butted heads so much. They loved each other, undoubtedly, but never could manage to show it in normal fashion. While Metalicana was soft with her, he teased Gajeel mercilessly. Their dinner conversation mostly entailed insults and wise jokes, but there was little malice behind their bravado. In the end, the two would die for one another, and Juvia knew it.

Standing by Gajeel's side did little to help with Juvia's popularity in middle school. Between his piercings and sex drive, Gajeel had not made the best of impressions. Most saw him as dangerous or disgusting, depending on who you talked to. The fact they went to a private school only increased the judgmental behavior. Because of their differing last names, most didn't know that they lived under the same roof. Juvia was much quieter than her foster brother, but her association with him put her on the 'weird' scale.

High school had saved her from her years of loneliness. Befriending Lucy in her first class freshman year was a blessing in disguise. Little was known about Juvia because of her integration into public school. They had been paired up as science partners, and there they formed a friendship. Juvia was surprised at how quickly Lucy made friends, fitting into Natsu's group quite easily. Lucy did not forget her new friend, and the group didn't oppose to Juvia's presence. In fact, they welcomed her much easier than any of her middle school companions. Juvia was not seen as strange, probably because the group wasn't exactly normal. Though she found Natsu's 'do it' attitude uplifting, and Erza's determination inspiring, Juvia's attention was caught by a quieter person in the group.

Gray Fullbuster hadn't said much to her for the first few weeks of freshman year. He seemed much more introverted than his outspoken friends. It wasn't to say he never spoke; Natsu picked fights with him more times than Juvia could count. But Gray would catch her eye without doing much, and the shy girl wasn't quite sure why. She always caught herself blushing when he threw off his clothes, a habit that he exhibited more often than not. Juvia had wanted to talk to him as casually as the others did, but she felt herself get tongue-tied whenever she tried. Instead she sat silently by Lucy, hoping that the dark-haired man would approach her first.

It wasn't until she stood up for Gajeel, begging the group to let him into their group, that Gray spoke to her. It was after school, the group meeting in the lunch room as they normally did. Juvia had noticed Gajeel sitting alone at a table across the room, and realized he had yet to make any friends. Though Gajeel claimed he enjoyed his solitude, Juvia wanted her foster brother to use the change of school as a new beginning. She mustered up the courage to ask the group to let Gajeel come over and get to know group was wary at first; his infamous reputation surpassed the private school barriers. It was only when Juvia told them Gajeel was her brother that Lucy had sympathized with the girl, convincing the rest of the group of give Gajeel a chance. Once the group agreed, Juvia took on the task of dragging Gajeel to her friends. He was resistant the entire time, and the beginning of the introductions were awkward. Levy seemed scared of him, and Gajeel had made sure to let his snarky nature be known.

The afternoon was saved when Gajeel mentioned their martial arts practice, a topic that piqued the interest of both Erza and Natsu. By the time the group was exchanging goodbyes, Gajeel had ended up with a list of everyone's numbers, and an open invitation to Natsu's judo class. Juvia was so proud of her efforts, she didn't realize that Gajeel had sulked away and left her alone in the cafeteria. Well, almost. She didn't notice Gray's presence until he cleared his throat, the shy girl instantly feeling out of place with him. All of her excuses to leave were stalled in her throat, so she stood still with her eyes trained on the floor.

Then, her life changed forever.

I like people who stand up for their family. Don't lose that spirit, Juvia. It was two sentences, and a gentle hand on her head, that made Juvia fall in love with Gray. She knew it was stupid, to fall for someone so easily. But it was the first time that someone had said they liked her. The cool touch he gave her that day made her heart melt like nothing before. He had disappeared without a response from her, not realizing the effect he had made. Juvia had come back to school the next day a changed woman, taking a seat next to Gray as if it was where she was meant to be. Where a shy girl once sat, Juvia's confidence in her love for Gray broke her introverted shell. She became loud, lively, and devoted in her quest to show Gray how much spirt she had.

All of her embarrassment and rejection was worth it. She had finally gotten her chance.

"What the hell are you doing, woman?" Juvia squeaked as she toppled over the side of her bed, the pillow she had been hugging flopping to the floor. She glared up at the pierced man in her doorway, cheeks red with embarrassment.

"Juvia has told Gajeel to knock before entering!"

"Why, was I interrupting something?" Juvia felt herself flush at being caught, choosing to remain silent. Gajeel chuckled before walking in, snagging her under each arm and pulling her up. "And up you go." Making her seem weightless, he haphazardly dropped her into the middle of the bed. Once satisfied she wouldn't fall off, he moved to sit in the computer chair across the room.

"Does Gajeel need something?" Juvia asked, knowing she shouldn't be as impressed with his strength as she was. Gajeel had always been a strong kid, picking her up countless of times. Even as she grew older, he always surpassed her in height and strength. They took martial arts together since they were young. While Juvia's speed and form was the top of their class, Gajeel was the opponent to beat. It was rare that Juvia got the upper hand on him, yet he never used that power on her in their sibling rivalries. While she watched other older brothers pick on their younger sisters throughout the years, Gajeel never sought pleasure in her pain.

He kicked his feet up on her desk, glancing to his foster sister with a smirk.

"Daydreaming again?" Juvia sighed at Gajeel's question, glancing to the clock. She had a little time before her date, though she was far from ready.

"Yes. Juvia must have been dropped on her head as a baby; she's been told plenty of times." Her quiet mumble made Gajeel scowl, tossing an eraser from the desk at Juvia's forehead. The girl blinked in surprise, looking up at Gajeel.

"Jesus, get some confidence won't you? We haven't been in that middle school for four years, and you're still letting what they said get to you? You ought to know now you're pretty kick ass." Instantly her spirits lifted at his statement.

"Does Gajeel really think so?" He rolled her eyes as he grabbed a pencil, twirling it around his fingers.

"You're related to me, which makes you cool automatically. You're trained in martial arts, and you're a beast in swimming. You've taken first place in the butterfly multiple times and are undefeated in the 400 meter medley. You won at nationals as a sophomore. Not to mention you've got two guys fighting over you for Valentine's Day. Neither one of them compare to me, but we're technically siblings so-"

"Two?" Juvia asked, confused at his statement. Gajeel sighed loudly, as if she should already know the answer.

"That Lyon guy got into a fight with Gray this morning at practice." Juvia knew what team Gajeel was referring to. Natsu and Gray only talked about it any chance they could. The two, as well as Lyon Vastia, were part of the high school basketball team. Gajeel wanted nothing to do with the game, but his father "convinced" him to partake in a team sport. He was extremely good, whenever he felt like playing. Juvia had see him smoke teams without much of a sweat, but Gajeel was more interested in the design of Levy's bra than getting scholarships for college.

"There was practice on Valentine's Day?" Juvia asked, Gajeel nodding once while trying to balance the pencil on his nose.

"Yup, I guess Gildarts doesn't seem to care much about the stupid holida-hey!"

"Juvia needs to know what happened!" In an instant she was at Gajeel's side, shaking him by the shoulders. She nearly knocked him out of the computer chair, Gajeel planting his feet on the ground to keep himself upright.

"I'll tell you once you stop shaking me!" He barked out, Juvia instantly releasing him. He muttered something incoherent under his breath before he sighed, rubbing his right temple. "We were taking a break while coach called his daughter, something about disapproving of her choice in men. Natsu asked the guys about their plans for the night, way too excited about bringing bunny girl out to some fancy restaurant. Gray wasn't really saying much, minding his own business the same way I was planning to do, when Lyon said he planned to surprise you tonight. I didn't really catch most of it, but he intended to get you all dolled up and stuff. He had it all planned out in his head, but the idiot didn't even think to see if you already had plans."

"Gray-sama's supposed to be taking Juvia out tonight," she replied.

"Well yeah, that's when Gray stepped into the conversation. Claimed that he had already asked you, which explains your creepily cheery mood all day," Gajeel said, earning a smack with the pillow on the floor. He snatched the weapon from Juvia, sending her a warning glare. "If you want me to finish the story, stop interrupting!"

"Sorry." But from her clipped tone, he knew she didn't mean it. Deciding it was better to continue the story than call her out, Gajeel spoke again.

"Lyon made some sort of comment to Gray, claiming that he shouldn't play around with your feelings. That you needed someone to 'truly love' you, because that's plausible in high school." He stopped himself at the cynical statement, a sideways smirk appearing at his own inside joke. "Well, I guess it can happen occasionally."

"Gajeel!" Juvia was trying to be patient, but it was not one of her strong suits. Especially when it came to Gray.

"Gray said that you were fine, but Lyon kept pressing it. Claimed that he could treat you like a real woman. I think then he made a comment about Gray's lack of effort, and how you were going to eventually get tired of waiting for him to grow up."

"Juvia has never said that! Juvia will wait for Gray-sama no matter what happens! Juvia loves Gray-sama." Gajeel gave her a look of annoyance, but seemed to hold back to continue his story.

"Gray said something along the same lines, with way less 'sama' and 'love'. Then Lyon said, and I quote-" Gajeel cleared his throat, raising the octave and enforcing a pompous accent. "What are you going to do, take her to dinner? Already done that, Fullbuster. She'll compare us the whole time. You could just send her another dirty voicemail; it's the only thing you're good at." Juvia stared in horror at the statement, knowing exactly what Lyon was referring to.

It was no secret that Juvia had gone out with Lyon on a date Junior year. Really, to her it wasn't as life changing as she had hoped her first date would be. Then again, it wasn't with Gray. Lyon had taken her to dinner, and he had pulled out all the stops to win her heart. She had to admit he was quite handsome, and at times during the night she wondered how he'd fair as a boyfriend. The two had been leaving the restaurant when Juvia checked her phone, surprised to see a missed call and voicemail from Gray. It was rare for him to leave voicemails, so Juvia wasted no time listening to it.

Yo. Why don't you wanna talk to me? Is it because you're with that...asshole, Lyon? We both know you want it to be me.

She knew he was drunk; Juvia could tell the second she heard his voice. It didn't make her any less entranced by his words. Juvia remembered Lyon claiming he wasn't an asshole, but Juvia's attention to the sultry voice on the phone made her forget her date could hear Gray's drunk message.

Juvi, Juvi, Juviaaa...God I want you. Your body is amazing, and those legs... I want to touch them, kiss them, spread them. And make you call my name. You turn me on when you call my name. I'd have you scream it so many times, in so many positions. I'll pleasure you with every touch and lick, until you're just a puddle on my bed.

At this point, Juvia's face was on fire, and the aforementioned body parts were pressing tightly under her skirt. Who knew Gray had such a vivid imagination? Even with a slurred voice, Gray's intentions were blunt and enough to make a prostitute blush. Juvia felt light headed just thinking about his suggestions! But it was the last part of the message that really made Juvia's heart stop.

You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Juvia. Don't you know that? Every time I'm around you, I feel so warm. And one day, I'll make you mine. Just wait for me, okay?

That message was still in her phone to this day. She listened to it any time she got discouraged about her chances with Gray. The first part was jealousy, and she chalked the second part up to drunken horniness. He had apologized about both of those sections, admitting how inappropriate they had been. But his last few comments were always on Juvia's mind. It didn't help that he never mentioned them again. She took that as a sign of hope, instead of dismay.

She didn't bring the voicemail up around Gray, because she knew he was embarrassed by the message. The group found out from Natsu, whose selective drunk memory had retained Gray waking him up to tell him about the message he left Juvia. Erza demanded silence from the group about the situation, knowing how embarrassing it was for Gray to relive. Juvia never played the message around her friends, and barely spoke about it to the girls. In her haste to quell Gray's embarrassment, Juvia had forgotten to tell the others one major detail.

Lyon knew some of the contents of the voicemail.

"What did Gray-sama say?" She asked quietly, feeling guilty for putting him in that position.

"Well...technically nothing. He just punched Lyon in the face. The two got into an all out brawl. I have to admit that Gray can really do some damage given the right incentive. Then Natsu joined in. Not to win you or anything, just because he likes fighting way too much. I tried to break them up, until one of them hit me in the face. So I decided I'd use some force, like my fist in Natsu's face and my foot in Lyon's stomach. Then Gildarts came in, and made us all do suicides for the rest of practice. I had to soak in the tub for over an hour, stupid prick."

Juvia had tuned out Gajeel's complaining, unsure of what to do next. It wasn't her intention to let Lyon hear the message. She also had meant to tell Gray that Lyon was there when she checked her voicemail, Lyon hearing the dirtier parts of the message. The details just kind of fell to the wayside when Natsu announced he remembered the entire thing. She had been so concerned about keeping Natsu quiet, that Lyon slipped out of her mind. But now, nearly a year later, the cat was out of the bag. Juvia paced the floor in her room, her anxiety now soaring. What would Gray say to her about it? Would he think she told Lyon on purpose? Would he be mad at her for not telling him? No matter what route Juvia thought of, she knew that Gray was not going to be happy with her.

The panicked girl jumped when the doorbell rang, Juvia's eyes shooting back to her clock. Time seemed to accelerate without her knowledge, and she knew it was Gray at her door. She looked down at herself, realizing she wasn't ready to see Gray yet.

"Gajeel needs to get the door and talk to Gray-sama while Juvia finishes getting ready!" Gajeel sent her an arched eyebrow, then crossed his arms over his chest.

"And why the heck would I entertain your date? No offence, but he's not my type." Juvia ignored his snippy comment as she ran into her bathroom, yanking the outfit Lucy had chosen for Juvia to wear for the night. It was simple, a black turtle neck with a royal blue skirt. Though Juvia thought it was more sensible to wear pants, Lucy begged her to wear the skirt. When she asked why, Juvia was stunned into silence at Lucy's mischievous reply.

"You've got amazing legs, Juvia. Don't let Gray's cool demeanor fool you; he loves when you show them off!"

Too embarrassed to deny her claim, Juvia bought the skirt along with knee-high black boots. She had paired the outfit with sheer black tights, black snowflakes scattered along the fabric. Several times she had made her worry about the cold known to Lucy, but the blond continued to tell her the outfit was a good idea. Juvia glanced up at her hair, which she hurriedly pulled into a ponytail. Two chunks of hair framed her face, running her fingers through her bangs once to fluff them. Make-up was never her forte, and Juvia knew it would take far too long to apply now. Instead, she sprayed herself once with perfume before she rushed out of her room.

"Gray-sama!" Juvia's happy calling of the man's name caused him to turn away from Gajeel, Juvia nearly stumbling down the stairs in excitement. He wore a casual blue button up with tan pants, a black undershirt apparent from the three buttons he had already undone. Juvia was careful on the rest of the stairs, not wanting to ruin the night with a sprained ankle.

"Yo." His casual greeting showed no appreciation of her outfit, but Juvia was happy regardless. Gray had actually shown up for their date! She sent him a bright smile, Gray glancing away to conclude his conversation with Gajeel. "See you at practice Monday."

"Whatever." Gajeel brushed past Gray, Juvia squeaking when Gajeel ruffled Juvia's bangs in his passing. "Just have her home before midnight. I should be back from Levy's house by then, so I'll know if you aren't."

"You're taking on a parental role now?" Gray asked, Gajeel glancing back at them with a grin.

"Metalicana told me to set a curfew, since he's gone for the weekend. I figured midnight ain't bad. Don't worry, you've got plenty of time to get your rocks off."

"Gajeel!" Juvia shouted, cheeks puffing at the man retreating from the room. His snickering could be heard even after he left, Juvia nervously glancing to Gray. Her date had one hand rubbing his forehead, the other balled up on his hip.

"Is that all that guy thinks about?" Gray mumbled, his cheeks visibly flushed from the previous conversation. Juvia quickly bowed, hands clasped in front of her.

"Please forgive Juvia's brother. Juvia knows Gray-sama isn't motivated by sexual desires for Juvia. If it ends up down that road, Juvia will happily accept, but Juvia is content with anything Gray-sama wants to do with her."

"Don't say it like that!" She lifted her head at his exclamation, Gray's face redder than before. Gray was looking out the window, his embarrassment quite evident.

"Juvia is sorry, did she say something wrong?" He shook his head and sighed, reaching forward to grab her hand.

"Never mind; let's go." Juvia followed his lead, enjoying to feel of her fingers intertwined with his. He led her to his car, and Juvia could barely contain her excitement. She was really on a date with Gray Fullbuster! She tried to keep her emotions in check throughout the drive, bringing up conversation to keep any awkward silences from happening. They talked about school work, their grade averages, and ended on the holiday break coming up.

"Juvia has a swim competition during the vacation." Gray nodded at Juvia's statement, glancing up at the clouds starting to form over them.

"Lucy said something to me about that the other day. She's getting the group together to cheer you on." Juvia quickly waved her hands in front of her, shaking her head.

"Juvia doesn't need that! She knows her friends are very busy with their own activities." He rolled his eyes at her dismissal, then sent her a shrug.

"As long as it doesn't fall on one of my games, I don't mind."

"Then Juvia will do the same. Juvia will come to a game of-"

"No." She tensed at his harsh cutoff, Juvia hesitating before she spoke.

"But Gray-sama just said-"

"We're here." Gray cut her off again, before pushing himself out of the car. Juvia swallowed at the cold shoulder Gray had suddenly given her. Had she done something wrong? She didn't have much time to think about it, a cool breeze hitting her side when Gray opened her door. She moved out of the car, unsure of what to say. Part of her wanted to continue the conversation, but his quick shut downs proved he didn't want to go down that road. Instead, she silently watched Gray, hoping he would take the lead. When he said nothing, Juvia glanced around at their surroundings.

"Oh, wow." Juvia was surprised to see the waves of the beach crashing against the sandy shore. She walked toward the knee high stone wall that separated the area of parking from the actual beach. It was a little bit of a drop to get to the sand, but it made for a lovely place to sit without getting sandy. She glanced back at Gray, who was staring at the sky. "Why did Gray-sama choose the beach?"

"You talk about the ocean a lot. I think you used to say you came here when you wanted to relax or think." He shrugged, his eyes never drifting from the grey clouds above them. "I thought it'd be a good place for us to just talk."

"Juvia loves the beach," she whispered, amazed that he listened to her pointless rambling. It made her feel warm, like Gray tried to keep things she talked about in his memory. She knew she did. Her date glanced to the left, a cloud of smoke escaping his mouth when he sighed.

"I probably should have checked the weather."

"Huh?" A white speck fell between them, followed by another. Focusing on the beach, Juvia was shocked to see the flutter of snow falling around them. The sky was filled with clouds, which dumped the snow over the expanse of the beach Gray was staring at. She held out a hand, watching the snow melt against her pale palm. Despite his grumpy tone, Juvia felt her lips spread in a smile. "Snow..."

"I figured a dinner was too cliché, and a movie wouldn't really give us time to talk." Gray walked forward, hands shoved in his pants. His scowl only increased when a snowflake landed on his nose, eyes crossing to look at the melting drop. "I had packed some blankets in case the cold bothered you, but now it's snowing. I thought since it snowed yesterday it wouldn't today. But my luck seems to be running thin since I woke up this morning."

"Juvia enjoys the snow," she replied quickly, hopeful her positive tone would help erase his frown. He glanced back at her, the upset look signaling to Juvia that something was still off. She walked back toward him, holding her hand out in offering. "Juvia is thankful Gray-sama took so much time thinking about their date. We can still walk the beach, if Gray-sama wants."

"I should have just taken you to dinner, like...You'll probably get sick if we stay out here. You're not dressed to stay outside for long." She looked down to her legs, which were already shaking from the lack of warmth. Too enamored by the snow, she hadn't noticed how little the tights did to protect her from the cold. Why had she listened to Lucy? Feeling guilty, Juvia tugged at the skirt and frowned.

"Juvia is sorry, she should have dressed differently," she mumbled quietly, pushing the free strands of hair behind her ear. His face looked pain as he shook his head, taking a step closer to her.

"No, Juvia you look great. Beautiful, I promise." She felt her heart stall at his compliment, yet she couldn't wipe away the feeling of responsibility she had. Some of her discomfort must have shown on her face, because Gray cursed before walking away from her. He dropped to sit on the wall lining the beach, head lowered enough for his hair to cover his face. He cursed again under his breath, his mumble barely audible. In fact, from the content, Juvia was sure she wasn't supposed to hear it. "Should have just ignored that asshole and taken her to dinner."

"Is Gray-sama talking about the fight he had with Lyon this morning?" Juvia's inquiry had Gray's shoulders tensing, making her hesitate to continue. "Gajeel...told Juvia."

"This is just getting better by the minute," he muttered miserably, hands now laying limply between his knees. Juvia looked at the snow, which had increased throughout their conversation. By now, some of the snow had piled onto his shoulders, dampening his shirt.

"Gray-sama, your shirt..." When he didn't respond to her, Juvia took action. She moved to the car without a second thought, looking for the blankets that Gray had packed. Once found, she hurried back to his side and draped one over his shoulders. She crouched in front of him, trying to adjust the blanket evenly on his shoulders. She gasped when he grabbed her hand, looking back to his lowered head.

"Sorry." She shook her head at the apology, refusing to accept it.

"Juvia should apologize. She never told Gray-sama about Lyon knowing about the voicemail; Juvia is sorry." He scoffed at that, making Juvia frown.

"Lyon's just jealous he doesn't have the balls to do that." His crude language made Juvia squeak, Gray ignoring the noise to continue. "I'm not upset about him hearing the voicemail. It's just... I asked you on a date, because I wanted to spend time with you. Not as some pointless competition with him. But I'm so worried about you comparing it to Lyon's that I keep messing it up." She felt his hand squeeze hers, Juvia hesitantly reaching forward to cup his cheek. She still couldn't see his face, but the strained skin of his scowl proved how tight he was clenching his teeth.

"It doesn't matter where or what Gray-sama chooses to do tonight. Juvia will love it," she whispered, resting her chin over his head. She closed her eyes when snow fell on her cheek, continuing. "Juvia simply loves spending time by Gray-sama's side."

"Why?" She pulled back quickly, dropping to her knees to relieve her cramping leg muscles. She knew that the ground was wet, and would dirty her tights. For the moment, she didn't care. All her attention was focused on him.

"Because Juvia loves Gray-sama." Her response was so simple, Gray laughed. He looked down at her innocent facial expression, as if the explanation solved every question he had. In her mind, it probably did. His smile was small as he reached forward, brushing the blue hair out of Juvia's face.

"I know you love me, Juvia. I meant, why did you choose me instead of someone else? Like that Lyon bastard." Even saying his name caused a bitter taste to fill Gray's mouth. He scoffed, his voice lowering as he continued. "At least he can set up a proper date. At least he tells you how he feels-"

"That's not how love works!" He blinked at her sudden shout, the serious look she sported taking Gray by surprise. It was rare that Juvia raised her voice, and it had never been directed his way. "Love isn't a choice. Love isn't determined by who deserves it and who doesn't. Love is a feeling Juvia gets when seeing Gray-sama's smile. When seeing him laugh, when seeing him happy. Juvia cannot control who she loves, and even if Juvia could, Juvia would pick Gray-sama! Because Gray-sama is a kind, gentle man. Because Juvia loves Gray-sama for everything he is and isn't."

"You see me with rose-colored glasses, Juvia." She smiled at his response, knowing the red hue on his face was caused by her words.

"That, Gray-sama, is what love does." They fell silent, Juvia's words resting comfortably between them. The snow was falling steady now, but Juvia didn't mind. Instead, she closed her eyes, enjoying the waves in the background. Gray had been right; the ocean relaxed her. The beach was a very romantic spot for Gray to choose, even if he didn't see it. A close walk in the snow, holding her lover's hand and snuggling close to him for warmth? Being the only souls on the sandy shores, enjoying the natural beauty of the beach? It was perfect, for Juvia. Anything, really, was perfect for Juvia if it involved Gray putting it together.

She was about to tell him that, too, when a soft pressure was placed against her lips. Her eyes opened in shock, though Gray's were shut while he deepened the kiss. Warmth that had eluded her body from the cold snow quickly rose at the gentle touch of his hand to her cheek. Scared to lose her opportunity, Juvia squeezed her eyes shut before hesitantly returning the kiss. Though she had hoped for a kiss, Juvia was extremely unsure of her abilities. This was her first, after all!

Gray seemed quite talented with his mouth. He expertly guided her head to tilt, increasing the depth of their kiss. After a few lingering moments, Juvia felt Gray pull away to catch his breath. It wasn't for long, and Juvia felt her toes curl when he kissed her again. The soft touches were warming Juvia from the inside out. His taste was delicious and uniquely Gray. Juvia leaned closer to him, hands now resting against his chest. Their exchanged kisses were gentle, but still left Juvia breathless. His thumb caressed her cheek with each swipe of his tongue, the caring gesture melting Juvia. She remembered Lucy talking about the passionate kiss she had exchanged with Natsu one summer night. Levy never used the word 'soft' when it came to Gajeel. But Gray's lips weren't demanding; they treasured the kiss in a way that Juvia never imagined. And when Gray finally ended their moment, Juvia felt herself fall even deeper for him.

She slowly opened one of her eyes, then both when seeing the Gray's smile. Though she adored his side smiles and cocky smirks, the full teeth grin he was now giving her left her breathless. It was a look that Juvia wasn't sure she'd ever see; Gray truly happy. Just seeing it made Juvia's spirits lift. She wanted to take a picture of it, but his next sentence made her mind blank.

"Was that your first kiss?" Her face lit up at his question, Juvia quickly covering her cheeks with her hands.

"It was obvious?"

"Not in a bad way-"

"Juvia is sorry! Juvia should have practiced or looked up how to kiss-" Gray rolled his eyes at her panicked response, but his smile never wavered. He pushed up on his feet, dragging Juvia along with him. She ended up leaning against his chest, but for once, Gray didn't mind. In fact, all of his frustration and embarrassment from earlier seemed to evaporate. She seemed to notice his change, because she tilted her head in concern. "Gray-sama?"

"Let's go grab some take-out; we can rent a movie and go hang out at my house. I have you until midnight, right?" She blinked at his suggestion, then instantly nodded her head with a smile.

"Of course!" Her happy tone was honest, and Gray now realized the truth. Lyon may have taken her out to dinner first; his date altogether may have been planned perfectly compared to Gray's. But in the end, Juvia loved him. It was unconditional, and didn't depend on the materialistic things. She only had eyes for him. And, if he was being honest with himself, his eyes hadn't strayed from Juvia for a while. She clung to his arm while they walked back to the car, a pep in her step that was quite noticeable. Gray rolled his eyes, pretending the reaction annoyed him.

Maybe his feelings weren't so different from hers, after all.

A lovely little ending for Gruvia. I hope that you enjoyed the comedy and romance, because I'm turning up the heat in the next chapter! Who will win the bet? Just what did Gray and Natsu bet? Could it change everything between the group? And who else would like a dirty little voicemail left by Gray? I'd still pick Natsu, but...eh, beggers can't be choosers.

Chapter Five: Winning; a Double Edged Sword?