Lucy's P.O.V.

"Oh… It's a good one." Takaki-san said with an evil grin on his face. It made me more nervous. I readied myself for anything.

"You'll go to the Arctic and we'll direct you to go to an ice island by boat. On that island, you'd have you're interview." Takaki-san took in a deep breath while closing his eyes. I started hoping that he was finish. I mean it couldn't be that bad. Staying on an ice island would not be that great but it could've been worse, right? At least we would have the upper hand. Gray's an ice mage. He could use his magic with no trouble there. Fingers-crossed that he's done. Is he done? Please tell me he's done. But to my luck, he continued talking.

"Wait, I'm not done yet. While having the interview, it is to be expected that the ice will tilt wherever it wants to. So, it'll be up to you to figure out how you wouldn't fall into the icy water."

'The ice would tilt? No biggie. Gray can form some borders so we won't get wet." I calmed myself down. I have Gray anyways. I could obviously trust him. I glanced at him for a few seconds. He was wearing his poker face. I couldn't read him. I sighed and took a bite out of my breakfast.

"And swimming through the icy waters is a creature known as the Arctic Monster." Takaki-san stated with an eerie voice. Now, that creeped my out.

"A-Arctic Mons-t-ter?" My voice was stammering.

"Yeah. Oh by the way, you are to wear your swimsuits during the interview." He nonchalantly added.

"Wah? Whoa! Hold it—" I was just about to protest when I heard a loud thud just right beside me. I craned my neck and found Gray with his head down, hair covering his eyes. He was clenching his jaw while holding a fork that that was sunk deep into the table. That must've been what made the sound.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I could tell from his voice that he was restraining his anger. Then, he slowly lifted his head.

"You couldn't expect Lucy to do that! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HER!" This was the second time, I ever saw Gray lose his cool. But still, I didn't know what to do. I mindlessly took his idle hand into mine and gently grasp it. I could feel it trembling beneath my hand. He slowly removed his other hand from the fork and began to relax. Soon, the trembling stopped.

"I have to agree with Gray-kun. I object of this." Hibiki calmly stated while looking at me. I gave him one of my thank-you-smiles. And in return, he winked at me while mouthing the words: No problem. Well, it looked like he was back to his old self again. I couldn't help but grin. Then, I paid my attention on Gray who already calmed himself down.

"If Glay gets ssho worriev abouf thish girl then, she mustth mean shomething chu him. I also fobject." Lyon explained while having a mouthful of food in his mouth. I almost couldn't understand what he said. But of course, Gray was worried; I'm his comrade after all.

"Sorry, but it doesn't matter if you're a woman or even a child. I don't go easy on anybody who hurts my comrades." Gray said to Takaki-san with a death glare.

"Comrades? Psh… I could feel love in the air." Sherry backed-up Lyon's theory which was to be expected. But I'm still not getting my hopes up with their theory. Gray still had Juvia.

I looked at Gray to prove to myself that he was wearing his usual poker face thus proving that all their theories to be wrong. But to my surprise there was a tint of red on his face. And his expression was totally giving away his blush. His one hand covered his mouth while his eyes were looking down at the floor. It was another side of Gray that I didn't know before. He looked totally cute.

"Aww… Gray's blushing! Keep embarrassing him, guys!" I took no time in ordering them.

Lyon was wearing a smirk on his face while he stood up. He took his time in walking closer to me and Gray. In no time, he was already standing beside Gray. Sherry shortly followed after Lyon and was followed by Hibiki then Manami. I watched them with a huge grin on my face. What happened next wasn't really what I expected.

"Gray and Lucy: sitting in a tree—" They all started singing. Well, except for Hibiki. He just stood there, sparkling.

"What the heck? Don't include me! Embarrass Gray! Only Gray!" I shouted at them.

"K-I-S-S" But they still continued, adding a cute little dance.

"STOP!" I tried to stop them but to no avail.

"-I-N-G" They began laughing their hearts out. Even little Manami was giggling. What were we? Grade-schoolers? My face became flushed. I didn't even bother to look at Gray.

"Guys…" Again, I tried to make things better.

"Stop this. This is so childish, right Lucy?" Good thing Hibiki was on my side. I gave him a fast nod. We all grew silent.

"It should be… Hibiki and Lucy: sitting in a tree—" Hibiki sang.

"You're not making this better!" I couldn't believe this. I thought he was on my side.

"Lucy… Princess, you didn't let me finish. Now we're just sitting in a tree." He cutely pouted. He was just about to put his arm on my waist when we heard a mumbling noise. It was coming from Takaki-san. We all looked at him. His head was bowed down making his hair cover his eyes. He looked totally scary. I tried to pick up the words he was saying.

"tree… Tree… TREE!" He suddenly shot his head up while looking at the ceiling as if he was recalling some memories he had.

"Mommy, they kept teasing me…" He was still looking at the thin air. But he was wearing a sad emotion on his face.

"I'll never forget this moment! I am going to be larger than a tree! I promise you!" He soon became angry.

"They just laughed at me, mommy! But I'll get my revenge! Just for us mommy!" We started to move away from him. He was acting like a maniac.

"Mommy, don't leave me!" Tears started falling down from his face.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

"I think we broke him…" Lyon stated wearing a scared look on his face. We all nodded quickly.

"I can see the light!"

"Mommy, is that you? Take me with-" Suddenly, Takaki-san's head was frozen. Glancing at Lyon, he gave us a shrug. We gave him 'the look'.

"What? Don't look at me like that! He was starting to freak me out!" He said defensively. We shook our heads and sighed in unison.

"Well, somebody unfreeze him!" I ordered anyone of them. Obviously, Gray and Lyon didn't make a move since they were both ice mages. We were left with Sherry, Hibiki, Manami and Me. Sherry controlled inanimate objects. Hibiki used archive magic. But we couldn't use their magic right now. So, Manami… What was Manami's magic anyway? I glanced at her then, asked her sweetly.

"Manami-chan, may I know what your magic is."

"I can talk to animals and summon them." She shyly replied.

That was a cute kind of magic but that wouldn't be of help right now. Maybe I could use one of my spirits… That was it!

"Gate of the Twins! I open thee, Gemini!" Gemi and Mini suddenly appeared right in front of me.

Gray's P.O.V.

"Gemi… Mini… Can you transform into Natsu and carefully unfreeze Takaki-san's head" I guess it didn't matter how far they both are. Natsu was totally on her mind. Stupid idiot…

Gemi and Mini transformed into Natsu then, slowly defrosted Takaki's head. And yet again! Natsu stole my spotlight. And he was not even here! Damn that flamehead! Maybe I should just accept the fact that Lucy would never like me no matter how hard I try. And she would always have feelings for Natsu. I was starting to get lost in my thoughts when I felt somebody pull my arm. I looked at my side and noticed that Lucy and I were still holding hands. And that Hibiki was trying to pull her away from me to flirt with her again. I snapped out of my thoughts and yanked Lucy to my side.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked Hibiki in a serious tone.

"I was TRYING to tell Lucy how smart she was for using Gemini . And what do you think you're doing?" He slyly stated.

"What do you mean?"

"Why, Gray-kun… You're still holding Lucy's hand." I slowly felt Lucy lift her arm. Then, she and I both looked at our linked hands. I tried to see what her expression was but our suddenly eyes met. I quickly let go of her hand and avoided any eye contact.

Good thing Gemi and Mini just finished melting the ice around Takaki's head or they would start teasing me and Lucy again. It wasn't that I did mind but Lucy might find out what I was truthfully feeling for her. And that would ruin our friendship. I couldn't just let that happen. I outwardly sighed and focused on what was going on in this mansion; Takaki's used-to-be frozen head. We found him lying on the floor, his whole body drenched from water.

"Thank you, Gemi and Mini. You can go now!" Lucy was smiling at them. With that said, they both went back to the spirit world.

"I—I ch-changee m-my mind… L-lucy… Gra—ay.. Fo-forget t-the Arc-t-tic… " Takaki was still cold from the ice. He was stuttering and shivering.

"T-tea pa-partyy…" was his last statement. Then, he unexpectedly fainted.

"La-la-la"Manami began singing and used her magic to call out some animals to carry Takaki back to his room. Her voice was like butter slowly melting on toast. I could listen to it all day. Soon, animals surrounded her. There were birds, squirrels, chipmunks… and even dogs that kinda looked like Plue.

"Are those Plues, you got there?" Lucy asked; her eyebrows knitted together. She walked to the animals, sat on the floor and petted them. I could tell that she was really good with animals. Her eyes were even glinting as she smiled.

"I'm not really sure myself. But since Plue is a dog, he/she still counts as an animal, right? So, maybe." Manami smiled at the bird that was resting at her pointing finger.

"Guys, I need you to take care of that man. Make sure he gets into his room and rests peacefully, okay? Thank you!" She talked to them with such gentleness while pointing at Takaki. I watched as some birds lift him up into the air while the Plues lead the way, finding his room. In no time, he was out of our sight. We resumed talking casually.

"What did he mean by tea party?" I shoved my hands in my pockets feeling a certain emptiness now that Lucy wasn't holding it.

"Well, he said that he changed his mind about the Arctic Ocean. Maybe he changed our interview into a tea party." Lucy cutely tapped her pointing finger on her cheeks.

"I would also interpret it that way…" Manami added.

"Really? You hear that, Gray?" Lucy jumped right in front of me grinning like an idiot. It made me forget about the feelings I was having back then; jealousy and then emptiness. Those were taken away from me by her joyfulness. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yeah…" I ruffled her hair and noticed how she closed her eyes happily. Seeing her this happy made me smile innocently.

"Wow!" Lyon suddenly exclaimed. I stopped patting Lucy's head and left my hand dangling at my side.

"What?" I asked him angrily for ruining my little moment with Lucy.

"You're an idiot…" He smartly said.

"And what does that supposed to mean?" I was suppressing myself from making any ruckus. But before Lyon could make his smart reply, Hibiki suddenly pushed me aside and hugged Lucy in a tight embrace.

"Lucy. I'm so glad you're not going to the Arctic anymore. I know I wouldn't be able to handle seeing you in trouble and knowing that I wouldn't be able to do anything about it." I wouldn't lie. Hibiki looked totally cool when he said that.

He had this serious look on his face where his eyes were so distant and far. And his hands were on the right places; one on Lucy's head and one on her upper back. It made me feel jealous… AGAIN. But I couldn't bring myself up to do anything. If I made a move, Hibiki would surely bring up that I have feelings for Lucy. But If I leave them like that, Hibiki would think he has the upper hand. I was torn. Unexpectedly, Plues appeared out of nowhere then lunged on me. I lost my balance and fell on the floor with a soft thud.

"Gray! Are you alright?" Lucy got free from Hibiki's hug. She ran beside me, knelt down, and removed some Plues off of my body. But they were too many of them. She got swarmed by the little Plues. It was a good thing that she handled the situation like a pro though. She sat beside me confidently and treated the little Plues like her own kids. I couldn't help but admire her. But one of the Plues distracted me from gazing at her. S/he climbed all the way on top of my head. A small smile made its way on my face.

"Maybe we can start our own little Plue family." I said jokingly at Lucy. But when I realized what I actually said, I panicked. I looked at Lucy and noticed that she was looking at me with widen eyes and a blush on her face. My heart beat faster.

"A-ha-ha-ha… I'm j-just sa—ying th-that it w-would be nice to h-have Plues a-as my sons" That was totally the worst excuse I ever had. I mentally slapped myself.

"Oh… Yeah… Of course…" I couldn't put a finger to whether Lucy's reaction was positive or negative to my part. She just ignored what I said and continued playing with the Plues. I was bit saddened. Hibiki and the others diverted my thoughts however. They formed a line in front me with hands on their hips. They shook their heads back and forth and then sighed.

"Gray, you're an idiot!" I heard them say in unison.

"What did I do?"

This chapter was a bit longer compared to the other ones. I hope you guys still liked it though! :D Anyway, I'm still working on my sequel to Never Mine- just a little bit announcement. Hmmm... I guess that's it for now... Please rate and review!

Preview of the sequel:

Lucy's P.O.V.

It bothered me though... Why was he smiling with that girl?