Disclaimer: Fairy Tail does not and sadly will never belong to me but this plot does! I'll sue you if you attempt to steal it haha ^w^ *LOL*

A/N: Welcome once more to yet another chapter of D2L. This is now the eleventh chapter of D2L and my favorite chapter too… Thanks for reading! Do not forget to leave a review!

Previously on D2L: He couldn't take his eyes off her. He had felt this surge of…it was just so hard to put it in words. Finally he rode away. He had a party to attend to tonight and not only was it a FairyTail party, it was a Strauss party. The Strauss family members were all born with this innate talent of organizing the best of events. And that meant he had to be at his best, of course there was also the fact that Mira hadn't been to a FairyTail party in a really long time and so he had to live up to her expectations, it was the least he could do.

Continue:

Finally the morning ended and the night began; it was now time for our beloved gang to 'bling' it up and head towards the Strauss sisters' home. In every Fairy Tail home, people were in a rush as they picked out their outfits, styled their hair and made themselves as gorgeous as they could – this applied mainly for the girls; and it wasn't just in the Fairy Tail homes but also the other guests that were invited. Being invited to a Fairy Tail party was always considered an honor and everyone was always at their best.

The Strauss sisters waited and eventually, the guests began to arrive. Not only were there Fairy High students, but also students of other schools and colleges; there was Lamia High and Blue Pegasus High.

Lucy walked into the hall nervously with Levy at her side. They were among the first to arrive. Lucy looked around to see that only Gajeel, Laxus and Natsu had arrived, among the Strauss sisters who were obviously already there…it was their house after all. Soon more and more people arrived, Lucy was introduced to each and every one of them but her eyes searched for one person – the same raven head, but she didn't want to admit it even to herself yet. The hall of the Strauss mansion was packed with a lot of people but still, no sign of the raven head.

…Meanwhile…

"Ultear, you're taking forever!" Lyon shouted annoyed.

"Relax bro…it's our household's tradition to attend every event late" Gray joked and then come the stunning Ultear, walking down a flight of stairs.

"And there is nothing wrong in wanting to be 'fashionably late' right? I have to look my best don't I? Since my two step-brothers are gathering at my place after what seems like forever… especially you Lyon." Ultear said as she joined the two who were seated on the couch downstairs. Lyon Vastia was another adopted son of Ur Milkovich. He attended Lamia High unlike Ultear and Gray and there was also the fact that the three stayed in different homes alone. He was mostly busy handling other affairs and never got much time to spare for his step-siblings. But regardless of that, they were all pretty close.

"We better hurry or Erza's gonna murder us again… I don't think being 'fashionably late' is a good enough excuse to give her" Gray laughed at Lyon's comment.

"Hey that's right, we have to rendezvous with Jellal and Erza…" Ultear repeated, seemingly having forgotten this fact before.

"Don't forget we're picking up Cana on the way" Gray reminded them as he drove away.

…At the party…

Lucy was in conversation with Hibiki, a guy from Blue Pegasus High who was CLEARLY flirting with her but she seemed to not notice this. Her conversation was then interrupted when someone covered her eyes from behind and she turned quickly to see that it was Loke…to her somewhat disappointment. For a moment, she had thought it was Gray. But why did she want to see him so badly?

Suddenly the music lowered and everyone's heads turned towards the entrance and whistles began sounding. Lucy followed everyone's gaze to see who exactly was the cause for so much excitement – It was Gray. And not just him, Ultear, a guy that was still unknown to Lucy, Cana, Erza and Jellal. Lucy could feel the jealousy begin to act again. But that wasn't all, she just couldn't seem to control the blush that was forming on her cheeks as she stared at Gray – he was really looking hot.

"GRAY WE LOVE YOU!" Girls began to shout and Lucy felt this unsettling feeling when he smiled at the outburst. Erza gave him a teasing smile. Then the chief guest of the party walked over to the 'just-arrived' guests and greeted each of them one by one. Lucy watched in jealousy as Gray greeted Mirajane with a peck on her cheek.

Then before Lucy could even understand what was happening, Levy was dragging her along towards the gathered gang. Levy began greeting each of them and Lucy did the same till she came across the raven head and for some reason, went blank.

"Um, hi?" He smirked as he waved a hand in front of her.

"Oh, um, h-hi" she replied bashfully, feeling really stupid when she saw him grinning at her teasingly.

"Luce, this is my bro Lyon." Gray introduced and Lucy greeted Lyon with a hug which made Gray a bit uneasy. Lyon, Lucy thought, was also really good looking… Though he didn't have that charm that Gray and Loke were gifted with, he looked pretty decent.

"'Luce'? You guys dating or something?" Lyon asked emphasizing the said nickname.

"N-no!" Lucy quickly denied.

"Oh, sorry for jumping to conclusions… it's just that no one else here seems to use that nickname" Lyon explained, while giving Gray a teasing smile which Gray remained oblivious too.

The party went on and everyone seemed to be having fun. Then after a while, Mirajane took a mike and began to speak, silencing the crowd as well as the music.

"Hey guys! Everyone having fun?" She asked and everyone replied with whistles and 'yes's.

"That's great. Now we're going to make things a bit more fun today with a small game. Valentines is approaching us in the next 9 days so this game will be couple-based. It's a very popular game – 'the newspaper dance'." Mirajane began to explain. Some people cheered and a few began to blush.

"For the people here who are unaware of how this game is to be played – my butler here, Kirito-san, is going to help me pick two chits, one from this bowl in which the names of all the girls here are, and one from this bowl in which the names of all the guys are. So the couples will be chosen this way – no arguments! Now after the couples are chosen, they'll each be given one sheet of newspaper and they have to slow dance on it – and remember, you HAVE to slow dance. Each time the music stops, they must fold the newspaper in half and continue to dance when the music is played again. Should ever, any of their feet come out of the newspaper, they will be disqualified. The last couple standing will be declared the winner. The mega prize for best couple is a super exclusive designer handbag from Milan – you'll never get another piece of this babe. I'm sure this prize must be really exciting for the girls here, so let's see which guy can win their girl this mega prize. Kirito-san will be walking around and checking. If he says you're disqualified then you are disqualified. So now we begin" The crowd cheered.

"And there goes Mira with another one of her super-hit party entertaining games…" The fairy tail gang laughed.

"Well, this should be fun"

"No one can pep up a party better than Mirajane Strauss"

"I so HAVE to get that mega prize!"

Comments like these were all over the place!

Soon, Kirito-san began to announce the names of the couples that had been picked out of the bowls one by one. As the names were called out, the one's the names belonged to, walked forward, collected their newspaper sheet and took their position – the crowd clapped and whistled each time a pair was formed.

"Laxus Dreyar and Mirajane Strauss"

"Natsu Dragneel and Cana Alberona" Both of them laughed at how random their pairing turned out be and surely neither were very determined to win seeing as Cana was least interested in the mega prize and Natsu was least interested in the 'best couple' title unless it was with Lisanna.

"Gajeel Redfox and Levy McGarden" Nobody was surprised at how these two happened to be together and they were even less surprised when their favorite couple was called out next.

"Jellal Fernandez and Erza Scarlet" The entire crowd was cheering and blowing whistles while the said couple blushed.

Finally, the name everyone was waiting for was announced,

"Gray Fullbuster…" Everyone waited in anticipation.

"…and Lucy Heartfilia" and the room erupted with cheers, whistles, claps, as well as some groans.

"Loke Stellar and Lisanna Strauss" Another random pairing, everyone thought. But this random couple was in it to win…

"Lastly, Lyon Vastia and Ultear Milkovich"

"WITH MY BROTHER?!" Ultear exclaimed and the hall erupted in laughter.

All the couples got into position and so did Lucy and Gray.

"Um, we don't have to do this if you don't want to" Lucy said to Gray, looking at her shoes with somewhat of interest.

Gray leaned in close to her ear so that they were so close that Lucy could barely breathe. He then said to her, "Uh, you've never seen Mira's wrath have you? It's best we do what she wants…an angry Mira is just as a bad as an angry Erza" Gray and Lucy took of their shoes and stood on the newspaper sheet they were given.

"By the way, I know you want that prize. You were totally drooling over it during the announcement" Gray said to her teasingly and she blushed as she fidgeted with her dress and averted her eyes.

"Come on…you just have to tell me you want it" He urged her and her blush deepened at his tone.

"Fine…I want it" She took a breath before finally admitting and finally looked up to meet his eyes. He smiled and then what came next, sent a current of electricity through her… She felt him grab her hand softly and caress it slowly as he looked into her eyes and she began to look into his.

"If you want it that bad then I'm going to get it for you even if the world turns around…" He said in a soft whisper, loud enough for Lucy to hear him. He then let go of her hand; Lucy immediately averted her eyes again and her fidgeting became even worse and most definitely her heart was racing at full speed.

"Everyone's in position. Hit it!" Kirito-san called out to the DJ and the music began to play.

Lucy remained lost in another world, but snapped out of it as Gray took hold of her arms and placed them around his neck and then grabbed her waist. He that look in his eyes…that same flicker… ugh, how much it bothered her that she couldn't figure it out when it was that look that made her heart skip beats.

"We're in this to win right" He winked at her.

The first round of the game made it seem so easy for the beginners but little did they know how truly hard it was going to get. The music stopped and the they folded the paper in half. The second round wasn't that hard either but sadly a lot of couples were eliminated. The third round soon began and this time it was impossible for any couple to just stand on the paper.

Some couples gave up in this round… others lost as a result of not being able to balance.

Lucy at first, just stared at the size of the newspaper in disbelief, "This is…impossible" she sounded out and Gray chuckled.

"Not really" He said as he stood on the paper and held out a hand to her, she looked at him confused, "Just take my hand and for once I'll let you step on my foot" He joked as he said the last part. Lucy could feel the life force being drained out of her as she noticed how close they were and how close they would probably get as the rounds passed by.

The third round was a major elimination round. While couples like Gray and Lucy and Erza and Jellal got out of it easily. Couples like Lyon and Ultear found it extremely difficult.

"Hey Ultear, look at how Gray and Jellal are doing it." Lyon pointed out and Ultear looked.

"They actually look like a real couple" Ultear thought aloud.

Ultear then looked at Lyon and then at his socks, "I AM NOT STANDING ON THOSE SMELLY SOCKS OF YOURS" She exclaimed and once again the room was filled with laughter.

"I don't see Lucy or Erza complaining!" Lyon retorted.

"Gray doesn't have smelly socks syndrome" Ultear harrumphed, crossing her arms.

"And how do you know Jellal doesn't?" Lyon harrumphed.

And like that, Lyon and Ultear gave up from round three.

Gajeel and Levy in fact took round three real easy; Levy being as petite as she is, was able to give take only a tiny amount of space of the paper so that Gajeel could easily fit on the other half. To them it was just as simple as round one and two.

By round four all of the remaining contestants were Fairy Tail members. Only Gajeel and Levy, Jellal and Erza and Gray and Lucy were left.

"And THIS is where it gets tough. Jellal and Erza are a major threat because even though they're not 'officially' a couple, they have this really strong and serious bond going on and the same works for Gajeel and Levy" Gray began to warn Lucy as they folded the paper for the fifth round.

They both stared at the paper they had in front of them… Right now the paper was so small, that even Gray could only afford to squeeze his two foot together on it and event then it would be too hard to balance.

"Well…I guess we just have to try then" Gray said.

"GO GRAY!" Cheers began to come from the crowd.

"Erza and Jellal are going to win. They're the best couple"

"Gajeel and Levy could as well do it"

"But I think even Gray and Lucy look so cute together! I mean look at the chemistry between them…"

"Yeah, they can totally make it to Fairy High's top five pairings"

Comments began to pass round.

Gray stood on what was left of the paper and then noticed that Jellal was doing the same. Both of their eyes met and they were clearly thinking of the same thing. They both smiled mischievously at each other, showing that neither was in it to lose and almost at the same time, they both scooped up their partners bridal style, sending the entire crowd in squeals and cheers and whistles.

This round was when Gajeel and Levy decided to balance on each other's foot but sadly when the music was on, Gajeel's foot went a bit out of the paper and they were disqualified. A lot of Gajeel x Levy supporters were extremely disappointed but that atmosphere soon dissipated as the concentration was maximized on the intense competition between the two couples. Jellal and Erza were an all-time favorite but after this competition, it would seem that Gray x Lucy was definitely going to become another memorable pairing.

But behind all the forming campaigns, the two couples had a little thing of their own going on. Lucy couldn't stop staring at Gray. Gray looked at her and noticed how she was staring.

"Hey, I'm not gonna let you fall… I promise" He said but not in a joking manner, he was serious. From his tone and from the look in his eyes, she could tell that there was more to what he meant than just the fact that he wouldn't let her fall while carrying her… and after that, Lucy finally made the confession she had hidden within her, to herself. She FINALLY accepted the inevitable truth.

'Gray… I can't deny this anymore… I'm in love with you Gray… I'm in love with you like I've never been with anyone else. All this time of trying to avoid you, all that denial… I just didn't want to get hurt again, I never wanted to trust again… I never wanted to take the risk again after those two heartbreaks I had faced. But truth be told, I never loved any of them as much as I love you… The love I feel for you is passionate… I want to trust you. With you, I'm willing to take that risk all over again, Gray. At first I thought it was just attraction I felt for you, but that wasn't all… you're different Gray, you're special. And admitting this to myself finally, feels like a huge load has been lifted off my shoulders. I never thought I'd have it in me to able to trust anyone again…but then again, I've never loved anyone like I love you' Lucy had never felt so relieved after saying all this to him in her mind as she stared at him, thought it wasn't verbal, it was enough to get rid of the burden.

The seventh round began and Erza and Jellal remained in bridal position.

"These guys are really holding on man!"

"Yeah… It could take a million years to get these guys to lose"

"that just shows how perfect these two couples are! *squeal~*"

The comments began to pass round. The music began to play.

"It's been like half an hour… Why haven't we moved to the next round?" Lucy asked incredulously.

"Mira's planning to have this round go on forever till one of us couples finally loses. She's not going to let us move on to the next round" Gray informed Lucy who was still gripping onto his shoulders as he carried her bridal style.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"See that evil look on her face… I can tell from experience what she's thinking just by looking at her" He told her, "the DJ's not gonna turn off that music for god knows how long."

"So what do you suggest we do?" She asked.

"This position may be a good way to get passed this round easily but trust me, even Jellal won't be able to hold on in this position for too long and well, honestly, not even me. If we leave it like this, it'll just depend on luck and strength but that's not good enough to win so I'm thinking we should change our position"

"But how?! The music is still going on and we can't step on the bare ground – not much newspaper is even there to arrange our position and –" Lucy was getting hysterical and Gray then hushed her, making her blush.

"Shh…" he said softly, "relax. Just trust me okay. I'm gonna shift you onto my back so that instead of carrying you bridal style, I'll be giving you a piggy-back ride."

"And how exactly are you going to 'shift' me?"

"It's something only I can do sweetheart" He said playfully, "So are you ready?"

"Um, as I'll ever be?" She replied.

"just keep your grip tight okay?" he warned and she nodded.

Gray then shifted Lucy onto his back so swiftly and professionally that it left everyone in a daze.

"Oh. My. God! Did you see that! That was practically AWESOME!"

"YEAH! How'd he do it!?"

"He's Gray… He can do anything"

"They look so CUTE together!"

Cana whistled loud, "That's Gray Fullbuster alright! Keep it going Gray! I'm totally supporting you!"

"Hey Cana you're being biased!" Jellal complained, pouting,

"Did you just see that move?! ANYONE would support him after that" Loke put in.

Soon the hall quieted down and everyone waited for either of the couples to make miss.

Meanwhile, there was something going on at Jellal and Erza's end too but then the next thing that happened, though inevitable was a bit shocking – Fairy High's most favorite couple got disqualified – yes, Jellal accidentally stepped out of the paper, though seemingly in shock rather than by accident.

At first there were people feeling a bit upset that Jellal x Erza had lost but then Mirajane announced, "
AND the best couple is now declared as, Lucy and Gray!" and EVERYONE cheered and clapped.

Gray ruffled Lucy's locks affectionately, "So I guess, the world doesn't have to turn around anymore for me to get you that prize huh?" and Lucy blushed.

A/N: And that marks the end of chapter 11. Sadly, I must inform you that there won't be a new chapter next week because I have my second term exams going on… So, chapter 12 would probably be updated by March 14th. If I find it possible to update any sooner, I'll definitely make sure to do so.

Leaving that aside, I'd like to hear of what you think of this chapter in which Lucy has FINALLY admitted that she loves Gray and not just 'a small crush' but the real deal. ^.^ I'd seriously wish she would feel the same in the anime/manga…

Most people are really curious about the Wendy suspense so about that I must clarify that Wendy's role IS still of a small, innocent child.

Any set backs in this chapter? Please review and tell me about them… Or any parts that you loved a lot too. I'd love to know of your opinions.

NEXT CHAPTER: This upcoming chapter features a way too juicy game of truth or dare and… wait what?! A drunk Lucy?! Is that even possible…? Tune in next time and find out!

DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!

Until Next Time,

Ja'ne!