It was about a month after Fiore was almost destroyed by a dragon of death. Master Mackrov was celebrating his last day as master with an elaborate event. By that time Jamie had made a full recovery and was able to leave the hospital. At the moment in the Redfox household Jamie was laying out various different outfit options for the party that night. He was modeling them in front of his baby brother, Matty. The party was more than just a celebration for Mackarov, it was also the night that he was going to come out to the guild. No more secrets. No more hiding. Jamie would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't going absolutely insane with nerves. The knock on the door startled the young man out of his daze.
"Come in." He said. The door creaked open to reveal Gajeel. Jamie smiled at his father nervously and made the quick decision to wear a red button down dress shirt and a pair of black pants. He threw the rest of clothes into the closet.
"Hey, Dad. What's up?" As he finished buttoning up his shirt. Gajeel shrugged before sitting on the bed next to Matty. The baby loved to tug on his father's long man of hair and at the moment attempting to chew on some of the strands he had snagged.
"Nothing is up. I was just wondering when how you were going to come out tonight?" Gajeel asked casually. Jamie felt his body go cold, he froze. He knew that his father had always known he was gay but they had never actually talked about it. Now the elephant was standing very imposingly in the room and it was time to address it.
"Umm" Jamie started while trying to distract his nerves by slipping on his shoes. Gajeel rolled his eyes and stood up. He went over to his eldest son and grasped the young man by the shoulders so that they could meet each other's eyes. Gajeel usually towered over everyone with his 6'4 structure but Jamie was already catching up quickly with already being six feet tall at sixteen. Jamie hated that he still had to look up at his father. It made him feel small and intimidating.
"Listen. To hell with what anyone thinks. You are a hero and more importantly you are my son. I love you, son. You just be yourself and act like you normally would. Got it?" Gajeel advised although it sounded like a command. There was a warmth that rose up to Jamie's chest, he smiled at his father forcing back a few tears
"Sure thing, Dad. I love you too." Jamie said. Both men turned to the sound of sniffling coming from the door. There they saw Levy clutching the phone to her chest and tears falling down her smiling face. Gajeel rolled his eyes at his wife's dramatics.
"Don't mind me. Continue your beautiful father son moment." She said while waving her hand at them. She went over to the bed and retrieved Matty. She hugged the chubby baby tight and he started to babble happily.
"You came in to say something, Shrimp." Gajeel reminded with a smirk. Levy gasped and looked down at the phone in her hand in remembrance.
"Oh yes. Lu-chan called and said Vera was having some sort of emotional crisis. Vera said she wouldn't talk to anyone but you, Honey." He said while looking to Jamie. Jamie had a feeling that he knew what Vera's crisis was about.
"I'll handle it, mom. We will meet you guys at the party tonight." Jamie said while making the final adjustments to his hair. Jamie hugged his father and then kissed both his mother and his brother on the cheek before heading out.
When he made it to the Dragneel household he was greeted by distressed Natsu.
"Jamie, please. Talk some sense into her she hasn't left her room in two days." Natsu said his voice held annoyance but was also laced with worry. Jamie nodded and stepped inside. He made his way to Vera's room. He knocked three time on the door.
"V, it's me open the door." He said and it only took three seconds before the door opened and two seconds before a hand shot out and dragged him inside. There was clothing everywhere it looked like a warzone.
"Jamie I think I am going completely insane." Vera announced while pacing around the bed in her yoga pants and ratty tank top.
"I have over 200 articles of clothing and none of them seem right for tonight. I keep having this weird feeling in my stomach, where I feel like I am going to throw up and take flight all at once." She said with her stomach before falling back onto the bed. Jamie took the opportunity now that she stopped talking to walk over to her. He flopped down on top of her and Vera grunted from the sudden added weight.
"Now, Vera I do believe you may be falling in love." He mumbled against her hair. Vera managed with a large amount of effort to push Jamie off of her and to her right on the bed.
"Impossible. I don't even like anyone." She said assertively but there was a slight ring to her voice that made her sound unsure. Jamie turned his head to look at his best friend. She was beautiful even with her rose colored locks sticking out from her head and her face formed into a frown. Vera's features that never lost their brilliance were her glass green eyes. They seemed to hold the wonders of worlds in them.
"Oh really, not even a certain Ice/water mage hmmm?" Jamie asked in a mocking tone. Vera's cheeks immediately flamed red.
"After what happened a month ago I can't get his stupid face out of my head." She huffed. Jamie adjusted his body so she could lay her head comfortably on his shoulder. Jamie smoothed his hand through her wild hair.
"We have very little control over who we fall for. You should tell him. He may very well feel the same way." Jamie suggested and Vera stiffened.
"What would it mean for us if he did? I have known Graham my entire life and we have always be frienenmies. I would know what to do with Graham as my boyfriend." She asked.
"I know a few things you could do with him." Jamie said and Vera punched his arm. Jamie chuckle but then composed himself.
"But seriously. You should tell him and let the cards fall where they lay." He said. Vera sighed at she fingered the one of the top buttons of his shirt.
"Why did you have to be gay? I could have fallen in love with you and all would be swell." She said dramatically. Jamie laughed but shook his head.
"Nah, you're too much of a sister to me. It would never work even if I didn't play for the other team." He explained. Vera shrugged and sat up on the bed. She pat Jamie's thigh.
"Well don't just lay there, help me find something to wear."
….
Three hours later Fairy Tail guild hall was alive with music and laughter. Drinks were flowing and bodies were moving to the pulsing beat. Vera shifted from foot to foot. She looked gorgeous with her hair piled atop her head in a braided bun and her white silk gown flowed down her body like smooth, freshly fallen snow. She was a nervous eater and was now seeking refuge at the buffet table and was on her twelfth chicken wing. Right when she placed her thirteenth wing on her plate, it was snatched away from her grasp. She swallowed the masticated meat and was about to beat the snot out of whoever messed with her food before she saw that it was Ember. The young woman looked stunning in her black velvet dress with a slit up the leg. Ember had her arms crossed and was giving Vera a disappointed look.
"You have been standing here for an hour looking drop dead gorgeous but instead of showing yourself off you have been stuffing your face." She shook her head.
"It's unacceptable." Ember finished before taking Vera by the hand and leading her friend to the dancefloor. Vera stopped protesting and closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the beat of the music. She shook her hips and and lifted her arms up so he could twirl through the bodies of people more freely.
"Mind if I join you?" A voice whispered in her ear. And she felt his cool breath on her neck. It gave her a slight shiver but it wasn't unpleasant.
"Only if you can keep up." She said and finally opened her eyes to see Graham smirking. He was dressed entirely in black which made his ice blue eyes stand out even more. They began to move together and he spun her around before bring her to his body. It was all fun and games for the two. They danced with their friends and family all around. There was laughter till the music seemed to get louder and Vera's breathing became a bit shallow. Graham pulled her closer to his body.
"Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded but then looked into his eyes. They were studying her intensely. Vera wasn't used to him looking at her with anything but wicked playfulness and annoyance. This look was different.
Her eyes flicked to the left and there she saw Jamie and he was kissing Remmie full on the mouth in front of everyone. To her right she saw Ray and Ember dancing sensually with each other. Seeing the happiness in her friend gave her confidence. She met Graham's gaze again.
"I think I may be falling for you, Graham Fullbuster." She admitted in a low whisper. Graham's hand traveled up her back and to her neck. He touched his forehead to hers.
"Seems I have beat you yet again. Because I have already fallen for you, Vera." He said before leaning down to kiss her. Her body flamed and his ice sizzled (thankfully not literally). They could practically feel the steam seeping from their pores. They gasped when they finally did part.
"What does this mean for us now?" Vera asked a bit nervously. She bit her lip in an attempt to stop the tingling sensation she felt. Graham shrugged before leaning down to kiss her again. He felt her smile against his lips. He parted and grinned at her.
"I honestly don't know but if we keep downing that how bad can things really get?" He said confidently. Vera shook her head at him but laughed. Graham went to lean in to kiss her again. But Vera ducked out of the way.
"You have all of the time in the word to kiss me but for now your duty is to dance the night away with me." She said while dancing and letting herself get lost in the bodies. Graham smiled at her. All the time in the world he liked the sound of that.
Fin
