I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters, and I do not own this plot. This belongs to CrAzY-SiLLy-Me, whom I thank very much for allowing me to use her plot to make more GraLu stories.
~Say It Again~
Chapter 11
September: Duty and Honor
"…When you are telling me that I'm…"
I've met his family more than once, but I still feel as if I don't really have any right to be here, even if Gray's sister insisted.
"And someday, I'd like to attend my brother's wedding, and see him standing next to Lucy, just how I am standing next to the man I love."
I blushed when the attention was on me, and I had to give a nervous smile when Ultear-nii and his wife raised their champagne glasses to my direction.
"This is embarrassing…" I murmured softly, glad that the spotlight was turned back to Lamar-tousan and Ur-kachan. And yes, Gray's family has grown fond of me that they insisted on the attachments.
"Still not used to the attention?"
I sighed and looked at Gray with a twitch.
"I still don't think I ought to be here…"
My boyfriend just smirked and shook his head. "Would my sister personally invite you to attend if that were the case?"
"Well, no, but…" I just trailed off and sighed. "Oh alright, but I still feel as if I'm intruding."
"You're not." He stood up and offered a hand. "Come on, I'll show you something you'll really like."
I took his hand, wondering where he could be possibly taking me.
"Are you sure it's okay to just go without your parents and sister noticing?"
"If they see you're not around either, they'll get the message."
I flushed at the double meaning and tried not to let any perverted thoughts pollute my mind, but I couldn't help but think of it some more when Gray led me outside the hotel's ballroom and into an elevator.
Were we going inside a room?!
"Um…Gray...?" I looked at him when he turned his head to me, and my cheeks grew redder. "Where…are…we…going..?" I managed to say, though the pauses didn't exactly help my current state. I've already known for a fact that he was drop dead gorgeous but…I still can't get used to it.
Especially…now that he just smiled.
"Wait and see."
I heard the elevator doors open, and he led me out of the contraption and turned right. My heels didn't click against the floor since it was carpeted at the color of dark red, and it certainly contrasted with the pale blue dress I had. After all, the color theme of the wedding (for the girls at least) was light colors. I could have picked pink, but Mira said a big fat no. Levy told me not to go for green, since my eyes wouldn't stand out as much then, and Cana said that red is too dark, so Erza chose a pale blue halter dress, the hem reaching my ankles.
"Close your eyes." I did, and he led me elsewhere, my hand still in his, and I felt a light breeze blow, but I still kept my eyes shut, waiting in anticipation for Gray to tell me to open them. "We're getting closer," he said, still walking. He stopped after a few more steps, and then told me to look, so I did, and I gasped at the view of Magnolia at night, and how beautiful the lights looked from my position, and how the night sky just made it even grander. I can see the Kardia Cathedral, despite how far it was, and the sky being the background only made the lights of the city seem like stars.
"Still think my sister shouldn't have invited you...?"
I turned around to see Gray smirking at me, hands pocketed and looking just as handsome as ever.
I could only smile, ignoring how my up-do was sort of ruined now due to the strong wind. It wasn't hard to not take notice of anything and everything else when you've got your eyes set on Gray Fullbuster in a tux.
"Can I have a plush doll of you?" I grinned, not caring how my bangs swayed so much that it would hit my nose, cheeks, or lips. I just kept them away from my eyes in order for my view of Gray to not be blocked. "As in, same hair, same clothes?"
Gray blinked at me a few times, before laughing lightly and shaking his head.
"Because I'd doubt I'll be able to just hug you looking like that every night."
"Hn." He took a few steps forward to close the gap between us, and I smiled when he pulled me by the waist, while his other hand lifted my chin so that I'll be looking straight into his eyes. "If you want, I'll sneak into your room every night, dressed liked this, and looking like this."
"Will you really?"
He smirked. "I can if you want."
I couldn't help but giggle. "You're so silly."
"And your wishes are always beyond normal."
We gazed into each other's eyes.
"Ne, Gray...?" I whispered. "You'll...stay by my side always, right...?"
It took a while before he gave a small smile.
"Right?" I pressed on.
"I'm always by your side." He leaned in to kiss my lips, and I closed my eyes, happy with the answer I got.
"I swear, it gets so boring here when your boyfriend isn't around."
I just smiled at Mira and continued watering the flowers.
"I mean, normally, when the two of you are near each other, I always expect something sweet to happen, and it makes my life less dull, not to mention how he attracts a lot of customers." She sighed, and I really couldn't help but giggle as my friend continued to chatter. "Now that most of out customers have memorized Gray's schedule here, they only drop by when he's on duty."
"Can you blame them?" I asked, walking over to her. "By the way, I am not entirely pleased with your comment on facebook."
Mira stared at me, and raised a brow.
"The comment you sent regarding the picture of Gray and I from last night."
"And why aren't you pleased?"
I just shook my head in amusement. "You just called him by his nicknames again, and he told me to tell you to stop that, so I'm removing it as soon as I log back on tonight."
"Aww…you can't deny the fact that he could be the next Axe model, that's he is Mr. Rawr, and that he's a cutie!"
"Mira…"
"Oh fine, I'll stop." She puffed her cheeks in disappointment. "Since when did Fiore become a not-so-free country?"
I just laughed it off and proceeded with caring for the flowers, stopping only when I felt my phone vibrate from my apron's pocket. I checked the caller and immediately grinned, not hesitating on answering.
"Finally!" I exclaimed.
"Hey Lucy! Sorry, but I can't get a hold of the Jerk, are you with him?"
"That's the 'hi' I get from you after months?!"
"Two months," he corrected. "Okay, okay! Hi, how have you been?"
I grinned. "That's better. I've been doing great! Ultear-nii just got married yesterday and I was invited, and then Gray showed me Magnolia at night on the rooftop."
"Are you sure that's all?"
"Well, okay, we...made out...?"
"Geez Lucy, you sure sound like you're making that up!"
"Okay fine! We kissed and ended up making out!" I flushed when Mira gave me a sly look that clearly said she wanted details later. Damn Natsu; I planned on keeping that a secret.
"Great job Lucy! Just so you know, you're on loud speaker, and Juvia, Loke, and Lyon just heard you…"
I could have fainted, if I didn't have such a strong resolve. "Who. Else." I seethed.
"Oh…a few friends of ours."
I listened closely, and I could hear Loke whining, Juvia cussing, Lyon was silent, and a few people all giving wolf whistles and hoots, and then cheering on my boyfriend.
"Natsu! HOW COULD YOU?! YOU REALLY ARE AN ASSHOLE!"
"Okay, I'm sorry! But everyone wanted to know who Gray's girlfriend is, and I guess they have a good idea of…how you act?"
"Just for what you did, I am not telling you of Gray's whereabouts!"
"This is urgent!"
I scowled. "How urgent?"
"That's classified."
I had a bad feeling about that at the pit of my stomach.
"Lucy? You still there?"
"I'll…" I shook my head to snap myself back to reality. "Gray can probably talk to you around…five."
"Right, 1700 hours it is. Thanks and…nice hearing from you again!"
"Yeah, you too…"
I hung up, and I looked at my phone sadly, not minding how Mira began questioning me from last night's events, since my mind kept echoing what Natsu said: That's classified.
Bolt continued chasing his tail, and yet I was not amused like usual, even as Yoru had playfully jumped on my puppy and began running for it as Bolt ran after him for a game of tag, perhaps.
"Think you can wait for thirty minutes?"
I looked up at Gray who just got off of the phone and place it back down on its cradle.
"You are…hungry, right?"
"It's okay," I said. "I did want pizza, so…" I exhaled from my mouth and leaned back on Gray's couch. "I can wait."
He sat down next to me, his gaze staying on me, making me feel a bit uneasy.
"Um…what movie are we watching?" I stood up and walked over to the shelf which contained a lot of DVDs, a few CDs, and even some Blu-Ray discs. "Comedy? Action? Romance...? Horror...?" I looked back at him, seeing his eyes still on me, and I reflexively forced a smile. "What?"
"Something's bothering you," he stated. "Do you want to talk about it?"
I was silent for a few moments, before randomly picking out a DVD, and when I turned to check what it was, I nearly tossed it.
Just my luck to pick The Notebook...
Then again, it was my fault for making Gray watch it and actually like it. It's one of my favorite movies but... tonight...I don't think I like it...
"Lucy…"
I began shaking, and before I knew it, I was in his arms, and I started crying.
"You can tell me anything…" Gray said softly, stroking my hair in a comforting manner.
The phone rang, and my eyes widened when Gray had turned his head to it, so I immediately tightened my hold on him. "Stay with me!" I exclaimed, shutting my eyes as more tears spilled. "Please, just…just stay…"
I couldn't see his expression, but it didn't matter to me, because he moved from kneeling to sitting, and pulling me closer. He was ignoring the ringing phone, and continuously saying that he was here with me, holding me, not planning on leaving me.
I don't know how long we stayed like that, but I'm guessing it reached half an hour, since the doorbell rang. I had glanced at the window to see a motorcycle of the pizza place he ordered from.
"Lucy, I need to get that, okay?"
I wiped my tears away and gave a nod, and he kissed my forehead first before getting up to head towards the door. As he walked away, I couldn't help but think that what if someday, he would really walk away and not come back?
That really scared me…
"Hey." I looked up when Gray called my attention, carrying a bottle of soda in one hand, and the box of pizza on the other. He set both down on the center table and knelt down on one knee in front of me. "Come on." He gave me a smile, placed a hand on my cheek to push away some strands of my hair, and perhaps wipe away some remnants of tears. "I can hear your stomach growling." He grinned, helping me stand up while Bolt and Yoru ran back to the living room upon smelling the aroma of pizza.
Being babies still, the smell of cheese pizza definitely made their little tummies growl.
"I take it you want to watch something else?" He noticed how I had set aside The Notebook, and I gave a nod, so he first sat me down and picked a comedy movie in hopes of cheering me up. I was sort of amused when he showed me a DVD of Bedtime Stories, and I nodded with a small smile, since Adam Sandler was one of my favorite comedy actors. "You just want to see Bugsy," he told me, indicating the bug-eyed pet of the two kids. Somehow, I ended up laughing a bit, and he smiled and sat down after hitting the play button on the remote.
He poured me a glass of soda and handed me a slice of pizza. "I finally got you to laugh," he said against the side of my head, kissing it lightly before letting me settle in his arms while our two pets each had a slice of pizza on their respective bowls.
Gray and I took turns in taking a bite out of a slice we would get from the box, and for the rest of the night, I didn't think about him leaving and not coming back.
From the expression on his face, I knew he found it a bit odd for me to want to go to work with him in teaching.
"Wouldn't you just get bored?"
"No," I said, smiling. "They may not be the same class from the last camping trip, but they're still adorable."
"Hn, you're actually in luck, because I'm subbing for the same class as last time."
"Really?"
"Yeah, birthday of the original teacher's wife…"
I grinned at the idea of seeing the same familiar faces, and Gray didn't bother questioning me any longer as to why I still wanted to go.
I actually found his teaching job a bit weird, since if he's subbing today, then who will be teaching his original class?
"They don't have classes today," he told me, a forlorn look on his face all of a sudden. "One child's father was reported to be killed from an assignment."
My left hand instantly went to cover my mouth to hide the gasp.
"The whole class was requested to attend the wake," he explained. "I was supposed to go too, but I need to sub today, so I'll probably attend later."
"Do you mind if I…pay respects as well?"
Gray looked at me, seeing how my eyes were shedding a few tears for the child I didn't even know.
"I don't know why it hurts, but somehow, it just feels so sad…" I looked away. "For a pre-school kid to lose a father at such a young age…"
He pulled me into an embrace. "Yeah, we'll go pay a visit later." He pulled away and put on his helmet as I did the same to mine, and got behind him on his bike.
I turned to Gray, seeing how pained his expression was when his eyes landed on his crying student, and he took a step forward, and then another, all the while holding my hand, only letting go once he was near.
"Mrs. Mine?" he called out, and the woman looked up and wiped her tears away instantly. "I…don't know what to say." I took note of how his fists clenched, and to my surprise, and perhaps to others as well, the woman had thrown herself at him, and Gray had hugged her back with one arm, while the other rested on the child's back, who clung to his leg.
It's really unfitting for me to think of the following at this time, but I couldn't help it…
This family obviously knew Gray at some personal level, because there is no way the wife and child of a deceased man would just hug Gray like he was an old friend.
"I can explain if you want."
My eyes widened at the familiar voice, and I turned my head abruptly to my left to see none other than Jura.
"That man who died…" he began, "was a colleague of Gray's back in NDA."
I shook, and my heart began to beat fast as I slowly eyed the picture of the now dead man.
"During a mission, Lieutenant Wakaba Mine and his teammates were ambushed by a group of terrorists. In a rush to escape, he stepped onto a mine bomb, and he boldly stood still and informed his comrades of the situation, even as the terrorists began running after them and shooting at them. Mine forced the team to leave as he stayed behind and pulled out a grenade to minimize the enemy numbers…" He looked at me as I stood rigid. "And…well, I don't need to continue for you to know what happened." Jura placed a hand on my head and patted me lightly. "Mine died two days ago, but we were only able to get a hold of the family yesterday, so this wake started late because of that."
"Then…that's the reason why Natsu contacted Gray."
"Yes, to inform him of an ally's death, but Natsu couldn't get a hold of him, so he called you, but couldn't tell you."
My eyes began to water once more, and soon, I was already crying.
It's been a week, and I wasn't shocked to find Natsu and the others attend the funeral of Mr. Tominaga four days ago. However, they were still around, and I have this nagging feeling that something's bound to happen.
"Lucy, telephone!"
I heard my mom yell from downstairs.
I got up from bed and went down the stairs to take the phone from my mom.
"Hello?"
"Lucy," it was Gray. "Can we…meet somewhere?"
"Sure, why? Is something wrong?"
"I…want to see you."
I felt as if time stopped when he said that, and again, that gut feeling came back.
"Can you meet me at the beach?"
"Yeah, I'll go there right now," I told him, and we hung up as I told my mom about it and left, and it was only when I got closer to the beach did I realize that this was probably the first time that Gray didn't offer to pick me up.
What's going on...?
I shook my head and tried to think positively. So I proceeded to my destination, smiling when I saw my boyfriend standing near the shore and eyeing the almost setting sun.
"Boo!" I greeted, tackling him from behind, but he managed to keep his balance and turn to greet me with a smile as well. "Heh. Caught you off guard?"
"Hn. No you didn't." He smirked and poked my forehead, and I laughed slightly before hugging him again, him returning it all at once.
"Missed me already?" I teased, looking up at him. My bubbly aura slowly faded when I saw how his smile had gone, and the way his eyes half-closed and looked away from mine. "Gray...?"
"I have to go back."
I stiffened, but I tried to not think of the negative side. "What do you mean?"
He inhaled and exhaled, and finally met my gaze. "I need to go back to NDA."
He said need, not want, meaning that he was required to go back, to perhaps replace Mr. Mine…
"They need me," Gray explained. "They need my help against those terrorists."
I began to shake as I tried to fight back my tears, but I couldn't help it, and my eyes just watered and overflowed.
"It's the main reason why Natsu and the others are still here," he continued speaking, but his eyes were on me, and his fists were clenched. "A part of me… doesn't want to go back, because I want to stay here, where you are."
"But…" I continued for him. "The other part of you is still a soldier at heart, and your duty and honor is winning you over."
"Lucy…"
I looked up despite the tears that spilled, afterwards, forced a smile. "You will…come back, right?"
Gray glanced to the side, eyeing the sunset, remaining quiet for a moment.
"You will, right? And then…" I hiccupped, and struggled to keep my smile. "And then we'll…get married, and have kids…twins…and you'll name one…and…"
He pulled me into his arms.
"Just come back!" I yelled, wrapping my arms around him, and I felt him embrace me tighter. "Promise you'll come back!"
"I love you."
My eyes widened. "Gray…"
"Bye, Lucy..."
He made a move to pull away, but I tightened my grip. "No!" I told him. "No, no...! Please!" I begged, my knees giving in, and he knelt down to my level, still hugging me. "Stay…" I said, though I doubt it was loud enough to be heard. "Just…please…"
I don't know how he knew what I meant, but I was glad he understood me. I know it's inevitable, because he has to do his part for this country, and for the people he loves and cares for, but he knows that what I'm asking is to spend his last moments here in Magnolia with me, before he goes back to NDA for a mission, because…even if I want to keep thinking that he will come back, there's still a fifty percent chance that he may not be able to return, and that is what scared me the most.
"Natsu?"
I kept my head on his chest, listening closely to his conversation with Natsu.
"I'm… I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?"
My left hand found its way to Gray's free hand, and I had our fingers intertwine.
"I…" Gray's voice softened, and I glanced at him. "I just want to stay with Lucy for now."
Earlier, he said he needs to go back to NDA, and now, he said he wants to stay with me.
Need means you really have no choice, but want is your own choice, and I smiled.
"Yeah, thanks."
He hung up, and I looked at him as he looked down at me.
"Won't your parents mind?"
I shook my head and hugged his waist. "I sent my mom a message to tell her I'm with you, I also explained the situation, so…she'll understand."
"And your father?"
"He will too."
We felt the bus stop, and we looked outside the window and realized that we already reached his place.
"You didn't tell me where Natsu and the others are staying…"
"They're with my parents," Gray told me. "I'm supposed to be there too but…" He looked at me. "I'd rather stay here with you."
Most people would cringe at the cliché moments I'm experiencing, even I would. But when you're in love, there are no clichés, no cheesy endings or words…
"And Yoru?"
"My sister agreed to take care of him for the time being."
I wondered why he wouldn't say the word 'return' or 'come back', and I just hope that it's because he's preparing for the harsh reality of life, and doesn't want me to expect anything that would eventually disappoint me.
"Lucy," he called me as we entered his place. "Right now," he looked at me, and I raised my head to meet his gaze. "Don't think of the past, or of what could happen."
"Why...?"
"Because it's the present that really matters right now," Gray leaned his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. "I want us to be happy tonight, and not think of anything or anyone else."
"Mm." I nodded in agreement and placed a hand against his that was on my cheek. "I love you," I told him, returning the words he said earlier. "So much…" I said, smiling even when a tear slid down my cheek, and he let his lips touch mine softly, deepening it when I kissed back. His arms moved to wrap around my waist, and mine instantly wounded around his neck, pulling him closer and lower.
I don't know when or how we got to his room and on his bed, nor could I remember the feeling of him removing my clothes and me discarding his.
I can't really tell why this just feels right even if it seemed so wrong to others, and I don't really care if I'm forgetting about my morals and principles in wanting to do this after marriage.
Because honestly, when Gray and I became a couple, when my feelings and his have grown deeper, I just couldn't think of making love to anyone else other than him, and I seriously wanted him to be my first.
"I love you," Gray whispered in my ear, kissing me after our eyes met, not giving me a chance to say I love you back. Because after our lips made contact, he thrust in, and my grip around him tightened from the sudden pain.
It was supposed to hurt at first; that I know. Mira and Cana told me about it, how the first time doesn't exactly make you feel the pleasure all at once, but as soon as you keep going, you feel the love both parties emit.
And when I was adjusting to him, he started again, asking me in between kisses if I still wanted to go on, and I could only nod and not speak.
The moment I felt the pain be replaced with pleasure, Gray changed to a faster rhythm when I told him to.
I didn't think of the end results or the consequences even after our activity, because seeing him next to me, feeling his arms around me, hearing his heart beating fast, just made it all feel so right.
And before he could doze off, I managed to tell him that I love him too.
The next morning, I was surprised to see him still there, eyes looking at me, smiling when I flushed at how close our faces were.
I looked outside the window, seeing that it was still a bit dark, and I wondered just how long we were asleep.
"It's around four in the morning," Gray told me.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready...?" I asked, avoiding his gaze. "You're supposed to leave at five, right? And you still have to travel to your parents…"
"I didn't want you to wake up alone."
My eyes felt teary at what he said.
"Last night…" he continued. "Was our first time, and it would seem meaningless if I just left you here."
"I don't regret it." I told him. "You know how I firmly believe in sex after marriage, but I don't regret last night, not even a bit."
Gray smiled. "I know."
How he knew, I may never know, but it didn't matter.
"I'll take you back home."
"Why can't I see you off?"
"Because…" He leaned his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. "It would look as if I'm walking out on you."
"But…isn't it the same as…you leaving once you drop me off?"
"No." He pushed a few strands of my hair away from my face. "It's more like I took you home, and I'll be seeing you again."
I smiled and snuggled closer to him for a few more seconds, or maybe even minutes.
Soon, to both our disappointment, he was taking me back home.
"Gray," I called him after he walked me to the front door. "Tell me the real reason why I can't see you off?"
He looked at me, not answering first, before lifting the dog tags around my neck, kissing it, and then pressing it against my lips. His other hand moved to cover my eyes, making me close them, and as soon as the tags dropped after being pulled down by gravity, I felt his lips replace them.
That was the first time he ever kissed me in front of my house.
"I won't be able to leave with you standing there."
"…The only one who blows your mind."
Hope you liked it XD
Only a few chapters left before this story is finished, so enjoy it while you can!
