I do not own Fairy Tail. Enjoy the chapter!

"Nice to see you two getting along." Lucy smirked.

I couldn't help but feel the blush creeping along my cheeks. "Yeah, well…" I stopped, not really knowing what to say.

Natsu grinned next to me. "You're cute when you're nervous." My blush went deeper. Natsu squeezed my hand under the table.

"Took you long enough though." Loke teased. If it was possible for me to turn ten shades of red I did. Loke had seen Natsu and I walk off the other day. So of course, not allowed to have any private time, he dragged Lucy along to eavesdrop. Which is why Lucy will now not stop joking with me. It was also why Erza forbid us to be alone, saying it was irresponsible to leave couples alone too long, in case they start making inappropriate gestures. Not that I was ready for any of that.

"Aw, leave him alone. It's my job to tease him." Natsu joked, pulling towards him.

"Natsu," I whined. "People will see us." The pinkette smiled down at me and ruffled my hair affectionately.

"When are you two going on your first date?" Erza spoke up.

"It should be something extremely romantic." Lucy went off on a list of romantic fantasies.

"Da-date?" I stuttered nervously. I've never been on a date. What you were supposed to do on one was a complete mystery to me.

Lucy stopped babbling and nodded. "Yep, all couples go on dates."

"But…"

Loke chuckled at me. "Looks like our little Gray is a little scared." He gave me a wink. Sure, he could joke about this. He was the King of Flirtation. "Don't worry, at least we got one of you trained."

"Trained?" I raised an eyebrow at Natsu for an explanation.

"They made me take classes." The pinkette shivered as he said it. Erza gave him one of her supercilious looks.

"Hey Happy!" I yelled into the almost empty house.

"Natsuuu." The blue feline an up to me. He had reverted to his cheery self after I stopped acting so gloomy.

"Hey buddy." I lifted the cat up and hugged him. "Wanna go somewhere real quick?"

"Really?" the cat looked at me hopefully. It wasn't often he got to leave the house. I nodded. "Yay!" the feline climbed onto the top of my head.

"Hmm," I looked up to the grey colored sky. A few snowflakes fell into my open palm. Winter already? I stood frozen for a moment, enjoying the tranquil setting of the fresh fallen snow. Winter was by far my favorite season. I had lived up north before my mom died and my siblings and I moved down here. The city of Magnolia was usually pretty warm so I never had the chance to relish the cold weather I had grown up in. Just like old times.

I cast one final smile to the darkening sky before moving on.

"What are you looking for?" Happy asked from his position on my head.

"Hmm, couples I guess."

"Couples?"

I nodded the tiniest bit so the cat wouldn't fall off. "I'm looking for ideas for what to do with Gray."

Happy giggled at that. "You liiiike him." He sang. "Isn't it customary for someone to take the other out?"

"Yeah…" I scratched the back of my head in thought. "But the question is, where do they go? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?" I babbled on for a while before Happy hit my head to get me to shut up.

"When's the date?"

I shrugged. "We don't have anything planned."

"So why are you worrying?"

"Because we'll go out somewhere eventually."

"Why don't you just ask him what you two should do?"

"According to Lucy you're supposed to have everything planned out."

"Why are you taking advice from Lucy? Has she ever had a date?"

I stopped in my tracks. "Good point."

"There's a couple." The cat pointed his tail in the direction he spoke of. A man and women were walking down the road, holding hands. "Over there too." He pointed in another direction. A couple was in a local shop, sharing ice cream.

The beginning of small plans began forming in my mind. It's a start.

"I'm home."

Lyon didn't bother to glance up as I entered the small home, only grunting in response. He poured over the letter in front of him. Sighing, I left him alone. There was no point in distracting the older male when he had a concentrated look on his face. I opened the door of my room and flopped onto my bed.

I wonder what Natsu's doing right now.

…

"Interesting."

I watched as a couple walked down the street. The man had his arm wrapped around the women's waist. Silently, I pictured myself doing that with Gray. "Say, Happy," The feline looked up from the fish he was nibbling on. "Why do you think couples always hold each other and stuff?"

The cat shrugged his small shoulders. "Don't know. Cause they can, I guess."

"Hmm." Another couple hugged each other. That looks like fun. "So now that we're together, do you think I can hug Gray freely?"

"Didn't you already do that?"

The cat had a point. "I got it!" I pounded my fist in my palm to show that I meant it. The cat looked at me in curiosity. "I know exactly what to do when I got out with Gray in a few days."

…

…

"Hi Gray." Lucy waved at me from our lunch table. Smiling, I sat down along with her and Erza.

"Hi." I cast a small smile to the blonde and scarlet.

"You're smiling at someone other than me?"

I jumped as the pinkette snuck up behind me. Natsu gave me one of his warm smiles and slid in the seat beside me. Lucy laughed at me as I calmed down a bit. Natsu gave her a wide grin and pulled me close to him, causing the blonde the laugh harder.

"Na-Natsu…" I still wasn't completely used to the idea of liking someone, especially the pink haired teen. So him being so open with everyone was a little unexpected.

"Aw, Gray's still a little shy." Lucy teased.

"Am not!" I challenged.

Natsu pulled me in closer, ignoring my protest I gave him. "But he's my shy Gray."

"I am nobody's, I belong to myself." Though I felt a blush heating my face at the my part.

"You're telling me Gray isn't my pet anymore?" Loke added, coming up to us.

"Since when was I your pet?!"

"Stop teasing him, that's my job." Natsu shot the orange haired a playful look.

"At what point did I become the one who got ignored?"

No one answered me, evidently, I wasn't exaggerating. "I always thought Gray as a little brother." Erza claimed. "Which is why," she pointed a finger at Natsu. "If you hurt him you're suffer my wrath." It's amazing how fast the scarlet's mood can change.

Natsu shivered at her declaration. "I won't." He promised. The scarlet eyed him for a bit before resuming her earlier composure.

"So when are you going on your date?" Lucy looked at me curiously.

So I only get asked questions when it's for her daily gossip. I shrugged. "We don't have anything planned. After all, we spend a lot of time together anyway."

"He's right. Even today he's coming home with me."

"What?" The scarlet went back to her terrifying state. "What is this about you two being alone together?"

"But it doesn't count if you're working on something." Lucy mumbled as Natsu tried reassuring the scarlet it was completely innocent.

"You think of it that way if you want sweetheart." Loke told the blonde. "Either way Natsu is getting free time with Gray."

I heard whimpers come from Natsu as Erza began showing him the fear of her wrath. "Alone time?"

Lucy and Loke blinked at me in surprise. The orange haired teen threw his head back suddenly, laughing hard. "Um, Gray." Lucy shifted uncomfortably. "You do know that couples tend to spend time together to do stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Cuddle… and hug and…"

"Just say it, Lucy." Loke interrupted the blonde. Lucy turned red in response. "She's talking about making out."

A small yelp came from Natsu as Erza tortured him as she heard Loke's words. A halfway heard I think her heard her threaten 'no one's groping him,' but I wasn't sure. "Ma-make out? As in kiss?"

Loke rolled his eyes. "What else would it imply?"

"Bu-but…"

Natsu looked at me, sensing my nervousness. "Gray doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to." I sighed in relief at his words. Though somewhat embarrassed at having Natsu defend me.

…

"Have you even done anything?"

Natsu played with my hair as I scolded him. "About what?"

I groaned. "Our project. I'm not here just to amuse you, you know."

"But you're fun to play with." He whined.

"How have you made it this far in life?"

Natsu pouted a little at my criticism. "Cause I'm cute. That seems to work out pretty well on me."

"That doesn't work on everything."

"Worked on you." Couldn't argue with that. The pinkette folded his arms around my waist and snuggled close to me. For someone so determined at times it was amazing how gentle he was. "Used to it yet?" He muttered in my ears.

"No," I breathed out.

"Can I make you used to it?"

I shot him a funny look. Natsu looked at me, a mixture of innocence and mischievousness on his face. He leaned in close to me and lightly kissed my jawline. "Na- Natsu…" My face turned red as he nuzzled my neck.

"Hmm."

He hummed next to me. He reached up and pecked my blushing cheek. "I-I'm still not sure I'm rea-" The pulled my down so my head lay on his chest.

"I know." The pinkette leaned back and softly stroked my hair. "It's fun to hold you though." I resigned and let him keep his arms around me.

My eyes traveled around his room as his fingers ran through my hair. Green, bright, numbers caught my eye. "Oh crap." I sat up suddenly, breaking from his embrace. I must have lost track of time at some point. "I need to go." What? Lyon gave me a curfew and I wasn't going to break.

"Want me to walk you home?" Natsu offered.

I shook my head. "Nah. You'll just have to walk back here." Natsu did walk me to the door though. He gave me a final, quick hug before I left.