Before Erza could continue with the game, she first had to manage to bring two long known brawlers apart. Of course that would be Natsu and Gray. Lately, they argued significantly worse and more often than usual. The reason? You.

Although you literally grew up together with Gray and Lyon under Urs care, you only had a good rapport to the elder one of those two. As kids you and Gray got along very well, but since you attended Fairy Tail High School, he was barely with you now and was getting ruder every day. To you that was simply incomprehensible, especially since you felt more and more attracted to him. But you didn't quite get his attitude towards you. Sometimes you could laugh together, but in the next moment he got rude again and offended you once again. Furthermore he avoided you, whenever he saw you together with Juvia. Presumably he returned her feelings now and you were in there way...

"Enough! We are guests here! Be at least once norm today and get along with each other!" Erza growled at them after she had grabbed their collars and smashed their heads together to stop them at last. "But the popsicle has started it! Besides he destroyed the ring, that I gave [Y/n] as a present!" Natsu snarled and threw a fire ball at Gray. Gray only growled and turned his head away. "Such a childish thing, a friendship ring...You act like you still are in kinder garden!" The ice mage spoke and looked briefly at you. You looked at the broken remains of your ring and one single tear found its way down your cheek. It was your most prized possession, because a special message was behind this ring...

[Flashback]

Today was your birthday, but nobody of your friends seemed to remember that. Not even Lyon, who chased after Juvia all of the time and hardly had any free time. Also your best friend Natsu rather busied himself with insulting Gray.

In the evening you went the long way home crestfallen, because nothing was waiting for you there...so why the hurry! Thereby many thoughts were flying through your mind. Also on Gray. Why weren't your feelings for him decreasing, despite him treating you so badly? Those thoughts you dedicated a long time, so that you didn't notice it was getting darker until you noticed the lighted street lamps.

As you arrived at your apartment you could see Natsu sitting outside in front of your doorstep. "[Y/n]! Finally there you are!" He shouted and ran into your direction to hug you tightly. "Natsu...Did you wait here for me since school had ended?" You asked perplexed. "Not quite. I had to get something first and then came directly to your place...Here! Happy Birthday!" He called with glee and presented you a small casket. "You didn't forget it?" You asked touched and had to hug him immediately a second time. "Now listen, although I can be quite a moron I would never forget the most important day of my little [element]flower." Natsu grinned with his typical grin.

You looked at him with a smile, before you opened the small casket and a silver ring with a [favourite gem] set-in sparkled in your direction. "Natsu...The ring...it's beautiful..." You spoke softly and looked at him for a long time. "I had myself been advised what to buy and they said, that this gemstone stands for dreams and when you get from person, who wants, that your dream comes true, then it will come true! Because of that the ring shall give you the courage to tell Gray about your feelings! And when he tramples on them with his feet, then I will reformat his front teeth." Natsu laughed and took the ring to streak it up your finger. "Thank you Natsu, you're the best!"

Gray saw the scene in front of him, just as he wanted to you with an equally expensive gift. His eyes widened as Natsu attached the ring to your finger and looked down at the necklace he wanted to give you as a gift. "I'm such an idiot..." He mumbled and threw the present into the next trash can, before he ran away. From this day on he was even colder towards you.

[Flashback End]

"Hey come on, the toy ring was only from a gumball machine anyway!" Gray said and turned around, before Natsu could attack him once again. "TAKE THAT BACK ICE PRINCESS!" - "MAKE ME FLAMEBRAIN!" Gray countered and both of them wanted to fight again, but this time you went between them. "JUST STOP ALREADY!" You shouted at both of them and Natsu let his arms drop to his sides. "[Y/n]..."

...

"Okay before the mood is entirely ruined...[Y/n] it's your turn for Seven Minutes in Heaven!" Erza demanded and held the familiar bag in front of you. Gray couldn't hold back his big mouth once again, so that he blurted out an inappropriate comment again..."Hey, wallflower...Do us both a favour and don't draw out my name. No one of us wants to put up with that. Oi Erza, the drawing is superfluous anyway! Just put these two blockheads..." He began and pointed at you and Natsu. "Together in one room. That would be a perfect match." He grinned and Natsu was immediately back to 180, while you had to fight against the piercing pain in your heart that his words caused you.

"That's enough Gray. So that we all will have a few minutes to rest and also our Natsu can relax a bit again, we skip the drawing and you are allowed to spend seven minutes with [Y/n]." Erza then said and therewith ended the discussion of those two troublemakers. "WHAT?!" It rang out from you and Gray at the same time. That could only go wrong, right?

"No talk back. Gray, a number." Erza spoke. At first Gray didn't want to say anything, but then he had too much respect for Erza. "...3..." He mumbled almost without sound and turned away. You had no choice and followed both of them with a lowered head. Arriving at the destination dead silence hung above all of you and Erza left the place with a grin on her lips. Because she knew a bit more about this whole situation than you and possibly Gray himself.

The poolroom looked rather normal, no oversized pool and the lights were also on. Gray went to the edge and let his hands slip into the water to moisten his face a bit. It seemed like that he needed that cooling for now. You stood at the door nervously and looked in every direction, but avoided to make direct eye contact with Gray. The black haired male stretched himself, before turned to you with a grin on his features. "Bad luck, I'd say." He then said. "Seems so..." Was your answer. Gray cocked his head to the side, because normally in private you would always defy yourself against him and would throw every now and then harsh words against his head. But today you seemed quieter to him than usually, almost depressed. He considered, if he maybe should be nicer towards you, but then he thought of Juvia again.

'Gray-sama, Juvia will always love you and will be stand loyally by your side! And every woman, that wants to destroy Juvia's happiness, is Juvia's love rival and will encounter her revenge! Everything for my Gray-sama Juvia will not allow that somebody gets in between our love!' - The words of the water mage rang inside of his head, when he looked at you. He bit down on his lower lip and shook that thoughts away. No, you and Natsu always behaved like a couple and then...that ring. It was too obvious for him. No, you would never return his feelings, why should he continue to be considerate? It was easier for him that way.

"The flame brain and you don't even need that stupid game. You can roll around in bed enough in private." It fell from his lips. "Gray...That's enough..." You spoke softly and strands of your hair fell in front of your face. "Why? It's only the truth. But if I would be you I would keep an eye on that dumbass. Because I doubt that you would find someone dumber than him, who would take you as his girlfriend."

...

That was enough. You bit down hard onto your lip until a drop of blood dripped onto the ground, before you headed into Gray's direction. He looked at you perplexed, but then you already drew your hand back and slapped him hard so that he lost balance and fell into the water. As he resurfaced he saw in front of him how your tears fell into the water and his eyes widened. "Why don't you say it out loud already that you hate me? ...I must really have been a complete idiot to have fallen in love with such a cold-hearted asshole as you. Never have you said something nice to me! And do you know what the worst is? I hate myself. I should hate you, but I hate myself. I hate myself for not being able to stop loving you..."

It didn't matter to you what he thought about you now. His facial features showed that he seemed to be in shock. But you didn't have the nerves now to look into his face any longer. You swirled around and tore the door open to storm past a confused and perplexed Erza. "[Y/n]...?" Erza asked concerned and looked into the room. Gray still was in the water and looked like he was not here mentally.

Lyon of course wanted to know what happened, why you, his "little sister", just had rushed through the crowd of the present people dissolved in tears. Gray explained the situation and Lyon looked at him aghast. "You said WHAT to her? Does your ice magic finally has frozen your brain completely? I don't believe this!" Lyon sighed annoyed and smack Gray across the back of his head. "Gosh, there you have the chance of your life time and you screw it up."

"What do you mean by that?" Natsu asked who of course had beaten up Gray already as soon as he saw him. "Lyon, don't..." Gray sighed, but Lyon continued talking. "He loves [Y/n]."

"..."

"But love looks different..." Sherry said as she snuggled against her fiancé Ren. "I know. But nevertheless Gray has feelings for her. Already in those days where we have lived with Ur." Lyon explained further on. "But why does he treat her so badly then?" Natsu asked and grabbed the collar of the ice mage again. Gray snarled and turned the tables. "Because I thought, that YOU are in love with each other flame brain!" Natsu let go from Gray and blinked. Then he burst into laughter. "YOU think, that [Y/n] and I...are a couple? Wahaha. That's a good one Gray. You've got even less idea of women than I do!" Natsu laughed and smacked him across his back. Slowly the black haired teen felt really dumb. He closed his eyes and sighed.

Then he felt a kick into his ass and fell forward to his knees. Behind him he spotted Lyon. "What are you waiting for? Get that back under control, idiot. She loves you and you love her." Lyon said with folded arms. Gray stood up and looked to the side briefly. "But I don't even know what I should say...I was never in such a situation like this before and can't even estimate it." He sighed and stroked through his hair.

The clearing of someone's through attracted the attention of the young people. "Master Makarov!" Erza exclaimed surprised and bowed down respectfully in front of the headmaster of the Fairy Tail High School. "My boy, I can give you no patent remedy of course, but what is important is that you hear what your heart says." Makarov said and closed his eyes. "That won't work. His heart is just as frozen as his brain. OUCH!" Natsu mumbled as he after he had finished the sentence got smacked across his head with an Ice Make Hammer from the ice mage. "Master, I don't know if I can do this. Not after everything what I have done, what I have said to her..." Gray said and looked guiltily aside. He really had been unfriendly and would he be in your place, he would hate himself for eternity. Makarov smiled. "Insight is the first step to recovery. To admit your own mistakes is a good start. To settle these mistakes shows great courage and strength. For the things you love you should fight. Precisely as Fairy Tail mage. You have overcome so many great dangers. Do you want to fail on your own feelings?"

Gray looked at him with determination and clenched his fists. "No, I don't. And I won't. Thank you, Master. You have opened up my eyes. And Lyon, I also have to thank you. The kick in the butt I really had needed." Gray mumbled then, while Lyon grinned. "Every time with pleasure. And now go or shall I kick you to her?" He asked and Gray grinned, before he gave Lyon a bro fist and went to search for you. For this he used Hibiki's Archive Magic, who imprinted the way to your apartment in his head. Because it was rather possible, that you had went home already. "Gray, wait!" Happy shouted, as he about to make his way there.

"I have followed [Y/n] after she ran away. She's at the beach nearby from here!" Happy said and landed on Natsu's head again. "I understand. Thanks Happy." Gray nodded and made his way there running. "DON'T SCREW IT UP AGAIN!" Natsu and Lyon shouted simultaneously after him. Gray only held up his arm in understanding and made his way on the direction of the beach.

You sat so much near the water so that the waves could reach your chest. It was cold, but that was what you needed now. The thing with Gray was drawing at your nerves and you didn't understand why you nevertheless could not hate him. No, you just couldn't. This man had stolen your heart, but he was totally careless about it. "[Y/N]!" Someone shouted your name from afar and you recognized this voice immediately. You stood up and looked in Gray's direction, who was running towards you. "What to pour more salt into the wound? Please don't, Gray. For one day that was enough. Continue tomorrow. For now I just want to be alone." You spoke with closed eyes and turned your back to him.

Gray stayed silent after this as he pulled you suddenly into a hug. You swirled around to him and wanted to break free from his embrace. "I'm sorry..." He mumbled and didn't let go of you. "Gray...Let me go...Please." You whispered into his neck as he pulled you tighter against him. "Only, when you'll listen to me..." He muttered into your hair and loosened the embrace a bit. He looked at you and didn't know at first what to say. "I was a giant idiot." He began. "I...I thought that Natsu and you love each other and...Because of that I thought that I never would have a chance with you. Besides Juvia had sworn to get rid of any competition and I wouldn't be able to be always here to protect you. I...I just wanted to know that you are in safety, even when my heart couldn't cope with it. But my feelings for you grew stronger and on your last birthday I wanted to confess my love with a self-made necklace...But then I saw how Natsu put the ring on your finger while laughing and you flung your arms around his neck..." Gray explained and looked at the ground.

You didn't say a word the whole time as he spoke. Frankly his behaviour slowly made sense. It was easy to misinterpret the scene and think you and Natsu are a couple. And Gray was someone, who showed his pain through his cold behaviour. He just wanted to make sure that you both didn't have to live with such feelings but rather hate each other. Because that would make the thwarted love easier. At least in Gray's eyes. "Gray...You never have loved someone before, right?" You asked softly. Gray shook his head. "No...I had no clue how this would feel and what I should do...Admittedly, Juvia loves me. But...I shouldn't take her as an example I guess." He sighed.

You had to smile slightly at his words. "Probably not. Although I would have nothing against it, when you would be as affectionate as he and would confirm your undying love for me on daily bases." You spoke tenderly and Gray blushed a little. He felt deeply sick now. "[Y/n]...I'm so sorry that I was so cruel to you that often. And all those inappropriate words..." He then mumbled. "If you really mean it..." You began and stroked his cheek. Gray looked at you firmly. "I do..." He whispered what caused you to smile gently. "Then...Let's start anew."

Gray's eyes widened slightly. "Y...You forgive me...that fast? After all what I..." He wanted to stutter further on, but you put your index- and middle finger against his lips, to silence him. "Sshht. You think too much Gray. Of course I forgive you. I love you, if you haven't noticed until now." You said with a smile. Gray blushed, before he took your hand, whose fingers where on his lips. Slowly he kissed your fingertips, before he pulled you into his embrace once more. "I love you too [Y/n]...I love you so much..." He whispered before he finally kissed you.

His lips were cold, but also refreshing. His hands wandered to your hips, while your arms wrapped around his neck and the embrace got tighter. A weak moan escaped your lips as Gray nibbled on your lower lip. He groaned slightly as he could feel yor tongue, which nudged his carefully and seduced it to dance a little tango. Gray won the tongue battle with ease and forced you back into the sea even further until you both were approximately 1.40 m deep in the water. He lifted you onto his hips and kissed you once again. Then he kissed down along your neck and began to suck at your weakest point.

Your moans got louder as he nibbled on this spot and bit down on it until a prominent, red marking was left there, which should signalize to whom you belonged. "Gray...For that, that you never had fallen in love before, you can kiss very well~..." You spoke softly. "And how can you tell? Do you have so much experience?" He asked in a rather husky voice, while he nibbled along your neck and kissed his way up to your ear. You had to moan lowly, before you could answer him. "N...No, but it just feels so great..." You admitted and closed your eyes as Gray took your lobe into his mouth and pulled gently at it with his teeth. He licked alongside your ear shell, before his hand wandered underneath your top and moved the sopping wet bra to the side, so he could stroke along your bare back.

"A...h..." Your pleasurable moaning got Gray to groan lowly as he once again captured your lips. "Wet things should be taken off, so you won't get sick~" He breathed against your lips. You looked at him and an amused laugh escaped your lips. "Well not with you. You have taken yours off already." You spoke smirking and Gray looked down his body and noticed, that already was only wearing his boxer shorts again. "When did that happen? SHIT!" He cursed and saw his clothes drift out to the open sea. "Ah forget it." He then grinned and leaned his forehead against yours. "I have everything that I need with me." He said. "What? Your underwear?" You asked laughing. "No. The girl of my dreams." Was his answer. You blushed deep read and breathed a kiss on his lips.

Just as Gray was about to pull off your top you saw a flashlight in the corner of your eyes at the coast. You looked at each other, before you looked to the beach where you saw Nagisa standing with a camera. "Wow so romantic, like in a film!" The blond teenager laughed and took another photo as Gray waved at him happily. "Gray!" You exclaimed bashfully and looked at your boyfriend. "What? If he wants a show then he can have one." Gray grinned, before he lifted you up a bit out of the water. Then he let you fall again so that he could capture your lips with his in between and Nagisa had a few snap shots more to take. All in all this day was not as bad, as you had thought in the beginning!

Extended Ending

"By the way, why did you actually destroy my ring?" You wanted to know as you laid on the beach alongside Gray and he held you in a tight embrace. The black haired teen laughed softly and stroked a few strands of your hair behind your ear. "Because I couldn't bear the thought anymore that you would wear a ring of another man. The only ring you are allowed to wear should come from me." He whispered before he kissed your lips gently. "Mh-mh. If you give me one, I only will wear yours anymore, I promise." You said and leaned your head against his shoulder. Gray grinned and took your hand in his. With his Ice Make Magic he created a crystal ring around your ring finger. You looked at the ring and noticed an engraving. "Forever Mine." You had to smile and looked up at him. "I would never have taken you as a romantic."

"This is just because of the right woman, my dear. Just because of the right woman."