Hello again everybody! Since I didn't have time to ask you all for your vote for the Christmas Special pairings, I've chosen some of the most popular pairings so far! As always, please leave a review after reading! I welcome all criticism!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters

The guild was abuzz with activity as Fairy Tail began preparing for the Christmas party later that night. Happy and Carla were hanging garlands from the rafters, Levy and Lucy were making hot cocoa, and Gray and Natsu were arguing over who could decorate the tree better and breaking several glass ornaments in the process. One colored orb flew past Gray's shoulder and shattered against Erza's back, which of course ended up causing a guild-wide brawl.

Covered by the cataphony of her fighting guildmates, MiraJane was able to slip unnoticed over to a low-hanging rafter to pin up a small green sprig, its white berries contrasting nicely with the dark green of the leaves and the cheerful red ribbon holding it up. "It isn't quite Christmas without some mistletoe," she said to herself as she returned to her place behind the bar and began restocking the egg nog for later. Her eyes twinkled with joy and mischief. "This ought to make things a little more interesting..."

The Christmas party was in full swing. Lucy wound her way through the crowd, drink-laden platter balanced on one hand as she searched for Cana. Somehow she'd let MiraJane talk her into helping serve drinks. The moment she had agreed, Mira shoved a Santa-girl costume in her hands and told her to change and be ready to go by 6. Since then Lucy's time at the party had been spent going back and forth between the bar and the floor, offering drinks to everyone but mostly getting all of her supply taken and consumed by Cana and Bacchus, whom the former had invited for a rematch to their drinking contest in Crocus. Still, Mira had promised her a break soon, and so Lucy smiled brighter as she finally found the inebriated pair and pushed her way toward them.

Some time later, the celestial mage slumped down on a bench at the edge of the party, rather exhausted. While the heeled boots of her costume were adorable, they weren't exactly made for shoving through crowds for hours on end. Lucy's feet were killing her. With a sigh, she leaned back against the wall, her eyes sliding closed for a brief bit of rest.

"Nice costume you've got there."

Lucy closed her eyes tighter, not giving the speaker the satisfaction of disturbing her. She didn't need to look at him, anyway- she'd know that voice anywhere.

"Thanks Laxus. Did you come over just to give a fashion rating or do you actually need something?" she grumbled. Laxus just chuckled.

"I guess I'd be grumpy too if I had to wear those heels. I was just wondering if you were waiting for someone in particular," he replied. That made Lucy sit up, eyes open to give him an incredulous look.

"Someone in particular? Unless you mean the sand-man, I have no clue what you're talking about," she retorted, pressing a hand to her face in exasperation. Laxus raised an eyebrow at her.

"So you're just sitting here for... anybody?" he asked. Lucy could have sworn she heard a note of disappointment in his voice.

"What are you talking about? I'm not sitting here for anybody besides myself. I'm just tired, okay?" she moaned, thoroughly confused now. Laxus chuckled again, his eyes flicking up to a point above Lucy's head.

"Ah, so you just haven't noticed it yet, then," he said. Puzzled, Lucy looked up to find the sprig of mistletoe dangling above her head. An eyebrow raised in amusement, she turned back to Laxus.

"Mistletoe, huh? So that's why you came over here?" she smirked at him. Laxus looked away.

"...maybe," he admitted finally. A faint blush spread across his cheeks, barely noticeable. But Lucy saw it, and gave him a warm smile.

"Well, what are you waiting for then?" she teased gently. His eyes flicked back to her, and he returned her smile.

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all."

In moments strong arms were pulling Lucy up off her bench, enfolding her in warmth as surprisingly soft lips pressed against hers. Amazingly, the other party goers were all too caught up in their shenanigans to notice the pair, giving them a tiny bit of privacy. Lucy wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted, but she gasped for air as they broke apart, her lips tingling. Laxus looked embarrassed.

"Sorry, I, er... gave off a little static, I guess," he mumbled. Lucy smiled at him.

"I guess you could say that kiss was... electrifying?"

"That was a terrible pun."

"But not a terrible kiss."

Laxus regarded her warily. "Just not-terrible?"

Lucy pursed her lips in mock-thoughtfulness. "Hmm... Well, it might have actually been excellent but... I think I'd have to try it again to be sure," she teased. Laxus smirked at her.

"You can try it as many times as you want."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Lucy returned from her "break" in the hallway, Laxus emerging from the same hallway soon enough after for the few paying attention to have their suspicions, but those who did kept it to themselves. Lucy headed over to the bar to recollect her tray and start handing out drinks again.

"Oi, bunny-girl! Bring one over here, would ya?" Gajeel called, waving her over. The dragonslayer stood in a corner, trying to talk to Juvia, who was practically sobbing buckets for... no apparent reason. Lucy made her way over, giving Juvia a concerned look as she handed the dragonslayer his drink.

"Is she alright?" Lucy asked, stepping around the puddle of tears forming around the water mage. Gajeel's brow furrowed.

"Yeah, she's a'right, just had too much ta drink, I guess. I can't get a word outta her about what caused it to begin with," he replied. He knocked back his drink, which sent Juvia even further into hysterics. Gajeel shook his head. "And now she's cryin' about just about everything. I really don't know what it's all about."

"Juvia, are you okay? What's wro- ah!"

Lucy turned at the sound of a new voice to watch Levy, who'd run over in concern after hearing the renewed bout of sobs, slip in the puddle around Juvia and come crashing down to the floor.

"Are you a'right, shrimp?" Lucy glanced at Gajeel in surprise at the amount of concern in his voice. Levy winced as she tried to get back up.

"I'm okay Gajeel, I think I just twisted my ankle a bit..." she replied, her tone light, but her face tensed in pain as she tried to put weight on the injured joint. Gajeel stepped forward and scooped the smaller woman up bridal-style, much to her dismay.

"Bunny-girl, you deal with Juvia. I'm gonna find some place for the shrimp to sit," he commanded. A sly grin flitted across Lucy's face.

"Why don't you take her to that bench over there? It's pretty out of the way from the party; she shouldn't get bumped over there," she suggested. Gajeel nodded.

"Good idea," he replied, already shoving his way through the crowd. Levy pushed against him.

"I-I can walk myself! I don't need you to carry me Gajeel!" she complained. Gajeel shook his head, laughing.

"Gihihi, you're so small I almost forgot I was carrying anything at all, shrimp," he chuckled. Levy's cheeks puffed in indignation.

"Stupid Gajeel! You're so mean!" she squealed, struggling more. Gajeel shook his head.

"Calm down, shrimp, I just don't want yer ankle to get more hurt going through this crowd, 'kay?" Levy calmed down at his words, a bright blush covering her cheeks. The two made it through the throng and Gajeel set the blunette down gently on the bench before sitting beside her and lifting her foot to examine her ankle, ignoring the woman's complaints.

"A'right, yer ankle looks like it'll be okay, just don't wander around much," Gajeel mumbled, still inspecting the injured joint. Levy rolled her eyes, trying to pull her foot away while holding down her skirt.

"Gajeel, put my foot down! You're pushing up my skir-!" Levy cut off as she noticed the small sprig hanging above her, clapping her free hand over her mouth. Her already-flushed face turned bright red. Gajeel followed her gaze and narrowed his red eyes at the plant.

"You okay, shorty? What's that thing?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

"I-it's mistletoe..." Levy replied quietly, looking away in embarrassment. Gajeel's brow furrowed further.

"Why's it botherin' ya so much?"

"W-w-well, when two people meet under the mistletoe they're supposed to..." she trailed off, but Gajeel urged her on. Her cheeks flushed even brighter as she finished, "They're supposed to kiss..."

Now it was Gajeel's turn to blush as he turned away from the embarrassed script mage, unable to face her now. "Oh, uh, well... Ya don't have to kiss me, shorty, you didn't know it was here, and I set ya here so ya didn't really have a choice but ta be here..." he muttered, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. Levy pulled her legs under her, kneeling beside him. Her whole face was flaming, but she managed to speak up in spite of it.

"Um, well, rules are rules, you know, so I think we should," she squeaked, looking at the floor as she spoke. Gajeel turned back enough to look at her out of the corner of his eye, still not daring to look her straight in the eye.

"You sure ya want ta do that, Levy?" he asked, his voice oddly rough with emotion. "I would understand if ya didn't want ta, ya know."

Levy shook her head, covering her face with her hands. "No, I- Are you really going to make me say it?" Gajeel turned now to face her fully, his ruby eyes staring into what felt like Levy's very soul.

"I just want ta make sure yer not makin' a decision yer gonna regret, Levy. I'll do it if ya want me to, but only if ya really want it. And not because of some stupid plant. Would ya want this if we weren't under this thing?"

Levy's heart felt like it had stopped. Still too embarrassed to speak, she nodded slowly, but Gajeel shook his head.

"Say it, Levy. I-" he cut off, glancing away from her to recollect himself before looking back with those soul-piercing eyes. His voice shook with emotion as he whispered, "I need you to say it out loud Levy."

Levy swallowed hard. If he could say that, then she could do it too. "Yes, Gajeel. I want... I want you to kiss me." Gajeel cleared his throat.

"Well then..." he said softly, pulling her gently to him. Impossibly soft lips pressed against Levy's and she could've sworn that the entire world melted away. Gajeel held her tenderly, like she was a fragile thing he was afraid of breaking, and she felt herself gripping his shoulders to pull him tighter to her.

"More..." she breathed as he pulled away. Gajeel was only too happy to oblige, with kiss after kiss that ached of desire where the first had filled Levy with warmth and tenderness. Both parties were breathless as they broke apart. Levy found herself in Gajeel's lap, although she wasn't sure when or how she'd gotten there. Gajeel ran a calloused thumb down her cheek, staring at her in a mixture of undisguised admiration and complete awe. Levy giggled nervously, not sure what to say.

"I never thought..." Gajeel mumbled, disbelief evident in his voice. When Levy looked at him in confusion, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I never thought you would... ever want that. I mean, I knew ya forgave me but I didn't think... I couldn't let myself believe that you'd ever want me ta..." Levy giggled again and pulled the dragonslayer into a hug. After a brief pause, he returned it, still holding her like she could break at any moment. The tiny woman pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes.

"But I do, Gajeel. I have for a long time... I just didn't know how to tell you. And if you need me to prove that it has nothing to do with this mistletoe here, then I could show you that my reaction would be the same far away from it, too. If you want, of course," she told him, emboldened by the rush of the kiss. Gajeel's cheeks blazed, but he kept her gaze.

"I'd like that, shrimp. I really would."

The partying guild had largely missed Levy and Gajeel's moment on the bench, though Lucy smiled to herself from beside a now-quiet Juvia, and Erza and MiraJane exchanged knowing looks from their place at the bar. The pair giggled quietly as the dragonslayer scooped up his new-found prize and carried her out the guild hall doors.

"Do you think that they'll even come back?" Erza laughed, sipping her glass of egg nog. Mira shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"I'm not sure... But I certainly hope so. I have a feeling things will only get more interesting as the night progresses," the white-haired mage replied. Erza narrowed her eyes at her friend suspiciously.

"What are you up to, Mira?" she challenged, but the other woman merely shook her head, smiling.

"You'll just have to find out."

Erza rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "Well, whatever you have planned, hopefully it's not any more devious than your little mistletoe prank. You've already caught two couples. I wouldn't be surprised if a few more find themselves beneath it."

Mira snickered. "I think that's exactly what Juvia intends to do," she commented, nodding towards the water mage, who had escaped from Lucy's care and was now attempting to drag a protesting Gray underneath the sprig. "But no, I wouldn't consider my other plans devious. In fact, I think you'll quite like one of them, Erza."

Erza's eyes flashed at Mira's teasing tone, but she knew she would get nothing more out of her friend, so she decided to write it off as Mira simply trying to get a rise out of her. With a shrug, she went back to sipping her egg nog and surveying the party.

The night carried on, a few more couples accidentally- or intentionally- ending up beneath Mira's mistletoe. Elfman and Evergreen were caught there by "accident", though Mira claimed she'd seen the two whispering to each other before meeting beneath it. Romeo and Wendy truly found themselves there by accident while chasing Happy in a game of tag, and they settled for a quick, but adorable, peck on the cheek. Bisca had playfully pulled Alzack beneath the plant, though he hadn't exactly opposed her, while Cana and Bacchus had been shoved beneath it by equally inebriated friends. Gajeel and Levy returned some time later, both looking a bit ruffled but positively glowing with happiness, their fingers entwined with one another's.

The party had nearly wound to an end. The dancing had slowed, the food was nearly gone, and most of the guild had settled comfortably around tables, sipping what was left of their drinks and talking. It was then that the door burst open, admitting a shadowy figure to saunter into the room, his collar pulled up against the wind outside. He pulled down his hood, revealing a blue tattoo around his eye. Erza, still sitting with Mira at the bar, gasped.

"Knows how to make a dramatic entrance, doesn't he?" Mira muttered to her friend, rolling her eyes. The man glanced around the room, catching Erza's eye before approaching her with quick strides. She stood as he approached, still partially in shock.

"Jellal! What are you doing here?" she asked, eyes wide. His gaze flickered over to Mira briefly before reaching for Erza's hands, which he held in both of his.

"MiraJane invited me. She promised it would be safe," he explained simply, pulling Erza with him as he backed up slowly. The red-haired mage was so dumbfounded that she barely registered that they were moving.

"But I don't understand, how did she even contact you?"

Jellal took a few more steps back, still pulling Erza with him. She followed without thinking. "I gave her a communication lacrima that she could use if the guild was ever in danger." Erza pulled her hands away, looking slightly hurt.

"You gave that... to Mira? But why... why wouldn't you have given it to me?" she asked, staring him down. Jellal took her hands again gently and began to move them backwards once more.

"I knew if you had it, I wouldn't be able to resist talking to you, maybe more than would be safe." Erza's cheeks burned at his words, but Jellal kept talking. "I've wanted to talk to you for so long. I've wanted to see you again. I never wanted to be parted from you. And, actually, that's what I'm here about right now." He stopped moving backwards at this, and Erza nearly ran into him. She shook her head, bewildered.

"That's what you're here about? I don't understand..."

"Erza, look up," Jellal prodded gently. Erza glanced up to find the mistletoe spring swaying slightly above her. When she looked back, Jellal was digging through one of his cloak pockets. He pulled something small out, but kept it covered with his hand. Around them, the entire guild stared, no one making a sound. "Erza, you know it's not safe for me to be around here right now. With the council still after me, I can't stay where people can find me for very long at any one point. But someday... I know someday this will be over, and I can stop running. And when that day comes, I want to be sure that I'll still be able to find you here. When that day comes, I don't want to ever be parted from you again." He knelt down on one knee, opening the box in his hand to reveal a silver ring, set with ruby stones. Erza's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. "That's why, Erza Scarlet, I ask of you this: when this time comes and we no longer must be separated, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Erza's head reeled and she staggered back a step. Jellal didn't move, waiting expectantly for her reply. Tears filled the woman's eyes as she stepped forward again, pulling Jellal up silently. She placed a hand on his cheek, staring into his eyes for a moment. Slowly, she nodded.

"Yes, Jellal Fernandes. In a heartbeat," she replied, pulling him to her in a deep, passionate kiss. The guild hall erupted in cheers and congratulations as the man wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back. He pulled away to place the ring on her finger, and Erza took a moment to admire it. Jellal used that moment to pull out of her arms.

"I'm sorry, Erza, but I've already stayed too long. I need to leave now. But I love you, so, so much. And I will be back. I'll be back for you. I promise." He pressed one final kiss to her forehead, and then with a swish of his cloak, he was gone. Erza pressed her hand to her chest, staring out the door where her fiance had disappeared, her eyes wide with disbelief. Sensing this was not exactly the time for congratulations, her guildmates quietly shuffled back to their places. Mira came over, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I thought you would like seeing him again, Erza, but I didn't expect... that," she said quietly. Erza turned to face her.

"Thank you, Mira. This was the best Christmas present you could've gotten me," she murmured, still a bit in shock. Mira offered a sympathetic smile.

"He really does love you, Erza. And he'll be back."

Erza turned back again to look at the door, a sad smile gracing her lips. "I know he will be, Mira. And I'll be right here waiting for him.

Hope you liked the Christmas Special! As always, please please please leave me a review! My next story will likely be a Gray/Juvia one, so please also leave some prompts for a story about the two of them, or any other characters you'd like to see written about! Merry Christmas, and happy reading!