Thanks, Fannafic and Guest, for your reviews.

I'll try to write a chapter a day, but that will probably be impossible from the next week, since I'm still in collage and the year will begin.

Anyway, this chapter is here now, so enjoy!

Chapter 21: Specific Request and a Hint

Natsu wasn't particularly interested in going back to the guild when Mest teleported them in front of it. With the guild probably being full, and all the people in there still afraid of him, he didn't feel like going in there would be very fun.

"You don't need me to tell everyone, right?", the fire mage asked, referring to the king's, or previous king's, announcement.

"You're not going in?", Lucy asked. "We still haven't eaten, and it's been more than enough time from our last meal to make you hungry." She was right. The last time they ate was for lunch, and seeing as it was completely dark outside, that was a good amount of time ago.

"Nah, I'll just eat something at home.", the pink-haired boy said, not wanting to be reminded that everyone was afraid of him inside.

"Hey!", Gray called out to him in a voice he usually used when they were arguing. "You still owe me a dinner!"

"What are you talking about?", the dragon slayer asked, confused by his tone and words. Looking straight into his boyfriend's eyes, he didn't notice his friends surprised by the boys' conversation.

"After our last ten-year job. Don't tell me you forgot?!", the ice-make wizard exclaimed

Wait, was he referring to their first date? Did he want to go on another one? But why not just ask? Their teammates knew about… Oh! Mest was still with them. That's why Natsu continued trying to get out of it, even though there was nothing he wanted to do more. "We've got more money on the first ten-year job then we could ever spend. Those few jewels for a dinner didn't even scratch the surface of what you've got!", the fire mage retorted. In truth, that wasn't a few jewels dinner. With the amount that they ate (especially Natsu), and as expensive as the restaurant was, the dinner cost a lot (thought it really didn't even scratch the surface of what they've got).

"It's a matter of principle. I won't pay for you to eat." The dragon slayer knew his boyfriend was glad to pay for the dinner, just as he was glad to have his dinner payed for by the person he loved. This wouldn't be him paying back for the dinner they had, this would be him paying for a meal for his boyfriend.

"Fine!", the pink-haired boy said, sounding defeated. "But I'm not going in there.", he said, pointing at the guild. "I still don't like the looks I get." This time he saw Mest looking away from him, probably feeling guilty he was afraid, feeling guilty he was unable to help himself. "Pick some other place." To anyone who didn't know about them (everyone who didn't even think that they could be together), this sounded like a usual Gray-Natsu conversation, but he saw that the girls and Happy knew what was going on.

"Great!", the raven-haired boy said, flashing a victorious smile, a smile that told the dragon slayer how much he liked the idea of going on another date, but that told everyone else he just won an argument.

"Just go…", Mest said irritated. He had been acting that way ever since the king made his announcement, still not getting over the fact that he had to wake up so early.

"Come on, ice princess.", the fire mage said, trying to make it sound as teasingly as it used to be, but being unable to talk to his boyfriend like a rival anymore. Not hearing anyone (Mest in particular) complaining about the nickname not sounding as genuinely insulting as it did before, the pink-haired boy decided that he still sounded like his usual self to everyone but himself and the boy that started walking after him.

The raven-haired boy soon walked in front of him, continuing their act while they were still near the guild. Apparently, the place they were going to eat required them taking a lot of dark alleys, and Natsu, not being the one to miss an opportunity, hurried to catch up to his boyfriend and hold his hand. They smiled to each other as they walked like that.

Getting close to the place they were going to, they had to get out of the dark alleys and walk through the streets that had lamps in them. They let go of each other's hand, but continued walking side by side. They soon reached the restaurant they had their first and only date in. It wasn't full, and they quickly found an empty table and ordered food.

They knowing each other for so long gave them a lot of things to talk about. It was always fun to remember jobs they did, fights they got in, brawls at the guild. Since they told each other how they felt, there were other things they learned about one another. The jobs they did without the other, the things they did before Lucy came to the guild and they became teammates, basically every embarrassing thing they did, things a person would never reveal to their rival. They had no problem revealing those things to their boyfriend.

As close as they felt to each other, learning even more about the other brought them closer. Natsu would talk about Igneel, something he rarely did before, not just because he wanted to keep those memories for himself, but because he couldn't remember a lot of specific events, and now with everything back, and the person he wanted to share everything with, he didn't feel like hiding it. Gray would talk about his childhood, about him growing up, about his life before Deliora came.

This time Natsu payed for the dinner, and just like the last time, they headed for Gray's apartment. They took as many dark alleys as they could, wanting to hold each other's hand, but not wanting anyone to see them.

Just as they were about to leave the alley near Gray's apartment, just as they would each head their way, Natsu stopped, pulling Gray by his hand, making him turn, and before the raven-haired boy could figure out what was going on, pressed his hot lips on his boyfriend's cold ones. Their kisses were still simple, no tongue involved, not a sexual kiss, but a romantic one, one that they used to show each other how they felt. Maybe in a world where men boasted with how many women they had sex with (and some women, Cana for example, boasting about how many men they had), people would expect a relationship to progress faster than theirs was, but without using any words, they agreed to take things slowly. Natsu was inexperienced in dating someone, this being his first relationship, and even if Gray had a relationship, or more, before, which the pink-haired boy couldn't know, he was definitely never with another boy. It made sense to take things slowly, take the time to explore what they had.

They separated. Natsu knew he wouldn't mind feeling those cold lips on his hot ones the whole day, each day, but this was enough. This kiss would be enough to last him until he'd get another one. It would give both of them the strength they didn't have before, and it'll make them live and fight for the moment when their lips would connect again.

"Good night, Gray."

"Good night, Natsu."

They said to each other at the same time. Maybe it wouldn't be the last thing they would say that day, but they started saying that to each other when they knew they wouldn't see each other before they went to sleep.

Natsu squeezed his boyfriend's hand, smiling at him, and then releasing it, they exited the alley, the ice-make wizard heading right, the pink-haired boy going left.

The fire mage didn't even realize how happy he was until he entered his house, and Happy, giggling, asked. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, we did.", the dragon slayer answered, realizing he had a wider grin on his face that ever before. He wore a huge smile very often, but he was smiling so broadly that his cheeks hurt. He didn't care. He needed to show how happy he was, even though his blue friend was the only one present.

The Exceed didn't ask anything else, whether because he was respecting Natsu's privacy, or because he felt awkward in this situation, the pink-haired boy didn't know. Come to think of it, Sting, Rogue and Gray were also embarrassed when they were talking in the Twin Dragons' room. Why that was so, he couldn't figure out, but that didn't matter, because they all talked, and that was an important part.

Natsu saw that Sting and Rogue expected others to react to them being together just like Lucy did. It wasn't that odd since he himself expected that kind of reaction, but it was still hard knowing that was what Gray and he, and the Sabertooth wizards could expect once they tell others. At least the couples would now know that they weren't alone.

"Are we taking another job tomorrow?", Happy asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

He wasn't planning on taking one, but since he didn't like to go to the guild these days, there wasn't much to do in Magnolia. "I don't know. Why? Is there something you want to do?", Natsu asked.

"Can we go fishing?", the cat asked hopefully. "We haven't gone fishing in a long time." It was true. The last time they went to fish together was before the invasion, and they usually fished together at least once a week.

"Sure.", the fire mage answered, wanting to let his friend know that he wasn't distancing himself anymore. "Can we go in the afternoon?", he asked, remembering that Gray and he agreed to go to the guild in the morning together. That was the time when there weren't that many people there, and Natsu didn't want to completely abandon going to the guildhall.

"Are we going to the guild in the morning?", the Exceed asked, and continued after the dragon slayer nodded. "Maybe you could invite Gray to come with us."

The pink-haired boy hoped he could, but he didn't want to ask. Fishing was something the two of them rarely invited others to. It was something they did to get away from everyone and everything. "You don't mind?", he asked, not sure if Happy offered that just to be polite.

"No.", his blue friend answered genuinely. "If you're together, then you should be together.", the cat said, like the fire mage just asked a stupid question.

"Then tomorrow, first we get Gray, go to the guild to see if there's anything interesting going on, and then we go fishing. We can go before lunch, and have fish for lunch.", the dragon slayer said happily.

"Aye, sir!", Happy answered, just as joyously.

They spent an hour or two talking, playing various games (most of them they came up with, and would probably seem stupid to anyone else), before getting ready for bed and going to sleep.

For the first time since the invasion, Natsu woke up, knowing he had a pleasant dream, even if he didn't remember what the dream was about. He didn't know if it was because of how happy he felt from everything that happened the day before, or because of the plans they made for this day, but he didn't care as long as he didn't have a nightmare.

He got out of bed, not as early as the day before, but still a little later than he usually did. Waiting for his blue friend to wake up, he went to the bathroom and got ready for the day.

The fire mage had to wait for the cat to wake, but he didn't mind. After Happy woke up they ate, and started for Gray's apartment.

"Aren't you afraid people will figure out what's going on between you and Gray since you're going to the guild every day together?", the Exceed asked as they walked through the forest.

"Would you believed that we were together if we didn't tell you?", the dragon slayer asked, and after the cat shook his head, he continued. "I don't think anyone has ever heard of something like this. Not that it didn't happen before, but those people were probably afraid of how others would react and either didn't tell anyone, or they just ignored what they felt. Either way, I don't think anyone in the guild would even seriously consider that Gray and I were dating."

They continued in silence for some time, Happy probably thinking of what he just learned meant for his friend and his friend's boyfriend. "Don't worry, buddy.", he said reassuring to the Exceed. "We aren't like those people. We'll tell everyone when we're ready, and if they have any problems with it, they'll have to deal with them."

Was it his words, or his joyful expression that finally made cat put a smile on his face, it didn't matter. It was enough that he, and the people next to him were happy.

Reaching Gray's apartment, they knocked on his door, and soon the ice-make wizard came out, fully dressed. Natsu still couldn't understand how it took him so long to notice the raven-haired boy's stripping habit changed, considering it wasn't strange for the boy in front of him to lose his clothes before even reaching the guild.

"Good morning.", the fire mage said.

"Morning.", the ice-make wizard answered, looking as joyful as Natsu felt. He knew Gray wasn't a morning person, but that didn't seem to be a problem these days. The dragon slayer himself always loved mornings, and even though he arrived at guild pretty late every day, he was actually one of the first persons to wake in Magnolia. There was only one thing he wanted more in the morning than a walk in the forest, and that was to see his boyfriend.

"Good morning, Gray!", Happy greeted excitedly. The cat probably couldn't wait to go fishing.

As they started for the guild, the pink-haired boy explained their plan for the day to which the ice-make wizard happily agreed.

"But I don't have a fishing pole.", the raven-haired boy said, looking a little embarrassed.

"We can fix that on our way back.", the dragon slayer replied. "It's not like you don't have money for it."

"Yeah, you're right.", Gray answered, chuckling lightly.

They reached the guild, and Natsu considered kicking the doors open, but decided against it. People were still afraid of him, and something like that would scare the shit out of everyone which, although fun, wasn't something he wanted to do right then.

He opened the door, and just like the last couple of time silence filled the room. That didn't surprise him one bit. What did surprise him was the number of people in the guildhall, more people than should be there. He was even more surprised when all the people that were watching them enter turned to the people next to them and started whispering.

"Do you think it's true?"

"No! She was out for revenge."

"But it could be true."

"Did you ever hear of anything like that?"

"This doesn't prove anything."

"She just did it for Lucy."

"Maybe it's all their idea."

"I wouldn't put it past them."

"But what if it's not a joke?"

"It can't be anything but a joke."

"They'll all probably laugh at us later."

And so the conversations went, Natsu getting the feeling that the people entering the guild were the topic. With how everyone started when the boys entered, and the looks they kept getting, he just couldn't think otherwise. He forgot everything as a voice was heard above all the hustle and bustle in the room.

"Gray, Natsu, can you come to my office?", Gramps said, or more like yelled, from the second floor.

Not knowing what was happening, they headed for the old man's office, while Happy flew to Erza and Lucy, the only people who weren't talking. They were both surprised to find Juvia in Gramps' office, looking at them with an expression that screamed "I told on you!".

So that's what it was! She must've figured it out based on her conversation with Gray and told everyone. But why did Gramps call them in his office with her there?

As soon as they closed the door to the office, the small wizard spoke. "Gray, Juvia told me what happened between you." He didn't know? Why was he there then? "And Natsu, I know what happened between you and Lucy." He did know?

The boys in love looked at each other, both of them confused.

Gramps continued talking in a disappointed voice. "Boys, that's not how you should treat girls.", he said, shaking his head.

Will he be the first one to tell them they couldn't be together? Natsu thought that if anyone would support their decision, allow them to decide for themselves, it would be their master, the person who said "Do whatever you think is right! That's the way of the Fairy Tail mage's". Apparently, that statement didn't matter in this situation. But even thought this happened sooner than either of them expected, they were ready to protect what they believed in, what they felt, even if they have to protect it from Master.

"Gray, Juvia said there was someone else you loved, and I want to meet her." Wait! He didn't know? "And Natsu, you kept your relationship a secret, and hurt Lucy in that way. That's why, if nothing else, you should always tell the truth. I expect from you both to bring the girls to the guild, but first you have to apologize to the girls you hurt. There's a job that requested specifically for Gray and Juvia. You'll take it,", Gramps said, looking at the mentioned wizards. "and by the time you get back, I expect she knows how sorry you are for what you did.", he finished, looking at the ice-make wizard.

The pink-haired boy couldn't believe it. Gramps didn't know that they were together, but he was sending his boyfriend on a job with a girl that stalked the ice-make wizard. She was always so close to him that the dragon slayer just assumed that they were as good as together, and now they had to do a job together!?

"And you Natsu, you'll stay here and find a way to apologize to Lucy.", Gramps looked determined to have them do what he said they should. A thought flashed through Natsu's mind. Maybe he did know, and this was him trying to separate them, maybe try and convince them while they weren't together? Then there were things like "I expect you to bring the girls to the guild…", which convinced him that the small wizard didn't know.

However disappointed he was with them, there was one thing the fire mage couldn't accept, either from Gramps or from anyone else. "I'm sorry Gramps,", the fire mage said, and before the old man could answer that he wasn't the one he should be apologizing to, the pink-haired boy continued. "but I don't think that my love life is anyone else's business. Maybe it did hurt Lucy, but some things are private and I won't announce it to everyone that I'm in a relationship, and with whom I'm in a relationship, just as I don't expect anyone else to do that. If I do say something to someone, it'll be because we, as a couple, decided to do it, and not because someone else said we have to."

It seemed that his outburst left everyone stunned, that being caused by his words as much as by his tone. Gramps and Juvia were looking at him with huge eyes, and he felt Gray next to him watching him. It took them a few seconds to come back to their senses, and for the small wizard to speak. "Of course, I understand.", he said. "Nevertheless, you should apologize to Lucy."

"I know I should.", the dragon slayer answered. "I already did, and I can't do anything else. She needs time, not a few words, now. But she'll be fine.", he said confidently.

Gramps nodded, then turned to Gray. "You've got to go on this job. You two were requested, so you have to go."

The raven-haired boy just nodded, still looking stunned by the fact that Natsu talked back to their master.

Their conversation ended soon after that, after the small wizard explained what the job was. It didn't sound difficult at all, and it definitely didn't require two wizards, much less ice-make and water mage specifically, but since that's what the client requested…

The boys, followed by the blue-haired woman with stalkerish look in her eyes, went back to the main hall, and while Gray went for the guild doors, Natsu went to the table where the rest of their team sat.

"What was that about?", Lucy asked with a questioning look on her face, the same look on Erza's face.

"I'll tell you later.", the fire mage answered. Then turning to Happy he said. "Come on buddy, we're going fishing."

He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt like everyone would really think he and Gray were together if he left with him. Was it that he thought that Gramps knew, or was it all the whispering he was hearing in the guildhall? Whatever it was, he didn't intend to let his boyfriend go on a mission without saying goodbye. He didn't like to think that he was using his blue friend to get a reason to leave, but he saw no other way, and they would go fishing once Gray left.

"Aye, sir!", the Exceed answered, and they left, leaving the girls surprised and confused. They made their way to the apartment they were at just a few moments ago, with the pink-haired boy explaining what was going on, and the cat saying he understood.

Lucy was glad that she knew Natsu wouldn't return anytime soon, and when she judged he went far enough, she spoke. "That was really stupid.", the celestial wizard repeated the words the red-haired girl said to her just a week ago. This was the first time none of the dragon slayers were close enough, and the noise in the guild would make their conversation private.

"I know.", Erza answered, knowing exactly to what her friend was referring to.

Lucy knew it was partly her fault, but still, it was Erza who said it.

After the boys left yesterday, they entered the guild. Everyone knew that Master sent them out by a request from the king himself. They explained what had happened, and among many different reactions, there was someone who asked.

"Where are Natsu and Gray."

Probably not even thinking about it, the requip mage answered. "They went on a date." Their guildmates would probably brushed it off as nothing more than a weird phrasing, or Erza's weird sense of humor, but as the girls realized what the red-haired woman just said, they both froze and it didn't go unnoticed by the people looking at them.

The people in the room went crazy, demanding to know what they were talking about, asking Erza what kind of a sick joke that was. That was the first time Lucy realized just how mild her reaction had been. All the words they had to hear just because they suggested such a thing were worse than anything she ever heard, and she knew that the boys would have to suffer much more.

Since she couldn't allow their guildmates to know about them, especially since the boys asked them not to tell anyone, the celestial wizard explained how she asked Natsu out, and he refused. She said Erza was just trying to get even.

With that said, most of the people who heard Erza's statement yesterday, came to the guild this morning, like they wanted to make sure it wasn't true. By the whispers she heard and the looks the boys received as they entered the guild, she knew that most of their guildmates believed her, believed the red-haired girl was just out for revenge.

The blond girl only hoped that no one would ask why the requip mage was angry at Gray, since he was mentioned too. And no one did. At least not to her knowledge.

It was a good thing the boys were in the guild for such a short a time, or someone would've notice something. The fact that Natsu didn't leave with Gray but with Happy certainly helped persuaded others that it was all for revenge.

"Do you think they'll be all right?", the celestial wizard asked. "I mean, you saw how they reacted to the suggestion of it. Once they hear the truth they could only react even worse.

"There's nothing we can do about it. They probably already expect no one would react in a good way. We'll be there for them, but we can't do anything else.", the red-haired girl answered.

After a short pause, the requip mage spoke again. "I just hope that with the whole demon thing, and now this, the wizards here won't push Natsu too far. He's already spending as much time away from the guild, from his guildmates as he can, and it wouldn't take much to make him stop coming here altogether. Gray would be with him, but we're all supposed to be his family, we're all supposed to stay with him."

What was the blond girl supposed to say to that? It wasn't just that she had some feelings she would never be able to explore, but Natsu was the person that brought her to Fairy Tail. He was the one who brought her into this life, into this family, and the thought of him leaving, practically being forced out was heartbreaking. If that really happened, she wasn't sure she could stay here, stay with the people who thought that learning that one of their family members is a demon, and loves a person of the same sex changed him so much that they couldn't accept him anymore.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that.", Lucy said, praying to anyone out there that that really doesn't happen.