This story will take place after

The Alvarez Empire Arc. This story will only include events that happened in the original Fairy Tail series and anything that happens in the 100 Quest is irrelevant.

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Gray stared at his reflection. His pale skin, raven-black hair, dark blue eyes were blurred in the dark night waters of the the riverbank.

"The riverbank..." he said so quietly only he could hear. The riverbank, his place. He used the running water's streaming as his company. He came to this place to think.

That night, Gray Fullbuster thought he was just cold... or maybe he was broken. His face may be blurry, but this was clear to him. "Maybe I'm both, broken and cold," he thought aloud releasing a sad chuckle.

—

"No you aren't..." a feminine voice so soft it was only audible enough for him and her to hear. Gray spun his head around in surprise, seeing his scarlet haired comrade looking at him with a tint of sadness spilling from her brown orbs. He saw she didn't wear her usually armour but instead a summer dress. He didn't offer any words but a lone sad smile.

"Gray...why would you think that?" her eyes searched his for an answer, though she could find none.

"Because... you know it's true," he let her know and looked back at the water.

Instead of hearing her voice again, he heard soft footsteps. He felt her presence come closer and stop beside him. He turned to face her, finally getting a good look at her. She seemed disappointed, he didn't know if it was because of him or something else, but he felt like she seemed relieved. Almost as if something that weighed her down had finally been lifted off. They stayed in this position until Gray lay back down on the dirt of the riverbank, she followed in suite.

They kept in silent company. It wasn't awkward like you'd expect it to be, but instead it was something both had been accustomed to. One could say, they enjoyed the comforting silence. Neither prying for answers, yet their presence saying that they were there. Half an hour passed until the stillness was broken.

"Well...maybe it is true. Maybe you are broken and cold, but aren't we all?" she let out a bitter laugh. "Look at me, I was once a slave in a tower. What kind of childhood was that? I even left my friends and waited years to even try to rescue them, and still...I couldn't save them all." She held a pause so brief, Gray almost couldn't recognize if it was there or not. She sighed, "But, I've accepted there was nothing for me to do in that situation, and even if I could, I can't change what happened now. I realize the opportunities people have created for me, and so I should live life to the fullest," she said with the conviction Gray had always admired.

"And Gray," her voice lowered into something more soothing, "you were one of those people. Gray... you're an amazing man. I've always admired you," she said with a small laugh and smile. Gray turned to lay on his side to face her, suddenly surprised at the sudden confession.

She still gazed as the stars as she continued, "You're always so ready to lay your life down for others... and although I hope that would never have to happen... I think it's great for you to be able to do that. Gray... I don't know if you know this... but you have saved my life countless of times. I also know that even if you don't show it, that you have a very caring heart. So, Gray... your heart isn't cold. In fact, I think it's the complete opposite."

Gray was now taken aback, surprised at the words he was hearing, even more since it was coming from her. Gray sat up, looking at his friend that was still laying down. Although she had just said all those things to him, her mind seemed far away knowing that he stopped brooding at least for the moment. He forgot for a minute, that she also came to this place for similar reasons as him. In actuality, this place was first hers if he recalled correctly.

A young Gray Fullbuster had found an equally as young Erza Scarlet crying at the river bank as he was about to challenge her. He smiled to no once but himself as he remembered the memory. He learned many things about her that fateful day; both of them were the same. Closed off and broken inside. They bonded over that to become to become of if each others' closest most trusted friend.

—

She sat alone crying on the riverbank thinking about all her friends that she was forced to leave behind all because of Jellal. She was lost in her sad thoughts until she heard a noise behind her; she turned around to see the arrogant ice mage clad only in his boxers charges down the riverbank

"Alright! This time I will-" he cut off when he looked at her face. She looked back at him and stood up, there was no way he would see her weak side!

"Oh it's you again, don't you learn to stop?" she questioned. But to her surprise he just continued to stare at her.

"Why are you always on your own?" he asked, why does he care she thought.

"I feel uneasy around others" she felt happy with her response, surely that would shut him up now.

"Then why are you crying?" she gasped, this isn't the usual Gray she though and she noticed the dark blush on his face, he walked forward and sat down by her side, looking forward with his arms crossed.

"What? Do you give up already?" she asked as he huffed in response.

"I'll fight whenever I want to!" she let a small smile form on her lips and she sat next to him.

From that moment on she knew that he would always be there for, she would never be alone again thanks to him Gray Fullbuster; her first friend she made in Fairy Tail.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please give back constructive feedback and I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.