Hello! I am back and I have finally found the inspiration to write my first Christmas story :D

This story takes place in the middle of The Fairy and the Dragon. You don't necessarily have to read that one before reading this, but I would love it if you could check out that story! There shouldn't be any major spoilers in this fic though, so don't worry!

For this story I will be posting one chapter per day until Christmas day, which will be the final chapter...so 13 chapters in total. It should be a nice, light-hearted read that I hope will had add a bit of holiday cheer to our 2020 Christmas season. Please enjoy!

Chapter 1

A Partridge in a pear tree

He hated the cold.

Not that he couldn't tolerate it; his Draak blood allowed him to withstand the changes of seasons better than most races, but he still found himself growling at the vapor coming from his mouth with each exhale.

The other Fairies gushed and cheered when they were able to bring out their winter coats and scarves and mittens. They seemed to thrive in the blustery weather and Gajeel didn't want to dampen their upbeat spirits. It wasn't their fault that the chill and snow reminded him of darker times. Of when he was still isolated in that cell with the cold, stone walls and the cold, wooden surface he called a bed.

He shivered and tucked the collar of his thick winter coat tighter against his neck, shuffling his feet to catch up with Makarov as they walked through town. As careful as he was, his footsteps still kicked snow into the tops of his boots. Gajeel bit back a growl when the ice melted against his feet and it took him a moment to notice the twinkling lights around him.

He slowed his pace, his head swiveling back and forth between the colorfully lit buildings, the decorated pine trees and the music coming from the center of town. There seemed to be a sense of urgency in the air, but Gajeel could sense no threat along the snow-covered street.

"Oi, Mast...Makarov. What's goin' on? Why does the town look different?"

Makarov paused in front of a shop selling bearded men with strange, long teeth, tall black hats and red uniforms. "I forget sometimes you haven't always been a part of Fairy Tail. It's almost Christmas, my boy." The older man looked up at him with a beaming smile.

Gajeel felt his heart lurch.

Christmas.

He had heard of it, of course. Master Jose and his guild would celebrate it every year at their guild hall. The scent of rich food would waif down the stairs to the cells and the raucous laughter would become louder and louder throughout the night. Thankfully Gajeel would usually be on a mission of some sort during the holiday. But when he was home Jose would use him as entertainment; Gajeel always sported new scars and bruises when the holiday was over.

The Master moved on from the shop and Gajeel dutifully followed, an internal battle warring within him. He knew that Fairy Tail wasn't like his previous guild, but his heart still pounded over his past history with the holiday. But now that he had found a new home and people who called themselves friends, he couldn't help but hope that maybe this year would be different.

"So...are we gonna celebrate too?" he asked the top of the master's head, carefully masking the hope in his voice. Judging by the wide grin the old man flashed at him, Gajeel had failed.

"That's what we're here for! I need to do a bit more shopping myself and figured you hadn't had much time to do your own yet."

Gajeel shook his head, looking at the different shops in a new light.

For the first time he could remember, he had money. Not a fortune by any means, but more than he ever had in his entire life and enough that he could purchase something for the guild that welcomed him into their home. He could finally show them how much their care and attention over the last several months meant to him; he could finally give Levy something to tell her thank you.

His feet slowed and he juted his chin out to a decorated tree. "What's that?"

"Hmmm?" Makarov moved next to him. "Oh...that's a Christmas Tree. Families...ones who don't have destructive brats anyway...set them up in their homes during the Christmas season."

"Can we get one?" he asked breathlessly, mesmerized by the magical, twinkling lights blinking on the tree. Levy could easily do something like that with her magic.

It was silent for several minutes. Gajeel glanced down at the master, certain he would be upset at the request. Makarov gazed up at him, his all-knowing, wise eyes making Gajeel scratch the scales on his neck.

"Of course we can. It is your first Christmas, after all." Makarov thumped him on the back and resumed their trek down the path.

With a bounce in his step that surprised him, Gajeel followed after. He easily spotted a bookstore and stepped into the warm building, an idea for Levy's present already forming in his mind. A few minutes later, and an empty journal safely tucked in his bag, he followed the master around as the older man finished his shopping.

As they meandered through town, a group of singers stood next to the main road in the middle of the square. Gajeel paused to watch, the repetitive song stirring up memories of his childhood. Of warm drinks, a blazing fire, and his father's deep voice singing the exact same song.

With a broad smile, he ducked to whisper in the master's ear, an answering grin forming on the man's face.

"I knew you fit into our family just fine. Let's do it! The guild always needs that sort of chaos around the holidays."

Levy bounded into the guild hall and quickly shut the wooden door behind her to block off the cold air. She took a moment to stomp the snow from her feet, unlike the boys who entered right before her and ran across the hall, crashing into tables and chairs when their feet slid out from underneath them.

She shook her head at her family's antics and hung her coat and scarf on her designated hook next to the door. Twinkling lights caught her attention and she gasped at the sight of a large tree standing proudly in the corner of the large room.

"I can't remember the last time we had a tree!" she exclaimed, turning small so she could flitter around the giant pine.

"The Master said we could have one this year...something about a mysterious benefactor wanting to brighten our holiday." Mira said from where she arranged a blanket at the base of the tree.

"We already had Natsu write a statement saying that he wouldn't burn it down this year," Lucy grumbled, shooting a dark look at the pink haired mage.

"Hey, it was only like three...or four...times that happened!"

"Lev, while you're up there, could you help us with these?" Gray held up a strand of clear lights ready to be hung.

"Ok!" She grabbed the strand and flew around the tree, adjusting the chord under Lucy's watchful eye.

When the lights were strung, they each poured a bit of their magic into the chord to illuminate the tiny bulbs. The tree was surrounded in a soft glow of reds, greens and whites which seemed to light up the entire room.

"I have found the ornaments!" Elfman bellowed from the stairs, holding a large box above his head.

The Fairies broke into cheers and with the usual Fairy Tail chaos ribbons were twirled and ornaments were somehow successfully hung on the tree. The cheers grew louder when Makarov turned his arm big and placed a shining star at the very top of the tree.

Levy clapped along with her friends, her eyes glancing around the large hall. She wished Gajeel could have decorated the tree with them, but she knew he went out with the master that morning and probably needed some time alone in his room. Towns still gave him some troubles and she knew the cold weather did not agree with him. She just hoped that he wouldn't stay away for too long; after all, it was his first Christmas with his new family and she wanted him to enjoy every minute!

"I know it's still a bit early to open presents, but these are an exception!" Mira said with a large smile, holding a box in one hand and a jar of spiced pears in the other. She passed them out much to the delight of the group.

Natsu immediately opened his jar and dumped the fruit down his throat, but Levy twirled the colorful jar in her hands, studying the glistening pears inside.

"Who got all of this?" she heard Lucy ask.

"The same person who got the tree." The master answered, taking a fork from Mira and sampling a pear. "But they want their identity to remain a secret."

Levy hummed and cradled the jar against her chest. It was probably the worst thing the Master could have told her. She loved a good mystery and her mind quickly jumped from one theory after another on who would gift them pears and a pine tree.