No excuses for my lack of writing and making you all wait! *falls to hands and knees* I'm such a horrible person T.T

But good news! I got a perfect 100 on my research paper! *does victory dance* and my tournament went well too :)

Now to the matter at hand... *clears throat* Wow, I'm on chapter 10 already :D

It also took me some time to figure out that I had to change the title of the story in the chapters. Ugh, so frustrating! Sorry, that my chapters have my old title's name. The bad thing is that I can't change it because well...I don't have the doc for them to update it, but I don't think it's a big deal.

*sigh* I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters...

Enjoy and please R&R :) Sorry for my ranting.

~Remedy~

Chapter 10

"If our love is a tragedy, why are you my remedy?"

Lucy was warm and cold. The feeling was soothing and it coursed through her body like a gentle current. She's never felt like this before. It was so...relaxing.

She cuddled to the source and sighed contently. Her mind told her she was sleeping, but it felt foreign to her. It was never this peaceful. She didn't want to wake up from it, but she would eventually have to much to her dismay.

Her brown eyes cracked open, her vision blurry. Lucy tried sitting up, but froze in transfixed horror as her eyes finished adjusting. Heat licked her skin and she nestled back down, frowning and smiling in realization.

She was cuddling with Gray! And he was shirtless!

Her body was pressed against his, her warm body temperature with his cold one. Gray's arms firmly enveloped her, his chin resting above her head. She was tucked against him snugly, her head resting in the crook of his neck. His defined abs stared at her and dared her to trace them.

Lucy silently freaked out. What was she going to do? She didn't want to wake him up! How did they even-

Her tense body relaxed immediately. She remembered now. All the events of last night... Lucy didn't know what to think of it. She had to admit it though. She was attracted to him. To Gray. Lucy enjoyed their kiss, she gave in, she shivered at his touch, but... But what?

Was she in denial? Or...was she protecting him? Maybe it was both...

Midnight swore that he would kill everyone that she became close to if she didn't submit to him. And her selfish heart betrayed her resolve of being indifferent and pushing people away. Instead, she let so many people in, who she know calls her friends. Her nakama. She truly was a horrible person.

Lucy careened her neck up and gazed at Gray's soft, handsome features. She almost giggled at how cute he looked. His hair swept over his eyes and she involuntarily brought a hand up and gently traced his jawline. He shifted at the touch and nuzzled his nose in her hair.

She heaved another sigh and stealthily slipped out of Gray's arms, sitting on the bed with a sudden epiphany. Lucy couldn't believe it. She felt well-rested and refreshed. She hadn't felt like this in a long time. Her surprised brown orbs snapped back to Gray's sleeping form.

When she was in his arms, she felt safe. Whenever she was around him, she was reassured about everything because of his presence. And he was by her side last night, understanding her fear of sleeping.

Was he her cure? Her remedy?

Gray flickered his eyes open. His hair was messy and spiky as ever, and his eyes were droopy like he didn't give a damn about the world. His muscles rippled as he forced himself to sit up. Overall, he looked sexy.

His navy blue eyes glanced beside him. Where'd Lucy go? His question was answered as her angelic voice resonated in his ears from the bathroom. He closed his eyes contently at the beautiful lyrics. Her voice was soft and melodic, fitting the morning theme perfectly. If Gray wasn't a vampire, he swore that he would have fallen back asleep already.

The bathroom door clicked open, and Gray's eyes widened, pink dusting his cheeks lightly.

Lucy was only clad in a towel. It hugged her curves and was ridiculously short. He could clearly see the hourglass figure she possessed. His gaze became stormy when she had her back to him, her creamy shoulders screaming for him to bite her.

She happily walked to the dressing screen, not noticing that Gray was awake and watching. He smirked at her obliviousness. It was quite amusing that she didn't see him. Gray decided to stay quiet. If he said anything, he knew his head would be severed from his neck. And he was pretty attached to it...

His breath hitched as she let the towel fall. It slipped off devastatingly slow, showing her back and exposed figure. Before Gray could see anything else, Lucy disappeared behind the dressing screen.

Gray softly growled in frustration. He was painfully aroused. It would have been better if she noticed him. Her oblivious manner made him slightly harder. This woman was killing him.

He stared at the dressing screen, hearing shuffling movements. Lucy then appeared in casual clothing: a black mini skirt and a pink tank top. She whirled around, startled.

"Oh! I didn't know you were awake, Gray," Lucy said, genuinely surprised. Everything was completely and utterly authentic that something in Gray just snapped. She didn't know that she turned him on. It was like she was teasing him, but it was unintentional.

Not only that...

Her eyes... He always saw a flicker of something hidden. Lucy may have confessed part of her burden to him last night, but...it wasn't enough for him to fully figure things out. Did she not trust him? Or what? He was getting annoyed by this. Gray hated that she kept things to herself, so she could face off her burden alone. Maybe that was her point... Not to let anyone get stuck in it with her...

Gray frowned. Doesn't she ever think about herself? She had to stop with all this and just spit everything out so he could help her.

His dark eyes sliced into her own innocent brown ones, showing his annoyance. He then smirked, eyes flashing deviously. He had enough of everything. To hell with control. He allowed himself to lose his mind to the deepest corner of his mind of what he wanted and what he desired.

Why did Lucy have to be such a handful?

Lucy blinked, raising an eyebrow in question.

...She was so going to get it.

Lucy felt sweat slowly slide down the valley of her breasts when she saw Gray's eyes. The looked so dark...and possessive. She involuntarily gulped, her heart hammering inside her chest, and took a step back.

It was a mistake.

Lucy suddenly found herself shoved to the wall beside the door of the bathroom. All the air escaped her lungs as she gasped in surprise. She blushed, feeling comfortably hot everywhere when she noticed her close proximity to Gray.

He wasn't looking at her. His eyes were hidden behind his bangs. "Shit, Lucy, you need to stop," he voice rough with intense emotion. Lucy couldn't describe it. Was it pity? Frustration? Lust? Anger?

The way Gray said her name... She never knew her name could sound so...suggestive...

"G-Gray, you're t-too close..." Lucy whispered meekly. Her body was reacting so foreign to her with her jumbled up feelings that she felt like she would just melt. She had to get away from him. She felt so vulnerable and weak close to Gray. It was all too much.

She didn't know what to make of the kiss they shared yesterday and how she enjoyed everything. Maybe she really did love him and was just denying these feelings because-

"Lucy," Gray growled hoarsely against her ear.

Lucy slightly squirmed under his body. She pushed his chest with as much strength as she could muster, but he didn't even budge, even though she had her strength enhancing necklace. Lucy felt her insides lurch uncomfortably. The necklace wasn't much of a help and Lucy couldn't even imagine what it would be like without it. Before she knew it, her wrists were immediately pinned above her head with one hand. She couldn't even move them.

Lucy gritted her teeth in desperation. He was frighteningly strong.

"G-Gray," Lucy pleaded for him to get off her. Her head swam, dizzy. The electric tension between them was so intense that she felt overwhelmed.

Lucy now understood why he was the most talented among his siblings. Gray was significantly taller than her, the top of her head only reaching to his chest, and his shoulders were broad and his body built and lean with muscle.

He was dangerous. She knew that. Lucy felt the urgency to kick him where it hurts most, but before she could even move Gray had placed a knee between her legs, trapping her and cutting off all possibilities of escape.

"Please..." Lucy begged once more. "D-don't..." She was scared. What was he going to do?

He stared, his eyes unreadable. "I'm not going to hurt you, Luce."

Lucy warily stared back before Gray slid his head to the crook of her neck. He let go of her wrists, wrapping his arms around her waist securely. She was feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. Luce? It sent soothing waves through her being. She did trust him. But...why did Gray have this affect on her? Everything he says, everything he does... Lucy inwardly scolded herself for being attracted to the vampire before her. She wasn't suppose to have such feelings. She has to be detached if she wanted everything to work without emotional drama.

Gray panted against her neck seemingly in pain. "I couldn't stay away from you even I had to," he admitted with a dry chuckle. Gray closed his eyes, listening with satisfaction to Lucy's erratic heart beat.

Lucy gazed at him with worry. He wasn't acting like himself lately. Was he sick? "Gray? Are you alright?" Her voice came out shaky, unsure of how to handle all this. Taking advantage of her freedom of movement with her hands, she slipped them from his chest to his neck, trying to feel anything irregular for a vampire's body temperature.

Gray stiffened and suddenly pressed his body to hers until there was no space in between them left, and before she knew it, his lips crashed against hers in a dominating kiss.

One of Gray's hands stealthily snaked under her shirt, feeling her soft skin. Lucy arched her back in surprise at the sudden cold touch, deepening the kiss. His hand ran along her back causing her to shiver. Gray tilted his head, getting a better angle to explore her cavern and contently played with her tongue.

Lucy felt Gray pull back, giving her air. He touched his forehead to her's gently and they both stared into each other's eyes with flushed faces and half-lidded eyes.

"I don't know what your deal with Midnight is but..." Gray began. Lucy froze and cursed herself for kissing him back. Please don't say it! Please don't say it! She screamed in her mind.

"I'm never going to let you go."

Lucy's eyes widened. His voice came out firm and steady. His eyes held pure determination, reassuring her whole being to just let him in. Let him help her.

She sharply inhaled, feeling Gray's tongue slowly slide over shoulder and up her neck before capturing her plump lips once. "Aaah," she gasped a moan at the sensation. She was then left panting for air when she suddenly cringed in pain - pain that pierced her soft skin. She gripped Gray's raven locks like her life depended on it. The unbearable pain lasted for a few seconds before it faded away into nothingness. Her vision swam, seeing a blurry image of Gray biting her.

"Stop," Lucy implored weakly. Her head lolled to the side involuntarily as she felt her energy being sucked away from her every second. This gave Gray better access and his eyes were screwed shut, savoring the taste of Lucy's blood. She then fell limp, Gray's arms her only support.

Why? Why was he drinking her blood?

Gray couldn't believe how amazing she tasted. Her blood was rich and sweet. He couldn't get enough of her.

Before she could pass out, Gray retracted his fangs and licked the bite wound. He saw her bite her lip, drawing blood, from the pain. He pulled back and sighed contently.

The wound on Lucy's neck was healed, but a scar remained. It was not just a plain scar. It was a mark. His mark.

He then licked her bottom lip, cleaning the blood away, before planting a chaste kiss.

Lucy's breathing settled and she steadily inhaled and exhaled, her chest rising and falling normally. Gray swept her off her feet and laid her down on his bed. She'd be fine in a few minutes after her heart would settle. Gray noticed his shirt missing... He might as well dress...

"D-Did you j-just bite me?" Lucy asked, incredulous, while he slipped on a shirt.

"More like marked."

"Marked?" Lucy echoed, voice etched with obvious confusion.

"Let's go," Gray said, motioning his head towards the door to head to breakfast. His brows lifted in amusement as he watched Lucy stare off into space with her facial expression changing every five seconds.

"I can't believe you!" Lucy suddenly stood up and barged out of the room with Gray hot on her heels. Her hands played with her hair and she desperately tried to cover up the scar.

"Believe what?" he asked casually.

"That you marked me!"

"So you know then," Gray stated more than questioned.

"Of course I know!" Lucy shouted. "I remember reading it somewhere..." she trailed off, tapping her chin in thought. She shook her head and scowled at him. "That's besides the point!"

"Well, what is the point then?"

"You marked me without my consent. I didn't have a say! Now I'm partially yours!" Lucy exclaimed. "And we barely know each other!"

"Why'd you kiss back?" Gray challenged. Lucy's face reddened and she turned away from him, crossing her arms.

"It's not like I had a choice!"

"You enjoyed it," Gray smirked. "Don't deny it."

"I'm not denying anything!"

"Whatever you say. Your heart says otherwise."

"And how would you know?" Lucy asked, perplexed.

"I can hear it. Every time you're with me it beats faster than normal. Like right now."

"That could also be fear," Lucy countered.

"True," Gray agreed. "But I can smell fear. You don't."

Lucy opened her mouth to counter, but Gray beat her to it.

"The point is that you're my mate, Lucy." The blonde gulped as everything about him was serious. He was dead serious. The only soft features were his eyes. They were gentle. And he would only look at her like that. No one else. Just her.

"But...but why me?!"

"Your scent."

"But my blood smells good to every vampire," she protested.

"Generally, yes. But to me..." Gray enveloped her in a hug, inhaling her glorious fragrance. "Your blood was calling to me."

When Lucy didn't say anything, he continued. "You have to understand, Luce. I didn't decide this, Fate did. I had to mark you, so no one could take away my claim on you. You are mine."

"Yours?" Lucy glared. "I'm not a piece of property!"

Gray grabbed Lucy's face and made her look at him. "Lucy." Her eyes widened when his usually mirth-filled eyes were stony. His chiseled jaw was set, and the way he was looking at her let her know that no matter what, she was his. He was dead serious. His voice was authoritative, showing the king he would one day be. "Listen to me," he ordered. "Vampires are extremely territorial of what is theirs, especially when it comes to mates, so I apologize if you feel that way. But you have to understand, vampires only mate once for life. I've been alone for a long, long time, and then you popped into my life. So I'm sorry if I'm being too forward, but I just can't help it."

"I'm sorry for not understanding..." Lucy apologized sincerely. "But...it's just so fast. I...I don't even know what I'm feeling!" Her voice wavered. "I do feel...something, but...I'm confused, scared, lost..."

"Lucy," Gray said softly. She looked at him with helpless, frustrated, teary eyes. "Fate didn't decide without reason." He brushed away a lone tear on her cheek. "As for time, it means nothing to me...to my kind. Nothing."

"But–"

"Our natural instincts are to claim on the first day we meet, but you are not of my kind..."

Lucy's eyes widened. "You mean–"

"Yes," Gray said, his darkened gaze piercing through her soul. Lucy suddenly felt naked the way he looked at her. His eyes were drinking in every one of her features, memorizing her. "In the forest, where I first met you, your scent called to me. I denied it. I denied it for a while because you are human, and I am a vampire. A forbidden combination."

"Please, Gray, don't–"

"If you were a vampire, I wouldn't have hesitated one bit."

"No! St–"

"I would have laid you down on the forest floor, and I would have had my way with you. Right there and then. I would've claimed you wholly and completely. Do you understand?! I crave for you!"

"But I..." Lucy stuttered, voice cracking. "I...am nothing!"

"No, Luce." He gripped her shoulders. "You are everything!"

Lucy's eyes widened in shock. She didn't know what to say. What could she say? This was so sudden and fast, but it was anything but that for Gray. He was a vampire; she was a human; it was forbidden. They were two different species; it was highly discouraged and looked down upon, especially for a pure blood. And it just had to be a Fullbuster, which made it even worse. Yes, there were the occasional half-bloods like Porlyusica and Hibiki, but...they were – to put it nicely – accidents from a vampire's lust, and because of that the poor human mother died after bearing the child or the human father died some time after coitus while the vampire parent abandoned the child.

Her and Gray... It was different; it was authentic and mutual. She was his mate, as he so passionately declared, and that was why it was scary and dangerous – because it could work, but/and it would destroy everything that was built to follow over the centuries: the laws. But he wouldn't let her slip away. She knew he would do whatever it took to have her. Even if they were on opposite sides of the spectrum; he, the next King of Vampires, and she, the lowly Fairy Tail huntress of rogues.

"Gray," Lucy said forlornly. "We can't."

Gray only pulled Lucy closer to him and nuzzled his nose on the top of her head. He gripped her hard, and she heard him inhale her scent as if it were the last time he would be able to do so. "I know," he murmured. "There's a way. There just has to be."

"Gray..."

"Lucy, please."

Lucy took in a deep breath and laid her head on his chest. All of this was so much for her yet she felt light and. And the way he sad it with such ferocity and passion – it made her heart tingle with hope, with hope that this feeling of security could last.

Gray was surprised when he felt her arms wrap around him. She was hesitant and frigid: she was scared, but it was enough to let him know that she understood where he was coming from. He sighed and held her, relishing this moment. They stood there in electrifying silence. They resonated a storm of emotions, and not even they could decipher what it contained.

After a few moments, they looked at each other - their eyes sharing nothing but everything at the same time. Everything seemed slow, and it was just them. No one else.

Out of instinct Lucy tilted her head up, lips tingling in anticipation. She felt the mark on her neck burning, not in pain, but she could feel the heat rush to her cheeks. Before she knew it, her hands slipped up to Gray's hair, gently tugging on it. He couldn't even think, and already swooped down to her awaiting lips involuntarily. The only thing on his mind was to please his mate – a natural instinct. Their lips barely a centimeter apart, Lucy breath hitched and suddenly leaned back a little, realizing what she was doing. As much as she was fighting herself, her body was naturally responding to him, and she only wanted to touch and kiss him.

Gray watched, curiously and almost smugly, when he saw an internal battle flash through her eyes. That's when he knew Fate wasn't playing games after all. Protocol was what she was trying to follow, but when it came down to it, she couldn't resist him either because – Gray tilted his head forward and brushed his lips against hers gently – they were made – Lucy pressed back with her warm lips – perfectly for one another.

They pulled back, still staring at one another. Gray licked his lips, relishing the tingle on his lips from her warmth contrasting to his cold temperature. The blonde huntress could only stare back, pink furiously dusting her cheeks. They leant in again and kissed each other. It was deeper this time. Lucy pulled away, slightly out of breath, and looked to the side, embarrassed. Gray leaned on his forehead on her own, panting from slight excitement. They go in for a third time, but just as their lips are about to touch, some unexpected intruders' voices down the hall broke the romantic atmosphere and startled the both of them.

Lucy jumped back and lunged a few feet away from the vampire. She frantically fixed and tidied herself up while Gray only cleared his throat and turned himself to look down the hallway in his usual cold demeanor.

"Oi, Salamander, stop complaining! We're about to get food, so shut your trap!" Gajeel yelled irritably.

"Don't tell me what to do, metal face!" Natsu shouted back, raising a fist.

The two intruders childishly bickered, throwing insults at each other, which eventually lead to a fist fight. Lucy and Gray sweat-dropped as they rolled around on the ground and crashed into vases and glass decorations wreaking havoc.

"YOU FOOLS!" a voice boomed, shaking Lucy down to the core. Erza appeared with a vein throbbing on her forehead and her hair seemed to be flying with energy as some ominous aura surrounded her. She stomped up to the frozen Natsu and Gajeel, who appeared to be scared shitless.

Lucy pondered whether she should step in or not, but just smiled cheekily deciding to watch. Erza ripped Gajeel off of Natsu and slammed her fist on their heads and finally threw them down the hall with their wimpish screams echoing to everyone's ears. Erza squinted her eyes before nodding in approval at her actions.

"I couldn't have done better," Gray commented. Erza smiled and bowed her head before glowering down the hall.

"I'm sorry for any violence those two caused," she apologized. She looked around at the shattered glass on the floor and the ripped curtains. "And for everything they destroyed and will destroy with their childish behavior."

"Easy Erza," Cana said, walking up to the group. "It's only eight in the morning and you already beat the shit out of Natsu and Gajeel."

Erza felt her brow twitch. "It's only eight in the morning and you're already drinking booze?!" She furiously snatched the beer out of Cana's hands. The brunette chuckled nervously and backed up a few steps.

"Erza, I think you need to calm down," Cana suggested with wide eyes at the flaming red-head.

"Calm down? Calm down? How can I calm down knowing that everyone from Fairy Tail has no proper etiquette?" Erza bellowed, her eyes like daggers.

Gray silently laughed. Proper etiquette? Wasn't she the one who smacked those two morons down the hall? He wisely kept his mouth shut and pulled Lucy along with him to the dining room, leaving the scared brunette and fuming red-head.

The dining room was filled with hunters. They were everywhere. Heck, it was so crowded some were even eating on the floor or outside in the hall near the door to get seconds.

Gray felt his lips quirk upwards while Lucy face palmed and muttered incoherent words under her breath. A certain pink-haired comrade of theirs was already raiding the buffet, stacking his plate with all the food he could eat.

"Hey Gray," Lucy said, curiosity filling her voice. "Do you eat human food?"

"We can, but it's not necessary," he replied. "Besides, it's tasteless."

Lucy lifted her brows. Food? Tasteless? Her wandering thoughts came to a halt when she heard her name being called out. She snapped her head to the direction of the familiar voices to see Levy and Lisanna waving wildly at her to come over.

"Anyway, I'll see you later," Lucy said with a small smile. Gray watched her disappear into the crowd before walking over to Natsu to wipe that gleeful grin off his face for stealing all the food. Gray heaved a tired sigh as he saw the said boy commense another fight with Gajeel causing a chain reaction for everyone else to join the brawl. Gray swore under his breath realizing Erza didn't appear with Cana from the hall, which meant...that it was up to him to stop the whole damn thing before it brought down the whole damn palace.

"Why me?" he asked no one in particular.

"So Lucy," Levy wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "What's with you and Gray?" Lucy, for once, contained herself from blushing with embarrassment.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied impassively. "What about you and Gajeel?" she countered back with a smirk. Levy leaned back, flustered as attention was now on her. She didn't expect that in the least.

"N-nothing! I s-swear!" she stammered, her hands raised in defense. A chuckle escaped Lisanna's lips and then it was her turn to be in the spotlight.

"Don't pretend that there's nothing between you and Natsu!" Levy whispered harshly. Lisanna smiled, but it didn't match her eyes. She would've been taken more seriously if a soft blush didn't appear on her cheeks. Lucy snickered. She was just that good at reverting the situation from herself.

"Hey Lucy, isn't your birthday coming up?" Juvia asked, appeared from the buffet with a plate filled with food. She glanced at Levy and Lisanna's expressions questionably before sitting down with them. Lucy gave a strained smile. Now the spotlight was back on her. She briefly wondered how Juvia knew because the only person she told was Levy who said she recently told Cana by accident. Yeah...Cana must of spilled it all out. Like she predicted, Levy and Lisanna snapped their heads toward her with sparkling eyes.

"Isn't it in about a few days?" Lisanna gleamed, bubbled with excitement.

"Yeah," Levy answered for her. "We should so totally do something!

"Juvia thinks we-" The bluenette and the girls screeched in surprise when a body collided on the table in front of them and smashed it to the ground with a loud crash. Natsu laid there for a few seconds, dazed, before sitting up and rubbing his back in pain with a hiss. Before he could move, Erza grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Behind her Gray stood beside a frozen Gajeel encased in ice except for his head and a giggling Cana flirting with one of the guards, who seemed pretty uncomfortable.

Natsu blanched. "Now hold on a second Erza," he squeaked fearfully. Erza threw him over her shoulder without a second glance. The guard beside Cana caught him with ease.

"Take those two fools out of here," Erza ordered. The guard nodded and easily pushed Gajeel out with Natsu like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. Erza scrutinized the petrified girls. "Sorry, Natsu and Gajeel seem worse than usual." They all gazed back at the resistant Natsu hitting the poor guard while Gajeel shouted threats and obscenities.

"We're okay," Lisanna said. "We were just discussing Lucy's birthday."

"Birthday?" Gray echoed, walking up to them with a tipsy Cana. The brunette laughed and started singing 'Happy Birthday' randomly. Lucy slammed her head on the table in defeat.

Levy nodded with a smile. "Yeah, a few days from now she'll be eighteen."

"So what was your idea?" Erza asked.

"You guys going to throw a party or something?" Gray asked. He noted Lucy's sullen form. She didn't look the least bit enthusiastic. Why was that?

"Something like that," Juvia nodded.

"It's gonna be fuuun~" Cana sang.

"What do you think Lucy?" Levy asked. "Does a party sound good?" All their eyes were on her. Some sparkling with excitement and others with anticipation.

"No." Her answer came out flat and blunt with no hesitation. Her friends blinked in surprise while Gray frowned.

"B-but why not?!" Levy stammered at the beginning, unsure how to take her best friend's reply. "We never got to celebrate it before! Why not now?"

"I said no." Lucy's voice was low and in no mood for an argument. Gray narrowed his eyes. Maybe he could convince her otherwise? Didn't she see how much everyone cared?

"Lucy." Her eyes reached his. "It'll be fun. You'll be with everyone."

The blonde stared at the wall over Gray's shoulder. Maybe just this once before everything changed... She cracked a small smile. Gray was right. She'll be with everyone, her family, and spend her last day with them having fun.

"Alright, just this once."

Her friends grinned at her and cheered. She still felt uncomfortable and shifted in her seat slightly. An idea flickered through her head to divert the attention from her.

"Oh, Erza, Gray!" The two looked at her. "I just remembered something!" Lucy pulled a piece of parchment from her pocket and placed it on the table for them to look. "I found this in the main chamber back at Eisenwald. Forgot to give it to you."

Gray unfolded the map and his eyes widened. "This is perfect..." he said. His head started filling up with plans and ideas. That map was gold for sure. Erza looked at it with awe in her eyes. She was amazed. The map held all the current location of where all the cults were that they took out a few days ago, but it also showed Oracion Seis in big bold letters.

"I have to give this to Queen Ur immediately," Erza murmured. She folded it and disappeared into the crowd of hunters and weaved her way through the crowd to Queen Ur's study. When she disappeared, Lynn appeared seconds later paler than usual and a bit shaken up.

"Everyone, I need your help."

"What's wrong, Lynn?" Lyon asked.

"Sabertooth."

That one word was all she needed to say for Fairy Tail to barge out of the room to the main entrance. Most of them couldn't believe that the Sabers were here. They had too much pride for that. But since they were here then it must be bad.

Lucy covered her mouth with her hand in horror while Gray's eyes widened in shock. Natsu's eyes narrowed when Wendy mindlessly ran up to help. Every member of Sabertooth was bloody and beaten and some even on the brink of death. Most weren't even able to stand, so the nurses decided to just treat them there. Only a few weren't in treacherous condition. Sting was one of them, and he sat among his guild mates with a deep scowl on his face. His eyes snapped up to Natsu's with a deadly glare saying 'back-off-or-I'll-kill-you'.

Gray watched with slight curiosity as Natsu curled his lip back over his teeth into a snarl. Sting only sneered and turned his head to ignore him. Gray frowned at the tension in the air. Every one from Fairy Tail was glaring at them with scornful eyes. Although, Lucy looked at them with imperceptible fear and pity. It was all a mix of emotions that Gray couldn't understand, but so far he concluded that there was rivalry between the two guilds.

He couldn't blame them though. One time, Sabertooth offered to help on some mission and they sent Minerva. Gray's eyes drifted over to the calm looking woman didn't have a single scratch on her. Her eyes caught his and she smirked at him. Minerva didn't have one nice bone in her body. Her chilling stare passed over him to the Lucy. She sneered at her disdainfully. Lucy stiffened, a pained expression on her face as if she were recalling something rather unpleasant.

"Doesn't look good," Lyon commented, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I can feel the negativity radiating from all of them," Gray replied back in the same tone.

"Can't blame them."

After a minute of gaping, Wendy astonishingly barked at them to help and stop standing around like idiots. Some hesitantly walked from the clumped group surrounding the Sabers and many began to join, not so much from Fairy Tail as the other guilds. Lucy, being the good-natured she kind of was, started walking forward, but was jerked back when a hand caught her wrist. She looked over shoulder questioningly and found Natsu shaking his head in disapproval. Lucy gave one last hard stare at Minerva before turning and leaving with some of her friends.

"Interesting," Gray groused with keen eyes. With his acute senses, he believed something happened between Minerva and Lucy. His gut told him that was what sent Fairy Tail off the edge.

Lucy and her friends entered Levy's room that she shared with Erza and a few other Fairy Tail female members. When they were walking through the palace to their destination, they were in complete silence thinking their own thoughts and opinions about what was happening.

"This sucks," Lisanna blurted out. Her statement practically summed up what all of them were thinking.

"I know right," Cana sighed.

"There's obviously nothing we can do," Erza stated, dampening their moods even further.

"Juvia has a bad feeling about this," Juvia said worriedly. Her usually mysterious eyes were wide and forlorn for what was to come. Her stomach said something with Sabertooth's presence was off. Completely off. They weren't just here for help. They have something planned. She could just feel it.

"I'm siding with Juvia," Mira agreed. "Something's not right."

A silence fell over all of them and each one knew something foreboding was going to come. A woman's gut never lies.

"Instead of brooding," Levy said. "Let's discuss what we should do for Lucy's birthday!"

"Just a casual party," Lucy pleaded. If she didn't say anything, everything would go overboard. Like maybe taking advantage that they were in a palace and using the ballroom to have a formal dance. Lucy shuddered at the thought.

"With booze obviously," Cana put in. The girls laughed while she blinked. "What? I'm being serious!"

Erza rolled her eyes and flicked Cana on the forehead. "Absolutely not! We don't want innocent huntresses to get knocked up!"

"How about we have a girls night out today? We can all squeeze into this room and have some fun," Lisanna suggested.

"Juvia thinks that's a great idea!"

"It's settled then," Erza said with a nod.

Lucy walked through the grand hallways. Even though she's been here for some time, she couldn't help but admire everything. As she turned a corner she collided into someone and stumbled back a few steps, muttering her apologies.

"Tch, watch it."

Lucy snapped her eyes open in bewilderment at such a harsh tone. She wished she kept on walking. Before her was none other than Minerva. Lucy bowed her head and continued walking briskly with a tense body. She grabbed the door handles to Gray's room. Her jaw clenched and unclenched before she threw the doors open. Heat immediately rushed to her cheeks at the sight before her.

Gray was only clad in a towel around his waist and was drying his hair with another towel. His impressively muscular body looked delicious. Water dripped down his chest and she watched as one drop trailed down to his abs. Oh holy shit...

Gray looked up as the doors loudly hit the wall and ricocheted, closing with a clang. Lucy managed to compose herself and said very intelligently, "Ah...um...ugh - I..."

Gray cocked a brow, looking a bit worried. Who wouldn't when someone before you started stuttering and look like a tomato. "You okay?"

"I guess so..." Lucy said, wondering what the hell was wrong with her. Where was her head when she needed it the most?

"Something wrong?"

Lucy gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. Yes, something is wrong, Lucy thought. It's you! Don't you realize that your toned body is probably a weapon of mass destruction!

She took a deep breath and looked at Gray straight in the eyes, being careful not to stare at his chest and abs. "I'm fine, peachy really. Sorry for barging in." Lucy then walked over to her closet and grabbed some things and stuffed it into a small bag and then went into the bathroom to do the same thing. When Lucy turned back to him, his eyes watched her curiously and his arms were crossed over his bare chest and he was leaning against the door frame of the bathroom. As always, he looked breathtakingly handsome.

Lucy furiously blushed as some unbidden thoughts popped into her head. "Are you seducing me?!" she demanded. He was so doing this on purpose.

Gray flashed an amused smile with his still lifted brow. "Are you seduced?"

"N-no."

"Then no."

Lucy glowered and pushed past him about to disappear. She was boiling on the inside. That guy is just so irritable. She had no idea how she became attracted to him. She could still feel her face burning with a deep blush. Oh, that was just embarrassing!

"Where are you going?" Gray asked.

"Somewhere," she replied curtly. "Just for the night." And she was already receding down the hall.

Gray stared at the retreating girl with a a smug smile. Her face was priceless! He had to bite his lip to keep himself from laughing out loud. He smirked wickedly as he looked into the direction Lucy disappeared into. Her emotions weren't as indifferent as they seemed.

Gray was extremely pleased.

Green eyes watched as a flustered blonde walked by muttering incoherent words under her breath. Then they looked at the closed doors of Gray's room.

Minerva emerged from the shadows with a small sadistic smile. So there was something going on between the Fairy and Prince Gray.

"Midnight would find this quite interesting..."

Wooohoooo! I finished! I apologize for any grammar or spelling errors.

Once again, I am incredibly sorry for not updating in forever. It's going to be like this for some time because I'm extremely busy. I've got final exams and graduation coming up... But I'll type the chapters whenever I can. I'm going to give you a heads up and let you know that chapter 11 may not be super long like this chapter.

I wanted to thank all the reviewers, followers, and favoriters (is that even a word?) for supporting my story :) You guys inspire me so much and I'm happy that all of you are enjoying this story a lot. If you have any questions or want any help in developing a story plot you can just PM me. Don't have to be shy ;)

Oh yeah! Forgot to mention that I changed the summary...again.

Again, thank you all!