A/N: Here's another one in the countdown to Christmas! (: Enjoy! (And don't forget to review *hint-hint*)

Mood Music: Somebody's Angel by Mandisa (even if it wasn't purposely on Gray's part... haha).

Disclaimer: A lot of shippings would be cannon if I owned it...

The First Time

"Thank you, miss! And have a very merry Christmas!"

"The same to you!" Erza bid as she pushed open the door to leave the small shop. She took a deep breath of the cold, crisp air before watching it float away in a white cloud before her eyes. It had taken more time and effort than she had thought, but she finally had the perfect present for Lucy! She crossed the street, heading for the shop Juvia had disappeared into when they had parted. The water mage was just coming out herself when Erza reached the entrance.

"Juvia is positive she has found the perfect present for Gray-sama!" she beamed.

Erza smiled. "I'm sure he'll love it, Juvia!"

"Juvia hopes so… It is her first Christmas in Fairy Tail after all."

Erza chuckled slightly as the two entered a small restaurant for dinner. "I still remember the first Christmas I spent in the guild. It wasn't long after I'd joined actually, so I still didn't really know anyone yet." She shook her head. "It was a day I will certainly never forget."

"What happened, Erza-san?"

"Well…"

XX Years Earlier

Erza sat alone on the river bank, staring out at the water with blank eyes. The air was frigid and easily cut through her thin coat, but she didn't care. 'Jellal…' she thought, 'Why… How did this happen?! You were my friend… Or at least you were supposed to be!'

She turned her head sharply as the voice of someone calling her name broke through her thoughts.

"Erza! You weren't at the party last night! Why?"

She let out a small huff. "I don't have to tell a pervert anything, thank you."

After glancing down to make certain he was still fully dressed, Gray frowned, folding his arms across his chest. "But it was the Christmas party. Everyone goes."

"Hypocrite. I heard you weren't there either."

Gray growled slightly. "I have my reasons."

"So do I. Maybe you should try not judging me without knowing them first."

Without another word, Gray plopped down on the frozen grass next to her.

"What are you doing? Go find your own riverbank!"

"Last I checked this one didn't belong to you. I can sit here if I want to. Look, I brought you a present; do you want it or not?"

Erza was stunned. "A… A present? For me?"

He nodded. "Even if I didn't intend to go, I figured I should at least do the whole 'Secret Santa' thing like everyone else. Since you weren't there last night, you didn't get it." He held out a small box. "I may not like this stupid holiday, but here you go anyway."

Present Time

Juvia stared at Erza. "Gray-sama was your Secret Santa for your first Christmas in Fairy Tail?"

She nodded, smiling warmly. "He made it unforgettable, to be sure. Even though he hated Christmas, he still went to the effort of buying me a gift and making sure that I got it." She twisted an old, slightly beat-up, dull silver ring from around the ring finger on her right hand. "It may not look like much now, but it means the world to me. This ring was the very first Christmas present I ever received." She handed it to Juvia. "I always wear it as a reminder of how, from the very beginning – even if I didn't want to admit it, I had friends in Fairy Tail. This ring, like my friendship with Gray, has been through Hell and back, and, while it may not be shiny and new anymore, it's worth so much more now that it has withstood the test of time. It will always be my most valuable possession."

As Juvia examined the ring closely, her eyes widened slightly. "Erza-san, did there used to be a design on it?"

She nodded again. "Little, blue flowers were etched into it when he gave it to me. I'm surprised you can still make them out, Juvia."

"Just barely," the water mage stated, handing the ring back to its owner, "but they are still there!"

Erza smiled, sliding the ring back onto her finger. "A lot of things fade and even disappear with time. I am so very fortunate that my friends have not."