A/N: Merry Christmas, mina!

WARNING: Unintentional Gruvia. Gomen'nasai. *Sweatdrop* But it was slightly necessary since Juvia is his Secret Santa...

Mood Music: Well, I was listening The VeggieTales Christmas CD when I started writing this (yes, we have had that one for a very long time!) and then it turned into one of the Chipmunks Christmas CD's (yes, that one too!). Really though, I would say that It Feels Like Christmas from A Muppet Christmas Carol is really the song for this chapter. (:

Disclaimer: I suppose it's not wrong to ask Santa for the rights for Christmas, right? ... Right?

Christmas!

Erza rushed into the guild followed closely by Gray, Natsu, and Lucy, all of them slightly out of breath. "We aren't late, are we?"

Mira smiled brightly at the group. "Not at all! The last of the sugar cookies just came out of the oven, so we haven't started yet. You're just in time!"

Gray breathed a sigh of relief. "Good… Wouldn't want to miss out, after all!"

"Lucy, why don't you help me bring everything out from the kitchen," Mira requested as she headed for the door to the back room.

Lucy nodded. "Hai!"

As Mira wheeled out one cart filled with sugar cookies of all shapes and sizes and Lucy wheeled out a second cart laden with home-made frosting and sprinkles and anything else one could think of to decorate with, Master Makarov took to the stage. "Members of Fairy Tail! It is now time to begin our annual Christmas Eve Party! The first event of the day is the cookie decorating contest! Your judges for this year are Mirajane, Levy, and Gildarts! Good luck to you all!"

Gray grinned evilly. "So it's a contest, eh? Natsu! Accept defeat! My cookie will defeat your cookie!"

"What?!" Natsu yelled. "As if, Popsicle!"

Lucy slapped her hand to her face. "Does everything have to be a contest to decide who is better between those two?"

Erza laughed. "In a word: yes! C'mon; let's go chose our cookie to decorate."

An hour later, with sprinkles and frosting smudged across the tables, all the cookies had finally been submitted to the three judges. Gray and Natsu both wore smug smiles, confident that their cookie would win over the other person's. However…

"Alright, everyone!" Makarov spoke from the stage. "The judges have made their decisions! Most Creative goes to –" he paused to open an envelope – "Bisca for her Christmas tree creation! Most Unusual goes to –" he opened another envelope – "Gajeel! According to the judges, 'you have to see it to believe it!' And now, for the prestigious I-wouldn't-dare-eat-it-because-it-looks-like-a-decoration award! This year's winner is – " he paused more dramatically this time as he opened the envelope – "newcomer to the guild, Juvia!"

"Juvia won?!" Juvia shrieked.

Across the room Natsu and Gray shared the same downtrodden, disheartened expression.

"W-we both… lost," Gray mumbled darkly.

"Aye~…"

Erza walked up behind them both, clapping them on the shoulder and sticking her head between theirs. "But you both had fun, yes?" she asked with a smile. "And don't you dare deny it, because I saw the two of you going at it! Besides, there's always next year."

The two brightened at this. "Next year you're going down, Snowman!"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Lizard Boy!"

"Alright, everyone!" Makarov quickly called the guild's attention back to the stage. "At this very moment, Elfman, Gildarts, and Laxus are out finding a tree for our hall. As soon as they return, we will begin decorating it, so don't go too far or you'll miss out. But I know you all won't; Mira is brewing hot chocolate and apple cider as we speak!" As if on cue, Mira emerged from the kitchen with said drinks, earning a cheer from the entire guild.

Half of an hour later, with everyone drunk on cider and hot chocolate, the three dispatched men returned, carrying with them a giant tree. As soon as the door had opened, with Gildarts in the lead, the guild cheered yet again. The tree was stood next to the stage, where the boxes upon boxes of tree decorations had been stacked on the platform. As soon as the tree was upright, everyone left what remained in his or her mug and mobbed around the tree, passing around boxes while the lights and garlands began to be wound around the tree. Then out came the colored glass balls, the gold wire ornaments that encased gems of all shapes and sizes in the forms of stars and little trees and candy canes, and the tinsel!

With everyone working together, the tree was soon decorated from top to bottom, with only the star for the top remaining to be placed. Makarov looked out over the crowd of his 'brats,' trying to decide who would hold the honor. They had gained so many new members since the last Christmas and not one of them was more special to him than another. But then he smiled. He knew just who to choose. "Lucy," he called out above the hubbub, "how would you like to place the star on top of the tree this year?"

Lucy could only stare at the guild master, wide-eyed. She had already heard from Natsu and Erza that placing the star on the top of the tree was considered a huge honor in Fairy Tail. "It's like the ornaments symbolize all of the members in Fairy Tail; that's we all work together to put them on," Erza had told her. "But the tree topper… That's special. There is only one of those. It's difficult to have a properly decorated tree without something on the top; it holds the tree together in a sense, just like a guild is held together by the bonds shared between the members. It's a very symbolic thing, to have the master choose you to place the topper on the tree." She smiled slightly in awe. "Me, Master? Are you sure?"

He nodded once. "You may not realize it, Lucy Heartfillia, but you mean a lot to the members of this guild, if the whole mess with Phantom Guild awhile back wasn't enough proof for you. You truly are a part of what makes the heart of Fairy Tail."

Her smile widened, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks, as she nodded. Charle picked up the 'star' – which was actually the Fairy Tail symbol – and handed it to Lucy before she and Happy lifted Lucy into the air so she could reach the top of the tree. As soon as the topper was in place, the tree burst into light! Everyone cheered as Lucy was placed back on the ground.

Makarov smiled. "Well done, child."

The afternoon was passed outdoors for most, with snowball fights and building snowmen and making angels in the snow. But come evening, every member of the guild could be found in the guild hall, stuffing themselves with the grand Christmas feast that had been prepared. Turkey and ham, sweet potato casserole and mashed potatoes with gravy, fruit salads and wild rice, pumpkin pie and magic flan cake – all washed down with sweet apple cider or hot chocolate.

Evening had finally arrived on the Eve of Christmas.

There wasn't a single, solitary soul in the building who was not filled with joy of Christmas!

Carols played as the members feasted and drank to their heart's content. For it truly was a time of happiness in the guild!

And then, with fifteen minutes left until the stroke of midnight, Elfman and Mirajane quietly slipped out of the main hall into one of the back rooms.

"All the Secret Santa gifts are in, right?" Elfman asked in a hushed voice.

Mira nodded. "All present." She paused as her brother gave her a weird look. "…No pun intended," she added sheepishly.

He smirked. "It feels good to celebrate again, doesn't it?"

"Hai," she answered with a soft smile. "But you'd better hurry; it's almost midnight!"

As the countdown began in the main hall, Elfman slipped his Santa hat on and grabbed the bag of presents. At the stroke of midnight, he made his entrance at the top of the stairs. "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" The guild cheered as he descended the steps and began to hand out the Secret Santa gifts, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas as he did so.

From across the room, Gajeel watched as Levy opened her present. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her eyes grow wide and heard her squeal in delight; thanks to Lucy's help, he had obviously chosen the right book.

Natsu had 'accidently' given himself away to Lisanna; she knew whom her present from, but neither particularly cared.

Lucy could be seen in one corner of the hall, making a contract with the new Spirit of the key she had received. If she ever found out who had given her this gift, she would be forever indebted to the person. It may not have been a Zodiac key, but it was one she had been looking for for a very long time!

Erza approached a nervous looking Juvia. "Don't worry, Juvia; I'm sure he'll love your gift!"

"Juvia certainly hopes so," she replied, fidgeting. "Gray-sama hasn't opened it yet…"

Erza followed the water mage's gaze to where Gray was sitting at one of the tables with Natsu and Lisanna. He wore a frown as she gently shook the package next to his ear. Erza chuckled. "Trying to guess before he opens it, I guess. Just be patient. His curiosity will get the better of him eventually."

After another minute of the two girls watching discreetly, Gray finally peeled back a corner of the wrapping paper. Opening the box, his eyes widened slightly. He pulled out an icy blue lacrima crystal. Setting it gently on the table, he pulled out the note that had been folded up underneath. It read:

Gray:
You have done so much to help me; I couldn't help but to return the favor. This particular crystal enhances the abilities of the ice mage in its possession – at least that's what the shop keeper told me, anyway. Even if it doesn't, though, I hope it will always remind you that you mean the world to me if to no one else.

"AHAHAHAHA! Gray! You're blushing!"

Gray snapped his head up at the Dragon Slayer's words. "I-I am not!"

Across the room, Erza beamed at Juvia. "I told you he would like it."

All around the guild hall, people were opening their present, some gushing at the marvelousness of it, some cringing and wondering what in the world the person must have been thinking. But, in the end, the presents didn't really matter. They were placed away in pockets or bags and set aside to continue in the fellowship they all shared.

Finally, around two o'clock, Makarov broke up the party just like he always did. He mounted the stage, looking out over all of his children. "The guild hall will be closed for the duration of Christmas Day, in keeping with the tradition of going home and being with family. However, if anyone gets lonely on this day, my door is always open, and I would not mind in the least! Merry Christmas to you all, my children!"

Elfman, still dressed as Santa, mounted back to the top of the steps from which he had descended hours before. And, as was tradition, he called out from the top, hand held high in typical Fairy Tail fashion, "Merry Christmas to all!"

With hands held high, the guild responded. "And to all a good night!"