Trying to get the plot going with this chapter. Or at least set up a little bit. :p

Also, I sprinkled this with a pinch of Gale. So enjoy~

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.

Lucy was walking back to her apartment in order to put up her much needed groceries. And Lucy would admit it. Perhaps it was more of an absent stumbling than walking. She was rattled up a bit from her market trip. The only thing that probably kept her from a breakdown was the fact that she didn't give Sting her real name. And the fact that she wouldn't ever run into him again, or at least the odds were against it. He was the Sabertooth guild master. Meaning he wouldn't be in Magnolia for much longer. Lucy liked the sound of that. She was more comfortable that way. She doesn't know why she dislikes Sting that much. Just something about him repeals her away. It's like he is just littered in blinking caution lights. Her intuition tells her that he's nothing but trouble that likes to wreck havoc. She much rather stay with her normal life right now, with no panicked filled market trips, with with her guild mates, with Natsu, with her strawberry milkshakes, with her novel, wit-

Wait. Did I just think Natsu somewhere in there?

Sure Natsu was apart of her life. He was the one who brought her to Fairy Tail. He was the very reason she was so happy with her life. He was her best friend. Her goofy, kind, eccentric, best friend….who she had a major crush on. Romantic feelings are really hard to smother after all. She's tried obviously. Her feelings would completely destroy their friendship. Yeah. Friendship. All it will ever be. That's a fact. The fact that really haunts her since Natsu will never see her as anything more than a best friend. She knew that. She shouldn't hope for anything. She really should just take what she can get. Yet she couldn't just tell her feelings to go away. The longing gets stronger and its scaring her. Natsu had somehow, despite what Lucy wanted in a man, captured her heart.

No one in the guild knew except Levy and Mira. She obviously would tell Levy, since the blue haired Mage spilled about Gajeel. And Mira wasn't one to fool and quickly caught on. She's the matchmaker after all. Everyone else hopefully were clueless. It wouldn't surprise Lucy if some other guild mates have their suspicious though. It isn't like she can control her blushing face when Natsu puts his arm around her neck claiming that he had a mission in mind for them.

Why do I have to have a crush on Natsu? Why the densest one in the guild?

Lucy reprimanded herself. It's best not to think about it. It's best to just carry on. Just focus your attention on something else.

Like why Sting was bothering me at the market?

Lucy rapidly shook her head. She doesn't need to think about that either. How about her novel? Yes. That seemed nice. She could think up of a new antagonist to trouble the main characters. Perfect.

Her walk back continued with her trying to come up with a good story line to add to her novel, all while earnestly trying to block out any dragon slayers from her train of thought. By the time she reached her apartment it was about noon. She put away her perishables in the fridge, admiring how full it looked, knowing it wouldn't stay that way for long. Remembering she had some pretty decent ideas for her story on the way home she grabbed a sticky note and jotted down the concepts.

Looking at the clock now, it read one o'clock. A perfect time to go ahead and visit the guild hall she was already dressed and all anyways. She double checked to make sure she had her keys and headed out the door.

Natsu was already at the guildhall. Had been for a few hours too. He had been searching for a new job he and Lucy could take. She had to pay rent soon right? So going on job was perfect for the two of them. She can get rent money, and Natsu can spend some time with Lucy. He felt as if they hadn't been spending that much time together. Yes, he knew he slept in the same bed as her last night and saw her this morning. It just...felt as if maybe she wanted to put some distance between them. Which made absolutely no sense to Natsu. They were best friend weren't they? Why would she suddenly be uncomfortable around him? Just the other day he reached to put his arm around her. Suddenly she was emitting a rather distressed aura at his touch and her face was all red. It's as if she had caught a fever. When he would suggest to go on a job, just the two of them, she wouldn't hesitate to invite Gray, Erza, or even Wendy. It isn't like he always needed to spend time with Lucy. There are just moments in which he wishes he could see her. Laugh with her. He just wished to be there by her side. Natsu didn't think it was abnormal. What friends would do right?

The object of his current thoughts strode through the guild doors. She went straight to the bar and ordered her famous strawberry smoothie. Shortly after, Levy approached her and they started chatting. Natsu was about to walk towards her just to see what she was up to when Makarov called the guild to attention. The mages quickly quieted in curiosity of what their master would say.

"Children. I have very important topic I must discuss with you. As you all may know, this weekend marks exactly six months since the Grand Magic Games."

"That we won!" Cana drunkenly screamed as the rest of the guild cheered.

After Makarov got everyone settled down again he continued,

"Because it marks six months afterwards, they decided to host a reunion banquet in order to see how all the guilds are faring. And we are their honored guests, seeing as we won first place and all." Makarov finished radiating proudness.

"Alright! Another party!" Natsu yelled excitedly.

The whole guild rallied in anticipation. Eager chit chat bouncing off the walls while females talked about what dress they'll wear, or how they'll style their hair. Males talking about all the beautiful, sexy women they'll meet and chat up. Everyone was wanting the weekend to come already.

Natsu was stoked. The previous banquet filled up his mind. The fun times. The great laughs. The Kings crown. Another good thing is that he can totally hang out with Lucy at the banquet. No doubt about that in his mind. Now all he had to do was unearth his tuxedo from somewhere in his house, and most likely wash it.

Lucy on the other hand wasn't as excited as she probably should be. Yeah she wants to visit with the other guilds. Catch up with each other. However what mostly dominated her mind was the fact that other guilds were going to be there. The ones who participated in the Grand Magic Games. Including the one called Sabertooth. And with Sabertooth came it's guild master. Just when she thought she was getting rid of a certain tiger she's thrown into a cage with him.

She couldn't just not go. She wasn't going to worry her teammates like that. And she actually did want to see how everyone else was doing.

I'll guess I'll just do my best to avoid him.

With that last thought, she turned back to Levy and they began chatting and making plans about getting ready together. Though with this topic of course came the conversation of boys. Levy started gushing about Gajeel and how she wanted to dance with him at the banquet.

This girl was head over heals. She was obviously in love with him, Lucy deducted from the pink blush on her booky friend's dreamy face. Lucy took this chance to tease the bluenette.

"Blushing from imagining Gajeel in a tuxedo, Levy? Or perhaps it's from wanting to feel his strong arms wrapped around you as you dance across the ballroom floor," Lucy exaggerated her words, trying to further embarrass the girl. Levy's response was just what Lucy was looking for. Her face turned from a light pink to a full on radiating red.

"W-what! I am n-not! Don't get any funny ideas!" Levy shouted with several stutters ending her spiel with a deep pout towards her friend.

Lucy wasn't even close to stop prodding at her friend's affections.

"Hey Levy. Has the thought ever occurred to you that you should ask Gajeel to go to the banquet with you, like as a date?" Lucy suggested.

Levy was still pouting at the celestial's antics. Of course she's thought about asking Gajeel out on several occasions. She just didn't want to risk him saying no, breaking her heart. Yes. Gajeel held Levy's heart whether she liked it or not.
"Oh yeah? And what about you? Haven't YOU ever thought about asking out Natsu to the banquet?" Levy turned the spotlight onto her Lucy.

Here we go again.

Levy had tried before to get her to confess to the fire mage. Lucy would always strongly deny the idea, stating that it would ruin everything if he didn't feel the same way. Levy of course sighed, knowing that she was in the same boat and didn't push anymore.

"The day I ask out Natsu will be the day you ask out Gajeel," Lucy absently replied seeing as they were going to end up having the familiar conversation of stalemate relationships.

Levy however wanted something to change. She didn't want to always just cower in fear, and neither should her friend. She took a deep intake of air breathing in and out. In and out. Now or never. If this stalemate was ever going to end, she was going to have to become the incentive. With determination set in her eyes she looked around the guild searching for someone. Once spotted, her mind raced with thoughts. Most of them being reasons not to do what she was about to do. Most of them, negative. Most of them completely logical, at least to her. Did she listen? She blocked all of them out. She wasn't going to back out now. She was going to do this. With one last look at Lucy, Levy whispered

"Wish me Luck, Lucy."

Lucy didn't know what she was talking about.

"Wish you luck on what?" but her question went unheard as the bluenette was already walking away.

Levy was walking, with shaky legs, towards Gajeel. He was leaning his back up against a wooden post with his eyes closed and arms crossed. Lily wasn't by his side. Levy now stood directly in front of Gajeel. He sensed her presence, and opened his eyes to see her. The sight he was met with was rather strange. Her face was light up with a light blush, and she was squirming under his gaze. Her scent was slightly enhanced, he noticed.

"Um. Gajeel."

"What is it, Shrimp?"

"How many times I do I have to tell you not to cal-" Levy started but quickly remembered her goal and cleared her throat. "I-I uh, I meant to say. I mean. If you aren't busy or anything. I mean you s-shouldn't be busy since the whole guild is attending, but incase you are it's okay and you don't have to say anything or something. I completely understand if you have other plans. I wouldn't want you to change your pl-"

"Shrimp. Get to the point will you?" Gajeel impatiently said. He wanted to know what she was so nervous about.

"Gajeel! Would you like to go to the Banquet with me?!" Levy spat out.

The whole guild got quiet. She was that loud that the whole guild heard her outburst and now were paying their full attention to her. Lucy almost fell off her bar stool. Cana almost choked on her beer. All roughhousing and goofing off ceased as everyone was waiting in anticipation for the next words that would be spoken,

Gajeel was shocked speechless. When the actual words hit him, his face adorned the faintest tinge of pink. What does he say? One word.

"Sure."

That single word sent Levy's heart into a frenzy. Happiness flooded through her veins. Not only was Levy freaking out but the entire guild erupted into hoots and hollers. They even gathered around the two congratulating them, invading all of Gajeel's personal space, freaking him out even more. Almost immediately, Gajeel threatened and yelled for everyone to stop bothering him, walking to another secluded corner of the guild in order to escape the attention.

Levy just giggled at his embarrassment. She smiled widely still on an adrenaline high, and strolled over to Lucy, who's mouth hung open in shock.

"Your turn now, Luce." Levy winked at her dumbfounded friend, before walking over to join Gajeel.

"Wait. What?!" Lucy yelled.

Oooo~

Whats? Lucy going to do now?

Find out next chapter, peeps.