Chapter Nineteen: Hiking

The sun shone in my eyes again, waking me up. I blinked and swore under my breath, "I need to put that window somewhere else otherwise I'll go freaking blind…" I got up and stretched, rubbing the tired feeling from my eyes. I went over to the window and looked out. It was a bright day, a few wisps of cloud in the sky but very sunny and clear. I looked out over the town and saw the clock on the cathedral.

My breath caught in my throat. 5 minutes to nine! I dashed from the window, shutting it and drawing the curtains as I got out some random clothes and changed out of my pyjamas. I was just taking off my shirt when I heard footsteps and the door suddenly opened, "Hey, Lucy, I'm a bit early but—"

"GET OUT!" I shouted, grabbing my bed blanket and covering up while my other hand grabbed the first thing it could find which was a huge book on Magnolia town which I'd used when I'd first came here as a guide and threw it at him.

"I'm so, so sorry," I said once I had gone out and saw Gray, "My first reaction is to throw stuff at people who come in when I'm changing."

"Nah, it's all right," said Gray, "Luckily my first reaction when stuff is thrown at me is to use Ice Make Shield."

"Still, I'm sorry," I said, "I know it's the time we agreed to meet. I kind of overslept."

"It's all right," said Gray, "Let's go."

"Where are we going to do?" I asked, following after him and walking next to him.

"Take a hike," said Gray.

"Don't be so rude," I said, hitting him lightly.

"I'm serious, we're taking a hike," said Gray, "There's this mountain that has the best view at the top, I swear. I've been up there a few times."

Why does everyone suddenly have their little undiscovered places? I thought, laughing a bit under my breath.

"What?" said Gray.

"Nothing," I sniggered.

Soon, we were in the East Forest and hiking up some big mountain.

"How can you walk up this?" I said, practically dragging myself along as Gray easily found footholds on the thin ledge we were walking up and didn't even have to use his hands to support himself against the wall. He looked back and laughed slightly, "Well, I've been here a few times."

"I'm tired," I groaned, since we had walked from town, through half the forest and up a mountain. It was starting to remind me of Erza's walking marathon when we went to Crescent Lunar.

Gray smiled and walked down a few steps to me and leaned down, his back to me, "Get on, then."

"It's OK," I said, trying to go on my own. Although it was very clear I was struggling a heap.

"Sometimes I wish you weren't so stubborn," said Gray, easily passing me, even on the thin ledge. He didn't seem to have a thought of falling. Gray ducked down and swept my legs out from underneath me and supported my back, holding me bridal-style.

"Gray, are you insane?" I protested. Actually, I quite liked the fact I was pressed up against his chest to the point I could faintly hear his heartbeat but I didn't want to trouble Gray and make him tired with my extra weight on him, "Let me go! I can walk by myself!"

He rolled his eyes, already knowing my reasons, "It would only 'trouble' me more if I saw you struggling."

I didn't have anything to say to that. I listened to the steady beat of his heart for any sign he was getting tired. It thumped steady and strong, not like my own spluttering heart. He had amazing stamina. Maybe it was because he always did that 24 hour run every year for Fairy Tail.

I didn't even realise how much distance we'd covered until we were on a flat plateau at the top of the mountain.

He let me go then and put his arm around my shoulders, "Isn't it beautiful?"

I looked over the view. Part of the East Forest was beneath us; the tops of the trees were a few ledges under us. Magnolia was beyond that. A clear river flowed along the rocks to my side. I realised this was the river which ran down and became a waterfall where Juvia's crying place was. The place was gorgeous, just as much as Juvia's place was.

"It is," I said, "This was a great day, Gray."

"Did you think this was it?" said Gray, letting me go and looking at me, "This view was just a part of it. It is lunchtime. That hike took up a couple of hours." He suddenly got out a picnic basket from out of nowhere.

"Where did you get that from?" I said. He was shirtless for God's sake. Where could he hide a picnic basket?

"Magic," said Gray, "Not really. Natsu and Happy nabbed a mission to go past this forest so I got Happy to bring this up this morning. It's still good."

"Oh," I said, making a mental note to thank Happy and Natsu later.

Gray got out a blanket and laid out the food. I sat down and looked at the food. Two bento boxes and some water bottles. I opened the bento box and saw the food neatly arranged in a colourful Fairy Tail symbol. The whole meal screamed of Mira-chan. It even had a cute little note attached to the lid, "Have fun with Gray and enjoy the bento lunch! – Mira."

"Mira made this?" I said, eating a bit. It was delicious.

"Yeah, I can't cook," said Gray, sitting down next to me, "I tried and I failed so I just asked Mira to do it for me. Now I owe her, so…"

I started stuffing my face with the bento and it was all gone too soon. I stared at my empty box, wishing maybe it would suddenly fill up again with Mira's delicious cooking. Gray noticed my staring and offered his bento, "Want some of mine?"

"No, it's all right," I said immediately.

"You know you always say no when you really want to say yes?"

"It's being polite," I said but even I could tell what a terrible liar I was.

Gray rolled his eyes and held out some food. I ate it and smiled. His bento was just as good as mine. Gray grinned and ate some, feeding me as well.

"Are you sure you won't be hungry?" I asked, eating a bit.

"Of course not," shrugged Gray, "I'll just eat when we get back to the guild."

Soon, that bento box was empty as well. I was pretty much full now as I drank some water and put the boxes and empty bottles back in the basket.

"So, you want to go back now?" asked Gray once he shut the basket lid.

I somehow didn't feel like going back to the guild for once. I loved it but I actually wanted to spend some more time in this beautiful place.

"Um, I'd actually like to stay here for a while," I said, sitting down, my face buried in my knees. I wrapped my arms around my knees and relaxed in the warm sunshine. There was no wind and the running water and sunshine made a very calm atmosphere.

Gray sat down next to me, looking at the view. After a while, I opened my eyes and looked sideways at Gray. He was looking at me too, not discreetly, like me but literally staring so I could see three-quarters of his face. His face was emotionless. Once he was caught staring, he smiled in a different way I had never seen before and scooted a bit closer to me, until our shoulders were nearly touching. I lifted my face up and turned to face him, "What's with that look?"

"Nothing," said Gray, still smiling and looking out over the view again, "Nice view."

"Yeah," I said, turning my head slightly.

The second I was caught off guard, Gray moved. I turned around, "Gray—?"

When I turned around, Gray suddenly took my face in his hands and kissed me on the lips. His kiss was soft and gentle, yet fierce and hungry. My adrenaline levels shot up and my arms went around his neck again and pulled him closer.

This kiss was so much better. There was no cameras, no stupid director shouting at us or any distractions. Nevertheless, it ended all too soon and Gray pulled away, giving me a gentle kiss on my forehead before getting up, "We should really get back now. You've been like that for an hour."

"Really?" I said. It only felt like ten minutes but I'd been relaxing in the sun for an hour. Wow. But what was even more amazing was Gray's kiss. He really was a really great kisser.

The trip back to Magnolia Town took a couple of hours. I was lagging behind again but Gray carried me back most of the way since I got tired too quickly. I also made a mental note to improve my stamina.

"Hey, we're back," I said, coming into the guild and sitting at the bar with Mira, "The bento lunches were delicious, thanks."

"It's OK," said Mira, smiling, "I thought it was sweet of Gray. Now you've forgotten all about 'that article'."

"Thanks for reminding me," I groaned, hitting my head on the table and lifting it back up, "Actually, I have to talk to Juvia tonight so… Wait, what time is it?" I looked out but of course I couldn't see the cathedral.

"It's about 5:30pm," said Mira, "You and Gray sure spent most of the day together."

"Honestly, it took like three hours to hike to that spot," I said, "That's just sad. I need to improve my stamina, Mira-chan…"

"Well, I believed the best way I improved it was to train every day, take plenty of missions and eat healthily." She nodded, "Yep, that's the way."

"Well, anyway," I said, getting up, "I have to get home and change into something less dirty," I gestured at my dirt stained clothes from the hike, "And probably take a shower too."

Mira laughed, "Off you go then."

I walked to the entrance of the guild and saw Gray was waiting outside for me, apparently.

"I knew you would go home to prepare," said Gray, smiling, "Can I walk with you?"

"Yeah," I said, sort of surprised but in a good way, "Sure."

As we walked along, I had a feeling that something was going to happen. Only I couldn't figure out what.