Lucy watched the door nervously. Ilene was a gentle soul and she knew that Gray would never let anything happen to her. It didn't keep her from worrying about her tiny friend. It was easy to mistake the Earth Make Mage for a little kid with her small structure and easy going way and Lucy knew that more than once she'd had to put someone in their place because of it.
"You're really worried about them, aren't you?" Bickslow asked, sitting down heavily beside her.
Lucy nodded, "Gray is probably wrapped around her little finger by now, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. Ilene has a way of making guys want to protect her at all costs but that doesn't stop her from attracting the wrong type of guy over and over again."
Bickslow nodded in understanding, "You know that you have that same problem, right?"
Lucy looked at him in surprise, "The only people who have ever been attracted to me are you and Gray."
He rolled his eyes, "Right. Just because people don't say it doesn't mean that they're not interested. We just have a very good system of putting them in their place before they decide to approach you."
Lucy put her hands on her hips, turning to face Bickslow full on.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Bickslow shrugged, "Ask Natsu."
Lucy narrowed her eyes, standing to go demand an explanation from her best friend as the guild doors swung open, revealing Gray and Ilene engrossed in conversation.
Ilene watched Gray head back toward his friends as she turned to Lucy, excitement dancing in her eyes.
"Is he single?" She demanded.
Lucy nodded, "Yeah."
Ilene placed a hand to her heart, "He's amazing. How does he not have a girlfriend?"
Lucy blushed, "Well, he did for awhile, but she dumped him. Juvia does stalk him regularly, though."
Ilene stared after Gray, "Who on Earthland would dump that beautiful hunk?"
"Me," Lucy said weakly, causing Ilene's head to snap back, looking at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry, Lu," She said, her face falling. "If I would have known that you two had been together I never would have said anything. I don't want to come between you two. Just forget that I even mentioned it, okay?"
Lucy shook her head, smiling at her friend, "No, I want you to date him. If you can handle Juvia being a crazy stalker and if Gray wants to date you then you have my full blessing. I'm happy with Bickslow."
Ilene looked at the Seith Mage skeptically, but didn't say anything. If her friend was happy then that was all that mattered to her. She wouldn't interfere. The red-head from before - Erza- laid a hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"I would like to speak to your friend," She said solemnly and Lucy nodded, leaving the two alone.
"You should know that Gray is not easily won over," Erza said, sitting Ilene down. "But he seems to have taken to you, which is good. I like you. Gray needs someone special in his life. If you so desire to be that someone I will do all that is in my power to convince him that he is your one and only."
Ilene gaped as the red-head walked away. Lyon wasn't lying when he told her that Fairy Tail was a weird bunch, she was thankful that she had joined the mellower Lamia Scale, though she could see why Lucy had joined. Fairy Tail did have it's own appeal after all.
Gray watched the little lavender-haired girl, a wistful expression on his face. It was like someone had taken Lucy, made her kinder and quieter, and shoved her into a tiny but powerful body. He knew that he couldn't compare the two, but talking to Ilene had been as easy as talking to Lucy had ever been. Lyon had told the girl all the things that Gray found difficult to talk about and she seemed to know exactly what to say or not to say in each instance.
"Juvia does not like Lucy's friend," The blunette sat down across from Gray, frowning in Ilene's direction. "Juvia thinks there is something wrong with her."
Gray rolled his eyes, ignoring her, "Ilene is nice. She's also friends with Lyon."
Juvia blushed, thinking about the Ice Mage from Lamia Scale.
"Lyon is nice," Juvia conceded.
Gray nodded, "You should give him a chance, Juvia. You know that I'm never going to agree to going out with you, so why don't you try going on a date with Lyon? I bet you two would get along great."
Juvia looked away, crossing her arms, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Gray sighed, sometimes talking to Juvia was like talking to a wall. She wouldn't listen to anything he had to say in regards to the two of them not being together, even though she had slowly come to accept it after all these years.
"Well at least think about it, okay? If you don't give in soon, Lyon might find someone else to swoon over and you'll have missed out on a chance for real happiness," Gray said, though he was looking at Lucy as he said the words.
If only he'd asked her out when he first realized that he was in love with the blond. Maybe it would be the two of them getting married now instead of her and Bickslow. He sighed and shook his head, annoyed with himself. He should be happy for his friend and not pining because she was marrying someone else.
He turned, focusing his attention back on her tiny childhood friend. The girl was smaller than Levy with a bust almost to rival Erza's. She was adorable and sexy at the same time in his opinion.
Lucy watched her two friends from a corner seat, snuggling in with Bickslow. Their wedding was fast approaching after all and she really wanted Gray to have a date for it. Of course, Ilene would be invited either way, but that didn't mean that she didn't hope the girl would show up with the Ice Make Mage on her arm. Lucy giggled at the thought of Ilene on Gray's arm, her eyes level with Gray's chest. They would be cute together.
Mira sat beside her, smiling, "Well, it seems that everyone has someone these days, doesn't it?"
Lucy eyed her friend curiously, "Almost, yes."
"But poor Gray remains single. Even Natsu is dating Lisanna. How weird is it that the handsome man of Ice is without a girlfriend while the Fiery heart of Natsu belongs to my little sister?"
"Okay, Mira, what is it that you're thinking?" Lucy asked.
"I think you're friend and Gray would be adorable together. We need a plan to get those two together."
Lucy grinned, "That's just what I was thinking."
With that the two girls bent their heads together, deciding they would find a way to hook those two up. When Erza joined in a few moments later the guild decided it was safer to leave the three women alone, whatever they were planning, it wasn't worth interrupting.