I'm really, really sorry for the time I took to write this – and sorry for saying this that many times – but I had a lot of things to do, including taking my finals this week so… Anyway, here is the last chapter. I'm finally done with this story. (:

I hope it'll live up to your expectations.

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Chapter 15: What now?

"Aaaaah," I yawned loudly while stretching out as I woke up. I stood up and started get ready with no motivation. "So tired," I complained to myself. Everyone stayed 'till late again, and so I didn't get much sleep.

Then, I froze as I remembered what happened before everyone else came. How could I have forgotten about that, even just for a few minutes? It still felt like a dream, maybe it was one. I didn't know anymore, it was too sudden for me. One minute, I was so sure Gray liked someone else and was trying to hide my feelings, and the next he was confessing to me and we… I suddenly felt my face getting warmer.

I shook my head, "Ah, I still can't believe it."

I finished getting ready while thinking about all kinds of things: How should I behave in front of the others at the guild? How will he behave? How do I greet him?

When I went out of my apartment, I was still in a daze and wasn't really paying attention. So, imagine my surprise when I heard the one responsible for my current state happily shouting, "Oi, Lucy!"

My eyes widened, "Gray? What are you doing here?"

He smirked, "Well, waiting for you, obviously."

"W-Why?" I didn't know what to say.

"I just wanted to have some time alone with you, and it would have been difficult at the guild." He casually answered, starting to walk, his hands in his pockets.

I was now walking next to him, and asked hesitantly, "Why?"

"Well, first, just because I wanted too. And I think it's better to have a talk before going in there."

I blushed at his words, "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"You're really asking me that?" He replied ironically.

"I know. But I meant, what exactly?"

"I believe yesterday we were both sincere, so I won't ask about that. But I wanted to know how you wanted to deal with our new situation, especially in front of the others."

"Yeah I asked myself the same question… How about we don't tell them for now and see what happens next?" I suggested. "We don't say anything, but we don't lie, either."

"Sounds good to me." He agreed and a nod.

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When Lucy and I arrived together at the guild, it didn't go unnoticed.

"Ara, it seems I see you coming here together more and more these days," Mira remarked.

"Hey Gray, didn't you have a date with Juvia just about yesterday?" Someone yelled playfully.

"You player!" Another added.

"Guuuys, we already talked about it, it was not a date!" Juvia immediately argued.

"Will there be a day where we can go in here without having that kind of scene?" Lucy asked me jokingly, shaking her head at our friends' antics.

"I wouldn't bet on it." I answered with a smile.

We both looked around. No one from our usual team was there yet, so we automatically walked to the bar, sitting next to Juvia.

While Lucy was talking to Mira, Juvia leaned towards me and whispered, "So, how come you two came together? Did you sleep at her place again?"

"Nope, I waited for her in front of her apartment." I replied casually.

"Eeeh, why?" Her voice went high-pitched.

I quickly looked around if anyone – and particularly Mira and Lucy – had heard her, but it didn't seem it was the case. I then shrugged, "'Cause I wanted to."

"Oh, you're so manly. No wonder I liked you so much." She squealed.

"By the way, how's it going with Lyon? Did you give him his present?" I smirked as I changed subjects.

"Not yet, we just bought it yesterday. I'll give him the next time I'll see him."

"And when will that be?"

"I don't know. We often bump into each other so…"

"Why don't you take a lacrima and call him?"

"Eeeh? Juvia can't do that!" She panicked.

"Juvia can't do what?" Lucy chimed in, obviously finished talking with Mira.

I turned my head to look at her and answered with a knowing smile, "Call Lyon."

"Why? I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

"Because it would feel like I'm asking him on a date and…" Juvia was all fidgety again.

"And it's still too soon for you?" Lucy finished for her, understanding.

Juvia nodded with a cute pout, looking at the floor.

Lucy placed her hand on Juvia's shoulder and told her, "Don't worry, there's no rush. Plus, it's just a call. After all, if you bought him a present it's for giving it to him, right?"

"Well yes, but Juvia kind of thought she'd give him the next time they see each other by chance." She replied shyly.

"But then you'd have to carry it around with you all the time, and he may see more in this that in you calling him." Lucy reasoned.

Juvia gaped. "You're right. Maybe I should call him, then. It's just a call after all…" She finally agreed. "Should I call him now? No, later. Or now? Juvia doesn't knooow." Here she was panicking again.

"Just call him now, before you change your mind." Lucy suggested.

Juvia stopped freaking out and took Lucy's hands in hers, "You're right. Thank you so much Lucy, you really are a good friend!" She exclaimed, tearing up a little, as if Lucy just saved her life, before storming out.

I stared at Lucy, "You're good, you know that?"

She grinned proudly at me, "I know."

I chuckled, she was so cute. I still couldn't believe she was my girlfriend now.

"Gray? What are you thinking about?" She tilted her head and widened a little her eyes, showing her confusion.

I smile genuinely, "About how cute you are."

Her face turned red and she looked away, hitting slightly my arm, "Mo, you're unbelievable."

I smirked and approached my face from hers, whispering to her, "What, can't I say to the girl I like that she's cute?"

She blushed even deeper, and whispered back warily, "I thought we decided to act as if nothing happened."

I shrugged, "Nobody's listening anyway. Plus, it's not like we really have a reason to hide, besides avoiding all their teasing."

"Well that, and I'd like to wait for our little group to be here before saying anything. I don't want them to hear it from someone else. They're our closest friends after all."

"I understand. By the way, I was thinking about telling Juvia, when we're not at the guild so she wouldn't yell it in front of everyone. She was already asking me questions before but I quickly changed subjects."

"Of course, I was thinking about her, too." She smiled at me.

"Lucy! Let's have a picnic!" We suddenly heard Natsu yell from the back.

We turned around; Natsu was with Happy and Erza. They were approaching us. Happy was cheering and Erza had her arms crossed but was still smiling.

"He just arrived and he's already too loud," I said.

"Why a picnic so suddenly?" Lucy asked them.

"I just came from a mission, my client has a restaurant, so he gave me this in addition to the reward to thank me," Erza showed us a big basket full of food. "There's enough for our little group."

"There's fish in there," Happy beamed.

Lucy smiled, "That's great. I'm in!"

"I never refuse some good food," I agreed too.

"We just have to wait for Wendy and Carla now," Natsu said.

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"This is delicious," Pantherlily said while contemplating his fork.

"I'm so glad we bumped into you," Gajeel added, smiling between two bites.

"Right. More like you saw us with the food and you just followed us," Natsu retorted.

"What did you say?" Gajeel immediately stood up.

"That you came without invitation. Why? Am I wrong?" Natsu stood up too.

"You little…"

They were now fighting.

"Guys, there's enough for everyone," I tried to calm them down, but quickly gave up. "Why am I even trying?"

"Leave them alone, they're too childish to listen," Gray, who was standing next to me, said.

But then, a little box that used to contain some food crashed on his head.

"Ok, that's it!" He yelled before joining the fight.

Wendy didn't know what to do, Carla was shaking her head, Happy was cheering for Natsu, Pantherlily told him not to underestimate Gajeel, and Juvia – who was also invited – told them was also really strong. And Erza was quietly finishing her cake, totally ignoring her surroundings.

But when she was finished, she slowly stood up and went to them. And of course, the fight ended in a millisecond, the three of them on the ground, Erza standing in front of them.

"That's better," she said. "Now, I don't want to hear you anymore. This is a joyful picnic, not a fight ring."

They nodded and did as she said.

"Joyful, right," I said to myself.

"These fools will never learn," Carla concluded, shaking her head.

"That's Fairy Tail for you, that's why we like them. I guess…" Wendy added.

By the time we finished our food, everyone had forgotten the little incident and we were all sitting and laughing together.

"Lucy, don't eat too much. Or you'll really never find a boyfriend," Happy told me nonchalantly.

"What do you mean by that, huh?" I shouted at him. "I'll have you know I have no problem concerning that." You know, since my boyfriend was sitting right next to me.

"If you're ok with becoming older and uglier and still have no one, that's great," he shrugged.

"Are you insinuating that I'm already old and ugly?" I yelled at him, wanting more and more to strangle that little blue cat.

"And that's why you don't have a boyfriend, yes," he simply nodded.

"I have one, so shut up!" I finally snapped. But then, I realized what I had just said. And when the others realized too, they all talked at the same time.

"Eee? Since when? How could you not tell us before? I thought we were friends!" Natsu was the first to speak up.

"More important, who? It isn't an imaginary boyfriend, right?" Happy still looked skeptical.

"I guess you've got some skills, blondie," Gajeel added.

Erza 'slightly' tapped my back, "I'm glad for you, Lucy."

"You really have someone you… You like?" Wendy looked embarrassed.

"Stop it!" I finally shouted. "I can't answer to everyone at the same time." They all calmed down. "Wow, it really worked," I couldn't believe it.

"That's because we're curious. So, can you explain now?" Erza told me.

"I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how, it's new to me too. It's only since yesterday so…" I glanced at Gray to see his reaction.

"But yesterday you were sick and at home!" Natsu retorted.

"Yeah, we came two times, we would've noticed if someone else had been there," Happy added.

"But you saw him when you came the second time," I finally said.

"What? No! There were only you and Gray," Natsu argued, totally oblivious.

"Eeeeeh?" Some of the others shouted.

"What now? I said I didn't see anyone else besides Gray!" Natsu yelled at them, and finally seemed to understand, "GRAY!"

Gray and I looked at each other and smiled slightly.

He shrugged, "Well, yeah, it kind of happened."

"Lucy? And Gray?" Natsu was bewildered.

"I knew something was going on between you two!" Happy declared.

"Yeah, right. You tell that to everyone," I rolled my eyes at him.

Erza smiled, and pulled both of us into a tight hug, "Congratulations."

"Erza, we can't… breathe…" I tried to tell her.

She let go of us, "Sorry."

I then looked at Juvia. She didn't say anything since the start. I guess she still felt something for Gray after all.

"Juvia…" I started, but I stopped when I saw a smile appearing on her face.

"I'm so glad for you two! I was afraid it wasn't Gray when you told us you had a boyfriend, so I didn't know how to react," she glared at him, "You could have told me this morning, by the way."

Gray scratched his head, "Sorry but we were at the guild so…"

"That's ok, Juvia's so happy for you two it doesn't matter! Now, it's Juvia's turn to face her feelings," she looked really determined.

"Oh, right, did you talk to Lyon?" I remembered.

She blushed and nodded slightly, "Yeah, we see each other tomorrow."

"That's great!" I exclaimed.

And everyone cheered again.

In the middle of all this ruckus, I felt someone take my hand. It was Gray, smiling at me, "See? It wasn't really difficult."

"That's because they found another subject. And not everyone's there. But I don't care if they all tease us, it's worth it," I smile genuinely at him.

His placed his other hand on my cheek and slightly rubbed it with his thumb, "Totally worth it." He was looking at me so lovingly it made me think we were the only one in the world.

But don't worry, our friends quickly made me remember we weren't, "They love each otheeer," Happy was flying around us.

Gray and I smiled at each other, and said together, "We do."

"I think I'm going to throw up," we heard Natsu say. "Oi Gray, I didn't know you were this cheesy."

"Wanna see if I'm cheesy?" Gray dared him, and they started a fight again.

"Hey, I wanna fight too!" Gajeel joined them.

I sighed. "These guys, seriously…"

"I guess that's my cue," Erza smiled while rolling up her sleeves.

"What a joyful picnic, indeed," I concluded. I was being sarcastic, and yet I couldn't help but smile.

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"It was such a long day!" Lucy said as she crashed into her bed.

"I know right. The picnic was nothing compared to all the explaining we had to do back at the guild," I dropped next to her, lying on my back with my hands under my head. Along the way, I had lost my shirt.

She moved and was now lying on her right side so she could face me, her hands clapped together under her right cheek, "Well, it's over now. We can rest without being bothered. Natsu won't even want to come tonight since he's not used to our new situation yet."

"I hope it'll take him a lot of time to get used to it, then."

I then closed my eyes to rest a little. But I quickly opened them, and noticed Lucy was staring at me.

I smirked, I had a feeling of a déjà-vu, "What you're staring at while I'm not looking?"

"At my man's handsome face," she repeated her previous words with a smile, "Am I not allowed to?"

I matched my position with hers, just like last time. Only, now, this wasn't just an act. I smiled, "Of course you are." I put my hand on her cheek, and slowly moved closer to her, looking at her beautiful pink lips.

But then she suddenly straightened up, and exclaimed, "Oh, right!"

"What?" Was she embarrassed? Was that too quick? Even if we already kissed yesterday?

"It reminded me something, wait a second," she said while moving over me and out of the bed. She went to her desk and opened the drawer and took something that was in it. She smiled brightly, came back to sit next to me and showed it to me, "Here. I can take it out now." Then, she put it on her bedside table.

Of course, the drawing of us. I straightened up and smiled, "You know, mine is at the exact same place in my apartment."

"Really?"

"Yeah, before I had it in my drawer, but yesterday I put it out when I got home."

"When you think about it, it really is our first couple item," she smiled.

"First? I'm warning you, I won't go around with some cheesy item screaming 'My girlfriend made me wear this,' even if that girlfriend is you," I told her.

"Don't worry, I don't need that kind of things. Plus, if I gave you something to wear, you'll lose it immediately, since you're a stripper you know," she said jokingly.

"Come on, as if it bothered you," I smirked.

"Now that I think about it, it really does. You always wander around without any clothes, in front of the other girls and all," she said playfully.

"You're no better. You may not strip like me, but you don't wear a lot of clothes from the beginning, and you tend to often rip them apart," I smirked.

"That's what you get for going out with a hot girl like me," she bragged.

"Don't worry, I'm not complaining. And if a guy cross the line, I've got every right to beat him up, so that's fine," I smirked.

"Be careful, you know that I'm really popular," she went on. "And so you are. We really are a hot couple, everyone will be jealous of us." She then gaped, "Oh, I have to tell Aquarius so she'll finally stop bugging me for not having a boyfriend."

She started to stand up but I put my arm around her waist to stop her, "You'll brag later. We've talked to enough people today. Let's stay just the two of us."

She smiled, her cheeks a little pink, "Ok, I'll tell her tomorrow."

"Great," I said while lying down again, this time pulling her with me so we'd be in each other's arms. "Now, let's sleep. I'm beat," I said while closing my eyes.

"Yep. Goodnight, Gray," she told me quietly.

"Goddnight, Lucy," I said back.

Now that I finally had her by my side, I fell asleep right away. This felt right.

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Fin.

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And this is the end. Thank you so much for reading it, and I hope you liked it. (: