Let me know how I did :)

Hiro Mashima owns FairyTail.

They were at a restaurant.. their table right next to the large window panes that showed the street. People were passing by with umbrellas. Couples huddled together.. Children jumping into puddles. Others running to get to dry shelter. It was pouring.

Cough Cough…

"So.. tell me Lucy" Gray smiled as he took a forkful of his steak. "How was my future self?"

Lucy smiled.. she was twisting a fork of pasta.

"I'm assuming that smile is a good sign.." Gray said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes….. You were….? " She thought back to the Gray that reached over to cool her head when they first had met… his nearly always half naked body.. the taller and more built physique.. their date on the train.. her falling asleep in his cool tingling arms and chest… her cheeks burned.

Gray watched wide-eyed as Lucy began to blush furiously. He thought of what his future self had told him..

"Lucy isn't as immune to us as we thought.. I mean.. I did take her on her first date. The next move is yours.."

"You were you."

He blinked several times.. Lucy smiled at Gray's lost face.

"You were like you always are. Caring, funny, smart.."

Gray's cheeks began to pink. His heart rate sped up..

"Just that in seven years.. you'll be a little taller.. a bit more mature.. and.."
"And what?" Gray leaned in.
"Still stripping all time." Lucy said sweatdropping.

Gray's face paled.. his hand went to palm his face.

"Ugh…."
"Hahaha!" Lucy's laughter filled his ears. She smiled at him.. she thought to herself.

Gray… you will become a admirable man.. a man who is strong and loving.. rational and true to your own heart… not afraid to express what his true feelings are.. and who they are for.. any woman would be lucky to have you.

She watched Gray chew slowly at his steak.

"You were like a knight in shining armor." Lucy said smiling down at her pasta.

Gray's eyes widened… he stopped cutting his steak. He looked up at her.

"When the future four.. you Natsu Gray and Laxus arrived… It was like they were sent to me.. to protect me.. coming at the right moment and time to help me through my most dangerous mission."

Gray leaned closer and put his hand on hers. They smiled at each other.

A flash of lightning was seen and a rolling thunder was heard. Lucy looked out the window and so did Gray.. it was really pouring outside..

Lucy frowned at little at the dark clouds above.. thunder..
Gray frowned at the little ripples of water on the street… rain..

Both watched in silence… the storm ensuing outside.

He was punching away again.. but this time.. his fists were lit up with lightning and he was punching boulders now.. lightning shot every where with each punch he gave..

Pant.. pant.. pant.. Laxus gritted his teeth..

No matter how much he tried to unsee it.. the images plagued his mind.. his future self.. his bloody hand.. Lucy's staple chest.. her pale writhing body… Ivan beckoning to him.. Asuka crying and covered in his father's evil paper puppets.

RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAA!

Laxus pushed himself further.. becoming a massive destructive lightning bolt to all his surroundings. Overwhelming regret.. guilt.. helplessness took over him… he slammed both his fists onto the forest floor. His hair and clothes soaked.. the rain poured down on him…

"Ice-make: Umbrella!" A beautiful ice umbrella appeared in Gray's hand. He smirked at Lucy and extended his elbow out to her to grab.

"Yes.. very cool Gray." Lucy laughed. She took his elbow and both mages walked down the rainy street alone. They walked in silence, neither knowing what else to say. The weather had affected them both.. and their minds were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

The rain.. Juvia must be crying right now… Gray thought to himself.

Laxus hasn't talked to me.. or even given me a glance since we've come back.. Gajeel and Natsu never came to see me either.. only Gray has.. did…. Did I do something wrong? Lucy thought to herself..

Soon, they were in front of her apartment. Gray faced Lucy and she to him.

"Thanks Gray for walking me back. And the dinner."

"You're welcome. I had fun." Gray lifted his hand up to his hair smiling

" Me too."

"I'm glad."

…

…

"Well I'm going to go in now. See you tomorrow Gray" Lucy said walking up the stairs to her apartment.

"Okay. See you later Lucy." Gray said watching her go.

Lucy waved smiling before she went inside her door. Gray waved back and saw her disappear. He turned around.. and began walking down the street again.. He had a determined look on his face… he had something he needed to do.

She watched Gray's spiritual signature become smaller and smaller as Gray walked away. She was leaning against her door.. After Gray had gone far enough, Lucy went out into the street once again. Checking that no one was around, she ran towards the town exit.. towards the forest.

"Gajeel…"
"What." Gajeel said munching on his dinner. He had cooked some fish over a campfire. Lily was eating his fish happily next to him.
"That celestial girl… do you like her?"

Gajeel froze. He remained silent.. he couldn't answer.. because he didn't know.. he didn't know what his exact feelings were for her..

"I want you to bring her here."

…

…

…

"Why?" Gajeel said with a serious face.

…

Lily gulped at the tension between the dragon and his dragon slayer.

"Just bring her. Tomorrow." Metallicana shifted his head and rested it between his paws. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Gajeel brought his hands to his lap.. he frowned slightly as he was in deep in thought. He had been avoiding the guild.. specifically Levy and Lucy.. Both..

Before FairyTail.. he never needed anyone.. never needed anyone to rely on.. or be relied on.. but now.. the two girls plagued his mind endlessly… sure he was interested in the two innocent babes.. both cute and sexy in their own way… but it didn't mean he was ready for commitment.

No.. Gajeel Redfox didn't need any girls.. and he was desperately trying to keep it that way.

Gajeel sighed and leaned back against his dad's stomach. He looked up at the night sky.. the stars twinkled all across the black canvas.. The crackling of the fire and the deep breaths Metallicana drew and exhaled were heard in the cool summer night.

Stars.. bunnygirl…

Gray was almost home.. when he saw a figure standing in front of him home. He walked closer and found a soaking wet Juvia standing waiting for him. He ran up and held out the umbrella over her head.

"Juvia. What are you doing here." Gray said to her. He saw that she had been indeed crying… figures.. since all of Magnolia was under her rainy spell.
"Gray-sama….." Juvia said weakly… "Did Gray-sama go on a date with Love Rival?"

Her bangs were covering her eyes.

Gray sighed.. "Look Juvia…"
"Did Gray-sama go on a date with Love Rival!?" Juvia looked up at him with teary eyes.. anger in her eyes..

…

"Yes." Gray said frowning in irritation. "Are you happy now?" he tried to walk past her when she caught Gray's wrist.
"WHY!" Juvia yelled.

Gray turned to face Juvia.. her face showed her despair..

"WHY DOES GRAY-SAMA NOT LOVE JUVIA.. AND LOVE LOVERIVAL! WHY?!... why can't… why can't Gray-sama love Juvia…" she cried..

Gray didn't know what to say.. he looked at Juvia.. with a pained face..

"Is… there no room for Juvia in Gray-sama's heart? Juvia… Juvia loves Gray-sama.. with all her heart.." Juvia clenched her chest.. she sobbed hard.
"Juvia…"
"Why can't Gray-sama see Juvia…"

He came up and hugged her gently.. Juvia's teary eyes widened..

"I'm sorry Juvia.. I shouldn't treat you like that.. I should have given you a chance.. everyone deserves a chance… so please stop crying.."

Juvia froze.. Gray let go of her and cupped her face with his hands.. he rubbed her tears away with his thumbs..

"How would you like to go for dinner tomorrow?" Gray said with concern showing in his eyes.

Juvia sniffled.. her cheeks began to burn as she realized the situation she was in with Gray.. it was so romantic.. and now he was asking her on a date..

"Yes" Juvia said blushing..
"Good.. I'll see you tomorrow then." Gray said as he put down the umbrella.. the clouds were disappearing and now the sky was clearing up.
"Come on.. I'll walk you back to FairyHills." Gray said turning around to walk.
"No It's okay. Juvia can walk back by herself."
"I'm not going to let you walk back alone.. come on." Gray said turning to her sideways.
"Okay.." Juvia blushed and rushed up beside Gray's side.

The two walked in silence.. Juvia's face red and flushed.. her internally exploding with happiness.

Gray looked forward with his usual serious normal face…
Juvia… Lucy…

It had stopped raining.. and through a puff of fluffy clouds.. the moon came out of hiding…

She looked up.. bubbles rose up towards the water surface.. she could see the moonlit water surface waving softly above…

Her hair floated around her in gentle waves. Other than the bubbles gurgling up, she heard nothing.. silence.. no smell.. and the cold water on her skin was soothing and refreshing.. she felt weightless… she needed this.. much needed relief of her senses.. having the dragon lacrima had heightened her senses too quickly and drastically… to be honest.. everything hurt.. all of her senses..

Also, the aching in her chest was getting stronger despite having been completely healed by Wendy's healing magic.. and she felt this increasing need.. something in her chest kept urging her to let herself go.

Clenching her chest, Lucy let out a burst of her magic.

The water swirled around her and was pushed away from her body.. it created a spherical pocket of air.. and in the middle of it… Lucy levitated at its very center. Bright magical strings swirled around her body.. rotating upwards from below her toes to above her head.

The ache dulled… Lucy watched the swirling magic strings around her.. she brought her hand up and touched one.. it slipped by her fingers and continued its course upwards.

She looked down and descended down deeper. The pocket of air followed her.. and she descended till she gently placed her feet on ground. She admired the swirling water wall around her..

Taking her keys on her belt, she put Loke's key out in front of her and called for him.

A flash.. and Loke stood beside her.

"Prince—" Loke said as his eyes widened as he saw Lucy standing.. wet and emitting powerful magic pressure. He saw the magic strings swirling around her body and then noticed the water wall that was surrounding them. He was speechless.. "Wha… What?"

Lucy had two keys on each hand and extended them out from her body… they began to glow..

Flash Flash..
"Hime" Virgo appeared… and next to her stood a shy Aries..

"Lucy…" Loke said surprised and with wide eyes.… She had just opened three gates at once.. while still maintaining the pocket of air in the mass of water they were in.. Virgo and Aries looked around wide-eyed as well.. at their master..

Lucy looked to be in deep thought.. she had the three keys in one hand now.. and the rest in the other… the ache in her chest… had lessened when she summoned her spirits… it was then that she realized.. the ache wasn't because she wasn't healing.. it was because the lacrima was emitting too much magic for her body to handle at the moment…

Smiling.. Lucy held out more keys in front of her.

Above the lake surface… flash…flash… flash flash…. flashes of light were seen coming from inside the lake.. a warm dull light was shimmering from the deep depths of the lake.

He watched the clouds above clear up slowly… it was truly an odd storm.. and he had hunched right that it was Juvia's doing.. exhausted.. he started walking back towards his home.. but as he was taking a step… he saw a dull flash from the corner of his eye..

He looked towards the direction of the light.. he sensed nothing in the direction.. no enemies.. no smell no sound.. he continued walking towards him home when he saw two more dull flashes of light… and that was when he knew he wasn't hallucinating.. he walked towards the source.. going through many rows of trees and bushes.. he knew where he was headed.. but who was there?…

Reaching the clearing.. his eyes widened…

The lake had a glowing dull yet warm light inside the waters. Stronger flashes here and there.. and he could see the lake's waters being disturbed by whatever was in it.. small waves were hitting the shore in a fast pace… and he noticed.. that the water levels had risen… quite significantly.

Taking off his shirt and pants.. he stepped into the water.. but the minute he had stepped in… the light disappeared.. and the lake turned dark. The lake water receded back and he could tell as his once submerged foot was no longer submerged but rather at the new water line of the lake.

He tried scanning the dark lake for what had caused the light.. the waves were calming.. and he was about to give up his search when he heard the sound of bubbling and splashing on the other end of the lake.

He heard and saw several people splash out of the water and dash into forest for cover. Flashing over to the other end of the forest, he began running after one of the figures. But just as he was getting closer, the person went behind a tree and with a flash of light.. they disappeared.. Laxus looked around for the others that had run into the forest.. he saw other flashes of light… he didn't even get to see one of them closely at all…

Flashing back to his clothes… he picked them up and was about to leave when he froze in his tracks… he looked back at the lake… his eyes widened…

On the shore… was a girl washed up.. he walked over carefully.. his heartbeat increasing with each step he got closer… because as he did.. he noticed her hair.. her belt.. her keys…

He ran over and pushed her to lay on her back…

"LUCY!"

She looked up at him with half open eyes… Her body was shaking terribly.. He picked up her bridal style and lightning transported away.