Disclaimer: Fairy Tail does not and sadly will never belong to me but this plot does! I'll sue you if you attempt to steal it haha ^w^ *LOL*

(A/N: 15 chapters! And not even half of the story is over?! That just goes to show how long this fanfiction is going to turn out… Mystery Lovers had finished within just 16 chapters so let's say I'm aiming for a 32 and above for D2L… Thanks a lot for all the support from all my readers and reviewers. I hope the support shall continue :D)

Previously on D2L: Finally before Lucy could even react, she felt Gray give her a kiss on her cheek, after which three things happened – firstly, Lucy's eyes widened in shock, though her blush still significantly present; secondly, the camera flashed; and thirdly, the audience went haywire, all cheering and clapping and whistling.

They were the last contestants.

"Okay so everyone, you'll can enjoy some other stalls at this festival because we'll be back in the next hour to do the voting." Sherry announced and the crowd began to disperse, many giving compliments to Gray and Lucy on the way out, though Gray was the only one answering. Lucy on the other hand remained standing stiff as ever with her eyes still widened and her lips forming an 'o'.

Continue:

"You know…that shocked expression of yours sometimes makes me wonder how dense you can actually be…" Gray said in a whisper to himself as he looked at the frozen blonde. He ruffled her golden locks as usual, snapping her out of her daze.

"Go get changed… then let's go around some other activities" He said to her and she nodded.

They met later after about ten minutes and resumed their tour.

"Cotton candy!" Someone called out from a nearby stall, "Heart-shaped cotton candy here! Couple's special!"

Lucy's eyes that she had kept on the ground all that while rose to look at the stall… Couples were surrounding it, sharing heart-shaped cotton candy. She was just about to avert her gaze once more when a pink heart-shaped cotton candy stood right in front of her. She turned around to find Gray who was standing there holding the candy for her with a wink. She blushed… It felt like he was totally reading her mind now. Everything she wanted, she just had to think and behold, Gray Fullbuster appears with just that.

"C'mon cheer up a bit!" He said, trying to liven her up, "and um… if you felt offended that time when I kissed you on the cheek then um…I'm sorry" He said sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck nervously with one hand while the other held onto the cotton candy.

"Err…no…I didn't feel offended or anything…" She replied, "It was just…unexpected" She, herself was surprised at how she had managed to answer him so calmly. Maybe she was FINALLY managing to keep her cool around him?

Gray didn't know if he had moved a bit too fast on her with the peck and all… But he was ready to make up for it.

"Okay then, let's get this cotton candy done with" He joked and Lucy smiled. She really loved spending time with him… it was exactly like the kind of date she'd always wanted…but was it a date? She had been on dates before…with 'him' but 'he' never made her feel as special as Gray did. But regardless of that, she still couldn't be sure about what Gray felt… Why did things have to be so complicating?

She pulled some of the candy and tasted it… it literally melted in her mouth releasing the sweet flavor. Cotton candy was one of her favorite sweets. Gray took a piece too… and they walked as they shared it.

"Let's go in there" Gray pointed to a horror house. Lucy turned to wear he was pointing and almost had a heart attack when she saw the hideous looking, seemingly haunted house that stuck out like a thumb among all the other cute, lovey dovey type of stalls that were there. How on earth she had managed to miss it before, she didn't know.

"What's a HORROR HOUSE DOING IN A VALENTINE FESTIVAL?!" Lucy wanted to know.

"You're pretty naïve I see." Gray chuckled, "It was probably a guy's idea. Why don't we go in and you can see for yourself WHY something like this is here in the first place?" Gray asked raising and eyebrow with a seemingly evil snarl. Lucy almost shivered.

"B-but I-I don't want to go there…" Lucy began to get drenched in cold sweat.

"What? You're scared?" He asked her with concern and immediately Lucy replied, "NO I AM NOT"

"Then prove it" Gray challenged her.

"FINE" Lucy replied with a huff and then bit her lip immediately realizing what she had just gotten herself into. Gray smirked at how easily she was provoked and began pulling her towards the horror house.

"Here you are" The guy at the counter of the horror house said, handing Gray two tickets to the horror house, "Have fun" the guy said with a snarl similar to Gray's. Lucy could feel herself getting swallowed by fear and the feeling got even more pronounced as they began walking in.

Everything seemed okay, save for the eerie and creepy sound effects being played or the dimness of the lighting that was as good as not there at all! But hopes shouldn't be kept high as the very next second, a skeleton-like face just fell from the ceiling making Lucy scream and out of reflex wrap her arms around Gray and bury her face in his chest. Gray smirked at her reaction.

"Hmm…now I think you get why this place is here in the first place. It's more of a guys' entertainer." Gray teased and Lucy blushed quickly pulling away earning a giggle from Gray.

They continued further within and with every step they took, Lucy wished they could just get out. They went on walking when suddenly a dead-like body covered in blood appeared in front of them and Lucy screamed at the top of her lungs again holding onto Gray tightly. This time Gray couldn't hold it in. He burst into laughter immediately.

"Luce… I think that guy was more afraid of you than you were of him. That's not cool Luce, you shouldn't scare people like that" Gray shook his head in disapproval though it was obvious from the way he was bursting into fits of laughter every now and then that he was clearly teasing her.

Then some hands began grabbing onto Lucy's leg and she began screaming again, while Gray tried to pull her out of there since she refused to move herself.

"G-gray, I give up!" a teary-eyed Lucy began to plead, "I-I can't go further" She began to cry. Gray suddenly felt a stab of guilt in his chest. Maybe bringing her to this horror house was the wrong thing to do… He placed his hands on her shoulders to comfort her but instead she began crying even more and leaned on him. He held her tight and began stroking her hair, trying to calm her.

"We've just got a bit more now and we'll be out okay?" He tried to convince her, "And I'm here with you… So why're you afraid? You trust me right? You said so yourself last night…now's the time to show the trust, alright Luce? Just a bit more…" He said to her, wiping of her tears. The horror house wasn't much actually according to Gray and he didn't expect Lucy to get so shaken by it…

They began walking, Gray walking ahead, holding Lucy's hand, just so that he could prevent her from getting any further 'surprise attacks'. Suddenly Lucy stopped dead in her tracks.

"What's wrong Luce?" Gray asked.

"Someone…someone is…following us" She replied slowly in a soft and shaky voice. Gray looked around and when he didn't notice anyone he just ushered her to keep moving.

"The faster we move, the sooner we'll be out of here"

Out of the blue, Lucy felt something grope her from behind and she immediately out of reflex screamed, "PERVERT!" Gray stopped immediately almost thinking the outburst was directed to him when he saw Lucy pointing accusingly at someone dressed in a Frankenstein costume.

"Calm down miss. I was just doing my job" He began to say in a very unserious tone. Lucy looked at him with eyes that could kill but scarier than that, the guy thought was the aura Gray was emitting. Lucy was just about to take action when Gray stepped in front of her and faced the Frankenstein guy.

"And exactly WHAT part of your job says you can misbehave with a girl?" He asked in such a calm tone that sounded much deadlier than it would had he shouted it instead. Lucy placed a hand on Gray's shoulder, "Gray…calm down" she whispered to him but he paid no attention to that.

"Don't touch her" Gray warned while pinning the guy against a wall by grabbing his neck, "Or there'll be no one worse than I" He said finally before grabbing Lucy's hand and pulling her out of there. Once they were out of there, Gray slumped himself on a nearby bench and pressed his temples… Lucy watched him silently and then took a seat beside him; she remained silent and waited for him to speak first. He soon looked up at her.

"I-I'm sorry Luce… going in there was probably a bad idea… I think I messed it all up" He apologized while holding onto his forehead in frustration. Lucy grabbed his hands from his forehead and held them down – just like he always did to stop her from fidgeting out of nervousness. Then she slowly began to stroke his raven mane, again just like he always did to her, much to his surprise. But the blush on her cheeks was way more prominent than the surprised look on his face which was later replaced by a content smile.

"It wasn't so bad… I liked it when you stood up for me back there…" She said to him and there, they both felt the current spark between them.

"It's already 6pm. We should go back to that wedding pose thingy." Gray remembered and Lucy nodded.

Their picture was there alright…and not just there, it was totally sticking out! Lucy and Gray stared in embarrassment at how a life-size poster-picture of themselves was pasted.

"Sherry…what in heaven is this?" Gray asked.

"Oh did I forget to mention that this event was sponsored by a wedding-planner company that's starting up a new business and the cutest picture would be used as their advertisement banner?" Sherry replied speaking really fast.

"WHAT?!" Gray and Lucy exclaimed simultaneously.

"No kidding…so I really forgot to mention that? Well…my bad then" Sherry said rather casually, "anyway, congratulations! You two won first place!"

"Okay everyone! We've counted the votes and from that huge poster you all probably already know which couple wins first place… so second place goes to…" sherry began to announce.

"…and third place goes to couple number 11!" The audience responded by clapping. Then, Gray stepped forward to Sherry and whispered something in her ear and Sherry protested at first but then handed him the mike.

"Actually, before participating we weren't aware of this 'advertisement banner' thing and we don't want our pictures going round so I'd like to request that the second position winners get that opportunity" Gray said and the second position couple was really enthusiastic about it.

Lucy didn't know if she was disappointed or relieved… It was again that same combination! She felt relieved because she didn't want, like Gray said, her pictures 'going round' and who knew what her father would say if he ever came across them?! Disappointed because she felt as though Gray just didn't want others seeing them together… They got awarded as the cutest couple and eventually, that event ended and the crowd dispersed.

"I-I'll just go find a washroom…" Lucy excused herself and left, leaving Gray alone when a tap came on his shoulder.

"What's up Lyon?" Gray asked in monotone without even bothering to turn around.

"You know…I think she'd have liked this ad thingy…" Lyon said. Gray pondered a bit before replying.

"Maybe…but I can't have other guys drooling over her in a short dress without me being there to beat the hell out of them..."

"So you ARE dating her then? I don't see why you two aren't admitting that yet…"

"Truth is…we aren't. Not officially at least. I'm just waiting for her confession." Gray shrugged.

"For all we know, she's probably waiting for yours. It IS usually the guy that confesses first you know"

"Yeah but this time…she has to do it first or…" Gray began…the dare… the dare was the answer. She had to be the one to confess first or he wouldn't win the dare and if he didn't, then Wendy…

"or what?"

"Forget that, what happened to your date?" Gray dodged the question.

"She…went to buy some ice cream" He replied and then sighed, "I don't think I'll ever get anywhere with her. Why do you always get the ladies?"

"I don't. The ones I really want are the ones that I get into terrible situations with" Gray replied as he thought of how Lucy would probably hate him if ever she found out about the challenge. What part of THAT sounded like 'always get the ladies'?! Lyon patted him on the back.

"As popular as you are, you haven't had that many girlfriends. It's really a waste you know." Lyon wondered aloud as they both began walking to get their 'dates' as they couldn't actually call it that since one was actually here on an espionage mission and the other apparently with the envisage of 'just friends'.

"Hmm… I'm not the dating type but if there's a girl I think is fit for me or that I really think I can say I 'love' and not just 'like', then I do take my chances" Gray answered truthfully. Lyon gave it some thought and then burst out laughing, earning a raised brow from Gray.

"That was so deep that I almost forgot it was you" Lyon joked.

"Actually, there was nothing deep about that" Gray replied in monotone again.

"Sure, sure. So now I take it that Cana, Mirajane, Erza…are the girls of the gang that you had once thought you could 'love'?"

"How did Erza come into the picture?" Gray asked.

"Oh c'mon! You'll may have never gone out officially but the crush you two had on each other wasn't one sided. You know you liked Erza a lot and yesterday we got to know that even she liked you at some time." Lyon defended.

"Okay yeah, I guess you could count her then." Gray spilled the beans.

"And Lucy?" Lyon finally decided to ask.

"Lucy…I'll not try to deny it – I do feel that there is something." Gray said. He and Lyon often had these little chats and it always helped take off the load from Gray.

"Hmm…she's an interesting girl. She looks like the type who is more than she likes to show…anyway, I'll be going now. Juvia is probably lost or something" Lyon said before taking his leave.

Gray decided to walk to where the washrooms were too just so Lucy wouldn't get lost though on the way, his eyes caught onto something…

…

'What is he doing to me…' Lucy thought in anxiety as she stood with her back against the wall of the overly-tidy washroom. The washroom…it was like the best excuse there ever was to get away from an awkward situation. She sighed. Why did she ever end up in this situation?!

'Oh, right. I didn't. He made me.' She thought with frustration. Why was he so damn attractive? Why was he so freaking sweet? Why was he so weirdly affectionate? Why did she feel so much trust towards him?!

'Why am I even asking myself these questions…?' she thought, 'I HAVE already come to terms with the fact that I, Lucy Heartfilia, am deeply – yes, very deeply – in love with Gray Fullbuster, who of course I am sure has no such interest in me.' She paused at that thought…of course there WERE times when she did feel like he did feel the same… There were so many proofs actually… was she just being ignorant and just relying entirely on the fact that he was so much more perfect than she was?

She thought back. The almost kisses… she frowned at the 'almost' that just ALWAYS had to be there. Weren't they proof enough that there were indeed chances that he did like her? But then her subconscious decided to play the meanie by reminding her that they were 'almost' kisses because most of the times, if not all, HE had been the one to back off.

Then there was that look in his eye that he had many times. It was just so enticing… that flicker of emotion. When he looked at her with those eyes, she felt…special. It felt almost as if the look was always only for her! After all, she had never seen the same look directed towards anyone else… Mirajane too had pointed it out.

Lucy's mind then wandered off to things she'd rather not think about: What if Gray left her behind just like all the others? Her heart throbbed and she felt her chest fill with a heavy load… She almost couldn't breathe at the thought. Would he?

'NO! He's special. He's different! He's…he's Gray for goodness sake!' Her subconscious fought against her thoughts. Yes, she thought. He is Gray and that was proof enough for her. He had promised her! He has always been there for her. He had even shed tears for her! What more evidence did she need?

Having cleared her mind, she walked out of the washroom, only to be confronted with the guy who kept haunting her thoughts – THE Gray Fullbuster. It's been a while since she called him that huh? Up until now he had become just Gray… Gray, the new color in her life – how ironic?

"You sure took your time…" He smirked, as calm and composed as ever. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Lucy looked into his eyes…those midnight blues were killers, she thought. But despite that, they had that same warmth and feeling of home; and at the same time, they were also enough to make a person forget how to breathe – in other words, they had the 'Gray Effect'. One look in those midnight orbs and Lucy could feel the guilt flood through her. How had she ever doubted him? All those reassurances that he'd never leave her behind, she didn't need them. All she needed to do was look into his eyes and she knew, she just knew… he was there and would always be.

"Hey, you're spacing out on me again" Gray waved a hand in front of her, snapping her back to reality. Lucy, without thinking, in a swift motion, inched towards him and in the next moment, she was there, close to him with her head resting against his chest. Gray's eyes widened at the sudden contact and could even feel a bit flustered, something he hadn't felt in quite some time.

Lucy could feel her guilt escape her and relief flooded through her. She could stay like this forever…she needed him, she thought. He truly was Gray, the color of her, until some weeks ago, colorless life.

(A/N: CUT! PERECT! Gray, Lucy, brilliant, just brilliant! Go take a break, because D2L will be back with Chapter 16 soon!)

KEEP THE GRAYLU ALIVE!

First of all, I am in utmost grief and am very disappointed to have noticed that a lot of GrayLu fans have begun turning their backs on this wonderful pairing. The reason is what even bothers me most! So what if GrayLu is unlikely to become a canon pairing? Would that make it any less wonderful? Is it a given that we must support only that pairing which is more likely to become a canon one? (Yes, I am referring to NaLu).

I've been watching Fairy Tail for a long time now and have ALWAYS, right from the start, admired Gray and Lucy as a pairing and never for once, have I ever turned away from this belief. Gruvia and NaLu aren't obstacles, they are challenges which all those who have turned from 'GrayLu fans' to 'ex-GrayLu fans' have chickened out of and refused to take.

When those current 'ex-GrayLu fans' used to admire GrayLu, was it because it was a canon pairing? In fact right from the start of the series, GrayLu never did actually have a real chance (though I'm still holding onto the hope of a miracle). So why then, did they admire it at that time? That only goes to show that they are not loyal fans. To be a loyal fan, is to stick with that which you admire, right to the very end, no matter what happens or what you think is going to happen or even what other people say or believe.

Let's continue believing in GrayLu, let's continue writing GrayLu, let's continue reading GrayLu and let's continue supporting GrayLu! (If you ask me, I'd say all those who don't support GrayLu should start too! It's time to show the others that GrayLu is in fact THE BEST).

If the NaLu and Gruvia fans think they are achieving victory in the main series, let us GrayLu fans show them that in the world of fanfiction and Fairy Tail fandom, we will always remain victorious and GrayLu will ALWAYS live on. If they have Hiro Mashima, we have Milady666, WEirDoBlabBer, IloveCelestialIce, Hachibukai, SapphireJinx, PrincessOfTheSakura, Kyto Touche, JustAnotherDreamGirl, PinkHugsandKisses, PiggyLover23, AlyaStarbright, Tsumiki-san, Yuki13…etc. AND of course SDQueen :D (NOW WHO'S THE BETTER ONE! Hehe)

Let's spread the GrayLu love and keep GrayLu alive!

(This was not written to offend any NaLu OR Gruvia fans so please accept my apology if you have felt offended)

Thank you so much for taking your time to read this!

Until Next Week,

Ja'ne!