Hey guys! I just updated Take my Hand and decided that I should update this story, as well. I'll probably update Missions tomorrow, but I'm not sure yet.

Review Corner:

CelestialTitania: That first meeting. Great way to set up a love/hate relationship, turning into love. Loving it so far!

Numinous-Alqua: Yes! Love the dynamic so far!cant wait til Lucy and Loke get more face time together!

Be sure to leave a review for a change to be featured in the next Review Corner!

"Leo?" Lucy gasped, her eyes wide with horror. She had managed to draw the attention of the whole guild. They began to whisper, wondering why the blonde was shouting Loke's proper name.

"Yeah, do you know him?" Gray asked, taking a drink. He could tell that Lucy obviously knew him, but he decided to act cool and see where things went.

"He's the guy who hit on me at the park!" she yelled in fury, crossing her arms.

He spit out his drink and glared at Loke. "Not cool!" he exclaimed.

Loke laughed and sauntered over to them. "Sorry Dude, I didn't know she was yours." He scanned Lucy slowly, not even hiding the fact that he was checking her out. "I saw her and just couldn't help myself."

Gray chuckled, surprising Lucy. She could hear the guild letting out a breath of relief. She, as well as everyone else, assumed a fight was going to start between the two. Also to everyone's surprise, Loke agreed to speak to Gray later and left the guild.

"Are you actually friends with him?" Lucy asked. She sounded more amazed than angry, although she was disappointed that she would be seeing more of him if that was the case.

"Yeah, we've been friends since we were kids," Gray said, turning back to his lunch. He clearly didn't think being friends with Loke was a big deal, because he started another conversation.

Aside from the blip with Natsu and Leo, who Lucy discovered was called "Loke" by his friends, she had a great time. After they ate, they went to the wreck room and played games, listened to music, and just hung out.

Lucy leaned back against the couch she was sitting on and smiled. She looked at Gray, who was sitting across from her. "You know, I've never went on a date before," she admitted.

Gray was surprised. "Really?" he asked. "I imagined that you have a hard time keeping guys off of you. Surely someone caught your interest enough to be with them for a couple hours."

She laughed and shook her head. "I had a private tutor growing up and I never stayed in one place for too long," she explained. "Dating was never a priority. I was too busy searching."

"So you have been searching for something. You said that before." He scooted over so he was sitting beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. "What have you been searching for?"

"A home," she answered. She had thought about it on her run that morning, and she realized that she was searching for more than just the other half of the heart. She wanted a place to call home and to feel secure, because she's never had that.

He smiled. "Well now you have one. A really nice one," he laughed, thinking about all the expensive things her maid and butler put into her apartment. "And, more importantly, you have people who care about you."

"Yeah, you," she chuckled dryly. "I'd hardly count that as a group."

"You have Fairy Tail." His face was completely serious, which surprised her. "Join Fairy Tail and you'll never be alone again. No matter where you go, we'll always be here for you."

Lucy hugged him, overwhelmed with joy. She really did have a home, a place with people who cared for her. Now she just needed to find the other piece to her tattoo, wherever he or she may be.

Gray pulled at Lucy's hips lightly, allowing him to look into her eyes. "And don't forget that you have me," he said gently. He softly pressed his lips against hers, knowing that it was her second kiss. He hadn't known he stole her first , so he wanted to make sure this one was special.

This time Lucy could actually think. She barely remembered her first kiss, but she knew that this was different. Before it was the first kiss of two people, but this time he was giving her her first kiss, something he didn't know he had the honor of taking. Now that he knew it was obvious he was giving her that moment.

Lucy was grateful, of course, but she didn't want a first kiss. She wanted to kiss like they had before, like they could many times to come. To show him that, she reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. It was a small gesture, one that he easily understood.

Gray tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her closer. He ran his tongue along her lip and she parted her mouth slightly, giving their tongues just enough room to dance. Stars were dancing around Lucy's head, but she knew that was a good thing. Her left hand moved to his hair to pull him even closer.

The door to the room opened, but the two didn't notice. They definitely noticed when they became soaked. They gasped and pulled apart, looking up at the culprit. Sure enough, Loke was standing there with an empty glass in his hand, a grin on his cheeks. "I thought maybe you guys needed to be cooled off."

That was second reason why Lucy hated Loke. Yes he was cocky, but he also thought that he was invincible, and she hated him for it.

X

Lucy hummed and tapped her foot to the tune of the music blaring through the speakers above her head. She had a mug of coffee and a journal beside her, her laptop in front of her, and a pen resting at the side, ready to be used. It was almost two in the afternoon, but she was still dressed in her plaid pajama bottoms and tank top, her hair still in the messy bun she threw together that morning. Plue was sleeping soundly on her couch, still tired from when they played earlier.

It was a cool September morning and rain was pattering against her window lightly, which was the reason Lucy stayed inside. She hadn't spent much time on her novel lately, and with the wet weather it was the perfect time to do so. She hadn't talked to Gray since the day before when he stopped by and ate breakfast at her apartment. He had went on a small job to mow the lawn at the retirement center and planned on drinking with his friends at Fairy Tail, she knew that, but she hadn't asked him his plans for afterwards. She just decided that if he wanted to see her he'd call or just stop by. In the week that they had been dating he sure seemed to do the latter often.

She laughed to herself before continuing her typing. Her journal had her notes on the characters and plotline of her novel, so she would refer to that every so often. She had published two books since she was eighteen. By the time her first book was published she found a system of writing and keeping track of notes that works, which would be the journal. She had the two from her first books on her shelf, so when her current novel was finished, the book beside her would soon join them. She wasn't internationally famous, but her books were being sold. She would still get checks once a month because of sales. They were never much, but they helped. She was just hoping that this time around, her novel would sell even more copies than the others.

There was a knock on the front door. Lucy didn't hear it, but Plue did and started barking. She turned her music down and went to the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw that it was Levy. She opened the door, not bothering to change first.

"Hey, Lu!" Levy greeted her with a smile.

"Hey, Lev." Lucy smiled back . "Come on in."

The day that Gray and Lucy went on their date, Lucy joined Fairy Tail. By the end of the night, she was best friends with Levy. They had a lot in common and hit-if-off right away. They would talk at the guild when she stopped by, which would be at least once a day, but she hadn't been to her apartment.

"I'll go change real quick. You can go ahead and look around, if you want," Lucy said, closing the front door. She hurried back to her bedroom. She threw her dirty clothes in the laundry basket before pulling out a pair of leggings and an oversized white sweater. Her hair was down only long enough to be brushed before going back into its bun. After donning some fuzzy socks, she was ready to face her friend.

Levy had already made her rounds and sat down on the couch when she left her room. The girl was still smiling. "Your apartment is very nice," she said. "You have a lot more books than you let on."

"I used to have a lot more," Lucy said, thinking about the books she left behind at her father's. She'd have to ask a maid to mail the rest to her. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks," Levy said.

Lucy grabbed her coffee and made a cup for Levy before sitting down on the couch. "So what are you up to today?" she asked.

Levy took a drink of her coffee before setting it on a coaster. "It's too dreary to be outside," she sighed, looking out the window. "Jet and Droy were annoying me at the guildhall and Gajeel was busy, so I decided to come see you."

"Wow, thanks for making me a last choice," Lucy grumbled, then laughed and nudged her friend's shoulder. "I was just writing when you knocked."

Levy perked up. "You write?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Lucy nodded. "I've published two books, too, though they probably aren't that good." She couldn't help but compare herself to the popular authors. She was hardly in the same league.

"I didn't know that," Levy said, a finger to her chin in thought. "I've never seen your name on anything I've seen."

"Actually, I write my name as 'Lucille'," Lucy explained. "I wanted a code-name so no one knew it was me, just in case it was bad. I figured a fancier version of my name would do, and I guess I didn't want to copy someone else's name, so I didn't pick a last name."

Levy let out a squeal. "I love your books! Falling into It and Torture, right?" she asked. "I've read them multiple times. You have to let me read what you have of your new story! Please, please, please!"

Lucy was practically beaming, happy that someone she knew loved her work so much. "I have it up on my lap-" Before she could finish, Levy was already sitting at her desk, scanning through the text.

The blonde just chuckled to herself and took their cups to the sink so she could wash them later. When she came back into the living room, she saw Plue scratching at the door. "Levy, I'm going to take Plue outside. I'll be back in a minute," she announced. All she got was a nod in response.

When she opened the front door, she saw Loke standing there, his hand raised as if he was about to knock. Her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" she asked menacingly.