Hey guys. I can see y'all want more of "Ice Devil's Angel," which makes me happy to hear. However, to get back into the groove of things, I've been given a golden opportunity by none other than the famous GraLu author, LadySVI, to take on her story "Bride of the Ice God," which originally belongs to the author writer4everr.

The reason Lady-san abandoned it was because her idea of where it should've gone didn't match with the plot of what writer4everr had and decided to pass it on to me to publish. So, that's what I'll be doing for the next couple of months for you guys while I try to re-establish my ideas and outline with "Ice Devil's Angel."

Anyway! Hope everyone is doing well!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its character. I do not own this plot. This plot belongs to writer4everr.

Bride of the Ice God

Chapter Nine

Tacos and Blushing Blondes

9 9 9

Gray didn't really know how he felt about Lucy. But at that moment, he was half annoyed and half pleased, especially with how she dealt with Juvia. Not that he really showed it or anything, but he couldn't help but feel slightly amused.

He was mostly annoyed because Juvia was a sobbing mess on the ground, and Lucy had him to clean up after her. Another note to make was that when Juvia cried, she cried rivers. The palace floor was starting to fill up, and he frowned when he found himself in a giant puddle or rather a mini lake.

Gray rolled his eyes as Juvia continued to bawl loudly, attracting unwanted attention from handmaidens. "Juvia," he addressed impatiently. "She's human and you're a goddess, meaning you have supernatural endurance. Don't act like that actually hurt." He secretly wished it did though.

Her eyes widened in hurt. "Why is Lord Gray criticizing Juvia? She's the one that got violent!" she wailed.

He scowled. "It was justified. And what were you so mad and petty about? Lucy didn't do anything."

She glared. "Don't play dumb, Lord Gray. Lady Mika was planning to wed us. If Lucy hadn't showed, Juvia and Lord Gray could've been together!" she complained.

Gray sighed exasperatedly, not believing Juvia could be so mad about that. From now on, he would be a bit nicer to Lucy. She saved him from an eternity with Juvia or at least a few decades because he probably would've gone insane and sent him away.

"Well, Juvia, I'll be on my way," he dismissed himself, feeling a mild headache developing.

He walked away without looking back and headed up the stairs to find where Lucy disappeared to. The Ice God knew where she was. They were bonded and that gave him a sixth sense to know where she was. She probably didn't know she had it too, but since he was a god, he was more attuned to things like that.

Gray found her sitting on the steps waiting for him.

"Took you forever," she remarked casually. "Did it take long to comfort her?" She stood, wiping off imaginary dust. "I'm not in trouble, am I?"

He chuckled. "No, you're not."

"Really?" she asked with widened eyes.

"Really. It was justified."

"So..." Lucy started. "She pretty much hates me because we're bonded, right."

"The fact that you're also mortal kind of rubs salt in the wound," Gray added. "Also, my mom really, really likes you and dropped Juvia as a possible match for me." He glanced at her. "For that, I owe you one."

She gave him a hesitant, light smile. It didn't really reach her eyes. "Did you guys...do anything?" she finally asked, eyes on the ground.

He raised a brow, smirking. "Why? You jealous?" he teased.

She glared. "Not a chance, Fullbuster! It was out of curiosity!" she defended herself.

He shrugged. "If it puts your jealous mind at ease, we never did anything. Juvia was BSing the whole thing. Things go on in that delusional mind of hers."

"Okay," Lucy nodded stiffly. "One more question."

"One more answer."

She swallowed thickly, looking slightly more pale than usual. "Do you think..." She bit her lip, worry crossing her delicate features. "Do you think I'll have to be turned?"

"Is that what you're scared about?" he asked softly. "You don't want to stay here? You want to go back to your family?"

"I–I..." She was a loss for words. "I don't know if I can. What...What if Juvia was right? Maybe–"

He had to cut her off. She looked so broken in that moment, trembling with quiet sobs and her doe eyes brimming with tears. He had forgotten how scared she had actually been and that her strong front was just an act. She was in a foreign world and was an outsider dealing with mortal prejudice. She was lonely: she needed someone. So he found himself wrapping her small frame in his arms.

"Stop," Gray growled lowly. "Don't let Juvia's words make you doubt your feelings towards your family."

In that moment, Lucy let go of all her pent up frustration. She was silent, but the slight wracking of her body and the wet tears on his shoulders told him she was crying. Her hands clutched onto him as if he would disappear at any moment.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, letting go of him. "I don't know what that was..." She rubbed her eyes and sniffled. "I don't usually lose myself like that."

"Lucy, it's fine."

"Okay," she breathed.

"You don't have to act strong all the time," he found himself saying before he could stop himself. "It's not good to keep it all pent up. The more you let it out, the less you cry on my shoulder and cover me in snot," he finished, hoping to cheer her up a bit.

She gave a teary smile.

That's better, Gray thought.

"I think it's an improvement, really," she retorted.

"C'mon," he grabbed her shoulder. "Let's get you cleaned up. It's almost time for Sherry to do your fitting. She'll bite my head off if she sees your with red and swollen eyes."

Lucy stopped for a second, smiling warmly at him.

He blinked, confused, as his heart did a weird skip.

"You know," she began. "Gray, you're really not that bad. I thought you were a conceited, cocky jerk–"

"Thanks," he said dryly.

"Let me finished," she huffed. Seeing that he wouldn't interrupt her again, she continued. "You're kind of like a taco."

His eyebrow twitched. "A...taco?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes, a taco."

"I'm starting to like you're first impression of me better," he responded unsurely with no clue as to where Lucy was going with her analogy. One moment she was crying on his shoulder, the next she was comparing him to some mortal food.

"No, you're definitely a taco," she decided eagerly. "You have a hard shell around you, but once bite in there's a great mix of sour cream, lettuce, cheese, pico, and beef!"

"God, you're strange, Heartfilia," Gray shook his head. "All right, let's go before you start comparing me with an eggplant or pumpkin or something."

She laughed but dutifully followed the Ice God.

It occurred to him that he didn't really mind having her around.

9 9 9

Lucy decided that while Sherry was the Goddess of Love and Beauty, she could be scary when she wanted to. She was terrifying when she eyed her like a hawk, her piercing blue eyes seeming to dig into her very soul. She grabbed me by the hand and shooed Gray away with just a wave of her hand and closed the door to her seamstress boutique.

The goddess tilted her head left and right. "Darling, what happened to your face?" Her eyes narrowed. "Did Lord Gray make you cry?"

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no," Lucy shook her head. "Not at all. He was the one who cheered me up."

Sherry's dark look completely switched to a lovely smile. "Good, because I was going to give him a piece of my mind."

"No need," Lucy smiled back, slightly unnerved by the quick switch.

"Well, let's begin."

As Sherry started with makeup, Lucy sat wondering how if she would be accepted by the legions of gods tonight at the banquet. She wondered when exactly she'd be turned into an immortal. Staying here didn't seem as terrible as she initially thought it would be. She had Cana, Erza, Lisanna, Natsu, Levy, and even Gray. Her cheeks warmed as the Ice God crossed her mind. Either Sherry decided not to notice or she was too busy doing her makeup to ask, but Lucy was grateful anyway.

Moments later, her make-up perfectly and naturally done, her nails were groomed and painted a beautiful lavender to match her kimono. With a snap of Sherry's fingers, Lucy was already dressed in her robes for the banquet.

The goddess smiled. "What do you think?"

Lucy looked up to see her own reflection. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "That's...me?"

"Yes, lovely, that is you," Sherry laughed.

"It's like...you took an ugly ducking and turned it into a swan."

"Nonsense, you're already beautiful. I just accentuated it."

"Thank you..."

"Of course, lovely." Sherry stood up. "Now it's my turn to get ready. You can sit and wait here for Erza to come get you."

"Oh, okay."

Lucy watched the pink-haired goddess disappear and stood frozen for a couple seconds as she looked at herself once more.

In the full-length mirror before her, Lucy saw another woman, someone regal, someone elegant, someone fit to be a goddess. Her long golden tressed were beautifully braided into a bun and held by shiny ornaments that looked like it costed more than her life. She had a few strands framing her face. Her makeup wasn't overdone, it was a completely natural look. The kimono was absolutely gorgeous – a soft lavender with different shades of darker purple blossoms adorning the gown. In the lighting, it seemed as if they were flitting around, almost like she was gliding in the wind. The final touch was the obi. It was a rich, dark purple and helped show off her shapely hips.

"Wow, you look amazing!" a familiar voice complimented.

Lucy turned around to see none other than Erza. Her scarlet hair was pinned up with ornaments as well, a white rose behind one of her ears. As for the kimono she wore, it was different shades of red with gold, the obi a simple white. Her trusty snow white owl was perched on her shoulder, looking well groomed for the occasion as well. Overall, the Goddess of War and Wisdom looked absolutely gorgeous.

"You nervous?" she asked.

"Not really," Lucy pursed her lips. "After punching Juvia, I don't think I could possibly screw up the evening even more than I already have."

Erza's eyes glimmered in amusement. "Yes, I've heard. Way to stand up for yourself."

Lucy gave a shaky laugh. "Haha, thank you?"

The War Goddess' wise eyes pierced through her soul. Nervous, Lucy couldn't help but take a step back under the scrutinizing gaze.

"Uh, Erza?"

"I saw you."

Lucy blinked, confused. "You...saw?"

"I saw you practicing," Erza clarified. "Your mutation cells grew, didn't it?"

The blonde paled, her blood running cold. So much for keeping it on the down low. "Please don't say anything."

"I won't. Only wanted to confirm what I saw," she said. "I've never seen anything like it."

Lucy sighed, plopping onto the couch. "I have no idea what it is."

"Well, be careful," Erza warned. "You never know who's watching."

The tension in the air was broken when Sherry walked in – well, more like floated in – ready to go. Her kimono was the same color as her eyes with other varying shades of blue and white with a navy obi wrapped around her waist. She looked like the goddess she was.

"All right," she clapped her hands excitedly. "Let's drop you off with Gray!"

Lucy panicked. "Gray? Why can't I just go with you guys?"

"Oh, hush," Erza scoffed.

They walked outside, Lucy wobbling a bit from her nerves. The blonde's breath caught in her throat as she saw Gray standing at the end of the hallway waiting for her. She tried to appear calm, but the Ice God was not making it any easier. He had the same half-irritated, half-bored expression on his gorgeous face, wearing a deep indigo kimono and a violet cord wrapped around his waist, the same color as her kimono. He caught sight of her and his mouth slightly lifted at the sides.

"I see Sherry enjoyed dolling you up," Gray observed, offering his arm to her. "You look nice."

Lucy gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Why, thank you." She gestured to his violet cord. "I see you tried adding some color to your wardrobe."

"Well, Sherry told me the color you were going to wear, and I decided to coordinate," he explained, looking down at himself. "It doesn't look weird, does it?" he asked with a quirked brow.

She laughed, smiling genuinely this time. "No, you look good. Promise."

They gazed at one another for a moment before Lucy looked away in nervousness. Her stomach was doing somersaults because in less than a minute she was going to greet a whole crowd of gods.

Gray seemed to sense her nerves. "You'll be fine. You look beautiful," he said. He wasn't looking at her when he said it, but his words rang with sincerity.

He proceeded to walk, and Lucy followed in silence.

She managed to compose her face other than the evident blush dusting her cheeks.

Hope this brings back some hope to some fans who thought this was gone forever. Sorry if it wasn't as good as Lady-san's own personal style to it, but I'll just get this out for you guys.

Have a nice day :)