A/N: This chapter might be a bit more 'mature' than 'teen' but I'm not going to change the whole story rating. It's very mild, fluffy smut.

I'm really sad that this story is over! Thanks to everyone who followed it and sent me such lovely comments, you're all fantastic and I appreciate every one of you. 3

Gray kisses Natsu slowly, tongue drawing over his lips and fingers exploring the muscles of Natsu's shoulders over his shirt. They're pressed together on Gray's bed; Natsu's knee tucked between Gray's legs, Natsu's hands in Gray's hair. Natsu shivers as Gray runs gentle fingers down his spine, slipping under his shirt and splaying across his lower back.

Natsu hums against Gray's lips and pulls him closer until they're pressed chest-to-chest, touching in as many places as possible. Every movement is slow and purposeful; Gray traces the contours of Natsu's body like lines on a map he hasn't yet explored. His fingertips draw rivers across Natsu's stomach, mountain ranges over his ribs, oceans under the curve of his breast.

Natsu breathes Gray in as they kiss, making soft sounds when Gray's hands hit somewhere particularly sensitive. When Gray's hand stops just short of Natsu's chest, Natsu pulls back and looks at him.

"It's okay," he says, pressing their foreheads together. "You can keep touching."

"Even here?" Gray asks, brushing his fingertips gently up the side of Natsu's breast. The tentative touch makes Natsu's breath stutter as he nods.

"Yeah," he says, grabbing Gray's hip and pulling him close until he can feel Gray, hard against his thigh. "I like it."

Gray keeps rubbing the underside of Natsu's breast with his thumb, and Natsu can feel the hesitation in the movement. He lets go of Gray's hip and brings a hand up to his face instead, tucking a stray hair behind his ear.

"What's wrong?"

Gray shakes his head, and Natsu can tell that he's trying to hide a blush. "'s stupid," he mutters. He doesn't look like he believes the words.

"Talk to me," Natsu says gently, and when he tries to move away, Gray's fingers splay across his ribs to hold him there. "I promise it's not stupid. Is it body stuff?"

Gray nods and Natsu sighs, running his fingers over the back of Gray's neck. It's been over a month, and every time they make out, Gray's cautious, not quite getting his hands where Natsu wants him. Natsu knows it's Gray's first time with someone like him, so he's been patient, but right now, he really, really wants Gray to keep touching him.

"I've never been with a guy before," Gray says eventually, keeping his eyes on Natsu's shoulder. He chews his lip. "And then… I don't wanna…"

"Wanna what?" Natsu encourages.

"I don't wanna make you feel like a girl," Gray says, voice so soft that Natsu can barely hear it. "'cause you're not, and I know that, I just—I've only been with girls, and I feel like I'm being like I was with them, but you're not like that. I just don't know what else to… to do, and if you like that? Or you want something else?"

Natsu can't help the soft laugh that escapes him, and he kisses Gray's forehead. A warmth swells in his chest as he nudges Gray's chin up until they're looking at each other.

"You don't make me feel like a girl," he says. "And I haven't been with anyone since before I came out, so… I don't really know what I want, I guess. My body hasn't changed, and I have, but… I like it when you touch me like this."

He nudges the hand that's on his breast and gives Gray a meaningful look. Gray looks like he would rather melt into the duvet than have this conversation, and the embarrassed scrunch of his nose is so endearing that Natsu has to kiss it.

"I like it too," Gray says, and Natsu can tell that he's struggling with the words. "And I wanna… I want this. I want to have sex with you. And I don't wanna fuck it up because…" He peeks up at Natsu. "I like you. A lot. And I want it to be good for you."

"It will be," Natsu promises, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to Gray's lips. "'cause I really, really like you too."

Gray sighs against him, and with another gentle nudge from Natsu, slips his hand up until his thumb brushes across Natsu's nipple. Natsu hums happily, running his hand back down to Gray's hip and pulling him close.

Gray's touch is still tentative, but he keeps going, rubbing his thumb over Natsu's nipple as he caresses Natsu's breast. A quiet moan passes between them as Natsu explores Gray's mouth with his tongue, sliding his hand into the back of Gray's boxers and pulling him close.

Natsu can feel Gray getting hard again against his thigh, and after a minute, Gray's hand slips down to the hem of Natsu's shirt. "Can I?" he asks, and when Natsu nods, he sits up and pulls both of their shirts off, tossing them into a pile on the floor.

Natsu feels shy, suddenly. Nobody's seen him without his shirt or binder on in a long time, and he's not prepared for the way Gray's gaze pins him to the bed. Gray nudges Natsu onto his back and settles between his legs, thumbs rubbing over the tattoos on Natsu's hips.

"You're gorgeous," Gray murmurs, running a hand up the flowers that decorate Natsu's ribs. This time he doesn't stop, and when he leans forward and takes Natsu's nipple into his mouth, Natsu gasps at the sudden warmth.

"Gray," he says softly, cupping the back of Gray's neck. Gray's mouth is soft and warm, and his hand moves down to Natsu's boxers, dipping carefully below the waistband as Natsu squirms underneath him. Natsu bunches the fabric of the duvet between his fingers when Gray's fingers move lower, waiting for his exhaled please before slipping between his legs.

"Okay?" Gray murmurs against Natsu's skin as he kisses up to Natsu's collarbone, then his throat, then below his ear.

"Yeah," Natsu breathes, pulling Gray in for a kiss. "Yeah, fingers are okay. Please."

Gray makes a deep sound in the back of his throat, fingers following the same pattern between Natsu's legs that his lips make against Natsu's. Natsu gasps, grip tightening on the back of Gray's neck as he brings his other hand up and fumbles at the waistband of Gray's boxers.

"Can I—"

"Yes."

When Natsu touches Gray, the sound that Gray makes is addictive – quiet and needy and almost the shape of Natsu's name. Natsu tries to take it slow, to be gentle and seductive the way that Gray is with him, but Gray's fingers are in him and on him and he can't think, never mind take his time. Eventually they both kick off their boxers, tired of the barriers between them, and all Natsu can feel is hot skin and soft touches, and a deep, tingling warmth that spreads through him as they breathe each other in.

"Natsu," Gray gasps, forehead touching Natsu's as his hips jerk into Natsu's hand. "I… hahh, I wanna…" He brushes his lips against Natsu's cheek, trembling as he whispers, "I wanna use my mouth. Can I?"

There's no hesitation in Natsu's, "yes," and before he can even breathe, Gray's shifted down, nudging Natsu's thighs apart as he trails kisses between Natsu's breasts, down his stomach, across his hips.

Then he moves between Natsu's legs and Natsu cries out, tipping his head back into the pillow and trembling as Gray's tongue works over him and into him. "Fuck," Natsu whimpers, reaching down and running his fingers across Gray's temple as Gray keeps going, warm and eager. "Fuck, yes, that's…"

Gray holds Natsu's hip down with one hand, and the other moves to join his tongue, touching all the places that make Natsu shake and gasp and roll further towards the edge. The low thrum that's been building in him breaks into a roar like the tide, and all he can say is Gray's name as the waves break over him again and again.

"Shit," Natsu sighs, slumping back against the pillow as Gray slowly draws back, pressing a kiss to Natsu's hip before sitting up slowly. He still looks a little hesitant, and Natsu lets out a shaky laugh as he grabs Gray's hand.

"Don't look like that," he says, shaking his head. "You're amazing."

The uncertainty on Gray's face slowly shifts into shy satisfaction as he runs his thumb back and forth across Natsu's hip. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Natsu lets himself catch his breath, savoring the warmth of Gray's hand on his skin, then nudges Gray back so he can sit up and slide off the bed. Gray frowns at him, but Natsu just grins and tugs him up, too.

"C'mere," Natsu says softly, kissing Gray's neck as they press together. Gray sighs shakily, still hard against Natsu's stomach, and Natsu runs his fingers down Gray's ribs, counting each of them before settling his hands on Gray's hips. Then Natsu pulls back and slowly sinks down to his knees.

"You okay?" he asks, watching Gray's eyes widen as he brings a hand to Natsu's hair. Gray nods, brushing a thumb across Natsu's cheek before Natsu leans forward and takes him in.

Gray is surprisingly loud for someone so shy. Natsu can tell he's trying to keep quiet, but every movement from Natsu draws out moans and gasps that fill the tiny room. It's been a while since Natsu's done this, but between his hands and his mouth, he brings Gray closer and closer until his thighs tense and his fingers tighten in Natsu's hair.

"Wow," Gray murmurs as Natsu slowly stands up, nudging Gray back until they're both in the middle of the bed again, curled up against each other. Natsu hums in agreement, drifting his fingertips up and down Gray's stomach as Gray pulls him close and kisses his forehead.

"Told you," Natsu says softly.

"Told me what?"

"That it'd be good."

Gray huffs out a quiet laugh. "I'd say that was better than good," he murmurs as he brushes his fingers through Natsu's hair. The sensation is familiar and comforting, and Natsu sighs contentedly.

"'s true," he says as he reaches down and pulls the blanket up to cover them both. "You're amazing." He can almost hear Gray's cheeks turning pink.

A soft, tranquil silence fills the room for a moment, and Natsu tips his head so that he can see the snow tumbling in soft flakes past the window. He makes a happy sound, cuddling closer to Gray and kissing his chest.

"I really…" Gray's words are so quiet that Natsu feels them more than hears them. When he looks up, Gray won't meet his eyes – he just curls a piece of Natsu's hair around his finger and chews his lip.

"Really what?" Natsu asks gently.

"I…" Gray closes his eyes, then whispers, "I love you."

The words hit Natsu in the chest, filling him with a hundred memories of their time together. The airport, Gray's uncertain smile, waking up against him on the plane, holding hands through the crowds of Paris. Tipsy smiles, hair braiding, talking quietly in French. Watching the sun set from the Eiffel Tower. Gray's smile under the lights of the restaurant. Kissing each other as the snow fell in soft flakes around them and everything finally felt right.

Natsu smiles because he knows – has known since Gray handed him the ticket at the airport two months ago and they started this adventure together – and now he finally gets to say it out loud.

"Gray," he says softly as he leans in and kisses Gray, holding him as close as possible. "I love you, too."