So this is my first time actually publishing one of my stories. I'm still writing this one but I will be updating periodically. The story starts just before the one year gap. The one year gap has been pushed back a little for story purposes. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail!

Lucy walked into the guild. Everything was finally back to normal. Well mostly. Elfman and Evergreen flirted in the corner, trying to be discreet. Mira was cheerfully serving guild members loads of booze while Cana sat at the bar chugging her keg. Gajeel hovered over Levy as she 'pretended' to ignore him, and Natsu and Gray were fighting like usual. Only as soon as Gray saw Lucy he stopped and ran to her. Shortly after beating Tartaros, Gray had come clean about his crush on Lucy and asked her on a date. At first Lucy was shocked but as she pondered his confession she couldn't deny the mutual attraction. The guild had taken their relationship pretty good, all except for Juvia. Lucy had originally been terrified of the rain woman's reaction and tried not to let the information get to her, but it was inevitable. When she learned that the two mages were now dating she had melted into a puddle and vanished. No one saw her for almost two weeks. When she finally did turn up at the guild again, she didn't even look in Gray's direction. It worried Lucy but learned that she had opened up to Gajeel from Levy and the water mage didn't hold any hard feelings toward the celestial spirit mage. Lucy let out a relieved breath at the news but still felt for the woman. She knew how unrequited love felt. That's why she had said yes to Gray in the first place. Hoping to turn her affections to someone who would appreciate them. Out of everyone at the guild though, Natsu had reacted the strangest. Anytime Lucy came around he'd freeze up and find an excuse to leave. He started making it a point to avoid Gray all together but sometimes it couldn't be helped. He had stopped breaking into her apartment as well. This was a welcomed change but it was still strange. When cornered and asked why, he said he didn't think Lucy's boyfriend would appreciate another man being over all the time and made it clear he wouldn't be answering any more questions. He seemed almost mad at times, but when someone noticed he'd shrug it off.

When Gray reached Lucy he greeted her with a peck on the lips. Gray had been Lucy's first real kiss. Her first for many things actually. They had fooled around a little bit but nothing too far. Lucy wasn't ready for that and probably wouldn't be for a while. Still, she enjoyed their make out sessions. She blushed at where her mind was going. She walked to her usual place at the bar and ordered a strawberry milkshake.

"Did you find any jobs we could take?" She asked Gray as he sat down next to her.

"No, they're all jobs that pay shit," he huffed," besides, you're good on money for a while," it was true. They had just finished a huge job with their whole team and it gave Lucy enough money to pay her rent for the next 2 months, with enough for food and even enough to go shopping for a new wardrobe if she wanted. It had been exhausting and they had gotten the full reward for once. Natsu hadn't gone over board and had been weird the whole trip. She caught herself thinking about him again.she absently roamed her eyes over the guild hall for the pinkette and found him glaring in her direction. As soon as their eyes met his scowl worsened and he huffed. Exiting the guild loudly and slamming the door. Lucy jumped.

"What the hell is flame brains problem lately?" Gray asked to no one in particular. Lucy wondered the same thing but didn't comment. Lucy spent the day at the guild, just socializing with her friends and distracting herself for the nagging voice in her head. When she got home she decided to sit at her desk and write for a little while. She had made decent progress in her book and was almost a third of the way finished. Levy would be excited when she shared the news with her. Lucy stared at the clock, suddenly realizing how late it was. She laid her pen down and decided to settle down for the night, going through her nightly routine and snuggling in her bed. She was asleep in minutes, happily drifting off to dreamland.