Hello, fellow Fairy Tail lovers! This is a Gray/Juvia fic, with a smattering of NaLu on the side. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

It all started with a game of chess.

It was a usual day in Fairy Tail, complete with Canna chugging down barrels of beer, Happy chasing Charle trying to woo her with a fish, and Mirajane smiling sweetly in her usual spot.

But something is missing, Juvia thought. She scanned the room, looking for anything amiss. Her eyes unconsciously sought out Gray. Making sure he was safe, her gaze traveled elsewhere... only to zone in on the love of her life again.

He was bending over a board with black and white squares with little shapes on them that Juvia had never seen before, but that mystery was overshadowed by the fact that he was bending over the board with Natsu Dragneel, Gray's all-time rival. And they weren't yelling insults at each other, either.

Juvia froze, her big eyes opened even wider with disbelief. That board must be magic! I must see what it is!

She walked over to Gray, who was taking a black shape which looked suspiciously like a horse and moving it to a different space on the board.

"Um... Gray-sama? What you are doing?"

Gray looked up, and said,

"Hey, Juvia. You've never seen chess before?"

...Chess? She thought, and shook her head. "Is it magic?" she asked. Natsu snorted. Gray blinked like he was surprised, and gave a little laugh. Juvia felt herself going all mushy inside at the sound.

"No, it's not magic. It's a board game. Want me to teach you?" he said, scooting across the bench to make room for her. Juvia nodded vigorously, and sat down beside him. I'm sitting next to Gray-sama! He is so close, too...

"...via? Juvia!" At the sound of Gray's voice, Juvia snapped back into reality, and turned her attention to the board.

"I am sorry, Gray-sama. Please teach me." she said, shooting him an apologetic smile. Gray smiled back, and leaned in.

"Okay, this is how you play the amazing game of chess..."

Across the guild, Lucy and Mirajane were having fun watching the water mage turn several shades of red and nearly fainting every time Gray whispered something in her ear.

"They're soooo cute together!" Mirajane squealed. Lucy smiled and said,

"Yeah, and Gray seems to like- oh! Did you see that, Mira-san?"

Gray, having had his arm squished against him, was not in the most comfortable position, so he had absentmindedly snaked his arm around Juvia's waist. Not noticing her shocked face, he continued to explain the rules to her, while still battling Natsu.

Lucy could see the steam coming out of Juvia's ears. She giggled to herself, but then sighed. She was happy for the two of them, but a teeny part of Lucy wanted a head of salmon-colored hair next to her, whispering chess rules into her ear.

Natsu watched the two mages sitting across from him, and wondered why he felt... envious. He wasn't jealous, exactly- he didn't like Juvia that way, only as a member of his precious family- but the spot next to him felt strangely empty, even though it hadn't felt like that only moments before. He wished somebody would scoot in beside him, asking if he was winning, or something. Preferably Lucy, if only because she was always next to him, and he was used to it.

He didn't like Lucy in that way, either. That would just be weird. Lucy was his partner, his precious friend, his family. He knew Lucy didn't like him that way.

Natsu ignored the twinge in his chest when he thought that last sentence. It didn't mean anything, after all. Maybe he ate too much.

Do you like it? Please leave a review telling me what you liked, what you didn't like, where you think needs fixing.

Thanks!