Csilla: Over a year has passed, I'm sorry for that. As some of you know I did finish 'Illusions' so this past year I haven't completely given up on my fics... Things haven't really bounced back so I cannot guarantee constant updates, but I can promise this will be finished eventually...

I hope you guys enjoy~

&I'm sorry for the delay! The next chapter will get right into the climax...

"Let's go,"

"Wai-what?"

Instead of getting an answer, Gray tugged harder on the rosette's wrist simply continuing on with his previous statement: "C'mon... we have to... hurry," it was clear he was out of breath, "...before she... she finds me..."

Natsu didn't get the chance to ask 'who she was' as his body was pulled into a jog until they reached the student parking; he quickly slipped into the passenger seat as the raven raced over to the driver's side and slid in as well. Quick to start the car, the rosette could finally ask: "What's going on?"

"Trying to escape one after-school meeting..." He muttered as he pulled out of the school's parking lot before exhaling in relief; a week and a half had passed since Natsu ran away from their meeting after school - in that time, the two barely saw one another outside of school. Igneel's words fought with Sting's over dominance in the rosette's mind...

Clearing his throat, "Hey Natsu... there's something I want to ask you..." Gray asked as he pulled over to the side of the road; when his car came to a stop, he switched it to park before glancing over to meet with curious cobalt eyes. Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, the raven felt suddenly an overwhelming sense of jitters wash over him as he exhaled a shaky breath, "The Homecoming Dance is this Friday night... Want to go together?"

Warmth flooded every pore on Natsu's body as he nodded his head quickly earning a soft chuckle, "Sorry, but could you say your answer?"

"Y-Yes..." Pale fingers wrapped securely around his tan chin and turned his face until their lips met; the rosette's heart felt ready to burst with the simple act - they hadn't had many chances to re-kindle their past experiences with each other. So every time he felt loved by the raven, he held onto it dearly until the next time. Moving his attention back onto the road, Gray shifted the car back into 'drive' before heading towards Natsu's house - despite the low number of times he had been able to actually go over there, the raven had the way memorized. This tidbit only seemed to warm the rosette's cheeks as he sat with a small smile on his face for the rest of the ride.

Climbing out once they arrived, Natsu wasn't ready to let Gray go just yet: "Do you want to stay for dinner?" His voice sounded more forceful than he wanted it to - likely giving away just how much he wanted to spend more time with the other.

The raven didn't seemed fazed as he chuckled, "Only if next time, you come over..." before pausing, "My mom been wanting to see how you've been since I told her you moved here..."

Smiling, "Deal," Natsu remembered the raven's mom; she had been the one who helped in saving him from his abusive father and unfortunately couldn't directly help the rosette by adopting him.

The duo headed inside, but not before greeting Igneel who was working under the hood of a minivan that Gray had previously seen in the house to the left. A mechanic's job is never done.

Natsu felt fireworks of excitement as he led the raven inside - it seemed like forever since they were last alone together. Gray followed the rosette up the stairs to the second floor and into Natsu's room at the end of the hall; the raven would never get tired of seeing those four walls that were decked out in posters of video games, TV shows and shelves displaying some of the latest electronics. Lacing his pale fingers with tan ones, Gray succeeded in earning Natsu's attention, he was glad that the rosette had found such an amazing family to take him in.

Squeezing gently, the raven leaned in towards his companion that in turn also leaned in - they were mere seconds apart when: "Boys! Dinner!"

They froze in their spots and if Natsu's ears weren't playing tricks on him then the rosette would swear he heard Gray click his tongue in annoyance from being interrupted, but before he could ask, the raven was heading out of his bedroom. Natsu followed behind, only to have his nose assaulted with the sweet aroma of tomato sauce causing his mouth to water in anticipation.

After dinner, both teens headed right back upstairs to play through their usual routine of games until they heard someone clear their throat behind them. Curious eyes glanced over as the pause screen appeared to see Igneel leaning against the door frame: "Natsu, would you mind if I spoke with your friend for a moment?" he asked, his eyes falling on Gray briefly.

"But Igneel! I wanna finish our game..." The rosette whined, setting down his controller - he was finally getting the upper hand on the other.

The older raven chuckled, but stood his ground "It won't take long, I promise" before motioning for the younger raven to follow him, which earned him a small nod of understanding before Gray stood up

"Don't worry, Natsu... I'll be back saving your butt in no time," He teased, earning a shift smack from the irritated rosette, before he followed Igneel out the door and down the hall until they stopped at the end.

Igneel turned around, taking a short glance back down the hall to make sure Natsu wasn't eavesdropping before he spoke, "Gray, I'd like to talk to you about what happened seven months ago..."

The raven found himself a little taken back by the subject and he couldn't stop himself from glancing back to Natsu's room, "Shouldn't you ask Natsu? I mean, its his story to tell - not mine," he asked, positive that the older raven would get more details from the victim himself rather than the person who just happened to meet the rosette that trip.

"I have, but I want to hear your side..." Igneel confessed, his head hanging at the recollection of what his adopted son had told him in detail of what the rosette had endured.

"Well," scratching the back of his head, "I was at some lame get-together at Lamia Scale Ski Resort getting bombarded by annoying girls... I slipped away for some peace and that's when I met Natsu, but before I got the chance to even speak to him: one of the girls from before dragged me away. It took about a hour or so, but I managed to sneak away again. When I got back up to the third floor, I couldn't find him so I looked around and eventually found him standing out on the balcony... We talked for a bit... he showed me one of the conference rooms that had quite a view and we talked some more before I decided to call it a night... but a couple hours later, I found myself back on the third floor. I went back to the conference room and suddenly Natsu appeared... We talked the rest of the night. When morning came, Natsu started panicking and ran off in a hurry... I tried going back to my room, but something felt off. I don't really know how to explain it, but something just didn't feel right. I went up to the front desk to try and find Natsu's room... I begged the receptionist to call since she wouldn't tell me his room number. When she got off the phone with Natsu's dad, she told me that she had been told that Natsu was injured at the dance party, which he didn't attended. I kinda overreacted and the receptionist gave me his room number. I ran as fast as I could and when the door opened, I saw the black eye then my mind went blank. I grabbed his hand and ran off with him in tow... I told the receptionist to call the cops and that he would be in my room,"

There was silence, Igneel had heard Natsu mention a promise that the raven did not and concern for son left him with little choice, but to ask a difficult question: "I know its not my place to ask but," debating whether he should continue or not, "how do you feel about Natsu?" Igneel's question immediately cause pale cheeks to flare up with color, which said more than the younger raven's words did.

"I mean, we're friends after all so of course I like him..."

"Are you guys done talking yet? I want to finish our game before Gray has to leave!" Natsu's loud whine ceased all further discussions on the subject and as Igneel watched the young raven head back, a knowing smile spread on his face.

Gray was stupidly in love with Natsu. Why else would he go out of his way to find the rosette at the resort? Harass a receptionist just to get a room number? And make a promise to find one another again when they were separated? And Natsu was stupidly in love with Gray.

The cafeteria was decked out with red and white streamers and decor varying from balloons to a table of snacks and drinks; a little burst of cockiness bubbled inside of Natsu as his eyes wandered to take in the scene, Gray had done all of this. His Gray had done this. His mind quickly quipped back, wondering if it was okay to assume that since they were here together that they might be together-together. A tan hand held a pale one in plain sight so for one night, the rosette and his mind agreed to let him think it.

"Excited?" The raven walked them inside and towards the back as Natsu nodded his head eagerly; the rosette hadn't had much experience with school functions due to his biological dad being against it. And against him having friends.

But all those negative thoughts were brushed aside when Gray pulled him into the area where most of the students were dancing; staying near the raven kept a wide smile on his face. Time flowed by as songs played -fast into slow- and fatigue was slowing them down, tan hands tugged Gray's to silently suggest a break. Slightly sweaty, they headed for the vending machines right outside the cafeteria and the cool air did wonders to their exhaustion.

"Let's share a drink," Natsu offered, brushing his fingers against's the raven's as they stood in line for the machine, in a low voice.

Nodding his head, Gray smiled as he whispered a soft 'sure' in response before glancing around; his eyes stopping on a sight a few feet away from them. Cobalt eyes followed before landing on Angel sitting on the floor as her 'date' was chatting animatedly with another girl; he felt little pity for the girl - she had tried the whole week to talk the raven to go with her.

Fear flooding his system, he made an attempt to grab the fingers near him, but Gray had already excused himself and was heading for her. His hand fell against his side as cobalt eyes watched in dismay as Gray ran over to the white-haired girl before comforting her with a hug; Natsu's heart was sinking at the small affectionate display before him.

/...he'll toss you aside like he does everyone else when he's bored.../

Shaking his head, the rosette tried hard to convince himself that he was different -that what they had was special- but the emptiness in his chest was making it hard. It was gnawing inside, making itself bigger and bigger. Narrowing his eyes, he turned away from the sight before heading away from the sight and down one of hall adjacent to the large lit hall; aside from the few people that littered the line to the vending machine, Natsu slipped past with no difficulty. Turning down a dim hallway, he found a spot to sit and bury his face into his knees - he never was good at handling situations like this. Even when Igneel was asked to work overtime and had to push his promise to the rosette for later, the teen always felt empty and alone.

Could he really not compete with Angel?

Was Gray already bored with him?

Was he the only one that felt this way?

Didn't Gray still have feelings for him?

What did all those moments they shared together after reuniting meant to Gray?

Was he ashamed of Natsu?

Did he only like him out of pity?

So many questions plagued his mind as he sat, tuned out from the world around him until he felt someone shake him; cobalt eyes glanced up to see Sting, with blue eyes laced with concern. And before the rosette could say anything, he was pulled forward into the blonde. Something wet hit his cheek and he realized he had been crying; tan hands tried to push themselves against his friend's chest to pry himself away but to no avail.

"May I hold you please? Natsu," Giving in, the rosette let himself be wrapped in his friend's arms; the subtle warmth provided by those arms was enough to break his defenses and tan hands gripped the back of Sting's shirt.

"Let's get out of here," was all the blonde said before he released Natsu and pulled the puffy-eyed teen away from the cover of dim-lighting and pass wandering eyes that would undoubtedly forget.

The rosette trudged along behind his friend as the crisp autumn air made his eyes water more; wiping them both with his available sleeve, Natsu solemnly glanced behind them at the doors - where Gray would be waiting wondering what happened to him. Right? As if reading his mind, Sting spoke: "Don't worry about that bastard... he'll be too busy fretting over Angel to even," blue eyes met saddened cobalt ones and the anger in his word vanished, "ah, sorry..." He whispered as he slowed to a stop in front of a compact car, pressing the button on his keys the vehicle unlocked with a soft click.

They climbed into their respective seats in silence; Sting pulled out of his parking spot, then off of the school's property when they were finally on the road, driving without an actual destination, the blonde asked softly: "Should I take you home?"

"..."

"You know I can't just drive around aimlessly," blue eyes fell on the silent rosette before sighing, "I know a place..."

The scenery outside was a blur as cobalt eyes stared out, void but clearly upset; Natsu couldn't stop his mind as it wondered if the raven had even realized he disappeared.

Csilla: As was stated in Illusions, I will be updating and hopefully get to finishing a lot of my on-going fics before I start posting new ones (at least I will try)... oneshots will pop up from time-to-time.