As Gray opened the door to Fairy Hills he felt a knee jerk reaction to his gut. It felt as if Natsu had attacked him with a Fire Dragon Iron Fist attack, which he would never admit aloud but those attacks hurt like a bitch. Juvia looked amazing. The light purple dress played up the creamy ivory tone to her skin. The dress itself hugged her in all the appropriate places while retaining the perfect amount of modesty and class. Gray was beginning to realized he liked how conservative she dressed. He felt his hands clench and unclench as he realized he wanted to unwrap her from her garments much like he would a present. Tonight was going to be a difficult one to get through.

Juvia smiled at him as he walked in. The suit he had chosen was understated but impeccable in design. The cut of the jacket and top molded perfectly to the angled planes of his shoulders and chest. But still had the decency to make most wonder what he looked like underneath. In some ways it didn't help that she already knew the answer to that speculative inquiry.

Juvia was pretty sure his stripper tendencies would not come out to play tonight and that she would miss out on viewing the sculpted planes of his muscular chest and abdomen. She shook her head as she realized her mind started to wander off. At least this fantasy was merely a replaying of something she had already seen and not something exceptionally stalker-like and farfetched.

Juvia didn't even notice the flowers until Gray held them out to her. It was like she took in them more as an accessory then a gift. There was a wide variety of different rose shades in the bouquet.

"I wanted to truly treat tonight as the date it is. I didn't like the idea of buying something that would die though." He frowned thoughtfully. He just got an idea to rectify the issue when Juvia interrupted this thoughts.

"So why so many colors?" She had an idea of course but she wanted to hear him express it.

Gray's left hand pulled through the hair at the nape of his neck as he struggled to remember what the florist had said. "I explained to the florist what I wanted to convey with the flowers. I didn't add red because the biggest idea they represent is love. I didn't want to give you false hope but I do want you to realize also it doesn't mean it's not a possibility in the future. I'm going to be more open minded in that regard. The pink represents my admiration for both who you are as a kick ass water mage but also as a beautiful, intelligent woman. The white represents that I am trying to feel worthy of your feelings. I don't think I am there yet. But trying is a big deal. The yellow represents our friendship and a promise of a new beginning. Finally, the peach represents my sincerity from here on out."

Juvia blushed at his thoughtfulness. It truly pushed the dreadful beginning of their date yesterday to the back of her mind. She reached for the flowers but before she could grasp them Gray shook his head.

"I just thought of a way to preserve them. You will no longer see the colors represented but I can cast a special ice spell to keep them if you like."

Juvia considered his offer. "Do you mind if I keep them as they are until after tonight is over? You can always cast the spell later."

"But that means I will have to come in after hours..."

"Is that a problem, Gray?"

"Er, no, but...isn't Erza supposed to be back tonight."

Juvia shook her head. "Not until morning."

Gray blushed as his mind began to conjure visual possibilities of what could all happen here after the dance. He felt need coil his gut as he looked back at Juvia again. "You want to come back here after the dance?"

Juvia blushed as she realized what she had implicated. The thoughts had desire coursing through her own belly but she shook her head. "Not really what I meant of course." She bit her lip in consideration. "But perhaps we can play tonight by ear." For some reason there was a smidgen of nerves in her gut that had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with Gray's reactions to the night's festivities. She wondered if he would be different then yesterday with more of their friends around them to witness. She hoped not but shook it off as she went to the kitchen to retrieve a vase. She arranged the roses carefully before grabbing her lace wrap and draping it over her arms. "We ready then?"

Gray nodded and offered his elbow. Juvia wove her arm through it and they proceeded to walk down the hill to the party below.

Sting's hand kept hovering above Mikayla's lower back. So much skin on display. He groaned with need.

Mikayla eyed him with concern. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, you are too damn tantalizing."

Mikayla's face blushed in response to his words. She licked her dry lips. "In what way?"

Sting growled in her ear as he pulled her close. "In what way? In every way...from the way you just licked your delicate lips to the amount of skin on display from the dip in the back of your dress. If I had a more extensive vocabulary I could probably write some epic poetry about the curve of your spine alone. Gah, this dance is going to be difficult."

Mikayla found she wanted to frown at this. She understood what he meant but part of her was really looking forward to this dance. She had never had the opportunity or reason to dress up like this. She wanted to see what a party like this truly entailed. "Well, I can't promise to make it any less difficult. But, I would like to stay at least until the fireworks before we head out."

Sting wasn't sure what she would want to do after the dance. But his mind was creative enough to give him some visual ideas. "What did you have in mind for after the fireworks display?"

Mikayla blushed. "Honestly, I didn't...I still...I'm still not sure I am ready to go too far. Perhaps we could go down by that pond Linnea had mentioned? Somewhere quiet but not quite solitary enough to encourage other ideas."

Mikayla didn't understand that Sting could create a lot of ideas all on his own without the setting mattering too much. Hell, he could imagine dragging her into the back storeroom of the guild right now. But he wouldn't do that to her. "Are you sure you want to go to the pond in that dress?"

Mikayla giggled as she looked down at the garment in question. "Not used to wearing something like this. I didn't really think that part through. Oh, but I do still have my bag here. I could change before we head out there."

Sting nodded. Although he would definitely miss the sight of her in that dress. The music started to play a slow song so he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor.

Her arms naturally wrapped around his neck. His wrapped around her waist and found the warmth that radiated from the exposed skin of her spine. He felt the need shift down his spine and his body react in kind.

Mikayla noticed but she curved closer to him instead of pulling away. Sting gulped in surprise but salivated at the growing list of ideas he had for the bank of that pond.

Lucy grabbed Natsu's hand when the slow song started. She smiled at Mikayla and Sting, and chuckled lightly at the struggle evident on the white dragon slayer's face.

Natsu followed her gaze. "Yeah, I won't be forgetting that frustration any time soon."

"Frustration?"

Natsu groaned. He hadn't completely explained to Lucy when the need began to take his body. It had actually developed a month or so before her little drunkscapade. Heck the last time they dance together at the party after the dragon shit went down, it may have been brief. But that was the first inkling he had she was possibly his mate. They hadn't danced as close as they are now. It was more a repeat of the traditional waltz she had taught him but he had at one moment stepped forward instead of back. He didn't step on her toes luckily but it brought his hip in contact with hers and his body had reacted unexpectedly. He quickly realigned his body appropriately as she giggled at his mistake.

Natsu didn't realize he had been broadcasting his memories until Lucy's face broke out in a grin and she laughed. My poor clueless dragon.

I am not clueless any more.

Heat seared her face as he planted suggestive visual after suggestive visual in her mind. You don't play fair!

Rory and Laxus danced close. After this dance, right?

Yes, Gramps is gonna take the stage and we will go up to share our news.

Rory took a big breath and nodded. Part of her hoped the song that currently played was long. But of course as she thought that was when the music began to trail off and she watched as the Master Makarov took the stage.

Laxus grabbed her hand and they started to head up the stairs that led to the stage also. They waited on the sidelines as he had began his speech.

"Dearest children and friends, this started as fun and has ripened into something truly amazing. I am seeing some new adventures beginning for many of you. Starting with romance and leading who knows where. But I am thankful to have made part of that journey..."

Laxus groaned as his grandfather petered on and on like the old codger was prone to do. Once he finally said thanks again Laxus stepped forward. "Gramps, don't take off just yet. I have something to say and you will probably want to be up here to hear it." He turned back to the audience before him and choked. "Fairy Tail isn't just a guild. It's a family. It is growing every day with new members. Even more importantly with new children." He smiled over at Lucy and Natsu in indication of who he meant that moment. But then he twined his fingers with Rory's. "I'm not only referring to Natsu and Lucy when I state that." He smiled down at Rory. "We've tried to hide it for a bit because we didn't want to take the wind of Natsu and Lucy's sails. But Rory is pregnant also." The audience roared with congratulations and general happiness.

"I'm going to be a great grandfather?" A tear escaped the old man's left eye and trailed down the aged creases of his face.

Laxus smiled and merely nodded. He was unprepared for the small body of his grandfather throwing himself at his legs in an attempt at a full body hug. But laughed at the sentiment none the less.

Freed grew anxious when the party turned to being about couples and evolved into a congratulations party toward the pregnant pair. Mira fonded over the idea of more babies in the guild and of course her happiness drowned out his concern.

The night drew on and on. He took the dance floor with Mira a few times but because the whole festival had spawned from her matchmaking ideas she was mostly playing hostess.

Freed put his hands in the pockets of his jacket. His left hand curling around the velvet box. He lost himself in thought and was startled when Mira announced the fireworks were about to begin.

Mira noticed Freed's anxiety but didn't say much about it. He was the kind of man he tended to think things through, gauging them before phrasing them aloud to anyone. She loved her pensive man, more then she could even begin to express with words. She wrapped her arm around his waist.

"Let us go somewhere less crowded to watch the fireworks. Perhaps the pool. I would imagine the way they would reflect off the water would be quite compelling."

"Oh, yes let's go there." It was Freed's idea but of course now Mira was dragging him behind her to one of the lounge chairs. "Here sit and I will just sit in your lap."

They arranged themselves accordingly and Mira's head on Freed's chest as they looked up at the sky. Each vibrant display lighting up the sky with intense colors and explosions. Before the finale of large eruptions began Freed pulled out the velvet box and held it in front her face. He opened the lid and hoped her gaze was on the ring at her eye level.

"Freed?"

"Hmm?"

"What's this?"

"What do you want it to be?"

"Are you...? Is this...? Freed be crystal clear with what this ring means right now. I don't want to jump to conclusions."

Freed opened his mouth to respond but of course the finale had just began. He pulled his fingers through her hair as she grew anxious to hear his explanation. Once the fireworks were over she shifted so she could turn to look at him. When Freed said nothing she growled. "I want to know what this ring means, and I want to know now."

Freed gently laughed at her exasperation. He cupped her cheek. "You already know that I am a man of few words. I had hoped the ring would say it all. But," he pulled himself out from behind her. It was a difficult maneuver and took a minute before he righted himself and then dropped to one knee. "Mirajane Strauss, my love for you knows no bounds. We have laughed, cried, made love, and even fought and the memory of each moment I will carry with me forever. But I also want to be sure to make more with you. The next memory I want to make with you is of you walking down the aisle in a beautiful dress, of you looking at me with tears in your eyes, and then your name changing from Mirajane Strauss to Mirajane Justine. Mira, love, will you marry me?"

Tears cascaded down her face and she began hiccuping from the surplus of emotions running through her. "Ye..(hiccup) ye (hiccup)..yes"

"I guess I kind of lied in that proposal. The next memory I wanted should have been that one. Of you saying yes."

Mirajane smiled but groaned only a fraction later when another hiccup shook her body. "Come on love, we will get you some water. Hopefully that will cure those hiccups."

Mirajane nodded. She was holding her breath trying that tactic but groaned again when that failed and she hiccuped once more.