Natsu POV

"Natsu, what I mean is that I really love you. Sorry it took so long." I was crying harder and hugged him. I didn't know if this was a dream or reality. But I hoped it never ended. I was so glad. My happy tears never ending. While he hugged me back he caressed my hair. "I really love you Natsu." I couldn't make a sound I was so glad. "Aren't you supposed to say something Natsu, it a little embarrassing if I'm the only one confessing." He said. I had to laugh at that a little. "I-I." It wasn't working. "I-I I'm s-s-so gl-glad. " I sobbed in between. He let out a sigh. "I'm all yours Natsu." "I – I love you too, G-gray." I felt he was getting warmer. He let me go to look at me. I didn't want to break that hug it was so precious to me. "I'm not dreaming right?" I said. Gray laughed. "Of course not silly." I wiped my tears away and smiled towards him. He smiled back. "I feel guilty though Gray." He frowned. "Why Natsu?" "You have to break up for me don't you? Or do you love Juvia as well?" He sweat dropped. He had clearly forgotten about that. "I will tell her honestly that I love you, I already warned her about it before I went with this journey." A tear was peaking at my eyes, but I wasn't allowing it to drop. "So it is my fault you will separate." I felt awful. I separated me more from him. "I hate myself." I declared pulling on my hair. "Maybe it was wrong you found me. What I'm doing isn't good. I'm a horrible person." "Stop it." Gray screamed clearly angry. He has all the right to be angry. "Just say it is a joke, Gray. So you can go back to your normal life. So you don't have to deal with my gay problems." He was balding his fists. "Stop it you baka." I wanted to say something again but Gray beat me to it. 

"I love you you idiot. I'm willing to sacrifice my save life as you call it. I would love to. I want to be with you. Why can't those words reach you, you're so stubborn." "I-I just don't want you to say all this so I would come back, I want to know it's not just a dream." I said crying again. "You already hurt me so, Gray. I can't handle a second time." His face was getting sad. He was crying with me. "I'm still sorry I hurt you so I never want to hurt you again, Natsu. Please be with me." I hugged him. "It is reality right? I won't wake up from this right?" "Stop doubting me firebreath, I'm not joking." I was glad, no I was overjoyed. "Gray, why are you separated from the others?" Gray laughed. "sudden change of subject Natsu, I got lost because I ran after you the other day." He sweat dropped. I had to laugh a bit. "I'm sorry, let's find them." I was starting to get up. "Wait, you know where they are?" Gray asked shocked. " Yea kinda do, but not exactly cause this forest make all scent spread around. But I figured it out." Gray jumped and hugged me. "I'm glad you have that super nose." I had to giggle of that comment. "Silly Gray, I'm not a dog or something." We both laughed. Still I couldn't believe it. Gray loves me. We walked towards the rest of the group. 

Actually they weren't that far apart. I stopped. "What's wrong Natsu? Why do you suddenly stop?" "Because after that bush they have set up their camp." "So? Let's go." He grabbed my hand and wanted to walk towards it. I let go of his hand and didn't move. I still stood there like I was frozen. I was anxious. "What's wrong? Don't you want to see them?" "I kinda do, but I don't know how to respond. I'm afraid Erza will hit me or something." "Silly it's okay." I gulped and Gray took my hand again, but this time I walked with him. "Hi everyone wake up." Gray yelled. I still wasn't prepared for this. I was afraid. Slowly the others woke up. "Gray-san is that you?" Wendy said still tired rubbing her eyes. "Who dare to wake me up at this hour?" Erza sounded mad. I hid behind Gray, Erza is still angry. I heard the others waking up but not saying anything. They all one by one came out of their tent. They were glad to see it was Gray. "It's just you Gray, good you found us now go to sleep."Erza said, she wanted to turn around. But before she could Gray yelled. "Look who I found." He swung me around so I was standing in the middle of the group. The eyes of everyone lit. "You found him Gray-san." Wendy said happily. Wendy came towards me and hugged me immediately. I looked to Gajeel he had a smirk on his face and said "Yo." Laxus kinda did the same only he didn't say anything only nodded. I kinda nodded back towards them both. Then I looked towards Erza. She was smiling and walking towards me. I gulped. Wendy let go of me and Erza did her heart crushing bear hug. I couldn't breathe but I had to endure it.

"I'm glad you're alright. Welcome back." She said very calm and quiet at me. She let me go and I saw she was crying. I didn't know how to respond. I didn't expect them to react so calm. "I-I'm sorry to make you all worry." I said. Wendy was crying. "You spoke again Natsu-san. I'm so glad." She said. I rubbed the back of my head. I was glad they all were so friendly. "Gray." Erza said sternly. "Y-Yea m'am." He responded nervous. "Did you apologize towards Natsu?" I looked confused, about what. "About that.." "You didn't right. Apologize right away. You found him, but you don't want him to leave again right. Apologize or he might." I couldn't quite follow their conversation. "Erza, I won't run again. I'm going to go back with all of you to the guild." I saw Wendy smiling happily. Erza had the collar of Gray's shirt. I'm actually surprised he still has that on. "Did he apologize Natsu? Or did he had an answer for you of how he feels?" "I don't know why he should apologize. But he didn't." "So you really didn't." Erza was getting mad. " Erza, I-I told him about my feelings." Gray could stammer. "O, so you did. What did you tell him." He was getting red. I had to hold a laugh at the scene. But I know Erza would hit me if I laughed. "I-I s-said, I-I.." "Erza, he said he loves me." I said and after that I laughed. I couldn't hold it in. "So he did? Finally."

"Wait? So you knew all along Erza?" Gray said surprised. She sighed. "Of course we all did." Gray was getting red again. I was laughing again. "It is good to hear you laugh again, Natsu-san." "Yea, glad I'm back." Erza let go of Gray. Gray who felt on the ground, wasn't looking so happy. But he sighed from relief. I was getting nervous again, when I thought about returning towards the guild. "Let's go back to sleep and we can go back tomorrow to the guild." I gulped and looked towards the floor. "Something wrong Natsu?" Gray asked. Everyone looked at me. " I-I .." The words weren't coming out. Gray stood up and walked towards me. "I-I can't right.." I whispered towards Gray. But the dragonslayers heard as well. "What can't you do Natsu-san?" Wendy asked. I was shocked, I forgot about the dragonslayers hearing. "I-I'm nervous... I don't know if I can go back...." "Why? You said you would go back with us." Wendy asked. Erza looked towards me. "Are you anxious, about the reactions of the guild member, or some in specific?"

 "I.." She was so spot on. "More anxious about some of them." I looked down again. "You shouldn't have to be. I make sure the guild won't bother you so much in the beginning." Erza said. We all sweat dropped, because we all knew what she could do. "I ... I mean J-juvia." Gray looked at me with big eyes. "I-I.." "Stop with that Natsu, you know that is something I have to deal with you don't have to worry about her." Gray said a little mad. The rest of them were shocked and looked towards Gray. Gajeel hit Gray on his back. "Way to go." He said. "SO you are really in love with Natsu-san, Gray-san?" Wendy said squealing. I looked towards Wendy confused. "Wait... Wendy, did you mean he had to say that as plan? So I would come back?" I stumbled back. "You... you all lied right? It was a dream after all." I was panicking. I was pulling at my hair and tears were falling again. Wendy looked towards the ground. It was all a plan after all. They betrayed me. It was all a lie so they would find me. So I would come back. "I-I trusted you... G-gray." "No, it isn't like that Natsu." Gray ran towards me trying to get a hold of me. "Get away from me. You're lying you bastard." "Natsu-san I didn't mean it like that. I was amazed that he confessed that's all." Wendy said. "I really love you, Natsu." Gray said with a blush on his face. 

I looked to all of them. I didn't know what was the truth anymore. I was confused. I was still walking slowly backwards. I couldn't believe anything. "It's no joke Salamander." Gajeel said. Are they all in on the conspiracy. Erza came walking towards me and slapped me in the face. "Stop this Natsu." I was holding the place on my face that was hit. All of them looked with worried eyes towards me. "Gray really loves you, we never planned anything like that. I made him promise me to make a well considered decision, before he faces you. So that he would choose wisely. Even if he did love Juvia still after all this, I wanted that he would say that towards you. As long as he was honestly. We would never deceive you." I looked towards the floor, feeling guilty that I would doubt them. "I'm sorry for doubting you all. Let's go to sleep." I said. Still anxious about the whole situation. 

Gray talked for a moment with the others and got his equipment back. He was getting his tent ready. I walked towards the fireplace and lit it a bit. Not too much. I sat by the fire, and was staring at it intensely. It was a long day I wanted to clear my thoughts. Gray came walking towards me. "You can sleep in my tent if you want." He was blushing. "I won't touch you or anything." I looked at him. "Thanks for the offer, but I want to stay here a bit longer. Besides I slept for a while outside, I don't mind it." He was clearly disappointed. "O, okay. If you want to the offer is still available." He waved at me before entering his tent. I waved back. I didn't feel good to lovey-dovey things with him yet. I mean he still has a relation with Juvia. I know he wants to end it but it doesn't feel good to me. I stayed longer outside than I intended. But the sun was already rising so I didn't bother to go inside his tent anymore. I wasn't ready yet.

Gray POV
I was glad I found him and made him come back. I was still shocked how his mood swings still hold on. I mean he was so glad I love him, and minute later he believes we are deceiving him to come back. It did sound like a plan was made up. But I really love him. I couldn't fake that. I would feel guilty as well. Glad Erza spoke so directly towards him. He still is quite depressive I guess. Can't blame the guy. I mean I did hurt him, I broke his heart. Then I find him and say I love him. I would be shocked as well if I was in his situation. It really sounds surreal if I look at it his way. But why wouldn't he want to sleep here with me. I mean I'm going to break up with Juvia. Not that I look forward to it. He looked quite in thought when he looked towards that fire. After that I fell asleep. Next morning I woke pretty early. I looked besides me, but the bed I made for Natsu was empty. Actually it looked like it wasn't used at all. Is he still not trusting me. He didn't sleep next to me that's for sure. I walk outside the tent after dressing. Not that the outfit will stay put. There he was still watching the flame. He turned around when he heard me.

"Good morning Gray." He said smiling, but not the smile I used to see. It was a little forced. "Good morning Natsu. Have you slept outside?" I asked. He gulped. "Yea, I was longer here then I thought. Before I knew it it was morning." He scratched the back of his head. "You're not lying right?" I said. "W-What? About what?" "It is not like you didn't want to sleep with me or something like that right? You really forgot the time?" I asked a little skeptical. "I-I don't find it fair to sleep besides you when you belong to someone else. But I actually forgot the time. Because when I wanted to go inside the sun was already rising. So I didn't." He looked towards me, was it guilt I saw in his eyes. "Okay, that's true, it isn't fair towards her. But it is not like you don't trust me right?" "Should I not trust you Gray? Because I trust you." He looked towards me with a look on his eyes I couldn't understand. A little like the emotionless one I met a few days ago. "If you trust me it is okay. I want you to trust me." He stood up. "Don't dwell on it so much Gray." He walked past me.

"Where are you going?" "I'm taking a bath in the lake. Be right back." Okay. I wanted to join him but he probably wouldn't want to. So I made some breakfast on the fire Natsu still had lit on the fireplace. The others woke up one after another. Erza as last. When Erza came out of her tent. Natsu slowly came back. He looked damn hot. Shirt in his hand because he was clearly warm. His hair still wet, I saw some droplets in it. He came towards me and looked at what I was making. "What's for breakfast Gray?" He asked. "Just some eggs." I said trying to look away of this hot man. Because I had clearly a blush on my face. I didn't want him to see it. We ate around the campfire. Natsu wasn't who he used to be but was enjoying it. After that we cleaned the place and went towards the guild. Natsu was getting anxious about it.