"Stupid Hallmark holiday," Natsu grumbled as he sat at the restaurant's bar.

"The absolute worst," the brown-haired woman who was sitting on the stool next to him agreed.

"Why do I do this to myself? I swear I thought this year was going to be different," Natsu continued complaining, laying his head down on the bar.

"Do you have a blind date or something?" The woman asked with interest.

"A blind date?" Natsu scoffed, sitting back up so he could continue the conversation, "Not at all, I just thought I had met the right one this time. Fun to be with, accepted me the way I am even though we bicker all the time, great in bed."

"Did she stand you up?"

"She?! No!" Natsu waved his hands in denial, "You got me all wrong, Lady."

The woman began to laugh, "Well, that's the first time anyone has called me a lady that's for sure. The name's Cana," she held out her hand, and Natsu shook it.

"I'm Natsu."

"Well, Natsu, I feel your pain, so why don't you join my friend and me here, and we'll have us a nice drink."

"Your friend?" Natsu looked around in confusion, as far as he could see the two of them were the only ones in the bar area unless you counted the colossal bear he had brought along.

"Yeah," Cana grinned, lifting her tumbler at the bartender who immediately placed an identical drink in front of Natsu. She pointed at her tumbler, "Meet my friend, Jack Daniels. He's been my Valentine's Date for the last five years, hasn't let me down yet."

Natsu rolled his eyes at her but found her smile was infectious, "Maybe I should have made a date with Jack instead."

Cana looked over at the ginormous bear, which was also holding flowers and chocolates tied to its arms with red ribbon. "So, uh, you kinda went all out, huh?"

"I thought he was the one, I wanted to give him the best of everything" Natsu sighed dramatically, wrinkling his nose as he took a sip of his whiskey. "This stuff is strong."

"It goes down smoother if you drink it all at once," Cana demonstrated, slamming the tumbler down on the bar. She was about to ask for another when she heard a loud choking noise and turned, trying to contain her laughter as she watched the results of Natsu trying to imitate her. She whacked him on the back in an attempt to help.

"You really are a lightweight, aren't you?" Cana asked with concern when the coughing didn't stop.

Natsu only nodded, trying to get his breathing back under control before Cana decided to whack him again. Fucking Valentine's Day, it truly was the worst day of the goddamned year. He was so tired of the constant disappointment and heartache just for some candy and a card.

Cana stared in disbelief when Natsu ordered them each another one, "Are you sure you should be doing that?"

Natsu downed the second drink as quickly as Cana herself, and she couldn't help but be amused by the new friend she seemed to have made.

"I can't believe he stood me up after everything we meant to each other," Natsu roared all of a sudden as the alcohol in his veins ignited his indignation, "Well fine if that's the way he wants it— I'm done. Do you hear that Valentine's Day?" Natsu shook his fist at the bear, "I am through with you!"

"For fuck's sake, Natsu, stop being such a drama queen, I was only ten minutes late." Natsu startled as he heard the unmistakable voice of his boyfriend behind him, "Didn't they give you my message when you asked for our table?"

"Ask?"

Gray facepalmed, "Yes, you were supposed to ask for our reservation, moron."

"Oh," Natsu grinned sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck with this hand, "I didn't see you and when you didn't show I thought—"

"Yes, I know what you thought," Gray replied dryly, "Now, are you done breaking up with the bear, or should I wait?"

"Oh! I got that for you!" Natsu beamed if a bit tipsily as he handed the ginormous stuffed animal to his lover.

Gray looked at his gift, which was as absurd as he'd expected. It was a good thing he was so in love with him because, honestly, Natsu was an idiot, But, Gray thought with a smile, he was his idiot.

They waved to Cana before heading to their table, and Gray checked his pocket with his one free hand for the small velvet box he was hiding there. If things went the way he hoped at dinner, Natsu would continue to be his idiot for the rest of their lives.

Gray couldn't wait!