On their way back to the guild, team Natsu and Gajeel along with his exceed partner Lily took a break near the waterfalls to relax themselves from the tiresome mission.

"Hey Salamander, Stripper,  are you coming or not?"

Gajeel growled at them for their slow response.

"Will you just wait a sec!! Let me grab my towel. Come Happy, let's go."  "Aye sir"

Natsu happily ran up to his fellow dragon slayer.

"Stupids, its just a few meters away from here. These idiots are so impatient."

Gray hissed and took his towel from the bag.

"Are you guys sure that you will stay here till we return? If that's the case then keep a watch on our bags. I'm going.."

Gray left the girls who insisted they were fine this way.

"Okay Gray, take your time. We will wait here."

Erza waved him bye.

As soon as Gray's head disappeared from the sight, a small gift packet fell from his bag.

Wendy picked it up as she was the one near his bag,

"It looks like a gift. What could it be?"

Now the girls were curious what could their nonchalant friend possibly get as a gift.

"Don't tell me, he got that from his reward money when we were at the souvenir shop."

Erza now took the packet from the little girl's hand.

"But it looks small and light weight. I wonder for whom did he get?"

Lucy asked and examined the gift on her Erza's hand.

"Is it obvious he must have got it for Juvia? Who else he will get a gift?" Erza said and smiled.

"But doesn't Gray-san always says he doesn't like her. Even though, they have become quiet close but still he denies everytime whenever someone brings that topic up."

Wendy told her confusion to the big girls.

"He is just embarrassed about his feelings for her. As you said Wendy, the atmosphere between them as changed ever since they lived together. It's about time he will answer her feelings.

  That idiot thinks he is hiding this fact but he is the one actually show casing it at times.
So do you want to see what this gift packet may actually contain?"

Erza asked them clearly out of curiosity.

"No Erza, we mustn't invade his privacy or anyone's. He will get angry on us."

Lucy stopped Erza from opening the packet.

Just then boys arrived from their bath and Gray began to fidget when he saw the gift packet on Lucy's hands.

"Boys, that was quick. We thought you will take some more time. Hahaha…"

Lucy laughed and quickly hid her hands behind the back so that Gray doesn't see it.

"Lucy, what are you hiding behind your back?" Natsu came behind her and took the gift in his hand and examined it.

"It belongs to this Ice-princess, doesn't it? Huh!!!" Natsu shot a glance at the Gray who was one slowly turning red.

Now everyone's eyes were on him even Gajeel grew curious.
Gray couldn't form a coherent words and began to stutter, "Eh!!Wh..what ar..are you sa..saying?"

"Idiot, speak properly. Why are you stammering? Isn't this yours?"
Natsu brought the packet in front of Gray's eyes.

Before Gray could grab that from his hand, Natsu took it away from this eye contact. "Now tell us, what it is?" Erza joined with Natsu smirking.

To avoid embarrassment in front of them or else he won't leave a day without them teasing about this, he lied.

"Well, I saw this thing down on the street near the souvenir shop and thought of returning to the official once we cross this forest. That's it...Now give back."

Gray extended his hand. Both Natsu and Erza were smirking.

"Is it are you telling us the truth?" Natsu asked him for which Gray nodded as he had no other way to escape. He thought now they will return this back.

But Natsu burned the gift cover and a beautiful butterfly shaped silver hair clip which had few emerald stones carved in it fell on Natsu's palm.

"Wow that's a nice hair clip and it does look kinda expensive. Who could be such an idiot to carelessly leave behind the gift?" Lucy scolded and look a good look at the hair clip.

Gajeel's eye widened slightly as he saw the hairclip on Lucy's palm. He then shot a glare at Gray but didn't say anything to him.

"So you found it on the street near the souvenir shop. Then why didn't you return to those councilmen who were patrolling at that time?"

Lucy shot Gray another logical question which made Gray to sweat.

'Man, need to think of a real quick excuse.' Gray thought to himself.

"Well, that thought didn't strick my mind. You are right,Lucy. Now give it to me, I will return it back." Again he extended his hand forward.

This time Gajeel smirked, he knew Gray was lying to them. So to make him blurt out the truth,

"Hey bunny-girl, this thing randomly fell from someone's pocket as this packet contains numerous human scent on it.
 
It must have a fell somewhere and people might have kicked and it finally reached the place where this Stripper found.

So why don't you girls keep this with you? I'm sure this Stripper doesn't wear such things on his hairs...Gihehehe…" Gajeel winked at her.

This made everyone understand his plan so they played along with him.

"Gajeel, you are right. Hey Gray, it's a lost and found thing right. Can I keep it with me? If you don't have any problem? Please." Lucy showed her twinkling eyes.

Gray was now in fix, he can't say that gift was his as they will find the truth and tease him which he didn't want to undergo as his pride is on stake here.

'I'm sorry, Juvia. I will get you something nice after coming back to guild. I couldn't surprise you.. Please forgive.' Gray thought to himself.

"Fine, do what suits yourself. Come let's go…" Gray said in his grumpy state which made everyone realise that this clip was indeed his but he is not letting go of his pride.

All along the way Gray was so much grumpy and remained silent throughout their train journey. Lucy felt bad for him and decided to return the clip to him.

"Hey bunny girl, what are you thinking so much?" Gajeel asked her even though he was not feeling okay due to motion sickness and its aftermath.

"Oh about that, Gray looks totally not okay. He is being like that since we took the clip from him. So thinking of returning that to him?" Lucy told him.

Gray was walking way behind everyone lost in his own thoughts. Both Gajeel and Lucy took a glance at him.

"You know that clip he brought it for Juvia. Actually for few months now, she has been trying to get one for herself but everytime she goes to the shop, the stock gets over.
   
So just give him back and say him to return it to the official at least by that way, he will think we are not obvious about his feelings for Juvia."

Gajeel told her and went to join Wendy in the front. Lucy smiled and felt happy for Juvia as Gray was slowly taking some initiative from his part.

As Gray was following his foot steps, Lucy stopped him in the front. She handed him the hairclip in the another gift packet.

"Gray, I don't want this clip. Its looks like someone brought it for their loved ones and they must be searching for that thing. It's better you return this to the rightful owner."

Lucy smiled and for the first time in a long time, Gray felt happy and relieved. But he didn't agree in one go.

"No Lucy, we don't know the owner of this clip. Its better to keep it with you, what will I do with this?"

Gray scratched his head hoping she believed his words.

Lucy smiled gently and leaned forward to whisper in his ear,

"Gray, quit acting. We know who is the present and future owner of this clip. So you better take this and make the rightful owner happy."

Lucy smiled back and patted his shoulder,
"Gray, listen one thing, you mustn't keep a girl waiting this long. Hope you understand what I'm saying to you. Go for the grabs, lover boy."

Gray blushed furiously and yelled at her due to embarrassment, "Shut up, will ya? I know and you idiots, stop grinning like a crazy man." He shouted at his other friends.

They all were happy that Gray was slowing opening up to Juvia which she deserved from his part.

As they reached the guild, Mira greeted them and got their usual drinks. Both Erza and Gajeel went to report their mission details to Master.

Gray looked around the guild to find his blunette but couldn't find her.

Just then, Levy came out from the storeroom and hugged her bestfriend and searched for her iron dragonslayer boyfriend.

"Lu-chan, welcome back. When did you guys come? Where is Gajeel?" She asked her with pink shades on her cheeks.

Lucy smiled brightly, "We came just now. So what were you doing in the storeroom? Gajeel is up there in master's office with Erza."

"I and Juvia were cleaning the storeroom. I came back to get water for us as we were thirsty. So wait, there is still few places to be cleaned." Levy said and went upto Mira.

Gray took this as the perfect opportunity to meet his Juvia and give her the small gift.

He made way to the storeroom, there he saw her moping the floor with her magic.

"Juvia……"

Gray called her out as soon as she heard her name, she recognized the voice and instantly knew her Gray-sama was calling her out

"Gray-sama...Welcome back… Sorry Juvia, couldn't greet you earlier."

She came nearer to him as he closed the gap between them.

"It's okay, you were busy in here."

Gray was so close to her as there was just a mere few centimeters gap between them which neither of them minded.

Gray slowly tugged the loose strands behind her ears which made Juvia to blush.

She really appreciates this side of him which only she gets to see when both of them are alone.

Juvia was very much happy with the way things were going in between them and didn't want to change anything hope for something better.

Gray knew he needs to answer her as even he has being running away from his feelings like a coward but he waited for a perfect time and moment.

Juvia hugged him, "Gray-sama, Juvia missed you."

And layed her head on his chest to hear his heartbeat.

Gray gently hugged her by snaking his arms around her waist and pulling her closer towards him.

And whispered in her ears, "Even Gray missed Juvia." Juvia smiled and was happy to hear that.

Then after sometime, they broke the hug and Gray got the gift packet from his back pocket and handed to Juvia.

"Gray-sama, what's this?

"Open in it. Hope you love it."

"Juvia will love anything Gray-sama gives her."

She smiled and opened the packet in her hand.

She looked surprised to see the hairclip which she has been longing to buy for a long time now. She looked into his eyes.

"Gray-sama, how did you know Juvia wants this?"

Gray was glad, she liked it. He smiled, "Of course, I will know what my important person longs for just like how you know what I want everytime."

"Ohh thank you, Gray-sama. Juvia will treasure this for the rest of her life. Wait let me try this!!"

As Juvia opened to put the clip, Gray grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Wait let me do the honour of putting it in your beautiful hairs, Juvia."

Gray said with a blush and Juvia also blushed and agreed.

Gray turned her back and pulled her hairs from both side into a single bunch and clasped the clip.

"Juvia, this is the only way I knew to put. So sorry about that but even still you look beautiful." He hugged from behind.

"Its okay, Gray-sama. Juvia loves it. But if you are willing, Juvia will teach you all the methods of putting this clip."

She turned face him and tugged her arms around his neck after tiptoeing.

"Sure I would love to learn it and try to put it on you everyday, Juvia.."

Gray smiled and sealed a chaste kiss on her lips which she turned back.