It's All Fair in Love and Guild Mates

Part 1

Gajeel x Levy, Natsu x Lucy, Gray x Juvia
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fairy Tail story line or any of the characters in it. Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.

It was a relatively calm day in the Fairy Tail guild hall, and Lucy Heartfilia was having a drink with her friend Levy McGarden at the bar. "You totally have a thing for him," said the perky celestial spirit mage.
"I do not!" Levy snapped, sparking the attention of several other guild members sitting at the table closest to the bar. She blushed and then said, a little quieter, "I do not have a thing for Gajeel Redfox."
Lucy raised her eyebrows."Oookay, but just so you know, he's totally staring at you right now."
"Really?" Levy whipped around.
Lucy giggled, "No, not really."
Levy glared at her friend."Lu-chann," she whined. "Don't do that!"
"Oh c'mon Lev, just admit it. You wanted him to be looking."
Levy gasped. "Not until YOU admit that you have a thing for Natsu!"
"SHHH!" Lucy clasped her hand over Levy's mouth. "Someone might hear you!"
"So you do admit it!" Levy danced in excitement, her voice muffled by Lucy's hand.
Lucy crossed her arms and then stated, very matter-o-factly, "If you admit that you have a thing for Gajeel, then maybe I will."
"Fine." Levy sighed, "I like Gajeel."
A sly grin spread across Lucy's face. "Good 'cause he's right behind you." Then she winked, snatched her drink, and slid off the bar stool.
"LU-CHAN!" Levy yelled after her friend, who was skipping off toward Gray and the request board. Damn, she never admitted to liking Natsu, either. "Hmph," she pouted.
"Oh, quit you're whining shrimp," a deep voice rumbled behind her.
Levy's eyes widened in horror. She prayed to Mavis' grave that Gajeel didn't happen to overhear their conversation. "Who you calling shrimp?" She said with a false bravado.
"What was that?" The iron dragon slayer growled.
"Nothing." Levy said, lifting her glass to her lips nonchalantly, though she knew quite well that she was the only one Gajeel would allow to talk to him like that. "What do you want, Gajeel?"
Gajeel raised a studded eyebrow. "What? Can I not have a drink with a friend?"
Levy nearly choked on her beverage. "We- *cough* -are- *cough * cough* -friends?"
"Well we ain't exactly enemies," Gajeel guffawed.
The solid script mage couldn't help but smile a little before going back to her coughing fit. "You okay there, shrimpy?" Gajeel asked with a concerned look when she'd finished hacking her lungs out.
Levy nodded and then cleared her throat, "Hey Mira?"
"Yeah!" Mira called from the other end of the bar.
"Grab us two more drinks, on me."
***
  Lucy watched her friend and the iron dragon slayer at the bar. She'd never seen Levy glow so much during a conversation before, it was so cute she almost squealed.
"Hey, yo Lucy!" Gray snapped her attention away from the bar. "If you keep staring like that, you're gonna light 'em on fire."
Lucy grinned at her friend. "Isn't that Natsu's job?"
"Can't really argue with that." Grey chuckled, "Speaking of the hot head, have you seen him around?"
"Why, looking to pick a fight?" Lucy joked.
"No actually, Erza wants to team up on another job."
Lucy nodded, understanding. If it was Erza's doing, it made sense why Gray would be looking for Natsu for any other reason than to pick a fight.
"Well, I haven't seen him," Lucy shrugged. "I don't know why you would think I'd know where he is, ask Happy."
"I would, except for the fact that the damn fur ball has seemed to have disappeared too." Gray said, scratching at his bare chest.
"Maybe they went on their own job?" Lucy suggested.
Gray crossed his arms. "Nah, he would've taken you with. Or at least mentioned it to you."
"Gray your clothes!" Cana shouted to the suddenly exposed ice Mage.
"Not again!" Gray groaned, looking down at his bare chest and boxers.
"Why do you say that?" Lucy asked, looking away as he slid back into his jeans.
"Well aside from the fact that you two are practically joined at the hip," Gray replied, tugging his shirt over his head. "He usually tells you when he's going on a job. Or takes you with, from what I've noticed."
"Oh," Lucy blushed.
"GRAY-SAMA!"
"Shit," Gray muttered under his breath. "I gotta run, tell me if you hear anything Luce!" Lucy watched him hustle toward the mens restroom.
Suddenly, Juvia materialized next to her. "Gray-sama?" Her eyes darted around the guild hall for any signs of her icy prince. "Why must you be so cruel?"
Lucy took a deep breath, knowing the question wasn't directed toward her. "You know," she offered. "If you start acting less like a stalker and more like a flirt, you're more likely to get his attention."
Juvia rolled her eyes. "Like I'd ever take advice from a blonde-headed bimbo like you."
"Hey, I thought we were friends!" Lucy exclaimed, quite offended.
"Not when it comes to my Gray-sama!" Juvia screeched. "Admit it, you were just giving me advice so I would trust you and you could advance in winning my Gray's heart!"
"Actually, no." Lucy replied. "I was trying to help you. And I've told you before, I have no interest in your. . . Gray. . .sama."
The water mage squinted at Lucy, still not fully convinced. "You've never had a boyfriend, why should I listen to you."
"That doesn't matter, I can still give you flirting tips! Sheesh." Lucy closed her eyes and sighed, "Instead of being so obsessive, why don't you try being a little more forward? Ask him out for coffee or lunch or something."
"You really thing this would work for Juvia-chan?" The water mage said hopefully.
"Of course! Just don't let Lyon catch you." Lucy winked, patting her friend on the shoulder before letting her go back to her manhunt.
***
  "Natsu. . ." Lucy quietly said to herself as she walked along her usual ledge on her route home. He didn't show up the whole day.
As the day went on, Lucy realized Gray was right. It was odd that he left with no word to anyone, not even her. She thought it was weird how right Gray was about Natsu confiding in her, at least about job related thing. Lucy finally got so worked up about his absence that she decided to go home and take a hot bath to try and relax.
"Be careful there, Miss Lucy!" A boater called to her on his way by. "You're bound to fall in one of these days, and I'm gonna say I told you so!"
Lucy waved them off politely, "I'm fine, thanks." But as the words were leaving her mouth, her heel lost grip on the stone and twisted, causing her to lose balance and for her foot to slip off the edge.
"AHH!" Lucy screamed as she tumbled backwards, flailing her arms about. Suddenly, someone swooped by, grabbing a hold of Lucy's wrists and swinging her off the ledge to safety.
"Lucky you're boyfriend was there to save you Lucy! Next time I'm betting money you're gonna fall in!" One of the boaters shouted out to her.
Boyfriend? Lucy thought quizzically, her eyes squeezed shut.
"Is she okay?" Another fisherman called out.
"Scratched up in the legs a bit, but nothing she can't handle!" A familiar voice yelled back to them.
Lucy's eyes flashed open. "Natsu?"
Her dragon slayer friend grinned. "Hey Luce! I was wondering when you were gonna get home."
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"
Natsu chuckled,"Well someone's cranky. I'll explain once we get inside."
"Once we get inside?" Lucy yelled. "Who says I'm letting you in?"
Natsu raised his eyebrows. "Who says I'm not gonna drop you in the river?"
Lucy's eyes widened in terror, realizing he'd scooped her into his arms. "You wouldn't." She was horrified that Natsu would even think about dropping her in after going so far to save her from falling. "This outfit is brand new, Natsu. And there is no way I am going to let you ruin it with river water!"
Natsu smirked. "Will you make me a snack when we get inside?"
Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Will you put me down?"
"Nope." Natsu carried her up the steps of the house in his arms like a small child and kicked in her door.