When the Snow Falls (Gratsu)

Chapter 8- Dreaming

Natsu's POV

I can't believe it. I was half expecting him to push me off when I jumped him, but instead he did what my heart had wanted so badly. He kissed me. He kissed me. He kissed me. He kissed me.

That night, after he had gone back to his house, I laid in my bed. I couldn't stop smiling. I shoved a pillow over my face and squealed. He kissed me. Me! He actually kissed me. I couldn't stop thinking about it. He kissed me and then he told me he liked me. He likes me! A soft knock sounded at my door.

"Come in!" I said to whoever it was, still unable to wipe the grin off my face. Lucy's face popped into view, which didn't surprise me. What did surprise me was when two other faces joined her. I recognized them as Lucy's closest maid friends, Juvia and Erza. I sat up in my bed.

"Is something the matter ladies?" I asked them. If they were all in here then something must be wrong. They looked at each other for a long moment. "Come on, just say it."

"We saw you and Gray earlier!" Juvia blurted. Lucy blushed and averted her eyes and Erza shot Juvia a death glare. I was confused.

"Wait... when we... oh." It dawned on me that they probably came to check on us in the evening and saw us making out. Whoops. Lucy took a deep breath.

"We are totally supportive and we don't want to stop you from doing what you want to do but we just want you to be careful and not to get hurt or hurt Gray on accident, sir. Feelings are very delicate things and we don't want anything bad to happen between you two. He needs this job and-" I held up a hand.

"What do you mean, he needs this job?" The three girls looked at each other.

"Well," Erza started. "You know we do background checks on everyone who steps foot past the gate." I nodded. "So as we were hiring him, we looked into his past. He...his dad...once his mother died...his dad stopped being able to hold a steady job. He became a bit of a drunk. Gray has been working multiple part-time jobs since he was 13 to be able to provide for his family."

"What about...like...school?" I didn't go to school so I had forgotten that most people my age would be at school during the day and Gray has been spending all day with me recently.

"He graduated early. About two years ago. He's actually quite intelligent. I would be surprised that he didn't apply to college and use scholarships to continue his education, but..."

"But what?"

"His sister. I assume he's been stuck in a bunch of dead-end jobs instead of making a life for himself because he can't leave her behind with their drunken mess of a father." He never mentioned a sister.

"How old is she?"

"12, sir. Their mother died giving birth to her." That information made my heart plummet. Imagine growing up knowing your mother is dead because of your sister... Even worse, imagine growing up knowing your mother died because of you. 

"I can't even imagine..." I thought about Gray, a few years younger, working from the time he got out of school until late at night, bringing home minimum wage to support a drunk father and a young sister. I felt so privileged and I hated to feel that way. I had anything I could ever ask for. I grew up not needing to worry about anything, but Gray grew up worrying about whether he could pay for both the mortgage and the groceries each month. I'm sure my face betrayed my thoughts because Lucy started speaking.

"Sir, don't think like that. Your family might have lots of money but you didn't have everything. Your parents are almost never around and you haven't had the opportunity to make any friends until now. Your parents have isolated you from the time you were young. And just think, now that Gray is employed here, he won't be stressing near as much because your parents pay him much better than he was getting paid before. And your family employs so many people. We wouldn't be able to survive if it wasn't for your family giving us jobs here." She smiled at me and put her hand on mine. I smiled weakly back at her. I knew she was trying to make me feel better, so I tried to let it go.

"Thank you, Lucy. I appreciate that. But it's getting late, so I probably shouldn't keep you three any longer," I smiled at them. "And thank you for saying you support Gray and I." The girls looked at each other. Erza and Lucy looked at Juvia with expectant eyes. I raised my eyebrows at them.

"Um..." Juvia's face went scarlet. "We just wanted to...um...make sure you were safe...and protected...so next time you and Gray...uh..." She cleared her throat. "Next time you and Gray...do stuff...we just got you these." She threw a box at me and all three girls scurried out of the room, closing and locking the door behind them. I was confused at what she meant until I looked at the box.

Did they really get me a box of condoms?

Gray's POV

That night I sat on my bed holding an orchid that Natsu had given me right before I left his house, thinking about everything that happened during the day. I smiled to myself when I remembered Natsu's words... I think I like you... I know I like you. He continued to surprise me every time I looked at him. First with the beautiful glass wall, then the tickle fight, being scared of zombies, the kiss... and the orchids.

I gently rubbed my fingers against one of the flower petals.

Mom...

I miss you.

I miss you a lot.

I...

I think you would have loved him.

He's so bright and full of love and laughter and sunshine... He reminds me of you.

A teardrop fell onto the petal I was holding.

I think you would've loved having two sons.

And...

I think he would have loved you, too.

As the last few tears rolled down my cheeks, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I promise that I'll take care of Dad.

Even if he doesn't want to be taken care of.

I know you would want me to try.

I love you, Mom.

So much.

I set the orchid on my bedside table and laid down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling until I fell asleep, dreaming of a meadow of orchids, sunshine, and a certain salmon-haired boy holding me in his arms.