Standard Disclaimer Applied to All Chapters after this one.

Twelfth Star to Midnight

Lucy sighed as she stared out at the downpour.

She shivered as she felt the chill slowly creep up on her. It's been the same for the past two weeks… I wonder if it means something…

She jumped as she heard Gray stand up abruptly from his seat. "I'm going home guys." He announced as he scratched the back of his head. "It's no fun now that Natsu's not here to bug."

Lucy smiled a little. It was true; everyone knew how Natsu hated rainy days. So he usually spent the day at home sleeping with Happy. He hadn't left his house for the past two weeks.

Lucy sighed as she realized she had to go too. Due to the fact that Natsu utterly refused to leave the house, she had been his supply for groceries. She usually dropped off some readymade chicken from the deli and ramen for him. At least the ramen, he could cook properly, especially since he'd gotten sick.

What would he do without me? Honestly? She groaned.

"I'll leave too. I don't really want the rain to get any harder than it already is." She told her friends.

"You want me to walk you home?" Gray asked her.

She smiled at him, "Its fine. We're in different areas anyway. I don't want you to have to walk two routes home longer than usual."

"It might not be safe though Lucy." Erza pointed out as she leaned back on her chair.

"I'm sure it will be fine. No one in their right mind would willingly try to go out in this rain anyway."

"I guess… but be careful nonetheless, understood?" Erza relented with a sharp glare.

"…right…" Lucy nodded.

"Alright then. Don't get sick you two." She told them as she walked away towards the bar.

"Okay. See you Erza!" Lucy called out happily to her retreating back.

"Come on Luce." Gray nodded at her as he put on his jacket.

"Right!" Lucy grinned as she grabbed her own jacket and clear umbrella.

They stopped before the entrance. "Don't you have an umbrella Gray?" Lucy asked him worriedly.

"Me? Nah, I don't need it." He grinned at her.

"But you'll get wet."

"It's fine. It's not that cold you know. At least, for me it isn't."

"Still…"

Gray starred at her. "Ugh, fine, I get it." He clasped his hands together. "Ice make: Umbrella."

A crystal sculpture materialized in his once empty hands. He raised it over his head.

"Better?"

Lucy smiled. "Much."

Gray sighed. "Alright then. See you." He waved at her as he left.

"Bye bye." Lucy waved back.

She turned around as Gray started to blur in the surrounding fog. To the deli then.

Lucy pouted as she walked outside Natsu's house. "Great, the rain got harder…"

Indeed, the rain felt as though a waterfall was coursing down Magnolia.

"You ca' day here fo' the rai' do stob Luce." Lucy looked back at the fire mage. He sniffled as he rubbed his red nose.

"Nah. I'll be fine once I get home." She told him.

"If you're sure…"

"I am. Get better, okay? Take your medicine." Lucy hugged him before she left.

"Alride. Be ca'eful, Luce."

"See ya." She told him cheerfully before running off into the rain, umbrella shielding her from the heavy rain drops.

She stopped running after she'd turned the third corner. She grumbled as she tried to fix the umbrella. The wind had been trying to reverse it for the past few minutes.

She quieted her grumbling as she heard sniffles from the alleyway she was leaning against.

"What the…?" She approached the sound warily, unable to see much through the heavy fog.

"Eep!" She squealed as she tripped over something. "Ouch…" She groaned as she held her head. She stopped her moaning as she realized it was suddenly quiet outside of the sound of the pouring rain.

She looked over at what had tripped her; only to see a mud soaked yellow pant leg. She followed the pants up to a black vest and finally, a raven head and… crimson red eyes.

She was shocked, as was he apparently by his eyes that were opened wide.

Lucy muttered in a voice that was drowned out by the pouring rain.

"You are… Oracion Seis… Midnight…"

Ah Lucy, what have you gotten yourself into now?

Here we go. I hope this one works out well and you all like it despite the pairing. In truth, I find Midnight to be cute. :))

Then again, I think all the guys in Fairytail are cute *sweatdrops*

Please review. :)