internal conflict

by florie14

Gray and Juvia are childhood friends. They eventually fall in love with each other and dream of getting married on day. But one fateful day changes the course of their relationship. Now Gray is no longer interested in Juvia and has a new goal in life to achieve. The story is set in a non magical modern day universe (AU). Nothing is as it seems, deeper and darker secrets are lurking

1. Prologue

(Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.)

Prologue

"HEY, You there" Silver shouted pointing at a man who was setting up streamer lights as a part of decorating the 'Fullbuster Mansion'. "You haven't yet finished it? There's only five minutes left before the clock strikes twelve. HURRY UP!" The man nodded his head and sped up his work. "Honey, I finished the cake" Mika said placing the cake on the table. "How is it?" she asked. "It looks delicious sweetheart. Let's go get Gray" he replied and kissed her on the cheek. Both of them held hands together and walked up the stairs in the grand foyer towards Gray's room. The staircase was lit up with lights and was decorated with flowers. On reaching Gray's room, Silver knocked on the door. When he didn't receive any response he kept knocking for a few minutes. Gray forced his eyes open groggily after hearing the knock and turned to see the clock. It showed 11:59pm. "What's going on at this time in the night?" he thought to himself and went to open the door. He saw both his parents standing in front of his room staring at him. He raised an eyebrow questioningly at them.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY SWEET 16!" they exclaimed together and blasted a party popper. "WOAH!" Gray exclaimed and looked surprised. "Thank you mom and dad. But couldn't you guys have waited until morning, why get yourselves worked up at this time of the night and mom shouldn't you have been in bed by now after taking your tablets. You should take care of your health first mom." Silver hugged his son and said "My son has certainly become more responsible, I can now entrust my company to him without a doubt." "Come on dad! Don't you think it's a little too early? I want to equip myself better with educational qualifications first and then take over from you." "I know son and you will do a far better job than me by then. Come on now, your mother has prepared cake for you." "Mom, I already told you not to exert yourself much, you should concentrate on improving your health." Mika kissed her son on the forehead and said "Doing something for my son on his special day gives me immense joy and I get it only once a year." All three of them had a group hug together and made their way to the grand foyer. Suddenly they stood stunned when they heard the footsteps of a person running towards the main entrance. "Who could be visiting us at this hour?" Gray thought. They heard the doorbell ring and a maid ran towards the door to see who it is. The maid was shocked to see the person at the door from the doorbell cam. "JUVIA!" she exclaimed. When she opened the door Juvia ran towards Gray and hugged him and wished him "HAPPY BIRTHDAY! GRAY SAMA!" Gray was shocked as were his parents. "Juvia! How did you come here at this time of the night? How did Miss Amelia let you go out of the orphanage?" "Gray sama, Juvia pleaded with Miss Amelia to let her go, just to visit Gray sama and wish him on his birthday." "Well thank you Juvia but you could have wished me on the phone. It's what you do every year right? And besides it's dangerous to move around alone at night." Juvia pouted and said "First of all its Gray sama's sixteenth birthday. It's very special and also if Juvia wished you on the phone how could she have given you this present now?" and handed him a gift wrapped box. Gray accepted the gift from Juvia and started to untie the ribbon. Juvia held his hands and said "Can you open this later when you are alone its very special." Gray nodded in obedience. Gray's parents greeted Juvia and hugged her. "Ok then, let's cut the cake!" Silver exclaimed. They all sang happy birthday when Gray cut the cake and fed each other. When this celebration was over Silver said "Let's all get to bed, we have lots of work to do in the morning. Gray have you informed all your friends about the party in the evening?" "Yes dad they are all coming. But don't forget we have to distribute sweets at the 'The Comfort' orphanage in the morning." "How can I forget that son? Every year many plans can change but the orphanage visit never changes." "Yes dad. Over these years I have grown close to the people in that orphanage. They now seem like family to me." Mika elbowed Juvia teasingly and said "And a certain girl from there seems to have stolen your heart Gray!" Gray and Juvia looked at each other and blushed profusely. Gray suddenly looked away and said "Uh, Juvia I think you should stay here for the night, it's dangerous to go out at midnight. You can go back to the orphanage with us tomorrow morning." Juvia nodded in agreement. "Mika, looks like I'm going to get my daughter in law soon" Silver said teasingly. "DAD!" Gray said blushing, "We should get to bed. Juvia you can sleep in the guest room." Juvia's face seemed red. She wished everyone good night and left to the guest room. Gray got back to his room and looked at the present Juvia gave him. He wondered what was in it and began to untie it and then stopped midway and decided to open it in the morning with Juvia by his side. He placed it carefully in the drawer near his bed and went to sleep. "This girl sure knows how to surprise me and that is one of the things I love about her" he thought.

In the morning Gray, Juvia and Silver got ready to go to the orphanage. "Mika, we are leaving." Silver said. "OK! Drive safely. By the time you come back I'll have everything ready for the party" she shouted from the kitchen. When they stepped foot outside the mansion Gray remembered "OH NO! Juvia's gift." But then he decided "I'll open it later. I have the whole day anyway." They sat in a blue 'Bugatti Chiron" car and drove past the mansion garden towards the gate. No sooner the car rolled out the gate than Silver stopped the car. "What happened dad?" gray asked. "Just give me sec. I wanted to ask if your mom took the tablets today morning because I didn't see her taking it. Let me just confirm." Silver replied. Gray nodded. Silver dialed up Mika and asked "Sweet heart did you take your tablets today?" "Oh thank you for reminding me. I forgot to take them" she replied. "Mika, you should be careful with your health first. You know right, how much I love you. I don't want to lose you" Silver said in a low tone. "I know honey and I love you too" she replied. Gray on hearing this conversation thought "someday when I get married to Juvia I would like my marriage to be just like my parents'." Unknowing he was staring at Juvia for a long time while thinking. Juvia looked at him puzzled and asked "Gray sama, is anything wrong?" Gray suddenly broke out from his thoughts, "N-no, n-nothing" he stammered and immediately looked away. Juvia looked at him and thought "He looks really cute while blushing" and smiled.

Suddenly they heard a blast and Mika screamed "AAAAAAAAAH!" When they all turned around to see the source of the noise, to their horror they saw the entire mansion burning in flames. "MIKAAAAAAAAAAA!" "MOOOOOOOOOOOM!" "AUNTYYYYYYYYYYYY!" This day changed the life of Silver, Gray and Juvia upside down. A day they planned to celebrate turned into a day of mourning. Gray Fullbuster was never the same again.