Chapter 1

It took every ounce of magical power from every Fairy Tail member and other wizards fighting against the Spriggan 12 to defeat Zeref. Everyone channeled their magical energy into Natsu and Mavis, and they delivered the final blow. Zeref is not dead per say, but has been put under a powerful seal. A seal that can only be put or removed by people dear to the target.

Once Zeref was put under the seal, everyone cheers and falls on the floor, next moment, due to exhaustion. No one knew how long they had been fighting the enemy. But now that the enemy had been defeated they all realize how weak their bodies had become and people they lost. One person though seemed to have lost consciousness as she fell. Gray holds her before she comes in contact with the floor. "Juvia! JUVIA!"

Gray had asked Juvia to stay out of this since she was already weak from the spell she had used to revive him but she wouldn't listen.

Polyusica comes over to check her. "Tch, why do you all have to be so reckless! You, Fairy Tail kids are so annoying! I hate humans!"

"Polyusica-san, is she alright?" Gray asks hiding his frustration with her.

"Ummm… she's just weak. She should wake up in a couple of days." She leaves them to check on the other wizards scattered around the nearly destroyed Fairy Tail guild hall.

Gray holds Juvia close to him, "I told you to stay put! Why won't you listen to me!" A few tears escape his eyes. He prays to every God he'd heard of for Juvia. He didn't let go off her. He sits down holding her. A weak breath hits his chest and he sighs in relief.

Few hours later

"Gray, take Juvia to the basement. We've turned the prison cells into the infirmary for now." Erza tells him with authority and a hint of sadness.

Gray gets up mechanically, carrying Juvia in his arms. Erza has never seen him like this before. She smiles at his retreating back, "Gray, hang in there." She turns around to push others downstairs to get some rest.

Gray didn't move from her side. He didn't even know when Polyusica had bandaged him. Natsu brings him a change of clothes. Natsu is heavily bandaged as well.

"Natsu… sorry. At that time, I just lost it when Juvia died and defeating Invel was not enough. When he told me, you are END, I just had to kill you. For a moment, I forgot you are my… nakama." Gray cries out.

"Oye! Don't go soft on me. I was trying to do the same thing. I probably would have if Erza hadn't stopped us." Natsu points out.

He snorts, "I would have gotten you not the other way around."

"Do you want to have another go?" Natsu challenges him.

"Some other time. But just so you know, I'm the only one who can defeat you so you better be good."

"As if!" Natsu sighs, "How is she?"

"I don't know. But the old lady said she'll be up in a few days."

Gray changes his clothes in a makeshift changing room at the end of the basement. Natsu and Gray sit in comfortable silence for a short while.

"Well, this silence is too much for me, I'm leaving." Natsu and Gray exchange glances and the fire mage leaves.

Someone or the other visits Juvia throughout the day. Gajeel's eyes moisten when he sees Juvia on the bed, looking frail. Levy takes his hand in hers to comfort him and assures him that Juvia will wake up soon. Lucy and Happy shed tears. Wendy and Carla are too shocked to say anything. Gray thanks Wendy for healing her immediately. Lyon visits her as well. When Lyon hugs Gray, he is surprised when Gray returns it. Erza, Cana, Mirajane or Lisanna usually bring food for Gray.

Polyusica checks on Juvia twice a day. She never answers Gray properly when he asks her about the water mage waking up. With each passing day Gray's anxiety only increases. Just like she was able to bring him back from the dead, he wants to bring her back. Gray ends up shedding tears when he is alone with her. "Wake up, please wake up."

"I'm so incapable of protecting you. I can't do anything for you. You deserve someone way better than me. Please, just wake up and I'll never put you in such a position where you'd have to go to such an extent for me."

On the twenty seventh day, in the afternoon, a small weak voice comes from Juvia's mouth, "um…"

Gray stands up, gets closer to her and cups her cheek.

Tell me what you guys think! Well, I, originally, wanted to write a Navia fic and when I was pondering over possible plots, this particular story came to mind! I said to myself, 'lemme, give it a shot!'

I hope you guys like it!

Enjoy, Neepa... :-)