AN: With Fairy Tail ending last week, I've received many asks and requests to write a follow-up on what happened to Gray and Juvia. This is probably not what you guys had in mind, this was something chsabina and I talked about and it was almost crack haha I tried to change it from crack to a bit closer to canon and make it sweet. I hope it is a nice read!
I wrote this assuming Gray and Juvia are in a relationship for a while before Gray left for his job, okay?
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Made For Each Other
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When the Lachryma rang, Gray already knew who it was. He knew it would ring a lot during the quest. He looked around and saw his teammates cheerfully talking around the fire so he got up and walked towards the tree line.
He pushed the answer button and put the Lachryma next to his hear. "You know, I've been gone for less than a day."
"Gray-sama!" He heard his girlfriend's voice and he could picture in his head exactly how she must've been pouting when she heard him. "You said Juvia could call you until you tell her you needed to focus on the job."
"I did say that, but then I thought you would at least wait two days to call." Gray smiled when he heard her huff in frustration.
"Juvia has very limited days to talk to you, she's not going to miss them."
"Of course you won't." Gray rolled his eyes playfully even if she couldn't see him. He looked over his shoulder and saw his friends were still talking so he knew he could speak to Juvia for a few more minutes. "So, what did you do today?"
Juvia sighed. "Gajeel-kun was freaking out about Levy-san's condition again. Juvia swears, he is about the cutest father-to-be but he was reading some of Levy-san's books and apparently he thinks their baby will have every bad disease and syndrome he read about." Gray shook his head – Gajeel and Levy were expecting a child, which surprised the Guild, but not entirely; they had been together for roughly a year and already acted married. "Juvia offered to take him to an S-class mission for a couple of weeks to let him punch some people and unwind."
Gray's heart stopped for a second. "An S-class job? Did Master agree to that?"
"Yes, we spoke to him earlier today. We leave in a couple of days." She hesitated. "It's one of the reasons why Juvia is calling, to let you know."
He passed a hand through his hair, suddenly nervous. "How dangerous is it? Where? How long do you think it's going to take? Is Lily going?"
"It's an S-Class mission, Gray-sama; of course it is dangerous." She told him. "It could take a couple of weeks for us to get it done, Juvia will send you a message if it stretches longer. Gajeel-kun wouldn't want to leave Levy-san for too long."
"I don't like it when you go on missions without me." She didn't say anything for a few moments until he realized why and he wanted to hit himself. "Yes, yes, yes. I know I'm on a 100 year old quest right now without you, but it's different."
"How?"
Gray groaned; he hated when she made him speak about his feelings. He knew he had to, he was trying to change from the guy she met, who was afraid of letting anyone in. He learned to let Juvia in and it had been very rewarding. She loved him, he loved her and even though it could sound dumb to some people, love was worth it.
Man, he became such a sappy guy it was pitiful.
"Look, I'm out here with four other powerful mages. And Happy, he has saved my life a couple of times. You will be all alone with Gajeel."
"Juvia and Gajeel worked together for a long time before we got into Fairy Tail, Gray-sama." Her voice was soft and he could picture her smiling sweetly while holding the phone. "Back in Phantom Lord our jobs were much shadier than this, trust Juvia. We can take care of ourselves."
Gray closed his eyes and took a few breaths. It had been one year since that awful day, since the day he held her body and thought she had died in his arms. It still haunted him, it still gave him nightmares and it still made him panic every time he saw her get hurt, no matter how insignificant the wound was.
Losing her was still a fresh wound and it would take him a long while to overcome.
"Gray-sama." Juvia's voice was full of understanding. "You knew Juvia wouldn't stay put while you aren't here. Juvia can't just take easy jobs, not dangerous ones. This is not Juvia's way and neither is yours, that's why Juvia didn't fight it when you told her you were going to your mission."
He knew what she was telling him was the truth: they were mages, powerful mages who had saved the world, who had seen and done things most people wouldn't dream of. Their life was filled with thrill and emotion.
Staying put, at their early twenties? No way, not them. Not yet, they had too much to do before settling down.
When he had told her he decided to go with the others, Juvia asked many questions about it: who was going? Where was it? What's the history with people who tried to complete it? Could she come? No? Okay, then she would call and text him.
Not once she told him not to go.
To her, that must've been a great sacrifice after Gray vanished 6 months after they started living together a couple of years before.
All she asked was for him to come back.
"I know." He sighed, passing a hand through his hair once more. "I'm sorry. I know how capable you are and Gajeel too, but I get nervous when I can't make sure you are okay."
Juvia chuckled and Gray's lips curled up a bit. "Oh, because Juvia is absolutely loving the fact she's in Magnolia while her Gray-sama is going to Gazania on a mission people haven't been able to complete for a hundred years?"
"Yeah." It was Gray's turn to chuckle. "Guess we are made for each other, huh?" The moment he spoke, he could feel his cheeks get hotter and hotter. "I- I- I- mean… I didn't… it's an expression."
Juvia laughed on the other end in pure joy. "So, Gray-sama thinks we are made for each other? Good! Juvia has known this from day one, it was about time you realized that."
"Oh god." Gray put a hand over his eyes. "I'm never going to hear the end of it, will I?"
"Not a chance." She answered happily.
"Argh, fine." Gray groaned. "Just don't tell anyone else."
"Our secret." Juvia told him.
"It's getting late. Are you home yet?" He asked.
She hesitated. "Uh…"
Gray frowned and after a few moments, he guessed what she was doing. "You are at my apartment, aren't you?"
"No?" Juvia muttered.
"Wearing one of my shirts?" He raised an eyebrow, seeing her clearly in his mind.
"No?"
"Juvia."
"Maybe?" She said. "Juvia really missed you, Gray-sama and since she's going to be away for a few weeks, she wanted to sleep in a place that reminds Juvia of you and what's better than your apartment?"
"Juvia, I gave you the key so you could go there if you needed to." He was clearly amused. "Do you really think I didn't know you sleep over there sometimes while I'm on a mission?"
"You… do?" Juvia asked, clearly surprised.
He laughed. "Please, you actually clean the place and put my clothes in the washing machine. You know how I am with my laundry." Gray shrugged. "I don't mind, we've lived together once, you sleeping over when I'm not there isn't that big of a deal, you already do when I am there anyways."
"Thank you." She whispered.
"I gotta go, Erza, for some reason have some strict bedtime for everyone. She put Natsu and Lucy in far ends, all of us in between."
Juvia laughed. "Sounds like Erza-san. And of course she realized it before Natsu-san did."
"Everyone did." Gray scoffed. "I've known for years."
"We will come back to that when we see each other again." Juvia told him, clearly smiling and Gray shook his head in disbelief. "Be careful. Please, do not get hurt, please. Juvia knows what you think about scars being on the outside, but let's keep it to the minimum. You already have quite a collection."
"I'll try my best." Gray told her. "Call me before you leave with Gajeel, okay? And you be careful too"
"Of course. Good night, Gray-sama. Juvia misses you already."
"Yeah, me too." He managed to say – it was quite an improvement for him. "Good night."
"Love you." She said and hung up, knowing he wouldn't say it back.
Saying the words was troublesome to him, he hadn't said them to her yet. She never asked him to. Juvia knew him better than he knew himself most of the times so she was more than aware of his feelings and how hard it was for him to voice them.
She knew, though. He knew she knew.
Putting the Lachryma away, Gray returned to sit by the fire, the girls were chatting while Natsu ate some of the fire from time to time. The Dragon Slayer looked at Gray when he sat down.
"Awn, your girlfriend is worried you are so weak you'll get hurt." Natsu made up a stupid voice and looked at him, trying to annoy Gray. "Poor baby."
"Shut up." Gray punched Natsu on the upper arm and the pink haired man laughed.
"Hey, this is progress!" The Dragon Slayer said, happy. "You didn't deny she's your girlfriend this time."
Gray snorted. "Baby steps."
They stayed in silence for a moment before Natsu asked: "Gray?" The Ice Mage hummed to let him know he was listening. "You said everyone realized before me. What is it that everyone realized and I didn't?"
Oh, boy.
"You need to stop listening to other people's conversations." Gray groaned – really? Was he the one who would have to explain to Natsu his own relationship?
"Can't help it." Natsu shrugged. "Come on, tell me."
"Oh hell no." Gray shook his head. "We are not having this conversation right now."
"Why not?" Natsu was genuinely confused.
"Because we are about to start a very difficult quest and we can't have anyone distracted." Gray told him and it seemed to confused Natsu even more. The poor guy didn't know what waited for him. "Look, once we're going back home I'll help you figure it out, okay? Don't go asking the girls or they might lose focus and we can't afford that, you know it."
Natsu looked at Gray in suspicion for a moment. "Promise?"
"Yes, I promise." Gray felt as if he was having a conversation with Asuka about giving her sweets if she finished her food – apparently someone at the Guild had tricked her once and she had trust issues.
"Okay." Natsu agreed and Gray nodded, relieved. He only needed to find a way to tell his best friend he didn't realize he loved his precious nakama as more than just a friend.
On the bright side, if he put Natsu and Lucy together, Juvia would be happy – she has lost most of her jealousy towards Lucy a while ago when she realized the blonde was clueless pining for a certain Dragon Slayer. After that Gray had to pull all the stops on Juvia's matchmaking ideas.
Perhaps he should give it a try once the quest was over. It was clear Natsu and Lucy were made for each other and apparently, it was time everyone found their half.
Gray certainly found his.
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AN: Some fluff mixed with some serious stuff and then some humor. HAHA
It has been an honor to write for you guys during all these years. You helped me keep my strength in times I thought I had none left. Coming here and writing virtually saved my sanity and for that I'll always be thankful. I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did.
(Guys, I had to come and edit the chapter to add this because a lot of people are thinking this is my last work: it is not! HAHA Sorry, I was being emotional and I can see why people would think that, but I am not leaving the Gruvia fandom for a long while! Gruvia is still gonna happen. A lot. lol Sorry for the misunderstanding!)
07/27/2017 ~ BonneyQ