Hey guys, I've been thinking lately that, in episode 196: Sin and Sacrifice, what if Gray didn't get to Juvia in time? What if Juvia was the one who died and not Gray? Well, after a moment of thinking about it, this idea came in my head. Blue Star (Guest) requested me to do a Gruvia story so here you go! I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

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Death may lead to Love

Requested by Blue Star

"Juvia…Juvia, I want to tell you something," Gray wasn't in the mood to tell Juvia anything. He was in pain and very tired. She and Meldy were nearly hit by one of those little dragons until he pushed them out of the way. Lyon had just froze it and scolded them to be more careful.

Gray knew that he had accidently touched Juvia's butt, but it wasn't a big deal. Of course, she took it as a big deal which is why we were at this moment.

Juvia hopped up immediately, still blushing, and a smile broke across her face. "W-w-what is it?"

Gray could easily see her excitement behind her scratches and bandages. "Oh, it's not important…" His voice trailed off.

Her smile grew larger, "It may be important to me!"

Meldy, who was listening in, smiled against her hand and muttered behind Gray, "I can already tell this involves a huge misunderstanding."

Gray blinked at Juvia. After all this time, she still has a crazy crush on him. No matter how many times he tells her off. She just won't listen.

A bright blush grew on Juvia's face as she covered her mouth from shock. Gray sighed; he knew what she was thinking. It was obvious.

"Juvia!" Lyon shouted toward us; his eyes were panicked.

Juvia gasped and turned around. A little dragon was aiming straight for her. Gray's eyes widened as the blast drew nearer to her. He reached out to her, kicking the ground for a running start…

But it was too late…

The blast went right threw her heart. At first, Gray thought that she would be okay because her body was made entirely of water and she wouldn't even feel it, but the look of pain was flickering in her eyes. A few more little dragons popped up behind the one that shot her and she was hit six more times, but this time, it didn't just hit her heart, but all over her body. The pain was deep in her eyes now. Gray opened his mouth to call her name, but nothing came out. She was barely on her feet. The last blast came, and it hit her right in the head…

Gray caught her before she hit the ground, but even he could see it was too late. She was covered in blood and her eyes held no sign of life.

Never in his life, would he think it would hurt him this much to see her die. Sure, she was annoying and a stalker, but he cared for her as a friend. He was hurt like everyone else when they thought Lisanna died. He was also hurt when Ur died…but this was different. It hurt…a lot.

"JUVIA!"

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Gray shot up straight, sweating. It's been two weeks since the Eclipse Project and every once in a while, Gray would still get nightmares about Juvia dying, but he's glad he wasn't the only one.

Natsu was still shaken by Future Lucy's death. Gray has noticed that he's been taking extra precautions lately: following her around town, breaking into her house more often, and he even turned down a fight one time because he didn't want to accidently hit her with fire. Gray didn't blame him. He's the only one who knows that Natsu has a thing for Lucy. Natsu just didn't want the same thing to happen again.

Gray had his own problems though. Whenever Juvia was swooning over him from behind a pillar, scenes from her death two weeks ago would flash through his head.

Sighing, Gray hopped up and walked to the guild hall. Everything has seemed to go back to normal (except for Natsu), Mira and Kinana were being barmaids, Evergreen and Elfman were "flirting", Bisca and Alzack were taking care of Asuka, Happy was trying to impress Carla, and of course a certain water mage watching an ice mage from behind a pillar.

Gray didn't want to admit what he was feeling to himself. Juvia was a stalker and a weirdo, but it was nice to have some company once in a while, even if it was her.

"Are you okay, Gray?"

Gray looked up at the red haired girl in armor. She wasn't really someone Gray would talk to about this, she was usually someone he'd run from, but lately he's been telling her about the nightmares. He let out a "hmph" as a reply.

Erza sighed and sat down next to him. "You know you can talk to her. It'll probably make you feel better."

Gray let out another huff as a reply. "No way, you know what she'll think. She'll think I'm in love with her or something."

"Maybe you are."

Gray blinked twice then stared at Erza. He was shocked that she would say something like that to him.

"Do you remember what I said before the Grand Magic Games, that you should give Juvia an answer?"

Gray blinked again, but nodded.

"I think now would be a great time for that, even if your answer is no," and with that, Erza hopped up to order a slice of strawberry cake from Mira.

For the fourth time, Gray blinked. After a few silent moments, Gray sighed and turned to Juvia. She gasped and hid behind the pillar.

Gray couldn't hide his feelings for her from himself anymore. He realized that he was frightened and embarrassed that if someone found out that he loved someone crazy like her, then they'd make fun of him, but it looks like Erza knew, and she didn't say anything.

Sighing for the last time, Gray hopped up from his seat and walked to Juvia behind the pillar. "Juvia, can I talk to you?"

Juvia's face became red and she covered it with her hands. "Y-yes? What is it?"

"Alone?"

"O-of course."

Gray and Juvia left the guild hall with Erza watching them. They arrived at Southgate Park where they finally stopped.

"Hey Juvia, do you remember when you died?"

"Yeah, what about it, my love?"

"I've been having nightmares about it."

Juvia blinked. "You've been having nightmares about that? I'm so sorry, my beloved." She set a hand on his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me so I could comfort you?"

Gray didn't expect her reaction. He expected her to swoon and freak out when he said that he dreams of her. "I guess fate doesn't want me to reject it in any longer."

Juvia didn't expect that. She blinked and blushed, "W-what?"

"I've never done this before so please don't judge me." Gray kicked the ground, blushing. He looked around for anything to distract him. "Um…I uh…I l-love you."

He looked at Juvia for her reaction and crossed his fingers. Her blush grew bigger and tears came to her eyes. Something he, once again, didn't expect.

"I didn't think I was ever going to hear those words from you," She cried, "I love you too."

Gray held Juvia's face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. Neither of them realized how late it was until the sun went down when they finally let each other go. "Come on, Juvia, let's go home," Gray smiled happily and took her hand.

Juvia, who was on could nine, hopped after him. "I'm coming, my beloved."

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Little did either of them know, in a bush near where they were standing, were a pair of wizards snickering and laughing.

Lucy pulled the lacrima down and looked through the tape again. "This is great!"

Natsu snickered again. "Just wait until we show Mira this recording…"

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I don't think I did very well on this one, but I still want you to give me a review and tell me what you think, especially you, Blue Star (Guest). I wrote this for you . I hoped you liked it!

-zEllie