AN: it's a gruvia one shot and forgive me if you don't like it especially as you continue reading it.

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Memory Album

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Getting home at a late hour from a long week's mission, Gray was greeted by an all far too familiar voice, a little figure that was the entire fochis and relief of his tiredness, and a tiny piece of memory of what was once every thing to him.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! I missed you so much!" "I missed you too my little snow" Gray greeted his six year old daughter with all the love he could muster despite being exhausted. The little girl, dressed in a pink,spring dress with straps, small white boots, and her wavy,black hair tied in pigtails, ran straight into her father's arms so quickly like there was no tomorrow, not noticing how sweaty her Dad was. "Eww! Daddy, you smell weird and your shirt is really,really,sweaty!" *Haru exclaimed as she tried to shove her father away along with a funny face. "She's right, you need to take a shower, icebrain *sniff* and a really long one too." "Natsu, I didn't expect you to last this long." "Tch. He didn't even last a day when I did all the work. All he did was eat everything he could find in this house. Even if I may have experience, handling two at the same time is such a pain when no one helps you" Lucy said as she hit Natsu's right shoulder. "Owww! What was that for?" "Weren't you even listening?" " To your nagging? Why would I?" "Say that again?" " To your nagging." " I didn't really mean it like that! Whatever, you'll never understand. Besides it's already late and we need to get home. And I'll just ask you about that single mission you took,tomorrow at the guild." "Sure, whatever. Thanks for taking care of Haru anyways." " You're welcome Ice princess. We wouldn't mind taking care of a little angel like Haru" Natsu said as he picked the sleeping figure of *Laina from the couch. "You didn't even do anything, flamehead!" Gray sighed. "Natsu, we need to go now!" " Alright, I'm coming! Jeez, do you really have to nag about everything?" "That's it! You're receiving as much pain as you can get then we arrive home!" "Nggghh..." Just tight then, the one and fire dragon slayer that couldn't be controlled was under control by his own once sweet and easy-to-please wife and walking out Gray's door with an annoyed face, worried about what might happen when he gets home. Lucy was also about to walk out when she stopped just a couple inches outside the door. "Anything wrong Lucy?" " Haru was running towards the kitchen by then. " Nothing. It's just that... Ugh. Guess I can't hide it anymore so I'll just say it." She turned around and gave Gray a look of sympathy and at the same time, a face showing thats he should be strong after what she tells him. "Gray, you know that your little girl is everything to you. In all that she does, she'll do it for you. She'd go far enough just to make you happy. Every single thing she does, it reminds you of Her. An exact replica of Her. "Cherish Haru while she's still like how you've treasured Her while...she was still...here." Lucy couldn't bear to continue seeing that she had already started to cry. Natsu just looked away and knew just how painful it was to remember that awful day. All Gray could do was nod right then. "I- I will." "Good night, Gray." The couple said in in unison. "'Night guys." Lucy started to follow Natsu since he didn't want to get caught up in all those tears. Gray then closed the door behind him and walked towards the kitchen where Haru ran to earlier. "How many years has it been since that day? He thought to himself. Gray tried to push away the painful memories of what was once his whole life's joy and happiness. He found himself starting to tear up if it weren't for the sweet call of his daughter's voice. "Daddy, look! I made this for you." Gray looked up from his current position and saw his daughter holding up a chocolate covered cake, frosted with the words "welcome home daddy!". "Aunt Lucy and Laina helped me with it though. I didn't really make it all by myself 'cause I didn't know how." "That's okay sweetie. I'm sure that when you get older, you can make one all by yourself" " Just like Mommy's cakes?" There was a short pause between their conversation considering Gray was taken a bit far back by his daughter's words,but was finally able to respond." Yup, just like Mommy's cakes" Gray said as he touched the tip of his daughter's nose who giggled right then. She then yawned indicating that Gray hadn't put her in bed." Oops, I forgot it was late, it's way past your bedtime. I'll taste that dessert of yours tomorrow alright?" " O-oka-y." Haru said between yawns. Gray then picked up the cake by its tray and set in in the fridge. He carried Haru on his back straight towards her bedroom. Entering the room, Haru chose to get down from her father's back and run straight to her bed. Gray walked towards the bed and tucked her in. He expected his daughter to snuggle up under the covers but instead, she pulled out an object, wrapped in gift wrapper(a bit poorly), and handed it to her father. "This, I made on my own, well, wrapped it at least. I found it helping Aunt Lucy clean the house while you were gone. The thing inside it I mean. I hope you'll like it Daddy. And please don't open it till you get to bed." "I will my little raindrop." "Good night, Daddy. I love you." Haru squeaked before lying down and closing her eyes to a sound sleep. "I love you too sweetheart" Gray smiled and kissed the brim of her forehead. He looked at the sweet and soft smile she carried almost every day that was just so similar to Hers. He stood up from her bed and walked to the door. He turned the main light and closed the door softly. In the opposite direction was another door. Opening it, he glanced around the room which was once shared with him his happiness. He shut the door behind him and stripped to his boxers(considering the fact that he still had his habit of stripping after so many years.) and plunged right onto his bed. He looked at Haru's gift and opened it only to find that it was a photo album. He sat up, realizing that it was the same album that belonged to a once complete family, an album that contained every good and bad moments they went through. And it was the exact same one he threw away three years before on his anger and grief along with the the other junk that pained him to remember.

"Gray-sama, look! Why don't we buy this one? It's going to be perfect." "What do we need that for? If it's for pictures and stuff, then no way. We can remember them without that" "Juvia is going to buy it" "Juvia, c'mo-" "I WILL BUY IT" " Sheesh, alright then"

When they actually bought it, it served as a great addition to their family. It was decorated with pictures, some were drawings by Reedus, a whole lot of stickers like flowers and butterflies(Juvia's choice of course) and everything they felt like putting. It was a precious thing that held every single memory of whenever it felt like one. It wasn't really meant for that of special occasions but whenever it they just had a feeling of it being a special moment in their lives. Because every single day, there always was a new thing to celebrate about. As Gray turned those pages one by one, every single memory came back to him. Memories he failed to remember because it was too painful to bear. He flipped among the pages that he didn't want to remember. The day he confessed, their wedding, Haru's birth and birthdays, almost everything contained in it. But then, he came across one particular photo that just made him want to cry. It was a photo taken at The guild, just a month before that dreadful day. A picture taken by Mira showing a sweet family portrait. It was Gray, kissing the top of Juvia's forehead while she held their only daughter at her own third birthday party. Gray remembered Juvia's soft giggle at his actions, he couldn't forget how the others "Awww"ed at his own sweetness to his wife. And looking at that photo made him regret ever letting her dog on that mission. He knew that he should have said those three words, nine letters, 3.11 seconds to say every time he had the chance to. He knew that he should have danced with her on that night planned for another of the guild's destructive parties. Instead she danced by herself, in the moonlight that reflected the water mage's beauty, trying to teach him how to dance because he was ashamed to. But then, he never knew that it would be the last chance he'd ever get to do so. Now, he knew that it didn't matter if anyone laughed. Because it was just them, in their own little world, facing whatever giant of life comes by. They'll do it together, along with the last and only child they ever would have. It was them against the world. They'd be there to protect each other no matter what harms them. He just regretted so much that he wasn't there by her side when she needed him the most. Now, those tears, threatening to fall, all he could do was let them drop anyway, because there was no going back on a memory once you remember it. And when he turned the next page, he was startled to see that it was empty. Just a cream-colored, blank page that was all that was left after her death. He never wanted to see it again, but here it was, opened to a blank page that was thought to be never filled again, presented as a gift by his one and only, loving daughter. But as he turned to close the book, he notice one page with a familiar handwriting. Once he read it, his heart felt like breaking, and being put back together at the same time.

"Dear Daddy, Mommy might be gone, but all the things we used to do together doesn't stop here. These empty pages have to be filled with more memories of you and me. Because Mommy would want us to do it. Even if she's not here anymore, she said she'll always be in our hearts even if I'm not sure how she'll fit in there. Mommy loves you Daddy, and I do to. -Haru

He felt those hot tears stream down his face again, but now, he was smiling. He knew that what his daughter had said was true. Gray wasn't the typical guy to get all mushy and emotional, but he knew that he love his family still. He loved Haru and Juvia. That was it. No question about it. His family, just like the guild- they were people who he'd protect and cherish just like his own family did, just like Ul and maybe even Ultear did. He would love them even when they would fade away, and even if he himself would vanish from the face of this earth.

So Juvia's wish would be fulfilled, he would do what she woul have wanted him to do. Fill up the album with a lot more 'memories', buy new ones and fill them up again. So when he'd meet her again someday, he could tell her everything on what she's been missing on. He would remember those good and bad times. Whatever it took, no matter how painful, he'd remember. Because even a little thing like that album can hold tons of memories you wouldn't want to forget. Even a tiny being like Haru can speak big words enough to make you cry and smile at the same time. Because even these things, no matter what they may be, of big or small value, it could give a lot of things to remember and can heal an aching heart that's been hurting for ages.

Yey, done! Finally! It took me ages to be finished. I'm so sorry for making Juvia die. Go on, run me over with a car.T-T