i.

the water shimmers on her like glitter

ii.

"I'm traveling," Cana says, not sure why it matters, and Juvia looks at her with a smile.

She always smiles.

iii.

"Do you—" Cana stops, not finishing her question. She can feel Juvia's eyes on her face, but she stares at the stars instead. So many possibilities lay out there in the endless sky.

"Do you ever wonder?"

iv.

"Where is Cana going?" Juvia asks, small hands gripping so hard. Cana stares at them for a minute, and stares at her too.

Will this be the last the time she ever gets to see those pretty blue eyes?

"I have to travel," she says, shrugging out from those hands, and out the door.

v.

the stars aren't as bright here

vi.

"Why are you here?" Juvia snaps, and even with anger blazing in those blue depths, they fill with tears. "Why did you come back?" The last word breaks in her throat, and the tears threaten to overspill.

"I'm sorry," Cana says. She's prepared to say it a thousand times, and a million more. She knows it'll never be enough, but she's willing to try. "I'm so sorry."

Juvia shakes her head, the tears spilling free.

vii.

"Do you—" Cana stops, not sure how to finish the question. Hate me? Love me? Need me?

Want me?

She sighs, eyes drifting to the sky above. The stars glitter brightly against the black sky.

"Do you still wonder?"

viii.

"I'm staying," Cana says, and she remembers why it matters when Juvia looks at her with that smile.

God, she missed that smile.

x.

the water shimmers like glitter