When I get to know her better, I realize how amazing she is. She is a twenty-seven years-old single, adoptive mother with a special kid need. She was a second year nursing student when she learned that Jack had developed DMD. She told me how devastated she was after learning that there is no cure for the disease. She was working as a part time teacher assistant in a daycare and a full time student, and the medical and physical treatment for Jack was so expensive that she could not afford. Hence, she decided to take a break from her college and worked for longer hours, but she eventually dropped out of college. Her determination to caring a child, who was not hers to begin with, shows me her character and her strength. Her caring nature and her kindness just melts me in a way no other women have. Besides being easy to talk to, she is trustworthy. The more we spend time together, the harder I fall for her. Once I realize I have true feeling for her, I know I have to pursue her. She tells me that if I want to be with her, I must accept and love her son; it's a package deal, and I say yes. I don't think that will be an issue, I meet him every day in school and I don't think it's hard to hang out with him. But well, I just realize meeting Jack in school as a teacher is completely different from living together with Jack as his mother's boyfriend.

Jack is a good kid, and I do like him. But caring for a disabled child is both emotionally and physically draining. It's really the hardest job I've ever had in my entire life. Sometimes I feel like I'm reaching a breaking point and questioning if my decision to move in with Juvia is a wise decision. My friends already talked it through with me that I'm being crazy if I move in with them, but I'm serious with her, and I know she's lacking of support and I just want to help. Sometimes I wonder how she could handle it during the past ten years when she has nobody to rely on.

I look at her when she is leaning forward, hugging a small pillow as she gives all of her attention to the soap opera that we both are watching. Actually it's just her who's watching that stupid show. I just want to look at her because seeing her face soothes my tired soul. She eventually realizes that I stare at her, and she turns to see me, "is everything alright?"

Embarrassed for being caught staring at her, I scratch my head and my face turns red as I say, "Nothing, you're just so beautiful."

For an instant her face flares bright red, before fading to a pink tinge.

Tracing her jawline with the tip of my finger, I reach her chin, then gently lift it. She timidly tilts her head up towards me. I hesitate, should I kiss her? I pause for a moment, try to study her face, just to make sure if we are on the same page. I give her plenty of opportunity to retreat, but she's not moving as if she's waiting for me to make a move. So I eventually bring my lips to hers. Her lips are just as sweet as honey. Soon enough, euphoria sings through my vein; and something magical is burning inside me. As she throws her arms about my neck, I deepen the kiss, but then I think I hear Jack is calling his mother or is it just my imagination?

I think Juvia hears the same thing as she breaks the kiss and whispers, "Jack."

"He's sleeping, isn't he?" I ask while my warm lips are nuzzling her neck. I don't know what is gotten into me, but my desire for her is heightened. I'm hoping that I'm right and he is sleeping soundly now.

"Gray-sama, Juvia needs to check on Jack now." But her body contradicts her words as she begins to moan.

As temptation whispers, I tenderly lay her down on the couch. But then we both hear the loud noise from Jack's room.

Her eyes widen. "Jack!" She yells in panic.

Startled, I immediately jump up off the couch and hurry to Jack's room with Juvia.

We are both shocked and horrified to see Jack falls down to the floor and his urine is all over the floor.

"Mom, it hurts!" he says, and begins to weep.

Juvia gently lifts him up, and his urine stains the front of her skirt, but she still sounds very calm. "What happened my baby?"

I can hear the panic and sadness in her tone even though she attempts to hide it.

"Jack was calling mom because he needs to pee, but mom didn't come in so Jack had to get up from the bed, but Jack fell down and wetted his own pants." And his voice is thin with pain.

"Mommy is sorry, let's get you cleaned. Can you walk?" she asks with concern in her tone, and Jack nods.

Then Juvia puts him down on the bed and grabs the crutches for him to walk. As Jack reaches his crutches and tries to stand up with all of muscle strength that he has, he falls down again and he cries.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Jack cannot stand mom."

###

"Ms. Lockser, your son has lost all of his ability to walk."

"But rehabilitation will help him gaining muscle strength, right?" She asked, with a gleam of hope in her eyes.

"I'm afraid not. He will be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life."

Since our conversation with the doctor, she remains silent during the trip home. She stares emptily at the car window, and when she is home, she still remains silent. She is still smiling widely at Jack and carrying him into his bedroom, and kissing him on his forehead.

After that, she goes to the kitchen, washing dirty dishes, but her eyes are empty, lifeless, yet filled with lingering of bitterness and stifled rage.

I wrap my hands around her waist and whisper near her ears. "I'm sorry." That's all I manage to say. I am aware she has learned the progress of the disease that one day Jack will completely lose his ability to walk, but still, there never be a mother in the world who is well-prepared for the worst possibility of her children.

She doesn't turn to see me, but I can tell that she is fighting her tears from falling so hard. "Don't be, it's Juvia's fault. Maybe if Juvia hurried to his room when he called, maybe he could still walk."

I hung my head in sheer despair, biting my lower lip. I just cannot believe my own ears that she blames herself for what happened with Jack. I grab her shoulder to turn her to face me, and I see her biting her lower lip so hard that it's bleeding. She's been fighting not to let her tears rolling down her cheeks. She just doesn't want me to see her crying and being at the lowest she'd feel in the long time.

And it just breaks my heart.

I grab her face and press her forehead against mine. "It's not your fault. His disease is something that we both can't control."

She breaks down, falling to the floor and crying hard, uncontrollable tears rolling down her cheeks, droplets falling to the floor. I fall to my knees and hug her tightly. "Please rely on me Juvia. You don't have to be alone for this. I'm here for both of you," I whisper. But she keeps crying and her cries only trigger my need to keep her near.

###

Since then, every day I take Jack on my back and carry him to class. Because his classroom is on third floor, I often ask help from other teachers or janitors when they are around to take Jack's wheelchair to third floor while I carry him upstairs. We only have stairs to reach second and third floor since our school is not equipped for students with special needs.

But one morning, I don't see other teachers around, so I decide to wait for a while if maybe any adults show up. I wait until the morning bells ring, but no adults can be found around the hall. Don't tell me that they're getting tired to carry the wheelchair upstairs and now they're avoiding me?

I sigh, but then Romeo, Jack's classmate, shows up. "Sensei, I can help carrying the wheelchair," he offers.

Romeo is a nice kid. He is very different from his mom, Mrs. White, who complains all the time. "That would be lovely, Romeo. Thank you," I reply.

Since then, Romeo keeps offering help to carry the wheelchair upstairs. I don't want to get him exhausted, but since I see no adults around, then I have no choice, but to accept his help.

I think everything is fine until I get a warning letter from the Board. It says that I get a complaint from Mrs. White that I take advantage of her son's kindness.

"Sensei Fullbuster, I know you are close with Jack's mother, so I think it's time to talk to her to transfer Jack into a school for kids with special need," says the headmaster, Makarov.

I scoff. I do hate this conversation.

"The board says it's no longer tolerated that you take advantage of a student. If it doesn't change, they will fire you."

I just look him in the eyes, and I can tell that he is dead serious about this. Deep inside, I know that Jack should go to another school that can support him better, but how do I bring this up to Juvia? She insists that she wants Jack in a regular school.

As if Makarov can read my mind, he just smiles at me. "Please consider it carefully, I don't want to lose you."

###

I keep staring emptily at the warning letter. Actually I don't really care if I get fired as long as I know I'm doing the right thing, but right now I'm not sure which one is right and wrong. Everything in life is treated as though it's only black and white, right or wrong, but things are so complex that right when you think you know what the best is for Jack, you forget to consider what the best is for other students and things aren't as clear anymore. So far other teachers have been so understanding with Jack's disability. But now that with his hand is getting weaker and weaker and that it takes longer for Jack to get into his class, Jack's class is way more behind compared to other classes. Now with them preparing for high school entrance exams, it will put his classmates at disadvantage.

But how about Jack? We all can't tell how long he will live, but we know patients with DMD have poor prognosis. Mostly only make it until early 20s, but it varies; depending on the progress of the disease. He loves his classmates, that's what I'm certain of. Going to regular school and meeting his friends is the only thing he has control right now. I'm worried if I take this away from him, how will it affect him?

"What's wrong Gray-sama?" Juvia asks me when she realizes that I'm spacing out.

"Juvia, we need to talk."

She puts down her book on a bedside table next to her. "Alright."

"I think it will be the best decision for everyone if he transfers to a school for kids with special needs," I say firmly.

Her eyes widen, as if she cannot believe the words come out of my mouth.

Her voice trails off and she searches my eyes for the truth. Figuring out that I'm serious about this, she continues, her voice rising and tone deepening in sheer desperation. "You know Juvia can't do that. Jack is like you and Juvia—"

I cut her off. "No Juvia, he's different from us. He needs a school that can fully support him."

She starts yelling. "No, he is not. Just because he can't walk right now, it doesn't make him less than us!"

I grab her shoulder and I look her deeply in the eyes. "Juvia, both of us know that he is not less than us, but you have to accept the fact that Jack needs tremendous help and our school can't do that. Our school is not equipped to support student with disability."

She pulls away and closes her eyes for a moment, shaking her head. There was a hard edge to her tone this time. "My son is not a student with disability, he is a student with full of potentials like the rest of his classmates."

I exhale with frustration, and I blurt out. "Juvia, you can't keep living in denial. You have to accept the fact that he is disable and he is not your son."

I regret it almost as soon as I tell her that Jack is not her son. Finally, she looks at me with the coldest expression I've ever seen. Her eyes are the color of liquid nitrogen, and her words pierce me like a knife. "Get out of my house."

"Juvia, I'm sorry that came off wrong, but I just want the best for both of you."

"Get out now and don't ever come back," she says sternly, throwing off some of my clothes from the drawer.

"Juvia—"

"Now!" she yells, pointing out her finger to the front door.

I reluctantly step out the room, and eventually leave the house. Before I get into my car, I look back at her house for the last time. Guilt churns my stomach as I know I am hurting her, but the thought of leaving her and Jack alone without any support system hurt me more than my own guilt.

Maybe I should not have left her.

Maybe…

A/N: This is supposed to be just one-shot, but seeing few readers interested for the update, here I am. Tbh, I'm not sure if you guys like it better than first chapter because this is not as sweet as the first one, and it is more depressing. So I'll just leave it as complete unless anyone thinks the story deserves a final chapter. If I'm ever going to continue it, it will be just three chapters in total. Another disclaimer: I'm not a medical expert, I just learn about DMD from the most-recognized guru in the world, Mr. Google, so I am truly sorry if the story doesn't represent well patients with DMD and their family. Thank you for reading it till the end!