AN: Chapter 2 is up! Thank you all for your support! :)

The Baby Problem

-Two-

The next day, she arrived early on the guild. She needed to talk to Gajeel no matter what. She almost didn't sleep at night thinking about all the mess she was on: pregnant of a guy who wasn't even her boyfriend, nobody knew but her best friend (who was currently so mad at her for not telling him about expecting a baby in the first place and learn it from a doctor, not herself) and she was having problems to control her water.

The joys of her life.

She asked Mirajane a cup of juice and waited for the Dragon Slayer. Her stomach was really messed up and she threw up a bunch of times already during the night. She would probably throw up multiple times during the day as well. She just hoped it would be after she talked to Gajeel.

The water mage looked at the Mirajane. She and Fried got married two years ago and one year after the wedding, she had a baby boy named Luke, Luke Justine. How did she tell her husband about the baby? Did she hide it for some time or she said once she found out?

And there was Visca. She and Alzack had a baby on their own 8 months before, after a three year marriage. On their case, it was a girl that they named Polvora, or Polly, her nickname. And the truth is that Alzack would love anything that came out of his beloved.

But of course they were both married when they got pregnant so they weren't afraid of rejection like Juvia was. She sighed. She needed some advice but she didn't know anybody on her situation.

When Gray entered the guild she forced herself to be normal so nobody could notice how on edge she was. She went to stay beside him calling 'Gray-sama' and asking how was the mission he took the other day. He rolled his eyes but told her nonetheless with a small smile on his lips.

That was one of the things she loved about him. No mattered how much she annoyed him, he would smile at her and humor her in the end. He didn't change when the started to sleep together six months ago. He was still her 'Gray-sama' and she was still his fan-girl. And actually she didn't mind. She already accomplished more than she would ever hope for.

Right?

While she was hearing him talk about some evil monster he took care of, she wondered how he would react when she tells him about the pregnancy. His eyes, she noticed, had tiny little stars while he talked and talked about the mission. How could she take that away from him? How could she put the weight on his back as well? She loved him so much to do something like that.

"…right, Juvia?" Gray looked at her expectantly.

"Sure, Gray-sama!" She said pretending to be cheerful.

"So, I went and made a sword to cut its tail then…" Juvia wondered off again when she saw Gajeel sitting next Lily and Levy, who was smiling at him with a lovely look on her face.

"I'm sorry, Gray-sama, but Juvia really needs to go." She left a dumbfound Gray on the table and walked to Gajeel's. She never lets him talking by himself.

"Morning, Levy-chan." Juvia smiled at Levy, who smiled back. "Gajeel-kun?" She called him expectantly.

"She's talking to you, Gajeel!" Levy poked him when the Dragon Slayer didn't respond the water mage.

"I heard." He said eating his iron.

Levy looked from Juvia to Gajeel. She saw the guilty look on the girl's face and the angry one on her boyfriend's. Did they fight? Oh no. That was bad. If they fought then Gajeel would be real bitchy later on their date. Then she realized the bags under Juvia's eyes.

"You look sick, Juvia-chan. Are you alright?" Those words made Gajeel look to his friend. She was indeed paler than usual and she had dark circles underneath her eyes.

He groaned and got on his feet. "Did you sleep at all, stupid?" He looked mad but he was actually concerned. The day before she passed out. Passed out!

"A little." Juvia responded and with a wave from her hand she dismissed the subject. "I really need to talk to you, Gajeel-kun."

"Oh, now you do. Great." He was sarcastic. That made tears appears on her eyes.

"Gajeel…" Lily said with a tone.

Levy was the only one who didn't know what was happening, but whatever was, was really serious.

"I'm gonna leave you two to talk, ok?" She got up but Gajeel stopped her.

"No. We are not talking right now." He prepared himself to walk away when Juvia grabbed his arm.

"Please? I can't do this without my friend." She murmured and Levy almost didn't hear but Gajeel did. Loud and clear. He stopped on his tracks. He could not leave her when she talked like that.

"I'm going now." Levy mumbled, knowing very well that they were now on their own little world. So, she got away and went to sit with Gray, who, from a few tables away saw the whole thing.

"What is all that about?" He looked the way Juvia and Gajeel were talking on their feet really quietly and back to Levy.

"I guess they fought. Gajeel was really mad." Levy said opening her book. "She said she couldn't do something and needing her friend."

"Doesn't make you jealous?" Gray asked now looking at both Juvia and Gajeel leaving the guild without Lily; who was also looking at them.

"Curious of what the fight was about, yes. But not jealous. I've wasted too much of my time being jealous, but not anymore." She looked briefly over her book. "Why? It makes you?"

Gray did not respond.


Juvia lived on her own apartment. She was now 23 years old and a dormitory did not worked for her anymore. She liked to have her own space, not that she didn't enjoy living in Fairy Hills. All of the girls were the best roommates she could ask for but she got older and she needed to be able to live on her own. Plus, she could afford a better place.

She was now living on the same building as Lucy and Natsu, the newlyweds. After getting married, they both thought they needed a bigger place, since there was the two of them plus Happy. Their apartment had three rooms and was on the penthouse, taking all the space for itself. Natsu didn't want to move to a different place, but Lucy persuaded him.

Juvia lived on the third floor, in a two bedroom apartment. She could've rent a smaller one, or even Lucy's older apartment but she thought it was more practical. She would never know when she was going to have visitors: the girls could want to throw a pajama party, so as the host Juvia needed to make everyone comfortable. And there were her nights with Gray.

That was where Juvia was currently with Gajeel, on her living room.

He was silent and so was she.

"Why didn't you tell me before we go?" He asked now looking to her.

"Would you take me if I told?" She asked.

"Of course not!" He passed his hand through his hair. "Shit, Juvia! That's the kind of thing you tell your partner! Do you know how much you scared the shit out of me? Lily yelled at me saying you passed out! How do you think I felt when I just saw you laying there?"

"I'm sorry." She mumbled.

"Sorry do not change the fact that you didn't fucking told me!" He growled. "I don't know if I'm madder as you team partner or as your friend."

She put her face on her hands.

"I didn't know I would pass out like that. I took other missions before and I was fine."

"Well, now you have to think of the kid, not you." He said. "You cannot go in missions anymore."

"I know."

And she did. If Gajeel and Lily weren't strong enough to beat the guys on their own, Juvia could've been killed. And Gajeel was right. She needed to think about her baby. Everything now was to her baby.

"You didn't tell Stripper." It wasn't a question. He knew she didn't.

"No." She took courage and said what've been bugging her since the say she found out about the pregnancy. "I don't even know if I will."

Gajeel looked livid.

"What?"

"I don't want to burden him with something that was my fault and…" She started but he cut her.

"Your fault? If I'm not mistaken there were two of you making that freaking baby!" He said loudly. "Don't give me this 'I can't tell him' bull! You need to tell him and he has the right to know!"

"Don't yell at me!" She cried. Juvia was full of hormones and Gajeel yelling at her was not helping.

"Don't cry! Shit!" He stopped talking and sat beside her on her couch. "I was just saying that one way or another he'll find out."

"I know." Juvia was trying to dry her face but more tears came. "But I can't help but think he'll be mad!" She started crying harder.

"He won't." Gajeel tried to ease her. "If he does, I'll kill him so your problem is solved! Now stop crying!" Gajeel never liked when she cried. Juvia had this amazing bright side that he only saw in her and in Levy. Even after he was mean to her while in Phantom Lord, she knew it was only superficial; that inside he was a loner not because it was an option, but because it was imposed. She was the same way. It is like people say: It takes one to recognize the other. Even when they were not nakama from Phantom Lord anymore, she was worried about him being alone and talked in his favor to Master Makarov. So, if the Fullbuster guy ended up mad at her, Gajeel would have to kill him and enjoy it; being expelled or not from the guild. He owed Juvia that much.

"You cannot kill him, Gajeel-kun!" She was now desperate.

"Only if he gets mad at you. Now put yourself together, woman!" He tried to cheer her up, but she cried even more. The damn house was almost flooded. "Oh, c'mon! Don't cry!"

"I can't hold it!" She said loudly. "I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't take a job and the money I saved it'll only last a few months because I need to buy things for the baby and there's the rent and, and…" She hugged him for his desperation. "Oh, Gajeel. I don't know what it'll happen!"

She continued to cry while he clumsy patted her back. He tried to remember what Levy had told him about having an upset friend.

"You tell them everything's gonna be alright. No matter if you think it or not. You tell them that he or she's not alone and that the both of you are going to try and make it better. As a friend, that's what you need to say."

So, he did.

"Listen, Juvia." He started really bothered by what was coming out of his mouth. He did not talk about his feeling and all the sissy business. "Everything's gonna be alright."

"You think so?" She let him go of her embrace. And now was looking at Gajeel with her big watery eyes full of hope.

Damn. How could he say otherwise while she was looking so hopeful?

"Sure. Whatever happens, the jerks of the guild will be there to help you, no matter what Stripper says." He hesitated. "And… I'll be there for you as well." He hoped he got that right. If she cried a little more, she would drown them both.

"Thanks, Gajeel-kun! You really made me feel better!" She hugged him. Again.

'What is with her and hugs?' Gajeel thought and seeing her smile, he couldn't help but think that hormones were a nasty thing. 'If she cried a little bit more, she would be dehydrating".

"Juvia, you really need to tell him." Gajeel said after she calmed down.

"I know. But I have no idea how." She got up and started to go to her kitchen.

"See, a man needs to know if he's a father." Gajeel said following her. "If Levy got pregnant and didn't tell me? I would be so pissed. You have no idea."

"Why?" Juvia asked and Gajeel stopped on tracks. 'Yeah, Gajeel. Why? You never saw yourself as a father, so why would you be angry if your girlfriend got pregnant and didn't tell you?' He thought. 'Actually you should be relived the girl is responsible enough to know you're not parent material.' So why? Why?

'Because I want a family of my own.' He realized. Sure, he had a family, as crazy as they all were. He had the best father in the world, even though he was a Dragon, Metalicana taught him everything he needed and, in his own way, showed him love. Juvia ended up changing to him; instead of only his nakama, she was now a little sister like Wendy. In the Guild, everyone was like brothers and sisters to him (not that he could ever admit it). And then he fell for the most unlikely person ever: Levy McGarden. And more impressive? She fell for him as well.

Gajeel gave up love once he saw the horrid things people did to each other. He wasn't as lucky as Natsu for finding Fairy Tail, or Wendy who entered Cait Shelter. He found the worst kind of guild: the one people only cared for themselves, not caring about no one else.

He grew up with it: the selfishness.

Only because he was scary, people always thought the worse of him. He grew up and locked all his feelings, only to come to the craziest guild of all the times to be unlocked. For the first time in almost 10 years, he felt loved and that warm feeling was what made him resist Master Ivan's torture. If something like it happened before he entered Fairy Tail, after losing all the ways of getting away, he would just give up. Who would ever come to rescue him?

He didn't remember much of his rescue; he was too injured. But he remember thinking they were all crazy to go after Master Ivan and his freakishly strong subordinates for him. Didn't they see he gave his life up for them to get away unharmed? Then why?

He heard the answer from Natsu. And Laxus.

Gajeel was almost losing conscious; Lily had taken him to Wendy and she was in a place close where the combat between Natsu, Laxus and Ivan were happening.

"Why did you came here for, young Dragon Slayer?" Ivan had Natsu on the floor, covered in blood. Laxus had leaned against a wall and appeared to be as beaten as the younger of them.

"To save…" Natsu tried to mumble.

"To save who? Gajeel? He's scum, kid." Ivan laughed. And walked around Natsu. To Wendy, Lily and Gajeel's luck he was ignoring them. "He was a spy."

"He wouldn't." Natsu said with a little more of force.

"Really? All because you want, right?" He kicked the Dragon Slayer on the stomach, making him curl up on a ball. Ivan, then, started walking to Laxus. "And you, useless child of mine. Why did you come here? Not for a family reunion, right?" He chuckled with his own joke.

"I…" Laxus tried to talk.

"You what?" Ivan leveled eyes with his son. "You always wanted to be like me. And you were on the right path for it. I heard you made all those fools fight among them." He pulled Laxus hair to make him look at him. "The only time I was almost proud of you. But then you lost to the Dragon Slayers even with Lachryma inside you." Ivan shook his head. "Tsc. Always so weak."

"I will never be like you!" Laxus said with anger.

"Yes, I know. That's why you're weak." Ivan let go of his son's head. "Then, I shall go to the Guild and kill them all. The weaklings."

"You won't kill anyone!" Natsu gave his all and stood up. Gajeel was almost closing his eyes when he heard Natsu's strong voice. "We came here to take Gajeel back and we won't go away until we do it! We'll not lose anyone for you!"

"You still have the strength to stand? You're tougher than you look, young Dragon Slayer." Ivan looked at Natsu. "Gajeel will be dead soon for betraying me, child."

"NO!"

"Why are you doing all this for him?" Ivan asked really curious.

"Because he's our nakama! A Fairy Tail mage!" Natsu was looking angry at Ivan.

"And because…" Laxus said; now standing as well, from behind his father. "Fairy Tail is the home of all of us! I'll not let you destroy it! Jiji taught me that and I won't let you tear our home apart!"

"Because the Fairy Tail's mages will never fall! Our bond is stronger than you!" Natsu and Laxus said it together and started attacking Ivan.

The last thing Gajeel remembered was Wendy's voice saying to Lily: "I did all I could. Now is up to him to heal and come back for us."

And he did. Against his best judgment he fought and woke up. He healed and came back to the guild. He had a family. And that's why he would've become angry if his girlfriend didn't tell him if he got accidentally pregnant. Because he wanted even more. He wanted deeper bonds. He wanted a little blue-haired kid of his running around bugging him to learn the magic Metalicana taught him.

He wanted a life.

"I understand, Gajeel -kun." Juvia was looking on her freezer for something while he was concentrated on his thought and startled him a bit. "But right now I need to distract myself from all my problems."

Gajeel nodded. She was in deep shit and was probably thinking about it for the last week or so.

"Fix me a sandwich, woman. You pulled me out of the Guild before I could eat properly." He leaned on the door of her kitchen.

"Right away!" She giggled as he rolled his eyes on her sudden happiness. Hormones sure were freaky. But he would humor her.


AN: So, not much of Gray and Juvia, right? Well, I promise next chapter we gonna have some flashbacks towards their relationship, 'k? As I said, I'm taking it slowly. With all my strength that I didn't uptaded sooner, but it can't be like that, right?

Guys, Polvora in Portuguese means 'Gunpowder' so I thought it would be a great name for Visca and Alzack's baby with them having Guns as weapons and all. Exotic, but with a cute nickname like Polly. :)

And Luke… I don't know. I like the name and I thought it fit with the Justine surname.

Ok, I'm shocked. Eleven reviews? Eleven! Even in spanish and portuguese (rsula: obrigada! É tão bom ver que tem brasileiros lendo! Da uma saudade, ja que eu não to no Brasil. Obrigada mesmo! Espero que você mande mais reviews! :D)! You guys wanna make me cry, is that it? Well, keep going and I will! A special thanks for everyone who add it as their favorite story and Story Alert! Oh, and the readers in general! All of you guys totally rock! :)

Any mistakes you can point it kindly. English's not my first language, so I know I made them. :)

R&R