Where Do We Go From Here?
By: juvia0613 (FayeValentine00)
Chapter 2
Gray and Juvia left the apartment in search of food. They found a relaxed cafe near the river that was just opening and took a table outside to enjoy the nice weather. It felt poetic to Juvia that the day was perfectly clear, not a cloud in the sky.
They chatted about the details of the 100 Years Quest that Juvia didn't know. In return, she told Gray about what happened when Touka first appeared at the guild. She explained how they were like oil and water from the moment they met which was probably part of the reason she'd used the Water Wizard. She explained about investigating with Gajeel and the strange way Levy had been acting which she still didn't fully understand. By the time breakfast was over, many of their questions and black spots were filled in.
"Juvia just hopes things can be calm again for a while. Juvia likes to work, but she'd really like the major wars to stop." The concerned edge to her voice was plain, but she still managed a half-smile. "It's hard not to worry about when the next disaster will come."
The blue-haired woman was only mildly surprised when Gray reached across the table and squeezed her hand supportively, much like he had before they'd arrived in Tartaros. "I'll be here with you now."
Juvia's bright answering smile rivaled the sun.
After breakfast, Juvia headed back towards home but stopped when Gray hesitated. When she turned back around, she noticed Gray fidget. "Do you mind if we stop somewhere first?"
"S-Sure."
The Water Wizard followed Gray silently through town. He clearly had a destination in mind, but it was also apparent that he had no intentions of telling her where. Juvia asked anyway.
"Gray-sama, where are we going?"
"You'll see," he answered evasively as her led her down a series of streets she rarely visited.
Although Juvia had money, thanks to constantly working and usually not having to pay massive repair bills like another unnamed Fairy Tail team, this was the part of town she rarely visited. It was full of pricy boutiques and the sorts of fancy things she wouldn't even begin to know what to do with. They walked for what felt like a very long time, but that was probably more because of her impatience than the actual distance, until they came to a stop in front of a large storefront with a huge sparkling display window.
"A jewelry store?" Juvia asked perplexed, pointing to the store that was clearly marked. "Does Gray-sama need something?"
He gave her a look that was somewhere between questioning her sanity and resignation when he sighed, took her by the hand and pulled her inside. "I don't. You do."
Gray pulled her over to a massive display of very sparkly rings, moved her until she was right in front of it and gestured to the case with a blush. "Pick one."
Her jaw dropped. This was real. This was truly happening! Gray had actually brought her to a jewelry store to pick out a ring.
"I planned this out a lot differently but... what's done is done. There's no way we can go back to the guild and tell them if you don't have a ring. ... Erza would murder me."
The look of legitimate horror that crossed Gray's face made Juvia chuckle. "Juvia could definitely see Erza having that kind of reaction."
"Then hurry and pick one or this will be a really short engagement." His slight blush was the cutest thing she had seen in a long time and her amusement melted into excitement.
"Okay."
They discussed types of metal (it must be durable against water and cold weather), preference (traditional) and wedding bands vs. separate engagement rings and wedding rings. All in all, it took about an hour to find the perfect ring. The final decision was to get a platinum solitaire engagement ring with a matching diamond and sapphire wedding band to add after the wedding. Juvia simply couldn't imagine not wearing the ring they were buying today for the rest of her life. She wanted to remember this day forever.
The clerk boxed up the ring, took their payment and sent the happy couple on their way. Juvia had assumed that Gray would just hand her the ring and have her put it on since his life was on the line, but he didn't. He held the small bag as they walked back down those less familiar roads and towards her apartment.
There were passing over the familiar bridge Juvia had crossed a hundred times before when Gray stopped in the middle and turned to face her. "Do you remember what I said to you right here?"
Juvia's face turned bright red at the memory yet nodded and repeated the words she'd never forget. "Gray-sama said, "I'm really thankful that you're here... for always being beside me.""
"And what else?" He asked awkwardly, trying to contain his own embarrassment too.
"G-Gray-sama also promised Juvia an answer when the battle was over." Juvia's voice was barely a whisper as she realized what was coming next.
Right there, in front of all the random people milling through town, Gray went down to one knee again, held out the box containing her perfect ring and looked into her eyes with the sweetest smile. "One more time, so I can do this right. ... Juvia, please marry me."
The tears came all over again because that bridge was special. Those hope giving words from Gray were special. The ring was special and the man on his knee before her was her salvation. She didn't care if a million people were watching or if no one was watching. The only two people in the world were Juvia and Gray.
"Yes." She managed the single word between her sobs and when Gray stood back up, she kissed him with everything she had. Juvia only subconsciously noticed that the Ice Devil Slayer didn't push her away. Instead, he held her just as tightly as she held him. It was a rare public display of affection but, at that moment, neither cared.
When they finally came apart, both had wet cheeks and huge smiles. That was when he slipped the ring on her finger and then kissed it for good measure. "There. Now they'll all know that you're my reason to come back home. Okay?"
"Yes," she agreed.
"I know we promised to go back to the apartment, but do you mind if we go to the guild first?" He side glanced the surrounding crowd; many offering their congratulations and well wishes before he then continued. "With all these people, if we don't hurry, someone is bound to tell the guild before we get there."
Juvia had been thinking much the same thing. The citizens of Magnolia loved Fairy Tail, but they also loved to gossip about Fairy Tail. News of Gray and Juvia's engagement would spread like wildfire. "Sure! Let's go there first."
They got to the guildhall about ten minutes later and were pleasantly surprised to see they had made it. Other than a few hellos and waves, everyone was already awake and wrapped up in their own conversations. Gray and Juvia crossed the hall and walked straight to Mirajane standing behind the bar. Being the heart of the guild, she'd seemed like the best place to start.
The white-haired woman opened her mouth to greet her friends with a smile but stopped when she read something in their expressions. Mira noted their grins, the way they walked closer together than usual and then her eye caught the sparkle coming from Juvia's left ring finger. Her eyes went from the Water Wizard's hand, to her face and then to Gray who she'd known since childhood. When he answered her questioning expression with a proud smile, tears sprung into her eyes.
Mira rushed around from behind the bar and threw her arms around them both before she ever said a word. Her hug caught the attention of everyone else in the hall, but it wasn't until she pulled away to wipe her eyes and say, "Congratulations!" that the others figured out what had happened.
The answering roar in the hall was loud but one voice rang out above all others. "Gray!"
All eyes turned to Natsu who'd leapt up from his seat and rushed towards the bar with an intense expression on his face. He came to a stop directly in front of his best friend, Lucy and Happy only a few steps behind him.
The Dragon Slayer's eyes flashed from Gray, to the ring, to Juvia's confused face, and then back to Gray. The Ice Devil Slayer looked as intense as Natsu while he waited a response. A minute later, the sakura-haired mans intense gaze morphed into a huge smile that made everyone relax.
"You finally did it! Congratulations!" Natsu shouted, punching Gray in the arm far too hard, knocking him to the ground. That started the celebratory brawl.
Lucy grabbed Juvia and pulled her across the room and as far from the fight as possible. They were immediately joined by Erza, Mira and Lisanna.
"Congratulations, Juvia!" The Celestial Spirit Wizard squealed, pulling the blue-haired woman into a tight embrace. After that, she pulled away just enough to grab Juvia's hand and inspect her engagement ring.
"It's so pretty!" Lisanna sighed dreamily.
"Tell us everything!" That demand came from a blushing Erza who looked more eager for the details than anyone else.
"It's very manly, Gray!" Elfman shouted, throwing a punch at the Ice Make Mage who moved to avoid it, but Cana's unexpected hit threw him off and he was hit from both directions.
"This is a shitty way to congratulate someone!" Gray complained, climbing back to his feet but the wide smile on his face proved he wouldn't want it any other way.
Juvia relayed the entire story to her friends. When she got to the part where Gray shouted his declaration that he'd marry her, every girl swooned. When she told them how he dropped to one knee right there in the kitchen and proposed, they all squeed.
"Juvia, what the hell are you telling them?!" Gray shouted, red-faced as he landed a jab to Natsu's gut.
"Only the truth, Gray-sama!" She called back with a smug grin.
"They don't need every detail!" He sidestepped a shot from Loki who'd opened his own gate only to catch a kick from Natsu.
"Yes, we do!" Lucy called back, causing all the women and most of the men in the room to laugh.
Although the news was a surprise that morning, they'd all seen it coming for a long time and the only reaction was elation. Gray and Juvia were the first of several engagements the members of Fairy Tail expected over the next several months.
The fights on one side of the room and the gossip on the other side of the room were wrapping up when the guildhall doors opened and Gajeel, Levy and Lily walked in. Levy looked hesitant, Lily looked at the surround chaos with a sigh and Gajeel looked smug, ignoring everything else happening in the room.
"Hey! We have an announcement!" Gajeel's deep voice boomed over all other noises in the room. "Levy's pregnant!"
Every person in the room froze mid-action except for Levy and Lily who each covered their face with their hands mortified.
"Well... that was one way to tell them..." Lily complained.