QUICK NOTE: I have been really busy lately and just haven't been able to update, this isn't being posted from my usual computer so I hope it uploads and formats correctly.
The night we returned to Fairy Tail I set up a little celebration, most of the members had no clue what the gathering was for, but I had told my old team to avoid Evergreen murdering me if she were the last to know, I stood against the upstairs railing looking down on the members below while Juvia smiled at me from a spot just beyond sight of the main floor of the guild hall. It was time.
"I'm glad to be back after a much needed break, thanks to Macao for watching over things and not letting anyone destroy the place to badly." Looking at the broken table leaning against the back wall I could tell my absence wasn't completely uneventful. "Now I guess I need to announce why I have all of you here, this is a special occasion and definitely deserves a party."
I noticed Gajeel looking around the room, likely looking for Juvia, I better make this quick before he says something, "So thanks for coming to celebrate my marriage-"I sat back waiting for the surge of voices to calm, "-and here's my bride, Juvia Dreyar." Juvia walked forward at what had been a boisterous roar of voices went nearly silent in what had to be shock and the only voice heard was Levy giving a squeal.
Juvia gave a wave as we joined the others on the main floor, I felt I had owed the woman an entrance and she looked happy. "When did this go down," Gajeel asked as he approached her but before I could say anything she held up her hand to calm him down.
"We eloped and honeymooned in the capitol, it was sudden but it was so perfect." with that smile on her face no one dared ask any more questions to ruin her night.
...
A few weeks in we had found a rhythm of sorts but had also discovered some things that made sharing a life a little harder. I worked at the guild through the day and already discovered I did not much care for the idea of her taking long missions when I was stuck behind unable to go. She had moved into my larger home and I discovered quickly that I was lucky to have more than one bathroom since she would take baths for hours at a time making it near impossible to get in for any reason. Though the first few struggles I was pleased to hear from Alzack that no relationship is easy once you live together, and he had his own plethora of issues with Bisca when they first cohabitated.
Today was a normal morning with paperwork stacked on my desk from Natsu's last city wide destruction and I looked up from my paperwork to find Lyon Vastia from Lamia Scale in my office door. "Good Morning Laxus, I heard through the grapevine congratulations are in order."
"Yep, now if you want to get me a wedding present get that damn fire dragon under control before I have to kill him." pushing the papers aside I decided it was as good a time as any for a break, "What can I do for you?"
"I came by to give you the news myself, I am taking over as Guild Master of Lamia Scale and we will be seeing a lot more of each other now.
"I'm surprised Jura didn't take the position,"
"It was his to accept but he said he had too much on his plate being a wizard saint." Lyon paused for a moment before continuing "But I also wanted to say, on a more personal note, that I think you are good for Juvia. Ultear and I used to see her at Gray's grave every single time we visited, but Ultear said it was empty her last visit, and when I came into town she wasn't there. I worried she would never move past his death, but she's finally beginning a real life that is centered around her instead of what she lost."
I ran my hand over the stubble on my face, 'I don't know what to say to all that, but Thank You I guess."
"That works," he said with a chuckle. "you know I used to think I would convince her to come live with me, but obviously she never wanted that, I am glad she didn't push herself to do that if she didn't want to."
Mira peeked in my door interrupting our meeting, "Natsu is back, I believe you wanted to speak with him." I gave a grin to Lyon before going to confront my biggest cost since taking over the guild.
"NATSU! Can't you idiots go one mission without destroying something? Your team is singlehandedly bleeding the guild dry, and I am gonna have to end up filing the guild for bankruptcy if you don't get it under control." I towered over the pink haired fool while he smiled back at me like the words hadn't reached his ears. I wanted to smash him through the wall but that kind of thing is frowned upon when you are in charge.
"Laxus," Juvia's soft voice carried from behind me, "I have been looking over the books and I have actually found some funds that would cover this repair bill" she flipped through the folder in her hands, "and maybe you should consider garnishing his job payments to build a fund to cover his bills."
"What?! That's no fair!" Natsu yelled.
"That should work nicely, and you might want to thank the woman who just saved you from getting pounded for your lunch money." I laughed. Natsu opened his mouth to protest again and I used the loudest voice I could muster, "DISMISSED!"
I followed Juvia back into my office, "You're amazing, you know that right?"
She smiled my direction, "you're too kind, I just found a simple clerical error and suggested a way to cover his mistakes out of his own pocket, it's really nothing."
I walked forward to kiss her on the cheek but at the last second I let myself go in the moment and pushed her against the bookshelf for a more passionate kiss. Pulling back I saw her deep blush and shining eyes.
"what was that for?" she asked
I froze, it wasn't for anything necessarily, I saw her confusion and reacted, "Just...because?" damn I heard the question in my statement. She laughed and walked out of the room.
After finishing my work I headed home, Juvia had left just before me and I imagined finding her cooking or making tea the way she did every night, but walking up the path I saw the house was dark. I opened the door and looked around but she hadn't been there, there were no signs of her making it back. I suddenly wondered where she could be, somewhere between the guild and home she must have stopped, but most things weren't open at this hour. Making my way back toward the guild I caught the slightest waft of her scent, soft like rain, turning to follow it I knew I was right...it was coming from the cemetery.
I wanted to walk directly up to her when I saw her standing at Gray's headstone, but I was afraid of startling her and I didn't know if she wanted me to be there. At the same time, I didn't want to leave and found myself standing at the tree-line watching as she sat, placing her hand on the stone next to her."
"Hello Gray-sama, I have been meaning to come talk to you, I have just been so nervous and actually pretty busy. "
There was a pause that went on for minutes, I wondered if she was going to continue when I heard her take a deep breath.
"I got married, I wasn't even seeing anyone and now I've been married almost two weeks. Oh," she laughed softly, "more surprising, It's Laxus, and that makes me the wife of a guild master."
She sunk back on her heels, a sob broke through the and a light rain started.
He's good to me thought, I want you to know that. I'm not lonely anymore, and the guild members even come around me again. I know that they just didn't know what to say but they never came back and it hurt. I was ready to leave Fairy Tail when Laxus saved me."
"I still love you Gray-sama. Please know that will never ever change, I hope you are happy and I miss you so much my love."
Heavy sobs break out and I can't take it anymore, I move to her like I was drawn by a magnet and put my coat around her. I look at the headstone and remember the mage who it is there for and say the only think I can think of, "I promise I will take care of her."
