Chapter2. Their confessions

Summary. It doesn't matter; he loves her anyway.


7

Her beloved guild was quiet when they arrived.

Juvia's eyes traveled around and she saw familiar faces, all were dressed in black just like her and Mei.

Candles were lightened at the far most corner of the guild, Juvia pulled her daughter gently close to her as they approached the aisle. They began to walk in silence, unaware of the eyes glued to them. It was not obvious that everyone is shock to see her and also with a child tagging along on her side.

A large picture of their guild master was placed in the front, candles were placed beside it.

Juvia couldn't help but drop her head and shoulders dejectedly, a tear escaped from her eyes, her blue hair shielding her face.

"Mama…" called her child and her eye shifted on her. "Why are you crying?" Mei's lips curled in attempt of crying as well.

She expected everyone to be angry at her, after all, she vanished six years ago from their lives. But she has no choice but to return and pay her respects towards their deceased Master.

But instead, she felt arms hugging her and when she looked up, her guild mates were all over her, crying as well.

"We thought that we would never find you, Juvia." It was Mira who hugged her, and Juvia began to cry helplessly.

8

Levy gave her a cup of coffee when they settled on one of the benches laid at the guild.

"We missed you." The shorter girl hugged her.

They never imagined that this could be the day that they're all going to be complete; by Makarov's funeral.

Mages from different guilds were also present and Juvia had recognized some of them, she took a sip of her coffee before looking back at Levy. "Im sorry that we had to meet each other like this."

The bluenette shook her head, "Im sure that Master is very happy that were all together now. All his children were now here with him."

9

When Juvia heard the news about Makarov's death, she immediately packed her and Mei's things. She grabbed her emergency tickets back to magnolia and hurried their way back. It took them a day to finally arrive and the child beside her had already fallen asleep, her small head was laid on Juvia's lap, while the water mage run her fingers across her daughter's orange tresses.

It was already late in the afternoon when some of the guests departed, leaving the guild members to mourn for their previous master.

"It will be Laxus who's going to inherit the title." Mira said, taking a seat in front of Juvia. "It was Master's wishes, even his grandson was no longer interested with it." They both looked at the said blonde sat on the corner, still mourning as well. Juvia has told him her condolences when she had the chance, and the said man quietly nodded, but still greeted her, happy enough to see her after six long years.

"Now tell me who is this beautiful child?" Mira asked carefully as she turned her eyes at the child on Juvia's lap.

The bluenette gave her a meaningful look before smiling, "Her name is Mei and-" she kissed the child's temple. "She's my daughter."

Levy couldn't believe what she had just heard. A thought of possibility had passed on her mind but she shove it away, there's no way that Juvia would- but her eyes shifted on Mei, and her eyes softened.

"Y-you must be really happy now." She commented, and Mira nodded.

Juvia glanced back at her. "She's precious to me, she's my Mei."

The two other mages looked at each other. A heart beat passed and Levy decided to speak again.

"She's beautiful."

10

Mirajane suggested that Juvia should put Mei first in one of the spare rooms at the guild, the child was still sleeping and was obviously tired from their traveling.

After she put the girl on the bed, Juvia stayed for a couple of minutes before returning to the hall.

It was her time to finally talk with some of her guild mates and an hour passed, another wave of guests has arrived and she chose to help Mira and the others to attend on them.

She was busy offering coffees to the guests that she did not noticed Natsu arriving with some of their guildmates.

They were assigned to fix their Master's burial place, led by Erza who immediately noticed Juvia.

Lucy gasped upon seeing the familiar girl, tears spilled from her eyes. Unknown to them, black eyes had already spotted the said water mage, and soon footsteps followed.

Juvia turned her head to the side, greeting a guest who had recognized her. When she returned on her task, she was pulled roughly by her elbows. She looked up to see who is the sudden enforcer and her eyes widened.

"Gray-sama…"

His black eyes were narrowed and Juvia's eyes filled her face, the memories of her past with him came rushing in an instant.

He remained silent, still holding her tightly. Juvia frowned at the bruising grip, her eyes moved past his and she exhaled heavily.

"S-sorry." He muttered and looked down, looking lost. "I-I just thought that you're not real and-" he stopped and looked back on her eyes. "You're back."

She gulped.

"Y-yes, Juvia is back." She lowered her eyes on her boots before continuing. "But Juvia will not stay here for long."

Dread quickly showed in face. She finally materialized before him, after six long years he finally found her and she- this beautiful woman was telling him that she'll be gone soon again.

He moved forward and she took a step behind.

It was better for them not to get close with each other and Juvia's instinct tells her that she needs to go away.

She wonders what he has been doing at first but her mind quickly set off to the child she just hugged earlier. Juvia was reminded that the man in front of her was now only a glimpse of her happy-eighteen-year-old-self.

"C-can we talk alone?" hurt was flashed on his handsome face, but still he tried making a move.

For a moment there, the water mage hesitated, biting her lower lip nervously as she hid both of her hand behind her. Gray took the chance to wait and observe her now different features. She looked fuller and her blue hair, it was longer and wavier. His eyes traveled back on her eyes and stared for each other.

"I-I…" she started, blinking her gaze away from him. She needs to get away.

"Let's talk." He said, he reached out and laid his palm in front for her, ready to take her away from the peering gaze the people were throwing at them, she glanced on the offered hand then back on his handsome face. She knew that she'd be in trouble the moment he found her, she tried her best not to be affected by his longing gaze but she failed, big time.

A tug on her skirt made her avert her eyes, she looked down and saw her Mei looking confusedly at her then back to Gray.

"Mama?" asked Mei, she rubbed a knuckle on her eyes before blinking clearly towards Gray, her doll clutched on her side. Without a word, Juvia kneeled down on her level, her eyes soft and loving.

Gray remained frozen on his spot. He stared at the orange-haired girl, unable to remove his gaze away from her. Did he just heard her say 'Mama' to Juvia?

"Look," Juvia rubbed the child's back. "Mama needs to talk to her friend, is it okay if you stay with Mira-nee for awhile?"

Small head bobbed up and down, "I'll wait for you Mama." And the child began walking towards the white-haired barmaid, which the said woman opened her arms and hugged the child lovingly on her arms.

11

"How are you doing, Gray-sama?" she asked, looking down on her tea as she tried her best not to look at his face.

"…"

When she got no response from him, Juvia tilted her head to the side, the gesture she makes everytime he leaves her question hanging between them. Gray's scowl deepened upon seeing her reaction, his heart twisting inside his chest.

"Where have you been?" he asked suddenly, his gaze became heavy and needy, she knew that she needs to answer him right away; And that would be her old self will be saying. Her heart longed for him and she didn't know what to tell him first, she has a long story for her to tell him and she doubts if he would understand and accept her.

She thinks that's impossible so she smiled anyways, giving him her most trustful smile.

"It's been so long, Juvia apologizes if we had to meet in this kind of situation." A bitter smile covered her lips, she lifted her eyes to him. "Master must be really disappointed with me."

He threw her a concerned looked.

"I know that I can't just appear whenever I want, it's very rude but I had to."

"Master lived long enough," he started, "that's what he told us before he drew his last breath." He moved his eyes away from her and sighed. "I know he understands why you didn't cameback."

She nodded, smiling despite the threatening fall of her tears.

Silence took over them, until Gray gathered up his courage to break it.

"I've searched for you," he paused, glancing on her hands which were placed on top of the table. "and I never stopped." He switched his black eyes on her face, his mouth in a thin line.

She gasped audibly in front of him, her heart swelled at the sensations she's feeling. This is not good.

"Juvia doesn't want to talk about it."

His eyes widened.

"But we have to talk about it. About us." He emphasized his last words. "I know that I became a jerk, but can we fix this? I can't just sit around now that you're finally here with me."

"We can talk but… not about us."

"What do you mean?" hurt flashed on his face, and he congratulated himself because his voice did not cracked.

"Let just put away what happened back then, I know you have reasons for leaving me behind but Juvia has hers too. She searched too and I didn't stop until I," he hold his breath, "…had Mei."

Juvia knew that know that it started it can't be stop. She let out a sigh before finally talking about them.

"After the disbandment, I chose to tag along myself with you, but after six months you went missing." She explained, remembering how she was pained back then. "Juvia searched and left the village where we used to live, rain followed me everywhere but I encountered this specific town where everyone is very nice." She smiled at the thought, remembering a certain friend where she met there. "When I fully recovered my health, I began searching again but I found myself unable to take another step. During that time, I found out that fairy tail returned and I decided not to go back."

Gray clenched his fist at the table, "It's not your fault."

"You're not either, so don't blame yourself Gray-sama."

"But-" he slumped his shoulders forward, she's slowly slipping away from his grasp. "We could start again."

She shook her head.

"T-The moment I had Mei, I already knew that we will never be the same, Gray."

Gray's eyes blinked.

"The truth is, I am not Mei's biological mother." She confessed, "Originally, I planned to go back at guild, but when I was on my way, there, I found Mei." Tears escaped her eyes as she recollected the moment she found the child.

"She was so small and fragile, crying helplessly until I took her in my arms, the rain stopped immediately and I found myself walking back at that town. I decided to raise her and I chose her, a stranger over you. Im sorry."

His throat went dry at her revelations.

"Her parents must not like her that's why they threw her away and I don't want her to be lost just like me. " she sobbed, her shoulders jerking and Gray was afraid that she might break at any moment. "Honestly, the day I took her in my arms, that's the moment I threw away my everything." You.

Gray went to her side without any word and hugged her. He might take his time to process everything she has told him but he knows that Juvia was on her weakest point and he knows that he can help her.

12

As soon as the two finally arrived back at the guild, Gray never let go of her hand. Feeling uncomfortable, Juvia tried to pull her hand away from his, but the ice mage was stubborn enough to grasp it even more.

Mei came running on them, her eyes smiling as soon as she spotted her Mama.

The two hugged each other and Gray saw how Juvia glowed around Mei's presence.

"I would like to know more about her," he kneeled down on the child's level. He patted her orange hair before smiling, "Hi, I am Gray."

Mei looked back on her mother before smiling at Gray, and boy, the ice mage was blinded. "My name is Mei, sir, nice to meet you." She bowed her head, smiling gratefully.

13

"We will be staying here for the time being." Juvia announced as they both stepped inside the rented house, Mei on her arms as the child fell asleep along the way.

Gray remained standing on the door way, unable to remove his eyes away from the water mage as she put the child on their bed.

After making sure that her child was comfortable on her position, Juvia stood up and faced him. "Do you want anything?" she asked.

He shook his head and Juvia was left to admire his handsome features.

"A lot had happed today." He spoke and she nodded in return, pulling her thick hair on her side.

"You must be tired already, you must go home now."

"…"

"…"

"How long are you going to stay here, Juvia?"

She thought for moment, "Maybe a week? Mei doesn't have enough time, she has school, you see?" she smiled.

He nodded, understanding it. He looked back on her smiling face, Gray felt the sudden urge to tell her something he wanted to tell her a few years back then; the moment he realized he was in love with her and he knew he shouldn't be wasting his time. He needed to be with her, right now.

"Juvia," he called her, his voice low and deep. "Let's get married."


an: the good fellas who reviewed, followed and fav'ed, I LOVE YOU, BIG TIME! until next chapter!