AN: I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you enjoy reading ;)

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Bonds

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Gray got inside the Guild and looked around for a few seconds until he spotted his wife on a table close to a window. She was easy to find with her beautiful blue hair and he walked her way, nodding towards some of his friends.

He kissed her cheek from behind and she giggled then leaned so he could kiss Gris' dark hair. The baby was nursing and glanced at Gray, giving his father a smile and then his attention returned to his mother's breast.

"How was she today?" Juvia asked and she caressed Gris' back, looking down lovingly at him.

"Fine." Gray mumbled as he sat next to her, touched their son's covered foot and he marveled how small it was. Rose's feet had been as little before and now...

"Then why are you pouting?" His wife asked.

"I'm not pouting." He said and his pout became bigger.

"Sure you are not." She said, gently, and put a hand on his knee, caressing it with her thumb. "Tell me what happened."

Gray sighed, knowing Juvia would keep asking until he told her why he was in a bad mood. It would be easier to just tell her already.

"Rose went to school without complaining today." He told her. Even though Rose's magical powers were obvious, they still wanted for her to have an education and Rose had just started kindergarten, she was at the same class as Igor and they were inseparable.

Juvia frowned. "That's good… right?"

"Yes, of course it is." Gray groaned and leaned over the tabled, resting his forehead on it. "It's just… I took her there and every day I do that, she asks me if I could come in with her and stay there with her. It's kind of our thing." He mumbled and he could feel her hand on his back, soothing him. "Today she let go of my hand and ran inside, yelling good-bye. She… she let go of my hand."

"Oh, Gray-sama." Juvia said, softly.

"She didn't even look back." He closed his eyes. "She's five now. I know she's not a baby and of course she'll want to do things on her own. I just… I thought we'd have more time."

"Juvia knows how you feel." His wife sighed and Gray moved a bit so he could watch her without raising his head from the table. "Do you know what Juvia loved to do? I loved to nurse her, just like I'm nursing this little one." She looked down to Gris and smiled softly. "I can't even describe it how amazing it is. When I couldn't anymore, I felt awful. By the time I weaned her, she was used to solid food and she asked for me because she was used to it and then she finally stopped altogether. I felt useless."

Gray frowned. "You're not-"

"I know." She told him. "But it was hard to face that she didn't need me as much anymore. Isn't it what you are thinking?" Gray nodded. "Come here." He didn't hesitate to put his arm around her waist and rest his head on her shoulder while he put a hand on Gris's back. "Rose is growing up and she's five now, but she'll always need you and me. Her needs will be different as she grows older, of course, but she's always need her daddy. Our bonds won't change, they'll get stronger."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course." Juvia kissed the top of his head and noticed Gris had finished feeding and she moved him so she could pull her dress back on. "Meanwhile, we still have Gris here who is still very much a baby and won't let go of your hand anytime soon." Juvia passed the baby to his father and Gris was grinning, eyes sparkling in happiness to be with his father and holding his arms up towards Gray.

Smiling, Gray picked up his son and held him close to his chest. "That's true. It's going to take a few years until you do that to your old man, isn't it right?" Gris giggled and moved his legs in excitement. "Maybe we can homeschool you."

Juvia snorted. "Good luck with that. Gris might be quieter, but he's going to bring as much havoc as Rose does. Besides, Rose only has Igor as an accomplice, Gris will have the twins."

Gray laughed. "That's true." He looked at his son. "How about I burp you and we go for a stroll, buddy?" He arranged the child so he had his head resting on his shoulder and Juvia gave him a cloth. "I'll take him now. Go, you said you were going to choose a mission."

"Alright." Juvia tip toed and kissed her husband's lips and then her son's cheek. "Bye bye, baby." Juvia waved and Gris raised his tiny hand in a very babyish wave.

"Come on, Gris. It's just us men, for a while." Gray patted the infant's back, feeling slightly better – Gris too would soon be five and not as dependent on his parent anymore so Gray intended to enjoy every bit of time they had. "Don't grow up too fast, okay?" He told the baby, still patting him lightly on the back lovingly.

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"Who's that, Gris?" Gray asked while pointing towards the school door. The bell had rung and Lucy, who had been waiting for her son with him, walked towards the blonde boy, who was running her way, followed by Rose. "Is that Rose?" The baby in his arms started to clap in excitement, he was very attached to his sister and Gray smiled at his reaction. "That's right, it's Rose."

"Daddy!" Rose run his way, backpack going up and down and her dark curls bounced as she moved and Gray kneeled just in time she threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek. "Hi, Daddy."

"Hi, princess." Gray smiled.

"Hi, Gris." She kissed her baby brother's cheek and Gris shrieked in happiness.

Gray got up from the floor and grabbed her hand. He waved good-bye to Lucy and Igor and so did Rose before they walked their way back home – usually they went to the Guild after school, but Juvia decided to take a mission the next day and she'd want to spend more time with their children. "How was school today?" He asked, watching his daughter. "Did you learn anything cool?"

"Yes!" She smiled his way and she looked adorable without her front tooth, she had lost a baby tooth a couple of weeks before. "I learned the R today, daddy! Did you know my name starts with R?"

"I did." Gray said, amused.

"You have to roll your tongue to say it, like this 'rrrrr'." The little girl said and Gray chuckled.

"You are right. I have it in my name too, the second letter. G-R-A-Y. And so does Gris."

"How about Mama?"

"Say your mother's name and try to hear if she has an 'r' on it." Gray told her.

"Ma-ma." Rose said slowly and Gray laughed.

"No, princess. 'Juvia', that's your mother's name."

"Oh, right. I forgot." The little girl giggled. "Sorry, Daddy."

Rose was skipping her step, happily and saying Juvia's name over and over again, deciding she didn't have a 'r' on her name and she beamed in happiness when Gray confirmed she got the right answer. Gris was looking at his sister and his father and made cooing sound to get their attention from time to time and Gray was truly happy.

Rose might be more independent, but Juvia was right, their bonds wouldn't get any weaker because of that; together they were stronger.

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AN: I love Daddy!Gray. :D

Thanks to: Dragonll237, doramassilvi, CaptainHuggyFace413 (it wasn't a bad pun at all! LOL), cybercorpsesnake, Guest, lica, laefa (mine would've too HAHA), thelilicca and Gakupoid2m, who reviewed! You are amazing :3

12/10/2016 ~ BonneyQ