AN: The final chapter!

Thanks to all who read, followed, reviewed or favorite! It helped to keep my motivation.

I don't know if (and when) I would write another fanfic but I was glad to write this story!

Now, enjoy the chapter!


Chapter 8: Reunion in the rain

Juvia opened the Guild's doors in wide and shouted joyfully: "Juvia is back!"

While all members greeted her, a little girl with dark hair ran towards her and Juvia knelt down just in time to catch her when she jumped in her arms screaming: "Mama!"

Juvia laughed and kissed her cheek then she took her hand and walked towards Levy who was sitting on a bench.

"Gajeel-kun is coming." The water mage announced to her friend. "He stopped on the way to bring your books which you ordered few days ago and to buy chocolate."

Levy sighed in relief as she caressed her round stomach. "Great! I finished the last bar last night. I wasn't in a good mood this morning when he left."

Juvia giggled. "He was grumbling the entire morning. But the mission went well. Thank you to take care of the children. I hope they didn't make you tired." She looked to the little girl who had returned to play with others kids.

Levy shook her head.

"Mira kept an eye on the older while I took a nap with Urian." She said smiling to a little boy about two years old who had approached them.

He handed to Juvia a page full of scribbles and colored spots.

"Thank you, darling! What did you draw?"

"Mama!" He showed her a blue doodle and then a black scribbling near to a pink one. "Dad and Unc'Natsu!"

Juvia bit her lip to prevent her laugh. "Mama thinks your dad will love your art."

With a giggle, Levy said. "You should add flowers. Gray had liked it when you drew your mama and your Uncle Lyon with a lot of flowers!"

The boy smiled widely before taking back his drawing and going back to his sister who was making blue mustaches to a blond boy wearing a blue outfit. Juvia raised a brow to Levy.

"He wants to look like Happy." The bookworm explained. "He had spent the last hour running everywhere and shouting 'Aye, sir!'"

"Juvia feels sorry for Lucy…" Juvia said with compassion and Levy nodded.

As Gajeel entered the guild hall with a pile of books in one arm and a bag full of chocolate in the other, Juvia let Levy greet him and went to report to Mirajane.

"Oh Juvia!" The barmaid exclaimed with a smile. "I have a letter for you."

A bit surprised, Juvia thanked her friend and took the envelope. She looked for a sender and frowned when she read the name of a hospital very far in the East. As she read the letter, Mirajane saw her turn pale and asked her if something was wrong. But Juvia reassured her with a smile and put the letter in her pocket.

She didn't mention it when Gray, Natsu and others came back. She laughed when Gray saw Urian's drawing and grimaced, and she listened to her daughter telling her every detail about her day.

But her mind was elsewhere as she cooked and she forgot salt and almost burned the diner. Gray said nothing and proposed to get the kids to bed.

She was still focused on the letter as she did the dishes. She didn't know what to do.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Gray approach behind her, and he startled her when he put his hands on her hips. He put his chin on her shoulder and whispered.

"I think this plate is clean. You were already washing it when I put the kids to bed."

She blushed and put the plate aside.

"You were pensive all the evening. Is something the matter?"

Juvia sighed and pressed her back more against his torso.

"Juvia received a letter from a hospital. They said that her uncle is one of their patients. Years ago, he was seriously injured on his head and since then, he lost his memory. They investigated but couldn't find out his identity until now."

She stopped her talking and put her hand on Gray's.

"They ask Juvia to come to see him and confirm his identity. And fix some administrative issues." She sighed again. "Juvia doesn't know what to do. She had tried to find him years ago after her faintness at Ipomea. But she had found nothing."

"Yeah, I know. You told me that he had spent six years in jail but he disappeared when he was released."

She nodded. "Maybe he had changed his name. But the doctors say that he was found lying in an alley, covert by blood. Apparently, he had been beaten by many men."

Gray felt her trembled against him. "Do you think his ancient partners found him and get revenge?"

"Maybe… Or he had continued his bad dealings and one of his plans ended badly."

They remained silent during a moment before Gray asked "Do you want to see him?"

"I don't know." She answered using the first person and Gray knew she was doubtful. "And what if the hospital cannot keep him and ask us to take him with us? Juvia doesn't know if she can take care of him."

"You're not really worried about it, don't you? You have so much love you could take in an unknown man if he was injured, and few minutes after he would be part of the family. And you will not alone. I'm here." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "So? What are you afraid?"

She closed her eyes briefly and answered. "Juvia doesn't know if she has forgiven. She knows he did this to protect her but he had never tried to see me. I hoped so often to see someone come and take me away from the orphanage… Maybe he doesn't want to see me… Besides, he should no longer remember me."

"You will have your answer when you see him. I know what it's like to see a ghost of the past. But deep inside you, you want to see him, don't you?"

Juvia hesitated but nodded.

Gray smiled. "So, you don't have to hesitate. You would have regrets if you don't go. I'll take care of the children during your absence. Or do you prefer I come with you?"

She smiled and turned in his arms to face him. She put her arms around his neck.

"Maybe another time. Gray-same helped a lot."

"Hum…." He mumbled and buried his face in her hair while his fingers ran up the length of her back. "If so, can I get a reward?"

She laughed softly and kissed him.

###

Standing in front of the large white building, Juvia felt a bit nervous. The building reminded her the orphanage of her childhood.

She took a deep breath and pushed the door. The woman at the reception desk raised her head when Juvia walked towards her.

"I announced my arrival in a letter. My name is Juvia Lockser Fullbuster."

"Oh! Yes! Wait a minute please. I'll come back with the director."

The director was a middle age woman with black hair and she shook Juvia's hand with energy.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Fullbuster. As I said in the letter, we had some difficulties to locate you. It took many months to understand who were these persons Ian was talking about. And then, one of our patients remembered your mother a day when Ian was talking about concerts."

She paused in her speech and led Juvia to her office. Then she invited Juvia to sit down and opened a file with Ian's name.

"We read old newspapers and we found information about your parents and their… tragic incident. But we couldn't find out what had happened to you and your uncle. Only few weeks ago, a young nurse who was just beginning her internship told us about the victory of Fairy Tail in the Grand Magic Games years ago. We showed him your picture but Ian had no reaction."

Juvia felt a pain in her stomach but she nodded. She had expected it but getting the confirmation made her sad.

"About what happened to your uncle" The director added. "We only can presume that he had been beaten by many men. One of his ribs and his right arm were broken, but he has recovered and is doing well. Our particular concern is his amnesia. His head injury probably results from a stone or a heavy object. The shock caused lesions and memory loss. He remembers only few details. Sometimes, he talks about his parents or his brother. Occasionally about his sister-in-law. But most of the time, he remains silent. And he doesn't understand where he is; even if sometimes he thinks he is in jail, he doesn't seem to care about it. He sits still looking away and doesn't respond to our demands. But he is not aggressive."

Juvia nodded again to show that she was listening but deep inside her, she felt empty. The woman cleared her throat to broach a sensitive subject.

"We have developed a medical protocol in hope it would help Ian to recover his memory. But we cannot guarantee results. The brain damage could be irreversible. We ask you to confirm Ian's identity and give us your consent about the protocol. If you want to read it…" She added as she handed the file to Juvia.

But Juvia stopped her holding a hand up.

"Before that, can Juvia see her uncle? To see his state of mind on my own?"

The director blinked briefly before getting up from her chair. "Of course! Follow me please." She led her to a large room with wide windows overlooking a garden with a pond.

There were many patients in this room, some of them were talking or playing cards. Before the director pointed him, Juvia recognized her uncle seated on a wheelchair and looking outside. She thanked the director and joined him in a slow pace.

He didn't react when she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Uncle?" She whispered as she leaned a little.

He turned his head and looked at her with an empty gaze. But then his eyes widened and a grin formed on his face.

"Alma? It's nice to come to see me. It's a curious prison, isn't it? I can't remember why I am here. It must be more serious than a stolen wallet." He chuckled. "Do you know how long I have to stay?"

Juvia shook her head, feeling a pain in her heart. She sit on a chair next to him and took his hand between hers hoping he would talk again but he only looked and smiled at her.

He was older than her memory. Some of his hair was grey and his forehead was wrinkled, but his smile was the same.

They remained silent for a while, in which Juvia tried to hold her tears. As she wiped discretely the corner of her eyes she saw a young nurse walking towards them. When she saw Juvia staring at her, the young nurse blushed. She took a breath and joined them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you… I… Can you sign an autograph, please?"

Shyly, she handed her a pad of paper and Juvia nodded smiling. She was a bit younger than Wendy, Juvia thought as she signed her name to the girl's delight.

"You're the girl who told the director about me and Fairy Tail?" She asked giving back the pad.

The girl blushed ten shades darker and nodded furiously. Juvia smiled again and thanked her. The girl bowed in response before being called by an older nurse.

"You become famous." Ian said out of the blue. "You should have more and more concert, don't you? Jim may be a bit jealous! By the way, he didn't come with you? What a brother!"

Juvia felt new tears welled in her eyes and she breathed deeply to calm down.

"No. He has work to do." She responded as gently as she could. "He will come next time."

"I'm sure he will have fun giving me a lesson." Ian mumbled.

"He is really worried about you." She argued unable to prevent herself to defend her father.

Ian groaned and turned back his head towards the window.

They sat in silence for a long time. Juvia was biting her lower lip wondering if she should continue pretend to be her mother. When she was no longer able to deal with the heavy atmosphere and the looks that people gave them, she stood up and asked.

"We could go outside, maybe? The weather is nice."

Ian nodded and Juvia wasted no time to take the handles of the wheelchair. As soon as they were outside, she breathed with relief and relaxed.

She pushed the wheelchair through the park driveways with trees and flower beds. She stopped beside the pond, turned the wheelchair and sat down on a bench.

"I hope I will not stay long." Ian said suddenly. "I promised to Juvia to take her to a magic show! She will like it, don't you think?"

The rhythm of her heartbeat increased with his words. He remembered her! Her eyes watered and with a lump in her throat she answered. "Yes, she will like it. And she will be glad to see you."

"Hey! I'm the best uncle of the world, after all! And you and Jim could spend some time with each other!" He added with a wink. "Before long Juvia will claim a little brother, you know?"

His smile was so genuine she couldn't help but smile. They talked for a little while and Ian promised to stop his scams. Juvia said nothing and continued to act like her mother.

But at some point, the sky darkened. Juvia made their way back when a light rain started to fall. She rushed but when they arrived under the awning they were drenched.

She took a handkerchief to dry her face, but as she leaned to dry her uncle's face she saw his blank expression.

"Unc… Ian." She rectified. "Something's wrong?"

He looked up and stared at her.

"Ian? Are you feeling bad?" She asked again with worries.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered as tears began to fall on his cheeks. "I'm really sorry. I did this to protect you. They threatened you. I had to put you away from me. I'm so sorry… sorry…"

"Oh, Uncle Ian!" Juvia exclaimed wrapping her arms around him and crying as well. He really remembered! He knew who she was!

"I have always been a feckless. I wanted you to be happy but I was unable to take care of you. We were poor and I did more and more dangerous things. I couldn't bring you in my decay. I didn't want to hurt you. I loved you. As my own child. I wanted you to be safe and happy. Forgive me."

"I'm happy, Uncle Ian." She reassured him. "I married the man I love and I have two beautiful children, and wonderful friends. I found a family. You haven't done anything wrong, Uncle Ian!"

When the last tear rolled down, the rain had stopped. Ian raised his hand and brushed some blue strands off her face.

"I'm happy to see you are still so kind. You have grown and become a beautiful woman. You look like your mother."

Smiling, Juvia wiped her tears and answered. "I know. You confounded me with her earlier."

Ian raised a brow and then looked around him.

"Where are we? What did happen to me?" He asked as looked down on the wheelchair.

Juvia explained as clearly as she could.

"Doctors will probably want to keep you to medical examinations to be sure your memory is back."

Ian groaned. "I don't like doctors. They have a crush on you and you don't know when your relationship with them will finish. Same with cops."

"Juvia will come soon to see you, I promise. And when you will be discharged, I'll bring you to Magnolia. You will meet all Juvia's family."

For few minutes, her uncle stared at her mouth agape before he raised a hand and wiped a tear in the corner of his eye.

"You don't have to force yourself. You owe me nothing. And I will not be the best influence for your children."

"Don't worry!" Juvia laughed. "For the bad influence, with an aunt in love with alcohol, another who puts her sword on your throat if you eat her cake, an uncle who wants to fight all the time and a father who strips without thinking, my children have choice! But they have the best family of the world!"

END


AN: I hope this chapter met your expectations!

Memory loss is a Lockser family thing ha ha ^^

I didn't give names for the next generation except for the name Urian because I fell in love with this name in a story by BonneyQ. And I realized while I was writing that it was composed of UR and IAN, so the foster parents names for both Gray and Juvia! (I didn't do it on purpose, I swear!)

Thank you again and see you soon!