It was a loud and happy day at Fairy Tail. The weather outside was pretty and the Hall was filled with balloons and laughter. It was Storm Fullbuster's first birthday and everyone was joining in on the party.
The little birthday boy looked delighted in his best clothes with facepaint done by Reedus on both cheeks. His smile was wide and excited the entire day and he had never looked more excited than when he sat among his pile of presents and tore into the gifts one after another.
When the night was coming to a close, he even got excited enough to take his first steps walking towards where his mother held a tiny version of his birthday cake for just him to eat. Juvia was having a fantastic day too, but, when the baby was having fun with the Dragon Slayers of the guild in a weird game of catch, she took a minute to walk outside and stare at the moon to think of the only person missing that night.
"It's exhausting, isn't it?" A smooth voice from the other side of the doorway was asking Juvia. She turned to see Cana standing with a bottle in one hand, eyes on the end of the stone path. "Waiting for someone to come back, I mean. You just watch the moon and flip the pages of the calendar, but time goes real slow."
Juvia nodded slowly, her eyes on Cana now.
"I'm sorry," she said, taking a swig from the bottle. "I didn't mean to just ramble off like that."
Juvia shook her head. "Juvia appreciates a little conversation."
Cana gave her a little smile. "I just thought I knew what you'd be thinking about. I've made that face, stood against the doorway enough times."
"Juvia just noticed it's been more than a year is all," she mumbled.
Cana nodded. "But you think he'll come back, don't you?"
Juvia smiled. "Juvia has no doubt."
Cana nodded. "Then what's to worry about?"
Juvia laughed lightly, nodding toward where Storm laughed over the wrestling Iron and Fire Dragon Slayers. "Juvia's not exactly sure how to... How she will explain to Gray-sama about Storm."
Cana laughed. "Oh, right. I forgot I could put off telling my Dad he was my Dad and you can't quite do that."
Juvia chuckled.
Cana nodded. "Thought of what to say?" She asked after a pause.
Juvia shook her head.
It was quiet for a moment and Cana started to walk off.
"Well, see, how I figured it was he was my Dad so anyway I said it, it would still be true. It meant a lot to him anyhow," Cana said.
Juvia watched her walk off and smiled. Cana was very smart at times.
One more chapter down, guys ^^ Just like I promised.
Looks like Juvia's got a lot to worry about nowadays, and Gray still isn't back. Stay tuned for more.
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And most of all, thank you for reading.
-J