Chapter 10
Moments go by in silence, Juvia is still in Gray's arms. They don't know what to say to each other.
'This is strange but good.' Gray thinks.
'Juvia has been waiting so long for this. It's finally happening.' Juvia rejoices. 'But what exactly is happening? Gray-sama is not saying anything. This is just like every time. Is Gray-sama toying with Juvia again?' Suddenly, Juvia begins to feel uncertain about the situation.
She pulls away quickly and puts some distance in between them. Gray is confused by the sudden loss of warmth.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"What exactly is Gray-sama trying to do?" She questions him.
"I want to make things right."
"Make things right by not saying anything again? Make things right by leading me on? Gray-sama, I can't do this anymore. It's come to a point where… I don't know where this is going." Tears drop down her face.
Gray cringes at her tone. But it hurts him to see her in pain. He takes her hands and leads her to the bed. He makes her sit down and he kneels in front of her and takes her hands in his.
"I'm really sorry. I don't want to see you cry." He wipes her tears. "This is not easy for me but I want you to know now."
"What does Gray-sama want Juvia to know?" Juvia asks, perplexed. 'Gray-sama is finally going to say it!'
"I lost my parents and Ur when I was very young, you know that." He pauses and she nods. "I love my parents but I lost them. And just when I was finally beginning to trust and open up to Ur, I lost her too. So, I somehow felt that I'm always going to lose the people who are close to me."
Juvia is about to wrap her arms around Gray. Gray stops her. "Lemme finish." Juvia understands.
"When I came to Fairy Tail, At first, it was just me and Cana and sometimes even Laxus then later others came to the guild. I found a new family and it made me happy. I just wanted to get stronger to be able to protect Fairy Tail. Sometime after I came here, Erza joined. I have had the biggest crush on her since I saw her crying by the river when we were little. She is so strong and fragile at the same time. I know she doesn't see me that way but she is someone special to me." He chuckles as he remembers.
'This is not what Juvia was expecting to hear. Don't tell Juvia that Erza-san has been Juvia's love rival all this time instead of Lucy-san. No, no, no, no, no, no, no….no!' Juvia is lost in her thoughts.
She puts a hand on his mouth, confusing Gray, "Gray-sama, is this the part where Gray-sama tells Juvia that he is actually in love with Erza-san and not with Juvia? If that's the case then Juvia doesn't want to hear anymore. I understand." Juvia steels herself.
"What? What are you going on about? Didn't tell you to let me finish?" Gray asks exasperatedly. 'Man, this is tougher than I thought and I haven't even gotten to the tough part yet!'
"When I first met you, I didn't really notice you that much because at that time you were my enemy. And also because you gave out a really gloomy aura. But then you help us save Erza from Jellal and I realised that you are a very brave person and that you are really serious about joining Fairy Tail." He smiles and brushes his knuckles against her cheek.
"Lucy told me how you fought though you were possessed by some weird hair guy. After joining Fairy Tail, I noticed the changes in you. You were not gloomy, you got along with everyone just fine and you treat everyone with respect. You fit here."
Juvia blushes at Gray's statement.
"Cana told me what you did during the Harvest festival. You injured yourself so Cana could go on fight Fried. All this that you do when you are fighting the enemy are the things that impress me, not baking 'Gray buns' although I must admit they are good." His cheeks go slightly red and he scratches the back on his neck awkwardly. Juvia chuckles.
"That being said, I don't want you to injure yourself every time you are in a fight." He looks to the side awkwardly, "I get worried when you pull stunts like that." He mutters to himself.
"What was that?" She asks.
"Nothing." He continues, "When you blatantly state that you are in love with me and do all the things you do to show it, I get really overwhelmed. I don't understand how I can be so important to you when we have not even had that kind of interaction."
He looks at her, "Slowly but surely, I started liking having you around. I get crazy jealous when I see you with other guys." Gray stops, realising what he just admitted. "I was not supposed to tell you this. Forget I mentioned that."
"Juvia is never going to forget this." She smirks at him.
He sighs, "When Acnologia attacked us, I wanted to get you to safety so bad. That was the first time, I thought, I could lose you. And I didn't want that."
"Juvia felt the same but Juvia couldn't do anything at that time." Juvia says with downcast eyes.
"None of us could." He placed a hand on her cheek, "So, now that I'm here I want you to know that I don't want to lose you and that I want to be with you as well." He kisses her cheek.
Juvia's face turns red. "Did Gray-sama just say that he wants to be with Juvia?"
He chuckles.
"Juvia is in love with Gray-sama." She says shyly.
Gray's eyes widen at the emotion in her voice. 'This is the tough part, Gray! The moment you say it, it'll all become real, more real than ever.'
"Juvia, I… I… I-"
"Gray-sama, it's fine. Gray-sama doesn't have to say it just because Juvia has said it. Juvia can wait until Gray-sama is ready."
He sighs in relief, "Juvia, I'm sorry. I want to say it. Gimme a little while more." He places a kiss on her forehead, then on the tip of her nose. That action makes her crinkle her nose. She closes her eyes and waits for the next kiss. Gray pulls back a little and chuckles at her eagerness.
She pouts though her eyes are still closed, "What's funny, Gray-sama?"
"Nothing." And he kisses her. He wraps his arms around her closer to him. She loses her balance on the bed and they both fall on the floor. They look at each other and laugh.
They both get up and lie down on the bed and continue talking, occasionally stealing kisses from each other. Eventually, they fall asleep in each other's embrace.
Gray wakes up in the middle on the night. 'Where am I? This isn't my room.' He finds Juvia in his arms. 'Right, we were talking.' He smiles thinking about their conversation. "Hey Juvia, I'm in love with you too." He whispers in her ear.
She smiles in her sleep and he kisses her head. "Don't you dare, die on me! I'll protect you no matter what." He places a soft kiss on her temple. He goes back to sleep, blissfully.
Next day in the guild.
Natsu and Lucy walk in together, hand in hand. The rest of the guild members stare at them and whisper amongst themselves.
"Hey Natsu, shouldn't you be with Juvia?" Macao asks.
"Are you already cheating on Juvia?" Wakaba adds.
"No." Then Natsu explains and everybody listens.
"Can't believe that brat managed to pull off something like that!" Makarov grumbles.
"Master, you should never under estimate the power of love." Mirajane tells him with a bright smile.
"You knew all along, didn't you?"
She nods enthusiastically.
"Natsu, how could you?" Happy asks him accusingly. "I'm your best friend and you still didn't tell me!"
"Happy, you would have told everybody." Natsu points out.
"Aye, that is true!" He jumps cheerfully at Natsu. "I'm happy for you, Natsu! Now, I have to get Carla and then we'll go on a double date and have lots of fish!" Happy declares cheerfully.
"Not happening." Lucy and Carla say at the same time and shake their heads.
"It's not a bad idea!" Natsu tries. But one look from Lucy shuts him up.
Gray walks in amidst the commotion.
"Oye Gray! How did it go?" Natsu calls out to him.
He looks at him with disinterest, "I don't discussion personal matters with you."
"GRAY…" he starts to shout but stops, "fine, I'll just ask Juvia about it."
"Don't go near her, Natsu!" Gray warns him in cold voice.
"Gray-sama…" He turns to look at her and she smiles brightly at him, "Good morning!"
"G-Good morning." He turns around and takes a seat at the bar.
Juvia is disappointed by his reaction, 'Maybe, he needs time. Yup, that's it.' She spots Natsu, Lucy and Happy at a table and joins them.
"Looks like things worked out for you, Natsu-kun."
"Yes. Juvia, thanks for helping him." Lucy tells her happily.
"Yes. But what happened with him?" He directs his chin towards Gray,
"Juvia is not sure. Everything was fine until he left my room in the morning."
"Don't tell me, you both did it?" Lucy asks curiously.
Juvia goes red. "No. Gray-sama and Juvia talked and kissed. It was nice. But Juvia doesn't know what happened after he went home."
"Maybe, he didn't enjoy kissing you?" Natsu suggests.
Both Lucy and Juvia throw dark gazes at him.
"Maybe, he got cold feet?" Lucy guesses.
"NO, I didn't get cold feet." Gray takes a sit next to Juvia. "I just…" He hesitates to say it in front of Natsu and Lucy. "I didn't know how to treat in front of everybody. I'm sorry. I will be better from now on." He whispers in Juvia's ear.
Juvia nods in understanding. She cups one of his cheeks in her palm, "It's okay."
Gray is about to kiss Juvia when Natsu exclaims, "Well, I'm glad it all worked out."
"Yes." Juvia nods happily.
"Since this worked out for us, I was thinking we should help others as well!" Natsu gets excited.
"Yes, Juvia and Natsu-kun should help Gajeel-kun and Levy-san, Erza-san and Jellal-san, Evergreen-san and Elfman-san and everyone who needs help!" Juvia says happily.
"I'm all fi-" Natsu starts to say but Lucy pulls him by his scarf.
"That's not happening, Natsu!"
"I agree with Lucy. Don't go interfering in everyone's lives. They'll find their own way. Juvia, don't do anything."
"But Gray-sama, it was so much fun when Natsu-kun and Juvia were helping each other."
"Yes and Mira is totally right about this jealousy shit! It totally works!"
The four of them keep arguing for the rest of the day.
This is it for this story! I hope you guys liked it though i feel i messed up a little!
Tell me what you guys think! It's ok, if you hate the story but let me know. I have always felt that a story should garner a response whether it is good or bad is a totally different thing. it is worse when there is no reaction!
i was able to finish because you all encouraged me so a BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU to everybody who gave this story their time! I appreciate it! I hope I can continue to entertain people in this big world of fanfiction!
Enjoy! Lots of Love, Neepa... :-)
P. S. - I LOVE FAIRY TAIL! I so wish I could be in Fairy Tail!