Juvia was as shocked as everybody else in the room when she heard the man next to her state that the trial would be postponed due to Makarov's absence. She never realised that Makarov, or anyone else for that matter, cared for her and was willing to speak on her behalf. Sure, she had seen the strength of the bond between the mages of Fairy Tail first hand and even experienced the devastating power they could call forth when working together. She just never realised that she was a part of that group now. Not completely at least. She had not been a member very long and mostly kept to herself or around Gray when he was home and never really interacted a lot with the others. Many years of rejection had taught her that this was the least painful way of dealing with others.

She didn't sleep that night at all. Back in her transparent prison, she kept repeating the words in her head. She just could not crack the enigma. It was too hard for her to comprehend that someone was willing to speak on her behalf and defend her… "This hearing has received an official request to be postponed by the Master of the mages guild Fairy Tail on the grounds of him claiming his right as the Master of the guild the accused are affiliated with to take the role of defender for his guild member, the accused Juvia Lockser." those words kept her awake until the first light appeared in the dark sky and with it brought another day in imprisonment

Juvia called forth more memories of the trial and the events leading up to it when trying to find the right words to explain everything that had happened since they got separated. She saw her friends pass through the door and leave them alone and she still could not find the right words.

When Makarov had finally arrived, the trial started over again. She answered the questions the best she could but this time Makarov stepped forward and kept encouraging her to tell her side of the story, he asked for details that she had never thought of and finished with bringing in evidence she did not even know existed of the plan of creating a nationwide drought the lawless mages where planning to achieve with Juvia's involuntary help. He explained in detail what would happen if they managed to fulfill their plan as well as what they forced Juvia to do and what they put herself and Gray through in their attempts of achieving their goals.

The Jury had then stepped away to discuss the new evidence and when they returned with their judgment, Makarov had even put it on himself to bargain with them about her pending penalty. She could not believe it when he even pushed his luck and asked for permission for her to visit the hospital before her sentence was carried out

When the long and tiring trial was finally over and they travelled back to the hospital where she had left her friends, he told her that he had already been there and that he had sent most of them home. Only Erza, Natsu, Happy, and Lucy had insisted on staying.

When everybody else had left the room Juvia took a deep breath and walked over to the raven-haired boy in the bed. Her heart ached when she looked at him, he was so perfect. Even after everything he had endured, even when he just woke up from three days of unconsciousness with messy, spiky hair and fading bruises everywhere on his pale skin. Or maybe more right at this very moment than any moment ever before, maybe just because he was not his usual strong self and yet still had not lost his will to fight. For Juvia he had never been more perfect than right now, not even the day he took the rain away from her and showed her a bright blue sky.

She looked into dark eyes that searched for answers in her own and the little bravery she had managed to muster up with help from Lucy's encouragement and the mental walls she had created this flew out the window, she could not do this. To even come here was a bad idea, she had objected when Master Makarov suggested it but he had insisted and even though she could not bear leaving Gray the alternative, to never see him again, was far worse so after some hesitation she agreed to the old man's suggestion.

Right now she regretted her decision.

Gray, on the other hand, could not bear staying in the bed for a second longer, so he entangled himself from the bed-sheets and moved his legs around so that he sat on the edge instead. however, even though he now could move his legs sort of okay it took a lot more stamina than he had anticipated performing this simple everyday action, and he ended up just barely holding himself up straight, leaning his arms on the edge for support and completely out of breath. It served as a harsh reminder to them both that he was still not completely healed.

Juvias eyes widened when she saw him struggling and she crossed the short distance quickly to help him.

"Gray-Sama should not push himself, Gray-Sama should rest some more instead," She tried to convince him and force him back to bed but he shut her up by grabbing her wrists in his own bigger and rougher palms and looked down on her small fingers. Soft, flawless hands locked up once again in cold unforgiving metal. He stroked the handcuffs gently with his thumbs and looked at her with glimmering dark eyes that revealed a raging river of emotions, half of which she couldn't decipher. It was almost too much to bear, and if he had not still been out of breath and had dark circles of exhaustion deeply branded right beneath those perfect eyes, she would probably have fainted right there on the spot. As it was now she pulled herself together for his sake and once again tried to convince him to stay in bed.

"Gray-Sama should — "

"Not until you tell me what's going on. Where are the guards taking you?"

"I-they…" she swallowed deeply and decided that it was better to just explain everything quickly and let it be over and done with so she could leave as soon as possible. Like pulling off a band-aid, only a thousand times worse. "Juvia did something horrible, and now Juvia has to face the consequences. Juvia is banished from Fiore. She can never return. She is not allowed to ever join another guild and she had to give up her magic powers. It was that or jail, the council wanted to put Juvia in jail for life but Master Makarov negotiated with them and those were the conditions they agreed on for Juvia's probation. So Juvia has to go now…"

At first, he didn't react at all, he just sat there on the bed showing no signs whatsoever of what he was thinking, though he had still not let go of her wrists. He moved them slightly so that he held her small feminine fingers in his palms and squeezed them softly…

When he finally spoke it was with the tone of someone that had endured a thousand crushing defeats only to be destroyed by the last there ever was. He thought of all the times they had fought together, of all the times she had stood by his side. Hell, she'd been there even when he didn't want her to, and now he could not picture his life without her. He looked into her navy blue eyes and could not believe the words falling off his lips.

"You're leaving me?"

"Gray-sama, I-I have to," Juvia said with a thick voice. She could feel the nasty lump in her throat growing bigger and tears burning just beneath her eyelids. This was too much. She could not do this. She raised herself from the bed with the intention to walk away, but he still held her small hands in his and refused to let go. He opened his mouth but before he had a chance to say anything, the guards came barking in with the mages closely behind.

"Your five minutes are up; we are taking you to the border right now mage," the left one said and they walked over to Juvia, grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door.

"Stop!" Gray struggled to stand up. He got his feet on the ground and leaned heavily against the bedpost while trying to find his balance.

"Forget it mage. You had your little chat with the filthy murderer. Now we're taking over."

"I know. You're right, but I'm coming with you," he said and took two staggering steps towards them before being stopping mid-step and starting to sway on unsteady legs. Erza who had been quietly observing the situation quickly crossed the distance and grabbed Gray just before he was going to crash to the ground. She threw his arm around her shoulders and placed her own around his waist to keep him upright. When most of the dots that covered his vision had disappeared and he was sure that he would not pass out again, he looked at his childhood friend and smiled gratefully, nodding slightly in appreciation. Once he might have thought it embarrassing to be in need of and accepting assistance from anyone, but those days were long gone, Erza could tell that Juvia was not the only one that had grown and found different strengths during their captivity.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT! Foolish ungrateful boy. I won't allow you to go ahead and wreck yourself after spending all this time bringing you back from the brink of death. I won't allow it!" Polushka looked furious and absolutely terrifying when she scolded Gray. He looked at the dignified healer and expressed his deep gratitude for everything she had done for him, but this was something he had to do… Then Gray turned to the guards again.

"Listen, no one said that she had to be alone in her exile right? Well, I'm coming with you. Wherever you're taking her, I will accompany her."

"You? You can barely stand, you idiot. We won't drag you along. Listen to your mommy over there," the guard mocked and nodded towards Polushka, though he stopped quickly when his eyes accidentally met the old healer's death glare. He swallowed slightly and shifted his gaze back to Gray. "We have orders to deliver the murderer to the border and then return to the castle."

Gray gritted his teeth. As much as he wanted to deny it, it was true. No matter how much willpower one person has. If you are unable to stand up straight without help, you will slow a travel company down. But he could just not see them leave without him.

"His condition won't be a problem for you. I'll help him. If I have to carry this thick-headed ice-brain on my back, then let it be so. I'll accompany you to the border, and after that, your mission is finished, right? It won't be your problem anymore," Natsu stated while walking over to Gray and Erza and position himself next to Gray's other side, steadying him with Natsu's own body.

"I'll follow you too," Erza filled in.

"And I," Lucy continued with a serious face before joining the group, placing herself next to Natsu and closely followed by Happy, who flew up on Natsu's shoulder and simply nodded in confirmation that he too was coming.

"Guys, I..." Gray could not believe what he was hearing, and neither did the guards:

"Who the hell do you guys think you are? Interfering with official council matters like this. We have already been way too lenient towards you, we are leaving now and you are not coming with us."

"Now listen to me, children. It won't interfere with your mission and if you decided that they could not come with you, they would just travel behind you the whole time and meet up with her when you had left." It was Makarov that finally had decided that it was time to interfere. Despite his small posture, his character seemed to fill the entire room and his old voice told tales of many years of collected wisdom and knowledge. "You asked who we are. Well, we're Fairy Tail mages and we will not bend when we believe something is the right thing to do. You don't have to worry about them attacking you and fleeing with the girl. You have my word as the master of this guild for that. But I will tell you this; if you just accept that these five will accompany Juvia, your mission will be finished a lot quicker and easier because they will not accept a refusal and the process of just leaving this room will become a long and drawn out procedure." Here Makarov shredded his serious face and grinned widely when continuing. "I don't know about you but I'm starving, and I never really liked hospitals so I wouldn't mind getting out of here as quick as possible. So what do you say?"

The two guards exchanged looks. They had no desire to keep bickering with the annoying mages and what the old man was saying was true, it would not interfere with their mission. Besides, they had twenty more men waiting outside the hospital and all of them were carrying the ceremonial spears. The mages would be no match for them even if they decided to do something stupid.

"Fine then, but we are leaving right now. Anyone that can't keep up will be left behind, and you will be using your own vehicles; I don't care for providing free-rides for your sorry asses."

"Sounds fair to me," Makarov agreed and they all started to make their way towards the hospital entrance.

When Gray passed the two guards and Juvia, still heavily leaning on both Erza and Natsu, he stopped for a second and looked into the eyes of the soldier that had done most of the talking.

"Just one more thing, if you ever call Juvia that again I won't care about official guild honour or reputation. I will hunt you down and make you wish you were never born," He declared grimly.

Lucy gasped and stumbled then she heard the threatening words, would all their victories today be for nothing now? Before she had a chance to react though, Makarov once again stepped in to save the situation before it got completely out of hand again.

"Boy, you just don't know when to shut up, do you? You're still a member of my guild and you will address the council members with respect, else you'll answer to me. Understood?" Makarov told Gray off in an official voice, and the scolding seemed to have the desired effect, the guards decided he was not worth the effort and turned around to ignore him completely. Makarov however, placed himself so that the guards could not see his face and smiled understanding at Gray, his facial expression telling a completely different story than the words he used. "Just play along, soon enough you will be rid of them completely and what does a few words matter then? Or do you want them to forbid you to come at all? Boy, don't be stupid…"

"Yes master," Gray muttered and looked down at the ground, dressing in an as sincere mask of regret as he could summon, and the two groups continued to walk towards the hospital gates.