This one was a bit odd for me to write simply because gruvia is a notp of mine. However, I was trying to explore a different type of relationship between Gray and Lucy so it was necessary to include Juvia. This is in no way, me hating on the ship or the characters involved. I actually really like Juvia. I hate that I even feel the need to explain myself with this piece but people are just way to easily offended my the most ridiculous shit so there ya go.

Sempiternal: (adj) Eternal and unchanging; everlasting

The only thing Gray could wholly rely in his life was Lucy. She was the only level-headed and stable person he had and tonight he needed that. Lucy looked up from the letter she was writing to her mother when there was a knock on her door followed by the sound of the deadbolt turning. She signed the parchment and went to the kitchen to make some tea for her best friend and hot chocolate for his son. However, when the man came into sight he was alone and the overnight bag he normally cam with was more full than usual as well. She placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at him.

"She told me not to come back this time," he said with a shrug.

Gray and Juvia had been married for five years and had a four year old son together. Lucy knew that his marriage was over before it had even begun. The two had excellent chemistry as far as their magic was concerned but Lucy knew that the relationship had been forced. Juvia had always been overwhelming in her affections toward Gray, and he could admit that it was a turn off when she was like that. But he got used to it because past all that, she was actually a sweet girl.

Everything changed after the baby. Except Lucy.

"So you two are done?"

"I don't know anymore, Lucy" he sighed and plopped down on her couch. The celestial mage just shook her head and then joined him with two hot mugs of tea. "I've tried talking to her but she won't listen to me. She makes it seem like I'm the one with a problem."

After their son was born, Juvia's forward affections started to get out of hand. Yes, he had a responsibility to help her physically take care of the baby, which he did, but he was also the only one of the two that could work. Juvia demanded that he check in with her every night and he thought that was overboard. Lucy was there to remind him about the whole disappearing on her for six whole months and tried to explain to him that Juvia needed that affirmation that he was okay and would be coming back.

He could always count on Lucy to open his eyes and see the bigger picture. He was eternally thankful to have the celestial mage in his life and he made sure that she knew it. She didn't ever need to be told that he appreciated her, but he did it anyway. Without her, he doubted that he and Juvia would have even gotten married.

Tonight he wished that he had never asked the water mage to stand with him.

"What happened tonight?" she asked. She sipped her tea and waited.

"She told me to cut you from my life. When I said that wasn't happening, she told me I could leave and not to come back."

Lucy choked and burned her tongue. Gray set his drink down and did the same with hers, then rubbed her back as she caught her breath. When she did, she looked up at with fury in her eyes.

"Why would she say something like that?!" The celestial mage wasn't impressed when he just shrugged at her. "What do you mean you don't know? Does she really think that there's something romantic between you and I?"

Lucy didn't give him time to answer as she got up and stomped to her door with every intention of confronting her friend's wife. Gray followed her and grabbed for her arm but she shrugged him away. He was forced to put more weight behind his effort and ended up pinning her against the wall, trapped between his arms.

"Just listen to me, Lucy. Please before you decide to do anything," he pleaded.

He needed her to keep calm because if she got worked up right now, then he was going lose it. Once again, he was able to rely on her.

"She doesn't think that we're sleeping together," he started, "but she does think that you're the reason I don't want to have sex with her."

Lucy scoffed at that. "So me having no interest in sex has rubbed off on you somehow? That's what she thinks?" He just nodded. "Why did you leave then? That's only going to make her belie-"

"I don't care what she thinks," he interrupted. "I just want to spend time with my best friend who's always been there and has promised me that she always would be."

Lucy could only wrap her arms around him and nod. He needed her to make good on that promise and she would. Always.