Hello, boys and girls. I'd like to tell a story.

It's been far too long since I've written anything and this quarantine has given me a unique opportunity to write. Perhaps this will help motivate me to finish the rest of my stories. Who knows.

For some reason, I've always participated in every other Gruvia week. I did it every other year: 2016, 2018, and now 2020.

In any case, please enjoy this story.

Home

"This bed is too soft," Gray complains as he digs his body into the hotel mattress, trying to find a spot he can fall asleep in. He was laying on one of the rollout cots that the establishment provided them. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy are sharing one of the queen-size beds and Erza, Wendy, and Charle will share the other. Gray is the only one in a double.

The rest of his team roll their eyes. For some reason, the resident Ice Make Mage has been complaining nonstop on their mission. These aren't major issues that could jeopardize the job, just small inconsequential gripes.

"Nah, Lucy's bed is much softer," Natsu retorts, bouncing on the bed with his body. "And it doesn't smell as good as Lucy's."

Lucy feels her cheeks flush at the unusual compliment. Even though they have been dating for a few months, she is still not used to the affection he showers on her. "Natsu, stop," she squeals, covering her face with her hands.

"You like each other," Happy teases.

"It's too soft," the Ice Mage snipes. "I don't like sinking into the mattress. And the pillows aren't firm enough to support my head and neck. Also, the blankets are too scratchy."

"If you want, Gray-san," Wendy interjects, "We can trade beds and you can sleep with Erza-san."

A cold shiver runs up his spine. Memories of Erza "bonding time" when they were children still haunt him to this day. It wasn't just that. Though the younger Dragon Slayer meant it innocently, he didn't want to think about the connotations of "sleeping" with the terrifying Titania, a woman who was his older sister in all but blood.

"I'll pass, but thank you for the offer," the raven-haired man replies rather hastily. "I'm just not feeling this mission."

Erza smirks in this all-knowing manner. Gray catches the look and frowns deeply. "It's not just the bed that has made you grumpy on this trip."

"How so?"

"Last night, while we were camping out, you complained that your sleeping bag wasn't adequate enough to sleep in." The red-headed woman closes her eyes and chuckles.

"That's right," Lucy interjects playfully. "And how he moaned that he couldn't relax on the train because it just didn't feel right or something."

"Don't forget that he bitched about how we cooked the meat, said that it wasn't juicy and tender as what you could get back in Magnolia," Natsu chirps.

The Ice mage's brow furrows deeper. He didn't realize that he had been complaining this entire time. He just felt like there was something off. Not wrong, per se. But off. It's like this voice in his head that he's missing something.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I don't know what's gotten into me."

There is a stunned silence as the group process the apology.

"The Underwear Prince apologized? That's a first," the pink-haired mage leers.

"What did you say, Dragon Breath," Gray roars back.

"You wanna go, Droopy Eyes."

"Any time, any place, Squinty Eyes."

"Is there a problem?" Erza's statement is followed by a glower at the two fighting boys.

Natsu and Gray freeze and go into buddy-buddy mode in fear of her wrath.

"In any case," Lucy interrupts before things could get weird, "Gray, can you think of any reason of why you are so frustrated?"

The Ice Mage takes a moment to think about what could set him on edge so badly that he would grouse the entire trip. How was he feeling before he left on his mission?

"Gray-sama"

Juvia's voice permeates his thoughts unbidden. That's right, he thinks to himself. He and his girlfriend had left for separate missions for the first time since they got together. Their last night together, Juvia went all out preparing a farewell meal. Her cooking, always good in the first place, was top notch. After dinner, she set out a relaxing bath for the two of them and afterwards enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh. Their parting was tough, consisting of multiple kisses, kind words, and promises to do something once they returned.

"I guess I just want to finish this mission so I can go back home." It's enough of the truth without giving away the real reason that he is frustrated. He would never be able to look his teammates in their eyes if he admitted that he missed Juvia. From that first day battling under the rain, Gray could have never thought that she would be the most important person in his life. But little by little, she dripped her way through the mental ice walls he erected around his heart. And now he can't imagine life without her, to the point where he is physically made uneasy without her around. But he would rather die than ever admit that to anyone besides Juvia.

"We are close to being finished, Gray," Erza told him in a calmer voice. "Then we can go home to where we belong." She gives voice to how he feels without outright saying it.

A wistful smile sneaks across Gray's face. "Yeah." He finds a spot in the bed that he can sink into and finally relax his body.

The light is turned off and the team settles in for the night and Gray is left staring into the dark. His ears pick up the whispers of Natsu and Lucy in their bed. As much as he was happy that their relationship was finally official, it makes him feel slightly jealous that they could be around each other while Gray couldn't be with Juvia at this moment. But perhaps that would make when they will see each other again that much sweeter.

"This sucks," he breathes so that neither Natsu nor Wendy could hear him with their superior hearing. "I miss her."

The vague colors swirling around in his eyes coalesces into a mental image of Juvia's smile. And it made his lips upturn into a smile. Soon, he thinks. I'll see her soon.

Perhaps it was the idea of wanting to see Juvia again which gave Gray the push he needed to complete his mission, but soon he was done and heading back to Magnolia, to his girlfriend. He can't keep the bounce in his step hidden from his teammates. Thankfully, none of them said a word about it.

When they parted ways, Gray is left by himself to walk to his house. As he opened the door, he is hit with the smell of a meal being cooked. The Ice Mage walks to the kitchen to find Juvia making dinner, humming a nondescript tune and swaying to the beat. He smiles and creeps up to her, wrapping her in a big hug from behind.

"Gray-sama," the Water Mage gasps as she melts into the man she loves. "Welcome home."

Home, he thinks. Yeah, that's right. He's home. His home isn't a physical building where he leaves his stuff and sleeps. His home is this amazing woman in his arms. Juvia is his home.

"Yeah, I'm home."

And that's the end of that chapter.

I'm not sure if anyone has been paying attention to 100 Year Quest but halfway into the series so far, Gray has finally said out loud that he wants to be in a relationship with Juvia. So the Ice Boy has been making progress. Good for him.

Until Next Time

A. Angel