1 a.m. came and the night in Magnolia city was very still. Juvia was sitting close to the fireplace, waiting quietly for her man to come. She knew Gray would always sneak in her room this late. Because there couldn't be anyone see them together. Not any single person.

Two o'clock came and the glimmer had eventually died out, though the ashes were warm, the room was dark. She decided to go back to her bed, and she fell asleep until he brushed back her blue wavy hair and kissed her forehead. "Sorry, I am late," Gray said in a husky voice. Her eyes widened in surprise then her curved in a beautiful smile that warmed him inside and outside.

"As long as Gray-sama is here," she replied happily.

Suddenly his expression changed to anger when he noticed a huge shiner under her right eye and another big blue bruise along her right cheekbone. Gray knew who did this to her.

His jaw clenched. A wave of anger rolled outward followed by a growl deep in his throat. "What did he do this time?"

He knew who was capable to do this to her.

"It's not a big deal. It's not the first time Juvia has this bruise," she answered calmly. The more overheated Gray got, the more her calmness bothered him.

"This is the going to be the last time we spend time together. Tomorrow Acnologia wants to keep Juvia in his place."

Instead of shouting, he closed his eyes and spoke softly, tried hold in the anger.

"You might not come out alive from his place."

"Juvia is aware of that."

Gray was working for Acnologia. He was the biggest and the most influential meth producer in the whole nation. Everyone was scared of him and nobody could say no to him.

Apparently Juvia was his favorite woman. He made it clear to her madam that Juvia was only reserved for him. Nobody could touch her, but him.

"Did you regret that you are in love with a hooker," Juvia asked softly. Her tone was calm, but there was pain in her eyes. Pain that she did not want to admit.

He didn't answer her. He pulled her closer and hugged her as if there was no tomorrow.

"I just hate that he hurt you." And the fact that he felt powerless against his own boss. He was a coward, he admitted.

Before she could answer him, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small object and held it up.

"What's this?

"For you."

She was surprised but she opened the small box, and a big reflection caught her eyes. It was a pair of diamond earrings. She touched those then looked at Gray with a startled expression. "Juvia couldn't accept this."

"I want you to get out of this city. There is always an exit for you."

"But how about Gray-sama?"

Gray scoffed. "I could never get out of this mess. But you can!"

Frustrated, she raised her voice. "Juvia also wants to leave, but it's too late! Juvia has to go to his place tomorrow, or else—"

"Or else what," he challenged her.

She paused before she broke into tears. "He's going to kill you. He knew that we're together."

He broke into silence. He couldn't believe any of this was happening. He was the reason that her life being torn apart; that she could never have a life that she deserved. He had just become a threat to her life. Nothing of this would ever happen if he just never came into her life. Acnologia would probably never know Juvia if she was not a part of his life.

He squeezed her shoulder. "Listen, Juvia. I promise I will get you out of this place. But you need to promise me that you will start a new life, get married to a decent guy, and have a family."

"What do you mean, Gray-sama?"

"Just promise me you will start a new life." His tense command was more like a pleading.

Juvia could not understand what he meant that night until she heard the news in the morning.

Acnologia was found death in his bed.

Gray had just declared the war against his own organization. His organization wanted him dead. They were looking for him everywhere, yet he was not found.

Juvia still lived in the same place. She was still waiting for him to show up in her room.

But months passed and he had never shown up anymore.

She wept bitter tears of anger and frustration every night. That's not what she wanted. She'd rather be Acnologia' sex toy than putting his life in danger. She didn't even know if Gray's still alive.

Then she remembered her promise to him. That she would start a new life somewhere else.

She decided to stop weeping and she began to pack her bag. She hated her job and she had always wanted to quit her job. He kept his promise to her that he would get her out of the business and she needed to do the same for him.

She then moved to a small town, Margaret town. She changed her identity. She was known as Claire Jameson and she started her new job as a waitress in a small restaurant, where she met her customer named Lyon Vastia, a decent guy with a decent job. For Lyon, it was love at first sight. He was so persistent even after she constantly rejected him. Lyon reminded her of herself in the past. She knew Gray was part of an illegal organization and that man also refused her constantly at first because he just didn't want to hurt her. He knew the risk that came along with his job. She could be killed anytime by his opposition. She knew very well the risk. Yet, she never gave up on Gray.

Her heart still belonged to Gray, even after months and months of waiting for him.

But Lyon made her feel secure, warm, and completely needed.

He gave her something that Gray could never offer her— a family.

Her name was no longer Claire Jameson. Her name was Claire Vastia. She had everything that she needed: a responsible, loving husband and a decent apartment in a safe neighborhood, but she could not deny the emptiness in her heart. She missed Gray and she wondered every day if he was still alive, for he was nowhere to be found. She could not put his memory behind her.

As she walked to her apartment, a security guy called her name. "Mrs. Vastia, there's a packet for you."

She narrowed her eyes. She didn't think anyone from Magnolia knew that she was in Margaret Town.

But then her eyes widened in surprise as he handed her a small box. It was the same box from that night…

With trembling hands, she opened the box and gasped. It was the same pair of diamond earrings. Gray— He was still alive?

"What's his name? How does he look?" She asked nervously.

The man was trying to remember. "He didn't mention his name. Raven black hair. Oh he also has scar above his right eye brow."

Yes, it must be Gray.

"How long ago was it?"

"Not so long. It was probably just few minutes—"

Juvia pushed past the security guy and ran as fast as she could. Gray— he was probably still nearby!

The front of her apartment faced the street and a narrow alley ran along one side. She quickly surveyed the scene, and she spotted his back— across the street. She still remembered every inch of his lean body roped with muscle, his broad shoulders, and his narrow hips. Gray was just walking, didn't realize that Juvia noticed his presence. She wanted to cross the street, but traffic light turned red for pedestrian, and all the cars moved forward. She wouldn't be able to catch him. Was it really over for them?

"Gray-sama!" she yelled with tears streaming down her face. He was still moving.

And she yelled his name again at the top of her lungs, hoping that he would hear her voice despite all the traffic noises.

This time Gray stopped, and stood still. He then turned his head around, and he saw Juvia— the woman whom he always loved and admired, but he had nothing to offer her.

Juvia looked into his eyes, and saw tears there. Yet, he smiled brightly through his tears. "I am happy for you," he murmured, in an almost inaudible voice.

But then a heavy truck came quickly along the street, and as Juvia waited for the truck to pass by, she found that Gray was already gone.

Juvia cried softly, but at the same time she felt relieved. It was like the arrival of spring and the darkness in her heart was dispelled. She just saw him— and he's still alive!

She gently opened the small box again and touched the pair of diamond earrings. She then smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Gray-sama."

The end

Ps: I was so embarrassed to post this fic as I feel my writing sucks, but I posted it anyway. Thank you for reading and stay safe.