Synopsis: AU. They needed a girl that was pretty enough, smart enough, and immune enough to the 23-year-old hockey superstar's charms. Juvia was anything but the latter; the benefits alongside the offer, though, were too good to pass up, especially at her current predicament. So…pretending to be Gray Fullbuster's girlfriend wasn't that hard, right?

Proceed with caution.

Standard disclaimers are applied.

Act 5: Music 123; Her Fairy

Amidst the busy streets of a certain town, inside one of its luxurious establishments, further passing through the deluxe units, and finally landing at special unit 322; one bluenette finally found peace.

Sigh.

Gray had finally left. And she finally accepted that fact after such…actions last night. Juvia could feel the rush of emotions as her cheeks turn red once more.

She wanted to blame the lack of sheets when she opted to cover herself.

She wanted to put all the faults at the tea she was drinking right now.

She wanted to blame Everest for leaving her alone with that man last night.

But she couldn't. She knew it wasn't anybody or anything's fault but hers. She knew from the moment she heard him say he was leaving that she should've, at the very least, heard him out.

But no – she just had to freak out. She just had to demand. She just had to stop being the selfless Juvia she always was just so she could make him stay.

Her self-criticism stopped when she heard her phone ring. The poor sofa shook lightly as she scrambled to reach for the device that was on the other side, placed on top of the side table. Seeing the screen, she saw that it wasn't just a call.

Gulp.

Juvia nervously checked her face and brushed her hair with her hands before she answered.

"Juvia."

Oh God.

How can this man say her name like it was some marvelous melody? And what was with the yearning stare? "Hey. How was the trip?" she managed to ask.

Juvia saw the man across the screen massage the back of his neck lightly, reminded of the flight after she asked. "A bit sore. We've already checked in. Stuff starts tomorrow so I might not be able to call much. But I'm all free now."

"Mm." She hummed, playing with a few strands of her hair.

"Missing me already?"

Oh wow. This guy. Juvia couldn't help but laugh lightly. "What if I am?" her returned question elicited a grumble from the other line.

"It's just five days, Juvia. I told you last night."

"Knowing so doesn't mean I miss you any less."

"Juvia."

"Gray."

"I'll be home soon enough. Stop sulking. You'll make it harder for me to practice."

"Mm."

"Got no plans today?"

Juvia sat cross-legged, taking a pillow to cover her thighs. "Lucy said she wanted to talk to me about something. I'm meeting up with her at FT with Evere."

"Really? Be careful, alright?" she nodded at the reminder with a smile.

"Where is the pup?"

"Arf!" came the bark as a little husky struggled to climb the sofa. Both masters chuckled at the cute sight before Juvia helped the little one up and placed it on the pillow on her lap.

"Look, love. There's Gray on the other side. Say hi~"

"Hey!"

Everest blinked before leaning on the phone, sniffing the little device. Upon hearing Gray's voice, the little one beamed and woofed in delight.

Juvia and Gray laughed at their puppy's reaction.

"Guard her tight, alright?"

Everest saw its master pointing at the mistress after looking back and forth between the two. As if fully comprehending Gray's words, Evere woofed in affirmation, wagging its tail passionately.

Juvia rolled her eyes at the tag teaming as her mind drifted off to their conversation last night.

Fast forwarding to post-freaked out Juvia and post-cold shower Gray, they found themselves settled on the sofa: a few good inches away from each other.

Gray didn't want to keep her up too late and fired his question one by one all the while Juvia answering with the least number of syllables she could muster with the same speed as his tempo's questions.

Was it all true? -Yes.

As in all of it? – Of course.

Everything? -Yes! For Fiore's sake.

Do you…like me? – No!

But you said – - I don't like you anymore!

Ha?! -I love you! There! I said it!

But Gray didn't answer. Love was too much even for a word, and while he felt the whole world had fallen into its rightful places upon her declaration, it also made Gray rethink of his disposition. It wasn't that he didn't feel the same.

It just felt that he didn't deserve her.

Contrary to his narcissism from before, Gray was drowned with the thoughts of the consequences that came with being with him.

Juvia was trashed for something she didn't do – it was him on that rink, it was him who did shit, it was all him.

So why did people blame her?

Because they couldn't blame him?

Now that's just fucked up mentality.

But he needed to give Juvia an answer. An honest one. Then again, he was always honest with her. But the season was already over so what was making him doubt? The usual, follow-up training? The next season?

Although before Gray could pop the question, Juvia surprised him one more time that night.

"You don't need to reciprocate my feelings. You knowing how I feel is enough for me right now. Being able to do the things I want to do for you with you being aware of what it means is already good enough for me."

For now. Gray thought of adding those last two words. It was yet another night for him to rethink how he could have such a devoted person in his life.

"Are you sure she'll come?"

Lucy eyed the older man sitting rather nervously beside her. She couldn't help but sigh as she placed her drink back on the table. How many times had he asked that since an hour ago?

"Relax, Gramps. She's not one to take a rain check, believe me. Plus, it's about time you get your revenge on her." the novelist snickered at the thought of Juvia meeting this man again.

She'd been avoiding him ever since she took off on her own.

FT's bells echoed through the café, signaling an entry. Lucy and her companion turned to peek, seeing a mass of blue hair looking through the coffee bar, a pupper helping her with her quest.

"Juvia!" Lucy got up from her seat, a hand leaning on the table as the other waved to the searching woman. "Over here." She beamed after the woman saw her and made its way towards the table.

"Lucy! I'm sorry it took a while, Evere was having fun bathing and…it… took a while."

Juvia's excitement faltered upon seeing the shorter man beside Lucy. It was a good thing Everest was already settled on one seat; else the poor pup would have found itself in a very uncomfortable position.

"Juvia, it's been a while." Came the horse voice from the older man.

Juvia felt her heart constrict at the greeting but found herself being seated when Lucy gestured for her.

"Grandpa." She murmured in reply as she looked away.

"I see you're still calling me that way. It makes me feel relieved."

What was he talking about? Shouldn't he be angry at the fact that she left on her own? Right after all of the things he did for her?

Makarov found himself laughing at the unbelievable expression the younger woman was showing him, somehow being aware of what was running in her head. He soon stood up from his seat, gaining the younger women's attention. "Let me get something. You discuss what you need to discuss first, Lucy."

Lucy only nodded, rather gleeful in Juvia's opinion. They saw him disappear behind the door that had 'Staff Only' fixed on it.

"What did you make me come here for, Lucy?" it had come out rather stingy but Juvia couldn't help the shame she was feeling.

"Aw, Juvia. It can't be helped. Promise. Hear me out?" Lucy pleaded; hands even clasped to show the bluenette how serious she was of the matter.

Juvia could only sigh as she leaned back on the sofa. It's not good to jump to conclusions; she learned that the hard way last night. Plus, this was Lucy. As eccentric as she could be thanks to Natsu rubbing off on her, she always had sound arguments.

The blonde novelist smiled at her friend's yielding and gestured for her to lean closer to her of which the bluenette obliged. Lucy leaned to Juvia's ear and whispered the reason she called. "My book's getting a film adaption." She whispered as inaudibly as possible.

"OMG! Lucy, cong–!"

"Shh! Get back down!" Lucy panicked and pulled the woman back from her stood up position. Juvia looked apologetic and it was enough for the blonde to forgive her. "It's still confidential. The production team told me they've yet to make it public so I should limit the people that know about it."

"Oh. So the other girls know too?" Juvia wasn't expecting a negative response; she creased her brows. "Why tell me, then?"

Lucy grinned at the question, making her friend fidget. She leaned back on her seat, judging that from there, it'd be a topic that was okay to discuss in public. "I want you to do the soundtrack." She straightforwardly answered.

Juvia's eyes bulged. This is huge news. Again! It had only been a good week since her little stunt at the FHL and now she's being offered another opportunity?

Wasn't she having too much handed to her so easily? She guiltily thought as she remembered how hard it was when she went solo – as in literally just relying on her own, without anybody of her friends and family knowing about it.

Chances came too occasionally and whenever there was, she could feel her musician self breaking apart.

"What do you say?" Lucy asked.

"I…"

"Surely you're going to decline and tell her you're not going to rise up by receiving help from others, no?"

Both women turned to look at the person who joined their conversation.

"Grandpa." voiced Juvia as she saw the old man sit back on hear previous seat.

"Hey, Juvia. Listen." It was Lucy. The blonde reached out for her hand. "You rocked four stages in just a month. In just a month, girl. Nobody helped you at all to get in those performances."

Lucy saw how Juvia wanted to reason out, but she huffed and beat her to it. "Well, I mean, yeah you got dragged by Merudy and Natsu and Gray's arguments and all, but remember the first time? That was your breakthrough! And you did that all on your own. It just proves that you found the perfect door of opportunity that led to more doors."

What should she say about that? Lucy's arguments were logical and even debunking her theory of riding others' coattails. But she thought it wasn't enough of a reason to be the person for the job.

A movie's soundtrack speaks volumes. It's one of the making or breaking of its promotion. If her music would break Lucy's debut, that'd just be something she'd forever regret even if the blonde would forgive her for it.

She just couldn't risk it.

"Risk it." Lucy encouraged. As if reading what was on her mind. "Juvia, I know you want to go back. Our friends know how much you want to start your music career again and here I am, trusting you that you'd pull another awesome one off."

"And since we're on that topic now…" Makarov mused and placed a document on the table, sliding it in front of Juvia, the bluenette's eyes widening at the treasure being handed to her.

It was a Raijuu Records Contract.

Juvia fearfully looked up to meet Makarov's determined eyes. "You've declined me numerous times. I assume you're going to do so again?"

"I can't have this!" and there it was, Makarov thought.

It was against her moral.

A lot of musicians would be dying to have what was being offered to her right now and she couldn't just happily take it. Not when she gave up on music. Not when she knew others kept going and had yet to be given a break. That'd just make her a hypocrite.

"I'm not showing this to you to give it to you."

"What do you mean?"

Makarov grinned at the evident riled up answer. "Well. I realized you didn't want to be given something for free." He stated rather melancholic and took back the contract, seeing the almost pained expression dominating the bluenette's struggling features.

"You don't like getting things that way, right?" he asked again, even when the answer was as clear as day.

Nod.

The old Fairy Tail Corp magnate snorted lightly before folding his arms. "That's where Lucy's favor comes in."

As if they've rehearsed for this, Lucy nodded and tightened the hold on Juvia's hands. "My Dad's willing to back up the singer that I wanted for the movie, Juvia. I know the company handling it would disagree if I told them I'm going for someone who hasn't been established in the industry."

Juvia gasped lightly at Lucy's words. She was even willing to use her father's influence and support just to give her this break. As much as it was against Juvia to be given something for free, it was also against Lucy's protocol to swim in her dad's power. But she was prepared to do that for her.

Hooked. Lucy thought and spoke again, "But when Grandpa heard about this from Dad, he took the wheel and told me of his plan."

"What plan?"

Makarov took the reins again and stood from his seat. "Make the movie's song that'd pass Raijuu's standards and you get your contract."

"Gramps really said that?"

Juvia huffed and nodded, eyeing the man on her phone. She saw how he leaned back from where he was seated, looking relaxed but was otherwise; he was probably thinking about how fanciful her story was.

"Why don't you give it a go?"

"Have you not been listening?" she whined exasperatedly.

"I was very attentive. That's why I suggested that, thank you very much."

Juvia rolled her eyes, the evident sarcasm oozing from her phone's screen, and went to cuddle Everest.

"Yo, pup. Tell your Mom she can rock a stage like a boss."

"Arf!" Juvia swore she's had enough tag teaming to last a life time. Why were these two so in sync?

"Well then, Evere, tell your Dad he can keep pushing but I'm not going to budge." Expecting the same happy woof, Juvia deadpanned at the pleading eyes the little one gave her before it jumped off her lap. As if that wasn't enough awkwardness thrown at her, Gray just had to laugh at her – a very full, satisfied laugh.

"Say. Do me a favor and open the TV?"

"Why don't you do it yourself?"

"Oh, right I will. Send the remote to Iceberg then."

Did he just…? Grumbling at his snide remarks, Juvia placed her phone down and forcefully stomped her way to open the TV.

"It's on." She huffed after sitting back on the sofa angrily, making sure Gray can see her. But the man seemed unfazed as he went to ask her again.

"Do you see a new Wi-Fi connection? Connect to that."

Juvia raised a skeptical eyebrow. What was this now? What was he trying to do?

Regardless of whatever Gray had in mind, she found herself following his orders again. "Ok. I've connected now. Wha–HA?!"

She heard a snicker across the TV from her evident gawking.

"Gray! You're so big!"

Pfft. The man from the other side of the video call had to stop his snort from that retort. Damn woman. "You're so innocent it's too painful."

"What's painful?" Juvia asked, finally calming down from seeing Gray on TV. He had made her mirror her phone's little screen on the plasma.

"Nothing. Surprise? I guess?"

Juvia laughed. She tried her best to hold back but his antics were just too much. She really needed to find out which manga this guy came from or if he was even real.

He's just too perfect it should be considered a sin.

"Hey, Juvia?"

"Hm?"

"I'm serious about you trying it out. I know we can live off with what I have for a lifetime, but I at least want my girlfriend to be happy – plus you're not the type of girl to spoil yourself with other's money anyway."

Juvia blushed.

What did he mean by that compliment?

What did he mean girlfriend?

What did he mean living for a lifetime?

That was a mega attack! Was he proposing?! Juvia swore she saw stars after she heard his words. How can he say those things so casually when he knows how she feels about him?!

"Can I take the silence as a yes?" Juvia looked up to see an expectant smile. But she wasn't just going to give him the satisfaction of winning this round.

"No."

"Why not? It ain't like you're gonna lose anything if you try. Come on."

"But it's just unfair!" that came out too wild even Evere had to look if everything was alright. Juvia sighed and sat back down; she found herself shooting up when she retorted.

"Look, Juvia. Neither Lucy nor Gramps handed you anything. If anything, they gave you a challenge. Which meant that you're gonna have to work hard for it. And if it makes you feel better, Laxus is badass at his job. He ain't gonna give you any handicap just because Gramps and Lucy – and me…and probably everybody else, are rooting for you."

Well.

Wow.

Putting it that way surely made Juvia look at the situation rather differently. Would it be really ok?

Fidgeting from her seat, somehow reaching a waving conclusion she turned back to the TV to face him, asking for one last push.

"You think I can pull it off?"

"Nah."

She felt her heart plummet immediately at the brief answer. But before she could evade her eyes at the nonchalant face from the TV, Gray slowly grinned at snickered. What was so funny now?

"What's so funny now?" she said out loud, frowning.

"It's funny how you think you'll just pull it off."

Juvia wasn't getting any of this. And neither did she want to. One moment he was rooting for her, the next thing she knew, he was doing otherwise. What was with him?! Had Iceberg made him crazy? "Look, Gray. I don't nee –"

"Look, Juvia. You're too amazing to just pull it off." Came Gray's clarification with the much needed imitation of tone.

And then she suddenly felt her heart revived again. "You…mean that?" she gasped.

"Mhm. You're my girlfriend. You're supposed to be awesome."

Juvia lost count of the many times he made her swoon that night.

End of Part 2

Apologies for the late update!

Do let me know, what you think!

Keep safe, everyone!

So Mashima said it's fun reading what fans say about his work and I think every author's like that, too. You don't know how much your reviews mean to us. It really keeps the fire burning! So don't hesitate on letting us know if you're still there, our avid GrUvia shippers! Much love.

-nakneknik