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 6: Finale; Which is which
The preparation for the company party had everyone on their heels – coordinating venues, sampling cuisines and liquor, settling and confirming invites, and for a few of them: practicing for the opening.
All business under Fairy Tail were held to a minimum as most of them prepared for the event, which meant even that of Raijuu's affairs too, making Juvia 'free' from her previous engagements.
And while that would have meant spending more time with the woman, since their responsibilities were kept to a minimum, Gray found Juvia focusing too much on her involvement.
The bluenette left the house without his knowing and has since returned. Although Mirajane had phoned him about Juvia staying over as they were rehearsing their part, Gray couldn't shake off the feeling that they were with Juvia in keeping her away from him.
It was a good thing that the party was tonight – which meant that there'd be no more excuses for Juvia not to be home afterwards.
Gray sighed, hearing a soft whine near him. He looked down from his seat to see a whimpering Everest. Feeling sorry for the pup, he picked it up and placed it beside him on the sofa.
"Sorry your Mom's not comin' home." He found himself say as he petted the husky. Everest leaned on its master's touch, feeling both the sympathy and sorrow of the man.
The two delve in their own despairs for a while before Gray's phone decided it was time to take a break from the heavy feeling. He got up from his seat and went over to take the phone from his room before zooming back on the couch.
"Hello?"
"Yo, kid!"
"Dad?"
"Wow. You really shouldn't let Juvia go if she can make you wake up this early."
"You mean stay up…" Gray grumbled without thinking, lying back down on the sofa with a thud, empty cans of beers on the floor clicking from the impact.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" He immediately shook off.
Juvia was already making quite a mess of him, having his family be aware of the chaos would only bring about his end even before he could solve the problem.
Why was it so hard confessing to her? Why did he always screw things up?
Wait.
No.
He wasn't at fault.
In fact, he was very considerate of where and when he had tried to confess. Candlelit dinner, a quiet stroll at the park, a drive to the ocean or to her favorite stores and places, even trying it out in his world – a guru would rate him 10/10 for his efforts. Which meant that he didn't do anything wrong
It was just that…something didn't want him to do anything right.
"Kid? Still there?"
"Huh? What was that?" Gray snapped and tried not to sound too spaced out, only to hear a helpless groan from the other side.
"I said, suit up. Lyon's taking everybody out for lunch. For the love of, you don't see me spacin' out like that, must've got it from Mika…"
As his father went on to question his own son's hereditary roots, Gray was on his own train of thoughts: what would make that frugal brother of his treat them out?
Gray prayed it wasn't the end of the world yet or anytime soon; he still wanted a lifetime with a certain bluenette, that is, if he can finally say what he needed to say.
"What the fuck did you say?"
"HAHAHA! What a reaction!"
"Gray, manners. Silver, really?"
The son gaped at his mother and retreated back to his seat as he eyed the man who caused his sudden outburst.
Lyon rolled his eyes and eyed his little brother lazily, "I said, I proposed to Merudy last night."
"The world's gonna end."
"Gray."
"What? I forgot to say fuck this time."
"Pfft."
Mika huffed in frustration as she stopped from her food, glaring at her boys. The objects of frustration grumbled at the look; they shrugged and looked away.
The younger Fullbuster turned to check on Everest who was sitting on a toddler's seat. How in the world Lyon managed to get permission, he wouldn't know. The pupper was munching on its own classy dog food, memorizing the faces of its master's family.
"It's alright, Auntie. I'm used to his… profanities."
Gray was aware he didn't like it when Lyon would always be ahead of him; even the fact that he was literally born first ticked him off; he did not care that they were from different wombs.
He didn't know why though. But the usual frustration of having to be beaten to anything somehow doubled at the fact that Lyon was settling first.
The big bro's getting married while he hasn't even confessed to Juvia yet. What was with this karma? It wasn't as if he treated her badly but why did it feel like he was being punished?
"I hope you aren't like this in front of Juvia." Mika murmured for everybody to hear as she dabbed a napkin over her mouth.
Gray flinched at the mention of the bluenette. Before he could come up with an excuse though, another voice had joined in.
"Juvia?"
Ultear, who had been amused and just waiting for her time to strike down her brothers, leaned to her curious mother and whispered. "Gray's girl, Mom."
"Oh." Ul recalled the young woman with blue hair that consistently brought him lunch throughout his later practices and cheered for Gray during the championships. "The cheerleader." She calmly added as she took another bite. "I like her."
"Coa– Auntie!"
"Ha! That makes two of us, Mom!" Lyon beamed as he supported his mother's unintentional strike.
"Make that three." Ultear snickered as she raised her hand lightly to fuel her taunt.
"It's five ya brats!" A deep voice boomed as he wrapped an arm around his wife and gently pulled her closer to him. "We're the in-laws."
"D-dear, keep your voice down." Mika hushed, still flustered at the sudden affectionate disposition albeit finding herself agreeing to her husband's claim.
Ul gave a nonchalant shrug after placing the used wipe on the finished plate. "We have the same role, Brother."
Silver grinned, with the arm still wrapped protectively over his wife, he leaned closer towards the raven pixie he has known since they were little, his eyes having that teasing glint "We're gonna be the in-laws on the paper." He boasted with a proud grin and capricious brow movements.
Ul only rolled her eyes at the obvious jeering before Mika grumbled at the banter. She pulled them back to their seat, slapping the man's back.
"Stop being childish!" the attempt was obviously in vain as it only made the man let out a proud laugh.
"Seriously though, I'd love Juvia as a sister-in-law, she's friends with Mer and keeps Gray from harassing me whenever she's around. I'm leaving the business card of that jewelry shop that made Mer's ring on you, Gray. Gonna need it." Lyon contemplated as he clasped his hands together, placing his chin on top.
"Pfft. I can't imagine Gray proposing! But who wouldn't love to have a sister that would tell you you're pretty? She practically told the whole world I was!" Ultear added as she remembered that one interview and performance from a month ago.
"You mean that interview where she said Gray was obnoxious? Mer told me about it. I ended up laughing my butt off when I watched it."
"Yeah. She got it all down even the fact that he has Uncle's eyes and is obsessed with stating his points."
Gray gaped at the unbelievable sight before grumbling to end their impudence. He still checked if that damn piece of paper Lyon was talking about really was in his pocket.
Alas. It fucking was.
"Aren't we supposed to be here because Merudy finally lost it?"
He was not going to take any of this right now. Surely, he should be happy Juvia was showered with love from his folks but as he had painstakingly pointed out before, he needed the woman to be aware first before these people could go about with their hyperbolic hoorahs.
"Oh shush, baby bro." Ultear smirked before leaning to pull on his cheeks.
Ul looked back at her cheek-pinched son from another family before commenting. "Mer's already family, we're happy Lyon finally took a hint."
"Mom." The white-haired whined at the slight jab.
"Then we stick to that!" Gray groaned in frustration, rubbing his sore cheeks who were finally released from the clutches of that witch.
"Gray." The young man painfully straightened at his father's tone. It made even everybody stop from the tag team to look at the retired hockey player.
Silver eyed his flinching son, placing both hands on his shoulders and swiveling the man to face him. "Seriously, when are you getting married?"
Gray gawked at his father's uncharacteristic demand. To make matters worse, the other four on the table ended up laughing, clearly enjoying his torture.
Sigh.
Where was Juvia when he needed her?
"Last figure! One line!" a voice directed through the upbeat sound, further followed by ragged breathing and the familiar squeaks of sneakers against the smooth, wooden floor.
I feel so special.
The tenacity of the women immediately dissipated with the end of the music, collapsing on the floor as they finished another round of rehearsal.
Only three figures remained standing, two of them discussing the flow of the routine as the others worked their way to catch their breaths.
"What do you think?"
"It's a safe piece, I guess."
Mirajane rolled her eyes at the 'safe' response from the earnest redhead. "You think it can get through their thick skulls?"
The other four saw how the two went on with their heated discussion. Admiring and gawking at the fact that they looked unfazed after those successive rehearsals.
"I know Erza's an agent and all but Mira? Your sister's a demon, Lis! She ain't even breakin' a sweat!" a disbelieved archeologist mumbled in between her breaths. It earned a sweat dropping sigh from a certain white-haired pixie.
"So they say. I'm not really surprised. She did do dancing before, other than modeling."
"I heard about that." Lucy joined as she sat up, crossing her legs. "Why'd she stopped when she's so good at it?"
"Oh." Lisanna propped her chin on a hand as she looked back at that time. "She said she wanted to focus on married life."
"Really?" Levy chimed as she too, joined in the conversation. "Does marriage make you do that?"
"Oh~? What's this, Levy? Is the tech planning on proposing?" Cana jeered, lightly elbowing the bluenette linguist. The others joined it and fussed over the GaLe status, much to half of the pair's mortification.
"If we're talking about marriage, Lucy and Erza are the closest ones there!" she defended in between the teases.
Lisanna laughed at the Levy's misfortune before saying, "It was Sis's choice to give up a few things before settling down. She dances sometimes but not on huge crowds like before. And don't worry, Levy. I don't see Gajeel being the restrictive partner." She just had to end it with that and a much-needed wink.
The other bluenette standing not too far from them, sneezed for the umpteenth time that day, making them look back at her.
Cana shrugged and looked back at the shorter bluenette. "Levy, our count?"
"It's her tenth one within the hour."
"She bit her tongue during the second rehearsal, too." Lucy added.
"Maybe somebody just couldn't get her off their minds?"
Everybody went with the white-haired vet's suggestion. Juvia had been putting in the extra effort over the past week after having an additional reason for their performance, not to mention that one object she found on Gray's bag, racking all their brains. They did not want to think her body's taking a toll now of all times.
It still made Mirajane rethink of her decision on giving Juvia most of the lines of their production. But the latter insisted, saying it was the least she could do after being away for three years.
She made her way towards the woman but stopped after hearing a phone ring.
"It's mine. I'll just take this for a second." The center of everyone's attention excused before making her way to answer the call and exiting the room.
Who was it that she had to call so privately?
Juvia sighed in relief, leaning on the just-then closed door. Anymore of the marriage conversation and she'd surely lose it. She felt guilty for being envious of the others.
Sure, she has Gray and they'd get into fights, then get all cuddly after, or even spend the night talking about random things as they pass out on the sofa. But the two of them were different from other commitments. Her friends' relationships may have their own problems but at the very least…their relationship was real.
And while she was at it, she was in a situation where Gray might be wanting to stop it even before they could start.
Juvia stopped her internal elegy as she gestured for her phone, finding herself facing the real deal instead of thanking the person for saving her from their friends' topic. Swallowing lightly, she tapped the answer button.
"Ye–"
"Ah! You finally picked up! How's my daughter-in-law doing?"
The bluenette's brows creased further than usual. Not only was it not him, how the caller had addressed her too had fuddled her mind further. She had to do a double take on the caller ID just to check if it was a prank or whatnot.
But the name displayed was as clear as day.
"What? You've already forgotten Dad's voice? This is Silver!"
Oh snap. What was with this attack?
"Ah. H-Hello. I'm sorry, I was just surprised to have Uncle call me over Gray's phone." Or call her in general, she thought as she held on to the device. She could make out faint noises at the background, the sound of cutlery and people's voices. Were they outside?
"Still not calling me Dad, eh. We're outside, by the way, celebrating."
"Oh. Whatever for?"
"Lyon's proposed to his girl. He's treating us out. I expected my idiotic son would bring you along, the family would've been complete."
"Dad! Give me back my phone!"
"Can't you see I've yet to finish my talk with my daughter!? I'm telling Juvia on you!"
Juvia's breath hitched at the successive blows; she had been missing Gray's voice albeit her demise, but not only was she able to hear him, his father even already considered her family. Her fading hope somehow found itself rekindled by a little.
"Ah. That's right. I'd like to tell you to forgive my son. He's an idiot but he doesn't mean any harm. So, mind doing Dad a favor?"
Juvia gulped yet again. Whatever his father's being sorry for, while it did pique her interest, it was a mystery for another day as the last thing he said became top priority.
She realized that favors from Fullbusters weren't exactly abiding the normality of the world.
"What is it, Uncle?"
Then again, she still found herself doing it.
"We're drilling him how to propose to ya as we speak. You only have two options, alright?"
Juvia was walking through the halls, evading the people going to the other direction. She almost tripped at the boxes laying near a certain room at the caller's words.
They were…
…practicing him on proposing?
For her?
She and Gray were done for. Their little play had gone too far. She was not happy.
"Juvia?"
"Y-yes! What are they?!" She blurted, immediately regretting it the moment she heard the next thing over the other line.
"Heh. It's one of two choices; either you be with him or he be with you."
The old man had to lean away from the device as he heard crashing from the other line. Gray, being near him, heard the thud and went in for another roughhousing, only to be stopped by his father's arm.
"What happened to her?!" he snarled, forgetting where they were.
"Dear, sit back down, please." Came his Mother's voice but he couldn't comply, not after the clanking from the other end of the line.
Silver huffed at his son's stubbornness and pressed him back to his seat. "You okay over there, daughter? Alright, good. Evere? Oh. The pup. She's with us, don't worry. You headin' back for practice? Alright. Take care." He was about to end the call when the others gestured for him, grinning he put the phone on speaker, further digging his son's grave.
"Be careful, Juvia. Mer says hi!"
"Hey, Juvia! It's Ultear. Next time, you're eating out with us, okay?"
"I appreciate your company during the team's practices. I hope you won't get tired of taking care of us. See you soonest."
"Dear, I heard you've been busy. Don't overexert yourself, alright? We'll be dropping some homemade seasonings over the unit, after lunch, just like I've promised you a month ago. You take care."
Gray gawked at the scene, even Evere was barking along after hearing its mistress's name. Who knew what and how in the world Juvia was taking these things?
He prayed he could survive until tonight to shed some light in the woman.
End of Part 3
Keep safe, everyone! Let me continue hearing your thoughts!
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