Gray and the lost boys immediately set to work on making a suitable house for Juvia. They used red wood to build the walls and the door, moss and leaves as the carpeting and the roof, an old shoe as a knocker, and they tied together a bunch of sticks to make a window. For her bed they gathered up all the fallen downy feathers of various ducks and geese who flew by and made them into one of the softest feather beds imaginable. They gave her a chair and a little table that they swiped from the pirate ship and they would have let that be the end of it but Elfman claimed that a lady preferred her home to have certain aspects like privacy, something that made her house look pretty, and things to help her freshen up and look nice.
So the boys gathered up some yellow leaves and used them to make curtains for the windows, decorated the house with wild island roses, and filled a bucket with fresh water scented with lily petals for when she needed to bathe. Also Gray gave her a comb and hand mirror from one of the mermaids at the lagoon so she could do her hair. They had just finished the house completely when they heard her make a stirring noise.
"Alright everyone look your best. Remember first impressions are important." Gray said.
"What's a first impression?" Sting asked.
"I don't know I just heard it from one of the grown ups once."
"Do you think she'll like us?" Elfman asked.
"Considering that we shot her out of the sky I wouldn't blame her if she didn't." Rogue said.
"We just need to look loveable and adorable." Gajeel said.
The children quickly went out of there way to look their very best and they waited with baited breath for her to appear. Gray flew back to their hideout to make everything ready for her. He had decided since she would be playing the motherly role in their pretend family it was only natural that he play the fatherly role since he was the leader of the lost boys and the oldest.
When Juvia woke up the first thing she did was examine her surroundings. She ran her hand across the redwood walls of the house then felt the softness of her downy feather bed. After that she smelled the island roses that decorated her windows and took a moment to brush her hair with the comb Gray had brought her. The house was quite beautiful and no doubt Juvia would be very cosy within it.
When she had finished with her hair the door opened and she came out. The lost boys whipped off their hats again and bowed politely. She looked properly surprised and this was just how they had hoped she would look.
"Where am I?" She asked.
"Miss Juvia." Gajeel said in his most gentleman like tone. "We apologize for the harm we have caused you, it was most certainly unintentional."
"And to prove how sorry we are." Elfman added. "We built you this house. We hope it's to your liking."
"It is lovely." Juvia said.
Seeing that she was pleased, the boys all went on their knees and holding out their arms cried
"Please be our mother Juvia Lady."
"Oh." She said, again properly surprised. "Well I...I...I would like to be your mother but I'm only twelve and I have no real experience."
"Do you tell stories?" Gajeel asked.
"Yes."
"Then you're perfect." Sting said.
"Very well. I will do my best."
The four boys cheered happily then led Juvia to their secret house that was built underneath a very big and strong tree. Captain Hades would have given his remaining eye to know where it was. But they were extremely clever about keeping it hidden. Always careful to cover their tracks, make sure that they were never followed, and never let anyone know which part of the island was their territory.
"Sorry for rushing you along like this." Elfman said. "We must be cautious. There are some nasty characters about."
"If Hades discovers our hideout he'll gut us." Sting said.
"How dreadful!" Juvia gasped.
"Oh we live for it!" Sting replied in excitement.
When they reached large tree, Rogue pulled a vine which opened the secret door in the tree's hollow trunk. They escorted Juvia inside and she found herself going down a slide that took er straight into the underground house. The boys followed after her and the first thing she saw upon her arrival was Gray sitting in a chair with a sword.
"Discipline. That's what fathers believe in." Gray told her. "So as punishment for trying to kill their mother, I their father shall spank the children."
"With a sword?" Juvia asked.
"Of course. What else would I use?"
"Now wait just a minute why are you the father?" Sting asked.
"Because I'm the leader, I've been here the longest, and I didn't try to kill Juvia. Now prepare to be punished children." He raised his sword.
"Wait you're actually going to spank us with a sword?!" Elfman cried.
"No way I didn't sign up for this!" Gajeel shouted.
But Gray only chased the boys around the house swinging his sword, not stopping until Juvia stepped between him and the other children.
"Gray stop!" She said. "While I do agree that they are perfectly horrid children who are in need of punishing but to spank them would be too lenient."
"Yes very lenient!" The boys cried.
"I suggest something far more dreadful."
Juvia picked up a little cup off of a table that was down there and filled it with water and sap that was dripping from the tree's roots just above them.
"Medicine." She said with a playful smile. "It's the most beastly, disgusting stuff in all the world. A sticky, sweet, and bitter fluid with an after taste that will last for days."
Gajeel, Elfman, Sting, and Rogue looked as if she had described a fate worse than death.
"Spank us! Spank us! Please spank us!" They begged Gray who only shook his head with a pleased grin on his face.
"Littlest first." Juvia said. "Romeo."
But she did not hear her youngest brother answer nor did she see him among the group of young boys. She also didn't see Natsu either and it finally dawned on her that she was the only child of the Fernandes family here.
"Romeo? Natsu? My brothers!" She cried in a panic. "Oh my goodness where are they?! Are they here?!"
"Uh-oh I knew I forgot something." Gray said. "Or rather someone. Two someones actually."
"You mean you they were left behind? They're lost?"
"Alright don't freak out. When that cannon was shot at us they got knocked over into another part of the island."
"Which part?"
"I don't know."
"Gray!"
"Okay, okay, calm down. We'll find them."
"Who are Romeo and Natsu?" Elfman asked.
"They're my brothers and apparently they're lost somewhere on this island." Juvia said.
"She better hope they're not lost on the part of the island where the Indians or the predators live." Sting whispered to Rogue. "Otherwise they've probably been scalped or eaten by now."
"What?!" Juvia cried in horror at hearing Sting's words.
"Idiot!" Gajeel said punching Sting.
"Ow!"
"Now here's the plan. Sting and Rogue you search the jungle and near the pirate ship. Gajeel and Elfman you search higher ground and around Indian territory." Gray instructed. "If you find Natsu and/or Romeo whistle for me immediately."
"Wait what do they look like?" Rogue asked.
"One has pink hair and one has purple hair." Gray described.
"Pink and purple hair?" Gajeel said skeptically. "You sure they're boys?"
"Yes. Now get moving! Go!" Gray ordered.
"Aye-aye!" The lost boys said saluting him before splitting up to search the island for Juvia's brothers.
"What are we going to do?" Juvia asked Gray.
"We're going to the lagoon to ask the mermaids if they've seen them. They know almost everything that happens on this island."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"I can't believe I let this happen. I'm their older sister, I should have been watching them." Juvia said feeling a terrible amount of guilt. "Heaven only knows what they've gotten themselves into. Natsu is always courting trouble and poor Romeo must be so scared."
"Don't beat yourself up about this. It won't accomplish anything."
"I'm sorry but if something happens to either one of them I'll never be able to forgive myself."
"I'm sure they're fine wherever they are and the lost boys can find anything or anyone. They're the best trackers ever." Gray assured her. "Now come on let's go look for them."
He took her by the hand, they climbed out of the house, and flew off to do their part of the search.