This story will be one of my main focuses along with Guilty Awoke and Married at First Sight. I Want to get those finished so I've been in crunch mode all week, working out the chapter outlines and ending the polls. This story's outline is complete so all i have to do now is finish u and type up all the remaining chapters. As for the others , they may get updates, but it'll mostly just be those three. I find that if i do it that way, i can finally complete my all stories before I move and college and have to give them up. That's a year and a half. *Sigh* Lots of work.
Thank you guys for understanding and love ya!
Enjoy and sorry for any mistakes.
It bothered Gray. It really bothered Gray. It hurt him a bit too much on the inside to know that Juvia cared so much about Laxus. Why was she so passionate about Laxus? Why did she care about Laxus so much? What was so wonderful, amazing, super, freaking Magical about Laxus Dreyar? If anything, to Gray, he's always been a know it all. He's always been the big ass bully of the Guild. Laxus was the cheeky bastard who set himself above everyone else in the guild but his team. Why was that something Juvia damn near worshiped? Okay…that was hypocritical, but it really bothered him!
Was Juvia developing feelings for Laxus? Was she slowly seeing he was actually a pretty decent guy who deep inside was one of the softest lovers out there. He's actually someone who thought higher of everyone else in the guild, including his team? Was she realizing that Laxus actually was just one big ass teddy bear? Did Juvia want to hold that big ass teddy bear at night… did she want to sleep wi- what is wrong with him!?
Gray gripped his head and groaned. He had to come to terms with what he was dealing with here. Was he being jealous? No. Hell no! No way! Juvia and Laxus. Why would he even consider that? There was no way Juvia would even think about Laxus in that light. He wasn't the type of guy to settle down with anyone anyway. Laxus didn't even look like 'lover' kind of guy. Teddy bear his ass.
Gray smirked. Juvia was dedicated to him. Juvia was in love with him. That was the whole reason why she was on this mission with him. He had nothing to worry about…like if he was worried, which he wasn't. Juvia was his…friend. She wasn't in love with Laxus. Ha!
Juvia and Laxus….Now that he thought about it, they actually made a really cute couple. Their kids would be pretty good looking. Lord Mavis, sweet baby Mavis! What was wrong with his head!?
Gray couldn't take it anymore. He had to ask.
Juvia was sitting in front of him, bouncing the baby on her knee. She looked like a natural taking care of the small infant. It made him smile on the outside. Inside, he was a mess. He tapped his foot in time with her knee. She looked up at him and cocked her head to the side.
Was everything alright with him? Juvia had been watching his expressions from the time they had boarded the train and every time she would look up at him, he had a brand new expression. She was a bit worried there was something he was battling with in his head. She smiled up at him when their eyes locked in on each other. "Are you okay, Gray-sama?" Gray flinched back and turned to the window..
"No." he said bravely. Juvia frowned, looking down to the baby as he slowly started to cry a little. She focused on him for a moment, looking into the bag for a bottle. She fumbled with it for a moment. With only one hand, she struggled with holding the baby and digging for the milk bottle. Gray sighed and took the young child out her arms, cradling him in his own. Juvia thankfully smiled at him and grabbed the bottle out. She handed it to Gray and he took it, pressing the nipple to the baby's mouth.
For a moment they were both withdrawn and quiet. The silence seemed to calm their conflicting emotions inside momentarily. Gray looked up and decided it would best to just up right in ask her what she thought about Laxus herself. He knew battling it within his mind wasn't going to solve anything. His mind could care less what she thought about Laxus, but truth be told, his stupid heart tightened the moment he even thought about Juvia in love with Laxus. He hated it and he wanted her to deny every accusation he had about her.
He sucked it up and opened his mouth. "Juvia," he started. The water mage looked up to the sound of her name and waited for him to continue. Gray sighed. It was now or never. "What do you feel towards Laxus?" Gray waited on the slap in the face, but it never came. Instead Juvia only looked at him. Gray blinked a few times. Maybe he never said anything. "Uh..Juvia." she nodded. "What do you feel towards Laxus?" She says nothing. Gray sighs and looks the other way. "You heard me that time for sure." Juvia looked down and played with her fingers, fumbling a little with them.
"I don't know." Gray narrowed his eyes at her.
"You don't know?"
"No." Gray leans back in his seat and laughs to himself. Juvia watches his expression. He's laughing to himself. He's actually chuckling. She knows he's really upset now.
"You don't know. What do you mean you don't know? Do you take me for a fool, I know just how you look at that prick. You look at him like you like him or something. You act like he's all high and mighty. I know you're in love with him. I know you want to be with him!" Juvia stared at him.
To say she was confused would be shying completely behind the bush. Juvia looked down to her hands and bit her lip, hard enough that it drew blood. She couldn't feel the pain it anyway. She closes her eyes and wipes her lip.
They don't say anything for a long while. The announcer from the train announces that their destination was in sight and that they were three miles from the stop. Gray taps his foot angrily on the ground. It worries Juvia more than greatly. She took the baby from him and held the child into her chest.
"Gray," She says slowly as she finally looks up at him. He doesn't look back. "Are you Jealous?" Gray snaps his head to her.
"Jealous of what?"
"Laxus-san." Gray laughs, blowing out a long puff of air. Now he was pissed. He was livid. Why wouldn't she just say if she liked him or not. He just made an utter fool of himself and she doesn't say a thing on wither or not she even liked Laxus the way he thought she did. Gray wanted to punch himself in the gut. He wanted to reverse time and just make it to where he said nothing about the matter as a whole. He could care less who or what Juvia liked. It didn't matter to him. He had been telling himself the whole time that he felt nothing towards Juvia and when shit hits the fan, he contemplates if he truly does.
No!
Things had to go back the way they were. Back to the time when Juvia's life didn't affect his. Back to the time when he could actually understand his own feelings. Forget Laxus. Juvia could date anyone she wanted. It didn't matter to him. It didn't matter. It didn't matter. It didn't matter. It still doesn't matter.
He sucked in a breath. He was tired of feeling unsure about everything. Now it was time to face the truth, "Juvia," he started slowly. "I, in no shape, form, or fashion will ever, love you." Juvia's world seemed to come to a complete stop. She stared at him. Gray stared back with a hardness in his eyes she had never seen before directed to her. "So if that's what this mission was for, you can focus on the real job now and get things done so we can go back home tonight." Juvia said nothing.
Even though her heart seemed to drop to the lowest pit of her stomach and disappear, she couldn't find herself to do nothing but smile and look back up to Gray. His eyes widen as not a tear fell from her eye or a whine came from her mouth. Juvia just smiled at him and nodded. "Juvia understands, Juvia will try not to bother you, Gray-san, anymore on this mission." Gray clenched his teeth together.
In the end, he got what he wanted didn't he?
As they made it to the northern side of Bosco, Juvia hopped off the train with the baby in her arms. Ever since the argument, she hasn't said a word to Gray. He watches her out the corner of his eye. He wants to say something so bad, but he knew the moment something slips from this throat he can't take it back. Juvia doesn't once look back at him. He sighs and keeps the walk to the shelter continuously quiet.
The shelter came into view quickly, with flashing bright green letters, just as Laxus had said. Juvia grinned thinking about how she'd have to call him on the train again. Maybe he'd get annoyed by her bothering him so much. She frowned to herself just thinking about Laxus becoming so annoyed with her like Gray had become with her. She shrugged the thought off and decided to just keep things simple.
When they made it to front step. Gray knocked on the door and they stood back waiting for anyone to answer. The door very slowly opened and a teen, no more than maybe fourteen answered. She stared at Gray and Juvia, cocking her head slightly to the side.
"May I help you, ma'am, and sir?" Juvia smiled, relieved that this encounter was less painful.
"We're mages from Fairy Tail." She took a step back and revealed the baby behind her in Gray's arms. The young girl's eyes began to widen. "We've brought a child from the shelter on the other side of Bosco. Silaice sent us here." The young girl's face began to brighten and she began to have tears stream down her face. Juvia and Gray took a step back, surprised by the instant change in mood.
The door opened wider and a older woman with light brown hair, rolled up into a bun at the top of her head smiled and laid a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Good afternoon mages from Fairy Tail. Please come in." She turned down to the young girl and ushered inside. "Abelia, please go make some tea." The young girl nodded and turned walking into the back.
Gray and Juvia were taken into the back, vintage living room. Juvia knew this was a shelter, but where were all the children? The woman from before smiled at them and watched as Abelia came and set the coffee table in front of them with cups of steaming tea. Juvia watched her as her small round face was twisted with a mix of joy and sadness. Juvia wanted to put her arms around her. When she was done, the woman asked for Abelia to sit next to her. When she did, the conversation began.
"Now then, thank you so much for taking care of the baby on your way here. I'm sure it must have been a hassle." Juvia immediately cut in.
"No at all!" she insisted, "He was very good and the trip wasn't long. I'm glad we were able to bring him her in one piece. He seems very important…" Juvia slowly glanced over to the young girl. Her eyes began to well with tears again.
"Indeed he is." The woman said. "This center isn't home to very many children, but each and every one of them have something important to them. We do everything and anything we can to get it back to them. This child, is no different."
"You mean…"Gray said slowly, "This baby belongs to this young girl?"
The older woman smiles. "Yes. A few years ago the parents of Abelia had passed away. She was brought here when no one accepted her in her family. During the process, she got separated from her younger brother, the baby you are holding right now. He was just born and was left in the hospital for special treatment. He was born a bit premature. We were supposed to receive him a month ago, but he never showed. Last week we received a call from Silaice's shelter stating they were sending an infant our way with mages. We were hoping that infant was her younger brother and to see that it is, is a relief to everyone of this facility."
Abelia stood up then and walked over to Juvia and Gray. She got on her hands and knees before them and bowed her head. Juvia immediately asked for her to lift her head. When the young girl didn't move Gray and Juvia allowed for her to thank them. With tears streaming down her face. "Thank you!" She cried. "Thank you so much! Thank you, Thank you!" Juvia smiled at the young girl and lifted her head.
"There's no need for you to thank me. Thank the woman behind you for tracking down your brother." The young girl turned to the woman behind her and bowed her head again. "Now then." Juvia grabbed the baby out of Gray's arms and carried him over to the younger girl. She handed him off to her and smiled. "You have to support his head with the crook in your arm your elbow makes." Gray snapped his head up and grinded his teeth together.
After a while of Gray and Juvia talking to Abelia and explaining everything that she needed to do to keep the baby healthy, they left. Juvia once again said nothing to him at all. Gray didn't try to start a conversation with her either.
The trip on the way back home was filled with complete silence between the two. The tension was so thick it could cut them both and still have no effect on the situation. Gray was left empty. He completely regretted what he said to Juvia, but at the same time, he was so pissed that she had feelings for Laxus, that he couldn't bring himself to apologize. And it wasn't the fact that she could possibly have feeling for him, it was the fact that she wouldn't clarify if she did have any feelings for him. That's what just threw the oil onto his flames. He wanted to be sure Juvia didn't have any feeling for Laxus, he wanted to be sure that she was still in love with him, that Juvia wanted only him. For what reason, hell if he knew. All he knew was that Juvia being around Laxus, pissed him the fuck off.
Laxus pushed his head down to the base of the Guild table and groan loudly, Freed watched him from across the table, amusement clearly on his face. When Laxus didn't move and appeared to look like a little child pouting, Freed cleared his throat and chuckled at his friend. "Laxus, is there something wrong?" Laxus's response was immediate.
"No."
Freed slowly nodded, watching Laxus steadily start to bang his head on the table. "Laxus." Freed tried again, "there's obviously something wrong. Normal grown men don't bang their heads against tables." Laxus doesn't say anything back, he only nods understanding what Freed is saying.
"Grown men don't bang their heads against tables."
"Laxus what's wrong?" Laxus lifts his head and frowns at his team leader. The rune mage looks back with look of amusement and perplexity in his eyes. "Does it have something to do with a certain water mage?"
"It has everything to do with the water mage." Freed takes note of this and smiles.
"Well sense you're being open about it right now, why don't you go ahead and let me know what's going on. Between you and Juvia. Just earlier you two were discussing about eloping and now she'd got your heart on your shoulder and making you bang your head into a table. I'm lost and you're scaring me."
"One," Laxus says, his frown deepening. "It's a mission Freed, how many times do I have to explain to you our relationship isn't and won't be of that caliber. Two, my heart isn't on my sleeve-"
"Shoulder."
"Shoulder," Laxus corrects himself, glaring at the green haired man, "You asked and I only answered your question. Lastly, she hasn't called me back via larcrima yet and I'm worried."
"That she chose to elope with Gray instead?"
"That she won't make it back before I have to leave." Laxus sighs, turning his head and watching the door. "They should have been done by now." Freed takes a stand and gathered a few of his items of the table. He hikes them into the crook of his arm and turns to leave.
"I think it'll be a matter of time before they return. I wouldn't worry much about Juvia, she's a woman that can hold her own ground." Laxus nods in agreement. To himself Freed mumbles, "And a woman who changes even the grumpiest sack of a man to a worrying buffoon." Before turning and heading out the door. Just as he makes it to the main doors, he pulls them open only to come face to face with Juvia and Gray. Freed smirks and places a hand on Juvia's shoulder. "Good evening, Juvia. Its nice to see you've returned from your mission in one piece." Juvia returns a half smile.
"Thank you Freed-kun. Although she is very tired, Juvia has come all the way to the guild to speak with Laxus-san." Freed notices the way Gray tenses as the words leave her mouth. Her also notices how she's changed her speech point of view back into third. Freed takes in a breath. Laxus had a good bit to handle for sure right now.
"As for Laxus," Freed says, withdrawing his hand, "He's in his normal seat, waiting for you. He was very worried about your mission outcome." He smiles before walking away. "I'd be best to see him before he has a mental breakdown." Juvia watches Freed leave before turning and making her way into the Guild. When she sees Laxus, she perks up and runs over, tackling him in a hug.
"Laxus-san! Juvia has returned and is very excited to go on the mission with you!" Laxus gives her a smile and lets her plant into the seat next to him.
"Good to hear, cause we leave early tomorrow morning. I'll walk you home so you can get prepared and repack." He stands and makes his way to the main door, Juvia in tow. As they leave Gray takes Juvia by the arm and stops them. Laxus turns back frowning down on the younger mage for the disruption.
"Juvia, we need to talk. I know you're tired and you want to go home, but we've got to talk…" He looks down to his shoes, before digging his hands into his pockets. He couldn't hold it in. He has to apologize before Laxus ends up being the one gaining all of her attention. He sees the way she ogles him. He sees the way her atmosphere changes as soon as his name is brought up. He hates it. Juvia says nothing but instead turns to Laxus for guidance. When the dragon slayer says nothing himself, Juvia nods.
"Juvia will speak with Gray when she gets back from her mission with Laxus-san. " Gray narrows his eyes.
"Why not now, I want to talk to you no-"
"Because Juvia is hurt after what Gray-san said." Gray bites his lip and curses himself to death. Juvia looks away and walks back closer into Laxus. "For right now, Juvia can't look at Gray-san, so she has to leave for a while until she can clear her mind." She bows and before leaving, tugging on Laxus's jacket for him to follow.
Juvia walked slowly along the edge of the canal. She remembered seeing Lucy balance herself along the edge, but Juvia never had the balance Lucy could possibly have in order to do that. She wanted to talk to Gray to night, but she was afraid that if she had confessed what she really felt like inside, I'd only make things worse between them. As she said, she needed more time to clear her mind and focus on other things. Maybe she'd get advice from Laxus while on the mission.
Laxus watched her from the corner of his eyes before sighing and opening his mouth. "I guess you wouldn't care to let me know what's going on." Juvia's mouth draws a thin line.
"Juvia is very upset, but she's made Gray-sama even more upset because she's uncertain about her feelings."
"What feelings?"
Juvia pauses, stopping the both in the middle of the road. The cold evening air breezes past them chilling their exposed arms and legs. It passes through only for a moment before it continues on carrying away Juvia's weight, her shoulders now only heavy with pain and regret. "Juvia's feelings about Laxus-san."
Laxus freezes, turning and looking back at the water mage. "You're feelings about me?"
"Juvia really likes Laxus-san, but Gray-sama is mistaking it for another like as if Juvia wanted to be more with Laxus-san than she does Gray-sama. Gray-sama got really angry and told Juvia that he would never love her. So Juvia tried not to bother Gray-sama for the rest of the mission." Laxus took this all in. That would explain why she reverted back to her old speaking pattern. Juvia continued. "Juvia cares about Gray-sama and Laxus-san…but Juvia is in love with Gray-sama."
"Then you need to tell him that." Juvia looks up into Laxus's eyes for a brief moment. "Did you clarify and tell Gray that?" Juvia shook her head.
"Juvia was afraid that Gray-sama wouldn't love her back. Juvia doesn't want Gray-sama to hate her for always pushing herself on him" Laxus takes in a deep breath before letting out a loud sigh and rubbing his hands over his face.
"You're worried about that now!?" Juvia takes a step back and fiddles with her fingers.
"Juvia has learned that her past strategies for winning Gray-sama's heart were very far fetched."
"You don't say."
"Juvia doesn't need Laxus-san to pick on her in her worst time!" Laxus laughs aloud and ruffles the younger mage's hair. "Laxus-san!" He looks down at her and smiles.
"If you want Gray to understand you've got to let him know things like that. Gray's just not going to automatically understand that you will only ever love him. As a human being, Gray knows that it's normal for someone to find another person to pursue once they find that things aren't working out with someone else. He probably thought because he has never replied to your bizarre love confessions, that you have moved on and found someone else to fall for, that person just happened to be me because we've become friends…in a very abnormal way."
Juvia looks up, looking deeply into Laxus's eyes. "Laxus-san thinks Juvia as a friend?" Laxus smiles back at her and gives her a small nod. This gave Juvia a surge of happiness. Immediately she dove in and gave Laxus another breath taking hug. Laxus awkwardly, wraps his arms around her in return and pats her back a little. "Thank you Laxus-san. Juvia will let Gray know first thing in the morning about how she feels."
"You'll still go on the mission with me right?" Juvia buries her head deep within Laxus's chest and nods.
"If it isn't a bother to Laxus-san."
"It takes a lot to bother me." Laxus took in a deep breath and just held the water mage in his arms. He'd wait until after the mission to break the news to her...
