Juvia found Gray standing just outside of his quarters and he couldn't help but notice that he looked very distressed. His skin had gone pale and he was sweating a little, he almost looked as if he had relived a traumatic event. She approached him slowly and when her hand gently touched his shoulder he flinched and jerked back suddenly.
"Are you alright dear?" She asked in surprise of his attitude.
"Yeah! I'm fine! Why do you ask?"
"Well you just seemed a little upset. Is something bothering you?"
"No. I just...I just didn't get much sleep last night that's all. I'm tired."
"Oh...Okay then." She could tell that he was lying but she didn't want to pry or come off as pushy. So she decided to believe what he told her.
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"Oh well I was thinking that maybe you and I could go on a job together."
"I'm not really in the mood for work right now."
"Alright then we could just do a simple activity like going to lunch or taking a walk. I really want to spend time with you."
"Juvia I don't mean to act like a jerk but I just want to be left alone today. I need to think about somethings."
"No I understand. Maybe tomorrow."
She knew that something was wrong. She could feel it. She had yet to figure out how, but she could always know exactly what he was feeling. As if a shared empathy had developed between the two of them. So it was very hard for Gray to hide how he truly felt from her. At least in regards to common feelings like distress or anger or worry. But again she didn't want to pry. She pressed him no further on the subject and left him alone. However that didn't mean she wouldn't talk to someone who probably knew what was going on with him. Someone who had known him longer than she had. Like Natsu.
She went over to Lucy's apartment to talk to him and knocked on the door.
"Oh so now you knock?!" She heard Lucy shout. "Well I'm still mad at you so go away Natsu!"
"It's not Natsu." Juvia replied.
Lucy opened the door.
"Oh I'm sorry. I should have figured it was you. You're the only one of my friends who actually knocks." The blonde said.
"Is this a bad time?"
"No. Not at all. Come in."
She let Juvia inside and they sat down.
"Do you want something to drink or anything?" Lucy asked her.
"No thank you. Actually I was looking for Natsu. I guess he's not here."
"No." She said. "And right now I'm considering kicking out both him and his mangy cat! Those two spilled meat sauce and fish guts all over my very new and expensive curtains! Even though I have told them a thousand times not to eat anywhere in my apartment except that kitchen!"
"Oh my. Where are they now?"
"If I'm correct they're probably off trying to think of some new form of begging and pleading that will convince me to let them continue living here." She said. "So what exactly do you want to talk to him about?"
"Gray."
"Do you wanna cause another ego battle between those two?"
"No it's not like that. You see when I went to see Gray this morning something seemed off about him. He told me that he was fine but I don't think he was being truthful. Now I'm really trying not to pry with him but I want to make sure that he's really okay so I thought maybe I could ask Natsu if he knows anything. After all those two have basically grown up together. Maybe he knows things about Gray that I have yet to find out."
"Not a bad idea but I think you're better off talking to Erza because when it comes to men and feelings Natsu is completely oblivious."
"Really? I thought this past year he had gotten a lot of experience on opening up and relationships."
"What gave you that idea?"
"Well he moved in with you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well aren't you two...You know." Juvia said with soft blush.
Lucy's entire face turned blood red when she realized what the rain woman was implying.
"No! No! No! It is not like that! Not at all!"
"So you're not lovers or anything?"
"No! I'm just helping him and Happy out until they find a new place. Although I am now reconsidering that charitable act after what they did to my curtains."
"Oh...I'm sorry. It's just that when I see the way you two look at each other I assumed that-"
"Wait a minute, rewind, the way we look- What?"
"The way you look at him and the way he looks at you. It's the exact same way I look at my beloved Gray and the same way Gajeel and Levy look at each other. Have you not noticed?"
"No because there's no look. At least not between us. I don't know what you've been seeing but you're definitely wrong."
"Okay if you say so." Juvia smiled with an eye roll.
Lucy could tell that Juvia didn't believe her and before she could protest any further Erza came barging into the apartment to inform them of the distress call Makarov had been given, asking them to help her do a little research on this seemingly unknown place called Stormhold.
They read through many books and seemingly found no information whatsoever. But at long last they managed to find one article that said that Stormhold was located high up in the mountains that were just one mile from Oak Town. However that was all they could find on the subject and since Gajeel and Juvia knew the areas in and close to Oak Town better than all the other members of Fairy Tail it was decided that they would join the group on their mission.
Juvia of course was all for it. Anything to spend more time with Gray especially if he was going to be leaving for a few days and because of his recent mood change. Gajeel however was more reluctant to leave Levy when she was this close to the end of her pregnancy.
"I will be fine." She assured him. "I maybe small but I'm a lot tougher than most people would think."
"Trust me babe I know." He said with a smile. "But to be on the safe side can you stay with Cana or Mirajane while I'm gone?"
"Sure but only to ease your worries."
"Thank you. Now the only thing I have to worry about is getting back in time for when the baby comes."
"You will. I know my baby and it's not coming out of me until it's daddy comes home. I'm certain of it." She planted a kiss on his mouth. It was meant to be a simple chaste kiss but Gajeel immediately turned it into a passionate one.
He scooped her up and carried her over to the bed they shared. He climbed on top of her and started to move his lips from her mouth to her neck when he felt the tiny miracle in Levy's belly give him a powerful kick.
"Uh-oh." She giggled. "I think the baby wants us to keep things celibate for awhile."
"Aw come on kid. I haven't gotten lucky in three months." He complained to her stomach. The unborn child only responded with another kick.
"Sorry Gajeel but what baby wants baby gets."
The iron dragon slayer crossed his arms and groaned in frustration. However he complied with his offspring's wishes.
"Not much longer." Levy assured him. "Not much longer."
"Yeah right." He scoffed.