Warning: There's mention of tentative suicide in that chapter. If you're not comfortable with that, I signal the end of that part with that symbol [µ] so you know when you can read again (you can use the ctrl+F to go there quickly)

Also, I'm not used to write about Meredy and Ultear, so let me know if I did it right! I tried to follow the manga lines as much as I could.
And as usual, as English is not my native language, feel free to correct any mistake.

Chapter 8: for the ones you love

"Where could she have gone? She was right beside me when we arrived."

"Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find her." Gray tried to reassure his elder. "She doesn't know the place. She can't be far." He led Ultear through the gathered people, looking for short pink hair among them.

###

Juvia was still standing by the doorframe. She could feel anger toward this girl who seemed to loathe her Gray-sama rising inside her.

"Why would you hate Gray-sama?" She tried to refrain the accusation in her tone, she still didn't want the girl to jump, but the idea of someone hating Gray was so irrational that it stirred the worst of her.

"He's a despicable being. He's arrogant. Boastful. Insensitive. And so cold. I don't know why my Ultear likes him so much."

Ultear… What was probably the woman Juvia saw earlier.

"Gray-sama isn't like that." She assured. "He can be proud of himself sometimes but never condescending. He's very kind and brave. He's thoughtful and loyal toward his friends."

Meredy snickered. "Is it not funny? You and me have opposite feelings for the same person. I hate him and you love him." Juvia could not prevent her face to turn red then. "But love blinds people. You don't see his flaws."

Juvia pondered that claim. "Hate does the same. If you only listen to your absurd aversion for Gray-sama, you have a distorted view of him."

"Looks like you really have a high opinion of him. Sorry but you're wrong. My judgement isn't biased like you, and I have perfect rights to dislike him. He brought despair and grief upon my Ultear. He took away her happiness, he hurt her because of his selfish reason."

Juvia could not conceive a world where Gray would deliberately hurt people like that. Whatever that girl believed, it was probably much complicated than that.

"Juvia maintains that Gray-sama would never hurt loved ones. He would hate himself if so. Did you talk with him about that? Or Ultear-san? If what you say is true, Juvia's sure he's feeling guilty."

"I don't care if he feels guilt! He hurt my Ultear! I can't forgive him! She shouldn't forgive him! He hurt her! He hurt her so much and still… she was searching for him as soon as we got here. Even if it's his fault if Ultear's mother…" Her voice quivered and she stopped there, and her next words were murmurs. "My Ultear cared for him more than me."

Juvia heard it then. The pain.

It was raining in Meredy's heart.

Drip, drip, drop…

And just like that Juvia's anger vanished.

"This Ultear-san seems very important to you." She said with a soft voice.

Meredy let a quiet moment pass. "She is my mother. Well, she's not my real mother, she adopted me. We're not blood related. But…"

"But you think of her as your mother." The girl didn't move but Juvia knew she had been right. "Every child wants to be loved by their mother. She certainly loves you. She wouldn't have adopted you if not."

"Maybe she liked me at first, like when you choose a puppy in a pet shop but not anymore."

"Did she say that?"

"Of course not. But she didn't notice when I left her to come here. She was only focused on Gray. She'll probably feel relieved if I disappear."

"You're going to hurt her just like you think Gray-sama hurt her." Juvia argued but Meredy didn't answer and it suddenly struck Juvia's mind. "That's what you hope for. Gray-sama hurt her and she loves him, so if you hurt her…" Juvia shook her head. "Love doesn't work like that."

"That's doesn't matter anyway. She had plenty of time to come here and still didn't show."

"She has no clue where you are. She's probably deeply worried and searching for you."

###

"She's nowhere." Ultear was starting to panic then.

"She has to be somewhere." Gray argued a bit too harsh; he was also getting worried and loosing his nerves. "Maybe she sneaked inside one of the buildings to see the classrooms or she's just sulking in a restroom."

As he was heading toward the first block, he saw Jet running in their direction.

"What's going on?" He asked his friend.

"I'm searching for Makarov!" Jet shouted back. "There's a girl at the third floor of the science building. She looks like she's going to jump!"

Ultear gripped Gray's hand and almost crushed his finger with the force, but he didn't flinch and clutched her hand in return. There was a chance the girl was not Meredy, but his gusts were telling the contrary. He pulled Ultear, racing toward the said building. "She's going to be alright. She won't jump. We're going to meet her soon."

She has to be alright, he thought. It would break Ultear if she wasn't. He can't let that happen. Not again.

###

"Juvia thinks you should talk with your mother and Gray-sama. Juvia can be with you if you're afraid. But what you're planning to do won't solve anything."

"Why are you trying to stop me?" The girl screamed. "As if you care! I'm just a nuisance! No one will be sad if I die!"

"Juvia will be sad. She likes you."

Meredy gripped the windowsill and fought the tears willing up her eyes. "How can you? You don't know me."

Juvia smiled softly. "Juvia is known for loving at first sight." Prudently she approached the young girl.

"You can't. I'm a bad guy. I did awful things. I… I have been expelled from my school. I run away from home, I stole people and get police records. Ultear took me back but… she doesn't love me. She can't love me." Her body was shaking with sobs then. "No one can love me."

"That's not true." Juvia murmured. "Juvia knows the feeling. She's also an orphan and she had been send to so many foster homes, she lost count. She knows how it feels to watch other kids getting adopted while you stand there, wondering what's wrong with you. But there's nothing wrong. You had to meet the right persons. People you fit with." Meredy didn't say anything but Juvia knew she was listening. "Juvia met her best friend during highschool, he was the first person to care for her and she trusted him. Now, he's like Juvia's brother and she loves him so much. And she has many people she loves now." She took more steps, careful not to scare the girl. "You did these things to test Ultear's feelings for you. If she was going to abandon you. You're afraid to be left alone. I have the same fear. But Meredy-chan loves her mom, right?"

She was now just behind Meredy but she didn't touch her yet. "Juvia lives for the ones she loves. If you have love in your life you should keep on living."

Meredy turned toward her, legs still hanging out of the window. Their eyes met and the girl hold back a sob. Then Juvia wrapped her arms around her shoulders and pulled the girl against her. She whispered in her ear. "Whatever happens. Your life matters."

Meredy broke into tears then, and she gripped Juvia's back as the blue-haired girl pulled her inside the room, and then they both fall on their knees. The girl cried her heart out into the woman shoulder while Juvia stroked the short pink hair.

They stayed like that for a moment before Juvia heard footsteps and panting breaths from outside.

"Meredy!" A feminine voice exclaimed and Juvia turned her head to see the black-haired woman from earlier. Gray was by her side and looked surprised to see her on the floor. He opened his mouth to say something but the woman – Ultear, Juvia assumed – kneeled beside the two girls. "Meredy?" She whispered. "Meredy, are you okay?"

The girl didn't look up, instead she buried her face further into Juvia's chest.

"She's not hurt." Juvia answered just as low. "But she has a lot on her heart that you should talk with her."

The older woman nodded. "I knew there was something, but I didn't want to pressure you. I… thought you'd talk when you'd be ready but… I was wrong. I'm not as empathic as you are and I struggle to understand others feelings." Her hand hovered Meredy's back but she seemed to change her mind and her hand fell back on her thigh. "I'm sorry. You must hate me."

Meredy's cries lessened a bit and she slightly turned her head to look at Ultear.

"I'm sorry." The woman murmured again. "I failed as a parent. If you don't want me as your mom, I'll understand. We can see what to do to find you goods parents. I'm sure you'll be happy."

The girl let go of Juvia and throw herself into Ultear's arms. "No! Don't leave me alone! You're my mom! You're my mom!"

After the first moment of surprise, Ultear closed her arms around her daughter. "I love you so much." She looked up and met Juvia's eyes. "Thank you." She mouthed and Juvia nodded before getting to her feet and stepping back to give the two women personal space.

When she stopped crying, Meredy raised her head and said firmly. "Let's live, together."

"Yes." Ultear hugged her. "I would love that. You'll teach me how parenting works."

[µ]

"Let's go home. We'll talk more with ice-cream and chocolate." Ultear proposed and Meredy nodded while drying her last tears with her palm.

After a quick goodbye wave, Gray watched the two walked away and then he turned his head toward Juvia and freaked.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?" She looked up with wide eyes and then she noticed the tears running on her cheeks. "Ah. Juvia's eyes are raining because she's happy for Meredy-chan." She explained as she wiped her tears with her sleeve.

Gray sighed with relief. "Yeah… She's a good kid even if she has a deep hatred toward me. But I can't blame her."

"Don't worry Gray-sama." Juvia said in sort of encouragement. "Meredy-chan went through a lot and she loves her mom very much, but she'll understand one day that Ultear-san can be with a man and still love her as much."

"Huh?" It was Gray's turn to be dumbfounded. "What are you talking? I'm pretty sure Ultear has no interest in men – or women - right now. She's a hardened spinster. Why are you looking at me like that? Are you against a single woman adopting a child?"

Juvia's mind had broken down for a second with his words, like a bug in a software and she tried to start it over.

"Ah, no." She shook her head. "But… Juvia thought… you're not…. Ultear-san… How exactly do you know Ultear-san, Gray-sama?"

Gray rubbed his nape. "She's my cousin. More like an older sister when she likes to scold me."

"Oh." She blushed.

He eyed her suspiciously. "What silly idea came again in this mind of yours?"

"Nothing." She lied but he didn't seem convinced. She fidgeted under his stare before she excused herself hastily, flying away. "Juvia had to pick something for Jellal-san! He's going to have a heart attack if she didn't come back!"

Gray stood there, thunderstruck. How can she do that? She had just saved a girl from suicide and left like that, as carefree as always, as if it was no big deal. Like the birds sing after a storm.

He sighed. Ah well, he was grateful to her. If she had not been there in time, he would probably be grieving now. Maybe he should do something for her?

He'd think about that later. If he did not return to the hockey stand, Laxus was going to add more training just for him.

###

The weeks had passed smoothly, without any incident and it was almost exam period again.

Gray and his group of friends decided to spend the evening in revision at Natsu's flat. As Jellal, Erza and Lucy have stuff to do before, Gray was probably the first one to arrive. He didn't care to knock or announce his arrival as Natsu hardly ever locked his door. Not like there was many things to steal in the Ash-brain's place anyway, Gray thought as he pushed the door open.

He was welcome by a piercing scream.

"Fire Dragon Roar!"

"What the?" He mumbled as he saw Natsu crossed legs sat on his couch, gamepad in hands and a bag of chips between him and … "Juvia? What are you doing?"

She was startled and looked away from the TV. "Gray-sama? Ah, what time is it?"

"Hey, Juvia!" Natsu reprimanded her. "Don't lose focus! We need to finish that level!"

She obeyed and returned her gaze on the screen while pressing buttons on her joystick as fast as the Pink Fire-balls. Gray rubbed the top of his nose. Why was he even surprised? It was so like Natsu to drag someone in videogame contest.

He put down his bag with all his books and study notes and walked to the two, resting his arms on the sofa back to watch their progression.
"Juvia_F?" Gray read her name. "What's the F for?"

Her face tainted purple red from her neck to her forehead.

"You're really dumb sometimes, Icepants."

With a scowl, Gray turned his head toward Natsu. "What does that mean, Fire dick?"

Still focused on his game, the pink haired man answered. "It's obviously for Fairy Tail, duh."

Gray sent an interrogative gaze toward Juvia for confirmation.

"Ye…Yeah. Juvia is part of Fairy Tail now…so…" She seemed hesitant with her explanations but he chose not to push it.

"And why are you here? Do you play often with Natsu?" As far as he knew, Natsu and Juvia did not hang out that much. It was a legit question. Just out of pure curiosity. He was not jealous. Did he sound jealous? Nah. Gray Fullbuster would never be jealous. Not for his not-best friend, nor for… the friend who happened to have a crush on him.

"I had an essay about volcanic ash clouds, and I asked Juvia for help about clouds and air circulation." Natsu explained, squinting his eyes as his avatar pushed a door. "Thanks to her, I finished it in two hours and we decided to play a game to relax. Watch out that demon, Juv!"

"Got it!"

The screen was filled with gold and blue blasts while fighting yells came out of the speakers. Gray surrendered to the unusual scene and watched the game until a light knock was heard at the door and Lucy and Erza came in.

"Jellal's not here?" Gray asked Erza as he hugged her to say hello.

"He's at the observatory. Apparently it's a perfect night to observe comets. There's one reaching its perihelion in a few days and he had to calculate its trajectory." Erza explained, looking torn between pride and disappointment for his absence. "Hello Juvia! Are you staying to study with us?"

The blue-haired woman sent a last water shot to a multi-arms monster and a gold Win word burst onto the screen. "Juvia was only here to help Natsu-san. She did not want to impose herself…"

"Of course you can stay!" Natsu said as he stretched his arms, looking deeply content about their victory. "It's better to study together! We can help each other!"

"Yeah, but I don't even know why I am here." Lucy complained. "We don't have any subject in common. I should revise with Levy instead."

Natsu gasped. "Don't say that Luce! We're a team!"

Lucy rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless as she caressed Happy's fur.

"Hum… May Juvia borrow one of your books, as she didn't bring hers?" Juvia asked Gray with pinkish cheeks.

"Yeah, no prob'. I planned to do mathematics tonight anyway and you're better than me, so you'll be tutoring me."

She had the face of a child at Christmas by then and he resisted the urge to laugh. She was easy to please, he thought.

She took the task seriously and they spent two hours about solving methods and exercises. Then they switched with Physics, joined by Natsu, but it was not as effective as the boys quarreled almost every minute.

Around midnight, when the lines were starting to mingle before his eyes, Gray decided it was enough and proposed to drive Erza and Juvia home on his way.

"Yes, you're right." The red-haired agreed. "Sleep is as important as studying for exam preparation."

Lucy stretched "Hum… I should go home too."

"Why for?" Natsu asked. "You can stay and sleep here. After all, I slept with you many times at yours."

Lucy turned deep red. "Idiot! Don't say it like that! We just shared my bed." She added for the others looking horrified. "I mean… We actually slept. Just slept!"

"That's exactly what I said." Natsu frowned. "Why are you reacting like this?"

Lucy let out a sound of exasperation and Gray smirked.

"Well, if you want to cuddle your pinkie dragon plush, it's up to you Lucy." He teased as he jingled his car keys.

"Gray!" The blonde shrieked at the same time Natsu asked with a whine "You have a dragon plush? How does Gray know about it? Why didn't I know?"

"I hate you Gray! Alright, I'm staying here!" Lucy shouted with a scarlet face.

Gray's laugh echoed in the corridor while Erza shook her head, too tired to reprimand him.

"Juvia didn't know Lucy-san sleeps with a plush. Did she make it herself? Juvia made hers." She inquired as the trio exited the building.

That time even Erza chuckled. "There's no plush. Gray was talking about Natsu."

"But that hopeless idiot did not get the hint. Come on girls, the last stroke of midnight died, my coach is going to transform into a pumpkin."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Erza asked but Gray just winked at Juvia who smoothed her giggle with her hand but could not help a blush tainting her cheeks.

Ah, looks like she was also easy to tease.