Gray was very worried about what Erza had discovered while examining him. He tried his best not to let it show but Natsu knew him like the back of his hand. He could tell that those hairs along with that sudden inner pain had him really spooked. It was on Gray's mind all of the next day, he struggled with focusing in his classes because he was worried his insides wouldn't suddenly start seething again.

"Why not take a little patrol around town?" Natsu had suggested to him when their classes were finished. "The cool air might clear your head."

Gray took his advice, changed into his costume, and started to take a few runs on some of the city rooftops. The air did help calm him down a little but he was still on edge. Nothing seemed to be able to distract him from his anxiety. Nothing except the sudden sight of Lyon and Juvia walking together down the street. Unable to resist, he lowered himself down from the roof to listen in on their conversation.

"You know Juvia you say that there's someone else but if I remember correctly you said that he wasn't interested." Lyon said to her. "Now I backed off after that because I felt you needed some time to recover but it's been months and you still turn me down. Are you still hung up on him?"

"Yes." She admitted. "I know. It's embarrassing and I really want to go out with you it's just that...I just don't think I could ever look at you the way I look at him and that's not fair. Not to you. I feel like if I went out with you I would be giving you false hope."

"Maybe or maybe going out with me would help you get over him and find someone worthy of you. Even it's not me, you don't deserve spend your life waiting on someone who can't return your feelings."

"You sound like Meredy and I know you're both right but I just can't help it. Gray is just-"

"Gray?"

Gray blushed, Juvia covered her mouth. She didn't want to tell Lyon because he and Gray were good friends and she didn't want to get in the way of that.

"Gray? Gray Fullbuster? My roommate?" Lyon said getting angry.

"Yes." She admitted. "My sister in-law and his aunt set us up before I met you and while I developed feelings for him, he just couldn't reciprocate them."

"Is that why you went out with me that first time? Because he was my roommate and you wanted to get closer to him?"

"No. That's not true. I didn't find out you were roommates until after you asked me out and I told you how I felt later on our date."

"But you didn't tell me who the someone else was."

"Gray was your roommate and your friend, I thought you'd get angry and blame him."

"Yeah right! You didn't tell me because you just wanted to get to him through me. Why else would you hang out with me if you preferred him?"

"Because I like you. You're a good friend."

"Wow you really had me fooled when we met. I thought you were this sweet and completely sensitive girl but you're way more deceptive than that."

"Lyon please-"

"I don't wanna hear it!" He turned his back and headed down the sidewalk to hail taxi. His last words to her for the night being: "Walk yourself home!"

Gray was stunned by the whole scene. He had never seen Lyon act that way before. He'd never been one to be so mean like that to anyone. Least of all a girl. What the hell got into him? He had half a mind to chase down that taxi and beat the crap out of him. But the urge to do that was briefly forgotten when he saw Juvia collapse on a bench and start to cry quietly.

He knew it probably wasn't the best idea to do this while he was in costume but he just couldn't bring himself to leave her like this. So he dropped down from the walls and approached her carefully.

"Um...Hi Miss Lockser."

He looked up from her hands startled.

"Oh Blue Tiger." She wiping her tears away quickly. "What are you doing here? Is there danger?"

"No. As far as I know things are fine. I was patrolling and I couldn't help but overhear your little spat."

"Oh no you did?" She said fighting the urge to cry again. "I'm so humiliated."

"Hey, hey it's alright." He said gently. "Listen it's dark out and I don't think it's right for a lady to walk home alone. Would you like an escort?"

"Thank you but it's alright. You needn't bother. I can hail a taxi." She fiddled with her purse for her wallet but discovered that she had left it at home by mistake. "Oh dear. Looks like I haven't got any money on me at the moment."

"Still don't want me to take you home?"

"I really don't want you to go through all the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all. Trust me."

Now normally Juvia wasn't one to go off alone with someone she barely knew even if they were a hero but for some reason she felt that she could trust this person.

"Alright."

"Great."

He put his arm under her legs and hoisted her up.

"Wait what are you doing?" She asked nervously.

"Well I can't just walk around in the streets at night. I could get shot by some thug who has it in for me. We'll have to travel on higher ground."

"Higher ground." She said looking at the incredibly tall buildings. "You mean, climb up there."

"Up there, around, and down."

"Uh...On second thought maybe I'll just walk alone."

"I promise you, you're in good hands."

He proceeded to carry her home but running and jumping across buildings. The heights made her a little fearful at first. When they started moving she closed her eyes and clung to him in terror. He smiled and told her gently.

"Don't worry Juvia I'd never let anything happen to you. Believe me."

Her eyes flashed open and she looked at him strangely. By the sound of his voice and the way he said that, for a moment she thought that she had heard Gray.

"Something wrong?" He asked noticing her gaze.

"No it's just that when you said that, for I moment I thought you were someone else. Someone I know very well."

"Really?" He said worrying that she was putting the pieces together. "Who? Your spikey haired boyfriend back there?"

"Oh no he's not boyfriend." She sighed. "But I might have lead him on to think that maybe he could be boyfriend someday. I don't know why I'm telling you this but I seem to have a really big problem."

"What?"

"A nice, responsible, and caring guy is interested in me but I can't seem to get over another guy who doesn't see me that way I see him."

"That is a problem. I'm guessing spikey hair is the guy who wants you but who may I ask is the guy you want?"

"You know him. Gray Fullbuster, he takes your pictures for my brother's newspaper."

"Oh you mean that loser." He chuckled.

"He's not a loser!" She said irritated with his remark.

"Tell that to every girl he ever asked out. Sometimes when I'm posing for him we'll have a few chit chats and he told me that every girl he ever asked out rejected him. One even slapped him just for asking her to the prom. Says a lot about the guy doesn't it?"

"Well they only rejected him because they never took the time to get know him like I did. If they really knew him then I'm sure that they would jump at the opportunity to date him."

"With all due respect I have to disagree. I mean he's awkward, nerdy, strange, he's not much of a catch."

"You're wrong about him. He's smart and honest and kind. He cares so much about everyone and aside from my brother and his wife, no one has ever cared as much about me as he has. To tell you the truth he's the most wonderful man I've ever met."

Gray couldn't help but be astonished by her words and by how her gaze was filled with so much adoration as she spoke of him. She really thought all those things about him? The real him. The nerd who girls pretty much would choose to let the species of humanity die out if he was the last man on earth? His deep rooted insecurities felt like bursting and he was certain that his heart rate was going to force the blood pumping organ out of his chest.

"And you're..." He stuttered for a moment still unable to comprehend her view on him. "You're probably the most wonderful woman he's ever met."

"I don't think so." She giggled. "There's someone else in his life too. A girl who he's most likely never going to get over."

"Maybe." He said. "Or maybe he just never realized how much you cared for him."

"Oh don't tell him this. Please, I don't want him to think I'm obsessive or anything. I also don't want him to feel guilty for not returning my feelings. It can't be helped if a person isn't romantically interested in someone."

"I...I won't tell."

"Thank you."

They were silent for the rest of the trip and in about ten minutes they arrived at her house.

"Here we are." He said.

"Thank you for the ride. I really appreciate it." She said.

"Don't mention it. Heroes are always supposed to be around to help."

"Yes I- Wait a minute how did you know where I lived? I didn't tell you."

"Um...I...I...I..." He thought of a fib to fool her. "Your brother tries to make me look bad so I...I learned where he lived and where he worked so I could avoid him."

"But you still let your pictures be taken by his photographer and used for his paper?"

"I do it for Gray! Why should he suffer? Heh...Heh...Heh. Gotta go."

"Wait!"

But he was already gone. Being the sister of someone in the newspaper business, Juvia couldn't help but sometimes be a little inquisitive and suspicious like her brother. She didn't buy Gray's story but she was unable to figure out what the truth was. At least for now.