Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, or followed me! I appreciate any and all feedback! Also I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Hopefully I can keep a better schedule of posting updates in the future. :)

In early September, two months after Natsu and Lucy's wedding and two weeks before the Harvest festival, the whole guild went to Akane Beach for a weekend field trip. It was the last guild trip to the beach of the year, because it would soon be too cold to do such things, and everyone was in a flurry of excitement.

Jellal and Meredy decided to join Fairy Tail a couple of weeks before the trip. Jellal wanted to be home more often for Erza, especially since she was getting closer to her due date and Meredy didn't want to be part of a guild without her father figure, so she came with him. Erza was ecstatic having Jellal around more, and Juvia was excited at the prospect of getting closer to Meredy.

The day of the trip, the whole guild gathered at the train station to get to Akane. Juvia and Gray were standing next to Levy and Gajeel so the kids could play together while they waited for their train. Mikado was now crawling, so Juvia kept a sharp eye on her while she chatted with Levy, and the twins were toddling around their mother's legs. Gray and Gajeel were inching closer to Natsu, who was holding a bright pink jeweled bag that could only be Lucy's. Levy saw the look in her husband's eyes and sighed, knowing he was about to start a verbal sparring match with the fire dragon slayer and Gray.

"So anyway," she said to Juvia, "Demi has been sleeping terribly right now. I have no clue what to do, and all the parenting books say it's just a sleep regression and to keep the routine consistent. We already do that, so I am totally out of ideas." She blew a messy strand of hair out of her face and scowled.

Juvia grimaced in sympathy. "If Levy-san ever needs a break with the babies, Juvia would be happy to help her."

Levy smiled gratefully. "Thank's Ju-chan."

Juvia hugged Levy warmly and then, sensing a problem with the same uncanny ability she used to know when Gray was close to a love rival, she turned around to grab her baby out from behind Nab's feet. Levy giggled and did the same for the twins, who were now running around Max and Warren.

Meanwhile, Gray and Gajeel finally made their way to Natsu.

"What's up, Flamebrain?" Gray asked him.

"Gi-hi. Nice bag, Fire Breath," Gajeel said.

Natsu glared at them. "Don't even start with me, Metalhead. I see that pretty orange leopard-print bag on your shoulders."

Gray laughed, and Gajeel snarled.

"I can't wait til we get to the beach so I can kick your ass, Salamander," he said.

Gray chuckled again. "If you think you'll be kicking anyone's ass, Iron Bastard, you're dumber than I thought. I will be kicking both of yours."

Natsu shoved Gray, and Gray pushed his face right back into Natsu's. Both of them were growling at each other and raising a fist. Before either of them could attack, Lucy yelled from where she was talking to Erza, "Natsu Dragneel, if I see one single fight before we get to the beach, you will be sleeping on the couch for the rest of the month."

Natsu immediately turned around and said, "Of course we aren't fighting, Luce! I would never ruin your relaxation time!" Then he turned back to Gray and Gajeel and said under his breath, "Just wait until we get to the beach and I will show you who's the best here."

Gajeel and Gray slunk back to Levy and Juvia, still carting their wives' bags.

"Juves isn't gonna let me fight with him this weekend," Gray said to Gajeel with a sigh.

"Yeah," Gajeel agreed sadly. "Shrimp told me I would be sleeping outside in the tree house for a month if I started any fights."

"At least Lucy will do the same to him." Gray sighed again.

When the train got to the station, Master directed them sternly to walk orderly into their cars, not wanting to pay for any damage caused by his children. Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Jellal, Wendy, Romeo, Juvia, Gray, Levy, Gajeel, and their children got one car to themselves. The thirteen made themselves comfortable for the long trip.

Gray and Juvia settled Mikado on their laps. Juvia brought some toys for her to play with and snacks so she wouldn't get bored or hungry. Levy had the same idea for Isa and Demir. Poor Levy had both twins on her own, since as soon as the train got moving, Gajeel was out for the count. Thankfully Lucy was always willing to play with her niece and nephew. The two giggly girls put Natsu and Gajeel together on the same bench so they could be miserable together and sat with the twins across from them. Erza and Jellal were sitting quietly together, completely lost in each other, Jellal resting his hand on Erza's growing stomach.

Juvia looked at Wendy and nudged Gray with her elbow. "Look, darling. Wendy-san and Romeo-san are so cute."

Gray peeked over at them and smiled. Wendy was slightly green in the face, and she had her head in Romeo's lap. Romeo was stroking her hair tentatively, a tiny blush on his face.

"Yeah, they sure are, Juves." Gray grabbed her hand and kissed it, bringing a soft smile to Juvia's face.

Mikado chose that moment to push a cheerio into Gray's mouth with her grubby fingers.

"Oh, thanks, Meeks," he grimaced, while Juvia giggled.

The train ride passed mostly uneventfully, with only two incidents: one where Gajeel and Natsu had a gagging contest and one where Mikado spit up on Gray's chest. Thankfully, he was already half naked, so it was easy to clean up. When they arrived in Akane, Mikado was sleeping on Juvia's chest, nuzzled into her neck. The moment the train stopped, Gajeel and Natsu pushed and shoved each other to get on solid ground, Wendy only slightly less frantic right behind them.

Gray helped Juvia up without waking their daughter, and the two of them made their way out of the train, wincing slightly at their sore legs from sitting down for hours. After getting settled in their room and changing into swimsuits, they woke up Mikado and dressed her in a little blue bikini with white flowers. Juvia slathered her in sunscreen and Gray grabbed their beach bag with towels and sunglasses and beach toys.

When Mikado saw the beach for the first time, her blue eyes widened dramatically and she turned to Gray for reassurance from Juvia's arms. He laughed and chucked her under the chin.

"It's okay, baby," he told her. "Mommy and Daddy are taking you to the beach."

Juvia bounced her on her hip. "This is Mommy's favorite place, baby girl. Mommy can't wait to show you."

Juvia looked around to see Erza and Jellal on matching towels a little ways down the beach and Lucy and Natsu play fighting in the water nearby. Lisanna and Bixslow were at the bar, sharing a frozen drink, the Master not far away with his own, and Mira was stretched out languorously on a towel, Laxus rubbing her protruding stomach with sunscreen. Wendy and Romeo were swimming with Carla and Happy. Alzack and Bisca were sitting on pool floaties near the shore with Asuka swimming nearby, doing tricks in the water for her parents to watch. Levy and Gajeel were building sand castles with the twins. Demir was eating sand, based on the amount smeared near his mouth, and Isa had fistfuls of sand she was pouring in Gajeel's hair, much to Levy's amusement and the dragon slayer's chagrin.

Juvia smiled to herself at how happy her guildmates were on their vacation. When Gray finished setting their towels and bags up, Juvia grabbed his hand and led him down to the water's edge. The closer they got, the tighter Mikado clung to Juvia. Gray chuckled.

"I don't think she likes this very much, Juves," he said.

"Nonsense, Gray-sama. Juvia knows her baby girl will love the water, just like Juvia."

She stepped into the surf, water coming up to her knees. Mikado lifted her legs around Juvia's waist as high as she could get them. When the water touched her butt, she started crying and reached for Gray standing nearby. Gray took her from Juvia. Juvia frowned and looked at Mikado.

"Mikado-chan, darling, what's the matter? Mommy wants you to play with her in the ocean." Juvia lifted up a handful of water and dripped it in front of Mikado. She made little dolphins with her magic that swam and jumped around the seven month old baby.

Mikado looked around with mistrusting eyes. Every wave that broke around them caused her to squeeze Gray's neck in a death grip.

"C'mon, Meeks," he said, trying to detach her arms from his neck. "It's not so bad. Just a little water. Just like in the bath." He gave up trying to remove her monkey grip and settled for giving her the tiniest splash against her legs. She cried as soon as the water touched her.

Juvia frowned. "Juvia is so sad," she cried. "The water is like home to Juvia, and her own daughter doesn't like it."

Gray grabbed her hand. "Hey, babe, it's okay. I'm gonna take her back to the sand and maybe we can try again later. You just stay out here and swim as long as you want. I've got her."

Juvia frowned again but nodded, and Gray groaned internally. She was definitely going to be upset about this for a while. He gave Juvia a kiss on the forehead and walked with Mikado out of the ocean to sit her down on their towel. He saw Juvia start swimming laps to and from a buoy. Mikado had stopped crying as soon as they left the water, and now she was crawling off the towel to explore the sand.

Demir saw her and walked unsteadily away from Gajeel and Levy, trying to get to her. Levy noticed, but since Gray was right there with them, she just gave him a wave of acknowledgement that he returned. Demir tripped over a seashell on his way over and bent down to pick it up. He carried it over to Mikado and handed it to her.

"Meek! Pewy!"

Gray grinned and ruffled Demir's hair. "He thinks you're pretty, Meeks. Too bad you won't be dating until you're older."

Juvia came up after a while of Gray watching the two kids play in the sand, and Gray caught his breath. She was glistening with sweat and water, beads of moisture sliding between her breasts and down her long, long legs. The violet swimsuit she wore barely covered the essentials, her body straining against the thin material. Her blue hair was drying already, the salt water turning her waves even curlier. Strands of hair were stuck to her neck, and Gray's fingers itched to push them back. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sun like sapphires. He had never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life.

He stared at her until she cleared her throat and his brain kickstarted.

"Uh… hey Juves," he said, shaking his head to clear it.

She gave him an amused look. "What are Juvia's favorite people doing?"

"Oh, uh, Demir came over here and gave her a seashell and called her pretty, so I definitely have to watch out for him when they're older. And now they are playing in the sand together."

Juvia laughed. "Oh, Gray-sama."

Mikado looked over and saw her mommy then. She squealed and started crawling through tiny dunes to get to Juvia. Demir stayed where he was, working diligently on digging a hole. Juvia scooped up Mikado. The little girl was absolutely covered in sand since she was wet when she started playing in it. Juvia groaned and brushed off a section of her face before putting her back by Demir.

"Gray-sama, she definitely needs a bath tonight."

"So do you," he said, pointing at Juvia's feet. "And so do I." He winked at her and pulled her in for a kiss.

Juvia giggled and pushed him away gently. "Gray-sama, not on the beach or in front of the babies."

He grabbed her waist and tugged her back. "Later, then. When Meeks is asleep." He kissed her again, more deeply this time.

"Get a room, Stripper."

Gray turned around and saw Natsu and Lucy grinning at them. Juvia blushed and pulled away from Gray, wrapping her hands around herself.

"Lucy-san! How is married life?" Juvia asked the blonde.

Lucy blushed and glared at Gray, no doubt remembering his naughty advice from her wedding day. "It's great," she told Juvia. "Not too different, but every time Natsu tells someone I'm his wife, I get butterflies."

Juvia smiled and looked at her own husband, who was arguing with Natsu about who was the superior male or something. Lucy picked up Demir and gave Juvia a hug, saying she wanted to go see Levy for a little bit. She dragged Natsu behind her, and soon Gray and Juvia were left alone with their daughter.

Juvia sighed and pulled Mikado close to her in an embrace, sitting down in the sand. "Oh, darling love. Why don't you like the ocean?"

Gray sat down next to them and started playing absently in the sand. "She will be better about it eventually, Juvia. Why don't I go find us something to eat and bring it back here?"

Juvia nodded slowly. "That sounds nice, Gray-sama. Juvia will be here."

"Do you want me to bring Meeks, or do you want her with you?"

Juvia looked at their little girl rubbing her fingers through the wet sand. "Leave her here, Gray-sama. She's enjoying herself and it will be easier for you to carry food with two hands."

Gray nodded, kissed Juvia, and started walking toward a beachfront cafe to order lunch.

Juvia laid down on her stomach on the towel and played with Mikado. She pulled some sand toys out of their bag and the two girls filled buckets with sand and dumped them out together.

After a few minutes, Juvia felt the sand behind her shifting. She half turned around to see Meredy sitting down next to her.

"Hey, Juvia," she said. "Hi, little girl." Meredy smiled and tickled Mikado's dirty face.

Juvia sat up and twisted around to face Meredy better. She brushed a hand through Mikado's sandy black curls. "Hello, Meredy-san. How are you?"

Meredy blew her bangs out of her face with a sigh. "I'm okay, Juvi. Just a little sad."

Juvia reached out and patted Meredy's shoulder. "Meredy-san can tell Juvia anything, and she promises Mikado-chan won't share your secrets either." She winked and grinned.

Mikado looked up at her mom when she heard her name and blew a bubble through sandy lips, blue eyes shimmering with mirth.

Meredy giggled a little, but lost her smile quickly. "I just miss him, Juvia!" she cried, throwing herself into Juvia's startled arms.

"Meredy-san!" Juvia hugged the girl tightly and saw Gray, a shocked expression on his face at seeing the sobbing girl and holding a tray of food, standing a few yards away from them. She lifted one of her arms and shooed him away. He nodded and loped across the beach to where Erza and Jellal were sitting and laughing.

"Meredy-san, who do you miss so terribly? Let Juvia help you."

Meredy emerged from Juvia's embrace, sniffling slightly. "Lyon. I miss Lyon."

To say Juvia was surprised was an understatement. She didn't even know that Lyon and Meredy were anything more than acquaintances and Lyon hadn't mentioned Meredy in any of his recent correspondences with Gray. Not that that meant anything, she thought wryly.

"Lyon-sama? From Lamia Scale?" Juvia questioned, just to make sure they were talking about the same person.

Meredy sniffled and laughed a little bit. "Yes, that Lyon," she said. "After Crime Sorciere was pardoned, Lyon and I started talking more. Everytime we took jobs near each other, we would stop to visit and get to know each other. Not a day goes by that we don't talk to each other on our lacrimas."

"But that's great, Meredy-san! Lyon-sama is a wonderful man, and you two will be very happy together!" Juvia was ecstatic at her friends' good fortune and happiness. Unfortunately, she was so ecstatic that she forgot Meredy was crying about Lyon, and decidedly not happy at the moment.

Meredy promptly burst into tears again. Juvia panicked and backtracked immediately. "Oh no! Meredy-san, Juvia is so sorry! She forgot you were upset about Lyon-sama! If you want Juvia to hurt him, body and soul, she will do it! Anything for Juvia's friends! Just tell Juvia what to do, and she-"

"Juvia!" Meredy cried, laughing through her tears. "That isn't what I want. That isn't the problem. It's just I haven't heard from Lyon in days, almost a week now, and I am so worried about him, and I miss him. He didn't tell me he was going on a job where he wouldn't be able to speak, and I am so, so worried."

Mikado took that moment to crawl into Meredy's lap and touched a teardrop on her cheek. "Ray," she said. "Momma ray." The little girl looked up with a confused face and pointed at the scarce puffy white clouds in the blue sky.

"Rain," Juvia translated at Meredy's questioning look. "Smart, pretty baby. She knows when I cry that it rains, so she is probably wondering why it isn't raining now."

"Oh," Meredy said, brushing her fingers through Mikado's curls, sand falling out of it all around them. "Juvia, what am I going to do?" She crushed the little girl to her chest in a hug, using the baby for emotional support.

Juvia pondered. "Well, Juvia thinks that Gray-sama should also try and contact Lyon-sama with our lacrima. If he doesn't answer by tomorrow evening, she thinks we should travel to Margaret Town to make sure he is okay."

Meredy nodded and sniffled again, giving Mikado a kiss on the forehead, one of the only places the little girl wasn't covered in sand. She hugged the baby girl again, and then gave Juvia a tight embrace as well. "Thank you, Juvia," she whispered.


Later that night, Juvia and Gray were back in their resort suite. "Let's get this dirty girl in the bath," Gray said, lifting Mikado high into the air to the little girl's delight.

Juvia sighed sadly. "At least she likes the bath water," she said mournfully.

Gray exhaled heavily. "Your mommy is sad now, Meeks. You better give her lots of kisses tonight."

Juvia smiled at that. "Mommy loves her kisses from Mikado-chan!"

The two adults put Mikado in the warm bath water and rinsed all of the sand from her tiny body. She loved it, playing and splashing in the water like a little otter.

Juvia looked at her disbelievingly. "How does she like the water this much now, when earlier she was crying? Juvia doesn't understand."

Gray looked at his distraught wife. "Juves, this is warm. And besides, she's just a baby. I bet she will love the ocean when she gets old enough to understand it's not scary."

Juvia thought about that. "I suppose," she said slowly.

Juvia picked up Mikado out of the bath and wrapped her in a fluffy towel. She brought her into the extra room in their suite and dried her off. Gray brought her pajamas in and Juvia diapered and lotioned and dressed her. Gray took her from Juvia and brushed her black curls while Juvia read a bedtime story. When they were done with their nighttime ritual, Gray placed her in the transportable crib they brought with them.

"Good night, Meeks," Gray said.

"Mommy and Daddy love you, Mikado-chan. Sleep well."

Both adults kissed Mikado's forehead, shut the light off, and closed the door.

Gray pulled Juvia away from the door and into his arms to kiss her deeply. "Let's go shower, Juves," he said with a lopsided grin.

Juvia blushed and pulled Gray closer to her by his shirt. "What are you waiting for, then?" she asked him with a kiss to his collarbone.

Gray groaned and picked her up by the legs, wrapping her around his waist. Without wasting a moment, he strode through the bathroom door and slammed it shut with his foot.

When they finally made it back to their bedroom, Juvia brought up Lyon and Meredy's situation to her husband. She lay curled around Gray, her head on his bare chest and legs tangled with his. Gray had one arm under her shoulders and the other wrapped around her waist.

Gray was understandably concerned with the issue. "I will try and call him first thing tomorrow morning," he told her. "I am worried, too. I haven't talked to him for a few weeks, but if Meredy says he talks to her every day and hasn't been heard from in days, I am a little concerned."

"Juvia feels the same way," she said, brushing a hand through his messy bangs. "She told Meredy-san so as well. We will find him, though. Gray-sama and Juvia are an unstoppable team! We can do anything."

Gray chuckled and pulled Juvia on top of him. "I love you so much." He kissed her passionately, gripping her hips tightly against his. Juvia reciprocated eagerly, opening her mouth to deepen the kiss and tugging at his hair. He had just pulled the tie to her robe open when a sharp cry caused them both to freeze.

"Please be a fluke, please be a fluke," Gray whispered, closing his eyes in concentration.

Juvia giggled.

Mikado cried again. Juvia sighed and pulled her robe closed. "Juvia will check on her," she said. "But when she gets back…"

Gray smirked at her wickedly. "Hurry back to me, then."

Juvia turned back to look at him teasingly for a moment before sashaying her hips out of the room. Gray groaned lowly at the sight and flung himself back onto the bed.