3rd POV

Gray sighed in the lonely space of Juvia's infirmary room. Without her both bubbly and stern attitude it was empty. Cold to where he found himself shivering a little bit. His hand landed gently on hers. Her skin was losing its warmth, the same way the room was, every day she didn't wake. She was more pale than usual, eyes lost of light. He scowled at the pathetic sight of her, feeling his composure tick down the sanity scale with every beep of her heart monitor. And for once, he almost cried.

"Gray Fullbuster crying? I never thought I would see the day." A weak voice bubbled from above him. Feminine, gentle and melodic with an ever so slight accent. His head shot up at her speech.

"Juvia... you're awake...?" He sounded like he was in disbelief, voice slow and unconvinced of the sight before him. He almost lurched forward in excitement, but just managed to keep his composure. "Oh my god." He sighed, squeezing her hand gently and gripping the sheets tight in his hand. His mouth hung open, at a loss for words.

"What, did you miss me that much?" She chuckled, regretting it when her wound ached painfully beneath her skin. But she feigned her placidity with a smile and ignored the hurt. He still didn't answer and she giggled, flipping her hand to hold his lovingly. "It's a joke, darling, don't get too worked up."... still not an answer. Just his stare into her eyes. "Gray." She spoke, trying to gain his attention. Suddenly, he snapped out of his daydream and exhaled, relieved.

"I can't believe you're awake." He whispered. "I could have sworn... you were dead." The last few words crawled under his skin, tormenting him and teasing his brain. Juvia smiled sadly with a quivering lip, quickly trying to stable her muscles again. 'Why so sad?' He thought, knowing if he voiced his question, that it would not be answered.

"Gray." She said again, voice cracking ever so slightly with emotion. He hummed in response, rubbing the skin on the back of her hand. It was nice, especially as she felt herself slipping away. It was nice for the moment when she finally felt her body becoming dormant. Perhaps permanently? She didn't know. What she did know was that this feeling of exhaustion wasn't normal. It wasn't that exhaustion you feel after a workout or because you had a long day. This exhaustion was empty and quite frankly inevitable. Though the pain aching strong and dull in her side, never ending, surged beneath her skin, this slumber took her slowly. Gray looked up after a moment of silence, curious of what she wanted. She looked so distant, like she wasn't there. "Don't you think Lily is a good name for girls? I wanted to suggest that name for Erza to name her baby. It reminds me of snow lilies. They grow from late April to June and they're so pretty." She whispered. "Can you tell Erza to consider it for me? He immediately shook his head.

"No. You tell her."

"Autumn will come around soon enough... when it does, buy me some Snow Lillies, will you?" He shook his head against her hand, head spinning with disbelief.

"No." He gritted, tears blurring his vision. He barely managed to look up at her into her eyes. "No, I won't." He refused, watching her eyes grow dull. He knew what he had heard when he listened in on the doctors conversation.

"She barely hanging on. If she were to slip away, I don't know if we could bring her back. The most we can do is try our best because she lost so much blood." Natsu was silent after hearing the news and Gray knew he was giving his all not to yell in the doctor's ear. Because he knew he was right.

But Gray believed it would work out. He believed it would work out even as he felt her grip on him loosen and her eyes pour tears down her cheeks. "Please?" Juvia pleaded once more, hoping her last words wouldn't be a beg.

"No, I can't." He whispered in response.

"You can." She whispered back, using the last of her physical strength to give a short squeeze to his hand. "I believe in you, my love." Gray shook vehemently, paralyzingly terrified of the near future. "Will you, Gray? Buy us some Snow Lillies... they're a nice reminder of when we met... aren't they...?"

And finally.

The flat lining of the deafeningly loud heart monitor told him what he needed to know.

The flat line blared in his ear as medics and doctors rushed into the room, one or two trying to push him out. The view of Juvia being surrounded by medics and the zapping of her chest was soon gone as he stood alone outside of her room.

He fell to his knees, revolting the lingering warmth she left against his palm.

-Elsewhere-

Wendy strolled alone in the streets of Malgonia, thoughts leaving her confused. Was Erza going to be okay? Was Juvia going to be okay? What about the other members? What was to come for them? What about Natsu, her temporary partner? His main goal, to find his missing members was going on for a long time now and she could tell recently he had been giving up hope by the look in his eyes. It was upsetting. The tough, merciless man they knew began to give up hope. If he wouldn't hold on anymore, surely there wasn't a chance for any of the rest of them. They hadn't even made progress towards dethroning the corrupt dictator in months. What was to come of the-

ouch.

Wendy winced and staggered backwards when she bumped into a hard surface in front of her. 'Wow, I'm an idiot.' she thought. How could she have bumped into a-... man. A young man stood in front of her, glancing down in shock. He wore a shawl covering his head, hair dark and not given much attention. His eyes were black, lips tight and finely shaped. He was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. She nearly gasped audibly, hand covering her mouth as her cheeks flared. The man's expression was condescending, he was obviously looking down on her.

"I am so sorry!" She apologized, bowing her sincerity into expression. "I didn't see you there!" The man sighed and waved his hand.

"Don't worry about it." His voice was deep, she guessed he was around her age. The man took note of her tattoos and strangely, they reminded of his own, stickered across his arms like many other people he knew. Some of lions, others quotes, dates and symbols. She only had one or two small ones but his painted his arms like badges of pride; and just like him, this lady brandished one right across the skin on the side of her neck. The symbol hadn't changed even after three years. Quator. Or what clearly was named "Phoenix" now. A crescent moon enveloping a circle with two simple lines in the center. At the bottom, written in italic read "Phoenix". He adjusted his shawl over his neck, making sure the lady couldn't see his matching tattoo. Wendy admitted to herself, this man was a dream but she was sharp. She noticed that small crescent on his neck before he tried to cover it. She noticed it well and her eyes widened. Though what surprised her was more so the name written below.

"Quator". Shit. She had to come up with something immediately. She widened her eyes, playing a smile across her face in feigned excitement.

"Oh my god!!" She yelled, grabbing a hold of his arm as holding it between her breasts. The man froze, staring down at his forearm and stuttering aloud.

"What!!??" He scowled, trying to pull away his arms she squeezed him tighter and tighter

"Are you that famous MeTuber, Haydee!!??? Oh my god!!! I love your videos so much!!!" She squealed, quick to pull out her phone and flip the camera to face them. She pulled him down before he could respond and freed him of his hood and useless mask. She wondered why he wore one for a moment if it didn't cover his identity in the slightest. The man stood frozen in shock, lips slightly parted and defined muscles filling empty spaces in the photo well. "Thank you so much!!" She squealed, placing the phone to her ear and pretending to start a conversation with a friend. "You won't believe who I just saw!!" And she was gone before he could say another word. Until panic settled and he ran after her, frantically looking around. He didn't find her, she was gone; expertly hidden somewhere he would never find her.

"Shit!!" He clenched his jaw, spinning a few times before pulling his mask over his nose and walking back the way he originally came.

Wendy sprinted back to Phoenix after the man gave up his search for her, not stopping for anything or anyone. Natsu had to know about this. She wondered what his face would look like when she revealed she had been in contact with an old member of Quator. She expected it to brighten with pride as he praised her for her hard work. What she didn't expect was to see an ambulance waiting with wide open doors outside. It was the Association's hospital so they didn't have to worry. But along with that came the stretcher strolling out of the front doors, a limp hand hanging from underneath the cover. She gasped, staring confused at the way Gray's uncontrollable screams, sobs and shakes racking through his body had to be held back by Natsu, head down and eyes cast to the floor sadly. Jellal was not here. Nor was Erza. Just Gray and his yells and the man holding him desperately back.

"DON'T TAKE HER!!!!" His eyes were wide with despair and she had never once seen anyone but their victims look so hopeless. So lost as they were stripped of their most precious thing, their lives. "PLEASE!!!" He kept yelling, the tears brimming his eyes so harshly showing his emotions like they never had before. He suddenly stopped struggling and fell to his knees again, all forms of happiness driving away from his empty existence before him. Natsu turned in a fury and bursted through the doors to hide away inside. Gray pounded his fists against the ground helplessly, dirt flying out from beneath him as he held back his yells. The wasn't really happening. He could not believe this was actually happening. Wendy stood shocked in place, not moving a bone in her body as the last view of the ambulance disappeared from sight. She thought it was going well. She thought the woman would recover and everything would return to normal. But as he watched Gray grip the grass, she knew she was wrong. She never even imagined that because of some shitty suspicion and ultimately because of the fucked up heads of those around them, a valuable member of their team was now gone for all of time. Those who couldn't see what the members of Phoenix and their supporters could. Because of those with no common sense and an idea of decent human morals. Because of those that put personal feelings before the well-being and future of the community and the people around them. Because of some shitty dictator who was only where she got to be because of people who couldn't deal with their own emotions and decided someone should have the ability and power to deal with their feelings for them. Because of people who genuinely believe that opinions come before fact. Wendy didn't know what was happening. Her brain was scrambled and she didn't even know where he was at this point. What she did know was that her best friend was just taken by an ambulance in a stretcher covered by a body bag. If Juvia wasn't dead, someone was and the only viable option was just her. "Gray..." she whispered, eyes remaining glued to the distance in which the ambulance disappeared. "What happened-... what happened while I was gone?" She asked, slowly switching her gaze to the man sobbing on the floor. She could tell easily that he wasn't planning on replying. That much was obvious by the way he didn't even bother to acknowledge her presence. Her body shook and she also dropped her phone holding the evidence she so needed to show her boss. But in the young lady's mind, the only thing she could think of was the curiosity of what had just happened and how she had left for a walk just to return to something so horrific. It was time to go home.

~~~

"Finish it." Jellal demanded, staring at the cherry tomatoes Erza left on her salad plate.

"No."

"Eat it."

"No!"

"Erza I swear to god if you don't eat those tomatoes, I will forcefully shove them down your throat."

"You're really obsessed with putting things in my body that I don't want in there, huh? Saliva, a baby, tomatoes..." she cringed at the word, almost gagging at the thought of their texture and taste. The whole vegetable was a disgrace and was only good for more processed things such as pasta sauces, pizza and ketchup, etc.

"Would you use that stupid mouth of yours before I do? If you want the baby to be healthy, you'll do it-"

"No." A long silence followed Erza's response and the two of them stared at each other fiercely, the first to look away being Erza, frightened to death by his glare as she always was. It was human nature. If a tall, buff guy with dead eyes walked up to you and 'glared', you would be scared, too, Erza argued anytime the subject came up. Finally, Jellal broke the tension and stole her plate, standing up and gathering his things. He left the plate in the nearby sink and promptly exited the room without another thought.

"I'm leaving." Erza frowned sadly at his absence, she already missed him again and he wouldn't come back until tomorrow. The redhead wanted things back to normal so badly. She wouldn't even mind going back to the time when their friends with benefits relationship over 3 years ago was at its highest peak and they we're happy. She would have even preferred to neve have met the hunk. That way, none of this would have happened. But in that same way, if Jellal hadn't been in a caring mood the first day they met, she would likely be dead by now. Dead by the hands of the man who tricked her time and time again, never regretful or willing to show a hint of remorse.

Jellal walked silently down the halls of Phoenix, on his way to another assignment due by the end of the week. He was shaken from his thoughts after bumping into something beneath him; hard and large but not quite a piece of furniture. He quickly looked down and noticed Wendy staring into the floor. She was perfectly stiff and didn't look like she was going to move anytime soon. His eyes immediately squinted with concern as he slightly crouched to her level.

"Is it true?" She asked him and only him; yet to no one specifically at the same time. "Is she dead?" Jellal froze, eyes wide with confusion.

"Lima? Is what true?" He asked slowly, reading the signs of discomfort on her face. He had only been in Erza's room for less than an hour, what could have possible happened?

A few minutes later

Jellal stomped towards Gray, fists clenched incredibly at his sides. "You." He hushed. "You fucking bastard!!!" He yelled, planting his fist against Gray's jaw in an instant. He followed the man's body as it flew to the other side of the room, veins bulging across his skin. Gray was simply sitting at a bench when Jellal attacked him, contemplating so many choices and thoughts. Wendy was fast on her feet, following right behind Jellal with tears in her eyes. "I FUCKING TOLD YOU TO DO ONE THING." Jellal punched his once more, this time in his cheek. Gray actually flinched at his deep voice echoing loudly through their ears. He threw a punch, leaving heavy red marks on Jellal's face. The two were fully brawling, Wendy knew that if she stepped in, she would end up hurt. Maybe it would be worse.

"Jellal stop it!!!" The short woman screamed."Get off of him!!" Her voice cracked, the room was filled with the dull sounds of fists hitting skin and grunts. However, the only person strong enough to stop this fight was not in the picture.

"DO YOU THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN!!!?? MAKING EACH OTHER BLEED ISN'T GOING TO MAGICALLY FIX THINGS." Gray roared, fists red with blood and body bruised. "IF IT WAS SO EASY TO PREVENT THIS, WHY DIDNT YOU DO ANYT-"

"Stand down, Denver." A deep voice oozing with bloodlust spoke. Natsu watched as Gray immediately stopped his assault on Jellal, standing straight and formal in the presence of their boss. Jellal followed suit shortly after. "Jerome. In my office. Now." He said, watching intently as Jellal made his way beyond Natsu and entered the busy man's office. Once the door had been shut respectfully, Natsu took steps towards Gray, anchoring in front of him. "If I ever see you see you treating your seniors with anything but upmost respect, especially raise your hand to one, I won't let you off with something as generous as a warning." Gray nodded.

"Understood." He responded with the most formal tone he could. Why? Because Gray knew the same thing Natsu knew. Right now, the black haired man was ready to piss himself with how the deep voice above him irrefutably scared him. He knew what his boss was capable of and the mere of being the target of such wrath was a petrifying concept in itself. Natsu swiftly turned on his heel and shut his office door behind him. Jellal stood frozen near a bookshelf on the wall.

"So please tell me what could have possibly possessed you to attack another member of your own section? I don't know how many years it's been since you read the terms you agreed to but I don't remember bringing personal emotions into a fist fight with your coworker being a part of the job requirements." Jellal opened his mouth, ready to speak but he paused. He paused because Nishio was completely right. Emotions weren't something he had to concern himself with for a long time until now when he thoughtlessly got attached to someone that shouldn't have mattered. The room was thick with tension and every passing moment without response was only fuel to the raging fire burning the room down. They both knew. Jellal wished he could have turned back time. If not to erase all those mistakes, then just to return to simpler times. Times when he had nothing on his mind but present time. Those weekends he and Erza would sleep in until noon when the sun peeked through their white curtains. Where the blue sky was only visible through the crack of his eyelids as they fluttered open to be met with bright sunlight dripping thick with honey. Golden. He would be laying in his cotton sheeted bed, the only thing covering his lower waist and below being the thin flat sheet on top of him. Erza would be sat upright against the headboard and he would be lazily drooped by her side, arms slung indiscriminately about her thin waist covered by the same sheets. She was often awake before him, gently messing with his ever so soft hair and rubbing the sides of his thin eyes tenderly. These were his favorite moments; as they only came once in a blue moon. It made him feel like a little baby in his loving mother's arms. Except he was a burdened assassin in the arms of the woman he would do anything for. He hair was stringy and messy from their previous nights and perfectly framed her face. Most of the time, she wouldn't notice he was awake and blatantly staring at her until she looked down at his with eyes filled with all of the love in the world. That's when their eyes would meet through the right beams of sunlight and insatiable silence. No eyes ever landed on the curve of her breasts or the dips and dents of either of their bodies. That's what made this pecial. Neither of them were embarrassed and both had their guard down; at their most vulnerable in front of each other with no regrets. He would give anything to go back those days; just to feel wonderfully intoxicated by her once again. "Are you too busy planning your next attack to fucking answer? Gray is not your enemy, Jellal. If you pull another fucking stunt like this, I swear you're out of here." Jellal nodded, eyes fixated on the floor. "What happened to you? Have you softened up because of that fucking red head? I barely recognize you. Because you're not the man I called my best friend. Something's changed, you're not the same. C'mon Jellal, where's the man who would mercilessly end the lives of countless government officials to achieve his goal? Or the one who lacked so much emotion that he had to see a therapist to gain control over his facial muscles again? Where's the man who was feared among the people of this shitty town and swore to kill his brother with his own hands? How the hell did he turn into... this? And whatever this is?" Jellal neared sighed audibly at his words. He was different and they both knew it. The man they once knew— the one that was associated with Quator was long gone. What was left was an emotional assassin barely able to keep his feeling in check. He was weak.

BANG

BANG

Both of the two men's heads whipped around. Jellal wondered what could possibly be happening this time. Surely Gray had gotten scared by a raccoon that wandered in the building. They both stood to their feet and left the office, the first thing they noticed being the distressed appearance on Gray's face and his gun in hand, pointed towards the door. "Who the fuck are you!?" He demanded an answer. But no one did; instead, each head turned to the ones standing near Natsu's office door.

"Please..." a weak voice spoke among a few other bodies lying flat on the ground. It was the only one awake with their hands scrambling for help. The bodies were bulky but covered in white shawls, all identical.

"I don't recognize that build or voice." He whispered to Natsu, lips remaining slightly parted as he tried to think of who it could be.

"Neither do I." He replied, indiscriminately checking with his arm for his gun clipped against his belt. It was there. Thank god.

Due to lack of effort, this may contain many grammar mistakes. Please excuse me.