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The low murmur of people walking and mingling around on the street greeted Gray when he stepped out of the Grocery store with two bags worth of foods and supplies in hands. As planned, he bought what he would need for the dinner he's planning to cook for Juvia – nothing fancy since he's well aware he's no master chef when it comes to cooking. Just a simple dish that they could enjoy together. He simply wanted to do something nice for his girlfriend since he'd been too busy with his hockey practice lately.

He knew that Juvia understands that he's quite busy as of late but he felt bad not having enough time to spend with her.

I'll make it up tonight, he thought whilst listing all possible movies they could watch and other things they could do in his mind. He remembered the last time they were in his place they played Talk Flirt Dare – they could do that again since he really wanted to try all those dare cards or maybe they can have fun with the other board and card games stashed in his apartment courtesy of his friends who loved turning his place into their personal storage place.

It's really good that their coach was rather pleased with their practice the previous days thus he decided to give them a free day to relax and rest. On top of that, Professor Warrod - God bless that old man – decided to cut his lecture short for that day and just gave some research task to his students before letting them go for the day.

That's how Gray found the time to do his grocery shopping and still have few minutes to run back to the University – the store being only five minutes away – to wait for Juvia so they can head back to his apartment together.

Well that was his plan.

In record time he was able to reach the campus entrance just in time to see students coming out and he easily spotted Juvia. It's hard to miss her in a crowd with her blue hair and conservative clothes. He knew that she dressed that way not to stand out but it seriously have the opposite effect.

A smile carved in his lips as he watched her in her long sleeves and long skirt. She's fully covered but he knew exactly what's underneath and the knowledge that he's the only one who knew pleased him endlessly. If it's up to him, no one will ever know what wonderful legs she's hiding beneath those skirts she always wear.

But his smile vanished when instead of looking at his way like he expected she would do, Juvia stopped in her track when a tall blond man approached her. He'd never seen that man around and with just one look at him Gray already disliked him.

His face darkened when all of a sudden Juvia grabbed the man's arm and practically dragged him away in a flash.

What the hell?

Without thinking his legs moved as fast as they can to follow them, his mind running miles with different thoughts. Questions were popping from different direction and as despicable as it is, a growing doubt was creeping inside him. He just had a bad feeling about it.

He knew he's a jealous man – possessive actually – but as much as he can he didn't want to think anything pessimistic without asking Juvia who was that man and why she's with him. But Gray cannot deny what he saw on her face.

The shock.

The fear.

The wariness.

He followed them until Juvia pulled the man in a deserted back alley.

What the fuck is going on?

Gray hesitated if he should carry on and see what it was all about or should he go and wait for her in his apartment where they could talk privately. But like a devil was making fun of him, memories of Juvia evading his questions and being cryptic when he was asking her about what she's thinking when she's in one of those moments that she seemed like she's in her own little world worrying about things he didn't know about played in his mind.

Stop it! Gray chastised himself. Stop thinking too much about this! He could be just a nobody. Don't torture yourself, dammit!

Right.

There's no need for him to over think. The man could be anyone of Juvia's acquaintance and there might be a good reason why Juvia brought the man in that place. If anything is amiss surely Juvia would tell him about it.

Taking a deep breath, Gray tried to calm his thoughts. Maybe he's just being too paranoid. He's not just used to seeing his girlfriend with people that he didn't know. There's no need to doubt, he had to trust her.

He trusts her.

What he needed to do is calm down and don't blow things out of proportion.

He sighed and decided to just peek into the alley to see if everything was fine and he'll leave and wait for her.

But it seemed like nothing was ever gonna go the way he planned it for him on that day.

When he looked into the alley he came eye to eye with the man and his new found resolve was knocked down to the ground. There's the man casually leaning on the wall behind him and it may appear like he was indifferently looking at Juvia but he was actually looking pass her and staring directly at Gray like he knew he was there all along. A secret taunting smirk was on his face and Gray itched to wipe it away with his fist.

It took a lot of control not to march up and punch the unnamed man and Gray just tried to focus on what Juvia was saying but her words were coming out fast and exasperated. All he heard was "calling you for months".

What was she talking about?

The man said something in a quiet voice and as hard as he tried he couldn't hear it.

He knew it's not good to furtively listen to other people's conversation but at that point his presence was no longer a complete secret and the acerbic look in the man's eyes seemed to tell him to stay and wait.

"Things changed," he heard Juvia say. "I need you to help me out."

"Ah," the man said in a louder voice that he could actually hear from where he stood. His eyes throwing a quick glance at him before focusing to the bluenette in front of him. "Is this about a tall man, dark hair – dark eyes?"

He heard Juvia gasped what he supposed to be the man's name in surprise. She froze on her spot like a child caught with her hands in a cookie jar.

"Of course I know," the blond went on as he move towards the still shocked woman. "I'd been around town for days now, Juvi," he said her name in a way that rubs Gray the wrong way. He's itching to go and drag Juvia away from this infuriating man. "'Been watching you."

He heard Juvia's voice again but failed to catch what was being said. His focus was on the man when he lifted his hand and Gray was ready to jump in the way if he tried anything nasty. His legs moved and inch forward but the blond's next words stopped him. "You failed to mention that you found someone to be with you in my absence."

"This is not place for us to talk about this!" Juvia snapped.

"You're the one who dragged me here," the man pointed out. "Well, if you like, we can go back to my hotel."'

"As if I'll—"

Juvia's words were cut off with words that hit Gray like a physical blow.

He was sure those words were said in a quiet voice, just loud enough for him to hear, but it echoed in his head and what it means felt like sharp knives slicing him mercilessly where he stood.

"What's wrong with that? You're with your lover all the time. Why can't you go with me? Between the two of us, I have more rights to be with you and you perfectly know that, wife."

That last word exploded in his ears like a vicious thunder.

Wife!

NO!

He must have heard it wrong.

It can't be.

Damn! That must be some sort of joke because last time he checked Juvia was his girlfriend and she promised him that she's all his.

His and no one else's!

"T-this is wrong." Juvia's words as she was trying to push him away after he kissed her suddenly emerged from his memory followed by what Levy told him months ago: "You're my friend that's why I'm worried." Gray shut his eyes trying to drive those voices away with no avail.

And then certain words rang in his head.

"Prove to me that you're worth the risk I'm about to take."

How could he not understand what she meant with her words?

How foolish had he been not to read along the lines?

Suddenly indistinct things became crystal clear and he felt so fucking stupid.

It was there all along glaring at him as bright as daylight!

Something about her that he did not pay too much attention to was covering the truth right under his nose or should he say it was there all the goddamn time hanging around her neck. That wedding band he stupidly assumed to be her mother's.

Fuck!

His body went cold and he didn't know when his grip loosened on the grocery bags clutched in his hands. The crashing sound on the ground sounded more like his heart breaking apart.

Startled with the sudden noise Juvia spun around and her blue eyes met Gray's darker orbs. He watched as color drained from her face and how panic consumed her eyes.

"G-Gray!"

He wanted to ask if it's true but it was written all over her face. The guilt etched on her beautiful face was more than enough to confirm what he heard.

She's not his.

She was never his.

His lips parted as he tried to say something but no words slip out of his mouth. For the first time in his life he could not think of a word to say.

Gray could feel his throat constricting and he let out a huff closely followed by a hallow laugh. His shoulder shook as he tried his best not to break down but a lone tear cascaded down his cheek. "Fuck! I'm so fucking stupid!"

"Gray," Juvia called out as she tried to touch him but he stepped back. He couldn't bear it. Her touch can always burn him but this time he knew that the flame would came straight from hell. God she's married! "Please, Gray. I can explain it. I didn't me—"

"Of course you didn't mean it," he said in choked voice. "But were you ever going to tell me the truth? How am I going to fight for you when I don't even have the right to do so?"

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Hi there! Thank you for still reading this story. My updates were long overdue but I made it my goal to finish this no matter what. Sorry for any errors. I really didn't read it after I finished writing it. I hope to know what you think about this so feel free to leave your comments ;)