UNWAVERING


Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person.

To love somebody isn't just a strong feeling.

It is a decision, a judgment, and a promise.

-anonymous-


The loud booming noise of thunder that broke the silence of the night made Gray frown as he made his way to his apartment. Blinding lights and dark shadows danced around him as lightning cracked the skies along with the rhythmic sound of heavy rain drenching him down to the core.

The rainwater was cold, but it wasn't the focus of Gray's attention. It was the foreboding feeling of the downpour that turned his steps into sprints as he rushed back to the place where he knew this rain was coming from.

Juvia.

It's been so long since the last time she made it rain this hard and he had no idea what caused this sudden emotional turmoil. But if he's going to guess, it must be something about him. But what on earth did he do?

He's just returning from a job and the last time they talked they were fine.

When he reached the apartment that he now shared with the water mage, his worry grew because he could not see any light inside, but he could clearly sense Juvia's magic. It's all over the place. Her magic had always felt refreshing for him but the massive amount of power lingering in the air was smothering. He could really feel her raging emotions.

She's hurt, angry, and sad.

But why?

An ominous feeling suddenly consumed Gray. What if he unknowingly did something wrong? Fuck! I'm screwed!

Mentally, he's starting to list down the possible offenses he did, but the ice mage could not think of anything that would warrant such a reaction from Juvia.

According to his memory, the worst thing he did that might anger Juvia was when he accidentally broke her favorite teacup and almost turn Magnolia upside down to find a replacement just before he left for his last quest. Damn! I still must tell her about that!

But obviously, that was not the reason why Juvia's rain was pouring hard.

Gray worriedly pushed the apartment's door and with familiarity, he navigated inside the dark living room going to the bedroom. "Juvia?" he cautiously called out, but he was greeted with complete silence.

He sighed and stepped into the room as his hand found the light switch and the cold room was flooded with light. Gray's eyes scanned the room and quickly found Juvia in a fetal position on their bed, her back on him. She didn't move even when he sat down behind her after taking off his drenched coat. He put his right hand on her shoulder. "Juvia," he called out again. "If I did anything wrong, we could talk about it." He breathed out his words. It's better to go directly to the point. "Don't torture yourself like this," he added as he gently squeezed her hoping that it might soothe her.

Yes, Gray was afraid that he might have done something wrong but he was more worried about her feelings than anything else. He knew that when she's acting like this she's suffering deep within. Whenever she unleashed the rain, it was when her pain was too much but she was still trying to hold it in and just letting the skies cry for her and he didn't like that. If she's in any form of pain, he'd rather have her share it with him than endure it all alone. That was the very reason why he wanted to be strong enough for her. He wanted not only to protect her but to share her burdens.

His hand on her shoulder moved to caress her soft, wavy locks when she didn't respond. He shifted his body and he completely lay down beside her. Even if she's not talking Gray knew that she's awake. He let out a sigh and continuously caressed her hair. He knew her. Sometimes, whenever they have an argument – which rarely happens – she liked to be silent for some time but it's just her way of preparing herself for an argument. It's just like the calm before the storm.

And if she's brewing something inside, he must prepare himself, too.

Their love quarrels might have been far in between, but they were all heated disagreements. Their relationship may seem perfect but they're just like any other couple. They love each other but they both have their moments from time to time.

And nope, their misunderstandings were not because Juvia was an overly jealous and possessive girlfriend. Everybody knew that already from the very beginning. She sees everyone as a love rival but it's just the way she is, and he really never did anything to make her seriously jealous so that's not the problem.

It was because he was jealous.

Juvia used to be a gloomy and aloof girl and she never really had close friends aside from Gajeel as a result, after getting rid of the rain that always followed her, she became bubbly and too friendly. She's always nice to the people around her, even to the people who obviously liked her way too much and sometimes it irks him especially if the person was a man who obviously harbored unnecessary affection towards her.

The thing is, Juvia could be oblivious at times. If she knew that the person genuinely had no ill intentions, she would never put malice into anything that that person would do. But he's a different case. How could he not put malice into anything when a guy was obviously salivating at his girlfriend? He knew it wasn't her fault but at times he could not help but fume about it.

She was his so that means other men got no business ogling her even how hot they think she is.

Other than him being jealous of time to time, the other thing that they argue about was when he discovered that she's still studying spells that she could use to save his life when worse come to worst. Most of those spells require the mage's life force and just the thought that she knew such a spell that could cause her life terrified him to death. That was the most horrible argument they had. He knew how much Juvia loves him, but he won't let her use that as a reason for her to sacrifice her life for his. He made her promise that whatever happens in their future she must not do anything that might cost her life.

As his mind was wandering about his relationship with Juvia, he suddenly felt her turning to him. When she finally faced him, he saw her sad swollen eyes. There were also some traces of tears on her cheeks. "Hey," he greeted her as he cupped her face. "Ready to tell me what's wrong?"

Juvia sniffed before nodding her head, a sad smile was on her lips. "Gray, why are you with me?"

"What?" Did he hear it correctly? "What do you mean why am I with you?"

Wasn't it obvious why he was with her?

Of all the things she could ask him, she's asking him that.

The water mage sniffed again as she tried to stop her tears from falling, the rain outside falling harder. "Are you with me because you have no choice?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Gray frowned as he tried to absorb what she was saying. This was not what he was expecting to hear from her. "Juvia, are you upset just because you thought I'm with you because I have no choice?" Where in hell was this coming from? "Of course, I have a choice and I choose to be with you."

Juvia smiled dejectedly. "Then why did you choose to be with me? Was it because I never stopped pestering you? Was it because I was always following you? Or was it because you felt obligated because I died for you?"

Gray's frown turned into a scowl as he heard her talk more. He could not believe that she was even thinking about these things and anger was starting to boil inside him. His dark eyes stared at her as her words echoed in his head. "Juvia, I don't know where these are coming from, but I'm offended that you don't know why we're together when I thought that you understand me more than anyone else."

Damn! There they are, living under the same roof, sharing the same bed, dreaming the same future but she's unaware of why he's with her. What a fucking joke?

Gray angrily get out of the bed and Juvia flinched when he suddenly punched the wall, leaving a dent on it. "Gray-sama!" she quickly stood up when she saw his knuckles bleeding, but Gray avoided her when she tried to touch him.

"Sit down, Juvia," he commanded her in a serious tone. "I think we need to seriously talk." There were things they must discuss because the issue at hand seemed to be more serious than what he originally thought of.

Juvia wanted to protest but when she saw how hard he was looking at her she quickly did what he said. Gray on the other hand took the chair nearby and placed it in front of her before sitting down. He took in a deep breath before he started talking.

"You wanted to know why I'm with you. You wanna know if it's because you kept on pestering me. Juvia, when did you ever pester me? If you were thinking about the things, you did before to catch my attention, then I'm telling you, it never felt like you were pestering me. Sure, I was surprised by your excessive attention at first, but did I ever seriously ask you to stop? Can you even tell me one occasion that I rejected you and I didn't contradict myself by doing the opposite? All the time I told you to stop doing things for me I still end up going along with it because I honestly can't watch you feeling down."

Juvia averted Gray's eyes as she fidgeted with her hands. "Weren't you just being nice?" she asked in a very low voice, but Gray was still flabbergasted with it.

"Being nice? I was nice to everyone in the guild and to other people, but did you ever see me being nice to them the way I'm nice to you? I can do things for them but when it comes to you, I can do things without thinking."

Juvia kept quiet as she recalled Gray's reactions to the things she did before.

Seeing her pondering, Gray let out a huff. "And what about choosing you because you were always following me? Have you forgotten that you already told me before that you no longer have the right to love me but, in the end, we ended up living together? I told everyone that it was because you refused to leave but the truth was if I really wanted you to leave me alone, I knew that you would have done it because you still always do what's best for me even if it's hard on your end. You stayed because you knew I was at my breaking point. You didn't leave me so I won't destroy myself. You're always the one making the hard decisions. You even waited for me to come back when I left without a word, and you've already forgiven me even before I could ask for forgiveness."

"I – I'm—"

"Look at me Juvia," Gray said, not giving her a chance to refute what he said. He won't allow her to have negative notions about the things that she did for him. "I know that some people like to call you my stalker, but I'm the only one who has the right to say anything about it. I'm the one who's at the receiving end of your attention and as conceited as it sounds, I'm quite proud I have someone like you who's madly in love with me. Just exactly how many men out there are as lucky as me to have a girlfriend who's not ashamed to show how much in love she is. Even Lucy won't publicly declare how much she loves Natsu even though it's obvious." Gray didn't really like to compare his friends with his girlfriend, but he had to make her understand. "Just look at how Levy would scold Gajeel when he's being ridiculously affectionate, she liked it, but she would still reprimand him because, well, Gajeel is Gajeel and he's as asshol—"

"Hey! He's my friend, Gray-sama!" Juvia can't help but cut him off with a pout.

"Shhh, not the point," Gray snorted. "Now, you see, even if you used to follow me around before and if you did do a lot of things to catch my attention before, those were things that I never hated and it's just your quirky side which are parts of what I like about you. It's just how you show how you feel."

There was momentary silence after Gray said those words. They were both immersed in their own thoughts.

"Do you mean it?" Juvia asked after a while of silence.

"Why would I even say it if I don't mean it?" Gray scowled. Juvia did know how to be stubborn when she feels like it. It's cute but that's not one of the times that he liked it. "And now, about that "I like you because you died for me". Have you forgotten that I did it first?"

"What?"

"In Crocus, during the dragon invasion. It seemed like a dream, but I knew it happened. The fear of losing you at that time couldn't be more real, and I would always remember it. It's not about losing a friend that scared me. It was about losing you. You've already become someone I can't bear to lose longer than you know, so, your idea of me just being obligated to be with you wasn't valid. I avoided your romantic advances before because I seriously thought that I curse those that I love and you're too important that I don't want you to die. If forcing myself not to acknowledge your feelings would save you from the curse, I bring upon the people I hold dear in my heart would save you, I thought, then be it. But you still almost died, and I was losing my shit over it, but you came back."'

Gray tightly shut his eyes when the memory of Juvia's limp body in his arms came back in his mind. How he wished he could erase that memory in his head. He knew she's alive but the fact that she almost crossed the boundary of life and death still make him feel dreadful. He took in a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked at Juvia to calm the fear in his heart. "Juvia I'm with you not because you died for me but because you lived for me. I love you not because you're willing to sacrifice your life for me but because you're willful enough to overcome even death just to make sure that I won't completely lose myself. And I love you not because you forced me into feeling this way but because you showed me that I can love without fear of losing the one I love. You gave me the courage to acknowledge my feelings and the power to continue living. You have this unwavering strength that makes me want to be stronger so I can be with you."

These were the things that he may have never told anyone before, but they were there in his heart. Every time he's with Juvia, he's thankful that she's alive and well. He's filled with gratitude that he was given a chance to be with her even after all the insincere rejection he gave her before.

"Gray-sama," Juvia's cracked voice called him out. There were tears falling from her eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I was just having doubts just now. I don't know why I'm suddenly feeling like this. You don't have to say anything at all because I know that just by being with me that's proof enough that you care. I love you and we're together. That's what matters."

Feeling exasperated, Gray stood up from his chair and sat down beside Juvia. He held her shoulders and made her look at him. Juvia had to swallow when she saw the dark glint in Gray's eyes. He seemed to be even angrier now.

"You do know how much you love me," Gray hissed. "But do you know how much I love you?"

"Wh—"

"What do you mean that you love me, and we're together was all that matters? Are we together just because you think you're the only one investing emotions here? Do you still think that I'm in a relationship with you because of other reasons other than my love for you? Don't you know that I also have my doubts about why you're with me? Sometimes I can't help but think of unnecessary what-ifs. What if I wasn't the one who helped you stop the rain that day? What if it was Natsu you fought with, would you have been in love with him instead? What if someone else managed to stop your rain even before you could have met me, would I even have a chance to be with you? Would you even look at me if I wasn't the one who showed you the sun?!" As Gray fired question after question, his emotions were going stronger and he ended up shaking Juvia a little bit.

Heavens! He didn't know that there was so much unclarity between them!

"Gray-sama!" Juvia's eyes were wide with what she heard. "How can you think that way? There are no what-ifs because I'm certain I love you! Even before you stopped my rain, the very moment I laid my eyes on you, I already love you!"

"Then why were you thinking the same thing? Why were you questioning the reason why I'm with you? Don't tell me that all along, from the very beginning, you've always thought that way?"

Juvia avoided his gaze again as a frown blossomed on her face. "I was at the market today. I wanted to prepare something because I knew you're coming home today," she said in a quiet voice. "Some people were looking at me and some people were talking. I wanted to ignore them, but I could still hear them. They were saying, I was the mage who trapped Gray Fullbuster in a relationship because I kept on following him everywhere. I even died for you so you must be feeling guilty and obligated that's why you have no other choice but to be with me. Gray-sama," Juvia's tears completely turned into sobs as she buried her face in his chest. "I don't like to feel like I'm trapping you into anything! I know that you care for me but more than anything I want what's best for you."

Gray's anger slowly faded as he embraced Juvia's shaking body. She's crying hard now but he noticed the rain letting up. "Why do you have to listen to other people? Are they going to be the ones to suffer if I lose you because of their nonsense?"

He looked down when he suddenly felt Juvia hitting his chest. "I told you, even if I want to ignore them, I can still hear them talking. I can't turn off my ears, can I?"

Bewildered by her sudden behavior, Gray could not help but notice that there was something else that wasn't right with Juvia. Though she looked extremely cute with that pout and stubborn frown but wasn't her emotions too unstable? She was just sad and crying and now she seemed annoyed at him. He knew that she was normally too emotional, but not like this. "Juvia," he hesitantly said her name as he continued to look at her. "Is there anything else that we should talk about? Tell me, what's the real deal with all this?"

They already laid out their thoughts but he's sure there's another reason for Juvia's sudden emotional doubts and outbursts.

Juvia bit her lower lip as she abruptly escaped his embrace. She stood up and started to pace. "Gray-sama, you said you love me, right?" she nervously asked. She breathed out when Gray nodded. "You would not feel like I'm trapping you with me for the rest of your life if I tell you that it's the baby making me feel too emotional, right?"

For a minute Gray felt like his world suddenly stopped spinning. He could hear his heart beating loud and fast as other noises faded as he tried to understand what Juvia just said.

"It's the baby making me feel too emotional."

He heard correctly, right?

Juvia said baby.

The baby was making her emotional. He's a jerk sometimes but he's not stupid. He knew what she means.

"Gray-sama! Gray-sama!" Juvia worriedly called Gray. "Are you okay?"

"Baby," Gray mumbled. "You said baby!" he said louder. "Tell me I understand it correctly, Juvia. You're pregnant!" a smile broke into his face as he leaped up and attacked Juvia with a tight hug as he started to laugh. "We're going to have a baby!"

Juvia let out a relieved sigh. Looks like he's happy with the news. "Yes," she confirmed. "I found out yesterday and that's why I wanted to prepare something for you before I tell you the news."

"Well, you gave me such a roller coaster of emotion just now but if you're saying it's the baby making you feel that way then it's fine," Gray grinned. He let her go before cupping her face in his hands. "But that would be the last time I'll allow you to torment yourself with doubts. Always remember that you're the most important person in my life and I love you," he gently said. "I know I don't always say it, but I do feel it."

Juvia smiled and hung her arms on his shoulders. "I know! I clearly heard what you said Grau-sama. I never knew that you could say such heartfelt words but I'm happy with your love confession. Gray-sama is so sweet!"

Gray blushed and made a face. "You surely won't let me hear the end of it. Now I feel like regretting what I just said."

Juvia just giggled and the sound of it was enough to make him bear the teasing that he would surely get from her. "Gray-sama loves Juvia and Gray-sama seemed happy that I'm pregnant. I'm glad you're okay with it."

"Of course, I am." He chuckled before tipping her chin so he could plant a gentle kiss on her cute nose before going down on her waiting lips.

He already told her too much just now, so he won't tell her that the past few months, since he convinced her to move out from Fairy Hills and live with him that he'd been trying really hard to knock her up. He knew that they must get married first and they already talked about it. Apparently getting married wasn't as easy as just signing papers since he wanted a memorable ceremony for Juvia even though she said she's fine with anything. Gray knew that she'd been imagining their wedding for a long time so his goal was to give her a wedding that would exceed even her wildest imagination.

It would take at least a few months to complete the preparation for their wedding, but Gray could not forget what he's seen in Edolas.

That boy.

He wanted to meet him again.

But this time he wanted him to be really his so he's been doing his best and it looks like his efforts paid off.

As he continued to kiss Juvia, one of his hands went down to her still flat belly.

Not so far from that moment, he would be able to feel the life he created with Juvia.

Soon they would meet the proof of their unwavering love for each other.


Few days late because I had to reread/rewatch to get some parts as accurate as possible.

So, this is me just trying to refute the ideas of those people who said Gray was only with Juvia because he's guilty about her dying because of him. That he's with him out of trauma.

I should really avoid going online because I happened to be super sensitive and easy to trigger. But anyways, Gruvia Week is over but let's keep the love coming!