Day 5: Unwavering

"It doesn't make any sense! Why? Why are like this?"

He knew he shouldn't be yelling at her while she was sick.

They didn't tell Gray that Juvia had driven herself literally sick with worry over his disappearance. Even when she showed up with Wendy he still hadn't made any connections seeing as how he was unaware that Natsu and Lucy had reunited with her. Everything seemed normal until she collapsed on her knees as they made their way back to Magnolia.

"Wendy told you not to push yourself too hard," came Carla's voice since she knew that Wendy would be no good at chastising.

"Juvia just needs a minute," she whispered a bit out of breath fighting the nausea and dizziness that was overwhelming her.

That's when Gray found out the extent of Juvia's condition, which admittingly even Erza was unaware of. She knew if she kept him up to date on her condition he might have ended the mission right then and there so she kept tabs from a distance and the truth from Gray.

When everything was explained there was silence, angry looks, and overwhelming guilt, all why Juvia kept her head down both taking in the news and doing her best to regroup.

"It's ok," Juvia finally said breaking the silence. "Gray-sama had an important mission."

Those words caused him to snap.

"What do you mean it's ok?! It's clearly not!"

"Juvia will be fine, just a few more minutes."

"We should really just find some place to rest. We just had a big battle after all," Lucy suggested trying to make things easier.

"There's no need to stop on account of Juvia!"

With that she attempted to stand up only to get dizzy again making that decision final.

The argument began when the two of them were left alone as the others sensed the need for them to talk about what happened.

"You won't even let me apologize!"

"But Juvia is happy as long as Gray-sama is fine."

"But you're not fine! How do you think that makes me feel?"

She paused.

"If Gray-sama was not ok, Juvia would be worried. But Gray-sama does not need to worry! Wendy says Juvia just needs some rest."

"That's not what I mean! God this is all my fault."

When there was no response Gray turned to look at her only for their eyes to meet as she remained silent.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"No, Juvia agrees."

"You agree? With what?"

"That this was all Gray-sama's fault."

"Then why won't you let me apologize?" he was confused.

"Because, Gray-sama had an important mission. There was a reason but it doesn't take away what happened."

Frustrated he grabbed at his hair.

"You should hate me."

"Juvia could never hate Gray-sama."

"But you should."

"Never, Juvia's love for Gray-sama is unwavering."

He groaned knowing she was telling the truth and this would go nowhere.

"I'm probably gonna leave again like this someday. Some far off land with no notice."

"And Juvia will still love Gray-sama," was Juvia's only response.

Gray sighed not wanting her to accept that the way she was. He didn't deserve her unwavering devotion, and he knew it. He was just waiting for her to realize it too.

But as we all know, she never did.

A/N: Kinda fudged this one too. Not sure if I like how this one went as I don't like how he goes on another unannounced journey immediately after. I feel like she would bring up her true feeling about the matter way after the fact when she's had time to process this. At this point that this story takes place there wouldn't be a lot of time to process so I'm leaving it at that.