Chapter 6

Later that afternoon, Loke sat down on the couch, wrapping his arm around Lucy and pulling her in closer to his body. "Alright, so Gray. How have things been going? You haven't said much since you guys got here yesterday, and we haven't really been able to talk to anyone since Lucy and I have been out traveling."

Gajeel sat in a chair next to the couch Loke and Lucy sat in with Levy sitting quietly on one of his large legs. "Yeah it'd be a nice change to hear something other than being bitched at about the house not being finished."

Levy pushed Gajeel's shoulder lightly as she glared at him. "I have never bitched about the house not being done. I've merely just kept reminding you."

Juvia sat across from the rest of the small group on the opposite couch. Her hands folded together in her lap as she sat a small distance away from Gray who was leaning back onto the couch with his arms resting at his sides. He shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.

"I still have kids and older people asking for guitar lessons all the time so I'm kinda busy with that. Juvia has been busy with her work at the record company, and when Finn and Rain come home, I usually am working with them on their magic."

Lucy smiled as she looked at Gray and Juvia. "Has Finn gotten any better with his magic? Last I saw he could barely make anything more than an ice shield. It was so cute the way he tried so hard."

Juvia's eyes cast down as Lucy finished her sentence. Gray's jaw clenched tightly as he looked away from his friends. Lucy looked at them both confusingly. "Was it something I said?"

Juvia was first to speak, holding a hand out towards Lucy. "Oh, no Lucy. It wasn't anything that you've said. It's just… Finn is having difficulties improving his magic. It's been... stressful on all of us."

Gray glanced over to Juvia silently before looking back to his friends. "That's why we've decided to put him through a special school called the Rune Knights Academy if he doesn't improve his magic by the time he graduates his senior year."

Juvia turned her attention to Gray, her eyebrows lowered slightly. "Gray, we didn't agree on anything like that yet… I said we should talk about it first."

Without looking to Juvia, Gray reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. He pulled back the small tab on the box and pulled a cigarette out with his lips, bringing the lighter up to the tip and lighting it up. "We did talk about it earlier this week. I told you if he can prove to me that his magic is improving, he can chose where he goes to college. If not, we're sending him to the Rune Knights place." Gray said as he took the cigarette from his lips with this fingers, letting out a puff of smoke into the air. Levy looked at them both worriedly.

"Um.. when did you start smoking again Gray?" Levy asked. Gray shrugged his shoulders once more as he spoke.

"Not sure when I started it back up. I guess I've just been getting so stressed out with teaching Finn his magic, I just kinda picked it back up."

Juvia's eyes grew angry with Gray's statement as her hands moved to her sides. "You've been stressed?! Have you even seen our son lately?! You have been pushing and pushing him with his magic so much to the point he is feeling overly pressured to do better. You can't always push someone Gray. You need to take time with Finn. He's different."

Gray looked to Juvia angrily. "And if I don't push him harder, he'll never learn anything! You've tried the gentle method and it got you nowhere! We agreed that when I took over in the kids training, I could do what I want to get them to achieve greatness."

Juvia stood quickly, anger overflowing around her. "You're going about it all wrong Gray!" The water mage stormed out of the room, leaving Gray to himself on the couch, and the other grown-ups to watch the awkward situation unfold.

"Uh.. what just happened?" Lucy asked.

"It's nothing." Gray said as his head hung down slightly, hiding his eyes.

"Juvia seemed pretty upset… what's been goin' on with you two?" Gajeel added in.

"I said its nothing! So get off my case!" Gray yelled angrily as he stood. His fists were balled up tightly, shaking slightly. The ice mage turned around away from the small group. "I'm sorry… I just don't want to talk about this right now. Everything is fine between me and Juvia." Gray walked over to the closet near the front door, opening it and quickly grabbing his jacket. "I'm going to go into town for a bit."

As the group watched the ice mage leave in a hurry, they couldn't help but look around at each other in worry. Lucy was first to speak.

"That was really weird… I don't think I've ever seen Gray so upset."

Gajeel smirked as he threw in his comment. "Yeah, didn't even strip once while we were in here. The actually put more clothes on!"

"Gajeel!" Levy said in an annoyed tone. The iron dragon slayer shrugged his shoulders.

"What?! Am I not being truthful here? I mean everyone noticed that too right?"

Loke rubbed his chin with his index finger and thumb, pondering to himself. "That did seem rather odd."

Lucy looked around to her friends. "Maybe we should talk to them separately. We should try to figure out what is going on between the two of them."

Loke rubbed the back of his head, moaning slightly just before he spoke. "I'm… not sure that's such a good idea."

Lucy put her hands on her hips as she sat upright. "And why not?! They are our friends Loke! And we deserve to know the truth about what's going on!"

Loke looked away from the blonde haired girl, a sadden look over his face. "Maybe it's for the best that we stay out of this…. We don't want to cause more friction than they already have."

Lucy's face softened as she listened to her husband. "What do you mean Loke?"

"Isn't it obvious, blondie?" Gajeel said bluntly as Lucy looked up to him still quite confused. "It sounds to me like things are going south for the two former love birds."

"You mean… they are… getting a divorce?" Lucy said quietly.

"Well how else can you explain the way they are acting?! For one, Rain woman isn't all over Gray, Gray is even quieter than usual, not to mention he hasn't striped once since we've gotten here. And look at that little argument they just had in front of us. If it were me and Levy fighting about where Lily, Gaje, or Leviana go to college because of their abilities, we know full well we wouldn't both up and leave the room over that unless there was more to the story."

"Gajeel does have a point there Lu… I've noticed that too when they first got here that they both seemed a bit distant towards each other." Levy said sadly. The celestial mage looked down as she brought a hand up to her chest.

"It's just so weird to hear someone say that about them. I mean… they were the second ones to get married and have a kid right? They used to be so happy…"

"I know… I've never seen Juvia this sad before. But something's going on between the two of them and if they haven't told us yet, they probably won't ever. So we won't say nothin' and just act like everything's normal around here." Gajeel said as he leaned back in his chair.

Lucy stood up quickly, clenching her fist. "But how can you say that!? Something clearly is not going well for the two of them! As their friends it's our job to help them the best we can! That's what friends do! We stick by each other through thick and thin! We're there for each other no matter what…." Lucy looked down as tears began to form in her eyes. "We have to try to help them save their marriage."

Gajeel looked at Lucy with a raised studded brow. "All I said was that their relationship is soundin' like it's going south… you were the one who think they are going through a divorce. And I'm sorry blondie, but very few people turn back around form a divorce. Once it's determined that's what's gonna happen, it's basically set in stone."

"Well fine! I'm going to go talk to Juvia about all of this!" Just as Lucy took a couple of steps, Loke stood up and reached for her arm, pulling her back slightly. The blonde girl looked back at Loke, anger in her eyes. "Let me go! I need to talk to her!"

"Lucy… why don't we let them both cool off for a while, then later on we can all talk to them. Sometimes couples just need some space." Loke looked into his wife's big, chocolate eyes. They were swollen with tears about to escape the corners of her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to go comfort her and his two other friends, but he knew deep down it was the right thing to do to let them both have time away from people. Loke pulled Lucy in, hugging her lightly as he rubbed her back with his hand. "Come on… lets go see if the kids want to play a game or something fun like that."

Lucy silently nodded as Loke walked her out of the room, in search of the kids. Levy waited until the other two were out of the room before she let out a soft sigh. Gajeel turned to face her as she sat on his lap still, her hands resting on her lap quietly.

"What's wrong Shrimp?"

Levy looked at Gajeel, her hazel eyes upset and slightly torn. "Gajeel… what if they really are getting a divorce?"

Gajeel looked away, searching for something to say in his mind without upsetting her further. "Levy… sometimes… things just don't work out with people. It's life. It happens. For all we know it's just a phase the two are going through."

"I hope you're right. I would hate to see how Finn and Rain would take it. Poor kids…"

"Alright, enough of this mushy crap. Let's get out there with carrot top and blondie. We came here this weekend to have some fun. Besides, I need you to be in a happier mood for tonight." Gajeel said with a grin as he teased Levy slightly. The blue haired girl blushed slightly as she pushed away Gajeel's wandering hands.

"Gajeel… I told you we aren't going to have any more kids. Three is enough for us."

"Who said anything about makin' more kids? I was referring to having a good time." The iron dragon slayer pulled Levy in closer to his body, kissing her shoulder lightly sending chills down Levy's' spine. "You and I need to blow off some steam and what better way than to have a special night together?"

Levy glanced over to the iron dragon slayers crimson red orbs, smiling at him as he looked back into her hazel eyes. "And what about the other people sleeping in this house?"

Gajeel smirked as he let out his unique laugh to Levy. "Well then I guess I'll just have to silence you with kisses all night." The large man turned Levy's face towards his as he leaned in closer to her face. His warm lips brushed over hers lightly before they took over her own.

Finn sat on his bed with a pen in his mouth and his eyes fixed on the computer screen of his laptop. He had a notebook beside him as he searched the internet intently, mumbling to himself. Lily peeked her head around the sheet separating their rooms, her eyes staring straight at Finn.

"Hey! Finn! Everyone is getting together outside to play a game of flag football. You should come down and join us!" She said excitedly. Without looking away from his laptop, Finn responded to Lily.

"No thanks, I'm kinda busy right now."

Lily stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. "Busy doin' what?"

"I'm looking stuff up Lil. I'll play later…"

Lily huffed as she stuck her head back onto her side of the thin sheet. Finn glanced over to where she had stuck her head in, letting out a relieved sigh that she had actually listened to him for once and left him alone. Solid blue eyes went back to the computer screen, scrolling over the open pages.

Lily closed the door to her side of the room and crossed her arms over her chest as she rested her back on the door behind her. Gaje happened to walk by with a book in his face. Lily eyed him as he walked by without a word, scoffing as he passed her. "Aren't ya gonna ask me what's wrong, Gaje?"

The younger brother stopped and let out a long sigh. He closed his book, keeping his fingers in place of the page he left off on as he turned to face Lily. His expression was uninterested of her problems, clearly, but he stopped to give his older sister the attention she was craving.

"What's wrong Lily?" He asked as he rolled his eyes annoyingly.

Lily stomped her foot as her fists went down to her sides. "Finn won't come out and play with me and the others…. I really wanted him to join us. Dad said it was kids versus grown-ups."

Gaje looked at his older sister, thinking of how spoiled she was, how whenever she didn't get what she wanted, she would throw a tantrum or get all moody. It must have formed when he was born, along with Leviana, causing Lily to be the eldest of three, and no longer the center of attention. Their age gap made it harder for Lily to come to terms with having younger siblings, but for many years, she seemed to deal with it. She was always one to love getting a lot of attention. Gaje always seemed to think that's why she truly joined her boyfriend's band in the first place. Just for the extra attention she wasn't receiving at home. And yet, still to this day, she is still craving, wanting more attention.

'Maybe one day she will find someone who can fulfil her need for attention…' Gaje thought as he toned out Lily's snappy remarks towards him. Gajes' hearing came back to him as Lily put her hands on her hips.

"Are you even listening to me Gaje?!" Lily said angrily.

'But then again… it would have to be someone who truly loved her to be able to deal with this girl….'

"Why don't you do what you always do to Finn to get his attention? Like when you were younger?"

Lily looked at her brother confusingly. "What I always do to him?"

Gaje turned around and started walking away, pulling his book back up to his face. "I'm sure you'll remember Lily."

The dark haired girl put a finger to her chin as she thought. "What I always do to him…. Oh!" She said as her face lit up in excitement. Lily reopened the door quietly behind her, sneaking into Finn's side behind the thin fabric. She watched him type away at his laptop, jot down notes in his note book, and scroll through the open pages on the web. She tiptoed quietly as she could, inching closer and closer to Finns' backside.

"Hey Finn…"

"Not now Lily… I told you I'm bus—" The young boy was cut off as he felt Lily grab him forcefully by the back of his collar, pulling him back down so he laid on his backside. Before he had a chance to get back up, Lily was on him, her hands pinning him down by the shoulders with the rest of her body lifted above his. Finn looked up at her, his heart beating uncontrollably fast as his eyes widened in nervousness. "W-what the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm doing what I always do. I'm going to keep you here until you agree to come down and play with me and the others."

"Lil, I've got a lot of stuff to do! G-get off me!"

Lily sat her body down onto Finn, crossing her arms over her chest as she smirked at the boy underneath her. "Not until you agree to come down." Finn growled slightly as he fought to get her off of him. Lily giggled and looked at him with a smile and a raised brow. "Really Finn? We all know you can't get me off of you. I'm stronger, remember?"

Finn looked over the girl straddling him. "Look you just need… to get off of me… please…"

"No. Not until you say yes to the game."

Finn reached out and grabbed Lily's hips, causing him to blush slightly. Finn shut his eyes and groaned as he attempted to lift Lily off of his body. "God damn it Lily did you reinforce your body weight with your magic or what?!"

The older girl was unaffected by his touch as she leaned in closer to Finn, her hands at either side of his head. "Just say yes, and I will get off ya."

Finn so badly wanted her to get off of him, but at the same time, loved the way this felt. He had dreamt many times about this. Lily straddling his hips, their bodies molding together as one, their lips locked in passionate kisses, his hands exploring every inch of her body.

"Oi! Ice boy! You in there?"

Finn shook his blushing face as Lily looked over him. "A-alright I'll come down! Just get off me!"

Lily smiled as she jumped off of Finn quickly. The young boy let out a sigh of relief as he sat up. "That was a close one..."

"What was?" Lily asked as she looked at Finn.

"N-Nothing! I'll just… be down in a minute Lil."

Lily grinned as she jumped up and down excitedly, leaving the room quickly. Finn laid back down on his bed, replaying the feeling of Lily straddling him, the way her hips felt in his hands, how badly he wanted to turn the tables and be the one to pin her down. Finn blushed a crimson red color as he smacked himself in the face.

"That'll never happen… so I need to stop thinking about this… about her…." Finns' solid blue eyes glanced down at his laptop as his screen saver came into view. They were pictures of his family, ones of him and Leo, and ones of him and Lily. She was hanging over his shoulders, smiling brightly as she waved a hand at the camera with Finn smiling nervously looking at the dark haired girl. 'She makes it so hard to forget about her sometimes.'

"FINN! COME ON LETS GO!" Lily called up from down stairs. Finn sat up and closed the laptop as he stood. The young boy smiled as he sighed.

"The things I do for this girl."

Gray sat at the bar, digging into his pockets for another cigarette as the bartender set a glass in front of Gray, filling it with a dark, amber colored drink.

"Rough day there pal?" The man behind the bar asked.

Gray lit up his cigarette, inhaling it for a minute and letting out the puff of smoke. With his other hand, he picked up the glass, bringing it to his lips quickly, sending the liquid down his throat with one gulp. The ice mage set the glass back down, pushing it towards the bartender. "Another."

The man shrugged his shoulders and poured Gray another glass. Gray's eyes watched as the liquid hit the bottom of the glass, working its way up as the man poured.

"Um… Gray?" Juvia asked nervously as she stood beside Gray. The dark haired guitarist looked up at his manager and smiled.

"Hey what's up Juvia?"

"Can I um… can I have a word with you for a moment?" She asked with a quiet voice. Gray noticed the way she shook nervously as she spoke to him. He raised a brow as he stood, following Juvia into the other conference room away from Gajeel and Loke. Juvia led Gray into the other room and closed the door behind them. She rested her back against it as her head hung down slightly. Gray stood a few feet away from her with his hands in his pockets.

"So what's up? Is it about the band? Loke has been writing like crazy so you don't have to worry about that department."

Juvia kept her hands behind her as she spoke. "No… it's not that…"

Gray raised a brow. "Ok… so then what's wrong? Are the big guys pushing for us to get another cd out sooner?"

Juvia shook her head, still silent. Gray stepped closer to the water mage, placing a hand on her shoulder lightly. "Juvia, what's wrong?"

Juvia looked up at Gray, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. Gray jumped slightly at the sudden surprise. "Was it something I said?"

"Gray… I'm pregnant…"

Gray looked at her blankly for a moment, trying to process what she had just said as he watched her before him. They were both silent for a while, standing in front of one another. Gray closed his eyes lightly as he smiled, laughing lightly to himself. Juvia looked at him in surprise as he started to laugh a bit louder.

"What's so funny?"

Gray reopened his eyes, looking at Juvia with a smile on his face. "Is that all? Man you scared me I thought it was something about the band."

"But… you're the father…"

"So I guess that means we should probably get married then, huh?"

Juvia watched Gray for a long minute, wanting to make sure he was being totally serious with her. She never gave it any thought what would happen if she had ever gotten pregnant, let alone to the man she had just started dating. But now he was proposing marriage to her after she had just told him she was carrying their child.

"Are… are you being serious Gray?" Juvia asked.

Gray smiled as he looked at Juvia's solid blue eyes. "Why not? Kids' gotta have parents, right?"

Juvia felt her eyes swelling with tears once more as a smile began to form over her lips. The water mage moved closer to Gray, hiding her face into his chest. Gray laughed lightly as he wrapped his arms around her, embracing her gently.

"Here you go sir, another whiskey." The bartender said as he moved the small glass towards Gray once more. Gray looked down at the glass, picking it back up with his free hand and pressing the cool glass to his lips. The dark drink ran over his tongue and down his throat, slowly making him forget his memories of the past.

AN: Still feeling bad for Finn? Lol me too.

Also yes that was a flashback between Juvia and Gray at the end here. More to come in the next few chapters! :D

Nyma: lol I know I love Leo so much because of how he is. And yes Lily probably will murder him one day for all the crap he says to her face.