AN: Last update of the year, I hope you enjoy it!

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The Birds And The Bees

11 Weeks – Part 2

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Gray watched Lucy as she asked for a second while she went to her balcony, he sat on one of the couches in her room. His left leg was moving upside down so quick and his mind was a mess.

Juvia was pregnant, she had known for two weeks but just half an hour before, she decided to tell Lucy first, over him.

Pregnant, for god's sake! They were going to have a baby in a few months? A living, breathing, real baby?

What were they going to do? College started next year, they were only seventeen. And his dad… oh, his dad was going to flip. He always taught Gray about responsibility and… he screwed up.

"Okay, we can talk now." Lucy said, coming back from the balcony and closing the door behind her.

"Were you on the phone with Juvia?" He asked.

"Of course I was." The beautiful blonde told him, exasperated, sitting on the opposite couch chair. "I am not having this conversation without her consent, Gray. She's my friend as much as you and this is a sensitive matter and I won't tell anything she told me in confidence without her permission."

"She talked to you without mine!" Gray pointed out.

"You didn't even know, then, Gray." She answered. "And she needed someone to know the news and not freak out and you are clearly freaking out."

"Of course I am freaking out, Lucy, my girlfriend is pregnant." He passed a hand through his hair.

"As you have every right to be." Lucy nodded. "So, ask away. I was granted permission to tell you some things, but ultimately, it's you two who need to talk."

"I know, but I'm just so mad!" He got up from the chair.

Lucy was confused for a moment. "Because Juvia is pregnant?"

"What? No. That… both of us screwed up that afternoon, there's no one to blame, not really." He started to pace around. "It's because I don't like to be lied to. I hate when people lie to me and the past two weeks… all lies." He groaned.

"Gray…" Lucy sighed.

"No, Lucy. I asked her over and over what was going on and she said she was fine, that she would tell me when she was ready and, and, and…"

"And she did tell you when she was ready."

"Two fucking weeks, Lucy!" Gray said loudly and stopped pacing. "I hate to be kept in the dark, I… I need facts, I need… I need fucking information and for two weeks, two weeks I needed to get my head around it and know how… how… how to act and have a plan and I didn't have that."

"And why are you here instead of getting all this from Juvia?"

"Because I was already on my way, I'm mad and I would freak her out and she was already worried about how I would react." Gray started to pace again. "I can't freak like this in front of her and you have information and I need information.."

Lucy sighed in relief. "That's good. Freak out all you need, here. She knows you are here, knows you'll get some answers."

"Okay. Okay." Gray took a few calming breaths. "Why would she tell you first and not me?"

"Fair question." Lucy nodded, keeping her cool and she pointed to the couch chair and he finally was calmer and sat back down but even so, it took her a moment to answer her question. "Gray, both your lives are going to change, and I am not trying to diminish what you are about to go through, but Juvia…" She bit her lower lip. "This is gonna be harder for her while she's pregnant, and after."

"What?" Gray frowned.

Lucy thought for a second. "Gray, in a couple of months, when you walk down the street on your own, what are people going to think?"

"What?" He repeated, even more confused.

"I'll answer: they will think you are a young guy going to school." She said. "Do you know what people will think of her when they see her in a couple of months, when she starts to show? They will think 'she couldn't keep her legs closed' or 'young girls are so reckless' and 'slut' or 'whore' or 'skank'."

Gray looked mortified. "They… what?"

"It's so hard to be a woman in this world, Gray, you have no idea. We are judged even before we know there are people to judge us." Lucy said, gently. "And being seventeen and pregnant? People are going to think her life is over. She believed her life was over when she found out and it took her a week to find someone to share it with." The blonde kept speaking. "When she told me, I was shocked. You two did it first than Natsu and I and trust me when I say Juvia talked about protection all the time."

"It was one time without." Gray groaned.

"Yeah, it only takes one time, Juvia herself told me this a thousand times, trust me." Lucy told him. "She didn't want to lie to you, or hide things but just like you, she freaked out and then, just like you, she needed information, a plan so she looked the options up. After that, she needed someone who would understand the stigma of what lies ahead and be devil's advocate. She chose me."

"You are very level-headed." Gray muttered.

"Thank you." Lucy nodded. "She needed time to figure things out, to have a plan and to tell you, Gray. And now she did."

"This… this 'plan'. Juvia mentioned something like that."

It was the first time Lucy hesitated. "You'll have to talk to her about that, but… Gray, do you know how many guys just leave when they get to know news like that?"

He felt offended when he understood the meaning behind her words. "I would never-"

"I know!" Lucy didn't let him finish. "Of course I know and Juvia does too, but… There was a chance it could happen and all Juvia wanted, was to be prepared."

Gray was silent for a moment. "Is that 'the plan'?"

Lucy hesitated. "A part of it, yes." Gray nodded. "Are you feeling better?"

"I am not as pumped as I got here, no, if that's what you are asking." Gray sighed. "I… I think I understand a little bit better now, but… I'll need to think."

"Of course." Lucy nodded. "Juvia had her time thinking, now you need your own. Just… let her know you are not just leaving, that you need time, just like she had."

"Yeah, I'll talk to her tomorrow at school." Gray massaged the back of his neck. "I have to figure out how to do this, how I'll tell my dad… All that."

"From what she told me, she's around 11 weeks, which means it won't be long until people notices it."

"I know." He groaned. "I'm on the clock here."

"You are." She put a hand on his knee and squeezed it. "Talk to her when you are ready, figured out what to do and talk to your dad."

He hummed in agreement. "Thank you, for talking to me."

"Sure. Anytime." Lucy offered a small smile. "Go home, clear your head. Everything will seem better after a good night's sleep."

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"Hey, kiddo." His father called from the living room as soon as Gray entered the apartment. "It's late, you should've at least texted me."

Gray had gone to a walk to the park after leaving Lucy's mansion and had sat by the lake, staring at the water for a long time and he forgot about going home until it was dark.

"Hey, dad." Gray stopped by the threshold of the living room. "Sorry, I forgot. I… I've had a lot to think about today."

Silver, who really, was pretty much a carbon copy of his son, but older and with a scar from his lower left ear to his hairline, frowned when he took a look at his son. "Did something happen? You were going to be at Juvia's, right? Is everything alright between you two? You know you can talk to me about anything."

"I…" Gray started, but stopped a moment later, making his dad's frown deepen. "Dad, something did happen and I need to figure it out first, but… I will tell you. Soon because… Because when I do, I'm going to need your help."

The older Fullbuster muted the TV and sat straighter. Gray only asked for help in very extreme cases. "Are you hurt? Are you sick?" Gray shook his head. "Did you hurt anyone? Is it something with drugs or your welfare in general?" Gray shook his head once again and both stayed in silence for a while. "Alright." Silver nodded. "How long do you think you'll need to tell me what is happening?"

Gray thought for a second. "A few days."

Silver pondered his son's answer and nodded. "On a scale from 1 to 10, how much whatever is happening, will affect your life?"

Gray snorted. "About thirteen."

Silver whistled. "Okay, it's a biggie, then." He thought it over for a few seconds and judging by the way Gray looked, the kid would need a couple of days to put his mind in order. "Alright. Your deadline is four days. Four days and you and I are going to sit down and you will tell me what is happening, no matter what. You are a man, you know I'm here, but you've got four days to figure it out."

The younger Fullbuster sighed. His father was cool; he was there if needed and he wasn't pressuring Gray to tell him what was bothering him right away.

Oh. So that what Juvia felt whenever Gray said he would wait for her to be ready to tell him: relieved to not be pressured to face something so big without being ready to do it.

He still needed to think, a lot, but knowing he had time to tell his father and that he would most likely have his support (if he could survive the lecture), made him feel so much better.

The pressure Juvia must've been through… he had only a few hours of it and it was almost unbearable, she had weeks of it.

"Four days it is, dad."

"Alright, kiddo. But if you need me sooner…" Silver said and Gray nodded.

He sighed in relief. "Thank you, dad. Really."

"Just know this, son: nothing will ever make me love you less."

He couldn't help it but – the psychological pressure and the sudden exhaustion, made Gray tear up a little, but he blinked them away.

"Thanks." He cleared his throat. "I'll go to bed now."

"Good night, son. Just remember, I am here."

Gray ran to his bedroom and just before he got into the shower, he texted Juvia.

To: Juvia

21:32: I am with you. We will figure things out. Together.

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AN: I hope this shows better why Juvia was so reluctant to speak with Gray at first, and her insecurities as well why Gray needed to leave first to calm down. Gray doesn't like lies or omissions, he likes information and he likes to have plans so he freaked out and with reason.

Anyways, I hope this was a good chapter! And since it's the last update of the year: Happy 2019, guys! Let's hope it's much better than 2018 was! Cheers!

Thanks to: nomnomnim, earthstar001, Allie, CrazyZaika, Arianna5612, Star197, Nima, Esketit, pika girl 85, Snavej, starfireten, CandyLuv99, Guest (No offense taken, but Erza's barely mentioned in the story as I do not like her (I only use her when I have no choice or need someone from the guild to do something and she's there) but the main reason he went to Lucy was because JUVIA did and he needs some answers only LUCY can provide. ), BrunaDSCavalcante, superrelic64, Dalala, yesitsjennifer, glodenglowingsnowdemon(the Gajuvia will come, I promise!), fyriagita , MariPessoa93, Tracie and Juvia is my spirit animal! Ypu guys are amazing!

12/29/2018 ~ BonneyQ