Juvia sits across the table from Ultear, her hands holding the mug tightly. The young woman smiles softly, her eyes still haven't left the poor girl's trembling frame.

"I haven't properly introduced myself, right?" she smiles and holds out her hand "My name is Ultear Milkovich. I am Gray's sister."

Sapphire eyes open widely when she heard Ultear's words as if she doesn't expect the young woman to comment on their relationship.

His sister…

She unconsciously breathes out, feeling a weight just left her chest. Ultear doesn't miss her simple action, smiling as she takes a sip of her tea. So this is Gray's neighbor next door…

"Her name is Juvia Lockser, it's her pleasure to meet you."

The young woman looks at her, finding her way of talking is quite odd yet very cute. Her eyes scan the girl from head to toe, nodding to herself a few times before her lips curve up into a smile. Her little Gray has such good taste in woman, Juvia is so adorable with blue eyes twinkling at her.

"So Juvia, are you Gray's lover?"

"Eh?" she almost drops the mug at her question "Ah, n-no. J-Juvia, she…well…she…"

"Hm? Don't tell me that boy hasn't made any move…"

The bluenette's face turns bright red, embarrassed at how Ultear phrases her words. Her darling Gray-sama is a shy person, of course, he would never do such things. Or maybe she's being naïve…? The raven head is surrounded by many beautiful women, surely he has had experienced here and there…Right…?

"Uhm, Ultear-san…G-Gray-sama…D-does he…"

This is so awkward, asking his sister about her beloved dating life…

"You want to ask if he has a girlfriend?"

"Y-yes, I mean, no, I mean…"

The young woman chuckles, amused at the answer she receives. The bluenette twiddles her fingers then plays with her blue locks, blushing various shades of pink.

"His most recent girlfriend was Daphne, wait, was it?" Ultear frows, trying to remember the number of girls her brother has dated "Briar, yes, it was Briar. But they broke up 3 years ago."

The bluenette looks a bit daze, so Gray dated two girls…

"But none of his relationships really worked out, mostly because Gray didn't understand how a relationship works and the brat had little to no interest to pay attention to their mood and feelings." said the young woman " Despite having a rather good looking face, he is very dry and cold towards everyone…"

Is he?

She listens to Ultear's words, puzzling. Gray has always been so caring towards her, sure he is straightforward and direct in his words and actions but to her, the raven head is very kind.

"You seem to disagree with what I said." she smiles behind the mug.

"N-not really, but Gray-sama is very kind to Juvia. He also prefers actions rather than words and always offers to help her whenever she needs."

"Really?"

Ultear smiles at her words, the Gray that Juvia talks about is very different from the Gray she knows. The bluenette seems to be very fond of her little brother, she swears that she can see how the aura is turning pink with hearts float around Juvia as the young girl talks about him.

"Juvia, do you have feelings for my brother?"

The bluenette freezes in her seat, steam coming out of her head as she lowers her head to hide her blushing face.

"She…she…" Juvia thinks for a bit before her lips curl up into a beautiful smile "Juvia likes, no…She loves him…"

Such an honest answer, Ultear's heart almost melted by her words. Gray is indeed very lucky to have a beautiful and kindhearted girl like Juvia by his side.

"I see." the young woman smiles, holding her hand tightly "Juvia, Gray might be a mature young man but he's still a kid to us. He's a shallow kid and his straightforwardness always causes him trouble. With you by his side, mother and I will be less worried."

Juvia raises her head and smiles at Ultear's kind words, nodding her head in response.


Gray runs as fast as he can back to the apartment, his heart is racing as the news that his sister informed him. This is bad, how can he let this happen to Juvia?

When he stops at her doorstep, the raven head pants heavily. He has sprinted back from the university and is now trying to catch his breath. Gray silently thanks his sister for being there by the bluenette side just in time, if something happens to Juvia, he doesn't sure if he could ever forgive himself.

He presses the doorbell, then knocks on the door, then bangs on it, feeling his patient is lessened minutes after minutes. When Juvia runs to the door and opens it, she is faced with Gray's concerned eyes and tired face. The bluenette blinks a few times, she doesn't understand why he's here this early, it's not even time for dinner yet. She knows that because she checked the clock, and she's sure that Gray has skipped his class and tutoring job to come here.

"Gray-sama?"

"Juvia…" he pants, trying to catch his breath.

"Ah, c-come in! Juvia will get you some water."

He walks into the apartment and shuts the door, the loud bang startles Juvia. She looks at him, feeling uneasy, his dark eyes stare right to her soul. When he steps closer to her, the bluenette unconsciously takes a step back until her back pressed against the white wall of the apartment, with Gray leaves a comfortable space between them.

She gulps, her eyes haven't left the man in front of her. Gray stares down at her to meet the beautiful sapphire orbs fill with confusion and worries. The bluenette wonders if she has done something wrong, if she has done something that made him mad. She tries to search in her memories, thinking about what had happened in the past 10 days but nothing comes to her mind.

"G-Gray-sama…"

"I heard from Ultear…" he stops for a second before continues "…she told me about what happened…"

Her breath hitched, blue eyes look away from him. She doesn't want to remember it and she's glad that Gray is trying to phrase the sentence wisely to avoid any further damage. As much as Juvia wants to tell him, she doesn't want to cause him any trouble. She tries her best to maintain her calm and puts up a warm smile, a tactic that the bluenette uses to make everyone believe that she's okay.

"Juvia is fine." said Juvia as she holds up her hands "U-Ultear-san was there to help her teaching that person a lesson."

Gray frows at the strained smile, irritated by the thought that Juvia is trying to hide her problems from him. Is he not trustworthy enough for her to tell him the truth?

He always believes that Juvia's smile is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, it's soft and sweet, painting a ray of sunshine on her face. But right now, the smile she's wearing on her face is ugly and full of lies. The bluenette may think that whatever she is doing can trick him but Gray is not a gullible child nor he is naïve, he knows that she is lying…

"Juvia, stop it with that smile." he says, holding her wrists tightly in his hands "Don't ever do this. That smile, don't ever let me see it again."

"S-she…" the bluenette stammers, avoiding his intense gaze.

"I hate it, I hate to see the forceful smile of yours. I told you already, didn't I? I told you that you can rely on me, that I will be there for you whenever you need me." Gray grits his teeth angrily "How can I protect you when things like this happen and you don't even bother to tell me?"

Now Juvia is staring at him, her pupils dilate as she listens to his words. Everything Gray said feels like someone just poured honey into her ears, such fierce yet gentles words that make her heart pounded against the chest. The Gray she knows is a calm and collected person, a man with reasons and always thinks with his head rather than his feelings, but now…

"J-Juvia is s-sorr-?!"

"Don't say sorry, Juvia! I don't want to hear that from you." he almost curses out loud "For Mavis sake, I need you to tell me how you really feel, I want to know that. Please…"

The way he holds her wrist tightly, how his eyes bore right into her soul, how his face screams worries and fear. Fear that he might be too late if Ultear wasn't there, fear that something worse could happen to Juvia, fear that he had failed to protect her. Juvia looks at him, sapphire blue orbs meet midnight blue eyes, and lowers her head, his expression is beyond anything she can imagine.

Since when did the calm and collected Gray-sama burn with this much passion and emotions?

The raven head studies her pretty face, how she's fighting with her thoughts of whether or not she should do what he asked. He pauses for a second before leans in, his hands let go of her wrists and circle around Juvia's small frame, bringing the young bluenette in a warm embrace.

Juvia's eyes open widely as she listens to it, how his heart is thumping loudly in his chest as one hand brushes the soft blue locks. His gentleness touches her soul as Juvia begins to wail, the walls she builds around herself slowly break, leaving her at her most vulnerable point.

"S-she is not o-okay…" the bluenette cries "S-she thought…she thought…"

Gray holds her closer, crushing her small body against his cool frame and sighing in relief, finally…

"S-she tries to s-scream for help, b-but he…"

"I know…"

"She was a-afraid, s-so afraid…"

"I'm sorry."

Juvia clings onto him for dear life, her tears wetted his black shirt but Gray doesn't care. Right now in his arms is a young girl with a wounded heart, fragile and vulnerable against everything that comes at her. Gray stands there, holding her close and holding her dearly, her soft baby hair tickles against his skin.

Juvia…

"G-Gray-sama…Juvia, she…" the bluenette hiccups, wiping the tears away with her palms "S-she is sorry, she sh-should not bother y-you with he p-problem. S-she…"

The sight is painfully adorable. Gray feels bad for even have such thoughts when the bluenette is distressed but he can't help it, not when her face is flustered and her eyes are glossy from the crying. Juvia stammers again, saying she's sorry and it's because of her that he misses his class and tutoring job, that she didn't mean to and how she will make it up to him. Gray's heart jumps at her words, he stays silent and lets her talk and talk, apologizing for everything that she has done until…

"Gray-sama, Juvia is s-sor-?! Mmmhhhmm!"

Sapphire blue orbs open widely, her heart swells painfully, butterflies dance in her stomach and her knees get weaken after every second.

Gray-sama, he…he…

The raven head secures his hold tightly, preventing the poor girl from escaping when he feels her hand push against his chest and try to break free. When she realizes that all her tryings are in vain, Juvia slightly grips his shirt, doesn't know if she should hold back herself or go all out.

He slightly opens his eyes, just enough to see her reaction. The bright blush and the tears that form on the corner of her eyes fan the flame inside him as Gray deepens the kiss, the fluttery intensified. The taste of her lips is divined and addicted, soft and sweet like honey that slowly invaded his mind. Kissing Juvia has never been part of his plan, but the feeling of her lips on his is absolutely amazing and he greedily wants more.

When they part away, Juvia's legs give in and she slumps in Gray's arms, panting and trying to catch her breath. He holds her dearly, running his hand through the wavy locks, sighing in content.

"G-Gray-sama, i-it's Juvia's f-first ki-kiss…" she stammers, her face is as red as a tomato "W-why did you k-kiss her?"

"…"

"G-Gray-sama?"

"Because you look like you want to be kissed."

Steam coming out of her head as Juvia stares at him, bewildered at his straight and honest response. Was she being that obvious?

But before she can open her mouth to voice her opinion, Gray leans in again, capturing her lips with his. She jumps, her heart is filled with such intense and raw emotions, thumping loudly in her chest. This time, however, the bluenette gives in, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back. She thinks of the unfinished vegetables on the cutting board, but it's not important anymore…