A/N: Hello again, Lovelies! Thank you so much for those wonderful reviews you gave the last chapter! It made me so happy! Let's get on with the next chapter, shall we?

Natsu's eyes radiated pure hatred and anger. If she was in a movie, this would have been the cue to scream and run. But this was real life, and Juvia had no choice but to face the consequences of her actions. Her subconscious mind made out the ragged breathing of Lucy. 'She must have over-exerted herself.' Juvia's mind whispered before deciding that Lucy wasn't her priority for now.

'Apologize, apologize, apologize…' Her mind chanted like a mantra.

'The key to my survival' Juvia thought with an edge of sarcasm.

After what seemed as an endless silence, she spoke up. "Listen Natsu-"

"SHUT UP!" Natsu was quick to move and knock Juvia to the ground.

"NATSU!" Lucy screamed.

Before Juvia could register the pain of having been knocked down, she felt her breath catch. The iron grip on her neck was chocking her. Her vision was already blurring.

"Let…g-o-o…" She somehow managed to muffle.

Her words had no effect. She felt Natsu's grip get stronger.

"I'll kill you." Juvia heard him say under his breath. She forced herself to get a clearer image of his face and saw the tears in his eyes.

"I'll kill you." He mumbled again, and for reasons unknown, she believed him; she sincerely wished that he would. By doing so, he would end her misery. Juvia closed her eyes, ready to embrace eternal sleep.

In the fraction of a second, she felt a different sensation. Her throat still hurt, but her breath came easier. She knew she wasn't dead. She could feel the ground beneath her, and also, hear voices.

She gently opened her eyes and peeped through her lashes. The sight before her brought tears to her eyes. There, in front of her, holding Natsu back was Lucy, the very girl who Juvia had hurt and insulted, the very girl who hated Juvia. And yet, she was hugging Natsu, stopping him from killing her.

"Please, Natsu…" Juvia heard Lucy plead. "Don't; for me, for our baby, for us; don't do this to her. We don't need this sin on our child."

.Juvia could say that Natsu was torn between his rage and Lucy. He had a distant look in his eyes. He was quiet for a long time. He slowly got up, helping Lucy up at the same time. He glared at Juvia one last and addressed her. "If you ever come within our sight again…" he left the threat hanging in the air. But Juvia wasn't going to linger any longer.

She got up and faced the ground. Humiliation, disgust, and despair were all written across her face. She walked away akin to a zombie.

Juvia had never wished to die more.

The sun had bid goodbye, and the first twirls of darkness were beginning to show. Red eyed and tired from crying, Juvia was driving into the night at a not-so-cautious speed. She had a killer headache and to top everything, sleep was knocking into her.

She sighed.

At this pace, she'd definitely create an accident.

She increased her speed and after 10 minutes of fighting drowsiness she pulled up at her parking lot.

Juvia shut down the engine and stepped outside the car. She locked the doors and made way to the elevator. She doubled over once, like a drunk, and straightened herself against a wall before walking again.

She punched the button and began to wait for the elevator. She was soon joined in waiting by another.

Juvia looked to her side at the new arrival. Her brows raised in amusement. There in front of her was the perfect man candy. He was tall and muscular. No, he didn't have muscles that screamed 'attention!' but the sort that could make a girl swoon. They were the right amount.

His dark, spiky hair swept across his forehead and his eyes were the most seductive ones that Juvia had ever seen. And Juvia had seen a lot.

She didn't have time to admire the rest of him, because right at that moment her brain decided to shut down and her eyes closed. She collapsed.

To say that Gray freaked out was an understatement. He was terrified when the girl, who had been standing next to him for a few seconds, had fainted. Reflexes kicked in, and he was soon crouching at her side and had lifted her head and shoulders.

"Shit!" He cursed, looking around and not finding a single soul for help.

At the precise moment, the elevator doors opened with a 'ding', and Gray, being the good man he was, picked the girl up and entered the elevator.

Oh well. He thought. Guess I have company for tonight.

A/N: So this was pretty short. I assure you the next will be longer and the beginnings of Gruvia. Hopefully this was good. Review! :D

~ Mystique