Standard disclaimer applies. All rights belong to Mashima Hiro and Kodansha.
ARRANGEMENT
"Juvia is grateful."
Juvia eyed Gray as the young father carried Steel inside the bedroom to put him to sleep. The almost two-year-old boy was still fully awake. It was past midnight already.
"No problem. I did tell you that if you need help, just call any time." Gray gave her a quick glance before returning his focus on the young boy, rolling around his bed. "Hey little man," he called gently to his son. "Time to sleep. Mommy needs to rest too."
Juvia left the room, giving Gray more alone time with the toddler. The father and son didn't see each other for a week because Gray was out on a mission. He wasn't scheduled to meet up with Steel until the weekend. Yet, Steel was already getting restless. He was usually very obedient towards Juvia, but not this night.
During dinner, the boy kept asking "Daddy where?" in his most eloquent baby speech. By 10, when it was "sleepy time", Steel became more agitated. He started throwing a tantrum and asking for Gray.
Thank heavens that Gray just returned from his mission that morning. She knew he must be exhausted, but Steel was her priority now. With a heavy heart, Juvia had no choice but to contact him.
The blue-haired woman proceeded to the kitchen where she prepared a bento for Gray to bring home. She knew the ice mage probably didn't have anything in his fridge. Not that she's trying to act the wife she once dreamt of. No, this was only an act a friend would do for a friend.
It's just that... well, this friend happened to be the father of her son.
It all started with a heavy drinking session that led to a passionate night, which resulted in a cute bundle of joy. However, there was no commitment between the two of them. Their relationship stayed as nakama, fellow mages who happened to get pregnant after a one-night stand.
This had been their arrangement for the past two years, ever since Juvia gave birth to Steel. During her pregnancy and Steel's infancy, Juvia was still living at the Fairy Hills dormitory. It was Gray who insisted for her to move. He wouldn't be able to come in and out of her house to see Steel. Also, Juvia needed a bigger space for her and her son.
Juvia was hesitant at first, but Gray insisted for him to pay for the rent. Eventually, with the help of their friends, she was convinced to move into a bigger apartment, which was closer to Gray's apartment.
"Sleeping like a log now," Gray appeared at the kitchen's doorway, an amused expression in his eyes. "All I did was promise to bring him somewhere tomorrow." Shaking his head at the thought of his adorable son, Gray chuckled. Ever since Steel was born, he found himself smiling and laughing more.
The power of Steel!
Juvia also changed. Her obsessive and stalker-ish tendencies dissipated. No more elaborate love confessions and grand romantic gestures towards Gray, except for one thing — the way she called his name.
"Ah, Gray-sama really knows how to pacify Steel," she gave him a small smile. Tiredness slowly crept up to her. She wrapped the bento and handed it to him. "Here, Juvia prepared lunch for you tomorrow."
Gray received it with a nod. Times like this, when Juvia showed her caring side, he didn't know the words to say. He mentally bonked his head. There was one word appropriate for such occasions. "Thanks, Juvia. You didn't have to."
The bluenette beauty shook her head. "No, no, Juvia likes cooking anyway. Juvia ended up making more than Juvia and Steel can eat."
"Well then, any time you have extra food, reserve it for me," Gray said sheepishly.
Juvia nodded. "Gray-sama should go. It's really very late. Be careful on your way home."
There was a cheerful tone in her words, although Gray sensed something else. It was like she was suddenly so distant and awkward around him. For now he decided to let that go. No sense making a big deal out of nothing.
When the brief goodbye greetings were exchanged between the two of them and Juvia closed the door behind him, Gray lingered outside her door. There was a heavy feeling inside his chest — as if he was thrown aside. As Gray walked out of the apartment building, he looked up to the second floor, checking Juvia's windows. The lights were already out. A sad smile appeared on his lips.
Gray was somewhat hoping Juvia would ask him to stay for the night.
He didn't want to part from his son, but this was their arrangement.
For the past year, Gray had been religiously checking if there was a vacancy in this very building. He just wanted to be close to Steel. It pained him that he couldn't see his son's face every morning he wakes up. It pained him that he couldn't be there for Juvia all the time.
Juvia, he internally spoke her name as if it was a melancholic verse.
She was so utterly devoted to him, but she changed. Her affections for him disappeared and got transferred to Steel. Not that he was jealous of his own son, but a small part of him craved for her undivided attention every now and then.
When Steel was born, Gray gave hints to Juvia he wanted to try and build a relationship with her for the sake of Steel. But before he could explicitly tell her his plan, Juvia proposed an arrangement that clearly defined their relationship as platonic.
"Gray-sama, Juvia believes we can take care of Steel even if we are not together."
"Then Juvia, why don't we try—," he was cut off.
"Juvia doesn't see Gray-sama as anything more than a nakama anymore. Juvia still hopes to be Gray-sama's friend, so that we can be good parents to Steel."
Gray didn't know how to react to that. He could only agree to her proposal.
Thus, Steel stays with Juvia majority of the time. He goes to Gray's place during the weekends. The two of them are careful not to go on missions at the same time. If Juvia's on a mission, Gray makes sure to stay and take care of Steel, and vice versa.
With a lingering look, Gray peeled his eyes away from Juvia's apartment windows. The night's summer breeze was cool to his skin, yet he was still itching to take off his shirt. Gray sighed and dragged his feet back to his lonely apartment.
Juvia couldn't help but take a glimpse outside her bedroom window, a few minutes after Gray left. Surprisingly, she still caught Gray's figure walking away from her building.
It was as if her sixth sense — which is basically her "Gray-sama radar" — had been reactivated.
Well, truthfully, she never lost it. After all these years, she still held affection for the ice mage, no matter how much she tried to move on. The one thing different now was that she can now control herself. Even when there are urges to squeal in delight whenever she sees Gray, or profess her admiration, Juvia can now hold back.
Even today, when she wanted so much to ask Gray to stay for the night, Juvia controlled herself. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea. She didn't want him to think that Juvia was back to her old obsessive traits. She didn't want to drive him way, thus completely destroying the wonderful arrangement they set up for Steel.
It still hurts, though.
The most painful love, after all, was the unrequited kind.
A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews. Although, I was a bit surprised that most of you found it "cute". It was quite unintentional, because the tone I'm going for this fic is a little... melancholic.
I can't write something similar to a Shounen-type story, where epic battles and actions are required. So, please don't expect that. Let's say I'm aiming more for the tones found in most Josei (slice of life). If anyone's familiar with the manga Bread & Butter by Ashihara Hinako, that's the tone I'm aiming for. Not too comedic or dramatic. Or, something like Strobe Edge by Sakisaka Io (shoujo manga).
Lastly, I was planning to publish this chapter after I actually read a good bulk of the manga or watch the anime. But, I'm just itching to put it up (and just can't find the will to restart this series). So, expect a little OOCness or some inaccuracies. You can also look at this fic as an AU, although I'm setting it in the same setting and timeline. I'm just using my creative licenses. I'll also try to keep my author's notes short.