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GLASS EARRINGS

The house felt empty without the toddler running around, scattering his toys, or badgering Juvia with random questions.

It was Gray's time with Steel after all.

Juvia looked around her apartment, trying to figure out what to do. She woke up early morning and had managed to bake three different pastries and two loaves of bread. The living room had been tidied up; the bathroom was scrubbed clean; and the kitchen fully re-organized. The only activity she could think of was to head to the bedroom to find something to do.

"Ah, Juvia should throw out old things she doesn't need," she announced out loud. She began rummaging through her walk-in closet full of boxes. There was a period in her life where she compulsively bought anything she fancied. Most of them, Juvia didn't have the heart to throw out. The only thing she managed to throw, just before Steel was born, were the Gray-sama dolls she kept making.

A tiny sealed box fell from the top shelf, hitting Juvia on the head. She carefully opened it, already knowing what it was.

Inside was a pair of the most beautiful umbrella-shaped glass earrings. Sparkling and glistening even with dim lights, a vivid memory from two years past played in front of her.

The mission was a success, but why does it feel like a failure.

Juvia didn't want to think about it anymore, but the feeling of defeat plagued her mind. She kicked a harmless pebble with such force it actually flew up; but when it landed down, it hit her head. The blue-haired mage scowled.

"Ugh, now Juvia really feels gloomy," she puffed her cheeks, looking up the sky. So far, so good! No rain yet. She was nearing the outskirts of Magnolia, but she really didn't feel like reporting back to the guild. "Perhaps Juvia should drown herself in alcohol?" she asked a particular no one. "It would be nice if Juvia can share a drink with Gray-sama."

Her coquettish tee-heeing filled the entire area. Now that Juvia's mind was filled with images of her beloved ice mage, the giggles wouldn't stop.

"Ha, I knew that was you!" someone exclaimed from behind her.

Juvia froze, and a deep red tint painted her cheeks. Ah, just the sound of her Gray-sama's voice made her heart thump like crazy. The blue-haired lady slowly turned around, eyes blinking rapidly in a seductive fashion. To others, it would look as if she was flirting. However, Juvia was just trying hard to adjust her vision — just to verify that the handsome being in front of her wasn't a product of her illusion.

Gray crinkled his brows at the blinking girl. Her odd behaviours always made him uncomfortable. A part of him craved for Juvia to stop with her advances, but then there's the part that always got captivated.

"Gray-sama knew Juvia's laughter?"

Her high-pitched tone was enough indication that the water lady was excited. Gray sighed out loud. He had heard the animated giggling coming from the fork in the road. Without even seeing the owner, he somehow guessed it was Juvia.

Their guildmates often joked that Juvia installed a satellite or radar in her brain, which she uses to detect Gray's presence. For some reason, Gray had somehow developed the same thing. He wouldn't be surprised if Juvia "installed" this mind-boggling technology while he was asleep.

"Well... you know, you've got, uh, quite the unique type of, umm, laugh, so yeah," the stuttering Gray looked the other way, a finger scratching his cheek. "So, you finished your mission?"

Juvia walked closer to Gray, hands tightly clasped above her chest, as if she was praying to a divine deity. She was nodding non-stop. "Gray-sama also knew of Juvia's whereabouts and activities?!" she exclaimed.

Tch, the length of this girl's imagination. "Well, that's the only reason why you ain't stalki — er, around the guild."

"Un, un," Juvia nodded in agreement. "Juvia loves Gray-sama, but she also needs to earn money for rent," her mouth twisted into a pout and a sad look grew visible in her eyes.

"Uh, well that's understandable." This time Gray scratched his head. Will there be a time when he and Juvia can actually have a decent conversation — without her professing her love or her imagination running wild?

"And how was Gray-sama's visit to Balsam Village?"

Wow, she really knew many things about Gray!

"Twas alright," was his limited response. Gray walked ahead of the blue-haired mage who followed him eagerly. The two continued to walk in silence. The ice mage could only imagine Juvia sending invisible but powerful love arrows behind him. As crazy as it sounds, Gray actually felt these arrows piercing through his skin. Whether that's a good thing or not, he chose to ignore those signs.

Just before they reached the town square, Gray noticed that Juvia slowed down her pace. He turned around to see a dejected-looking lady with her head bent low, as if someone was sucking out her vitality.

"Something wrong?"

"Gray-sama should go ahead. Juvia will go there," she pointed towards a mid-sized tavern. Juvia didn't even wait for Gray's reply. She went ahead of the confused ice mage and disappeared inside the establishment. She didn't expect Gray to follow her. In fact, she was hoping that Gray wouldn't. As much as she adored having Gray's presence, right now wasn't that moment. The taste of failure was still fresh in her tongue. The only way to erase it was to wallow in liquor with a special blend of self-pity.

Some minutes later, a stoic-looking Gray pulled a bar stool beside her.

"Gray-sama is lost. This isn't Fairy Tail."

Gray snickered. "I know that, dummy." He called the barkeeper and ordered his usual pint. He had been to this tavern on a few occasions, so a familiarity had been created between him and the barkeeper. The place itself provided an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. "Is anything wrong?"

Juvia held onto her liquor glass with two hands, as it was the most fragile thing. She took a small sip and crunched up her nose. She didn't like the bitterness taste that enveloped her mouth.

"Juvia is perfeeeectly fine." The stress on that one word was obvious enough something was bothering her.

"Did you fail your mission?"

Juvia's head instantly turned to face Gray, a big blob of tears formed in each of her eye. She puffed out her cheeks, as if trying to prevent a wail or anything to come out of her lips.

"You did, didn't you?" The puff of her mouth grew even bigger. Gray didn't know whether to squeeze her from being too cute or hit her in the head for not acting her age. He waited for her to explain; but when it seemed like Juvia wasn't going to open her mouth, Gray knew how to make her talk. He chugged his pint and wiped his mouth. "I guess I've no reason to sit here with you if you're not gonna talk to me."

Juvia's hands clung to Gray's shirt sleeves. "Noooo, Gray-sama. Please stay with Juvia!" Her pleading puppy-eyed look was quite irresistible. Gray folded his arms across his chest. He twisted his body to fully face the water mage. His raised brow indicated for Juvia to keep talking. With a loud sigh, she relented.

"Juvia didn't really fail her mission. Juvia defeated the enemy mage, but..." she trailed off, tears forming in her eyes again. "The client didn't specify that the job is to fight a water mage causing trouble. Juvia had a hard time fighting her."

Gray listened intently. Unconsciously, he brought a hand to pat Juvia's head. His hand froze as soon as he realized what he's doing. However, the smiling eyes of Juvia — who is obviously enjoying Gray's petting — made him continue.

Juvia carried on with the rest of the story. Battling another water mage was tough. A lot of water magic had been spent, which only meant volumes of water being used. In the end, the whole village was flooded. The enemy water mage managed to run away before getting apprehended. The client was furious. Feeling guilty, Juvia chose not to accept the pay.

Her soft-hearted nature truly impressed Gray. He ordered another set of hard drinks for both him and Juvia, eager to console the gloomy blue-haired mage. A few drinks later, Juvia's drunkenness was apparent. Gray knew he was more than buzzed as well.

A glistening piece of jewel caught his attention. It adorned Juvia's right ear. Gray brushed her blue hair away from her face and clipped it behind her ear. His finger lingered on the shimmering glass earring shaped as an umbrella.

"That's pretty," he muttered, his head resting on his hand, eyes transfixed on the red-cheeked woman.

Juvia giggled. "I got — Juvia got it as a present. I didn't — Juvia didn't want to accept, but Lyon-sama insisted."

Lyon? Gray dropped his hand, and then clenched it in a tight fist. "That bastard gave it to you?"

Another giggle from the mage, but this time it annoyed Gray. "Lyon-sama would leave presents in front of my — in front of Juvia's door. One time was a rose encased in ice. Next was beautiful nightingale using ice make." A sad smile appeared on her face. "When Lyon-sama said he's leaving, he gave me this glass earring as his last gift. He made me promise not to take it off."

By this time, Gray was fuming. Oh, he recognized the emotion developing in him. Still, he wasn't willing to admit what it was. The next thing he did, he completely blamed it on alcohol.

In a flash, his hand was at the back of her head to guide her face where he wanted it. Juvia's eyes widened as she came face to face with the love of her life. Giving her no time to react, Gray covered Juvia's lips with his. Something ignited in him as soon as he tasted her. Both his hands were now cradling her face. Juvia had to lean against the bar top for support.

You're mine tonight.

Whether that was spoken out loud or not, the two Fairy Tail mages soon found themselves in Gray's apartment.

A/N: Thank you once again for the reviews, as well as those who followed/favourited the story. Please enjoy.