AN: Sorry for taking so long for the update. A lot of things are going on now that summer is just around the corner. But thankfully I was able to get this out so enjoy. I hope more will be out soon. Until then! ~Dragon
~~~11~~~
The day after, Lucy confronted the older Gray. She asked if she could research about this future threat with Levy. With Gray's permission, the blonde got right to work after explaining the situation to her bluenette bookworm friend. If anyone could figure out how to address the situation the future was in, it was Levy and Lucy.
Future Gray and Ariana approached the crowding table of Lisanna, Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, Erza, Gray, and Juvia. Ariana instantly snuck in between Wendy and Natsu. The group was happy to invite the two at their table. Future Gray sat on the end of the table next to Juvia. The bluenette swooned lightly at the realization that she was in between two Gray's.
Erza joked, "She's found heaven. Or pretty darn close to it. Gray sandwich with Juvia in the middle."
"It's heavenly," Juvia admitted.
"You're crazy," Future Gray chuckled. When he put his arm around her, she nearly melted into a puddle and he laughed with most of the table.
"No, it's even better than heaven," the bluenette sighed leaning on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I bet," he replied.
Ariana snickered, "Aunt Juvia would be totally POed right now at how much attention Uncle is giving someone else."
Old Gray defended, "She still qualifies as my wife. She's the same person but from the past. I'm offended at your tone, missy. I'm no cheater."
Erza questioned, "If you qualify Juvia to be the same in both times, what of yourself?"
Old Gray blinked twice after looking at his past ravenette then answered, "Love rival? A duplicate of a past idiot, that's for sure."
"What?! Like hell!" Young Gray raged.
"He got you there, Gray," Erza chuckled with the rest of the table.
"Yeah right! Natsu's the only idiot here! And I'm not some kind of rival either!" Present Gray defended.
Future Gray challenged, pulling Juvia closer by the waist, "Then you don't mind that I keep her? I obviously know her better than you do."
Regular Gray yelped, "What?! No! She's of this time! The hell you mean, old man?! And I know her just fine!"
Scruffy Gray retorted, "When's her birthday? How did she meet Gajeel? Who was her first boyfriend? How did she join Phantom Lord?"
Young Gray pouted, "April, I think. She met him when she joined Phantom. Who cares, and she joined because she didn't know how to control her magic."
"Wow, you seriously never asked? Not even her birthday? That's pretty sad," Ariana replied as Juvia flinched at his answers.
"Now that I think about it, I don't know much about anyone in Fairy Tail," Wendy realized. "It feels like we know each other so much that the little things seem not important. We never really ask each other many questions."
"Yes, it's generally to avoid sensitive topics, but you would think a birthday would be fine to ask about," Erza pondered.
Present Gray sulks slightly and Juvia wines, "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Juvia never thought to say! Sorry! It's March 14. Sorry."
Natsu blinked confused, "Wait a sec., you knew he didn't know!"
Older Gray chuckled, "Unfair advantage? Sure. Did it work? Sure. I won."
"I'm confused. So, why aren't you depressed and stuff about the future now as you were before?" Happy wondered aloud, noting how strange the future Gray was acting now that Juvia was introduced.
"Well, I got a swift kick in the ass by reality. If we came all the way from the distant future to the past, then why are we even here if we do nothing about it? The point of coming is to stop it from happening," came the reply. He smirked before adding, "That and after the whole 'my wife isn't dead' thing, I can at least calm my damn nerves."
"But, why so suddenly? You were so stubborn before and now you just give in?" Carla continued.
"Force of habit, I guess. I can tell Juvia anything and I just broke. Why hide when I've already revealed myself?" Older Gray responded honestly, playing with the band on his finger.
"Juvia will always listen to whatever Gray has to say," Juvia swooned before looking to where Present Gray was and worriedly searches for him. She yelped, "Gray darling?! Where'd you go?!"
