Here it is. The final chapter of Stormy Weather.

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I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL

Chapter 9: Finally Free

Juvia slowly opened her eyes. She was dreaming. In front of her, she could see her younger self being bullied by the school kids. One of the bullies pushed her down. She fell down and landed in a pile of mud. Juvia remembered this. It was one of the many horrible childhood memories that she had. There would be plenty more after this one. Juvia watched as one of the bullies raised his fist. Before his fist could connect with Juvia's face, someone blocked it. Juvia watched as her younger self looked up and smiled.

''Zander-kun!'' her younger self exclaimed. Zander glanced at her and smiled.

''Are you alright, Juvia-chan?'' he asked. Juvia nodded.

''Yes. I'm fine.'' Zander nodded. He glared at the bullies.

''I suggest that you leave. I don't want to hurt you.'' Zander threatened. The bullies gulped before they took off running. When they were gone, Juvia jumped up and hugged Zander from behind.

''Zander-kun. You saved me.'' she mumbled against his pant leg. Zander smiled. He bent down and ruffled Juvia's hair.

''I will always be there to save you, Juvia-chan. Don't you ever forget that. Now c'mon. I'll take you home so that you can get cleaned up.'' Zander said. He stood up and took Juvia's hand. Juvia smiled as she watched them. She closed her eyes as that memory faded and another one took its place.

In this memory, Juvia's younger self was running around her yard, laughing. Zander was running after her. Eventually, he caught up to her. He picked her up and spun her around. Juvia giggled when he put her down.

''That was so much fun.'' Juvia said. She sat down on the grass. Zander sat down next to her. Juvia looked up at the sky and her smile disappeared. The sky was cloudy and grey, but no rain fell down. Juvia sighed.

''I wish that I could see the sun.'' she mumbled. Zander looked at her, then he looked at the sky. He shrugged.

''The sun is overrated. Personally, I prefer the rain. It's cool and it calms me down.'' Juvia looked at him.

''But, don't you ever get tired of the rain?'' she asked. Zander shook his head.

''No. I don't get tired of the rain. Without rain, everything would dry up and die. And nobody wants that. So, you see, we need the rain.'' he answered. Juvia looked at her shoes.

''But, it rains all the time. And it's all my fault. She's the reason why it rains. That's why everyone hates her.''

''I don't hate you. Your parents don't hate you.'' Zander said. Juvia shook her head.

''But, why? Why don't you hate me? It's my fault that you don't have any friends. If you didn't defend me all the time, then you would have friends of your own. You wouldn't have to waste you time talking to a little girl.'' Juvia whispered. Zander sighed.

''It's not your fault that I don't have friends. Even if I didn't defend you, I still wouldn't have friends. I've always been alone, Juvia. Even before you showed up. People didn't like me as much as they don't like you. They thought that I was weird and creepy. And they still do. So don't blame yourself. And another thing, I like talking to you. I don't care if you are a little girl. You are the only friend that I have, Juvia. And I am your only friend. So, we loners need to stick together, alright?'' Juvia smiled.

''Alright.'' she said. Zander smiled and ruffled her hair. He stood up and dusted off his pants.

''Good. Now, let's go inside. You're probably hungry.'' Juvia nodded and together they walked into the house.

Juvia watched that memory with a smile. She liked that memory. It was one of the better ones. Juvia turned around when someone tapped her shoulder. She gasped.

''Zander.'' she whispered. Zander shook his head.

''What are you doing here?'' he asked. Juvia looked away.

''Juvia doesn't know. She just woke up here. She was remembering some things.'' Zander sighed.

''Well, stop remembering. You don't belong here, Juvia. You belong with your friends.'' Zander said. Juvia looked at him.

''But, you are Juvia's friend.'' she said. Zander smiled sadly.

''You are so naive. I am not your friend, Juvia. Not anymore. But it is nice to know that you still think of me as a friend.''

''But, what about us loners having to stick together? You can't leave me now.''

''That was a memory, Juvia. You aren't a loner anymore. It's just me now. And it's staying like that. I've already taken so much from you. I'm not taking your happiness either. So, go on now. You need to leave.''

''Juvia isn't leaving you alone. You are her best friend. She is not going to leave you.'' Juvia's eyes burned with determination. Zander sighed.

''You already left me. No, that isn't true. I left you. You don't have to stay with me anymore. You have people that care about you now. You don't need me anymore.''

''But, who is going to protect Juvia now?'' she mumbled. Zander smiled and ruffled her hair.

''You have someone to protect you. That someone just isn't me. Now, go on. Leave here. And don't come back.'' Zander pushed her gently. Juvia stumbled back and fell into a deep abyss. As she was falling, she saw Zander wave at her. She also saw the tears running down his face.

''Goodbye, Juvia-chan.'' he whispered. That was all Juvia heard him say.

Then, all she saw was black.

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Juvia woke up to blinding lights. She was in the sickbay. For the second time. She sighed.

Juvia has to stop getting hurt.

Juvia looked around the room. Surprisingly, she was all alone.

''Where is everyone?'' she whispered to herself. Suddenly, the door to the sickbay opened. Juvia smiled as Laxus walked in, along with someone else.

''Clay-san!'' Juvia exclaimed, her smile growing wider.

''Hi, Juvia.'' Clay replied.

''So, the master let you join?'' Juvia asked. Clay nodded.

''Yeah. He said that since I tried to help you, I was welcome to join.'' Clay smiled at her.

''Thank you. I've finally found a home because of you.''

''Juvia is just glad that Clay-san found a home.'' Juvia said. Clay nodded. He nodded at Laxus before he walked out. Laxus sat down next to Juvia's bed.

''I'm glad that you're okay.'' he said.

''What happened?'' she asked.

''After you passed out, Clay stumbled out of the base. He was pretty beat up. So we decided to take him here so that he could get patched up.''

''What about Zander? And Yukkia?'' Laxus sighed.

''I don't know. I only cared about you. When we left, Zander made no move to stop us. He just layed on the ground, sobbing.''

''That's all that happened?''

''That's all that I can tell you. Now, enough of this Zander talk. How are you? I was worried about you, after that whole crying fest.'' Juvia sighed and stared at the ceiling.

''Juvia just wanted to know why. She wanted to know why Zander hurt her so much. And now she knows. She guesses that the truth was too much for her to handle. Juvia is sorry if she worried you.'' Laxus reached out and squeezed her hand.

''It's alright. Just, don't scare me like that again, okay?'' Juvia nodded and smiled.

''Juvia promises.'' Laxus sighed and leaned back in his chair. It was silent for a few moments.

''Do you think that you can forgive him?''

''Who?''

''Zander.'' Juvia was silent.

''No.'' she finally said, after moments of silence. ''Juvia will never forgive Zander for what he did to her. Never. But she has let go of the hate that she once felt for him. Hearing him finally explain himself, seeing him like that, Juvia doesn't know. She just, let it go. All the hate and rage, she let it go. You know, Juvia would sometimes imagine herself seeing Zander again. She imagined herself killing him. But, when the moment actually happened, Juvia just couldn't do it. She couldn't kill him. And when he started sobbing, Juvia knew that she would never be able to do that. Because in front of her wasn't the Zander that tormented her. No, in front of her was a broken man. A man broken beyond repair. And it was at that point that Juvia realized that it was time to let go of that hate. Because hating him would be pointless. Hating him would only corrupt Juvia. And Juvia refuses to be corrupted by hate like Zander was. Juvia wants to move on with her life. And the only way that she can move on is if she lets go. And she did. And now it's time to move on. Juvia can't live in the past anymore. She can only live in the present and look forward to the future. A future with you.'' Juvia squeezed Laxus' hand. Laxus squeezed back.

''Good, because I have something to ask you.'' Juvia blinked.

''What?'' Laxus smiled.

''I love you. And almost losing you made me realize that. Now, it is no surprise that in the beginning, I couldn't stand you. I thought you were annoying, loud, and just plain crazy. The way you chased after a man that clearly didn't want you. I thought it was pathetic of you. I thought that you were just some desperate fangirl who couldn't take a hint. But then I took that job with you. And although I was reluctant at first, I'm glad that I went with you. Because I got to know the real you. You were no longer ''crazy water girl.'' No, you were my nakama. You are my nakama. And so much more. You are the girl that I love. In the six months that we have been together, you've changed me. I have never felt this way about anyone. You showed me what I was missing. You made my life complete. So, let me ask you this. Juvia Lockser, will you move in with me?'' Juvia layed in her bed, speechless. Then, with tears in her eyes, she nodded.

''Yes. Juvia will move in with you.'' Laxus grinned. He leaned down and kissed her. Laxus pulled away and climbed into the bed. He wrapped his arms around Juvia's waist and pulled her close. Juvia sighed.

''Juvia can't believe that you asked her to move in. She thought that you were going to propose.''

''Oh, don't worry. I will propose. Just not right now.'' Laxus buried his face in Juvia's hair. Juvia smiled.

''You are my Thunder God.'' she whispered. Laxus smiled.

''And you are my Water Goddess.''

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Done!

Hopefully, the epilogue will be posted shortly.

Thank you all for reviewing this story.

See you guys later!