A/N: Before I proceed, I would like to say sorry and thanks to scarletmage for commenting and letting me know. I'm sorry I almost abandoned this story becoz to be honest, I was having a writers block for a while and then after a while, I really thought no one is reading this story anymore. Sorry about that. I'm far from being a good writer, but I'm working towards it. I still hope I can be better than this. I'll try. But for now, enjoy what I am capable of. :D

Chapter 7

Concentrating her magic inside her body, Juvia liquefied herself, successfully bringing no harm towards Fern's direct attack to her body. Her eyes were running everywhere in the room, trying to catch up. But Fern was a little too fast for her naked eye. In fact, she can barely see him in the room. All she could see was small rocks falling down, cracks appeared everywhere in the guild indicating it would crash anytime soon.

This is bad. Juvia breathed. If she didn't get out of there soon, she might won't return alive at all. But Fern was a little too impossible. Even if Fern's physical attack could not hurt her, she couldn't possibly hurt Fern with his inhumane speed. In other words, she won't lose, but she won't win either.

Juvia sighed, dropping her hands by her side as she hung her head low. Fern was still moving around in high speed when he noticed Juvia's submissive posture.

"What's wrong? Are you giving up?" Fern's voice echoed through the shaky area, small rocks falling down, cracking and crashing. Juvia still cannot see him though.

"Why is Fern-san doing this?" Juvia asked, making sure that Fern heard her in between his moves.

"What do you mean?"

Juvia's eyes were still darting here and there, expecting that his move might slow down but to no avail. "You were just being used by someone else. Why are you letting people use you this way?"

There was a short silence upon the question.

"I'm a puppet. I move by how my master wants."

"But you're being too loyal for that," Juvia countered to nowhere. "You can just leave if you want, they never cared for you. Why would you let yourself being controlled this way?" she paused just so she could calm down a bit. "Could it be... That you... Like—"

"Shut up!" Fern interrupted her. "I'm a puppet! I move like how I am asked to!"

Juvia swallowed the lump in her throat. Sighing, she knew there was no use in talking. There was no way she could change how Fern was thinking in just a few minutes. "Fine," Juvia nodded slowly. "Juvia understands."

"If you do then die."

Juvia closed her eyes for a second, then slowly she lay down on her back, sprawling as if opening all her deadly vitals to the enemy. "Fern-san can kill Juvia. But Fern-san has to promise he won't touch her friends."

Fern was moving at a rapid speed around the room, frowning at Juvia's action. "Are you giving up?"

"There is no need in words. Fern-san won't open up his heart nor mind to what Juvia has to say," Juvia said, still lying there. "She would exchange her life for love."

Fern laughed heartily. "I can't believe someone even believe in love at these days. But if that's what you really wish, I will gladly grant it."

In that moment, Juvia could feel the wind blew across her, perhaps the effect of Fern's fast movements around her. "Say goodbye for your love," she heard Fern's voice. Slowly, she closed her eyes. She couldn't see Fern anyway, so there was no point at it. And then she can feel it. She felt Fern's magic clustering at one point, focused in such an intense concentration before speeding down, aiming towards her heart—he was trying to crush her.

It was a risky bet. Fern was diving so fast, Juvia wasn't even sure if she get the timing. But just as Fern reached her chest, Juvia fisted her right hand, accumulating water under high pressure surrounding her fist. And within that split seconds, she punched her own chest.

It was a risky bet—she wasn't even sure if it would work. But she felt her fist meeting something when she punched herself, and then she saw Fern fell stumbling on the floor—body cracking everywhere. Yeah, she managed to punch both herself and Fern. It was the only way she could hit the guy.

Juvia bit her lips, holding her chest where she had punched. Her chest was throbbing in pain. But she had felt pain worse than this. Her mind pictured her fight with Meredy on Tenrou Island. She chuckled inwardly. Apparently, she always ended up hurting herself. Juvia sucked in some air as she stood, walking nearer towards Fern.

Fern was lying unmoved. Or rather, he couldn't. His body was breaking—literally. "Why did you do that?"

Juvia was breathing heavily, clutching her pained chest. "It was the only way to know where you are. When Juvia can be sure where you will land your attack, Juvia can reach you."

Fern chuckled weakly. "You... Know my master, don't you?"

Juvia bit her lips at that.

"Would you please watch over her? Replacing me..." Fern said slowly.

Juvia hesitated for a while. Her breathing had slowed down steadily. Then after a few minutes, Fern's body exploded. Juvia looked up to the falling stones. The guild will fall in no time. She sighed. "Fern-san, you are still a human at heart. How you feel towards her, Juvia understands that so much. Please rest in peace," she bowed a bit to pay her respect before liquefied her whole body, mixing with the sea water that starting seeping in.

And then the guild crumbled down.

Letting Natsu's body lay against a nearby tree, Wendy continued to extract the poison from his body. His lips were bluish when they came out, and even now the color hadn't improved much. But his vitals were stabilized. The remaining would be the poison content inside his body.

Erza was sitting by the sea, looking up the sky, trying to sooth the pain inside her. Her eyes scrunched shut, grimacing at the throb building inside her head. It wasn't as bad, she could wait until Natsu is better.

"Are you okay?" Jellal asked softly.

Erza nodded, opening her eyes to greet the blue haired guy. "I probably just got some scratch from the poison needle, so it wasn't that bad."

"Yeah, you look exhausted though," Jellal commented.

Erza chuckled softly, part of her felt relieved that Jellal was right next to her. "Mainly because I worked off myself more than I should."

Jellal raised a brow. "Why did you?"

Erza's smile died at that. Why did she push her limits? Lately her emotion was unstable. Images of Gray and Jellal had been alternatingly haunted her dreams, her thoughts – day and night. She was a mess. Why Gray was there, she didn't even know. She had always thought of him as her little brother like Natsu. Hell, she was sure that was all he was. But after that drunken night, it was almost impossible to ignore the tension between them.

Erza sighed. Gray was right. They need to talk about this sooner or later. Especially if they intend to stay in their current team.

"Juvia is here!" Meredy suddenly exclaimed, pointing a finger towards the sea. A blob of blue came drifting towards them and they noticed Juvia was unconscious. Meredy quickly strode her way past the waves, reaching the blue haired girl and hold Juvia in her arms. There were a few visible cuts on Juvia's body, but none very severe as Meredy could see. "Juvia! Are you okay?"

The feeling of water had slowly faded from her sense, cutting the flow of her magic from her solid form as Juvia slowly opened her eyes. Her lashes flattered a bit at the sight of the pinkish haired girl. "Meredy."

"Juvia!" Erza stood, ready to rush to her guildmate's side. But just when she rose from her spot, she felt the headache again, and this time the world was spinning enough to her that her sight had blurred once again. She fell to her knees.

"Erza!" she felt all eyes on her.

Gray wanted to quickly support her from falling down, but before he can even step closer, Jellal was already reaching out to Erza. Gray felt his breath hitched, holding back his intention as he let the two on their own. Erza would probably prefer Jellal's help anyway. He wouldn't interfere that.

Wendy quickly approached Erza, leaving Natsu still weak on the ground, but he already gained consciousness at least. "Erza, are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, just a little headache," Erza was holding onto Jellal's arm. "Is Natsu okay?"

Wendy nodded. "He's out of his critical phase. Let me check on you a bit."

Jellal carefully brought Erza to the nearest tree, letting her rest herself against it as Wendy started to cast her magic. The blue magic circle forming on Wendy's palm, soothing Erza's aching head. But it didn't last too long. Wendy was carefully examining her, and then out of the sudden her eyes widened, and her magic died in an instant. It was too fast that even Erza hardly register how Wendy's face turned into one of shock, and with eyes widened her hand was clasping her own mouth. She was staring at Erza in horror, as if she had just witnessed something obnoxious. Erza had to frown at her reaction.

"Wendy?"

Wendy's hands trembled a bit, her expression changed from horror to confusion. Erza almost couldn't hold the curiosity building inside her.

"Wendy, what's wrong?" Erza repeated her question.

"You were not poisoned, Erza-san," Wendy finally said.

Erza frowned. "I wasn't? Then what the hell happened to me?"

All eyes fixed on Wendy's being, awaiting her answer.

"You're pregnant."

There were various expression on her teammates' faces. Erza's was a mix blend of horror, disappointment and disbelief. "You're kidding me."

Meredy, oblivious to the situation, slapped Jellal's shoulder playfully. "My, my, you didn't tell me you already did it with Erza!"

Jellal frowned at his pink haired nakama. "We didn't."

Silence.

"You didn't?" Meredy froze awkwardly.

Jellal looked down to Erza, who was sitting limply as if someone sucked out her life. "The father was someone else."

Lucy stared at Erza.

"Who?" Meredy asked.

"No," Erza shook her head weakly. "Wendy, there must be a mistake!"

Gray almost stumbled away from the scene. He almost couldn't believe it. Didn't they wear protection that night? Just how many times did they get down to it? Gray couldn't answer the questions himself. They were too drunk to even remember through the hazy memory. Gray watched how Erza looking so exasperated trying to convince Wendy it was wrong.

Too bad the problem remains.

Mirajane was carrying a tray with two mugs of alcohol as she walked towards Macao and Wakaba, serving their order. The two folks were chatting happily, playfully teasing Mirajane as she served them as usual, just to be turned down by the beauty. The day was going on as usual in Fairy Tail.

It was in the middle of the noisy ruckus that two Fairy Tail teams came back from their mission. Gajeel and Lily was the one who entered first, followed by Wendy and Lucy who was supporting Natsu. Mirajane greeted a welcome back for them with the kindest smile, and Lucy reciprocated. Happy and Carla were flying in, and that was when Mirajane noticed Erza walking in, eyes closed, and her aura was one of depression, if Mirajane may say. She didn't remember Erza looking like that for the longest time.

"Is Natsu okay?" Mirajane asked worriedly, wondering if the injury was probably more severe than they thought.

"He had passed the critical state, he just need a little more care," Wendy reported timidly.

Mirajane nodded. "Bring him to the infirmary then. Kinana is there now."

Wendy and Lucy nodded as they helped Natsu up to the infirmary room. When they are out of sight, Mirajane turned back to Erza who was now seated on the bar stool.

"Where's Gray and Juvia?" Mirajane inquired.

Erza frowned, looking back to the guild door. "They weren't here? I was positive they were right behind us."

Mirajane grinned naughtily. "Don't tell me, are they out for a date?" she teased.

To her surprise, Erza just turned back with a huff. "Hell if I know. It's none of my business anyway."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," Erza answered promptly. "I have a headache, give me a glass of beer," and then Erza paused, as if she remembered something. "No, actually, don't give me a beer, just give me a strawberry milkshake."

Mirajane raised a brow. "Strawberry milkshake? That's rare."

Erza grunted. "I can't drink with this headache!"

Mirajane sighed. "You're such in a bad mood. That's rare."

Erza almost snapped at that, but she silently struggled to calm down. Was this what all the shitty hormones Bisca was talking about? Erza feel like tearing everything to pieces. As if her troubles weren't big enough, why the hell does this baby has to exist? And hell, she can abort the pregnancy all she wanted, but Jellal already knew. What was the point to it anymore?

"Gray-sama?" Juvia called as she followed him towards his house. "Aren't we supposed to go back to the guild after the mission?"

Gray halted his steps, turning idly towards the water mage as he forced a smile. "Yeah, you should go ahead. I don't feel like it."

Juvia gave a small frown. "Is something wrong—?" her breath hitched, clutching her chest where it still ached.

Gray's hand shot up to hold her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Juvia is fine," she quickly curved her lips into a huge smile, dismissing the pain throbbing in her chest.

"You really should go back to the guild and let Wendy check you."

"What was it that disturbed Gray-sama's thought? Gray-sama had been out of it since we head back to Fairy Tail," Juvia voiced her worry.

"I'm fine. Just go and get your treatment. I'm heading back just to clear my head," Gray reassured her.

There was a short pause from Juvia before she hesitantly nodded, slowly stepping away from him then walked away. Gray finally sighed, running his hand over his messy raven hair. He wasn't sure what to think, he wasn't even sure how to act, what to do. He felt as if he reached a dead end.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he turned heading back to his house. He needed some sleep for this time. Tomorrow, he will deal with this.

Oh yeah, he needed to discuss this with Erza tomorrow too. They really have a lot to talk about.

A/N: I want to skip Juvia's fight but the ending of the chapter doesn't seem to fit so I decided to make the chapter longer by including her fight. OTL. Well, I would update this as usual from now, so yeah. I want to say thank you for still reading my piece. I'm actually not too confident at writing any of my three stories—not satisfied with my skills but whatever. And in all honesty, I'm not satisfied with this chapter. This is why I'm having writers block in this chappie. Anyway, I'll try to make it better for the next chapter.

Thank you so much for those who reviewed and encouraged me. It really motivated me. Thanks again all; bella-romeo, Deadmask, TheShipWeirdo, Lolly Tenkawa and scarletmage.