Author's Note:

I AM SO SORRY EVERYONE! I know, I disappeared for months and some of you may think I was going to discontinue this story but be rest assured, the thought of discontinuing never crossed my mind. I was in a writing slump after the last chapter because I started to have two full time jobs and the next thing I knew, it was NaNoWriMo (i won by the way, yey me!).

This is a shorter chapter (though not by much) but it is my first time writing since NaNo so I ask for your mercy as it is not polished (not that my other chapters were grammatically perfect either. Yes, I need an editor) . I hope you guys like it. I know a lot of you have been dying for a Gruvia moment that is why I wanted to thank you all for being so patient with me by posting this Gruvia heavy chapter.

When I first started this story I didn't expect as much views and follows as I have received so I never truly plotted but now I have a plot for it so I will be updating a new chapter every Sunday (promise!). I was scared that I was going to go all over the place and this contributed to me falling in a writing slump but now that I have a direction, I am much more confident.

Again, I'm truly sorry for the wait and thank you all for your patience and I hope you enjoy this new chapter and all the remaining chapters to come.

Let me know what think in the reviews! :D

- Sarsi Athena

When Keres disappeared, the Fairy Tail mages began to relax and a lot of questions started to swirl inside everyone's heads. The first one to express this confusion was Natsu.

"I don't think this is the time to be asking questions, but did Grant just turn into water?" Natsu asked Gray, who didn't look surprised at all.

Gray decided that it was best for everyone to head back. Grant was a bit injured and shakened by what has happened. Loke carried Luna. As they walked back, Loke noticed silent tears from Luna, which prompted him to comfort the young mage.

"Are you crying because Grant hesitated attacking Keres earlier?" Loke asked while making sure no one else heard him.

Unable to speak, Luna only nodded. She knew it was stupid to cry over something like that. She truly believed that Keres wasn't a concern for her anymore. Even though she believed that Grant loved Keres, it comforted her that Keres was gone and could never truly take Grant away from her. This of course changed as she saw Keres again. Luna was consumed by fear and heartbreak. She also felt guilty for wishing Keres to be attacked.

While Loke and Luna stayed at the back of the pack, Grant walked silently with Gray beside him in the front. Gray very much wanted to ask his questions now and was secretly glad that he hit Grant more than he wanted as now he had even more questions for his son. However, he decided to hold off with the questions until they get settled down in the guild especially since Grant wore an angry look in his face. If Grant was anything like him, which he was, it was best to let him be.

Grant on the other hand was extremely disturbed. Firstly, he wanted to punch himself for hesitating, secondly he wanted to kill Andre for causing all of these. He also knew that he will have to explain his water magic soon but decided not to bring it up until someone else does.

Lucy walked while deep in thought, which caused Natsu to become curious.

"Lucy, what are you thinking?" Natsu tried to inquire.

Lucy looked at her friend, hesitated at first, but decided to open up upon realizing she really can't figure it out.

"Natsu, Loke told me earlier to look after my 'daughter.'" Lucy started to explain. "Am I Luna's mother then?" At this, Happy decided to fly to where Loke and Luna were, as he feared he'd end up saying something he doesn't mean to say.

"Hmm, I guess that's what it basically means." Natsu told Lucy which made the blonde mage panic.

"So my future self would be very worried right now, no?"

"And I'm sure future Natsu would be comforting you." Natsu said surely. To this, Lucy smiled.

The two walked in silence afterwards but something was troubling Natsu very much. He didn't know why but he was very curious who Luna's father was. For some reason he wished Luna was his, but he quickly dropped the thought just as fast as it occurred.

When they finally reached Fairy Tail, an unusual sight greeted them. Nobody was injured but everyone looked exhausted.

"What happened here?" Natsu asked, already knowing that the guild was probably attacked.

Before anyone could reply, the guild door opened and Jer came running out followed by Ren, Lexy, and a very worried Juvia.

Juvia

"Thank you, Master. I will gladly follow your instructions and get stronger." Juvia told Makarov enthusiastically as she made her way downstairs from where the S-Class mages stayed. As she reached the bottom, the guild's door flung open and 3 unrecognizable individuals walked in.

"We cannot talk out there," a young man said, who Juvia believed would be the acting leader of the group. "Please explain to us what you saw and where our friends are?"

Cana spoke and Juvia walked closer as she had an unnerving feeling that this conversation has something to do with Grant and Luna. After Cana explained everything, Lexy suggested that they leave right away. Juvia volunteered to help. She made a promise to protect Gray's son and she wasn't going to break it now. The group ran off, expecting to fight off more of Keres' minions but instead they came face-to-face with the very people they were searching for.

Jer came to a halt as he reached his rival, it was not missed by him that Grant looked extremely troubled just before he switched his expression to a surprised one.

"What are you guys doing here?" Grant asked, genuinely curious. Gray raised an eyebrow and realized that the people in front of them are the future generation…and Juvia. He smiled at the water mage when he caught her attention. He didn't need to ask Grant who his mother was; the fact that he can use water was enough proof that Juvia was his future wife. Sure, Juvia wasn't the only water mage in Earthland but Gray was certain he wouldn't want any other water mage, or any mage for that matter, to spend the rest of his life with. He quickly chastised himself after the thought.

"Well, as you may already know, this little mission you and Luna are in is turning out to be a war. So Master thought that we should assist you." Lexy answered Grant while Jer tried to take in the scene in front of him: A quietly sobbing Luna being carried by Loke, too far a distance from Grant than usual and Grant looking extremely troubled. Whatever happened, it wasn't good. Jer looked sternly at Grant and Grant knew that he would have to explain to his elder what happened. Jer let it go for now and decided to lighten up the mood.

"Basically, what Lexy here is saying is that Master thought I can do a better job than you" Jer provoked, hoping the rival familiarity will at least cheer up his friend for a few moments. Grant smirked a little before responding to the requip mage.

"What did you say, costume changer?"

"Did you become deaf all of a sudden, Frosty?" Jer continued and the two were soon at each other's throats. Lexy tried to stop them but Ren only laughed and suggested to leave them alone, he hasn't seen this sight since Grant and Luna went on this mission after all. The rest of the guild laughed as well and compared the duo to Gray and Natsu.

Lucy on the other hand approached Loke and Luna and asked if she could speak to them. Luna was uncertain but Loke agreed to his young master's request. Gray also asked Juvia for a moment, much to the blue-haired mage's surprise.

Lucy, Loke, and Luna walked to where the famous sakura tree stood and decided that it was a quiet enough place to have a conversation.

"Uhm, so Loke, what are you doing here exactly? You're from the future, aren't you?" Lucy asked not quite certain if that was the perfect opening question to ask.

"You're correct. The reason why I'm here is because Luna's mother asked me to find a way to get to her to protect her." Loke answered. He intentionally said "mother" instead of "Lucy" to get the celestial wizard to confirm who the mother was instead of it coming directly from him.

"And by mother, you mean me?" Lucy continued. She already knew the answer but she needed it to be said out loud. She didn't even give Loke a chance to finish nodding before she pulled Luna in a tight hug. Learning this fact made her want to protect Luna even more. She was also very curious who her father was but she figured it wasn't the time to ask the question.

Natsu walked in behind them and caught Luna's attention. He smiled widely at the girl and assured her that he will protect her with everything's he's got. Just like Juvia to Grant, he very badly wanted to protect Lucy's daughter.

"But," Natsu started after everyone has settled down "please explain to us what is happening."

Luna sighed before speaking. "I guess, you have the right to know after Fairy Tail got attacked like that. I believe everyone in Fairy Tail does. If you don't mind gathering the guild together, I think it's time to reveal the truth. I don't know if this is something Grant would want me to do but I my feelings tell me this is the right thing to do."

Natsu smiled at Luna and told her that everything will be fine and told Happy to help him search for everyone to notify them of tonight's revealing.

In the meantime, Gray and Juvia reached Gray's home. Gray didn't know how to bring it up or if he even should at all, but he badly wanted Juvia to know who Grant's mother was. He may have only met Grant recently but realizing the danger his son was in was too much to bear for the ice mage alone and he desperately needed support, and Juvia was the best support he could have in this situation.

"Juvia is worried and confused." Juvia started speaking after entering Gray's house. Under normal circumstances, she would have melted at the thought of being in Gray's house alone with him.

"Juvia, I'm going to tell you something but please stay calm." Gray said, already knowing that Juvia will definitely go to her own fan girl world once he finishes.

Juvia nodded, quite hesitantly but waited for her Gray-sama to speak.

"Earlier, I was with Grant when we were attacked. He did something no normal ice mage could do and I think it's something you should know."

"What did he do and why is this information particularly important to Juvia?" Juvia inquired.

Gray stared at the mage in front of him, he wanted to simply say it but he wanted to know, he wanted to see just how similar the mother and son were; so instead he attacked Juvia with his ice make magic. Luckily, she was able to identify the frost starting in Gray's hands and was able to react on time and turn her body into water, though she was very surprised by the turn of events. Instead of stepping back, Juvia decided to let her watery body flow in front of Gray and turn back to her normal form and demanded answers from her love.

"What is Gray-sama doing? Why did he try to hurt Juvia?" Juvia asked desperately.

"I did exactly as the enemy was doing earlier… right before our son did the same thing as you just now." Gray said simply. In his head, he pictured himself sounding indifferent but it was not how it turned out when he actually let the words flow out his mouth. His voice shook right before he said "our" and instead of saying it as if in passing, hoping that Juvia wouldn't catch it, hoping that it would be a sign not to tell her anymore, the shake in his voice only served as a highlighter for the word "our." He knew she caught the word when the water mage's eyes widened in shock.

"OUR son?" Juvia asked a bit dumbfounded.

"Grant turned into water and judging by how fast he used it and how bad he was in ice magic against me, I believe that water is his main forte but he tried to hide that power away after he had no choice to show off his ice magic when we first met him. But of course, this was never confirmed by him, it's just my theory."

"Then how is Gray-sama sure that Grant is Juvia's?" Juvia asked, kind of disappointed that it wasn't a for sure thing.

"Because I don't see myself with anyone else." Gray replied shyly which earned a blush from Juvia.

"Oh" was all Juvia could reply. She had played this scene in her head way too often than normal but she never truly believed that she would hear something like this from Gray in real life. "Juvia thought…" Juvia paused, not sure if she should continue her statement.

If I don't say this now, I might not have a chance to ever say it again.

"You thought what?"

If she doesn't continue, I will never get a chance to say it. Gray knew what Juvia was going to say and it was his ticket to confessing to her. Gray knew that the future events will change their lives and this may be the only chance he'll ever have in being honest with her.

"Juvia thought that Gray-sama hated her because Juvia always annoys Gray-sama and always follows him even though he wants to be alone so why would Gray-sama not see himself with anyone else?"

Okay Gray, time to speak. Gray took a deep breath and tried to speak but Juvia kept rambling on.

"We don't ever go on missions together and Gray-sama never wants to go on one with Juvia so Juvia thought that Gray-sama hated-"

Her words were cut short by Gray's lips. They were nothing like she had imagined. She had imagined them to be cold and rough given the fact that he was an ice mage who didn't own a lip balm. Instead, they were soft and warm, much like his body that was now touching hers. She realized that he became shirtless sometime between their conversation. Gray hugged her tighter and his kiss became more desperate. It suddenly started to sync in to Juvia that Gray was indeed kissing her. Gray didn't even have to speak anymore. Juvia knew now. Juvia knew that Gray loved her and that he has loved her all along. Juvia returned his kiss with the same intensity and desperation as his. She knew she loved Gray because it was Gray who let her see the sun for the first time but she never knew how desperate she was for his love until this very moment. It both amazed and scared her that she could love someone this much. As if reading her mind, Gray no longer needed to hear her words either because Gray knew. Gray knew that Juvia was going to stay by his side forever. However, Gray wanted to finish the task he laid out to himself so he slowly ended the kiss but his forehead remained on hers. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his beating heart.

"I love you." Gray whispered softly as if it was an important secret his life depended on.

He slowly opened his eyes and simply stared at Juvia whilst trying to keep her close to him. Silent tears started to form in Juvia's eyes, which caused a panic from Gray but it quickly dissolved when Juvia smiled.

"Juvia knows now, Gray-sama." Juvia hugged Gray and rested her head on his chest as they stood there in silence. For one, she didn't want this moment to end yet and wanted to memorize every detail of it. Two, she wanted to spare their already red faces from more embarrassment.

Though Gray was first concerned about Juvia's possible fan-girl reaction, he was not at all surprised that the confession ended calmly. He had seen a serious Juvia when he first met her in their battle and he had also seen the charming, happy Juvia who joined Fairy Tail. Because of this, he had always known that there was more to Juvia than meets the eye – that underneath her obsessive crushing was a genuine care and love for him and underneath his indifference was the same genuine care and love for her. Their relationship had always been deeper than anyone, even them themselves, could ever imagine. Grant's existence was the only proof they need.

They stayed silent, savoring the moment that they were in until reality started to creep back in their lives.

"Juvia, we need to help Grant." There was so much information that Gray needed to take in today but if there is one thing he surely knew, it was that he needed to support Grant and help out in the so called war that is being laid out in front of them.

As Juvia nodded, a knock on the front door was heard. Gray opened the door to reveal a breathless Happy. "Oh good, you're together, I don't have to look for Juvia after this." Happy paused for a moment to get himself composed, he straightened himself up and said, "Have dinner at the guild hall tonight. Luna will reveal everything that's going on."

Gray and Juvia nodded but Happy was soon dashing off to the other members of Fairy Tail to notify them.

Meanwhile, Grant was walking by the river when his rival, Jer, stopped him.

"What happened?" Jer inquired seriously, not bothering with any greeting.

"Keres is back." Grant replied just as seriously.