AN: This chapter is dedicated to all the girls from ONS, especially to Esthellar, that even though I didn't pick at the 'secret friend,' I chose to pick. For you, Jam. S2
WARNING: This is fluffy. Too. Much. Fluff!
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What to Expect When You're Expecting
Chapter Fourteen – Under the Mistletoe
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"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts." – Unknown Author
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"Juvia!" The pink haired girl practically threw herself onto the blunette while the older woman laughed and hugged the adolescent. Juvia was still in Gray's old bedroom while her boyfriend took a shower so they could go eat dinner. The future mom had just taken her own shower and finished putting a pink summer dress when the pinkette barged into the room with such happiness.
"Hey, Meredy." Juvia said softly while caressed the pink hair with softness; she had always liked Meredy and now all her 'mommy hormones' were kicking in and she felt even more love for the girl.
"You look so pretty." Meredy gave a step back as she stared at the other woman's stomach. "Oh… you are showing…"
"Yes." The blunette put a hand over her belly. "Gray-sama said that you already claimed to be an aunt."
"I did." Meredy giggled. "I was so happy when he told us that you two were dating and having a baby! Now you are officially part of the family."
"Juvia hopes so." Juvia giggled and hugged Meredy again. It had been what? Four months since the last time they saw each other? Of course they still had their very long phone calls, but face to face, the skin contact was even better.
The younger girl and Juvia had become very close friends for the past two years and even though they lived in different cities, they still kept being friends. Not even the age difference ruined their relationship, Meredy liked to go for Juvia for advice as much she did for her own mother. Maybe she wasn't going to be a bad parent after all…
"What do you hope so?" Gray asked when entered his old bedroom, only with a towel around his waist. Once he noticed the pink haired girl, the man smiled brightly. "Hey, Meredy. Just arrived?"
"Yeah. Mom is downstairs. I came up to meet my nephew or niece." Her green eyes were immediately on Juvia's stomach, and so were her hands. She kneeled in front of Juvia so she could be at the same level as the swollen belly. "Isn't it right, Bean?"
"So you know its nickname?" Juvia laughed and even Gray smirked with the scene in front of him.
"Yeap. And I loved it." Meredy, then, gave a kiss on Juvia's covered stomach. After, she whispered. "I am anxious to meet you." The young woman, then, got up and straightened herself. "Well, I'll leave so you can get dressed, Gray. See you downstairs, Juvia." The girl waved as she left the room; Juvia stood there, without moving, just staring at the closed door.
Noticing the look on his girlfriend's face and was by her side in a second. "What is it?"
"She… she looks so happy of meeting Bean." Her deep blue eyes started to shine with tears. "Your mother, Meredy, our friends… Everyone is being so nice."
Gray sighed in relief that Juvia was fine, just getting emotional. The man put his arms around her shoulders. "That's what families do."
"It feels good, you know? To have a family." The blunette hugged Gray's waist and rested her head on his chest. "It's a first for Juvia."
"Well, family is forever and since this one is your first, it will be your only one." He kissed the top of her head. "Now let me get dressed. As much as I enjoy walk around naked, my mom doesn't like it when I do that during family dinners." Juvia laughed and let him go, while dried a few tears. Seeing that, Gray grabbed softly her chin and made her look at him, while with the back of the other hand, he dried a falling tear. "I mean it, okay?"
"Okay." She offered him a smile and tip toed to press a kiss on his lips.
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"Oh, sorry. Was Juvia staring?" The blunette blushed. She and Ur were putting the plates on the table while Ultear, Meredy and Gray went to the kitchen to get the dinner. Lyon had called a few minutes earlier, saying that he was almost there and since Juvia was being stubborn about helping out, she was assigned to help Ur with arranging the table.
What the pregnant woman was staring at was Ur's prosthetic leg. She could see it clearly since the older woman was wearing a knee length skirt. Ur had seen Juvia's eyes wander to the leg and said nothing, but the blue haired girl noticed that Ur caught her staring.
"Yes." Ur giggled. "Don't worry. It happens a lot."
"Was it difficult to adapt to it?" Juvia asked and immediately covered her mouth in horror. "Sorry. That was rude of me. Juvia is so sorry."
"Calm down, kid." The older woman laughed as she finished putting the last plate on the table. "You can be curious; I won't be offended, and if you ask something I don't want to answer, I won't. Chill." Juvia nodded and they were both in silence for a moment. "A bit."
Juvia looked up with eyebrows together in question, so Ur clarified. "The leg. It was a little difficult to adapt, but I'd do it all over again." Narrowing her eyes a bit, she asked: "Did Gray ever tell you how I lost my leg?"
"No." Juvia shook her head and was Ur's turn to be surprised: very few selected people knew exactly how she lost her leg and she was sure that by now her son would already told her the mother of his child! "Juvia knows the story from Erza-san, though."
"Well, the price I paid, the leg I lost... It's nothing compared to his life, free of revenge." The older woman said. "I'd give anything for my children, Juvia. I love them this much." She smiled and pointed to the girl's stomach. "You'll understand in no time."
The blunette was nodding in understanding when the front door opened and a known voice said: "I am home!"
Ur's face lit up, Juvia noticed. The dark haired woman loved her children so much that Juvia could feel how much eradiated from her. The pregnant girl hoped that she would act like that once Bean was born. She had felt it move a few times and when did, Juvia never felt better in her life. Inside her, there was a baby that her and Gray made, a human being that would depend on her and she would forever be connected to, no matter what.
"Hey, kiddo!" Ur said happily as soon as Lyon stepped inside the dining room. Juvia turned to see him and he hesitated a little once he saw her. The man was still as handsome as he always was. His narrow eyes were still the perfect size for his nice face. His hair was still as stylish as always. Lyon was a little taller than Gray, but besides that, they had pretty much the same physical build. Which, automatically, made him a very, very hot man.
"Hey, Mom." Lyon kissed his mother's cheek and then turned to Juvia with a smile. "Juvia-chan. You look beautiful as always."
Assuming he was being polite, Juvia smiled back. "Thank you, Lyon-san. Nice to see you again."
It surprised the pregnant girl when he let the bags he was holding fall to the ground and was immediately on his knees, holding her hand. "Oh, Juvia-chan! You make my heart flutter when you say things like that." The blunette started to blush, while Ur looked amused. "I say that you and I go hit the road. You, me and the baby. If it has dark hair like that idiot's, we can always dye it blue or white."
"Ly-Ly-Lyon-san!" Juvia tried to pull him up from the floor, embarrassed that her mother-in-law (sort of) was seeing the whole thing. "You… get up, please." He did as he was told and put his arms around her. "Lyon-san!"
"You look absolutely stunning, Juvia." He didn't put a hand over her stomach, but looked to it. "Being pregnant suits you. I am looking forward for you to have our babies…"
"LYON!" The scream startled Juvia, who jumped a little. Gray had arrived with a tray with ribs on it. Juvia's stomach growled with the sight of it. It looked so delicious! But the thought was discarded as soon as it arrived on her mind because Gray put the tray on the table and walked closer to the… couple. "For god's sake, man! Hands off! And no delusions about you getting her pregnant!" Gray removed Lyon's hand away from his girlfriend and putting himself between them.
Ultear and Meredy arrived with the rest of the trays of food and couldn't help but snicker at Gray. It was weirdly good to see the guy showing jealousy.
"I told you that I am not giving up on her." Lyon shrugged and turned to the girls who had walked in. Hey, Ultear. Meredy."
Ur laughed at Gray's expression and Juvia's redness. "Let's sit down and eat. Lyon, go wash your hands. We will want to remember this dinner."
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"So, how's Gray in bed, Juvia?" Ur smiled and as the words came out of her mouth, Gray –who was taking a sip of his wine– started coughing, while Lyon dropped his fork on the table.
"Mother!" The white haired man exclaimed in surprise, while Gray was getting redder and redder while coughed. Ultear was hiding a smirk, while Meredy laughed hard. "No one wants to know that!"
"Excuse me?" Juvia asked, also surprised with the question.
"Gray. How's he? Quick on the trigger? Calm? Rough? Sentimental?" Ur was cutting her food as if they were talking about the weather. Juvia's mouth was opening and closing like a fish's. "He's soft inside, but put up the tough act, so I have to guess. Which one is he?"
"Don't ask her that!" Gray said between gasps of hair and a few coughs.
"Well, to tell the truth he's..." Juvia started to say, but got cut off.
"DON'T ANSWER HER!" Gray got up. "That's it, we're leaving."
"Mom's just messing with you, Gray." Ultear rolled her eyes. "Trust me, she does not want to know about your sex life."
"It doesn't matter! I introduce her to Juvia two hours ago and she asks about… it?" The dark haired man's cheeks were rosy and hot, he was sure.
"Well, you knocked her up, your sex life is now very relevant for me, kid. I am just meeting my daughter-in-law."
"Mother, they're not married, so the '-in-law' part is…" Lyon said, making his point clear that he didn't give up Juvia yet.
"It doesn't matter, boy." Ur rolled her eyes. "She's going to have my grandchild, so she's family now. Right, Juvia?"
"I guess so, Ma'am."
"Call me Ma'am once again and I'll put you over my knees and spank you, girl." She narrowed her eyes and Juvia nodded in agreement and fear. "Call me Mother. Or Ur."
"Thank you, Ma… Ur-san." Juvia smiled.
"Good enough. Now, when exactly this baby due? I need to make myself perfectly clear that I'm not babysitting. You two made the kid, you two will handle it. I may hug it once or twice."
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Ultear offered to go get the dessert for the others and Juvia promptly offered assistance. She wanted to help out as much as she could, but no one seemed to let her. Ultear saw no harm in let the girl follow her to get the ice-cream.
"It was such good news to hear about the baby. It cheered everyone up. Especially my mom and Meredy. They are pretty excited." Ultear said as she prepared the cups for the ice-cream.
"Juvia is glad." The blunette said.
"Do you love him that much?" Ur asked, curious. "Gray, that is. Since when I met you I've been meaning to ask you that."
"Yes." Juvia didn't hesitate. "I've loved him since the day we met."
"Sorry, I don't believe in love at first sight." Ultear shrugged and Juvia giggled.
"Juvia didn't either; until she met him." She said. "I can't say how much he changed Juvia's life for the better. He is Juvia's dream; he introduced me to my friends, he… is Juvia's sun and I am glad to orbit around him."
Ultear stared at the pregnant girl, and saw the truth in her eyes. She already knew, but it was almost suffocating with the love she could see in the deep blue eyes of the younger woman. Juvia Lockser was so much in love with her younger brother, Gray Fullbuster, that Ultear got jealous of how much.
"You are lucky, then."
"Juvia is." The blunette nodded.
"Could you grab the ice-cream?"
"Sure." Juvia said as she opened the refrigerator to get it.
Neither girl realized that a certain short-haired brunette was listening to them. Ur had gone after the girls, because she realized that Ultear alone couldn't get the cups alone when she heard the conversation. Curious about the feelings of the blue-haired girls, she stayed hidden until it was over.
She was proud of her son to have found a girl that loved him that much. Or maybe she was the one who found him. It didn't matter as long as they found each other.
"Need any help?" Ur stepped inside the kitchen to help the girls.
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While Juvia was talking to Meredy and Ultear about some random thing, Gray excused himself and found his mother at the balcony, looking up to the clear sky. The moon was shining like silver that night, and it looked beautiful.
"The baby will be born around February or so, right? Maybe will snow, just like when I had my kids." Ur said and Gray was surprised that she heard him coming. But again, Ur always was a step ahead of her children. "I found Lyon and you during a snow day." She said without turning. "Different snow days, of course, but snow days nevertheless."
"I remember." Gray walked and stood next to her.
"I lost my leg in a snow day too."
"I also remember that." He looked down to his feet in shame about that.
"You were such a brat." She chuckled. "Couldn't listen to a word I said. You just had to go out there and face that thug even after I told you a thousand times that you couldn't." Gray stared down to his cup. "I lost my leg and I bet that you still carry that weight on your shoulders up until this day, right?"
"Pretty hard to get over the fact that you made your mother lose her leg." He sighed and Ur nodded.
"Sure, sure." The woman looked to the sky. "Me, on the other hand would gladly chop every limb I have for any of my kids, you know."
"You already gave me the speech so many times, Mother." Gray sighed again. "That I was a kid, I thought I was invincible, and how you wanted to seal my darkness. I know all that."
Ur laughed softly. "But you didn't listen, did you? You still blamed yourself and you still do every time you see my prosthetic leg the guilt resurges a tiny bit. That I can't take away. And as for your darkness… You let go a lot of your hate that night. Not all, but most of it."
"Yeah." He scratched his head.
"Then you found that club of yours, the guild. You smiled more." Ur changed her gaze towards her son. "You opened your heart for them. Not quite as much as you could, since it's in your nature to be more reserved. Those friends of yours, I knew from the moment I met them that you were in good hands. They helped sealing more of your darkness."
A cold winter's breezed pass and Ur had to stop talking for a bit.
"And that girl inside, Juvia. You sealed her darkness, she said so herself." Gray looked up and met her gaze. "And in return, she helped bring the missing warmth in your life. Now, with that baby, you'll finally understand what it means to love someone better than your life."
They stood in silence for some time.
"So, bottom line: did you like her?"
"She made you love, Lyon to finally like someone, stopped Meredy from becoming a bad person for the rest of her life and pretty much saved my Ultear's life with the things she said to Meredy when she decided to kill herself in order to make up for Meredy's past. Hell yeah I liked her. That girl pretty much saved my whole family." Ur smiled. "I might adopt her and kick your sorry ass out of the house."
"I don't live here anymore, old woman." Gray rolled his eyes and received a smack on the back of his head.
"Shut up and get inside. There's a mistletoe beside the stairwell, you know." Ur said cheekily.
"Mistletoe? It's not Christmas for another four months. Besides, she's pregnant, it's not like I need one of those." Gray rolled his eyes.
"Sure you don't. I'm just telling you that because Lyon's the one who put it there. I saw him when I was getting the ice cream. He's been trying to get Juvia underneath it during the whole evening." Ur shrugged and opened the door to return to her house.
"That son of a bitch!" Gray stormed inside the house, followed by a giggling Ur. "Lyon! Don't you dare bring Juvia to... Juvia, step away from him!"
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AN: Oh, man! I love Lyon so much! Too bad that Juvia is Gray's.
Thanks to: Rochi-Chan, cybercorpsesnake, Please make more, Cookie-chan91, Asbe, meigore, Seyrin, AliceCullen3, Heartgold, Sarapyon, Chibi Waru-Chan, otaku03, Theejay-sama, Elibe, YamixTeaLover, Yukistar, MrsGooglyBear, SapphireRose578, TAEMiNATOR18, animegirl115, Gray23Dragon, BrigitteoO, Duchess K, .92, Maki-Zushi, superduperizee, Ratiqu, Professor Nebilim, Sandyx5, Tamniin, DarkhopeandMedaka-chan for the lovely reviews! You are the best!
I hope everyone stayed in character! :) Tell me what you think!
05/19/2013 ~ BonneyQ