AN: Today this fanfic completes one year! I would like to thank you all for the support and love. This wouldn't have been possible without you.

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What to Expect When You're Expecting

Chapter Twenty – I Feel the Same Way as You

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"'Cause every time I see your face my heart leaps and I melt inside

And every time you talk to me I have a hard time seeing past those eyes

And all I want is for you to say: 'Darling, I feel the same way as you.'"

Poema― Feel the same way

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For a week both Juvia and Aurora stayed at the hospital, mostly for observation, and Gray would barely leave their side (he informed his boss about the situation and the man was glad to give him some time off). His mother had to throw him out so he could go home to take a shower and rest for a couple of hours, but Gray didn't complain of being at the hospital all the time; he thought it was fascinating the way his daughter did everything, it didn't matter how small and insignificant for others, so it didn't matter where he was. And it was a bonus that Juvia was being well taken care of after the accident and then surgery.

Their friends took turns on visiting – after all: a hospital bedroom was too small to fit them all – and even though he got jealous of everyone holding his daughter, he was happy.

Speaking of jealous, the day his 'siblings' arrived to meet Aurora, Ultear was quick about picking the baby up and gladly passing to her daughter and Meredy cooed over her cousin over and over again. Who got under Gray's skin was Lyon, who arrived after Ultear left the hospital.

"She is beautiful, Juvia." Lyon said with sincerity while staring the little girl in the blunette's arms.

"Thank you, Lyon-san." She said with a small smile.

"What's her name?" He asked after a moment of staring the new addition to the family in wonder.

"Aurora." Juvia informed while Gray stood on the other side of the room, glaring at the while haired man. "Rory for short."

"I see." Lyon smiled and then leered over the new mother. "The offer still stands, you know?"

"Hm?"

"You, me, little Aurora and a bottle of hair dye…"

"Really?" Gray groaned from his spot. "Really, dude? She just had my child and you're offering to elope? Couldn't you at least wait for me not to be in the room?"

"No time like the present." Lyon winked at Juvia, who giggled (which earned her a glare from her boyfriend). At that point, the blunette knew that her brother-in-law was just joking around, well…. Mostly, anyways.

"You are such a moron." Gray crossed his arms over his chest while the white haired man laughed.

Lyon stepped closer to his little brother, who eyed him with caution, and put a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Gray; she is beautiful. They both are." A smile crept on his face when Gray's expression became one of confusion. "You are one lucky bastard."

Gray stared at Lyon like never saw the man before; he knew that he loved Juvia and he also knew that he was hurting because she didn't chose him and he also knew that Lyon was jealous of Gray, but at that moment, Lyon pushed it all aside and all the dark haired man could see was that his 'big brother' was genuinely happy for Gray's new family. It was the best thing Lyon could ever give Gray as a gift. "Yes, I am."

After staring at each other for a moment, Lyon turned his attentions back to Juvia and Aurora while Gray watched their interaction, feeling a weight being lifted from his shoulder – a weight he had no idea he carried. He couldn't control whom he fell in love with, of course, and he hated that Lyon fell for the same girl as he did. Some of it was jealousy – after all, Lyon was a nice looking and very charming man – but he also hated hurting the other man and Gray wouldn't want to have Lyon hating him.

But at that afternoon, they somehow resolved their differences. It was one more of the miracles his little Aurora would bring into his life, no doubt.

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Their trip home was a nightmare, since Gray kept yelling at the cab driver to slow down: there was a newborn with them, for god's sake! Juvia wisely chose not to say a word, knowing full well that Gray still felt the fear of the recent car accident – and to be honest, she felt uneasy inside a car and held Aurora tightly.

Thankfully it didn't last long and in no time they were putting their daughter on her crib, Gray leading his girlfriend to the bedroom so she could rest not too long after that.

Ur stayed for a week after that to help them though their first days at home, which the couple was very thankful about. They did need to have a proper rest before taking parenthood by themselves. The older woman was happy to stay with them and she adored her granddaughter with all she got; but she couldn't stay with them, she had a life of her own and her son needed to go on with his.

It was weird to have a child. The apartment was full of baby stuff everywhere (literally, everywhere) and there was the fact that they were dead tired most of the time, since Aurora would make a fuss regularly to eat of get changed.

Oh, changing diapers… what a nightmare. Gray didn't have the faintest idea of how someone so small and cute could stink so much in such short amount of time. He didn't think it was difficult to put the diapers on, like some men did – those things were pretty straightforward – but taking it off? Yes, he was pretty sure it was a stinky nightmare.

The couple was covered in so many of Aurora's fluids all the time, their clothes stank and neither could recall a night well slept in at least three weeks – their daughter did have a very nice pair of lungs and she was not afraid of using it over and over again.

Yes, they were tired and stinking, but whenever the baby yawned, they were hypnotized. Whenever she sneezed, they thought it was adorable. Whenever she opened her eyes and stared at them, they felt such happiness, that all the bad stuff seemed to disappear or become a far memory.

Despite of it all, they were happy.

Too happy.

Truth be told, Gray was terrified. Complete and utterly terrified that something was going to happen to break his happiness. He would check on Rory and Juvia all the time, his sleeping pattern was a mess and he had deeper and deeper bags under his eyes as a consequence.

Juvia saw it all and at the beginning she thought it was his way of coping, but after noticing him getting up without the cry of their baby, the woman started to pay more attention.

Sometimes Gray would hold her a bit too tight before leaving to check Aurora, only to return a few minutes later and do it again no later than an hour. It was not healthy and it worried Juvia.

After seeing the pattern of his actions, she decided to confront him. He was on the couch, almost closing his eyes and dozing off, when she stood in front of him and asked why he was so restless and checking on her and Rory so many times during the night.

He seemed surprised that she noticed, but, after a few moments of silence, the answer came. "Everything can go so wrong in a blink of an eye." He whispered. "I've read all about babies just not waking up. And you had surgery; god knows what is happening inside. Plus, you can go out to buy… I don't know… bread and a car hit you or something. I can protect you from a burglar, and stuff like that, but there's nothing I can do about the other stuff and it scares me."

"Gray-sama." Juvia shook her head, her loose bun almost undone – it wasn't as if she had much time to stylize her hair. "No, no. You can't worry yourself like this or you won't be able to enjoy your life."

"I can't lose you, Juvia." Gray wrapped his arms around her mid-section and hid his face on her stomach. "You and Aurora. I can't lose you."

The woman put her hands on his hair, petting him with ease and Gray could almost cry with her tenderness. The effect of her hands on him, plus her smell and humming sounds calmed him down almost instantly; she knew exactly what to do to soothe him. "You won't. No matter what, we will always be with you, okay?" Gray didn't look up and hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Juvia is afraid too, but we can't let it rule our lives. She is a healthy baby, the doctor said it. Plus, Juvia's all healed up. You don't need to worry too much."

"I know." The man finally looked up. "I'll try to be less paranoid."

"You do that." His girlfriend offered him a smile. "But if you still want to wake up during the night to change and feed Rory…"

"We'll keep with taking turns, thank you very much." Gray chuckled and finally got up from the couch; with his arms still around her while he bent down a little to kiss her lips tenderly. She wrapped her own arms around his shoulders and rested her head on his chest when the kiss was over.

The couple stayed like that for a few minutes – just enjoying each other's company – before Gray lean a bit so his lips were close to Juvia's ear. "I love you. Remember that." Juvia froze in his arms and then relaxed when he kissed the spot right under her ear. "I will forget to tell you in a regular basis, but remember that I do."

"Trust me: Juvia will forget many things during her life, but not you saying those words." She told him with a smile. "Now, how about we go to sleep while Rory's down? We won't get much rest once she wakes up."

"Go ahead. I'll check on her one more time." Juvia gave him a look and he rolled his eyes. "Just a quick look, I'll be with you in a minute."

The blunette nodded and went to their bedroom while Gray stepped inside Aurora's room; she looked peaceful and asleep and he couldn't help but feel the rush of love to spread through him while watching her little chest up and down, the way she pouted and how her tiny hand moved just slightly.

Satisfied with the sight, Gray left and went to his and Juvia's bedroom, where the woman waited for him with – literally – open arms. He lost no time in lying down next to her and let her warmth surround him and soon enough he was drifting to a peaceful sleep.

They would be alright.

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AN: I cannot believe that it's been a year! A whole year since I published this! I know that only 20 chapters after a year is embarrassing for me, and that's what makes your patience with me and comments even more amazing.

So, this time I pointed out the sucky side of having a baby, because, trust me: it does suck. But all the butt cleaning and the throwing up… once you stop and just stare at them it is so worth it!

[I will write down all the thanks when my internet works again on my computer (I am uploading this with my phone and stealing wi-fi from a cafe), as soon as I get home later.]

Thank you very much for all the support!

01/13/2014 ~ BonneyQ (Yay! Happy Birthday to me! Argh, 22 already? I'm feeling old!)