sooo…. here we are. The end. I hope you like it anyways Im thinking in change another fic into FT universe, but I don't know if should be Gruvia or GaLe. Please tell me and remember this one don't belong to me its from pokemon :3

Oh God…What have I done?' Juvia cried to herself as she flung her head into her hands, ashamed.

The curtains closed and she could still hear the cheering, the roar of the crowd. The sound she craved for ever since she was a little girl…but the more Juvia heard it, more tears streamed from her eyes!

With every clap, every cheer…she knew that he wasn't clapping…

"Ooh…Look!" Levy whispered to Juvia, "They're gonna open the curtains again!"

Juvia immediately perked her head up, her eyes still wet. She quickly wiped them.

'I'm…don't want you guys to worry about me anymore…'

"Go on Juvia, take your bow." Her friends warmly said to her as they all put arms around her. Juvia looked up to them. She saw Lyon and Rufus smiling cheekily at her, she saw Lucy, Levy, Aries, and Erza all giving her approving looks, and then she stared at the curtain.

"My…bow…?" She murmured to herself.

The curtains opened and the spotlight was once again on Juvia and the others.

"Let's give Team Marmalade a round of applause!" Jerall cheered into the microphone, pumping his fist in the air.

The whole audience roared once more as they all, row by row, stood up! Erza walked up to the center of the stage and bowed gracefully, before stepping back. Jet, Sting, Rufus, and Lyon both walked up in front and bowed before reaching out there hands for Lucy, Levy, and Aries to come up and bow.

They strutted up center-stage, hand in hand, and bowed. Levy decided to have fun with this and winked at an innocent by-stander carrying popcorn, who tripped at her sight! Aries and Lucy tried their best to burst out into laughter!

Suddenly in all seriousness, smiled spread across their faces as they stepped to the side to reveal a very unsure looking Juvia.

Juvia stood there, she gasped slightly. More and more people cheered! She cautiously walked towards the center stage and bowed deeply and respectfully towards the crowd. And as she bowed down, she managed to choke out a smile from underneath.

"Juvia! Juvia! Juvia!" The people who once scorned her from last year cried out with delight.

Juvia swooped her head up, smiling. But has if in slow motion…

Juvia's necklace suddenly unfastened and fell towards to stage floor…Juvia eyes widened! She watched in tearful horror as she saw it fall, her face paled.

THUD

Was all Juvia heard as she saw it fall onto the stage floor in the mix of rose petals and confetti. The audience obliviously kept cheering and cheering, but Juvia couldn't hear them…all she could hear was that painful thud…

Slowly, yet carefully, Juvia bent down to her knees. Tearfully, she slowly picked up the chained necklace, ever so carefully…

Juvia held it in her hands and looked up towards the crowd once more, but instantly, she regretted it. There, all the way back in the auditorium, stood Gray by the exit doors.

The look on his face…the look of shame…that blank look…

Juvia froze from her spot…

"Gray..." She murmured.

As if in slow motion, Gray just shook his head before pushing open the exit doors, disappearing completely into the bright light.

Tears welled up in Juvia's eyes…her nerves shaking!

She quickly got back up to her feet and shook her head.

"No…" She wept quietly.

Juvia shut her eyes tight as she tried her best for tears not to fall! But she couldn't hold them back!

'Gray-!' Juvia clenched her teeth as she held the necklace tight to her chest.

She looked back up tearfully at the crowd and shuttered slightly.

Faking a smile, she took one more bow…

CRNATSU!

SLAM!

Gray rampaged from backstage as he made his way to Juvia's dressing room, knocking over anything that got into his way from his fury. Gajeel, Loke, and Natsu followed from behind. They all had worried looks on their faces, frequently shouting "Sorry!" or "He didn't mean it!" to anyone who took offense from Gray's behavior.

As if Gray cared.

His eyes were blazing, his blood boiling! He couldn't that image of Juvia out of his head! This was Juvia! His Juvia!

He shouldn't have these images of her in his head!

Gray quickly shook his head, trying his best to loose the sight of Juvia wearing that, trying his best to loose those feelings he felt for her back then!

'Juvia…' Gray clenched his teeth as he made his way through the hallways of the backstage.

"W-What's this?" Juvia stuttered as her friends shoved a beautifully wrapped box in front of Juvia. They were now back in the dressing room, and everyone bustled around Juvia, who sat on a chair.

"It's a present! For the awesome job you did!" Aries giggled as she patted Juvia on the back, Juvia turned a little bit red! She was so embarrassed!

"Y-You guys didn't have too!" She flushed as she toiled with the fine-laced bow that was wrapped perfectly around. The box also had silver and white wrapping paper neatly covering the box. Juvia was even afraid to open it, it so pretty!

"Oh Juvia, don't be so modest!" Levy teased as she playfully slapped Juvia on the head, Juvia laughed quietly. "You deserve it!"

"Well…okay…" Juvia murmured as she unwrapped the gift. Slowly, she untied the bow and set it aside. Step by step, she unraveled the box, Step by Step; her friends seem to gleam with delight.

Juvia tore off the paper to find white clothing box, with the words "Eternal" written elegantly in black cursive on top. She slowly lift off the lid and set in on the counter, and began to unfold back the white lace that covered what was inside.

"Wait!" Erza all of a sudden cried, Juvia looked up curiously. "Read the card first!" Erza handed Juvia a simple white card that Juvia accepted, she opened it up and smiled. The card read:

-Juvia,

Please accept this gift as a symbol of how much you mean to us! No matter what happens, throughout the tears and laughter, we'll always have your back! You're an amazing singer, dancer, and most importantly, A Friend.

Your Friends,

Aries, Levy, Lucy, and Erza

"You guys! You honestly didn't have too!" Juvia cried as she tried her best for tears not to shine through, her friends giggled.

"Yes we did, now hurry up and see what we got you!" Lucy said, smiling.

Juvia smiled as she returned to opening her gift. She lifted back the lace and her eyes widened, her face too shocked for words.

There before her was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She stood up and lifted it up from out of the box, still in awe-struck.

The gown was a lovely dark cream color and the material was soft to the touch. Elegant black ruffles adorned the very top area of the bodice with a thin black ribbon in the center, and also two thin black ribbons served as straps when tied together. It was simple yet so so pretty…

"W…O…W" Juvia managed to say, breaking apart the word into three syllables. "You guys ….really didn't-!" She began,

"Didn't have too, blah blah blah…" Levy teased. "Isn't it pretty?" she giggled as she ran up next to Juvia, lifting up the end of the dress to show how it just swayed in the breeze.

"It's one of a kind!" Aries said while smiling with delight.

"R-Really?" Juvia gasped, shocked. She caressed the fine stitching of the dress with admiration. "B-but how could you guys afford this?"

"It wasn't really that hard, just combined all that money we had and soon we had enough." Lucy stated. "My sisters even ordered it especially for you!"

Juvia looked down at the dress, awestruck. It was so beautiful, so lovely…

"I don't think I can accept this…" Juvia murmured, all her friends gave her questionable looks.

"You guys…do so much for me already…it'd be wrong for me to take something so precious and expensive…" She finally said, her eyes solemn.

"Juvia…don't give us that. We do stuff for you because we want you too!" Her friends reassured, Juvia sighed.

"Thank you…" She smiled as tears drifted off her face; her friends brought her into a group hug, "Thank you!" She finally cried.

'Gray…" Juvia couldn't help but think as she thought of the dress, that painful look he gave her… "Do you think this dress is pretty…?"

"Do you still think…I'm pretty?"

Gray continued to rage through the halls, Juvia's dressing room becoming closer and closer.

"G-Gray…Maybe we should go-" Natsu tried to reason with Gray's anger but Gray was quick to lash back.

"NO!" He snarled viciously, his anger becoming unbearable. Natsu immediately stepped back, He knew by now not to mess with Gray when he was in this state!

"…and that's when I hit it out of the park!" A voice bragged that caught Gray's ear. He looked back to see Lyon! Who was apparently talking to one of his friends about base ball.

"You." Gray fumed as he approached Lyon, anger in each of his steps.

"Wait!" Gajeel tried calling out to Gray, but Gray couldn't hear him. He was too busy calculating different ways for Lyon to die!

"Of course, pitching is really hard when your arm is broken-AHH!" Lyon cried out in pain as Gray thrust his arm onto Lyon's throat, pinning him up against the wall. The person who was chatting with Lyon ran for his safety!

"Gray!" His friends cried out as the got behind him, shocked.

"D-Dude! What's your problem?!" Lyon managed to choke out from Gray's grip. Gray only tightened his grip!

"Dude! You're seriously hurting him!" Loke shouted, Gray ignored him.

"He touched her." He snarled from under his breath, Lyon looked slightly confused from under all his pain. "You kissed her!" Gray roared as he grabbed him and slammed him to the floor, pushing his foot against Lyon's chest. Lyon cried out in pain!

"GRAY!"

Suddenly, two and two clicked in Lyon's head.

'Gray…?' he thought as a vivid memory returned to him.

A fourteen year old Juvia sat on the docks, staring longingly at the lake before her. The water was so clear and sparkling, that Juvia could see her reflection staring right back at her!

Juvia looked into the eyes of her tears…

She sat there crying hopelessly, no one would come to borrow her, everyone at camp was too busy eating lunch…Juvia didn't feel hungry…

She kept thinking of him.

How he treated her, how he abandoned her so badly!

The very memory put Juvia into a crying fit, the kind that you can't hold back no matter what, the kind that made it hurt…

"Hey Juvia! You totally missed it! Rufus was dared to eat a cup of worms and he so totally did it!" Lyon laughed as he ran up to Juvia, grinning widely.

Juvia immediately stopped her crying and wiped her tears, she couldn't let Lyon see her like this!

"That's…nice…" Juvia sniffed.

"Hey…What's wrong?" Lyon consoled as he sat next to Juvia, tugging on her hair teasingly. Juvia slapped him away!

"N-Nothing! See? I'm happy!" Juvia faked a smile, Lyon didn't buy it.

"Nuh-uh! You've been upset ever since the first day of camp this year." Lyon pouted like a five-year old, looking the other way.

Juvia frowned as she dwindled with a lock of her hair, looking out into the lake.

"It's just…do you remember that friend I had?" Juvia's lips trembled at the word had,

"W-Well, he moved back…" Juvia murmured.

"Really? That's great!" Lyon laughed, however, as he saw Juvia's sad face, he immediately became serious.

"He…He hates me…" Juvia stuttered, as if she finally realized the sad truth now. Suddenly, she flung herself into Lyon's arm, crying hysterically. Lyon was shocked.

"H-He HATES ME!" She kept weeping and weeping,

"Gray…hates me…" She gently cried as Lyon patted her back, trying his best to console her.

But he knew that he would never be the one who could forever wipe her tears…

Only He can…

"So…it was you…" Lyon said as Gray pressed his foot harder against his chest, Gray lifted his eyebrow.

"What are you talking about?" He narrowed his eyes, Lyon smirked.

"If you get off me, then Maybe I'll tell you." He said, Gray looked down at him.

"Why should I? You…and Juvia!" Gray spat.

Suddenly, Lyon managed to free himself from Gray's tight hold and as he got to his feet, he raised his hands, signifying he surrendered.

Lyon's eyes softened as he recalled Juvia's tears…

"That look in her eyes…the way she cried…" Lyon recalled as he folded his arms, Gray stared at him.

"It was you; you were the one who broke her heart so badly…" Lyon said as he looked at Gray, finally realizing everything.

Gray tightened his fist.

"You have no idea what she went through! You have no idea how much she suffered!" Lyon shouted, anger filling in his veins.

Gray couldn't take it anymore!

"You think…it was easy for me?!" Gray began; Lyon was taken back by the vigor in his voice!

Natsu, Loke, and Gajeel stepped forward, they WERE NOT going to allow Gray to beat Juvia's friend into a bloody pulp.

Gray stayed silent for a bit, rethinking on how what he should say. He recalled all the times he had with Juvia, and then his mind rushed to that day he returned…

"You think….it's easy for me to see her everyday? To not just walk up and hug her like you can?" Gray said, his voice softer. He clenched his fist, trying his best to not break down.

"You have no idea…you don't…" Gray murmured, his eyes beginning to well up. The others were taken back! They have never seen Gray show this kind of emotion before!

"You love her…" Lyon smirked; Gray glanced up at him annoyed.

"Well then, if that's the case," Lyon began as he dug his hands in his pockets, walking away. "You better go make her smile." He smiled cheekily as he looked back them before walking away.

"Gray?" Natsu asked as the rest approached Gray, who his teeth were clenched, his fist formed into balls.

"I…can't…" Gray muttered to himself.

"What?"

"She'd hate me…" Gray said, emptiness in his voice.

Gajeel looked at Loke and Natsu, who both secretly smirked.

"Gray, we should head backstage!" Natsu said cheekily, Gray looked at him as if he just grew wings and a unicorn horn.

"…What?" he asked, confused.

"We, um, need to recount all of our equipment!" Gajeel said as the others began to push Gray into the direction of backstage. "We need to make sure we have everything!"

"But-!" Gray argued harshly, but the others kept pushing.

"Ugh," Natsu rolled his eyes as, this time; he slapped Gray on the head, lightly of course.

"Sometimes you just gotta trust your friends." Was all he said.

Gray looked at him and slightly smiled. He sighed as his friends continued to push him.

"Fine but that last time I trusted you guys, we got fined two hundred dollars." Gray said as he narrowed his eyes, the others just sweat-dropped!

There was an awkward silence…

"LET'S GO BACKSTAGE GRAY!" The trio of idiots cheered, trying their best not to bring up that memory.

"Turn around Juvia so we can see!" Erza asked as Juvia faced her back towards them. She clutched her hands to her dress that she was now wearing and was blushing brightly. She was so embarrassed!

"No!" Juvia replied, still blushing, eyes shut. She didn't want them to see her she didn't even get a good look at her and she knew she looked foolish! Beautiful dresses like these deserve to be draped over models, not girls like her!

"Like, don't be such a crybaby." Mirajane instructed as she rotated Juvia around, facing her friends and the rest of Lucy's friends, whom have just entered the dressing room and forced the dress on Juvia.

"Kya! Juvia you look beautiful!" Her friends cried with delight. Juvia curiously poked one of her eyes open, then the other, and looked down at her dress. She felt the smooth soft material that swayed with her body and she marveled at the black ruffles that bordered across her chest-line.

"Wow…" was all she said.

"Just be sure to tie these ribbons tight," Evergreen said as she tightened the black ribbons that served as straps for Juvia's dress, Juvia shuttered at the word tight. Painful corset memories…

"Or else they'll fall, and who knows if this dress can serve as a strapless." She finished as she tightened the last one, Juvia cringed.

'Too tight!' Juvia thought as she sweat-dropped.

Evergreen stepped back and joined the others in admiring Juvia.

Juvia turned around the face one of the dressing room mirrors and she gasped slightly.

Was that her? Was that really her in this beautiful dress?

It didn't seem real…

She brought her hand to her now bare neck and tears strolled down her cheeks.

'He hates me more than ever now…'

With her other hand she pick up her necklace, she stared at it long and hard.

Sighing, she put it on around her neck and stared at her reflection with the necklace on,

A sad Reflection….

'Why are you crying?' Juvia's five-year old self would ask if she would see herself from now. Juvia hesitated.

'Because I'm lonely…' She answered as more tears trickled down her face.

"…When I've even forgotten how to smile…"

"So, we're going to miss you guys!" Jet said as he high-fived Levy. The girls gathered outside the dressing room door to say goodbye to their "male-extras", who had to leave to make another gig.

"It was fun! Ow…" Stingcomplained as he rubbed his neck.

"What's wrong Sting?" Aries asked, concerned.

"I think you pulled on my tie too hard during our scene, I think you pulled something…"

"Hey, Maybe we can take you to the nurse office. I'm sure you can lie down." Rufus pointed out.

"No way, do you know what goes on in the nurse's beds?' Sting scowled, Aries jumped!

"Know we don't, please tell." Levy, Lucy, Erza, and Juvia smirked as they looked at Aries. Aries turned the darkest crimson ever!

"Oh! I just forgot!" Aries said in a hurry, "I left something backstage!" Aries blushed as she scurried away to backstage, Juvia smirked.

Typical Aries.

As soon as Aries was out of sight, another approaching figure came running in the distance.

"Hey guys!" Lyon yelled as they approached the group, smiling.

"Lyon!" Juvia cried happily as she hugged him.

"Wow, someone's sure affectionate." He smirked; he looked at Juvia's dress and smiled.

"You look really pretty Juvia." Lyon complimented as he ruffled her hair.

"Heehee, thanks!" Juvia giggled.

"Lyon, we have to leave soon. We have to be at the place by ten." Rufus pointed as he checked his watch.

"SHOTGUN!" Sting cried as he raced for the nearest exit.

"No way! You just said you have a sore neck!" Jet cried after him, racing him to the car.

As their voices drifted farther, the others could still hear "Nuh huh!" and "You little-!" They sweat-dropped.

Rufus looked at Lyon, who sighed. "I don't think they know that I have the keys." He said as he dangled the keys.

"See ya Juvia." Rufus said as he hugged her, "Keep in touch, kay?"

"Sure Rufus." Juvia smiled. Rufus grinned and left, chasing after the two idiots who left previously.

"Juvia," Lyon said in all seriousness as Rufus was out of ear-shot; Juvia looked at him, bewildered.

"Yeah Lyon?" She asked.

Lyon looked at her, and he recalled all her tears. He recalled how Gray reacted…what he said…

Lyon took Juvia into his arms and hugged her tight.

"L-Lyon?" Juvia asked, confused.

"You think….it's easy for me to see her everyday? To not just walk up and hug her like you can?" Gray said, his voice softer. He clenched his fist, trying his best to not break down.

"See you." Was all he said before smiling and leaving, cherishing the moment.

As he left, Juvia stared at him.

"That was strange…" Juvia said as she raised an eyebrow. It was quiet until...

Suddenly, Lucy's phone rang!

Lucy snapped open her phone and gasped.

"A-Are you sure?! N-Now slow down Aries!" Lucy tried telling Aries on the other end of the phone.

"W-What's wrong?" Levy asked, concerned.

"A-Aries, don't try to move!" Lucy kept telling Aries, "Try to stay still!"

"What's wrong?!" Juvia asked.

"It's Aries! She ran to the stage and tripped over a p-power chord! It was attached to a huge amplifier which wasn't sturdy and fell right on top of h-her!" Lucy cried, the others gasped.

"It hurts…!" Aries's voice on the phone cried.

"N-Now stay still!" Lucy instructed. "Erza, go inform my sisters! Levy, call an ambulance!" Juvia felt foggy; she couldn't believe what was happening!

Erza nodded before running off. Levy quickly pulled out her phone.

"Shit…" Levy muttered from under breath, "My phone died! I have to go use the pay phone! Lucy, stay on the phone with Aries! Tell her to hang on!" Levy rushed the down the hallway, in search of a pay-phone.

"Oh god…" Juvia cried to herself, "Aries…"

"So much blood…" Aries's voice said in a daze on the phone.

"H-Hold On! Juvia will be right over!" Lucy told Aries frantically. Juvia's head snapped up.

"O-Of course! Stay on the phone with her Lucy!" Juvia shouted back towards Lucy as she ran towards the stage.

Lucy checked to see if Juvia was out of sight and earshot before giving out a sigh of relief.

"Nice acting Aries!" Lucy complimented into the phone.

"I just hope this works." Aries said as she reappeared from a corner, perfectly fine.

"It will…I hope…" Lucy reassured, half to Aries, half to herself.

Juvia rushed towards the back stage, her heart panicking.

"A-Aries!" Juvia cried in her head. Images of Aries, laying there under a huge amplifier in a pool of blood, haunted her.

She ran and ran into the darkness of the backstage, her dress flowing in the wind behind her.

Tears threatened to fall but she held them back. Even if…if Aries looses enough blood and the weight keeps crushing her…

"…Aries could die…" Juvia whimpered to herself.

Her heart sped up when the stage came into view, it was completely dark! Juvia stumbled onto the main stage, the curtains where closed and darkness surrounded everywhere…

"ARIES!" Juvia cried as she couldn't find her friend on the pitch black stage, "Aries, answer me!" She almost wept.

Was she too late…?

"Now." Erza meanwhile whispered to Jerall, who signaled for a cue of light.

Juvia looked all around, but it was too dark. Too dark…

Suddenly, a small dim ray of light shone on a small section of the stage. Juvia looked at it curiously before walking over to it. She knelt down before it and picked up what it was shining on, a microphone?

She stood up, and held the mic.

What was going on?

"And…Now!" Erza whispered even louder, almost giddy.

"Tell Me how I'm supposed to breathe with No Air…air…air…" Three voices sung from backstage.

Juvia's eyes widened as she whipped her head around to see Levy, Lucy, and Aries, who was perfectly fine, singing into a small mic from backstage!

Juvia took one small step forward but the curtains on the stage opened and the spotlight centered on Juvia. She froze.

"Oooh…" Her friends sung as blue light-effects began to dance around the stage. Juvia's face paled, they didn't expect her too-sing?! She looked towards the other end of the backstage to see Natsu, Loke, and Gajeel there, working the DJ booth, smiling.

She looked towards the audience as her friends sung and gripped the microphone for dear life. They were all watching her! And she was alone! Just…like last year…

Nervously, she lifted her mic up…

"If I should die before my wake," Juvia sung as she stared into the crowd, and like Levy said before, she could barely see them the lights were so bright…

"It's cause you took my breathe away…" She closed her eyes, thinking of a certain someone.

"Losing you is like living in a world with no air," She opened up her eyes and clenched her chest, as if she was holding her heart.

"Ohhh," She sung as she stared at the crowd.

She slowly step back and was about to turn to leave but then…

"I'm here alone, didn't want to leave," A familiar voice sang, Juvia's eyes widened!

She whipped her head around and her heart raced!

'…G-GRAY!'

"My heart won't move, it's incomplete," Gray sung as he approached Juvia, his eyes soft.

"Is there any way I could make you understand?" He reached his arm out to her as he sung…

Juvia's nerve froze. What…was going on?

"But how," Juvia nervouslysung hard and tearfully into the mic, causing her voice to echo.

"Do you expect me?" She put her hand across her chest, her voice full of distress and distrust. She slowly backed away from Gray, trying her best to make it to backstage. She couldn't do this...

"To live alone with just me?" Almost…

"Cause my world revolves around you, it's so…" Juvia was just about a foot from being backstage when her friends smirked, Aries giggled quietly before shoving Juvia right into Gray!

"Hard for me to breathe!" Juvia sung as Aries did so. The music stopped for a brief instant, letting Juvia's voice mesmerize the crowd.

The music continued!

"Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air?" Gray and Juvia both sung as they stared into each other's eyes…

"Um…by the way…what is your name?" Juvia asked shyly as she added more sand to the mountain.

"…Gray." Gray said as he looked at Juvia, which caused a smile to form on her face.

"Can't live, can't breathe with no air," They continued to sing.

"That's how I feel whenever you ain't there,"

"It's No Air, No Air…" Juvia looked up into Gray's eyes, for once, her heart didn't race, and it paced slowly. She didn't feel nervous when she looked at him…

"Got me out here in the water so deep,"

"Friends?" She asked as she let out her hand sweetly. Gray stared at it long and hard before he replied:

"…Friends." Gray replied with a smile as Juvia smile grew wider as she did so.

"Tell me how you gonna be without me?" Gray looked at Juvia, she looked so beautiful….

"If you ain't here, I just can't breathe" Juvia clutched the mic tightly, as if it would fly away.

"Its No Air, No Air" They both sung, completely mesmerized in each other.

"No air air" Levy, Lucy, and Aries sang.

"Ohhh" Juvia sung, keeping her eyes at Gray.

"No air air"

"Nooo" Gray sang, keeping his eyes on Juvia.

"No air air"

"Ohhh"

"No air air"

"I Walked, I Ran, I Jumped, I Flew," Gray sung as he clutched his mic.

"Right off the ground to Flow to You," He brought his hand and hesitantly brought it to her cheek, framing her delicate face. Juvia closed her eyes, savoring it.

"There's no gravity to hold me down for real," Gray released and Juvia looked up at him; her cheek now felt somewhat cold…

"But somehow I'm still alive inside," Juvia sung as if she didn't believe the words herself

"You took my breath," Juvia looked up at Gray

"Remember," Gray whispered to her softly as he pointed to the necklace, "As long as I'm here and as long as you want it, I'll forever keep that promise." Gray reassured her, referring to his and Juvia's engagement.

"But I survived."

"I don't know how," Juvia took a step back.

"But I don't even care!" She shut her eyes and sung powerfully into the mic, the whole crowd was mesmerized!

"So how," Her friends sung from backstage.

There stood Gray, holding the unconscious Juvia in his arms, bridal style.

"How," Juvia tearfully harmonized.

"Do you expect me? Gray sung,

Even if Juvia never had known…somehow he heard that faint cry before she passed out.

He looked forlornly down at her, a sparkling glint catching his eye.

"Me!" Juvia continued to harmonize.

She was secretly wearing that necklace…

"To live alone with just me?" They both sung together.

"Ohh!" Juvia sung.

"I'll take care of her." Was all he said as he left the auditorium, no one even dared to get in his way. He wasn't mad or angry that she was wearing it. In fact, his heart seemed lighter than it ever was before.

"Cause my world revolves around you," Juvia sung as she glided to Gray's other side swiftly, singing as she did so. Her dress swayed beautifully!

"I'm here…" He whispered into her ear.

"It's so hard for me to breathe!" They both sung together, cherishing their words.

"Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air?" Gray sung,

"Ohh," Juvia sung, following his words.

"Can't live, can't breathe with no air,"

"Ohh" Gray sung,

"That's how I feel whenever you ain't there," They stared deeply into each other's eyes.

"It's No Air No Air!"

"Got me out here in the water so deep!"

"So Deep," Juvia sung,

"Tell me how you gonna be without me?"

"Without me, yeah" Gray harmonized.

"If you ain't here I just can't breathe"

"It's No Air, No Air" They both sung together, the lights danced all around them, illuminating their faces. Juvia's heart began to slowly speed up.

"No air air"

"Ohh" Juvia sung as her heart rate increased,Was this real?

"No air air,"

"Ohh" She kept on singing.

'But please God…" Juvia thought as she shut her eyes.

"No air air"

"Ohh,"

"No Air Air"

'Please God…Please don't let…the music stop…'

"No more," Gray gently shook his head as he gently put his thumb under Juvia's chin, making her look him into his eyes.

Suddenly, the music became somewhat calmer.

"Ohh," Juvia sung tearfully.

"Baby," Gray sung, looking at her.

"Ohh," Juvia shook her head as she moved her head away from Gray.

"It's No Air No Air," Levy, Lucy, and Aries sung from backstage. They all smiled! Their plan was working, it really was working! They looked across the stage, onto the other side, to see Gajeel, Natsu, and Loke smiling too.

"Hey,"

"Ooh," Juvia sung as she looked at him, a blush creeping across her face.

"No Aiiirrr" Gray sung as he caressed her cheek.

"Ooh," Juvia clutched her mic tight; it was too good to be true…

"Oh!" They both shut their eyes tight and sung powerfully into their mics as the music stopped for just a moment. And when it started up again, it was powerful than before!

"He would never do that! Maybe before he would have…" Juvia continued, her eyes closed, tears forming.

"Tell me how am I suppose to breathe-" Gray sung,

"But now it's different!" She finally cried, too painful for her to admit the truth.

"-With No Air!" Juvia finished for him, getting into the song.

"Wait a minute…" Juvia began as she walked over to her nightstand. She picked up the picture frame that supposedly contained her and everyone's trip from the beach but she dropped it from shock on what was there instead.

"No Air!" Gray sung, getting into the song as well.

"T-That picture…" Juvia stuttered as she picked the frame back up. Instead of the picture of her friends, it was that old picture of her and Gray…from her childhood…

"Can't live can't breathe with No Air,"

Juvia clutched it close to her heart, tears forming down her eyes.

"No Air!"

Was this a sign? A sign on not to give up and to keep fighting?

Juvia didn't know but she did know that things were changing, but for better or for worse?

"That's how I feel-"

That's what she wanted to know…

"-Whenever you ain't there!" Juvia sung as the lights began to dance and dance.

"It's No Air No Air!" Juvia's friends kept singing, smiling triumphantly.

"No Breathing…oh!" Gray and Juvia both sang as they both swayed around each other.

"Got me out here in the water so deep," Gray sung

"So Deep!" Juvia echoed his words perfectly!

"Tell Me how you gonna be without me?"

"Yeah," Juvia kept her eyes on Gray, his eyes staring back at her.

"If you ain't here-" Gray began,

"I just can't breathe!" Juvia finished.

"It's No Air, No Aiiiirrr!" The couple sung powerfully, stronger than before.

"So how do you expect me?" Levy, Lucy, and Aries harmonized. Erza gave the signal for the lights to become more intense, Jerall nodded as he flipped the switch for more dazzling lights to dance.

"Baby-" Juvia sang through the harmony.

"To live alone with just me?" The others kept singing.

"…BABY!" She kept on singing and singing.

"Cause my world revolves around you!"

Juvia once more swayed around Gray, putting more feeling into her step. They never took their eyes off each other.

"It's so hard for me to breathe!" Gray sang with the harmony,

"Ohh!"

"Tell me how I'm suppose to breathe with No Air"

"No Air!" Juvia sung melodically into the microphone.

"Oh!" Gray sang.

"Can't Live can't breathe with no Air," Gray sang,

"No No No!"

"That's how I feel whenever you ain't there,"

"Not there!" She harmonized as she swayed.

"It's No Air, No Air" They both sang as they both stopped their swaying and only focusing on each other.

The music slowed…

"Got me out here in the water so deep…" Juvia sung softer as she stared at Gray. Both of them were panting from singing so powerfully.

"Tell me how you gonna be without me…" Gray sang as he looked into her cerulean eyes, he too, panting.

"If you ain't here…I just can't breathe…" Juvia sang as she shook her head, slightly blushing.

"It's No Air, No Air…" They both sang as they took a few steps closer to each other…

"No air air" Levy, Lucy, and Aries sung, smiling giddily.

"Ohhh," Juvia sung quietly

"No air air,"

"Ohh," Gray sung

"No air air,"

"No air," Juvia quietly harmonized as both she and Gray lift their hands up gently, putting their hands against one another's.

The music slowed.

"No Air…" They both sang closely, their eyes closed…

Their Fingers Intertwined.

The stage dimmed as the duet came to a close, but yet Gray and Juvia still held their pose. The crowd ROARED, shouting for encores.

As the curtains rushed to a close, Juvia looked at Gray. She savored the warmth of his hand, the look he gave her…

That same look he used to give her years ago…that soft look…

'…Gray…' Juvia thought as she blushed. Had he come back to her?

For real?

But Juvia couldn't help but think…

Slowly, unwillingly, Juvia slowly let go of his hand. She stared into his eyes.

'It's…too good…'

"I'm sorry…" Juvia murmured as she lowered her head, "I just…can't handle this right now…" Juvia looked the other way, hurt.

Gray didn't take that though.

Slowly, he gently cuffed his thumb under her chin and made her look at him. Juvia's heart began to beat very fast! He stared at her before inclining his head and leaning in towards Juvia…

Just when Juvia thought her heart couldn't go any faster!

Juvia's lips trembled as Gray's came closer, she shut her eyes tight.

Lub-dub

Lub-dub

Juvia's heart beat so fast, her face turned a light shade of pink. Gray was just inches away from her lips, when suddenly; Juvia jerked her head to the left!

Gray, surprised, stepped back. Juvia looked scared, so very scared.

"I'm sorry…" Gray murmured as he looked the other way, ashamed.

Juvia gripped her dress as many memories flooded back.

"Get lost pathetic girl, you already wasted enough of my time." Gray finally said as he walked away from the scene. Juvia's vision blurred from tears as she saw Gray's back walking away from her.

"I knocked over the table of paint and Juvia was in the way. It was none of her fault." Gray said in his usual monotone, Juvia sat there, her jaw dropped.

"I'm here…" He whispered into her ear.

"Why…do you …have to…" Juvia murmured as tears streaked down her face, Gray went to put his hand against her cheek but Juvia slapped him away!

"WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS TO ME?!" Juvia cried as she fled from the spot, crying.

Juvia tried running but when she reached the backstage, her friends caught hold of her.

"Juvia!" Her friend cried happily, the other guys soon followed, smiling too.

However, when they saw Juvia, the atmosphere became suddenly dark…

Juvia tried to run past them but Lucy caught hold of her.

"What's wrong?" Lucy asked, suddenly becoming concerned.

Gray walked up to group, his eyes ashamed. Natsu, Loke, and Gajeel looked so confused!

"…Why…" Juvia murmured as tears fell over her cheeks, her friends were taken back! Lucy let go of Juvia and stepped back.

"…J-Juvia?" Her friends asked.

"It's…almost funny," She said as more tears fell from her cheeks, "You know…for a minute…you really had me going…" She turned to face Gray.

"…What are you talking about?" Gray asked as he turned to face her.

"Like you could really…care about me…" She murmured, she folded her arms around herself for support, her limbs were shaking!

Gray took one step toward her but Juvia took one step back.

"It…was all an act…" Juvia whispered quietly to herself. She clutched her necklace tightly, her teeth clenched.

'There was no way," Juvia looked up at Gray tearfully,

"THERE WAS NO WAY YOU COULD REALLY LOVE ME!" She cried as she clutched the necklace hard before…

…painfully throwing it to the ground in her angst.

"Juvia!" Her friends cried as they tried running to her but Gajeel, Loke, and Natsu out reached their arms, blocking them. They shook their heads at the girls, it was…hopeless…

"It's up to them now…" Gajeel murmured, almost sadly. Juvia's friends turned back to the scene, they couldn't believe it…

Gray's eyes couldn't move from the necklace that was lying there, so broken...

He tried his best for his emotion to show, but yet, even that was impossible.

Juvia stood there, her nerves still shaking. Tears gently streaked off her cheek as she saw Gray stare at the necklace, how he hurt he was…but she couldn't stop.

"I don't…want it…" She cried softly, Gray just looked at her. Juvia stared at the scene, trembling. What has she just done? That look in his eyes…

But no matter how much Juvia wanted it stop, Juvia's anger kept burning.

And it hurt her so bad.

'No…stop…' Juvia tried telling herself. It was like she was separated from her body. It was like she was watching her rip Gray's heart out…

….And hers as well…

"I don't even…"She began to cry,

'PLEASE… DON'T!' Juvia's inner-self cried desperately.

Juvia couldn't hear herself however, all she could hear was the painful things he told her…the painful things he has done to her!

"I DON'T EVEN THINK I LOVE YOU ANYMORE!" Juvia painfully spat as many tears spilled from her face. As though words escaped from her lips, everyone gasped. The room went silent…

Gray was taken back! He clenched his fist and clenched his teeth; it was the only way to prevent him from loosing his composure…

He looked at Juvia, who looked like she was about to cry any second.

"DJJuvia! You don't mean that!" Lucy said as she tried reasoning with her friend. Juvia looked harshly at her friends.

"JUST STOP IT!"She cried as she clutched her head and temple area, a painful throbbing was pounding so hard…

"I-I HATE ALL OF YOU! A-ALL YOU DO IS HURT ME!" Juvia screamed.

"JUVIA!" Her friends cried, extremely hurt. This wasn't Juvia!

The Juvia they know would be smiling, they Juvia they know would never have hurt Gray so badly!

"Then Go." Gray finally spoke up, Juvia looked up from her tears, taken back and scared.

"…W-" Juvia stuttered.

"You heard me! Now JUST GO!" Gray cried out, his voice shaking, tears appearing on the side of his eyes.

Tears spilled from Juvia's eyes, but yet she had a look of anger on her face. She took a step back, before turning around and rushing towards the nearest exit.

A Trail of Tears behind Her…

"And the winner of this year's annual Talent Show is…!" Jerall announced from the stage, completely oblivious to what was going on.

"NO JUVIA, WAIT!" Levy, Lucy, Aries, and Erza cried out as ran after her.

"Team Marmalade!" Jerall announced, roars of applause could be heard from the crowd!

Juvia's friends ignored this however and kept calling out to Juvia but Juvia kept on running and running.

She shoved herself onto door that led outside, into the darkness of the night…

Once Juvia was outside, it was so dark… It down-poured heavily and the lightening and thunder crNatsued into her ears.

'Gray…' She wept to herself. She stopped briefly and she turned around to see everyone running after her, except Gray.

Her heart felt hollow, she shook her head in disbelief.

He wouldn't follow her. He never will.

But she now didn't care.

She just turned and kept running, never looking back.

"JUVIA!" Her friends cried after her as they ran out the exit door too, into the sudden pouring rain.

But Juvia couldn't hear them; Power booms of thunder and crNatsued of lightening that boomed in the night sky masked their voices.

And Juvia didn't care.

She wouldn't have stopped running anyway…

"J-J-Juvia…." Erza stuttered as she stared into the darkness of the streets that Juvia had just rushed into, crying.

"She didn't mean it…" Levy began, "There is no way she could have meant it…." She kept telling herself that, over and over.

"Someone h-has to go after her! It's dangerous to be out in a storm!" Aries said, worried.

"But…"Lucy began but she was cut off when Gray walked coolly past them, into the rain. His hands where in his pockets, his usual cool expression. He began walking away…

"G-Gray…" Levy said, she suddenly recalled what Juvia had said.

"I DON'T EVEN THINK I LOVE YOU ANYMORE!"Juvia painfully spat as many tears spilled from her face.

Levy gasped.

"G-Gray!" Levy called out after him, she brought a hand to her face to help shield herself from the harsh rain.

Gray looked behind his shoulder towards her, Levy hesitated.

"She…didn't mean it! Juvia would never say something like that!" She called out, trying to run after him.

"L-Levy!" Gajeel cried, holding her back in his grasp; he had no idea what Gray would do when he was this hurt!

Gray just stared at her.

"But she did. She obviously doesn't care." He said bitterly.

The rain kept pouring heavily, the sky so dark….

"Y-You're wrong! Juvia…she loves you!" Levy cried out,

"SHE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING!" She screamed as lightening crashed in the distance.

Gray's eyes widened. He clenched his fist in his pocket, around something cool and silver…

He took it out of his pocket and stared deeply at the now shattered necklace that Juvia had destroyed, and then he tightened his fist around it.

He didn't say anything; he just stared at the ground, his bangs covering his eyes.

And even though it rained so hard against the earth…

Gray knew he was crying….

Juvia ran and ran into the darkness of the streets, the rain pounding ever so hard on her.

But she didn't care.

She knew that even if there wasn't any rain, her tears would still blur her vision…

She cried as she ran, for she knew that each step she took, she was reminded of the reality of what she has done….

'Gray…' She wept as she ran blindly, tears streaked her face and her dress was completely soaked. It clung to her body.

'…forgive me…'

But Juvia could not keep herself from still crying as she ran.

It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair!

'It's not fair…' Juvia cried, 'Levy will have Gajeel…Aries...she'll have Loke, Lucy will have Natsu…Even Erza will get Jerall!' She thought as images of her friends being happy danced across her thoughts, and the image of her crying, alone, appearing last.

'I'll always be alone…'

She looked up ahead of where she was going, but she couldn't tell. The rain poured down so hard, the crNatsuing of thunder just echoing in the distance.

She came to a halt to check her surroundings.

And she gasped.

"A…playground?" Juvia said as she looked around. It was a playground. But not just any playground…

"The…same playground that I met Gray…" Juvia said in disbelief as her heart sped up. The rain poured so hard, and it was so dark…but Juvia would recognize this playground anywhere…

She walked around the playground aimlessly, reminiscing on painful yet happy events that have occurred. She past the slide, the swing set that would creak with rust, the merry-go-round, the teeter-tarter, and…the sandbox.

Juvia froze as she stared at it. It was smaller than what she remembered. She knelt down before it and ran her fingers through the mushy sand. She lifted her hand up to examine it.

It was the same sand that they played in.

"Oh Gray…" Juvia cried as she stared at the sand.

"You heard me! Now JUST GO!"Gray cried out, his voice shaking, tears appearing on the side of his eyes.

"I…made you cry…" Juvia began to cry herself, "I'm so sorry!"

She cried over the sandbox, her tears mingling with the sand. What has she done? She loved him…and she had made the biggest mistake of her life!

"I don't deserve you…" Juvia cried as felt her bare neck. She wiped her crying eye with her clean hand, but as she did, she heard something.

CREAK!

Juvia broke from her tears, quickly got up and turned around.

No One was there…

The rain poured heavily and the sky was too dark, Juvia could barely see…

She looked to where the sound came from, the swings.

She stepped back from them. "M-Maybe the wind blew it…" Juvia thought, trying her best to look on the bright side.

CREAK!

She heard it again! But this time, it was from behind her! She quickly whipped her head around but nothing! Nothing except the darkness…

Juvia whimpered; Juvia didn't like being alone, and she didn't like it when she couldn't see!

It rained so hard….

She began heading out of the playground, she couldn't deal with this!

Slowly, she headed towards the exit. She heard the wind blow. She began quickening her pace until she heard a snicker. She whipped her head around!

"W-Who's there?!" She shouted, trying her best to sound confident. However, her voice quivered when she spoke.

No response.

She turned to leave once she thought it was safe, but the sound of a laugh made her legs freeze.

CREE-AAKKK!

Juvia tried her best to move but she couldn't! Fear has struck her!

"Look guys, a lost kitten." A strange man, just a few years older than Juvia, wearing a dark school uniform appeared from behind the swings. Juvia gasped, terrified! He had a mischievous evil look in his eyes, and he looked much stronger than Juvia!

She tried to scream but when she tried, no volume came out of her voice. The man laughed bitterly, the sound sent chills down Juvia's spine!

"Good. I was getting bored. Maybe we can have some fun with her." A lankier boy, wearing the same dark school uniform as the other, said with his arms crossed, appearing from behind the slide. Juvia stood there, terrified!

'W-What do they mean by…fun?' Juvia thought, scared. Suddenly, her eyes widened into realization.

Fun.

Two and two clicked together, her face paled into a horrible reality.

She looked at both men, who had an evil look in their eyes when they stared at her. They approached her, and Juvia managed to take a few steps back.

"D-Don't come any closer! I-I'll scream!" Juvia threatened with her shaky voice as she stepped back, she walked back but as she did, she bumped into something large and heavy.

"Hey! She touched me first! Does that mean I get to go first?" A really fat boy with an eye-patch laughed as Juvia walked into him!

Juvia whipped her head around to see the boy and his pudgy cheeks grinned at her, Juvia shrieked! She turned around to run the other way but when she did, the strange man and his lanky friend where right in front of her!

She wouldn't be able to beat them off!

Or get away!

"No, I get the first go." The strange man narrowed his snotty eyes as he stared at Juvia, getting a good look at her.

"I'm after the boss!" The lanky boy claimed. Juvia couldn't move. She couldn't find her voice! Her nerves shook!

They were planning to-! To her-!

'N-Not them!" Juvia thought in horror, 'O-Only he can!' She thought as a certain person came to her mind.

Suddenly, Juvia gasped as they began to close in on her!

"L-Leave me alone!" Juvia screamed but they continued to box her in, "I'll-I'll scream!"

"Aw, don't be like that sugar baby," The strange man purred as he backed Juvia up against a wall, taking a lock of her hair and sniffing it.

That was it!

Juvia tried screaming but only a shrill squeal came out of her voice. It was just like those nightmares when you wanted to say something but nothing came out!

Except…this wasn't a nightmare!

Juvia leg's shook as the man slowly undid one of Juvia's ribbon straps!

"S-Stop!" She cried in a weak voice. But the man was persistent.

"Get her good boss!" The fat boy cheered from behind him, tears began to well up in Juvia's eyes, her legs felt woozy, and her head foggy.

Her left strap untied and hung there, Evergreen was right, the dress wouldn't serve as a strapless! It also didn't help that the rain poured so hard that her dress was nearly sticking to her body!

The strange man put his arm against the wall next to Juvia's head and sought after the other strap but when Juvia saw this, ignoring the fact that she felt woozy and drifting off, she slapped him away!

"Resistant are we?" The creep said as she leaned in towards her.

Juvia shut her eyes as the creep began to kiss her neck, immediately she tried screaming but it wouldn't work!

She knew she had to call for help, before she passed out!

Lyon, Rufus, Her friends, the police, ANYONE!

"GRAY!" Juvia cried out instinctively without thinking, tears welling up in her eyes.

The gang just laughed.

"Look, she's calling for her boyfriend!" The lanky one said, falling over to his knees in laughter. "Like he can hear you!"

Juvia's eyes widened, it was getting so hard to fight off the man, and her exhaustion….

"He'll probably wouldn't even want to rescue you!" The fat boy agreed, Juvia's heart sank.

'He right…' Juvia thought as more tears spilled on her face, as well as the heavy rain.

'…He'd wouldn't even bother…'

Juvia shut her eyes, letting the exhaustion finally take control.

It was….hopeless…

"Enough!" The strange man shouted back towards them as he looked up from Juvia, "You're keeping me from-AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Juvia felt the man release, but she didn't have any energy to move, so she just slumped down against the wall.

Her tear-filled eyes still closed…

The strange man lied there on the wet ground, withering in pain.

"B-BOSS!" His two sidekicks cried out as they went to run towards them but they suddenly halted.

Standing above the strange man, and standing protectively in front of Juvia, was another person, the darkness covering his features.

"B-Back off!" The fat guy shouted, trying his best to sound tough.

The person encased in the shadows took a step forward and soon his features were exposed.

Rain still down-poured and the droplets pounded hard on the person, but he didn't seem to mind. His black hair was dripping wet, yet his coal eyes were burning with a deranged fury.

HE WAS FURIOUS!

"Who's next?" He snarled from under his breath, taking a step forward to the two henchmen. Their bodies shook with fear!

Bold and determine to "avenge" his boss, the lanky boy stuck his fists up in the air, yet his facial expression was filled with worry.

He charged at the purple-haired boy with some sort of battle cry, Gray smirked.

"Feh, Pathetic." He mutter from under his breath before he side-stepped to the left. The boy obliviously kept running and missed him! Gray then grabbed for his left arm, swerved him around, and high-kicked him right in the face!

The lanky boy took a few steps back, covering his nose in pain.

"H-He broke my nose! THAT BASTARD BROKE MY NOSE!" He cried out in pain.

"Hang in there!" The fat boy cried out as he came running to his friend's aid, Gray saw this out of the corner of his eye.

The fat boy came charging at Gray, who was in front of the lanky boy, with a full force! Gray stepped back slightly, and the fat boy, with all his weight, fell right on top of the lanky boy!

"OOOF!" They both cried as they fell to the ground, the fat boy on top. Gray walked over to them and placed his foot on top of the fat boy, an angry expression on his face.

"Is that all?" Gray sneered at them; the fat boy looked up at him, in horror.

"I-I'm outta here!" He cried as he picked the lanky boy overt his shoulders before running away like a baby. Gray smirked.

"Ugh…" The man who Gray ripped off Juvia groaned in pain as he tried getting up. Gray's head jerked up in fury as he whipped around at the man, cracking his knuckles.

"Oh, I'm not done with you yet." Gray viciously snarled as he charged at him, fist first. He dove his fist into his gut, causing blood to cough out of the strange man's mouth.

"GACK!" He cried as he received the blow. Gray then grabbed his left shoulder, and hurled him to the ground! Once he was on the ground, Gray placed his foot against his neck, pressing down.

Gray narrowed his eyes as he stared down at the now beat up man. He wanted to beat him to a pulp! He wanted to kill him on this very spot! But…

Gray then thought of Juvia, her happy face.

'She wouldn't want that…'

He cursed under his breath as he released his footing.

"Leave, and I don't let me see your face around this area again." Gray growled towards the boy, who scampered to his feet, nodding.

"MOMMY!" He cried as he rushed out of the area like a bullet, Gray sweat-dropped.

Gray watched until he was completely out of sight. He looked down at his hands; they were bruised for hitting them too hard…

"Mmff…" Gray heard a small cry. He quickly turned around to see Juvia there against the wall, eyes still closed.

He quickly rushed towards her, and knelt down before her. He pushed back some hair that was hanging in her face and tucked in behind her ear. She looked so sad…

"Juvia…wake up!" Gray said as he shook her shoulders, however, Juvia slumped forward, right into Gray's arms! Gray's eyes widened.

"Is…it over?" Juvia murmured into Gray's shoulder, Gray frowned. He continued to hold her.

"Dummy," He laughed weakly, "Nothing even happened."

Juvia moved back a bit and looked up at Gray, her face tear-streaked. She gasped as she quickly released herself from his grasp and stood up, shaking.

'I-I can't face him now! Not after this…Not after-"

"I DON'T EVEN THINK I LOVE YOU ANYMORE!"Juvia painfully spat as many tears spilled from her face.

'Not after…I broke his heat so…' Juvia cried as she tried to run away.

'Wait!' Gray cried out as reached for her wrist. He grasped it but Juvia still tried to break free, but his grasp was firm.

"L-Let me go!" Juvia cried as she turned to face him, crying.

"No." Gray said.

Juvia didn't understand. Why was he doing this to her?! Why does he keep playing with her heart!

Juvia ripped her wrist out of Gray's grasp and took a few steps back. She looked down and noticed how one of her straps came undone; she was quick to tie them back together. She then looked at the ground, Natsuamed.

"W-Why…" Juvia stuttered, Gray took a few steps closer to her. "Why did you…protect me?" Juvia murmured as she hugged herself, her eyes still to the ground.

Gray took a lock of Juvia's hair into his hand, causing Juvia to look up at him. A look of surprise was on her face!

"Because…I promised you. I'll always protect you no matter what. " Gray said as he stared into her eyes, Juvia gasped! Her heart rate sped up, her cheeks turning a light pink.

'Did he just say…?'

For a few moments, she believed him until…

SLAP!

Juvia's hand whipped across Gray's cheek as she took a step back, her angry tearful eyes unbelieving.

"T-That's full of shit and you know it!" She cried as she took a few more steps back. Gray remained still, his eyes weren't angry; he wasn't even shocked at all…

He deserved that, he really did.

"YOU HONESTLY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT?! AFTER ALL YOU PUT ME THROUGH?!" She cried as she clutched her now ruined dress, Gray took the words like a blow in the stomach.

They hurt him so bad…

He just stood there, waiting.

"I-I thank you for saving me," Juvia began, "B-but please…please…" She wept, her eyes closed.

Gray couldn't take this anymore. As Juvia said those words, he closely approached her. When he got to her, Juvia didn't notice. Slowly, he lifted her chin up once more and…

"Please…" Juvia murmured as he did so, Gray didn't stop though.

Slowly, yet softly, he brushed his lips against hers before landing them gently on top of her lips.

And for a few moments, Juvia kissed back…

She savored the moment, the warmth of his lips, the way he held her…

'Gray…is kissing me…' She thought in disbelief, her heart jumping a mile a second.

But then…

She remembered the scorn he used to give her, the pain he has caused, the tears she had shed!

Then she remembered the talent show…

Juvia all of a sudden broke the kiss and ran away a few feet away from him, scared.

"Juvia?" Gray asked, confused.

"S-Stay away from me!" Juvia shouted towards him, her legs shaking. Gray clenched his teeth.

Why did she have the make this so hard and painful?!

"You-You…" Juvia began as she recalled her talent show performance,

"Y-YOU'RE ONLY AFTER ONE THING!"

Gray was taken back, extremely hurt!

"You know I would never do that…" Gray said softly, full understanding what Juvia meant.

"T-That's the thing Gray! I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE!"Juvia cried as she put her hands over her heart, as if she was trying to keep it together. Her own words made her cry even more!

It was true…no matter how much she wanted to deny it…she didn't know him…like she used to…

Gray was taken back, he clenched his fist.

"You…don't understand." He began, his voice frustrated.

"Oh, I understand everything! Y-You really don't care about me!" Juvia quickly lashed back, tears falling from her eyes.

"DAMNIT JUVIA! I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU!" Gray suddenly screamed, Juvia's eyes widened!

Lightening crNatsued as the rain poured down heavily on both of them. Juvia stared at Gray, her eyes disbelieving.

"W-What…are you talking about?" She stuttered as she looked at Gray, who was looking at the ground in shame.

"I guess…it's time to tell you…" Gray began; Juvia's heart raced!

"Why…I acted the way I did…"

The rain poured down hard on Juvia and Gray, showing no signs that it would give up.

Juvia felt herself shiver from the cold winds that blew.

She stared intently at Gray, 'T-There was a reason…?' Juvia thought confused.

"You know…how my father owned this major cooperation?" Gray began, Juvia nodded.

"Starlight Records," Juvia murmured.

Gray's father was the head of a major recording company. That's how Gray grew to love music, and…that's why Juvia wanted to be such a wonderful singer.

She thought it would make Gray happy…

Though Juvia never understood why Gray lived in such small town because of their wealth, with the money they had, they could have bought a huge estate and still manage to live comfortably…

Why he suddenly moved though …Juvia never understood…

"One day, we weren't doing too well. The business wasn't doing too well…" Gray continued with his story, struggling on what to say.

He never really spoke of this to anyone…

"S-So you moved because of that?" Juvia asked, Gray shook his head 'no'.

"My father…he was so used to the lifestyle that we had. He couldn't deal with the low-incomes we were receiving, so he started making plans."

"Plans?" Juvia once again questioned, Gray looked at her.

"Let me finish."

"S-Sorry."

Gray narrowed his eyes, his fists into tight balls. A sudden memory came flooding back to him.

"You didn't even bother telling her, why?" Ultear stated as she drove the BMW down the road.

"Tell who what?" Gray asked as he lifted his head off his hand that was leaning against the passenger window.

"Juvia…just about a half hour ago…she just found out today?" Ultear raised an eyebrow, Gray looked out the window, placing his chin back on his hand.

"So?"

"So? Why didn't you tell her a while ago that we were leaving?" Ultear pressed on as he drove the car down the nearby streets, "Did you seriously think she'll take it well if you waited until the last minute? Like you just did?"

Gray scowled. "If I would have told her then, she would have acted that way the whole past few weeks. You don't know Juvia, she always asks questions…"

There was a long silence.

"Does she know about…?" she asked, Gray shook his head.

"No, she has no idea that we're moving because of Starlight's failure."

"Gray…" Ultear began, "That's not why we're moving." Did his little brother not know the truth?

"What do you mean?!" Gray snapped as he looked towards Ultear, whose hands were gripped tight on the steering wheel.

"Father…didn't tell you yet…didn't he?" Ultear stated, his eyes sad.

"…What?" Gray asked, his eyes wide.

"I…don't understand Gray." Juvia began, Gray fixated on his memories. Trying his best to remember them, the ones he wanted to forget…

"Neither did I." Gray said, he looked at Juvia and noticed that she was closer than she was before, but yet she still kept her distance.

The rain still poured so heavily…The playground seemed so eerie…

"Where Ultear drove me that day…that day we moved…wasn't to our new house…" Gray began.

"Then…" Juvia tried guessing but she couldn't, "W-Where would he take you?"

Gray hesitated for a moment.

"To Wave Records, Starlight Record's rival company."

"What the hell are we doing here?" Gray asked as he slammed the passenger door closed, they were now in a city like area and Gray hated it.

He looked up at the tall skyscraper that Ultear parked in front of.

It was almost identical to the one they had, except it had the logo 'Wave Records' post up on the front in a tidal wave font.

"Never mind, let's just go inside.' Ultear said as he put his hands in his pockets, walking inside. Gray had no other choice but to enter as well.

Once they went inside, the walked into the lobby. Receptionist typed away at their highly advanced computers while dozens of people waited in the lobby, reading various music magazines. Gray looked around in awe.

It looked way more advanced than Starlight Records. No wonder they were doing so poorly.

"Gray, this way." Ultear instructed, snapping Gray back to reality. They both approached the main desk where Ultear both signed in for her and for Gray. The receptionist nodded.

"This way." Ultear said as they headed towards the elevator.

Once inside the elevator, Ultear pushed the the floor number that they wanted to head to: 135

"The top floor?" Gray raised an eyebrow, Ultear shrugged.

"You'll see…" His voice was almost sorry, Gray was so confused!

There was a long silence as the elevator moved up, passing all the floors beneath it. The only thing that broke the silence was the newest record that the company produced playing over inside the elevator.

DING!

With what seemed like forever, the elevator opened and Ultear walked out, his head down. Gray, still confused, followed.

They walked into a large room, an office.

The office was very classy, yet modern. Gray and Ultear both walked along the dark royal blue carpet, and yet Gray could not help notice the walls, a very clear white. Candles hung off the walls, burning brightly and flowers were everywhere. Portraits of boats and beaches hung on every wall, except the far back wall, which wasn't even a wall at all, just an entire glass window to look out from.

Right in front of the window/wall was a huge marble desk where two men, wearing business suits, stood over, negotiating.

Ultear coughed as a sign that she and Gray where here, both men looked up. Gray recognized one of these men, the one wearing the sharp business suit, white hair that was neatly tied back in a short ponytail, coal black eyes…

His Father.

"Ah, my family." He reached both him arms to both of them, not as an invite to for an embrace, but as an expression.

"Welcome, we have been expecting you, especially you Gray." He addressed Gray, who just shrugged.

"So this is the lad I've been hearing about, Mr. Fullbuster has told me so much." The other man said with delight. He wore a grey business suit, crisp blonde hair, stunning blue eyes, and thin reading glasses over his nose. Apparently since in his hands he held documents of some sort.

"Um," Gray began.

"Oh, please excuse my poor manners. I'm Mr. Clive, head owner of Wave Records." He introduced as he shook Gray's hand. Gray shook back, caring less.

"Your father is a great business partner." Mr. Clive said as he sat back down in his leather chair, Fullbuster raised his eyebrows.

"Business…partner…?" Fullbuster repeated the words to himself while looking towards his father, who smirked.

"Since Starlight isn't doing so well on its own, I approached Mr. Clive with an offer he couldn't refuse." Gray's father grinned as he sat down on a small leather chair that was seated before the marble desk.

"And he was right, I couldn't." Mr. Clive smiled.

Gray stared at both of them. What exactly did his father have to offer? The cooperation was running low on money, artists refused to sign, and not even a record they produced went platinum in months!

What could he offer?!

"I don't get it…" Gray said as he sat on another leather chair, Ultear kept her head down as he stood.

There was a long silence until Gray's father took a deep breath.

"We are…combining the companies. Starlight and Wave Records will become one." He finally said.

Gray paused for a few moments, taking in what his father just said. When it finally dawned on him, he angrily stood from his chair.

"A-Are you mad?! How could you give up everything that we worked so hard for?! How can you let the artists down, the whole company down?! Doesn't that mean anything to you?! Besides, we don't have the money to combine the companies! We would have to pay a fortune just to combine! That's not even mentioning transferring all the artist's labels over! How could you?!" Gray raged on as he stood there in anger, his father waited patiently for his son's tirade to be over, he really didn't seem concerned at all!

"Sit down Gray." He said sternly. Gray glared at him before doing so, his eyes still furious.

"We are not joining the companies through business." His father said as he took a sip out of his coffee, Gray stared queerly at him. Gray's father placed his mug down on a small table next to him before continuing.

"We are combining the companies through marriage." He finished. Mr. Clive nodded as he said this, Ultear still kept her head down.

"By…marriage?" Gray asked, bewildered. "But,"

"Mr. Clive is very old-fashioned and would prefer a male heir to take over his record company. He has a daughter, her name is Cana. She's quite the lady in training actually." Gray's father smirked.

"Yes, but her attitude could be quite the opposite." Mr. Clive said, both gentlemen laughed at the remark.

Gray was still in the fog…

"My family is very traditional." Mr. Clive explained to Gray, "All of our marriages were arranged by our parents, and since I'm quite traditional, I decided to continue the chain. The Fullbuster family is a very fine family, an excellent addition to the Clive family indeed."

"Why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you.."Gray said as he looked towards his sister, her brother looked up, her eyes sad.

"Ultear…" Gray said. So that was it. They arranged a marriage, just when he thought his father couldn't get any worse…

Using his own family for business…

"Ultear is a girl …" Gray's father began, Gray whipped his head around.

"Yes, and a girl wouldn't work out" Mr. Clive said, "No offense, Ultear." He mentioned towards Ultear.

"None taken." Ultear replied, her voice like a drone.

"Then if …?" Gray questioned, still not getting it. Mr. Clive and his father both just stared at him, suddenly, Gray's eyes widened.

"No…" Was all he could say as he shook his head.

"Yes my son, you and Mr. Clive's daughter are to be married as soon as you reach the age if 17. Then Starlight and Wave Records will have no choice but to combine, without paying such a hefty fee." His father spoke grimly. "It is quite the match made in heaven. Both personalities and business." He laughed.

Gray was too shocked to speak. He had…a fiancée? He once more looked at Ultear, now he suddenly knew why Ultear was acting so glum.

She wasn't acting upset because of the business…he was feeling sorry for his brother!

"Ultear, did you…know about this?" Gray asked as stood up from his chair.

Ultear slowly nodded, "I wasn't able to tell you. Father wanted us to wait until now…"

Gray looked at his sister in disbelief. She was the only one, if anyone, in his family who he could really trust! And now?!

"But what if I don't want to go through with it?!" Gray suddenly spat towards his father, his fist into tight balls.

"If you don't, then your send Starlight into its grave. Mr. Clive won't sign unless a marriage is promised, and without Wave Records, we will surely go bankrupt."

"But-!" Gray clenched his teeth.

"Then, t-that means we're e-engaged!" Juvia thought aloud as she came to realization.

"As long as you keep that necklace, then yeah, I guess." He said with a smile as he rolled his eyes. Okay, so Gray wasn't exactly planning on having this mushy conversation with Juvia right now.

"Sit down Gray, you have the choice. You can not cooperate and send Starlight to bankruptcy or go through with this and be done with it." His father scolded. Gray sat back down on the chair in disbelief, putting his head in his hands.

What could he do?

"Here is a picture of my daughter Cana; she's ten, just like you." Mr. Clive smiled as he handed Gray a small photo from his wallet. Gray took it and looked at the person.

There stood a girl, ten years old, smiling. She had long beautiful straight brown locks and her greene eyes pierced the camera. Her dress was in the style of a Sweet Lolita. The dress was colored in pastel blue, with the showing of a white bloomer sticking out from underneath. The frilly blue bodice of the dress has off the shoulder frilly sleeves and pink satin ribbons etched across her chest area, flowing off into the breeze. The bottom portion of the dress was short in the front but billowed out into the back with extra volume, touching the ground. She wore white sheer knee socks and white Mary Jane Lolita shoes. Her white laced glove fingers held a pastel blue laced umbrella that she held so ladylike behind her.

"So, when do the two lovebirds get to meet?" Mr. Clive teased.

"How about this weekend, I'm sure Cana would be thrilled." The two men kept chattering on and on.

Gray stared at the photo, unsure what to think.

How could he get mixed up in this? Why him?! Why?!

He looked at this girl who was now his supposed "fiancée", how he hated that word, and could only think of one thing. Or person.

"HeeHee Gray!" Juvia's childish voice echoed through his head.

"Remember," Gray whispered to her softly as he pointed to the necklace, "As long as I'm here and as long as you want it, I'll forever keep that promise." Gray reassured her, referring to his and Juvia's engagement.

Gray secretly clenched his teeth, trying his best for tears not to shine through.

'Juvia…'

'I'm sorry…but I can't…'

Juvia's heart shattered, her face paler than ever before! She stared at Gray in disbelief, who looked at the ground, Natsuamed.

"Y-You…already have a fiancée?" Juvia stuttered, tears spilling out from her eyes. Then why would he get her hopes up?!

Why did he kiss her then?!

Gray once more shook his head, "No, Let me finish Juvia."

Juvia's heart stopped pounding so hard when he said "no" but with what she heard, Juvia now had no idea what to expect…

"You don't know…how annoying she was." Gray said as he puta hand to his forehead, "She'd always follow me around, calling me nauseating nicknames, and she always told me what to do and what not to, especially when we ate."

Juvia nervously laughed, "Well, you did have bad manners Gray." She giggled weakly.

"So," He weakly laughed too, "It shouldn't matter what fork you use to eat what…"

There was a long painful silence, the only sound of the rain pouring hard on both of them…

"For four years I had to put up with that Juvia, four long years! And whenever I tried rebelling, my father would always scorn me, always putting the sake of the company against my back." Gray cringed. "But it was so hard…"

He looked up at Juvia, and once more, he found that she had inched a little bit closer to him.

"She reminded me so much…of you." He finally said, Juvia gasped quietly to herself!

"She would always fuss about the littlest things like you did, she would cry a lot, and she would cling to me for dear life whenever she got scared. Exactly how you would. It just made it harder."

"The letters you sent me made it worse, it was so hard to lie."

"Y-You lied? In the letters?" Juvia asked, Gray nodded.

"Only some things, just about everything that covered what were going on with my life…"

Juvia slowly shook her head in disbelief, all these years…she thought she had known…

"I had no doubt in my mind that I couldn't go through with it, especially that one day…that one day when I couldn't take it anymore!"

A fourteen year old Gray sat there, minding his own business, watching TV at home. He hated his new house, it was too big, too ornate. He preferred his old home, much simpler, closer to…

Gray shook his head to knock out the thought of his childhood friend. If he thought about her…who knows what guilt he'll feel…

Few and Few letters from her were being sent to him, and Gray knew why. He didn't have much time to write back, not with all the crap that Cana was putting him through! He didn't have the time!

He sighed while he reached from the remote, but suddenly, he heard the most painful thing ever, screaming into his year.

"Grayie!" A shrill cry screamed in his ear. Gray jumped off the couch instantly and turned around, to see no other than Cana sitting right there, smiling giddily with a jewelry bag in her hands! Her long brown hair reached all the way down to her back, and today she just wore a simple yellow sundress.

"God…" Gray said as he caught his breath. He suddenly remembered another reason why he hated his new home. She lived right next door!

"Sweetie, look what I bought at the jeweler! I think it'd be perfect for our wedding!" She dug through her bag with delight, searching for the said item. Gray rolled his eyes. He just wanted to-

"See? Isn't it beautiful?" She giggled as she held out a piece of jewelry.

A necklace.

Gray's eyes widened!

In her porcelain skin hands was a painfully familiar necklace. Tight silver chain, bright silver cross gray diamond…

"Doesn't it look-" Cana began but Gray snapped back.

"No it doesn't! It's the most hideous thing I've ever seen!" He lashed at her as he charged up the steps to his room.

"Gray! What's your issue?!" Cana shouted back up the steps, holding the necklace still in her hands.

However, Gray was still charging up the steps, slamming the door closed to his room. Once inside, he waited for Cana to leave.

Gray slammed a fist into his wall, he held it here for a minute before almost breaking down.

"Juvia…" Gray murmured…

He released his fist suddenly and grabbed his coat.

He was going to have a chat with his father.

"What do you mean your not going through with the engagement?!" His father screamed as he banged his hands on top of his desk, furiously standing up. Gray confronted his father in his office and decided enough was enough!

"You heard me! I refuse to be your simple pawn for your own greedy desires!" Gray shouted back.

His father cursed under his breath, "You're making a big mistake, my son. You have no idea."

Gray smirked, he honestly didn't care.

Gray's father settled back down in his chair, smirking as well. "Did I tell you that when Mr. Clive retires, than you'll be the first heir to Wave Records? This means both Starlight and Wave records would be yours. Isn't that what you always wanted?" His father grinned, surely this information would lure his son back in.

Gray was taken back! He…was going to be the heir of one of the most successful recording companies in the business?!

Gray looked at the smug smile on his father face, the look of temptation and success.

Gray furrowed his brow, then laughed bitterly.

"Isn't that a pity? Since Ultear and I already made plans to move back to our old house." He bitterly laughed, obviously not caring on what his father just said.

Gray's father's eyes widened.

"THEN GET OUT!" He snarled in anger as he pointed towards the door, Gray grabbed his coat and smiled victoriously.

He slammed the door hard as he left, cherishing the sweet sound it made.

'Hold on Juvia…I'm coming…'

Juvia was speechless, Gray had come back for her?! He gave everything up for her?!

But…

"No! Gray!" Juvia shouted as she lunged after him, arm out, tears in her eyes. She grasped his arm, and caught hold on him. He gave her an angry glare as he shoved her off, causing Juvia to fall to the ground in pain.

"S-STOP LYING! YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT FOR ME!" Juvia cried, Gray gave her a hurtful look.

"Y-You hurt me! You pushed me!" She continued to cry. "Why…"

"Cause…I thought you hated me…" Gray said, hurt.

Juvia snapped her head back up, "W-W-What?"

'When I came back, Ultear was the only one who came back with me. My father wouldn't even speak to me. I didn't care, I was so restless to see you, but then…" Gray paused, Juvia looked at him, anxious to hear more.

"When the moving vans were putting the few belongings we could bring back in our old home, I got a glimpse of you, with your friends…" Gray began, "You looked so happy, so carefree, and I heard them teasing you about some guys that I remembered from our class, how you turned red…It was if you didn't need me anymore…"

"B-But I do need you!" Juvia called out, but right that, she slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing what she just said!

She slowly removed her hand and continued as Gray looked at her, waiting for more. "There wasn't a day…that I didn't think about you…" She murmured, and that was it. Gray waited to hear more but when she didn't say anything else, he continued.

"That first day when I returned back to school, I didn't know how much of a commotion I would cause. And then…you showed…" Gray said, Juvia's heart raced!

"I-I missed you so much!" Juvia said, as she saw his eyes flicker into an angry glare. She didn't know how to react, what was WRONG with him?!

"The way you hugged me, the way you said you missed me…It made me so confused. I kept recalling how happy you looked with your friends…I was so angry."

"A-Angry?" Juvia stuttered.

"I was convinced that you were just putting on an act, there was no way that you really missed me. It started making sense, the fewer letters that I have been receiving… I came to the conclusion that you moved on…." Gray said as he made his eyes softer. "And then my father began to cut off all financial ties to us, Ultear was the only one supporting me…"

"My anger grew and I was foolish to blame it all on you. I really grew to hate you…"

Juvia's heart sank. 'So he really did hate me…'

But then, Juvia recalled his words.

"I was convinced that you were just putting on an act,"

"Gray…" Juvia began, Gray looked at her intently.

"Y-You thought that that was an act?! GRAY! Those smiles, that happiness…THAT WAS THE ACT!" She cried, Gray's eyes widened!

"You don't know how much I cried for you, every night…" She went on, " the only reason I stopped mailing letters was because you didn't write back much, I couldn't deal with the pain of waiting!" She cried.

"And when you returned…The pain knowing that you hated me, that had hurt so much more than the bruises for when I had fallen…" She continued to cry.

Silence….

The rain seemed to pour harder than before, but yet the lightening and thunder seemed to finally rest.

Gray noticed how Juvia just held herself, crying to herself. He noticed how much she was in pain, his heart skipped a few beats as he continued…

It was Now or Never!

"But…as the years passed…" Gray spoke up, Juvia looked up from her crying.

"I began to forget why I hated you so much…my love kept overcoming the hatred. And it was not only too recently that I realized that…" Gray stared softly at her, Juvia's heart raced!

"And when I found that you still held on to that necklace, I was so mad at myself for making such a huge mistake. I was then that I realized that I truly love you." Gray said.

Juvia's mind froze on his words, " I Truly Love You…" That was all she could hear…

"But I wouldn't allow myself to be with you, I couldn't be with you. I was such a horrible person for breaking your heart, and I promised you that I would protect you .Even if it was from myself…" He murmured, Juvia looked at him, her eyes still finally understanding.

"But it was so hard…I yearned for the softness of your hands, the sweetness of your breath, the way you would always giggle my name…"

"I just…" Gray began to tear up as he closed his eyes but the sweetest sensation stopped him. Lips brushed against his ever so slightly, he opened his eyes to see Juvia standing right there in front of him!

She took his hand and placed it against her cheek, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…it was my entire fault…" She whispered.

"No Juvia, I'm sorry." Gray whispered back, Juvia looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"You said you loved me, do you still love me?" She asked, a small hint of desperation in her voice, Gray smiled slightly.

"I love you." He murmured into her ear. As he shifted back, Juvia murmured these soft words into his ear.

"I love you…"

Gray smiled at her, and dug into his now soaked pocket, he held out the broken necklace and held it before Juvia.

"Do you…still want it?" He asked, the rain poured harder than before on both of them but neither seemed to mind now at all.

Juvia gently took the necklace from his hands and looked at Gray deeply into his eyes.

Juvia gently shook her head.

"I want you…" She whispered as she wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. Her lips came onto his and Gray kissed back as he pulled her close.

For once, Juvia's heart didn't beat fast at all, but yet a steady rhythm with Gray's…

She gently pulled back from the kiss but Gray then kissed her lips gently once more, then again…then finally taking her in for another deep kiss.

Juvia closed her eyes, cherishing the moment…

That night she didn't get Revenge at all…

In fact, she got something Much Much Sweeter…

Monday

Bright Blue Skies…

Birds singing swiftly throughout the trees…

A flower's first bloom…

The lazy wind kissing the earth….

All these things Lucy Heartphilia admired as she walked to school, alone. The wind tugged on her hair softly, causing her shoulder-length hair to drift slightly with the breeze.

It was a beautiful day-

She pushed back a lock of her hair behind her ear, and as she did, she paused, her gaze lost in the ground before her.

-but the atmosphere was not how it should be.

A lost and unbelieving gaze…

It was the first Monday since the Talent Show, and no one has heard from Juvia or Gray.

Lucy tried calling dozens of times over the weekend, but all she received was Juvia's voicemail, her happy voice telling her to leave a message. And when she really was desperate, she called her home phone, where her mother would sometimes answer, but yet Juvia not there…

Lucy sighed reluctantly as she pulled her cell phone out of her school bag, checking her inbox. There laid the sad hundred messages from her friends, asking if they heard anything from Juvia. It was unfortunate; it was like Juvia vanished completely…

"It's all our fault…" Lucy reluctantly said to herself as she stared at her phone, tear droplets just appearing on the corner of her eyes, "If we didn't come up with that foolish idea for the talent show, if Mira, Evergreen and Lissana didn't make it so elaborate, if we never set you up…."

"I-I HATE ALL OF YOU! A-ALL YOU DO IS HURT ME!"Juvia screamed.

"But you were so happy…" Lucy murmured, a tear drifted off her cheek. Immediately realizing her actions, Lucy shook her head hard, shaking out all the tears.

Mindlessly, she kept on walking; she would be late for school if she just stood there all day moping.

'Juvia will surely be in school today though, Maybe then we could all just sit down and settle things.'Lucy hoped as she kept on walking, yet for a moment she did not believe her own thought, there was no possible way…

Pretty soon, the high school came into view. As she came around the corner, she notice that dozens of students were huddled right out in front of the main entrance, in the school's courtyard; Lucy cocked her head to the side, confused.

Why were there people in the courtyard? She looked at the time on her phone and sweat-dropped.

She was a half an hour early and the doors haven't opened yet.

"I feel like an idiot…" She mumbled as put her phone back in her bag, but as she did, a familiar voice cut her off.

"Luce!" The voice cried out, Lucy looked up from her bag to see no other than Natsu run towards her!

"Oh, hey Natsu." She blinked, still caught off guard, yet relieved that she didn't have to wait for the school to open alone. "Why are you so early?"

"I don't know, I guess I was anxious to come to school." He shrugged, giving his boyish grin.

"You? Anxious to come to school?" Lucy snorted, trying her best not to fall over laughing.

"Well, you're here early too. So don't be judging." Natsu teased back, Lucy rolled her eyes. They both kept a steady pace with each other as they began to walk, Natsu leading.

"Lucy-!" Natsu eyes widened as he stared her suddenly, breaking the silence, pointing at her.

"W-What?!" She worried as she looked down at her uniform; alarmed that Maybe a there was some malfunction. A Stain? A Hole?!

In the midst of Lucy's panic, Natsu sighed as he took a lock of her hair in his hands. Lucy looked up, her face pink, her heart racing!

"Your hair is down today, I like it." He smiled as he let go, Lucy heart rate increased!

"Then I'll wear it down more often!" Lucy said out loud, but she immediately slapped a hand over her mouth.

She just said what?!

'Oh God, Why don't I just blurt out my feelings?!'Lucy cursed to herself.

Natsu looked at her densely before smiling "Okay."

Lucy blinked before giving out a sigh of relief; Natsu was still as dense as ever!

They both continued walking.

"Oh by the way, Congratulations on your win, Lucy!" Natsu congratulated as he put his arms over his head, walking. Lucy turned a dark crimson. Suddenly, she just remembered the Talent Show…

"Um yeah, Erm, thanks." She hesitated, turning a light pink, looking the other way.

'God, this is more embarrassing than I thought!' Lucy realized in shock as she got glimpse of many students staring at her, probably thinking of their performance.

"I didn't know you wanted to impress me." Natsu laughed breezily, breaking Lucy from her thoughts.

"Yeah well-WAIT! WHAT?!" Lucy began automatically, but once her mind processed what Natsu just said, her race turned a bright red as she faced him!

"No I didn't-!" She tried covering as she stared at his cute boyish face but Natsu smiled.

"Relax; Mirajane, Evergreen and Lissana told me after you left, when they were packing up all the stuff."

"Those little-" Lucy muttered under her breath as one of her fists turned into a tight ball, a vein popping out of her head.

"It kinda made me happy." Natsu spoke, Lucy looked up from her curse that she was going to plant on her friends and stared at Natsu, her eyes wide.

"W-What…?' Lucy said, her heart racing.

Natsu turned to her, smiling, "I was thinking Maybe we could go out."

Lucy stared at him for five bleak seconds….

"But we're already outside."She cringed.

Natsu blinked at her, like it was basic math. "No Luce, I mean like a date."

'A…date?'She processed the words in her head for a bit.

Silence.

"W-Well, if you don't want-" Natsu began shakily but Lucy was quick to cut him off!

"Yes!" She giggled as she threw her arms around him unexpectedly, "Yes! Yes! And Yes!"

"Well okay, if you insist." Natsu laughed back as Lucy held on to him tightly around the neck. "Um, Lucy, I can't breathe."

Lucy gasped slightly as she released Natsu. She smoothed her skirt while looking to the ground, blushing slightly.

"Sorry." She laughed lightly as she kept her eyes on the ground.

"Ah, don't mention it. If it's you, then that's okay." Natsu said as he put his arm around her shoulder, which caused Lucy to look at him, smiling. Together they began to walk towards a group of three people sitting under a huge cherry blossom tree.

Lucy gave out a sigh of relief, for the people under the tree were Erza, Levy, and Gajeel!

"Hey guys!" She happily greeted as she sat down next to Natsu under the cool shade.

"Hey Lucy," Erza greeted as she coolly rested her back against the tree, her arms crossed.

"Lucy!" Levy giggled as she shoved her camcorder in her face.

"Eh…" Lucy uneasily said, she looked to Erza for answers. Erza sighed, "She's been at it ever since everyone else got here, Let the girl have her fun."

"So Lucy, When's the date?" Levy pressed on from behind her camcorder, Lucy appeared, sweat-dropping on the film!

"H-How'd you?" Lucy began,

"Zoom feature Luce, Zoom feature." Levy giggled,

WHOOSH!

Levy stuck her camcorder suddenly in Natsu's face now!

"Tell me boy, we're you taking her? Hmm? Bowling? Movie? KYAH! Moonlight walk alongside the beach?!"

"Erm…" Natsu stuttered, shocked as Lucy was.

"God Mcgarden, you're so persistent." Gajeel rolled his eyes from behind the noisy bluenette. Levy harshly turned her camcorder on him. There Gajeel sat, his legs crossed, a smirk on his face.

"Gajeel…" Levy began, Gajeel stared at her, still smirking.

"You thought I was sexy!" Levy sing-songed, suddenly appearing from behind Gajeel's back!

"W-What?!" Gajeel was quick to defend as he was caught off guard!

"You got a stiffy!"Levy continued to sing from behind her camcorder, focusing in on Gajeel's face. Apparently, she was singing about Friday night.

Gajeel blushed harder!

"Did not!" He shouted back.

"You want to hug me, you want love me!"She sung from all directions.

Gajeel couldn't take this anymore!

"You want to kiss me-!"Levy began to sing once more but a pair of lips caught hers, breaking her chant. The camcorder slipped out of her hands as Gajeel kissed her, lost in the moment, she kissed back.

Natsu, Erza, and Lucy smirked. Slyly, Lucy took the camcorder that Levy dropped and set it promptly in her hands.

Then…suddenly…

"SO WHEN'S THE DATE?!"All three asked as Lucy snuck the camcorder right in between Gajeel and Levy, breaking the kiss!

The two blankly stared at the camera, completely embarrassed.

"Eh…"The both mumbled as Lucy pressed the camera on.

"EW Gajeel! I can't believe you would do that!" Levy suddenly shouted as she turned the other way, crossing her arms.

"You think I enjoyed that?! I only did it for you to shut up!" Gajeel countered, doing the exact same thing Levy did but to the other side.

Both though were blushing extremelyhard. Everyone smiled.

They weren't fooling anyone.

"Kiss her again!" An anonymous voice giggled from above, everyone looked up to see Aries and Loke, dangling high above in the cherry blossom tree!

"A-Aries? L-Loke?" Lucy stuttered as she looked up at the display, sweat-dropping. So they were there the entire time…

Aries sat on a branch, dangling her feet giddily while Loke sat high on the branch opposite of her, smirking.

"I mean, it's not like you don't talk about it at sleepovers Levy," Aries continued to giggle.

"WHAT?!" Levy blushed harder!

"C'mon, plant another one on her!" Loke shouted down towards Gajeel as he moved across the tree next to Aries, "You've been dying to all this time!"

"Shut the hell up!" Gajeel lashed out towards him.

"Aw, don't you two be such babies! Because we know Gajeel likes Levy, and we know Levy likes Gajeel! Please, oh please! We already went through so much drama, don't stir up some more!" Aries pleaded.

Gajeel and Levy both blinked at the same time before staring at each other, blushing slightly.

Slowly, they began to lean in towards each other…slowly!

"Aw, just do it!" Erza cried out as she chucked a Aries at them, Levy grew annoyed. She suddenly grabbed Gajeel by the collar and kissed him full force!

"WOOOO!" Everyone laughed as they broke, Gajeel blushing slightly.

"I um , wow Levy." Gajeel began, Levy laughed slightly.

"Looks like I learned a thing or two from the talent show!" She giggled to herself.

"Okay so, are you two…?" Lucy asked as she waggled her finger back and forth between Levy and Gajeel.

"I don't know, are we?" Levy asked towards him, Gajeel rolled his eyes. He pulled her into his arms, staring at the rest.

"Yup." He blankly said as he held Levy in his arms, "Right girlfriend?" He looked down towards Levy, "R-Right!" She answered, looking up at him.

"Aw, that's so sweet!" Aries giggled as she rocked back and forth on the branch.

"Yeah sure whatever," Loke said, he hopped down from the tree, landing swiftly on his feet! He brushed the dirt off his pants and dug his hands into his pockets, "Are you coming down too Aries?" He looked up at the long-haired pinknette, who smiled.

"Uh huh!"

It was easier said that done!

She pushed herself off the branch and fell down towards the Earth.

UNGRACEFULLY!

"L-Look out!" She cried as she fell, she closed her eyes for impact, ready to endure the hard land she would soon face.

THUD!

This was odd…

Aries didn't feel any pain at all! She didn't feel the hard ground, in fact, she felt something soft!

"Ow…" She heard a small groan, she opened her eyes to see Loke, lying right under her!

"L-Loke!" She blushed, putting her hands to her face! She can't believe she has done this, AGAIN!

"A-Are you okay" As she got off of him, on his side this time!She knelt down next to him, her face worried.

"Y-Yeah." He winced as Aries helped him to his feet. He smiled as he looked at her, "No panties this time, huh?" He joked, Aries grew horrified!

"PERVERT!" She cried as she tried to slap him but he grabbed her arm, still smiling.

"Yes, but I'm yourpervert." He smiled slyly as he pulled her in for a kiss, everyone was shocked to see Aries kiss him back so calmly!

"Y-You guys too?!" Erza asked as she looked at the pair. They both broke the kiss as they faced the group of confused teenagers.

"Didn't we tell you guys that we got together over the weekend?" Aries asked blankly, everyone except the couple fell over anime style!

"No! No you did not!" Lucy shrieked as she stood up.

"O-Oh…" Aries laughed sheepishly, sweat-dropping.

"But when?! How?!" Levy asked as she pointed the camcorder at Loke and Aries excitedly, who were still in their embrace.

"It kinda just happened. Aries came over to my house asking about Gray and then suddenly, one thing lead to the next and well you know…" Loke trailed off, Aries blushed slightly.

"Oh, we all get it." Natsu smiled suggestively, Loke and Aries blushed the darkest shade you could imagine!

"IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT!"They both screamed, "What kinda people do you think we are?!" Loke cried, as they both sat down next to Levy and Gajeel.

"Yeah! I'm not going to sleep with Loke the day right when we hook up!" Aries added haughtily.

Awkward silence…

"Eh…" She stammered as Loke slyly looked up at her.

"You think about that?" Loke smirked, Aries turned even redder!

"N-No!" She stammered.

She blushed as she looked the other way; Loke smiled as he kissed her on the cheek.

Yet there was still an awkward silence…

Erza felt the tense silence as she spoke up, "So, setting that topic aside." She looked towards the two, who were looking the other way, still blushing. "Anyone hear from…well…you know…" She began.

Everyone lowered there heads, ashamed.

"Nope…there were no signs of them either…" Lucy muttered as she looked around the courtyard, looking for any signs of blue or black.

"Do you think….Maybe something happened…?" Aries whispered, her face upset.

"Don't think such things!" Levy hissed, clearly upset as well. She looked around too; there was no sign on them…

Gajeel looked around as well, he scanned the area. All he could see was the large mass of students swarming in, he squinted his eyes as he looked closer,

"Ew, some couple is going at it under the oak tree." He narrowed his eyes, Levy slapped him!

"Gajeel! Don't be prying into a couple's business!" Levy scolded, Gajeel just rolled his eyes.

But then suddenly he noticed something about that couple!

Black…

Blue…

Gajeel's eyes widened as he automatically stood up!

"S-Something wrong?" Levy asked as she joined him with her camcorder, Gajeel saw it and took it from her hands.

"Hey!" Levy shouted, "Hush!" He calmed her down as he held the camera up to his eye and pressing the zoom feature. He zoomed in across the giant courtyard and onto the great oak tree that two teenagers were standing under.

Soon, Gajeel burst out into hysterics! "No way, NO FREAKING WAY!" He laughed as he bent down towards his knees, catching his breath.

"What's so funny?" Levy asked as she snatched her camcorder back, looking directly where Gajeel pointed it at. She stared for about five seconds before smilingly widely,

"KYAH!" She cried out with joy as she jumped up and down, she was glad she pushed the record button.

"What is it Levy?" Aries, Lucy, and Erza asked as they approached her, the brunette smirked as she showed the film she recorded.

"Levy I, Levy the greatest Director of all time, present you this!" She pushed the play button to show her friends, and once the film play, each face of theirs lit up immediately!

"Oh my god!" Lucy screamed with delight.

"Finally!" Aries squealed as she jumped up and down with Erza, who was too excited.

"What's everyone making a big deal about?" Natsu asked as he looked over the girl's shoulders, Loke as well looking over.

"Told you that it would end soon." Loke smiled.

"Dude…is that?!" Natsu stammered as he began to laugh, everyone else nodded giddily!

He watched the recording and he couldn't believe what he saw!

Gray…and Juvia…were kissing under the oak tree?!

"Yup, it is! And this film will certainly help with my A+ in Film!" Levy cheered as she resumed filming the couple from under the tree.

"Levy! You can't put that in your video! It's a precious moment to them!" Erza scolded as Levy zoomed in even more on the couple, Erza sweat-dropped as Levy ignored her.

"LEVY!" She screamed into her ear, Levy innocently looked up at her.

"But I'm doing them a favor! Trust me! When they get old, and after they make lots of babies, they're going to want to see their young love blossoming!" She explained, everyone else sighed.

Levy had a reason for everything.

And it was hopeless to convince her otherwise.

Levy resumed top her filming, giggling. "Juvia and Gray standing under a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Juvia and Gray with the baby carriage!"She chanted, she filmed as the two kissed.

But as she filmed the two broke the kiss and began walking towards their direction!

"Oh…crap! Everyone act normal, act like we don't know anything!" Levy panicked as she quickly turned her camcorder off, shoving it in her bag. Everyone rushed to find a causal position under the tree, and at the very last moment, they finally managed to all sit down in time before Juvia and Gray came!

"Hey guys!" Juvia happily greeted towards the group, they all looked towards her.

"Hey," They all acknowledged the group as they tilted their heads up towards Juvia, acting casual. Too casual.

"Eh…" Juvia flinched as she grew suspicious of her friends, Gray narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he had the greatest idea.

He whispered something into Juvia's ear, who giggled. The group stared at them, their curiosity peaked.

"Um Levy, can I check your camcorder for a second," Juvia asked as she sat beside Levy, who shrieked.

"W-Why?!" Levy quickly defended, holding the camcorder for dear life. Juvia looked simply confused.

"I just want to show everyone the recording of us backstage…I want to reminisce." She innocently asked. Levy sweat-dropped!

"I…Oh! Erm…." Levy turned her camcorder on and quickly went through the history until she finally reached the recording that Juvia requested. She played it in front of her.

"Can I hold it? I can't hear it well." Juvia asked sweetly, Levy nervously looked towards everyone, who looked the other way.

Surely they didn't want to be a part of this!

Levy resentfully handed the camera to Juvia, who happily accepted. She stood up and walked towards Gray with the camcorder.

"H-Hey! Where you going with it?!" Levy shrilled with horror, if they see-!

"Relax Levy; the lighting is better over here." Juvia reassured. Levy gave out a small sigh of relief, as well as the others.

But then…

Juvia and Gray eyes both narrowed as they took control of the camcorder, going through its content!

"NO! What are you doing!" Levy screamed as she stood up but she was too late!

To Levy's dread, Gray and Juvia found that footage.

There was a long silence…so silent that you could hear the audio of the video.

"Juvia and Gray standing under a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Juvia and Gray with the baby carriage!"

Awkward silence….

Levy spoke up, "Well you see…" She tried reasoning, "IT WAS GAJEEL! BUT THE BLAME ON GAJEEL! HE SAW YOU GUYS FIRST!" She pointed her finger at her boyfriend, who fell over anime style.

"Nuh uh!" He countered, "You filmed them!"

"Uh huh!" She got right in his face, "You should have known it would have peaked my interest!

"No!"

"Yes!"

The two bickered back and forth, back and forth!

"God…" Gray muttered under his breath, Juvia seat-dropped as she nodded, agreeing with him.

"I guess some couples love to fight," Juvia mentioned, everyone stared at her, especially Levy and Gajeel.

"H-How you know…?" They stuttered, Juvia and Gray laughed.

"We don't need a camcorder to spy on people to find things out, we can just tell." Juvia smiled.

"So you know about…?" Levy pointed at her and Gajeel, Juvia and Gray nodded.

"And us?" Aries asked as she referred to her and Loke.

"Girl, we've all known! Since like the last week at Art class!" Juvia pointed out, which cause everyone else to laugh.

"I know, seriously!" Lucy giggled, Aries' and Loke sweat-dropped.

"Well, I don't think they know about us, right Luce?" Natsu said towards Lucy, who flinched.

"Well NOW THEY DO!" Lucy shouted as she pummeled Natsu with her mallet.

"Ow!" Natsu cried.

Juvia smiled at the scene; things seemed to be alright…

But then, everyone glared at Juvia and Gray!

"NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO EXPLAIN! FESS UP!"Her friends glowered towards Juvia, who was taken off guard!

"Um…" Juvia began, but more questions were pressed on her.

"WHERE WERE YOU ON THE WEEKEND?! WHY DIDN'T YOU REPLY TO OUR MESSAGES?! WE WERE WORRIED SICK!"

Juvia sweat-dropped, "Um…if you let me explain…"

"THEN EXPLAIN!"They yelled in a huff as they sat down, criss-crossing their legs in a pretzel style, awaiting for the reason.

Juvia gave out a sigh as she and Gray both sat down in front of them, ready to give it a go.

"You see, um…wow it's really quite hard explaining it, isn't it Gray?" Juvia said towards Gray, Gray shrugged.

"Okay well, Gray found me that Friday night and after we cleared out a few things…we decided that it was foolish of us to be like the way we did and right then and there we settled it." Juvia smiled as Gray took her hand in his, everyone just stared at them.

"But the weekend." Gajeel mentioned.

"Gray and I kept it on the low as we made up for lost time. Plus, we both had very bad colds." Juvia sweetly said.

'Well of course we would have colds!'Juvia giggled as she blushed, remembering how they stayed out in the rain.

"So that's it…no more drama, no more crying, nada?" Erza asked, Juvia nodded.

"It's official," Gray stated bluntly, "Juvia's my girlfriend." He simply sat as he brought her close, everyone's face lit up!

"NO WAY!"They all cried out with delight.

"I'm so happy for the both of you!" Aries congratulated.

"We didn't have a doubt, not for a second!" Lucy added.

Everyone carried on and on, Gray and Juvia sweat-dropped once more.

"You guys, you don't have to act like it's such a huge thing." Gray began, everyone stared at him.

"BUT IT IS!"They all shouted back towards him.

Gray sighed; this was exactly why he and Juvia took off on the weekend.

"But," Juvia began, "That only leaves one more person." She winked towards Erza, who blinked, confused.

"That's right," Levy slyly said, "How are you and Jerall?"

"W-What?!" Erza blushed, "What are you talking about?!"

"Well Erza, it looks you're the only one without a significant other, which makes you the odd ball of the group." Aries teased, Erza glared her.

"I j-just don't wanna rush, that's all!" She crossed her arms in a huff.

"Well sometimes it's better to rip the band aid of quickly than slowly, Hey Jerall over here!" Loke called out towards Jerall, beckoning him to come over.

"YOU LITTLE-!" Erza hissed towards Loke, ready to pounce but as soon as she tried, Jerall appeared!

"Hey guys, what's up?" He asked, Erza right away put on a fake smile.

"Um, hi Jerall!" She grinned, everyone slapped their foreheads.

RING!

"Talk about Saved by the Bell, huh Erza?" Natsu teased as he and Lucy got up, Erza shrieked!

"What does he mean?" Jerall asked,

"N-Nothing!" Erza countered.

Levy and Gajeel snickered. "Well, we'll be late. We're heading in." The couple stood up, hand in hand, "See ya guys!" Levy winked towards them as they headed towards the school. If you looked closely, deep in the bushes, a group of Gajeel fan girls sulked.

"Yeah, we better go." Loke said as he and Aries stood up. Everyone was getting ready to leave but Juvia and Gray.

"Are you guys coming?" Erza asked.

"We'll be right in," Juvia said as she and Gray still stood under the cherry blossom tree.

Erza stared at them, smiling before turning to head back with the others.

Gray and Juvia were all alone…

"Finally," Gray said as he brought Juvia in for a kiss. As they broke, Juvia smiled.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I don't know, I was just waiting to be alone with you." He smiled, Juvia blushed lightly. He inclined his head once more to kiss her, more passionately this time.

Juvia nearly fainted in his arms! Gray broke from the kiss, smirking.

"Y-You can at least warn me when you're going to do that!" Juvia panted from out of breath, a little bit woozy.

"But what's the fun of that?" Gray snickered, Juvia playfully hit him.

"W-Well, we're going to be late for class!" She fumbled as she headed towards the main entrance, but yet a hold of her arm held her back.

"Gray?" Juvia asked as she looked back to see Gray holding onto her arm.

"We're going to be late…" She murmured as Gray brought her into an embrace. Cherry blossoms scattered and danced across the breeze, whirling around the two.

"Let's get out of here." Gray simply said, Juvia gasped!

"B-But that's ditching Gray!" Juvia said as she looked up at him. Gray smiled back.

"We're already late, and we can still get away with our colds." He smiled at her.

"I don't know…" Juvia mumbled, she never ditched a day in her life.

Gray reached out his arms towards Juvia, waiting for her.

"You coming?" He asked, Juvia stared at his hand. Suddenly, she remembered him, how she loved him, how much he loved her, theirnew love…

'I love you…'

"Yes…" She smiled towards him, taking his hand. Gray smirked as he picked her up piggy back style, heading out of the school. Juvia nuzzled her head against his neck.

'When I dared to touch, I felt you. When I dared to listen, I heard your voice. When I dared to see, I saw you. When I dared to have courage, you smiled. When I dared to cry, you wiped my tears. When I dared to run, you caught me. When I dared to love…'

Juvia opened her eyes to see Gray looking up at her, smiling; Juvia smiled back as she kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"I love you…" Juvia murmured into his ear.

"I love you too…" Gray murmured back, picking up more speed as they left the school area.

'When I dared to love…you loved me back…'

'I love you so much!'