Maekan finally fell into a nice slumber natter all the small meet and greets. Gray continued to stay by her side, stroking her hair gently as she slept. A small smile formed on her lips, as she continued to nuzzle her pillow a bit. Gray smiled as he reached down, hesitating for a moment before placing a soft kiss in her hair. As Gray pulled away, he happened to know Juvia standing by the doorway, her face a bit hurt. But Gray wouldn't know that. Gray looked at her with a questioning look as he stood up from his seat.

"Oh hey Juvia. You came to see Maekan, too?"

he asked but she slightly shook her head, her gaze on the ice mage. He was more confused now as he slightly approached her. SHe flinched a bit but she was able to stay calm a few minutes later.

"N-No um..Ju-Juvia came to lo-look for Gr-Gray-sama…"

"Well? What is it?"

she hesitated for a minute as she was fiddling with fingers. She gently tugged on his sleeve as she led him to the corridor of the nursery.

"Wh-Why do you like that girl..? She's on the bad side.."

Juvia exclaimed as she looked up, looking into his eyes. Gray stared back, his face emotionless. He shook his head and took a grasp of her shoulders.

"She's not bad…she was forced to go on the bad side…."

"But Juvia doesn't like it when you are with her! You should stay with Juvia! Always!"

she responded back, wrapping her arms around him as he was slightly taken back. He looked down at her as she buried her face into his chest.

"Ju-Juvia..Let g-go of me…"

he stammered, gently pushing her shoulders, but she wouldn't budge. She shook her head and held a bit tighter.

"Ju-Juvia…lo-loves G-Gray-sama…Juvia loves you…!"

Gray's eyes widen as he continued to look at her, his face heating up slightly. She kept her face hidden from embarrassment as she continued to hold onto him.

"Ju-Juvia…"

he muttered as he moved his arms, slightly holding her now. Juvia smiled slightly as she felt him hug back, relaxing now in her arms. Gray continued to hold her slightly, his face still a bit warm as he continued to look down at her. Maekan, however, hid behind the curtain, peeking slightly as she glared at the two. A few tears slip as she let them roll down her cheeks, turning away from the thing that caused pain in her heart. She quietly took her things, looking back again noticing as they were still in the same position. She mentally growled disgusted as she clenched her strap to her bag. Even though she was still physically and now, mentally hurt, she still ran away anyways. She jumped quietly out the window, her bag hanging from her left shoulder.

"Well..Its been a while, hasn't it Mae-chan?"

she heard the voice and turned just barely to look over her shoulder.

"Yo, Mae-chan!"

She continued to look over, closing her eyes a bit and turning around to face the two.

"Its nice to see you guys too, Sting..Lector.."

she greeted, fixing her hair slightly. Sting got closer to her, grasping her chin as he tilted it up. He nodded slightly, moving closer to her.

"You got way cuter for the pass several years.."

she moved herself away from his grasp as she looked down at Lector. She smiled as she picked up the small cat, holding him in her arms. The small cat smiled as he was slightly pressed against her breast, the dragon slayer pouting a bit.

"I can say the same thing to you Sting.."

she replied, catching his attention. He looked at her, blinking a few times before his face started to get warm all of a sudden. Lector looked at his friend, laughing to himself slightly. Maekan giggled, Sting blushing a bit more.

"Oh and Sting..you know that thing, you said a couple of years ago..?

"Ye-Yeah..what about it..?"

his blush started to calm down now, as he finally had the courage to look at her again. She continued holding Lector, looking down a bit.

"I'll take that offer.."

she mumbled. Sting looked at her before a grin broke to his lips.

"You really want to? I mean, It's not like I don't want you there, its just about Minerva and all.."

"It doesn't matter..I'll do it."

she said, looking at him in the eye. He looked back, nodding as he placed his arms at his sides. Maekan gently placed Lector back down, fixing her bag slightly as he continued to look at her.

"I just..want to stay away from there for now.."

Sting nodded as he started walking beside her, gently grabbing her hand through the process. She intertwined her fingers into his, squeezing it gently. Lector walked in between them, small enough to fit inside the small gap. They continued to walk, side by side and hand in hand. Happy slowly peeked from a small bush, a worried expression on his face.

"Eh..?"