"W-What?"

Juvia closed her eyes. "They knew who Juvia was," she whispered. "They knew about Juvia and Gray-sama's engagement."

Gray took fistfuls of the sheets on either side of her head, clenching his fingers as tight as he could as he took deep breaths. They had been so careful to keep their relationship a secret among the guild and a very select few wizards outside of Fairy Tail, like Lyon and Crime Sorciere. It was dangerous to be in love as a wizard, but especially within the guilds. It was a risk, a weapon, to be used against you.

Like Juvia was used against Gray.

"They wanted to get to you," Juvia was speaking again, her arms wrapping around his waist to keep herself steady. "To hurt you. They asked Juvia questions about Gray-sama every day. They wanted to know things even Juvia did not know."

Gray's stomach twisted. It was because of him she was taken. No, he thought, it wasn't because of him; he had to remember that, he couldn't lose sight of it. It wasn't his fault. It was the worst kind of humanity possible who did this to his Juvia. His head was spinning, but he had to stay solid and take care of her.

"Juvia didn't give them anything!" her voice was rushed and louder than she'd intended, mistaking his silence as concern for what she'd given away. "Juvia stayed as quiet as she could, and tried to show no fear; she knew Gray-sama and Team Natsu would save her."

Gray felt so very in love with the woman beneath him. "You're so very strong, my love," he whispered, moving a hand to hold her cheek. "I'm in awe of you every single day."

Her tears kept coming. "Does Gray-sama really mean that?"

He nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I really do, Juves..." he paused, trying to choose his words carefully. "Would you... would you like to tell me what happened? What they did to you?"

Juvia went pale, scooting back and sitting up slowly. Gray crawled towards her, lacing his fingers between hers as she brought her knees to her chest, curling up in a ball. It was almost completely dark in the room now, and although the storm had subsided, there was still a soft rain outside. He wanted more than anything to take her pain away, to make the rain stop for her, but he knew it would rain for a little while, until she had a chance to heal. He would shield her as best he could.

"Juvia wants to talk about it," she said. "But Gray-sama mustn't lose his temper. Please."

Gray nodded avidly; he had to put his anger aside to care for her. He knew that now. Juvia sighed, squeezing his hand. "I'll be here," he whispered. "You protected me while you were away. Now I will protect you... I promise."

Juvia felt so secure with Gray by her side. She felt like she could tell him anything... so she did.

"When the mission began," Juvia's voice was slightly stronger now. "Juvia knew instantly something was wrong. The village was abandoned, and looked like it had been for a long time. That's when they ambushed Juvia from behind."

Gray cringed slightly as she continued. "Juvia fought as hard as she could, but Juvia was very outnumbered. Juvia thinks one of them had some type of sleep magic, because one minute she was awake and the next she wasn't. When Juvia awoke, she was chained to a wall with magic sapping cuffs in a dark damp room."

Her mate had to take a deep breath to keep himself centered. "Juvia was still very tired when three men entered the room. They started asking questions about the guild and Natsu and Erza. They asked Juvia about Wendy and Lucy. They even asked about the exceeds."

Juvia was fighting back tears. "Juvia was silent all this time. And then they started asking about her beloved Gray-sama, and Juvia must have seemed upset because they smiled and asked many many more questions. When it became obvious Juvia wasn't going to answer, they began casting magic." Her voice hitched. "It was blade magic first. It hurt so very much, Gray-sama, but Juvia did not once cry out in pain... at least that first day."

Gray had to fight back the image of someone hurting her like that. She had endured so much for him.

"The days were very long," Juvia continued. She had to keep going, before she lost her nerve and her confidence. "The methods were different every day, but the questions were always the same. Juvia tried not to scream, but it hurt so badly, Gray-sama. The cuts and the beatings and the starvation, even the silence..."

Gray kissed her forehead in comfort. "Did they..." he had to force himself to stop shaking as he spoke. "Did they touch you?"

Juvia shook her head, looking down. "They said Juvia wasn't even worth that."

Gray wanted nothing more in that moment to tear the men who hurt her limb from limb, to send ice through their veins and to watch them freeze to death from the inside out. "You went through so much," he whispered. Juvia laughed, but it was humorless.

"When Team Natsu came, Juvia was losing ground," her voice kept getting smaller the more she talked. "Juvia tried so hard to not scream, to not cry, but she couldn't help it. So she just kept thinking, 'what would Gray-sama do?' and she knew he would do anything to come back to Juvia. So Juvia kept fighting."

Gray pulled his fingers through her hair, tugging her into his lap and tucking her head beneath his chin. "You're so strong," he told her again. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I wasn't there to rescue you."

Juvia grimaced. "Actually, Juvia is kinda glad Gray-sama wasn't," she confessed. Gray raised his eyebrows. "Erza and Natsu were angrier and more violent than Juvia ever expected. Lucy summoned Loke to carry Juvia away while she took out her whip to fight too.. Juvia can't imagine what Gray would have been like if he'd gotten ahold of them," she explained.

Although he knew she was right, it still hurt a bit to know he wasn't there to hold her when she was saved. Gray felt tears threatening to make an appearance, and he quickly wiped them away, trying to remain strong. Juvia didn't fail to notice, giving him a soft smile and wrapping her arms around his midriff. His skin was both cool and warm at the same time, and touching him was, without a shadow of a doubt, her favorite sensation. Gray swallowed.

"I'm ashamed," he whispered. Juvia looked up at him, meeting her eyes with onyx, as he continued. "There were moments when my faith in you wavered," Gray's breaths were much shorter now. "I never gave up completely, but I was so afraid you were gone for good, and I didn't know how to process that."

Juvia gave another soft smile, closing her eyes as she placed her hand on his chest. "Juvia isn't upset with Gray-sama," she told him. "She knows it was hard. But none of that matters now; Juvia is home and married to her wonderful Gray-sama." Juvia paused, opening her eyes before speaking again. "Does Gray-sama want to know how Juvia did it?"

Gray hesitantly nodded, pressing his forehead to hers. "Juvia thought about this day," she laughed quietly, the sound genuine. "Juvia imagined the day she got to come home and lay with her love again. Juvia thought about getting married and having babies with Gray-sama. She imagined what kind of magic they'd have; she imagined what color their hair would be."

He let a few tears slip. "I love you," he whispered. "I know I'm not very vocal about that. I don't show you the most affection. That's going to change," he assured her. Juvia kissed his cheek, giggling lightly. Gray's chest felt lighter at the melody drifting from her lips.

"Juvia..." she stopped, focusing for a moment. "I-I love you too."

Gray blinked, looking down at her as a delicate blush bloomed across her soft cheeks. "Oh Juves," he sighed. "I can't believe I didn't love you sooner."

Juvia laughed again, pulling him to lay down. She seemed so tired, and it felt so right to hold her in their bed. "Juvia would have waited a hundred lifetimes to feel Gray-sama's love."

Gray smiled, watching as her eyes drifted closed. "Thank you, my love." he whispered. "For coming home to me."

Juvia gave a sleepy smile. "Thank you for giving Juvia a home to come back to."

... x

epilogue coming soon.

man i loved doing this.