Author's Note: I have more little scene ideas but I only managed to finish these three, but since they're supposed to be set during that one year time skip, might as well post 'em now, right? I dedicate 'em to tumblr user samiichan 'cause I would've kept these buried for me 'cause these events are not at all likely to happen, but yeah, just three short little things. I'm not sure if they're even related to one another lol but just take 'em what you will, hope you like it :)

Also yo, sorry for not updating this in over a month, school's got me busy again! But I'll be workin' on that multichap primarily, then come back to this, but I still love your guys's feedback on either part! What are your thoughts on the time skip? And that chapter 416?! Ahh the Gruvia-lovin' :')

title: wanderlust
rating: M
summary: Gone are the days of our peace.

Shaking his canteen, Gray turned it over, eyeing the last drop falling onto the grass.

Out of water. Great.

He held an arm above his eyes, looking up to the glare of the sun. The days were getting hotter—it was no doubt summer. Was time really passing that quickly? Summer… how were Natsu and the others doing, anyway?

He slung his bag over his shoulder, walking towards the sound of a waterfall nearby. He'd see them again; now wasn't the time to get caught up in nostalgia.

Pushing through the branches, he emerged from the bushes, only to freeze his next step.

There was a figure under the waterfall. A womanly figure, with wide hips, slender legs, pale skin and long, wavy hair—

Juvia.

Gray immediately flinched, ducking behind a nearby tree. He snuck a glance back at her, checking to see if she'd seen him, but to his surprise, she didn't notice.

He told himself to look away, to walk away and let her bathe without peeking eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to look away.

She was… ethereal, under the waterfall. The water rushing down her body, cascading down her hair and curves as she tilted her head back and let it wash over her face. She stayed that way for a few moments, immersed in her own element, but then her arms moved, and the water followed with her.

Water swirled around her body, cut through the waterfall and set droplets of water scattering around her. Ripples formed in the springs from the sprinkling water, but she remained perfectly focused, gliding her arms gracefully around her. It was like she was dancing with it, the fluidity of her movements leaving Gray rooted to his spot. The water slipping through her hair, washing over her shoulders, gliding lower—but her face captivated him the most, so serene, calm and in control. She had a certain confidence in the twirls of her fingers and pivots of her feet, spinning around and bringing the water with her.

It wasn't until she dropped the water that Gray realized she was still completely naked, and if she caught him now—well, not that she had a reason to catch him, 'cause he was already walking away and not looking back—

"AAH!"

That made him stiffen, immediately pivoting on his foot and rushing back.

"Juvia! What's—?!"

SPLASH!

The ice mage paused, twitching at the water drenching his hair and clothes. Meanwhile, a lone frog croaked on its lily pad before hopping back into the water.

"Eh?" Juvia blinked as the amphibian swam freely in the springs. "Just a… frog?"

Gray slapped his forehead, wiping the excess water from his face. "Juvia…"

The girl snapped her face up, only to flame red at the sight of her beloved and immediately duck into the water.

"Aaah! Gray-sama!"

She covered her chest despite the water rising just beneath her shoulders, her hair floating in loose waves around her.

"D-Don't look! I-I mean—unless Gray-sama wants to—"

"W-What?! No—!"

"Ahh, Gray-sama saw Juvia's naked body! D-Does this mean… we have to do that!?"

"Juvia!"

"Wahh, Gray-sama! This is so sudden!"

"F-Forget about it! I didn't see nothin'!"

"Oh…"

"Don't sound disappointed!"

Grumbling under his breath, Gray whipped his red face away, turning on his foot and stomping back towards their campsite. A few steps in, he heard Juvia humming a soft tune, making his shoulders relax as he slowed his pace to listen to her song.

Little did he know, that same tune would later lull him to sleep while he slept against her lap.

"Water nebula!"

"Ice-make: Shield!"

He grunted when the water crashed against his ice, simmering upon impact. Juvia switched position with grace and agility, her dress a little torn and some scratches on her face while Gray sported tears on his own pants.

"Water lock!" she cast, sending a rush of water to his legs, but he jumped out of the way, sprinting along the snow. She sent water chasing after him, only to make him come to a screeching halt when a water geyser burst up before him.

"Shit," he hissed, summoning and ice sword and thrusting it into the ground. He kicked off the blade before summoning an ice wall, the ice so thick it left his form blurred behind it. But Juvia still followed the blur of black running behind it, eyes locked on his form until he paused and assumed another ice-make position.

"Water slicer!"

Scythes of water shot forth from her hands, slashing through the wall of ice—and Gray along with it. She gasped when she heard a grunt, immediately ending her spell and rushing towards him.

"Gray-sama!" she cried as his ice wall began to fade. Her heart raced in her chest, first from adrenaline, now from gripping fear—he'd told her to take him seriously, since their first training sessions she was "too gentle", but she'd gone too far! She saw the way the water sliced through his side, cutting deeply and sure to leave a mortal wound— "Gray-sama!"

She froze when his body cracked, solidifying to ice. Immediately, her eyes widened— I-Ice clone?!

She felt herself knocked off her feet a moment later, falling into the snow with her arms locked above her head. She squeaked upon impact, shutting her eyes in reflex before fluttering open to the ice mage above her.

"Juvia," he murmured, staring down at her and panting quiet breaths. "What did I say?"

"B-B-But—" she stammered, flickering her eyes to the melting ice clone. "Juvia thought—"

"You can't let your guard down," he said firmly, squeezing the wrists in his hands. "Ever. Understand?"

She looked at him, feeling a warm blush paint her cheeks. He was staring so heatedly at her, so close to her face the tips of his hair brushed her forehead and cheeks. His chest, bare as always, heaved in shallow breaths, mirroring her own as she panted softly beneath him. She found herself growing lost in the intensity of his gaze, drawing her lashes lower over her eyes.

"Juvia… thought she…"

"Listen to me," he said, eyes falling to her parted lips. "Feelings…" he loosened his grip on her wrists, "are just…" he dropped his hand to her thigh, sliding beneath the slit of her dress, "distractions." He pressed his mouth against hers, eliciting a soft sound from the girl as her hands found his cheeks.

Her fingers slid to his hair as he slanted his mouth, curing in the dark locks while she returned his kiss. She whimpered when his hand slipped further beneath her skirt and squeezed, arching her back and bringing her hips closer to his. He shifted above her and kissed her deeper, coaxing a small mewl from her throat as her fingers dragged down his jaw and neck.

Gently pulling away, she looked up at him, slowly raising her lashes. "Gray-sama…" she breathed, fluttering her fingers over his lips before tenderly caressing his cheek. "Feelings can make you stronger."

He stared down at her, half-lidded eyes tracing over her flushed cheeks and reddened lips before returning to her eyes.

"Come on," he said, pushing himself off her and pulling her up by the hand, "if you stay in the snow too long, you'll catch a cold."

He pulled her up to her feet, letting her intertwine their fingers as she shuffled closely to his side.

"Will Gray-sama warm Juvia up?" she purred, nuzzling his shoulder.

He simply chuckled at her, squeezing their interlinked hands.

Her legs extended in the air as his hips rocked mercilessly into hers. The pace he set tonight was twice as erratic, leaving her arching her back and crying out his name. His face was buried against her neck, teeth and tongue scraping her skin while she tossed her head back and gasped.

Her moans were never-ending on his ear, long and throaty while her muscles squeezed euphorically around him. He hissed a curse and she moaned louder, begging and pleading more, Gray-sa—ahh—please, yes—ah!

Her luscious legs wrapped around his hips, squeezing tight. Her breasts, pressed flush against his chest, bounced with every thrust. The marks she had left on him before were still healing, but she was oblivious to that as she made new ones, raking her nails down his back and sinking her teeth into his neck. The rush he felt from her scratches and bites was nothing like he felt from battle, sending a new surge of energy through him as he moved his hips faster and rougher. His reward was the sound of her screams and the thumps of the bedframe against the wall, banging thrust for thrust and moan for moan.

They'd get another noise complaint—fifth one this week—but he could care less. His attention was stolen by her—her eyes shut tight, her cheeks flushed dark, her lips red and swollen from his kisses. The bruises that marked her pale skin were scintillating, inviting for more, but he pressed his mouth to her lips instead, muffling the mewls and cries of his name. She bent her legs back and he pushed one close to her chest, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth and brushing with hers. When he pulled away, she sank her teeth into his lower lip, tugging it back before leaning against the pillow. Her hair clung to her cheeks as her heavy-lidded eyes met his, and he groaned her name, shutting his eyes and feeling the pressure build up his chest. He groaned it again, pressing his forehead to her shoulder, and she held him tight, whispering, "I love you" over and over in his ear.

He always kept her close afterwards, drawing her to his chest with his arms around her waist. She always curled into him, the final shivers of her release leaving her body while she tiredly leaned into the crook of his neck. Her lips brushed against his skin as she whispered his name, pressing a soft kiss and sighing in content.

He held her tighter, breathing in the soft lilac scent of her hair.

"Stay with me," he murmured into the dead of night, swirling small circles into her lower back.

She only nestled into him further, resting her cheek against his chest and leaning into him.