As soon as the snow storm cleared, Jellal went straight to the best physician he could afford to look over Juvia and to try to cure her blindness. The doctor was kind and did the best he could. But alas this was one of those tragic cases where a person's best efforts just weren't enough.

"There's got to be something else you can try." Jellal had pleaded with the doctor. "Please! I'll pay anything!"

"It's not a matter of money." The physician said with a tone of compassion. "There's just nothing that can be done. She's so young and she was out in the cold for so long, truthfully it's a miracle that she's even still alive. Though her heart is very weak."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that for now, she must not be overwhelmed. It could cause her to suffer a heart attack or worse. As she gets older though, her heart will become stronger."

"How strong?"

"If she's healthy, then by the time she matures the worst that could happen to her is a black out."

"What about her eye sight? Any chance of that getting better with time?"

"I'm afraid it's permanent. She'll never see again. I'm sorry."

"So what am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to tell her that she'll never see again? How am I going to tell her that she'll be in the dark forever?"

But that was the truth of it. Juvia would never see again. She cried for a week and maybe longer. She cried over losing her parents, she cried over losing her sight, it was cruel what happened to her. It was cruel, it was unfair, but it was the truth, so Juvia and her brother would eventually have to accept it. How painful the truth can be. Not only for Juvia but for her savior as well. Gray had lost everything in just one night. His home, his family, even part of his face. Jellal did not mind the scars but he knew others would not be so tolerant, so he gave the boy a scarf to cover that damaged part.

"You don't have to wear it if you don't want to." Jellal told him. "But I suggest you wear it whenever we're in public."

But it wasn't just Gray's face that was left horribly effected, his mind was scarred as well. It happened shortly after Jellal had taken him in and it was in the middle of the night when the young man suddenly awoke to hear screaming.

"Jellal?" Juvia had heard it too, they were sharing one bed while Gray slept in the other. "What is it?"

"Stay here Juvia."

Jellal slipped out of bed and followed the screaming to the room on the other side of the carriage. There he saw Gray screaming and crying and breaking things.

"What the hell is the matter with you?!" He asked him.

But Gray didn't answer. He didn't seem to hear Jellal or even recognize that he was there. He looked as if he was somewhere else and that he was trying to get away from something. He must have been mortified beyond all reason because he literally broke open a window and tried to climb out. Jellal grabbed him and pulled him back inside.

"Stop that!" Jellal demanded.

"A demon!" Gray cried out. "A demon! Help! Help!"

"Demon? There's no demon here!"

"Mother! Father! Help me! Please help me!"

That's when Jellal realized that the boy was having a flashback. He grabbed hold of him, Gray struggled. He struggled, kicked, scratched, and even bit him. In his traumatized mind he was being held by the "Demon"

"It's alright Gray." Jellal told him. "It's alright. You're safe now. No one here is going to hurt you. I promise."

It was several hours but eventually Gray wore himself out. After this behavior continued for six more nights, Jellal decided to put a stop to it. His late father had been a chemist, brewing special ointments, medicines, and drugs to sell during their travels and Jellal had always studied how his father worked carefully. He knew every recipe by heart and could probably brew up anything just as well as his father had. The one he was fixing for Gray was a drug called Crimson Lethe.

"What will that drug do to him big brother?" Juvia asked as he worked.

"It won't hurt him, it'll just make him forget."

"Forget what?"

"Whatever it is that causes him pain. Father once sold a bottle to a man who's wife had been raped and she couldn't live with the memory of it and tried to take her life. This drug was the only thing that could help her move on."

"Will it help Gray?"

"I certainly hope so."

"But what if he forgets his family? Their deaths are causing him pain so will the drug erase his memories of them?"

"Possibly."

"Should you give it to him then?"

"These fits can't go on Juvia. If they do he may hurt himself or you. Right now it's in everyone's best interest that he forget."

So the next time Gray had his fit, Jellal put the bottle of Crimson Lethe to his mouth and down the hatch it went, causing him to pass out and wipe away all the trauma. When he woke up the next morning, he still knew his name, he still knew that his parents had been killed, he still knew that his face had been brutalized by the same man. But he had no memory of it. He also couldn't remember where he used to live or what his father did for a living or what even his last name was. Most likely due to Jellal giving him such a heavy dose. He didn't mean to take away so much of his memory but he didn't see any other way to prevent the child from harming himself or the girl.

With his memory gone, Gray's fits did cease but his personality became very depressed. For days, he barely said one word and spent most of his time just sitting and staring. Later he became obstinate. He would bicker with Jellal at times and other times he would stubbornly refuse to do as the man requested. Particularly, when he would instruct Gray to assist him with chemistry.

"Gray I want you to go outside and gather some Feverfew." Jellal told him one day.

"Why?"

"Because the recipe for this anti-migraine medicine requires it."

"Why can't you just go get it?"

"Because I have to stay here and watch the tonic brew. With something like this, you have to take it off the fire at just the right moment."

"Why can't I do that while you get the plants?"

"Because the pot is too heavy for you. You'll burn yourself. Now do as I say."

"Why should I listen to you? You're not my father or my brother. I don't have to do a thing you tell me."

"Perhaps, but if you don't, you can just find somewhere else to live."

"What?"

"You said it yourself, I'm not your father or your brother so I have no obligation to keep you. I do it by choice and can easily change my mind and throw you out. So you better change your attitude toward me."

"Fine." The boy gave in. "I'll go get your stupid plants."

"May I go with him Jellal?" Juvia asked. "It's so warm outside. I want to feel the sunlight and the grass."

"Very well." He said. "Gray take Juvia with you and keep an eye on her. Hold her hand at all times."

Gray wanted to protest but that could get him thrown out so he kept silent, pulled the scarf that Jellal gave him down from the hook, tied it around his face to where it would cover the lower half, and finally he took Juvia by the hand and led her outside.

Truth be told though, Jellal was bluffing when he said he'd throw Gray out. He didn't have it in him to abandon an orphaned child. But there was nothing wrong with a little bluff to keep him in line if he was getting too big for his britches.

"Why am I always stuck watching you?" He complained as they walked through the grass, hand in hand.

"I don't know but I'm very grateful to you." Juvia said.

"Whatever."

"Are they any flowers out here?"

"Some."

"What kind are they?"

"I don't know all their names."

"Then tell me the colors of the ones you don't know."

"Okay, there are some daisies, some dandelions, some yellow flowers and purple flowers."

"Are there any roses?" She asked him. "I love roses. The white ones are my favorite."

"We're in a field Juvia, roses don't grow in fields you goose."

"Please don't be mean to me Gray. You're my only friend."

Gray suddenly stopped and turned to look at her.

"Friend? We're not friends."

"We're not?"

"No. How can we be friends? We don't know anything about each other."

"So let's get to know each other."

"I don't even know who I am, how are you supposed to know?"

"I guess I'll just have to use what I already know."

"Like what? I haven't told you anything about me."

She let go of his hand and started to lean forward but then she stopped herself.

"Can I feel your face?" She asked.

"Why?"

"It's to help me figure out something. Do you mind?"

"Kind of weird, but it won't kill me."

Juvia carefully reached toward him and carefully used her fingers to study each feature of his face. His forehead, his ears, his eyelids, his nose, and then she stopped at his right cheek. She gave it a few light taps and caresses, and judging by her expression, she seemed to be thinking real hard. As she did this, Gray could not help admiring Juvia's eyes. For a blind girl she had very resplendent eyes. Large, clear, and blue, they gave off a radiant light despite the fact that darkness was all those eyes could see. It would be years before he admitted it, but in that moment, he decided that she had the most beautiful eyes in the world.

Then he was snapped out of his trance when she placed her lips on his cheek in a peck like kiss.

"What are you doing?" Gray said jumping back, his face burning red.

"I wanted to know for certain that it was you who saved me from the storm. When you held me in your arms that night I thought you were my brother, that's why I kissed your cheek. But it didn't feel the same as his."

"You can tell the difference between his cheek and mine just by touch?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know. I just can."

"But didn't you already know that? Didn't your brother tell you?"

"He was a little too upset to go into detail. He just said that you found me. I didn't know if you had actually picked me up and carried me. That must've been very difficult for you."

"Not really." He said. "You were surprisingly light."

"Still not everyone would do that. And I- Oh!"

She tripped on a rock and started to fall forward, Gray was instantly under her in a minute, his arms around her upper body and steadying her back onto her feet. Once again their faces met, Gray's blush grew and Juvia began blushing too. She couldn't see but his breath told her that his face was near hers.

"I...I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life." She said softly.

"You're...You're welcome."

Juvia smiled at him, Gray smiled with feeling. In that moment something changed in those two children forever.

Gray realized that if this girl who had lost not only her parents but her eye sight, could still find a reason to smile and be happy, then things weren't as hopeless as they seemed to him. She had brought him out of his depression and he finally realized how lucky he was that someone like Jellal had taken him in when all others had turned him away. He vowed that from now on he would be good to Jellal and Juvia. A gracious and loyal friend til the end.

As for Juvia, once it was confirmed to her that this boy who had been alone, abandoned, and close to death, had risked everything to save her life. That he just willingly rescued her when he didn't even know her or had any reason to, like a prince in the many stories told her, Juvia fell in love. Now you're probably wondering how can she love someone she can't see? Well the thing is, she did could see him. She could see that deep in his heart, he was a kind and selfless boy. One that she never wanted to be separated from for the rest of her life.