When Gray managed to give those men the slip, he sneaked back to the carriage and by then Juvia had started to wake. Her eyes were not the only things left permanently effected by the cold, it had also made her heart very frail, though not so much now then when she was a child. As an adult, whenever she was under extreme amounts of stress or fear, her heartbeat would turn rapid, she'd hyperventilate, and finally she'd pass out. Normally that was the worst of it, but Gray and Jellal lived in constant fear that someday it wouldn't just be a fainting spell. It would be her heart giving out for good.

"Are you alright Juvia?" Gray asked her as she stirred.

"Gray?...Is that you?" She came to slowly.

"Yes it's me. You got too scared and you went out like a light again. Did those creeps hurt you?"

"No. I'm alright."

"Good." His tone then turned irritated. "Damn city's full of animals. How low do you have to sink to harass a blind girl?"

"Don't get too angry, it could have been worse."

"Do you think you'll be able to still perform this afternoon?"

"Yes. If I don't, how else will we eat?"

"Good point."

"Do you think this afternoon's audience will be as big as last night's?"

"I doubt it. Last night we only had that many spectators because the grand duchess was wtching the show."

"I've heard many things about her. She's my age, isn't she?"

"Yes." Jellal said, having walked in on their conversation as he was making so last minute adjustments for the show.

"Did any of you see her? What did she look like?" Juvia asked.

"She was blond, brown-eyed, and pink-skinned."

"Was she as beautiful as everyone says she is?"

"She was like the sun-"

"Oh Jellal please, not another sonnet." Gray said rolling his eyes.

"What's wrong with my sonnets?"

"Well they are pretty cliche and make you sound like such a dork."

"They do not." Juvia argued. "Ignore him Jellal, I think your sonnets are wonderful. Please continue."

"Thank you. As I was saying, she was like the sun, Aurora, a woman of ferocity and spirit who does not fear the blush. Unlike you my dear sister who is like the moon, Twilight, a maiden that is innocent, gentle, fair, and alabaster. But in my opinion, the one most beauteous, is her royal majesty, who is the earth, Terra, her magnificence comes from her humble, wise, and dual nature, serving as a devoted mother to her people. Truly, what could be more lovely?"

"As I said, cliche and dorky." Gray said.

"I think it's beautiful." Juvia said. "And imagine if the queen herself heard you speak such words about her."

"I'd rather not." Jellal sighed.

"Why do you write these sonnets again?" Gray asked.

"Because he's a romantic." Juvia said. "Something I wish you could understand."

"Why? What could I possibly gain from understanding romantics?"

"Well for starters." Jellal said. "It'll help you find a wife."

"Why would I want to find a wife?"

"Are you saying you prefer men?"

Carla snickered under her breath.

"No!" Gray scoffed. "But marriage is the last thing on my mind right now. I have way more important problems in my life." He started to head for the stage outside. "Besides, I look like road kill crossed with surgical malpractice. What woman in her right mind would want to marry me?"

"I can think of one." Jellal muttered once the younger man was gone. He then nudged Juvia in a teasing manner while humming a wedding march.

"Stop that!" Juvia demanded in whisper.

"I'm just teasing."

"Well cut it out. He might have heard you."

"Oh please, as if he'd actually understand the implication. For ten years, you couldn't be more obvious about how you feel about him and for ten years he's remained as oblivious as a rock. It's almost sad really."

"Speaking of which, now that we're alone, can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

"Well as you know, I am now seventeen years old and most girls my age are married by now and I've been thinking that maybe." She looked down in an anxious manner. "Maybe the time has come to think about a marriage for me?"

"You want to get married?"

"Well yes. Is that a problem?"

"No. I admit it's a bit out of the blue, but I suppose I always knew this day would come. With Father being dead, it's only natural that I takeover the responsibility of finding you a suitable husband."

"Yes and you've always known how I feel about Gray and I...I was wondering if maybe...Would you let me marry him?"

Jellal went silent for awhile, taking a moment to think about what she had said. Then she heard him sigh again.

"Honey, I don't know if that'll work out."

"Jellal, please, I know you probably have someone more financially stable in mind but Gray makes enough to support a family and you know him .You know he's trust worthy and decent. He's also kind and honest and dear and hard-working. No other man, apart from you, has ever cared so much for me. And I love him."

"I know you love him. You haven't exactly made your feelings for him subtle, but I have doubts about what you're hoping for and it has nothing to do with if he can take care of you or not."

"Then why do you think it wouldn't work out?"

"Because you have overlooked one crucial detail. You love him, but does he love you? And I don't mean as a friend or a family member. Does he love you as a man loves a woman?"

"Well I don't know. We've never really talked about how we really feel about each other. I've tried to bring it up once or twice, but the first time I chickened out and the second time, he changed the subject. I'll get down to it eventually, I just wanted to know if you would consider giving him permission to marry me."

She felt Jellal's hands take hold of hers and cradle them softly.

"Juvia I think Gray would make a fine husband for you. I even considered betrothing the two of you once when you were children because I wanted to make sure there would always be someone to look after you once I'm gone. But then I thought that it wouldn't be fair until I knew if both parties had the same feelings for one another. Nowadays people marry for status or convenience, but in truth, this kind of union exists only to bring together two people who are in love. What I'm trying to say is, if he loves you that way you love him and if he asks me for your hand, then you both will have my blessing. But I don't want you to get your hopes too high in case it turns out he just loves you the same way I do. Understand?"

"I do." She nodded.

"And you understand that if he doesn't feel the same way, it doesn't mean he doesn't care about you?"

"I do."

"Good."

"But can you answer something for me? Has Gray ever noticed other women? Has he ever looked at them in a special way?"

"Not that I've seen. I mean he does notice a good-looking woman but his gaze has never lingered. At least I've never seen his gaze linger."

"I wonder what it would be like to see him looking at me. Smiling at me. Oh if IGod could let me see just one thing, I would want it to be Gray's face."

"He'd prefer it if you never saw it. If no one ever saw it. You know about his condition."

"Well I can't speak for other people but I know that if I did see his face, it wouldn't change a thing about how I feel about him. You believe that, don't you?"

"Of course I do. But he probably wouldn't. It's not that he thinks you'd be that shallow, he just doesn't think anyone could ever really love a man with a face like his.He thinks it would be like someone expecting to love the devil in his true form."

"I wish he didn't think that way."

"Me too."

"Maybe you should talk to him about it? I've tried, but maybe it would mean more coming from someone who can see."

"I'll speak to him after the show. Now hurry up and get ready, we're on in an hour."

Outside, a crowd was gathering up near the stage as they waited for the show to begin. Mard and Natsu were among that crowd, Mard waited impatiently for this show to be over done with while Natsu waited in boredom. After ten minutes, he tried his luck at flirting with two young women in the audience.

"Good afternoon ladies." He greeted. "What do you say that after the show, the three of us go about on a walk and appreciate sharing the sights of London? Though no sight could be as lovely as the two of you."

"I'm married." One said flashing him the ring on her finger.

"Oh! Excuse me Madame."

"I'm not." Her younger sister said blowing him a kiss.

"But you are engaged." The slightly older maiden said.

"Not officially." She and Natsu both smiled at one another. "Besides, a captain would make a much more attractive suitor than a mere merchant."

"Oh, come along Angelique." Her sister said. "Before you send your fiance into a jealous and violent rage like last time."

She grabbed Angelique and quickly pulled her away from Natsu as they distanced themselves.

"I'd say you dodged a bullet this time pal." Happy thought.

Natsu just brushed off the failed conquest and turned his attention back to the stage. Happy couldn't understand why his master always chased after other females when he knew for a fact that there was only one he would ever consider for a mate. Lucy. Happy, as all animals could, sensed that Natsu had given his heart, his head, his soul, pretty much everything to Lucy and that he'd rather spend his life with her than anyone else. So why seek out others? What was the point?

"Just one female would be enough for me." Happy thought. "Which is strange considering that cats are typically a monogamous species, but I'm a rare case. I want commitment. Pity there aren't that many cats around here. Female ones that is."

But how funny fate could be. For at that exact moment, when Jellal and Juvia appeared on stage, a cat appeared with them. A pretty, white, female Maine Coon with the finest coat and the most shimmering eyes Happy had ever seen on any creature. Jellal began to play music from his flute, leading the blind girl and the cat in a dance.

While most males in the crowd were distracted by Juvia, Happy couldn't take his eyes of her feline companion. Watching the pretty kitty leap, flip, and prance with the same grace as her mistress.

"Nice show today, huh Happy?" Natsu said to his pet, though the cat didn't respond. "Happy?"

He saw that Happy had directed all his focus on something else, he followed his gaze, and when he saw what had captured his attention, he smiled and chuckled.

"You sly Tom Cat."