AN: Short chapter but I think we need loads of Fluff and love after the last chapter.

Also, we are not having an update next week, Onyx Storm (Book 3 of Fourth Wing/The Empyrean) is coming out tomorrow and I literally booked two days off work to read it and obsess over it repeatedly! So, no big dramas on this one, just fluffy fluff clouds of fluff!

Please accept this fluffy chapter as my apology!

#

Without the Dark, We'd Never See the Stars – Part VII

#

Just like the previous morning, Juvia woke up feeling achy all over, but unlike then, every ache was welcomed. It was a reminder of the amazing night she shared with Gray. She stretched and somehow the ache became pleasant.

By the gods, they hadn't fallen asleep until around four in the morning, exhausted and satisfied; it seemed they couldn't stop touching each other, either driving the other into the highest of pleasures or talking and laughing in each other's arms under the covers while catching their breaths.

He was lying on his stomach next to her, facing her way and he looked so relaxed and beautiful. Juvia turned her body to face him, and she was so glad they weren't stupid enough to have lost this.

After watching him for a while, Juvia couldn't put off her body's needs any longer and she quietly left the bed, finding her discarded towel and wrapping it around her, and she went to the bathroom to take care of her needs. She looked at herself in the body length mirror and she looked… at peace. Of course, she also looked completely debauched and there would be no denying it what happened between her and Gray, but she didn't want to deny anything anymore.

Juvia cleaned herself the best she could before going back to bed and when she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw Gray with his weight on his forearms looking around in confusion until he saw her. "Gods, did I not tire you enough last night? Why are you still getting up with the sun?"

"Almost two hundred years of habit." Juvia chuckled. "But I could be convinced to come back to bed."

Gray lifted the covers. "Off with that towel." Juvia obediently removed the towel and crawled back into bed, and he pulled her to him. It was very cute that Gray liked to spoon her, and she would never complain to have his body around hers, her head on his arm and his other one on her stomach, bringing her closer.

Gray took a long sniff of her hair and kissed her neck gently. "Go to sleep." He whispered and she nodded, feeling warm and content. Juvia let darkness surround her and she fell asleep easily,

#

The next time Juvia woke up, it was with Gray getting off the bed to answer the door – she was surprised she didn't hear it herself. He found her discarded towel and wrapped around his waist as he went to open the door.

Juvia raised her body just enough to see Gray get a large tray with food from a servant boy and then kicked the door closed after thanking him. Juvia sat up, sheets hiding her upper body.

"Oh, we missed breakfast? Is it that late?"

He brought the tray to bed. "Not too late, it should be around nine or ten. We could still go to the dining hall, but we have everything we need right here." Gray sat next to her and got a loose grape from one of the plates and then found a note. Juvia was absolutely starving, and she took a sip of the orange juice in one of the cups and then started to eat a buttered piece of bread while Gray read the note and then he snorted. "Nosy bastards."

When Juvia looked at him in confusion, Gray passed her the note.

'Gray and Juvia, I hope sharing a bedroom last night means good news for both of you. Gray, I know we had plans today, but we can deal with those things tomorrow. Enjoy your day with your lovely lady. - Yuki' Juvia read and then noted a different handwrite right beneath the High Lord's neat one. 'Make me grandbabies. - S'

Juvia started to giggle. "I guess it's safe to say your father stayed over?"

"He said he would." Juvia offered him a bite of her bread and he eagerly took it. "At least they are not expecting me any time soon."

"Oh? Do you have any plans?" She smirked.

"I have a lot of plans." Gray leaned in and kissed her. "Most of them involve this bed, you, me and no clothes."

"Most of them?" How is it that she wanted him again so soon? She had him all last night and she still wants more.

"The bed is not the only place I have plans for you." He shrugged and Juvia felt a shiver go down her spine. "Now, eat up. Don't think I didn't notice you were not eating well the past couple of days." He scolded her and Juvia thought it was adorable that even after an argument, he was still concerned for her wellbeing.

"It seemed you were the starved one, my poor breasts are so tender, they have marks all over them." Juvia pouted.

"You were not complaining." He smirked and he looked so much younger, so carefree. "I seem to remember you actually asking for more?"

"That doesn't sound like me." Juvia finished her bread and picked a sliced piece of fruit. "Juvia is very sure you were begging at some point, though?"

"Now that doesn't sound like me." Gray chuckled and Juvia smiled at him. "We are going to eat, have sex, then we are going to take a bath together in a special spot I know. After that, we can go to town for lunch."

"We have a perfect good bath right there." Juvia pointed to the door leading to the bathing chambers.

"Trust me on this." He smiled.

"I do." Juvia was the one to lean and kiss him that time.

#

All Gray told her was to pack some clean clothes and a couple of towels for them. He had to leave to his room to grab some clean clothes and once they were all dressed and packed, Gray led her around the palace.

Some servants would smirk at them or giggle as they walked by, Gray pulling her by the hand, seemingly very excited to go wherever they were going. The servants just seemed genuinely happy Gray was happy; he was loved there and it warmed Juvia's heart.

He led her to one of the smaller libraries on the ground level and Juvia was very confused, but Gray just smirked when he pressed on one of the bricks on the back wall and a door appeared. It of course had a glamour hiding it and a ward so someone wouldn't find it if they didn't press the correct brick.

Gray held his hand, and she took it, both going in and Juvia noticed a stairwell. Once the door closed behind them, a second later torches came to life on the walls, showing them the way down.

"Are you bringing Juvia to some sort of hidden sex dungeon?" Juvia asked as they kept going down the stairs. "I'm up for anything, but isn't it too early to show your freaky side?"

Juvia could only see the back of his head, but she could feel his eyes rolling at her comment. "I thought you trusted me."

"I did say I'm up for anything, didn't I?" Juvia replied and Gray chuckled.

After a few minutes, Juvia could hear water running and with every step they took, it got warmer. They finally arrived in a large warm cave with pools of water so clear Juvia didn't know if the bottom of it was close or far and a small waterfall. The torches around the cave were also lit up but the pools themselves were lit up in a blue hue.

"What is this place?" She asked in wonder.

"The very secret family hot springs." Gray said, proud of himself to have caught her of guard, no doubt, and putting their bad safe on top of a rock. "This is real reason why the palace was built here, if my history lessons when I was a child are correct. Yuki told me our ancestors realised they could have natural heat, magic wasn't always so easy to access and after the palace was built, it became a place the family has, to have some time alone. Yuki showed it to me when I was about twenty or something, when it was more likely I would continue to be his Heir for a while. We were the only ones aware of this, until now." Gray pulled her to him, and Juvia gasped in surprise. "If you tell of this place to anyone, though, I'm afraid I will have to kill you."

Juvia wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, I'd like to see you try."

"I did, I won, remember? When we met." Gray said, kissing her.

"It doesn't count. Neither of us had our hearts in it." She smiled. "Maybe what we need is a round of hand-on-hand practice when we go home, and we can see who would win. No magic."

"Sure." Gray shrugged. "Would you like to go in?" He pointed to one of the pools with his chin and Juvia beamed in happiness.

"You should always assume anyone part nymph will want to go swimming- Oh." She furrowed her brows. "Juvia didn't bring anything to wear for swimming."

Gray looked at her in disbelief. "It's just you and me here, Juvia. No one knows about this place, and I am pretty sure I have seen, touched, and/or licked all of your body in the last twelve hours. I think swimming naked is the tamest think we will do today."

Juvia flushed. "Yes, you are right."

Gray gave her a toe-curling kiss and stepped away from her and he sat on a rock, still looking at her. "I think it's only fair you undress first, I did it last night." Juvia felt heat go through her body. "I don't tire of checking out the goods." She just laughed and shrugged, she had no problem with undressing in front of him. "And Juvia? Make it good."

Oh, so that's how it was.

"Always do." She winked slowly stepped closer to him, eyes never leaving his and she let her hair fall loosely in waves from her ponytail and started to undo the buttons of her dark blue coat slowly and once she was finished, she shrugged it off, letting it land on the ground, a thin shirt the only thing covering her torso.

She easily removed her skirt, and she could scent Gray's arousal all over the cave as he took her almost naked form. Juvia put one leg next to him and leaned in to remove her boots and Gray must have scented her own arousal even more because Juvia heard a growl coming from his chest up to his throat and given the past twelve hours, she knew he wanted her. She might or not have planned that reaction.

He tried to put his hands on her hips to ring her closer, but Juvia pushed them away. "Juvia didn't touch you when you undressed last night, she just watched. You will do the same." She purred and Gray held his hands in fists next to him as Juvia finished with the boot and then she had her other leg up on his other side and she could see he was barely holding on.

Her shirt did very little to hide what she had underneath, same went for her undergarments and she knew he was smelling her new wave of arousal but also the clear mix of their scents coming from between her legs and apparently, he was quite a fan.

Once she was free of her other boot, she reached for the hem of her thin shirt and pulled up, showing her bare chest and Gray's eyes were predatory on her, checking the few bruises from the battle a couple of days before, that were almost healed, and he had made sure to kiss them all the night before and then the much fresher bruises on her breasts and he clearly liked to see them there.

Juvia could see he wanted to reach for them, but she saw his restraint. To tease him a little bit, Juvia made sure to stretch her body and Gray snarled.

"Is Juvia making it good?" She asked.

"Get it over with already." He said between gritted teeth.

With a giggle, Juvia reached for her underpants and removed them, standing fully bare in front of him and she saw him let out a shaky breath. Before he could ask, Juvia did what she had asked Gray and slowly turned around so he could look at her whole body.

"Are you done?" Gray asked and she had a flashback from the night before.

"Yes." She said and he was on her a moment later, pining her on a smooth wall of the cave – even as he was, he thought of her wellbeing.

"New plan." His hand started to roam over her body, and she gasped. "Quick round of sex then we get into the pools?"

"Oh yeah." Juvia agreed with a giggle and kissed him.

#

While Gray removed his clothes – he was really impatient when he took her against the wall and just lowered his pants – Juvia sighed as she used the small stairs that were clearly sculpted on rock and the warmth of the water hit her.

She sighed with relief as she submerged. She opened her eyes and could see everything so clearly. She swam under an opening that led to the second pool and she could see there were more openings to the other pools and more tunnels.

She focused on feeling the water and realised how big they were, she could sense where the river flow into the rocks and it met with an… underground dormant volcano?

Juvia felt Gray step into the water and she swam back through the opening to the pool he was in, and she smiled when she saw him dive him and open his eyes. She was a quick swimmer, and she swam around him once before putting her hands on his cheeks and going for a kiss. Gray pulled her into his chest, and they came out of the water, where he deepened the kiss, her legs around his hips and they just enjoyed each other for a few minutes.

"You look like a water nymph swimming around like that and just… happy." He said. "Not that I have ever seen a nymph, but this is what I will forever have in my mind."

Juvia's smile grew. "I never seen one either, but my mother had webbed fingers and large eyes. I remember swimming with her, and she was so fast. She loved to swim."

Gray reached for her hand and interlocked their fingers. "I have to say." Gray told her, kissing her neck. "If this is the vision your grandfather had of your grandmother, no wonder he fell for her seduction. Seeing you in your element and so carefree like this… I would say you could seduce not only me."

"I like it when you are like this." Juvia said in a low voice, and he hummed in question, his lips going from her neck to her collarbone. "Telling me I'm beautiful and touching me so gently, being sweet. You weren't a jerk before, but it feels like you changed really fast."

Gray sighed and looked up to her. "Juvia. I am fucked either way. I don't know how but you have me around your little finger. If I act this way or not, us is still happening, and I rather spend it being honest and enjoying it than trying to be No Feelings Gray."

Juvia put a hand on his cheek, and he leaned on his touch. "How about when we go back home?"

"What about it?" He asked.

"How are things going to be when we are no longer in this little bubble that it's just you and I?" She asked gently.

Gray looked at her for a moment. "Well, I assumed it would be the same it was before, but with more sleepovers and less clothes." Juvia giggled. "Honestly, thinking about it, it's not like we didn't talk about deep shit or didn't hang out. We will do all those things but instead of being in Fairy Tail having a drink, we might be talking in bed."

"This trip just turned our relationship physical." She said sweetly. "The feelings were already there."

"This trip made me realise a lot of things." Gray told her. "One of them is that we only live once. Well, my quick death aside, of course." He snorted. "I know that was awful for everyone, but it gave me perspective now that I think about it, especially after talking to my dad and with you." His hands were on her hips, his thumb massaging her hipbones slowly. "If I… If I prevent everything to get to me, then nothing will ever happen to me. If we hadn't talked last night and I had got into my head again, I wouldn't have this right now, holding you like this." He pulled her a little closer and Juvia put her arms around his neck, their bodies pressed even more together. "I wouldn't have all the teasing that will come from my friends, I wouldn't have a lot of experiences that I never thought I wanted or needed."

"You want this." Juvia was still in wonder that he wanted her back, the bond in her chest shining in joy.

"I want to see where this can go." Gray said. "I can't promise you I won't fuck up at some point, or perfection-"

"Juvia doesn't want perfection." She told him. "I want this. Whatever we become, whatever we mess up and then fix. All Juvia wants, is you."

"Good, because I want the same." He kissed her, slowly and deeply and Juvia responded at the same pace. They were still figuring themselves out since the night before, but at least they had the same goal.

Juvia would tell him about the bond soon. When the time was right.

Once they stopped kissing, Juvia whispered, grinning with mischief. "Do you want to explore the caves?"

"Explore?" Gray frowned. "Well, I guess we could after we get out of the water. We would have to be careful to not get lost-"

"No." Juvia giggled. "I mean the underwater caves." Gray looked at her in surprise. "They go a long way and not too far from here there's a huge chamber we could swim for a while, there's air there."

"Did you already sense this with your power?" Juvia nodded. "Of course you did. I would like to, and I know you are part nymph but not all of us can hold their breath under water for a long time."

"Ye of little faith." Juvia let go of him and created a large water bubble. "There's enough air for us to explore for about…. Ten minutes? It's enough time for to get to the chamber."

Gray looked at her in amazement. "Are you telling me I just… put this on my head and then we can go exploring the underwater tunnels?" Juvia nodded and Gray smiled brightened the bond on her chest. "We will probably be the first ones ever to do this. I've wanted to explore the caves for almost two hundred years!"

"All you needed was a part-nymph water magic user to get your wishes fulfilled." Juvia chuckled.

"A lot of wishes are being fulfilled." He gave her a quick kiss and then took the bubble from her and said, before putting the bubble over his head, excited. "Let's go!"

#

Juvia was walking next to Gray, he was leading her out of the busy main street of town. They had found a place to have lunch and were walking to Gray's next plan for their day together.

She smiled as she remembered him smiling as he explored the caves with her, the bioluminescence coming from the walls lighting up their way and both of them were amazed at how beautiful everything was. Once they arrived at the cave Juvia mentioned, it had a high ceiling so it was a good air pocket. Both of them just enjoyed the warm water and the view.

Once they were back at the original cave, Gray kissed her deeply and thanked her for the experience and that next time they could go further than the second cave.

Juvia liked the idea of "next time".

"Just remember what I told you, okay? She is mostly bark and no bite." Gray was telling her as they walked outside of town and followed a path where she could see some scattered houses around. "You say the word and we leave. I just know she will kill me if we leave and she is the only one who has not met you and of course everyone probably blabbered all about you to her and-"

"Gray-sama, breathe." She giggled. "Juvia is more than fine meeting your Master. I wouldn't want you in trouble."

They walked in silence for a few minutes until he muttered the next house was her Master's. Juvia's heart raced a little. From what Gray told Juvia, she had raised him and taught him how to use his magic. Everyone else she met was kind of on a spur of the moment situation someone else created, this time he was the one bringing her.

The house looked big enough to accommodate a small family, it was simple but clearly well looked after. Gray and Juvia stood in front of the house for a moment and then after taking a deep breath, Gray opened the door.

"Mom? I'm home." He shouted and Juvia raised her eyebrow at Gray calling his Master, 'mom'.

"Kitchen!" Juvia heard and Gray offered his hand and Juvia took it as he led her deeper into the house and she could see how cozy and comfortable everything was. That was a home, a real home. Juvia was glad this is what Gray grew up with.

Once they arrived in the kitchen, Juvia saw a slight older woman with short dark hair and eyes, her face so similar to Ultear she couldn't be anyone but Ur Milkovich.

Before she could say anything, Juvia was all but tackled by Meredy into a tight hug. "You came! I was hoping Uncle Gray would bring you to see us before you left!"

Juvia smiled sweetly at the younger female. "Couldn't leave without saying good bye, could I? How is your mother?"

"Still resting. She woke up a few times, but her magic always drains her too much. I hope she will be walking around in the next few days."

"That is good." Juvia sighed in relief.

"Can I write to you when you go home? I will address it to Uncle Gray and he can give it to you or you can give me your address."

"Sounds like a plan." Juvia smiled and sudden realised eyes on her and she slowly turned to see Gray leaning on the doorway, smiling softly at them and the older female with arms crossed, looking at them with assessing eyes, taking it all in. Juvia cleared her throat. "Apologies. I-"

"Do not worry, I know how hyperactive my granddaughter can be." Ur said with a shrug and icy eyes. "So, you are the one all my kids, my male and the High Lord himself are talking about. Summer Court born, part water nymph that is now part of the Night Court. Quite a journey, quite a story." Juvia blushed and didn't know what to reply. Gray opened his mouth to say something but Ur raised her hand without even looking at him. "Lots of holes in your story to why you moved around, actually." Oh, so this was going to be much worse than she thought it was going to be. "Care to share why?"

"Juvia had her reasons." Juvia raised her chin, not letting herself being intimidated. "And those reasons were accepted by the High Lord of the Night Court himself."

Ur snorted. "Makarov has always been softie." She turned her attention to Gray. "Do you know?"

"Never really pushed for an answer." Gray offered her a one shoulder shrug. "Figured she will tell me when she is ready." Juvia's heart melted for him even more. "I did meet one of her cousins at the ball, though, and if that's how her family treated her back in Summer, no wonder she left." He said between gritted teeth.

"Gray-sama." Juvia said softly. "Juan-"

"I know, he decided to not be a dick for once, but that was after a lifetime of giving you shit and using you as weapon, a shield." Gray all but snarled. "If he gets the rubies rescinded, that's a step towards the right direction." Ur was looking at their interaction with interest, mostly Gray. "But yeah, mom, that's Juvia Lockser. My… friend?" He clearly didn't think it through what he was going to say when introducing her. He looked at her in panic to make sure she wasn't hurt but Juvia was just chuckling to himself. She was fine with that.

"Nice to-"

"Is this my new favourite daughter I hear?" Juvia was surprised to see Silver barge into the kitchen and hug her. "It's been too long, my dear."

"You talked to her last night, old man." Gray snorted and Meredy, who was sat at the table, giggled at the interaction.

"And you have been hogging her all to yourself ever since." Silver all but pouted as he let her go and went to stand next to Ur.

"How are you, Silver-sama?" Juvia asked with a pointed look and he instantly realised she meant about his talk with Gray the night before.

Silver had a soft smile on his lips. "Lighter. Thank you." From the corner of her eye, she could see Gray frown at the interaction. "You?"

"Never better." She smiled.

"You must call me Father from now on." Silver said and Juvia blushed. This was too chaotic for her.

"Dad." Gray was pinching the bridge of his nose. "You can't just make people call you that."

"Sure can." Silver grinned. "Will you, Juvia? Call me Father?"

"Silver-sama-"

"Father." He corrected her.

"Fa-father" She tried so she could make him see reason. "Maybe calling you that will make Gray-sama uncomfortable?"

"Meh, he'll live." Silver shrugged. Gray just sighed in defeat. "See? It's fine."

Juvia looked at Gray and then to Ur, who just raised an eyebrow. "Do not call me mother."

"I-I wasn't going to." Juvia stammered. "Ma'am." She added.

"Don't call me Ma'am." Juvia must have looked panicked because the older female just sighed. "Ur is fine."

"Thank you, Ur-sama."

"Just Ur."

"Yes, Ur-sama."

"You get used to it." Gray told his mother and walked to stand next to Juvia. "I just wanted to introduce her before we left because I know everyone else met her and you would have been upset you had been the only one who didn't. Now, we should really go back to the Palace for dinner."

"Not so fast." Ur stopped him. "She must pass the test."

"No, she does not." Gray said without hesitation and Juvia frowned.

"What test?" Juvia asked in curiosity.

"Years ago, we agreed anyone joining or intending to join the Fullbuster-Milkovich-" Silver started but Ur cleared her throat "Milkovich-Fullbuster family needs to prove they are worthy."

"Okay, no one is joining any family." Gray shot her an apologetic look. "It's not what you think."

"Boy, I have a nose." Ur rolled her eyes. "You two smell like Silver and I do for the first few days when he comes back from his travels. It really doesn't matter how many baths you take when you have been at it for so long."

"That is true." Meredy nodded. "It's quite obvious what happened."

"I am glad for you both but yes, there's no denying it." Silver grinned.

"Oh, Cauldron boil me." Gray muttered to himself and then turned to Juvia. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine." Juvia didn't know if she wanted to panic or laugh. She turned to Ur. "What is this… test?"

"Just show me something impressive." Ur said.

"I can tell you-" Gray started but the older female shut him up.

"I heard the tales, boy. I want to see it." Ur looked at Juvia. "Are you up for it?"

Juvia looked around and then nodded. "Maybe we should go outside." Ur raised an eyebrow but nodded.

#

"This is really not necessary." Gray said. He was by the side door of the house with Meredy and Silver while Juvia and Ur were facing each other.

"It's very necessary." Ur told him and then to Juvia. "I need to know if you are good enough for my boy."

"Oh, what is happening?" Juvia heard Lyon's voice and Meredy murmured something. "The test? I'm so glad I came home early. You show the old hag what you are made of, Juvia-chan." Ur looked at Lyon and he amended. "You too, mom. Show her."

"Brats." Ur snorted and then looked at Juvia. "So, girl, what are we doing outside?"

"Juvia didn't want you to damage your house." She said and took a deep breath, preparing herself. "Throw ice at me."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't worry." Juvia smiled. "Just do it. Anywhere."

Ur hesitate for a moment and then used her magic and sent icicles in her way, they were mostly on her arms and legs, she was clearly afraid to hurt Juvia too much and then she stopped in wonder when she saw Juvia's body with holes that were easily closing, her body had been changed to water.

Everyone was looking at her in surprise and then Silver was the first one to clap and yell. "Good one, Juvia-chan!"

"Juvia, look out!" Gray said, but Juvia was already prepared, feeling the woman's intention as soon as she launched. Ur went for an attack, Juvia dodged it and used the water on the small stream next to the house and used her water slice in Ur's direction, but Ur just froze it.

"Water is just ice in another form." Ur told her while Juvia dodged her attacks, Juvia had an idea.

Juvia touched one of the trails of ice Ur was sending her way and focused. A moment later, she had water again and quickly had Ur in her Water Lock. The female didn't look concerned, just surprised. Juvia let go of the Water Lock and Ur fell on the ground with a thud."

"Ice is just water in another form." Juvia walked her way and offered Ur her hand. "Did I pass?"

Ur threw her head back and laughed, taking Juvia's hand. "With flying colours. Welcome to the family."

Juvia helped Ur up and saw everyone was cheering, even Ultear was on the window upstairs chuckling, looking down.

#

Juvia was invited by Ur to have tea before her and Gray went back to the palace for dinner. Ultear had gone downstairs and was close to the fire, blankets all around her and Meredy next to her. Lyon had his own chair and so did Gray, Silver was making sure everyone had food and tea while Juvia sat next to Ur, being somewhat interrogated.

"I see." Ur nodded. "So, it was six ships?" She was recounting the story of hers and Gajeel's battle against Acnologia's army.

"Yes. Juvia is mostly responsible for four."

"Impressive." She said. "Now, what exactly are your intentions with my son?"

Gray stopped his conversation with Lyon to say a warning. "Mom." She waved him off.

"Everything is quite… new yet." Juvia said diplomatically.

"Yeah, yeah, I didn't mean the state of your relationship. I meant your intentions."

"Whatever he needs of me." Juvia told her truthfully, looking at Gray with all her love, and Ur narrowed her dark eyes, looking at Juvia and then at Gray.

"You, come with me outside." Ur got up and Juvia did as she was told. Gray made to get up too. "I don't need you. Don't worry, your friend will be in one piece when we come back in a few minutes."

Gray shot a confused look to Ur then his dad and Silver just shrugged while Juvia followed the older fae back outside

They walked far from everyone's hearing, close to the small stream Juvia had used before to fight Ur.

"You two are mates and Gray has no idea." Ur didn't beat around the bushes and it made Juvia's eyes widen.

"I don't know what-"

"Save it, girl." Ur said. "I know that look. It's love, alright, but something more too. I know because I saw that look in myself."

"Silver-sama…?" Juvia asked in surprise.

"Oh, Cauldron, no." Ur crossed her arms over. "Silver is not my mate; we are just together. My mate died a couple hundred years ago and good riddance." She snorted and then chuckled when she noticed Juvia's shocked expression. "I know, the bond is sacred right? The Cauldron's gift to us? Well, the Cauldron should have given me a Mate that would not verbally abuse me." Juvia's eyes widened. "The Mating Bond is the Cauldron's way to match equals, to strengthen bloodlines. In my case, it worked, UItear is so powerful it can be scary."

"You… didn't love your Mate?"

"I thought I did." Ur shrugged. "I was young, he was smart and handsome, I believed the happiness a Bond would give me. I didn't even question if we should accept it. I could see myself in you earlier, that's how I realised." She eyed Juvia critically. "My mate was an asshole but once the bond snapped for him, he told me straight away. You haven't told Gray. Why?"

There was no reason to hide it anymore. "When it snapped for me, it was a shock. We had just been fighting and then suddenly there was this spark in my chest reaching out to him." Juvia sighed. "All I wanted was to be close to him, to know he was safe. That's why I moved to the Night Court, by the way, and why Makarov-sama let me stay." Juvia said, answering Ur's earlier question. "Then… I wanted to see who he was, if we could ever be compatible." Juvia smiled softly. "He became my friend and I fell in love with him straight away. The bond helped me find him, but my love for him has nothing to do with it. He is brave, sweet, strong and such a lovely being. How could I not fall in love? But what I said was true, I was trying to… seduce him, yes, but I would be happy to just see him happy, to just be his friend.

"This trip brought us… closer." Juvia's cheeks heated up, but she saw no judgement in Ur's eyes. "I assume Silver-sama told you about Gray-sama's… death?" She didn't even like to say it. Ur nodded. "Seeing him die to save my life, to feel the bind go numb and void? That was the worst moment of my life. It scared me so much I wanted to stop his bond snapping; I never want him to feel that way. We were going to stop seeing each other in any other capacity other than friends."

"That clearly didn't last." The older female said, amused.

"It didn't." Juvia said softly. "We realised we had already started something, stopping it wouldn't prevent any heartache, it would increase it. I apologise for rambling, but to answer your question more clearly, I haven't told him because I wish – I hope – he can love me before the bond snaps, so we are not going into anything so permanent because we think we have to."

Ur looked away to the small stream of water for a few moments. "I appreciate what you are doing for him. Giving him choices. Gray has always been so closed up, he never brought anyone he was involved with to meet us. He might not know why, but he knows you are special." She told Juvia. "After talking to Silver this morning about why he never brought anyone home… I thank you for bringing that part out in him." She said. "The way he spoke about you last time he was here, the way looks at you, I see it in Silver's eyes when he looks at me, the way I hope I look at him." Her voice softened. "I know he is grown and now, talking to you, I know you will never do anything to hurt him, but I needed to make sure you were both getting into this with the right intentions in mind."

"Are they? Good enough?"

"Once you live long enough, you realise love is not always about fulfilling your needs, but having your partner's just as fulfilled with you. It looks to me you want both of you to grow together."

"I do."

"Then you do that." Ur told her. "What if his bond never snaps?"

"I am here for him." Juvia replied without hesitation. "If he will have me as the relationship we are building now, I will still be happy."

"Good." Ur sighed. "Well, you two have my blessing for whatever it's worth. Gray needs someone as strong willed as he is or that boy will forever get into his head and never leave." Juvia chuckled, knowing how true it was. "Let's go back to the house before they all explode in curiosity if we killed each other." They started to walk back to the house.

"Can I ask," Juvia said, "your ice leg, do you create it every day?" Ur had lost her right leg from the knee down and she had it replaced it with an ice version of it.

"Yup, every morning, different designs too when I'm bored, which is often." Ur told her.

"Impressive." Juvia told her. "If you ever want a replacement that is not made of ice and can conceal weapons for when you go to functions or to a warmer climate, Juvia know someone in Dawn that would love the challenge."

"Really?" Ur sounded very interested.

"Let me tell you about these pair of shoes I have…"

#

After saying their good byes and promise to return soon, Juvia and Gray returned to the palace just in time to get ready for dinner.

Juvia was finishing with her hair when Gray returned to her chambers after changing his clothes in his room and was just sitting waiting for her.

"…so that's why Ultear-san asked for those soldiers to pass the wall? She used their life force to go back in time?"

"If she had done it herself, she would have died. She was watching the battle, keeping an eye on Meredy, saw what happened to me and acted fast to save my life."

"Juvia will be forever in her debt." She said solemnly.

"Yeah, me too." Gray got up from Juvia's bed and offered his arm. "So? Ready to face a lot of teasing, subtle insinuations and not-so-subtle insinuations from our friends and my uncle?"

She just laughed and put her hand on his arm. "Only if you are."

"We can do this." Gray nodded. "Together."

"Together." Juvia smiled.

#

AN: Sorry about the "short" 6k chapter, but next time we will go back to the normal sized ones, with more smut, fluff and drama!

Thanks to: Tracie Adams, alyssa1942, YoseiNoAme, , Guest, Olivia1415, Dfields3710 and lintak26! Thank you for the happy birthdays wishes and reviewing! 3

20/01/2025 ~ BonneyQ