AN: Apologies for not updating sooner! I got stuck in Onyx Storm and then Night Agent Season 2 (SO GOOD) then work was very busy but here we go!
Some fluff, smut, more fluff and even more fluff!
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Look At The Stars, See Their Beauty – Part VIII
#
Unfortunately, Gray had to spend the next day with his uncle so Juvia ended up going around town with their friends but after they were all together for dinner, Gray was there and while they enjoyed the meal very much, Juvia could feel he wanted nothing more for it to be over.
When they were all going back to their chambers, Gray and Juvia being the last on their group, as soon as they were in front of his bedroom's door, he quickly grabbed her by the waist and her soft startled gasp went unnoticed by the rest of the group. Not that anyone would have said a thing – after all the teasing during the past twenty-four hours, Juvia was sure.
It was the most natural thing in the world for Gray to kiss her between her giggles, for her to tell him how much she missed him all day and then proceeded to have sex all night long and finally succumb to exhaustion at the early hours of the morning. It seemed that once they got a taste of each other, they needed to be as close as possible.
Their group was going home the day after and Gray snuck out early in the morning to say good-bye to his family, but his father returned with him to see them off.
"It was very nice to see you." Yuki told them. "Please, come to the next ball. Hopefully it won't be ruined by an invasion force."
"Where's the fun in that?" Cana chuckled and Yuki shook his head, amused. "Next time: you, me and a few bottles of booze?"
"Absolutely not." Yuki laughed and then he turned to speak to Natsu and Lucy.
Meanwhile, Silver was giving Juvia something she could only describe as a bear hug while Gray sounded exasperated behind them.
"It was lovely to meet you, my newest daughter." Silver beamed at her.
"Likewise, Sil-" Silver shook his head and Juvia sighed in defeat. "Father."
"Please come visit soon. Bring my son or not, don't really care, you are always welcomed." Silver said winking at Juvia, and she couldn't help but to giggle when Gray punched his dad on the shoulder. "Ow!"
"We will make sure to come back when I know for sure you are not here." Gray told him, grinning mischievously.
"Don't do that to your poor old man, Gray." Silver whined.
Before things escalated, Juvia intervened. "Next time Juvia has a mission nearby, I will write Meredy and I can stop by. I don't know if Juvia and Gray-sama will be in any trips together, but we will try to come here if we are."
"Wonderful. That's why you are my favourite new daughter" Silver seemed pleased then turned to his son. "And this is why you get a female that is much smarter than you, son. I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for Ur."
"Probably dead on a ditch somewhere." Gray rolled his eyes.
"Right you are." Silver let out a loud laugh and pulled Gray into a hug. Juvia stepped back when he noticed that Silver was telling Gray something in a low voice.
"Lady Juvia." She turned and saw Yuki smiled; his beauty still astonished her. "I come bearing good news. We received a missive from Summer this morning. The rubies for you and your cousin were rescinded." Juvia gasped. "Whatever conversation you had with Juan, worked."
"And your influence too, I am sure, My Lord." Juvia bowed her head. "Thank you."
"Of course." He grinned. "I may be looking to the consort of the future High Lord of Winter, we shouldn't take any risks." Yuki winked and Juvia's cheek flared up.
Speechless, Juvia was relieved when Gray, followed by Silver, stepped closer. "Can we not count me as the future High Lord yet? That sounds like shit and I am trying to live my life. Also, Juvia and I have been together for like, three days: hold on with the wedding planning for now."
Yuki and Silver looked at each other and grinned. "For now." They said in unison, but Gray gave them a sceptical look.
"I will be back in a couple of months." Gray told his uncle.
"Whenever suits you. You have more interesting things waiting for you back at the Night Court, now." Yuki said, knowingly. "Just write often and let me know when you intend on coming back."
"Thank you." Gray nodded and gave his uncle then his father a quick hug. "We should go. If Cana is not too tired, we might make home tonight."
"I'm fully charged and eager to go home today!" Cana said loudly from where the rest of the group stood, waiting for them.
"Safe travels." Yuki told the group and soon, they were returning to Velaris.
They were going home.
#
It was night when the group arrived in Velaris and they soon parted ways, completely exhausted from the trip. Natsu and Lucy said they would escort Cana home just in case she was more tired than she let out, leaving Gray and Juvia to walk home.
"So, are those sleepovers we talked about when we came back home, starting tonight?" Juvia asked as they walked in the general direction of her apartment.
"Not tonight." Gray looked at her and saw her pout, making him chuckle. "I am sure you would like some time to yourself."
"Nope." Juvia told him and he stopped walking, Juvia doing the same, facing him.
"Well, I was thinking I could go home tonight – alone – and finish the paperwork for this trip then I can present it to the old man tomorrow morning and then I can meet you for lunch." He stepped closer to her. "We both know if I go to your apartment or you come to mine, no paperwork will be done."
"It would be much more enjoyable, though." Juvia tip toed and gave him a soft kiss but before she could pull away, Gray growled and grabbed her by the waist, clashing his mouth on her, deepening the kiss.
Thankfully the street was not too full as they kept kissing each other for a few minutes. "And this is why I am not going up to your apartment. I wouldn't leave tonight."
"Fine. I guess you do have a point." Juvia sighed in annoyance. "Juvia would try and persuade you to stay. If you go today, are you all mine tomorrow?"
Gray smiled. "From the moment the High Lord dismisses me and if he doesn't have any other missions for me, yes."
"Then you got yourself a deal." Juvia gave him a peck on the lips. "Should we stop somewhere to eat before going our separate ways?"
"Gods yes. Caramade's Franks?" He asked excited and Juvia nodded. "I love going back to Winter but nothing beats food from Velaris."
#
Even though she missed him, Juvia was exhausted and having a full night of sleep helped her feel energised. She went to the roof early in the morning since she knew Lucy wouldn't want to practice, so she did double her usual workout routine and once she was sweaty and hungry, she stopped for the day.
She took a moment to face the sun, the air was starting to cool with winter approaching, but the sun still felt so good on her face. Juvia took a breath, enjoying the breeze and the sun. She missed the sunny days in Summer but at the same time, for the first time in her life, she was completely free.
So much had changed in a week.
No Bargains attaching her to Summer, no rubies, no assassins, and the best part, she was sort of dating her mate? It was still early days, but she had never been happier.
After gathering her weapons, she returned to her apartment, Juvia put them away and made something to eat, she took a long bath. She already missed the Winter Palace's large bathtubs and the hot springs but hers was not too bad. She was going to upgrade it, though.
Knowing she would spend her day with Gray, Juvia chose to forsake her fighting leathers for an autumn outfit – it was hard for her, but she knew she would be safe with Gray, Also, after two hundred years, she knew she could fight wearing about anything.
She looked at herself in the mirror, she was wearing her long-sleeved brown turtleneck and green skirt that reached the middle of her calf and flat shoes. She let her hair loose and she had a bag big enough she could fit clean underwear and a toothbrush in case they end up going to Gray's apartment.
After making sure she had everything she could possibly need, Juvia left her apartment and walked towards the town centre, where Gray told her he would meet her once he talked to the High Lord.
She was looking at some of the display windows and making mental notes of things she wanted to purchase and that she needed to go visit Gajeel in a few days, it had been too long and if his Bargain marks had disappeared like hers, he would have been freaking out. Maybe she could send a letter?
"If I keep catching you with your guard down, I'm going to start to think you got lucky with those assassins." Gray said from behind her, and Juvia jumped around in surprise as she put a hand over her chest.
"Gray-sama!" She scolded him and he just laughed. "That is not nice."
"Might not be, but it's entertaining." He smirked and leaned her way, and Juvia could only melt and tip toe to kiss him. "How was your morning?"
"Not much. Practice, bath." She told him. "Yours?"
"Gave my report to the old man. He told me he received the same letter from your uncle about the rubies so you are on the clear and he gave us all who went to Winter at least three days with no missions after what we faced. Maybe even longer If things are quiet."
"Three days, huh?" Juvia smirked. "Any plans?"
"Maybe." He wrapped one arm on her waist. "I was thinking we could go to the village so you can visit your cousin? I want to see the progress with their little army and inspect ours and I am pretty sure you miss him."
Juvia blinked in surprise. "I do."
"Maybe I am going soft, but I got to see my family when we were in Winter, I think it's only fair you see yours." He paused. "The not dickhead ones, of course. I am not letting you go anywhere near Summer just yet, even though I have to say after releasing you from the Bargains and rescinding the rubies, Juan is growing on me. Like a fungus."
Juvia just put her hands on his cheeks and pulled him for a kiss, to which Gray quickly kiss her back, his hand going from her waist to the back of her neck while the other pulled her closer. They stopped kissing and Juvia rested her forehead on his, whispering. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me." He told her. "Come on, let's go to Fairy Tail, see if Lisanna can take us there tomorrow?" Juvia nodded, grinning.
#
Gray opened the door leading to Fairy Tail and Juvia walked in, waiting for him to join her. Gray nodded at Elfman and he raised two fingers to let him know he only needed place for him and Juvia, Elfman pointed at the back – the bar was always full – and Gray nodded.
He grabbed Juvia's hands and they navigated the usual crowd and some extra people there on the rush hour for lunch. As usual there were reserved tables for specific people and Gray was one of them.
Juvia sat on the chair Gray had pointed while he sat across from her. Juvia frowned, feeling eyes on her and she slowly turned around to see the crowd who was usually at Fairy Tail staring at her and Gray in awe, Cana already there, a smirk on her lips.
"I told you!" She said, beaming.
"They had meals together before."
"This doesn't prove anything."
"Their scents are not that changed."
"We were traveling yesterday, and Juvia was supposed to be gone home alone from what Gray told me during the trip!" Cana tried to justify.
"I don't know, Cana, it doesn't look like anything has changed."
Gray growled in annoyance and hit the table with both his hands, getting up and glaring at the crowd. "For fuck's sake: yes, Juvia and I are together. It happened when we were in Winter, it's new so fuck off with the questions and stares." Juvia could feel her cheeks warm for some reason and she watched as the crowd stared at them in awe and then erupted in cheers.
"Finally!"
"Getting into a room with both of you was getting to be unbearable."
"No wonder Gray looked so relaxed a minute ago. I would too if I got to bang Juvia-chan- Don't hit me, Cana-chan!" Cana's father, Gildarts said, wincing in pain.
Gray had his fingers on the bridge of his nose, and he was trying to control his breathing as he sat back down on his chair. Juvia wasn't going to tell him, but it was all quite amusing. He finally raised his head to tell them to shut up but froze. "Is that money? Did you… Did you all bet on us?"
There was not a drop of guilt between them all. Gildarts shrugged. "We all knew it was going to happen, we just wanted to see who would guess how long it would take. Also, we are hundreds of years old, things get boring after a while."
"Who won?" Juvia asked, curious and Gray looked at her in disbelief and she just shrugged – the damage was already done. The crowd pointed at the bartender. "Elfman-san?" Juvia was surprised.
"I observe more than people know." The white-haired male just shrugged as he collected his coins. "By the way, your order today is on the house. I just made a small fortune because of you."
"I hate every single one of you." Gray sighed and Juvia giggled.
#
Seeing Gray's apartment for the first time was an experience Juvia wouldn't soon forget.
He had his place in the last floor of a building, his living room wall was all glass and Juvia stepped to see that it faced the Sidra River, which is the river that ran through Velaris. It was a broad, winding river sparkling like deepest sapphire that flow through the city and sank into the sea gulf of the city.
The sun was setting and the view was breathtaking.
"This is beautiful." Juvia muttered when Gray joined next to her after setting their dinner somewhere.
"I wish I could say you get tired of the view, but you don't." He told her. "Especially leading lives like ours, where we can be gone for weeks at a time for work. Coming back and looking at this…"
"And Juvia thought she had a nice view." She chuckled and turned to Gray. "So, what is next on the tour?"
For the next ten minutes he showed her his living room and his desk in the corner where he usually filled his paperwork, his kitchen – a bit smaller than hers and she took a few minutes to inspect what he had stored – then his bathroom with a nice bathtub that could easily fit two people and she added that information for later, and finally his bedroom, which was bigger than hers. It had a dark blue colour theme; the bed wasn't as big as it had been back in the palace but it was bigger than hers. Two of his walls were also fully glass and they could see the river from bed.
"That's it, I am either moving in or we are swapping apartments." Juvia said amazed once again by the view and she could hear Gray laugh behind her.
"I think it might be too soon for you to move in, but I can give you plenty of sleepovers." She looked over her shoulders and saw he was taking off his coat and shirt. Noticing her stare, he grunted. "Sorry, I try to keep the clothes on as much as possible, but I get too warm."
Juvia frowned. "What do you mean?"
As he removed his pants and he stood in just his underpants, he explained. "Back when we were kids, Ur taught us Ice Magic by making us go outside in the cold to, you know, 'be one with the element'. Like when you get stronger when you are close to water. There was a point that any clothing would be too stuffy for me after a while, and I would strip without notice."
"What?" Juvia said in surprise and chuckling.
"Oh yeah. It took me about fifty years to be able to wear clothes in public without removing them randomly. It caused a bit of issues over time." He sat on his bed and Juvia had no issue in openly ogle his amazing body. "I can endure now, but my apartment, my rules, so I can get as naked as I want. I can still behave if I invite my friends over though. Unless I am drunk. If I get drunk, then everyone is getting a show."
"How about everyone on those other buildings or if you get too close to your glass walls?" Juvia gestured towards them.
"They have a glamour, you can see outside but no one can see inside, it looks like a mirror." Gray offered her his hand and she gladly took it. She stood between his legs and while his hands went to her hips, hers went to his hair. "I would not be against you removing your clothes when you are here."
Juvia laughed. "You just want to see Juvia naked."
"I thought it was clear." Gray looked up and rested his chin on her stomach, his hands already under her shirt, touching her naked skin which made her gasp in surprise.
"I know it was just the one night, but I missed you." Juvia told him, pulling his hair a bit and he groaned in pleasure and started to pull up her shirt off her and she let go of his hair to remove it completely.
"Yeah, me too. Fucking weirded me out too." Gray took in her mostly bare torso, her breasts only covered by her modest bra. "I am not usually clingy." He kissed her stomach and found the button of her skirt and undid it quickly, their smell of arousal mixing together. He pulled down her skirt and stared at her legs in disbelief.
Juvia had, strapped on each leg, two sets of daggers in their holsters.
"What exactly were you thinking it was going to happen that you needed to have four daggers under your skirt?" Gray asked half in amusement and half in arousal.
She smiled. "Better have them and not need it." She pushed Gray on the bed, and he lied down, eyes not leaving her as she slowly climbed on top of him. "Than needing them and not having it."
Gray watched amazed as Juvia, kneeled on top of him and undid the straps of her daggers on her right leg and throw them behind them, letting it fall on the floor. She grounded her hips on his, making Gray groan before lifting her hips again and reaching for the one on her left thigh, but Gray beat her to it and it was Juvia's turn to watch Gray remove the staps and throw over his own shoulder and she barely hear them falling from the other side of the bed because Gray had pulled her down and was kissing her deeply.
Juvia was kissing him back just as enthusiastically and lowered her hips to grind against his once again and this time, because of her hand on his chest, she could feel the groan as well.
It somewhat felt like that first night barely a week before when Gray was still denying they would ever do anything about the tension between them. The thought made her smile into the kiss just as Gray flipped them over on the bed and suddenly Gray was on top of her, and his fingers slipped under her underwear, touching her where she wanted him the most.
Juvia moaned in his mouth as she moved her hips, looking for more friction. Gray was rubbing her clit, making her blood boil in response and then he had two fingers inside of her and Juvia had to stop kissing him to cry out and she heard Gray chuckle.
"I missed that sound." He told her, his lips close to her ear as he dove down to kiss and nibble her neck, fingers working in and out of her in a steady pace to keep her on the edge.
"I missed making it." Juvia said between gasps every time he would curl his fingers just so perfectly. "Gray-sama, please." She whined.
"Please what?" He asked as he bit the top of her left breast, making her gasp once more.
"I want you inside me." She said, moving her hips in synchrony with his fingers.
He curled his fingers and Juvia let out a moan. "I have to say you are quite wet for me, Juvia." She nodded. "That is good because I am very hard for you." Juvia didn't need to look down to know he would be fully erect by then. "Soon, I am going to be inside you, deeper than ever before." She whined at his words; he had been pretty deep in her back in Winter and she loved it.
"Prove it." She managed to challenge him, and she knew he wouldn't refuse it. Something about male faes and challenging them got them going and Juvia needed Gray inside her.
With a low growl, Gray removed his fingers from inside her – she missed them straight away but she knew what was to come was much better so she quickly got rid of her simple bra, making a note to buy sexier ones as soon as possible.
Once her bra was off, Juvia yelped when Gray pulled her underwear down in one single motion and then his body was on top of hers, every centimetre of his body was touching hers and the gold bond in her chest was singing in joy.
She could feel his cock sliding between her lower lips and Gray's mouth easily found a perked nipple to assault and all Juvia could do was to raise a leg to give him more room to move and hold on to his back, her nails digging in deep – she was definitely leaving marks but with his fae healing it would be gone in the morning.
"Gray-sama." Juvia moaned when the head of his cock teased her entrance a few times; she was getting frustrated and there was no way he wasn't as well. "Please."
He stopped his assault on her breasts to look at her. He kissed her deeply and in a way that took her breath away and once they stopped kissing, he simply said. "Don't look away from me."
She could feel him grasp his length and the head of his cock once again teased to go in, but this time, it actually went in, painfully slowly. Juvia couldn't look away from his beautiful dark eyes that were even darker now, somehow, as he stretched her little by little until he was fully seated inside her.
Juvia let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and so did he. They just looked at each other for a moment, savouring the moment. Juvia kissed the tip of his nose, and he smiled while she giggled.
But then Gray started to move and Juvia pulled him for a kiss, her hands on his hair, massaging his scalp and pulling it whenever he hit a particularly good spot inside her, there was no more giggles, just feeling.
He kissed and nibbled her neck, her chest, her nipples and… Gods, she could do this forever. They should do this forever.
Just as she was starting to feel the tells of her orgasm approaching, Gray exited Juvia, much to her confusion but she saw a mischievous grin on his lips just before he flipped her over to her stomach.
Even though they had had sex many, many times back in Winter, that particular position was not part of the repertoire and Juvia could count in one hand how many times she trusted someone enough to not have her eyes on them at all times even during sex, especially with her daggers out of reach.
Probably feeling her sudden discomfort, Gray kissed her shoulder and then her cheek. "Is this okay?" He asked. "We don't have to if you don't feel comfortable."
Juvia took a breath. She trusted him, more than anyone she met in the past century, maybe longer. "I'm okay." She faced him. "Just took me by surprise." She kissed him softly.
He nodded. "Tell me if you need me to stop." Juvia nodded and after one last soft kiss on her lips, he bit her shoulder, shooting pleasure through her body again and back to her lower stomach and the slickness between her legs.
Gray grabbed her hips and prompted them up, he arranged Juvia's knees apart as he wanted them and finally touched her again, on her clit, to bring her back to the pleasure she was feeling a few moments before. He had his cock sliding between her lower lips once again, his other hand caressing her ass and Juvia slowly relaxed and moaned at the sensations.
"Good girl." He whispered and that sent another wave of pleasure through her, making Gray chuckle. "Oh, I will save that information for later. But for now…" Without stopping his caress on her clit, Gray sank into Juvia from behind in one single thrust and Juvia sworn she saw stars and she let out a loud moan.
Mother, he was not joking about going deeper inside her than ever before. Without waiting for more approval, Gray started to thrust inside her, making sure her hips were at the right angle and all Juvia could do was to gasp and moan.
Gray covered her body with his, not stopping his ministrations on her clit once. "For the first time since I moved here, I wish there was no glamour on the walls." He panted on her ear. "I want everyone to see you while I fuck you, so they all know who you belong to."
"Yes, gods, yes. They should see what you do to me." Juvia whined and turned her head to capture his lips in a sloppy kiss.
"Only I can fuck you like this, isn't it right?" Gray asked.
"Yes." Juvia panted, feeling her orgasm approaching faster than she thought it was possible. "Only you."
"Tell me." He pleaded to her, and Juvia knew exactly what he wanted and needed.
"I'm yours, Gray-sama." She moaned. "Please… show me."
It was as if Gray was unleashed and he started to pound on her like never before and Juvia couldn't hide her moans and how much she was pleading for him to fuck her harder, deeper, anything.
He pinched her clit and she was over the precipice, pleasure overtaking her, her thighs were shaking so much her body went taut and she could barely breathe, her vision went white and all she could do was feel. Gray thrusted a few more times and bit her shoulder as he found his own release and Juvia finally fell on the bed with his weight on her.
They stayed in silence for a while, Juvia loving the weight of his body on hers, enjoying his lazy kisses on the bare skin of her shoulder.
She missed his weight on her immediately but her whole body felt like it was made of clouds, she could fly away. She didn't mind at all when Gray pulled her to his chest and she could hear how fast his heart was beating.
"Thank you for trusting me." Gray said softly as he kissed the top of her head.
"I should be thanking you for the orgasm." Juvia chuckled. "That was a good one."
Gray laughed. "I think trust is a tad more important than an orgasm."
"Maybe not that one." She joked and looked up to him, she put a hand on his cheek and raised her body to kiss him slowly. "I trust you and I will tell you if I'm uncomfortable with anything we do."
"Same." Gray nodded. "If we come across anything I am not willing, I will let you know."
"Good." Juvia smiled. "Shall we have dinner even though it probably went cold by now and then you and I can soak on that marvellous bathtub of yours?"
#
If not for the fact that Gajeel Redfox was a seasoned warrior and had sharp sensed, he would have been tackled by his cousin. Instead, he was ready to catch her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and gave him a tight hug.
"Gajeel-kun! I missed you!"
"By the gods, Juvia!" He snarled at her and tried to push her away. "It has been less than three weeks, not three decades!" The Illyrian noticed the small group of people he was training. "Thirty laps around the perimeter, now." He barked the order, and they all quickly scrammed to do as told then his attention returned to his cousin. "Could you let go of me?"
"What's the magic word?" She teased.
"Fucking now or I'll rip your limbs apart." He growled and Juvia just laughed, letting go of him.
"That's the one." Juvia was beaming at him. "You look good."
"So do you." He raised an eyebrow. "I think you and I need to sit down and have a talk. I'm guessing neither the Bargain tattoos nor the blood rubies being rescinded did not disappear out of the goodness of uncle's heart?"
"Oh, that is a tale that revolved around the Winter Court, the High Lord, Juan and an attempt of invasion from Acnologia." Juvia told him and Gajeel raised an eyebrow in question. "We would need more time than thirty laps." She pointed at the fae running.
"Fine." He turned to the others. "Oy, dipshits! Finish the laps and then you and come back after lunch. We'll have a show for you." He heard them agree. Gajeel moved his head in direction of the inn, where an amused Gray was waiting for them.
Gajeel smirked at Gray. "I can smell you all over each other. She finally worn you down, huh?"
Gray shrugged. "I was helpless. There was a very sexy dress involved."
"Isn't there always?" Juvia saw her cousin snort. "Come on, you can tell me all about the past few weeks over lunch. Leave the sex bits out, please."
#
After updating Gajeel on what happened in Winter, he was surprised to say the least. "Little Juan actually grew some balls, huh? Good for him. Maybe he can kill his father and save Summer from High Lord Dickhead." Juvia hit him on the chest. "What? It's not like he doesn't deserve it."
"Can't disagree." Gray mumbled and Juvia looked at him, exasperated. "What? They treated you like shit for two hundred years, I don't exactly care about his health and wellbeing."
Gajeel let out a loud laugh. "I might like you yet, Fullbuster." He got up and said: "Come on, can't keep the troops waiting. I promised entertainment."
"What sort of entertainment, exactly?" Gray asked, curious.
"The kind that you are going to be a part of, Fullbuster." Gajeel grinned.
Gray rolled his eyes as he and Juvia followed her cousin towards what seemed to be a fighting pit and where most of the village seemed to be gathering. They stopped at the edge of it and Gray turned to the taller male.
"Let me guess, you and I are going to fight because you want to make sure I am good enough for your cousin?"
"You wound me, Fullbuster." Gajeel put a hand over his chest in fake agony. "I would never be so predictable. We will spar at some point, but I will not be your opponent today, she is." He pointed at Juvia, who was already removing her coat in preparation.
Gray was genuinely confused, looking from one cousin to the other. He was clearly taken off guard. "What?"
"See, years and years ago Juvia and I promised each other to never do that territorial shit." Gajeel smiled evilly. "She is not allowed spar with my lovers, and I can't with hers to prove worthiness or some shit like that. Instead, we can ask for a little spar match. If they can hold themselves against us, they are good enough. Also, it's not me you need to worry about if you piss her off. Trust me, Juvia can handle her shit."
"I already fought her." Gray frowned.
"Technically you were my way to not break a Bargain so you had to stall Juvia." She said stepping inside the sparring ring. Gray raised an eyebrow. "Unless of course you don't think you can take me, Gray-sama?" Juvia fluttered her eyebrows prettily, but Gray could identify the challenge there.
He started to take off his own coat and placed next to hers. "I think I have proven over and over again during this week that I can in fact take you."
"Oy, no sex talk." Gajeel rolled his eyes and when he saw Gray step inside the ring, he said loudly so the crowd could hear him. "Here are the rules: no magic, no killing. If you step outside of the ring, you lose; if you bleed first, you lose; if you forfeit, of course, you lose. Other than that, go crazy."
Gray got into position, his fists up. "Winner picks up the position tonight?"
Juvia laughed. "I hope you like to be pegged."
"It's been a while, but sure." He shrugged. "But it's okay because I won't lose." Gray chuckled.
"Keep telling yourself that." Juvia winked.
"Three, two, one… Start!" Gajeel yelled and both Gray and Juvia launched at each other.
#
Gray was strong, Juvia knew that. She had seen him fight, hel, she had fought him. She also met his teachers, of course he would be a formidable opponent.
Unfortunately for him, though, he was taught more magic or a combination of both, than just hand on hand combat.
While training her when she was a child and many years later, Gajeel would make Juvia practice without her magic in case she ever ran out and needed to save herself. She also was very good at observing others in battle.
She got close to step out of the ring a few times with how he was attacking her, but she would quickly recover and fight back.
After about twenty minutes of it, even though Juvia was having fun knew she needed to end it so the next time Gray grabbed her, she let him and with one swift move, she used her body to flip him over her shoulder to the ground and before he could get up, she was on top of him, her hair pin on her hand and she was quick to press the thin blade on his throat, just enough to draw a little of blood.
"First blood! Juvia wins!" Gajeel cheered and so did the crowd, money being was being pass around as people settled their bets.
Juvia and Gray, though, were panting, looking at each other. The dagger still on his throat and that somehow made his eyes darker with lust and she was sure her own mirrored his.
"That dagger is cheating." His adam's apple bobbed.
"The only rules were no magic and no killing. He didn't say no weapons," Juvia smirked and with the dagger still on his throat, Gray used his arms to lift his upper body, Juvia sitting on his lap and she could feel he was very excited with how things turned our anyways.
His hands went to her thighs and rested on her hips. "You have four-"
"Six." She corrected him.
"Six daggers on you and I know your aim, you could have ended this much sooner with just one scrape on my arm. Why didn't you?" He leaned in, lips lose to hers and the dagger still on his throat.
"Same reason why you are hard right now. It is hot to see you fight." She smiled and finally put the dagger away and Gray kissed her hard and Juvia whimpered in desire.
"Oy, you two. At least go get a room at the inn, for fuck's sake." They hear Gajeel and stopped kissing, Juvia giggling and Gray with an annoyed groan.
"We will." Gray yelled back. "Did I pass the test?"
"She could have killed you at least five times while you were sparring." Gajeel laughed. "I think it's safe to assume she can handle herself against you and that you are more fucked than you realised, Fullbuster."
"Don't I know it." Gray whispered and kissed Juvia again, biting on her lips making her moan and said on her lips. "Let's get a room at the inn, now."
"Fuck yes."
#
After a hurried but one of the best quick sex of her life at the inn – post-fight sex was always great, Juvia joined Gajeel while he supervised the afternoon practice and Gray went to talk to the Night Court troops about their progress and to give her and Gajeel more time to talk alone.
Gajeel was looking at his recruits and Juvia was by his side; they were far away enough no one could overhear their conversation.
"So you haven't told him yet." Gajeel said without looking at her, checking his recruits.
"No." Juvia pointed to one of them who was slightly slower than the others and Gajeel barked corrections.
"Why not?" Gajeel asked after. "He seems an okay male, strong. He also looks at you in a disgustingly sickening way."
Juvia smiled at the thought of how Gray seemed to look at herm, especially if they were alone. "We were almost torn apart after he… died." She had briefly explained what happened earlier. "We just started to see where we can go and a revelation like this could ruin our relationship, it's already too fragile."
"So you are going to lie." Gajeel stated.
"By omission, yes." Juvia nodded. "For the moment I think it's for the best to just be a couple. I want to tell him, I just… don't want to scare him away."
Gajeel was silent for a while. "If I found out the person I loved lied to me about being my mate I would be quite angry."
Juvia sighed. "Me toon and trust me, it doesn't feel good to lie but I feel this is the best way for now."
He was silent again for a few more moments. "You are one of the most sensible beings I know. If you think this is for the best, he won't hear it from me."
"Thank you."
"Are you happy? Gajeel asked. "In Velaris, working with the High Lord, your boyfriend and all."
"I am." Juvia replied softly. "Are you? I wasn't the only one who left everything behind."
"Yeah." Gajeel nodded. "Freedom is weird, but it's… good. I like to make my own decisions, to protect what I want to protect instead of what I am told to. It's taking me a while to adjust, but the calm helps. I could never be just… free."
Juvia hugged his arm. "I am glad, Gajeel-kun." Her smile became mischievous. "So… what about that Illyrian female? Any news on that front?"
She could have sworn his cheeks got red. "Well… she agreed to let me take her flying."
"Yeah?" Juvia asked with excitement. "How was it?"
"She liked it and wants to get stronger to fly by herself." Gajeel told his cousin. "We have been slowly building the strength back to her wings the past couple of weeks. It might take another few months, but she is starting to have more mobility."
Juvia's grin hurt her face. "You like her." She said and knew it was true when he didn't deny it straightaway.
He cleared his throat. "She is a good female."
"Oh, you really like her." Juvia shrieked in excitement.
"Shut up." Gajeel snarled.
"You must introduce us when I visit next time."
"Fuck no."
"Please?"
"No."
"You are no fun."
"I know."
#
Falling into a routine with Gray was so easy and natural, Juvia didn't even realise what was happening. She would still wake up early to practice except when they stayed the night in Gray's apartment as he refused to let her out of bed so early, but if they stayed in hers, she would go to the roof and practice for a while before returning to her apartment and make breakfast for them.
If they didn't need to go on missions for the High Lord, Gray would go meet up with his friends or work on reports while Juvia would meet to train with Lucy and then meet with the other females to organise her mating ceremony – which was just a few weeks away.
Sometimes Gray would ask her to have a hand-on-hand practice and Juvia knew how they would end up later, but before she would make sure to point out a few things he could do better, and he would do the same. Usually, they would make it back to her apartment before they were having sex on the wall next to her door, barely inside or sometimes they ended up doing it on the roof, depending on how hard they were practicing.
Some nights they would go to a club to dance or to dinner, by themselves or with their friends.
It was a quite lovely life.
Still, the bond had not snapped for him and Juvia was fine with it. They were sharing their life already and it made her happy.
She was lost in thought, stretching at the park when she saw Gray come her way and she smiled when he kissed her lightly. "Hey." She greeted.
"Hey." He looked around. "I thought you and Lucy were running?"
A voice came from the ground behind a bench. "Your girlfriend is a wicked bitch, Gray." He just smiled – he knew Lucy was not a fan of running, she like the combat part just fine, but running was her weakness. "She will kill me before my mating ceremony. Kill me, I tell you!" She said dramatically.
"How far and fast can you run now that we have been practicing for months?" Juvia asked, looking over her shoulder.
"I did not say it's not efficient, just that you are a bitch who is trying to kill me." Lucy grumbled and Juvia chuckled, looking at her boyfriend.
"Is everything okay?" She asked and he nodded.
"I was just talking to the High Lord, I need to go back to Winter for a few weeks. Maybe three or four?" He sighed. "I used to go every other month, but it's been three now since I've been there. My Uncle is giving me a lot of leeway here, but I really do need to go back, show my face around and all that." Juvia nodded – she knew it was coming and he had pushed as much as he could but he couldn't anymore.
"Juvia will be fine, I will probably ask some extra jobs."
"Or help your friend Lucy with her mating ceremony preparations." Lucy's voice interrupted them.
"Or help with the preparations." Juvia agreed with a smile and Gray rolled his eyes. He had said multiple times they should have done it already. Lucy was smart enough to not give Natsu food, so it wouldn't happen by accident.
"I should be going early tomorrow morning." Gray told her.
"Sleep at my place tonight?" Juvia asked and he nodded.
"At least after this I should be free to stay here for another three months."
"You better make it in time for the ceremony, Gray Fullbuster!" Lucy said and Juvia chuckled at Gray's exasperation.
"I will be here. Crazy females all around, I swear." He kissed Juvia. "See you tonight. I'll bring food."
#
Juvia really missed having Gray around but she was keeping herself busy for the first two weeks, with small jobs for the High Lord and helping Lucy with the preparations for the ceremony, choosing her own dress for it and visiting Gajeel whenever she could.
At the end of the second week, Juvia felt a splitting headache at home and she frowned in confusion but then a few hours later she had the same pain followed by a wave of nausea and cramps.
After running to her bathroom to get sick, Juvia took time to count on her head and she sighed in annoyance.
Fae cycles usually happened twice a year, but Juvia had been 'blessed' with three times and the last time was just before she moved to Velaris so she was due and if her symptoms were any indication, she was going to suffer this time around.
Juvia visited the High Lord and asked for the following week off and he was very understanding. He said he was married for three hundred years before his wife passed, he was aware of how females suffered during it and told her to take as much time as she needed.
After her meeting, Juvia got her regular supplies for her period and then also saw her healer. She had found Olga when she moved to Velaris; she had a small clinic in town and Juvia needed contraceptive potions from her Olga suggested some different potions for her period pain, nausea and sleeping draughts that she truly hoped it worked.
She was leaving a bookstore with her bags – it could be quite boring with no one to talk to so she always had new books around, when she heard her name being called.
"Hey!" Lucy and Cana were walking her direction. "Shopping spree?" She pointed at the bags. "I thought you were going away on a mission this week?" The dark-haired female asked.
"Juvia was, until she realised her cycle is about to start." Both females winced in sympathy. "The bags are just getting things that I need for it as I will be holed up in my apartment for a few days. Given the headaches, nausea and cramps, I'm in for a ride this time. I have some new medication too, so hopefully that will help."
"Since Gray is not around, we could go check in on you? Bring you food?" Lucy suggested. "It's hard enough to have a cycle, I can't imagine it being alone."
"It's not too bad if the pain medicine is good." Juvia said. "Thank you, though. I imagine it might start tonight or tomorrow and I am prepared for the whole cycle with supplies and food, but if you want to stop by in a few days to catch me up on the gossip, that should be okay."
"Do you want to join us for a cake tasting before you are locked away for the week?" Lucy asked and Juvia pondered her pain at the moment.
Aside from a small lingering headache she knew it would go away after she took a pain tonic, she was actually feeling alright for the moment. "Let's go. I could use some distraction."
#
As predicted, Juvia's period started that night and she started the same routine she had for almost two hundred years; eat, take pain tonic, read for a few hours then take a sleep draught to help her sleep if the pain was too much.
The first night was fine, as usual it never hurt too much and she didn't even need to take a sleep draught, but in the morning, the pain started to grow exponentially and Juvia knew it was time to take something for it when she started to get up from her sofa to get a book and pain shot from her lower abdomen down to her legs and rest of body in a wave and she had to sit back down for a few minutes.
It was supposed to kick off after twenty minutes or so, but it hadn't seemed to be working at all with the waves of pain she was still feeling. The nausea wasn't much better either, and thankfully, being a seasoned warrior and a female dealing with he pain for almost two hundred years came in handy that time – it didn't matter how much pain she was in, she still made it to her bathroom and threw up in her toilet.
On the third day, after barely napping and having nothing else to throw up and with a splitting headache, she decided that as soon as the pain wasn't as bad, she would venture to town. She had gone farther with worse pain – she usually had adrenalin to help her not feel the pain, but at that point, there was nothing else she could do.
Still nauseated but with nothing in her stomach to throw up, Juvia moaned into her sofa when pain hit her again she almost missed the knocks on her door.
"Juvia?" She heard through the wave of pain. "Juvia, I can hear you. Open now or I will kick it down."
"Gray-sama?" Juvia thought she was hallucinating.
"Yes, it's me. Can you open the door?"
"Just a moment." She managed to say, and a few seconds later she managed to sit up on the sofa and take a deep breath. Slowly, she got up and walked towards the front door.
And there he was, the love of her life, her mate, with eyes wide once he saw her and worry all over his beautiful eyes. She was so happy he was back but at the moment she just wanted to curl up on a ball.
"What the fuck is happening?" Gray stepped inside and closed the door, throwing his bag on the floor next to it. He put his hands on her cheeks. "You look like…"
"Shit?" Juvia finished for him. "Feels like it too." She said a moment later. "I need to lie back down."
"Juvia?" Gray helped her go back to the sofa where she lied down. "Please, tell me."
Juvia sighed. "My cycle started three days ago, the potions and tonics I was given are not working."
"Not working? None of them?" Gray was surprised and he looked at the small vials on her small table. "Who gave them these to you?"
"A healer in town." Juvia told him, tired.
"Not Polyuska?" He asked.
She frowned. "Who is that?"
"That makes more sense." Gray nodded and found a blanket by the feet of the sofa and put over her. "Look, I will go get something for you, okay? I will be as fast as I can."
Juvia nodded and said in relief; she wouldn't need to go outside. "Thank you." She felt a kiss on her forehead before exhaustion finally allowed her a nap.
#
She woke up not too long later and if not by the faint scent of him and the bag by the door, Juvia would have thought she had hallucinated Gray.
Her mind was still fuzzy when the door opened and he strode in with an older looking fae with pink hair and a scowl, red eyes, wearing a red cape followed by a much younger looking female with dark blue hair and brown eyes with a simple green dress and a smile, holding a couple of medical bags.
"There she is." Gray pointed in Juvia's direction.
"I see it, boy." The pink haired female snorted and went straight to Juvia. "What is the issue, girl? The male babbled more than anything."
Juvia blinked, trying to understand what was happening. "Uh… my cycle started and the potions I was given are not working at all." Juvia motioned towards the empty bottles.
With a deeper frown, if it was even possible, the older female grabbed one of the vials and smelled it. "This is not a strong enough pain potion. Not in the slightest!" She seemed outraged. "Who did you get it this from? Was it Olga?" Juvia nodded and her ire seemed to double. "That wrenched female! I swear to the Mother she will kill someone one day! I will speak to Makarov today about this! Even her Contraceptive Tonics are not reliable."
"What?" Juvia's eyes widened. "I have been taking that for more than four months!"
"I take my monthly one from Polyuska, we were covered." Gray said quickly.
"Also given the fact you are having your period now, means you are not pregnant. Wendy! My bag." The pink haired female said.
The younger female was already next to her, giving the bag. "Hi, Juvia-san. We haven't seen properly introduced, I am not at Fairy Tail much as I am training to be a healer, I'm Wendy Marvell, this is Polyuska."
"Hi." Juvia tried to smile as best as she could.
"Anything I need to know before I treat you?" Polyuska asked, impatient.
"Um…. No?" Juvia said. "I have three cycles per year instead of two?"
"Also her grandmother was a river nymph." Gray said from where he was hovering by the door. "The rest of the family was high-fae, I don't know if this is relevant."
Polyuska looked at Juvia and narrowed her eyes. "I can see it. That is useful." She started to get vials from her bag. "Tell me your symptoms."
"Headaches, nausea, crippling cramps." Juvia listed quickly. "It's been almost three days."
Polyuska found a pink vial and gave it to Juvia. "Take this for the pain." Juvia didn't hesitate in taking the liquid. It was absolutely foul but as long as it worked, she didn't care. "You should feel relief in about ten minutes. Your periods are more frequent and more painful than other because of your nymph heritage." Polyuska explained. "Which means you should have always gotten stronger pain medication but I am guessing you haven't?"
Juvia shook her head. "I just got whatever the other females were looking for when I saw a healer. The pain was manageable."
"Of course it was, you also get the pain resistance from being a nymph." Polyuska grumbles. "Come see me after your cycle is over and I can check you to see what else has been missed with you. For the moment, what I just gave you will lessen the pain greatly. I am also leaving nausea and sleeping draughts for tonight." Wendy handed the older fae some vials and Polyuska put the two labelled vials on her table. "Boy." She turned to Gray who all but jumped at being called. "I do not have more of them with me so you will go to my clinic in two hours and get them for her."
"Yes, I will." Gray nodded.
"You can take the medication as you used to take the other ones." Wendy said gently. "Remember to eat and hydrate as much as possible."
"Right now, I can settle for not feeling too much pain and sleeping for more than twenty minutes at a time. And a meal." Juvia said and Wendy chuckled.
"We have other patients to see." Polyuska got up and Wendy started to sort the medicines back to the bags. She turned to Juvia. "You. Come and see me in one week. Take the days to rest."
Without saying anything else, she was already on her way to the door and Wendy hurried after her.
"Thank you!" Juvia hoped they heard her just before Gray closed the door. Juvia gasped and Gray looked at her. "I didn't pay for the visit, or the vials, or…"
"Polyuska charges the High Lord directly. Don't worry about that." Gray said and he sat next to Juvia and put and arm around her, his scent calming her. "How are you feeling?"
"I think it might be starting to work." She sighed in relief and then frowned. "You are home early."
"Yeah." Gray had his hand on her hair, by the gods, she probably looked and smelled like a mess . "Good thing I did." He sighed. "We all should have told you about Polyuska. You never go to another healer, she is very territorial and as you can see, she is the best."
"It's fine." The pain was much more manageable now and if Polyuska was to be trusted, she would improve even more.
"You were given pain medication that did nothing to lessen the pain. I think I can rest my case." Gray grumbled. "Now, have you eaten the past few days?"
"Eaten? Yes. Kept it down? No." She sighed.
Gray nodded. "Okay, so how about you go clean yourself, change clothes, while I can cook something."
"Juvia smells that bad, huh?" She teased.
"I was trying to be nice." He teased back. "Do you need help moving around?"
She got up and he did the same in case she needed assistance, but she shook her head. "I think I am good for now. I would kiss you but Juvia is sure you do not want any contact with my mouth right now."
#
Juvia used her powers inside the bath, making the water falling from the tap to fall on top of her instead so she could wash her hair and clean her body of her sweat, blood and anything else she might have gathered in the past few days. She brushed her teeth and looked at her mirror; she looked better, but exhausted.
She put comfortable sleeping clothes and went to the kitchen where Gray was finishing making pancakes. "There you are. Feeling better?" Juvia got close to him and gave him a quick kiss.
"You have no idea. Juvia thinks she will bring flowers to Polyuska next week." Gray chuckled and motioned Juvia to sit at the chair on the counter and gave her a plate of pancakes.
"Eat up." Juvia didn't need to be told twice as she ate them so fast she thought she was going to get sick from it. Gray ate from his own plate, clearly happy to see her fed. "Oh, that was good."
"Thank you. I am limited on what I can cook, so I went with the safest option. Oh, actually, here's the nausea vial, maybe take that now that you have eaten." He gave it to her and she drank it in one go then he asked. "Still good?"
Whatever Polyuska had given her, the pain was just a dull ache she could manage quite well and she almost cried at how tired she realised she truly was now that she was clean and fed.
"I am so tired." Her eyes watered and Gray's widened. "I just… want to sleep."
"Then you go to sleep." Gray grabbed her hand and led her to her bedroom before she could definitely start crying and tucked her in. He sat next to her. "Just go to sleep, okay?"
Juvia nodded. "How are you so good at this?"
"Mom, sister and niece." He snorted. "I am not sorry to tell you this is not my first cycle debacle." Gray caressed her hair for a while. "Sleep. You need it."
Juvia nodded and with Gray still caressing her hair, she went into a deep sleep.
#
When Juvia woke up, she was confused to what was happening. From her window she could see it was night time, but she was sure she had gone to take a nap in the early afternoon.
She got up and realised the pain was still manageable and she quickly went to the bathroom to clean and change herself before going to her living room, where Gray was sitting at the sofa, reading one of the books she had purchased a few days before.
He noticed her and offered her a smile. "Good nap?"
"What year is it?" Juvia asked and went straight to sit next to him, pushing him down so she was lying on him. It took them a few tries but they finally found a good position for both to lie in. "You should have woken me up. Were you all alone today?"
"First, you needed the sleep and second, while you slept, I went to my apartment, took a bath, brought some extra clothes, went to get your medicine from Polyuska and when I was coming back, I met with Lucy and Cana who were actually on their way here to check on you. I explained what happened and I think Cana might bomb Olga's shop." Juvia laughed.
"What made you come see me?" The female asked.
"A couple of days ago I got this feeling that I needed to come back so I talked to my uncle and he agreed a few days wouldn't make much of a difference so I took off." He explained. "When I got here and saw there was nothing apparently wrong with the city, I was going to go home to clean myself and surprise you later but I had this urge to come and see you." He kissed the top of her head. "It was the strangest thing."
Juvia froze and remembered Ur's words from a few months ago: "Gray has always been so closed up, he never broughtanyonehe was involved with to meet us. He might not know why, but he knows you are special."
Did he… did he feel something because they were mates? Was his bond close to snap in place?
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked from under her and she looked up to him with a smile.
"Yes. Just happy you are back." Gray nodded and his attention went back to her book while he caressed her arms as she laid down his chest.
#
Natsu and Lucy's mating ceremony was that evening and so was Starfall and Juvia was so excited for both events.
Juvia was wearing a light blue sparkly backless dress, a slit on her leg and her beloved heels. Her hair looked similar to what she had it done for Winter's ball, same hairpin.
She arrived at the venue, which was up in one of the highest places in Velaris with the best view for the ceremony and to watch the Starfall. It would be a small affair, but as Juvia stepped into it, she was fascinated by all the yellow and white flowers, the beautiful cake and gazebo where the union would take place.
Gray said he would meet her there as he needed to make sure Natsu had the proper attire, as per Lucy's orders.
Juvia was talking to some of their friends when she saw Gray arrive wit Natsu. They parted ways and Juvia excused herself to go to him.
As usual, he looked delectable in his suit and by the way he looked at her, he was very pleased on how she looked as well.
"Hello." She said and kissed him.
"Hi." He looked down. "You look beautiful." Even after all that time being together, she still blushed at the compliment. "I would prefer you worn that dress from the Winter Ball but I don't think it's polite to outshine who is getting mated."
Juvia hit his shoulder slightly. "I will wear just for you another day."
"Promises, promises." Gray said and Juvia rolled her eyes good naturedly.
"If everyone could please take a seat." Mirajane's voice echoed. "We will start the ceremony." Natsu was already at the altar waiting with a priestess.
Gray grabbed her hand and they found seats quickly, next to Lisanna and Loke and after a few moments, music started to play and she walked in.
Lucy looked beautiful in a white and champagne colour ball gown, looking more like royalty than ever before. Her hair was down, just a few strands of hair with a lovely pin she said it belonged to her mother. She was shining in happiness and Juvia was more than happy to be a witness.
Juvia had seen the dress, had known Lucy would look beautiful in it but seeing her happy smile as she saw the male she was about to mate made her almost ethereal. Juvia's eyes watered in happiness for her friend and she had to wipe the tears away.
Gray offered her his pocket square and she smiled in thanks before drying her tears away. She hoped one day she could be doing this. Maybe not the ceremony, but consolidating her mating bond with Gray. Becoming one.
Natsu was all smiles when his mate arrived at the altar and seeing both of them so in love, made Juvia's heart warm. They would be happy together, she just knew.
#
The ceremony had been beautiful, there were tears and laughter of joy throughout and in the end, they shared a kiss. They chose not to finalise the mating bond at that moment, just later that night. The final step would be for Lucy to offer food to Natsu and once he accepted, they would go into the frenzy part of the mating process, which could take days or weeks for the couple to finally be out of the haze.
Which was why Lucy wanted some time after losing her virginity to schedule the mating ceremony. It had been months, so Juvia thought they would be fine.
Juvia and Gray were in line to congratulate the couple and Juvia whispered how happy she was for her friend on her ear and Lucy whispered back: "Soon we will be celebrating yours." She gave Juvia a pointed smile and Juvia nodded with a secretive smile of her own.
"We can only hope."
Gray gave Lucy a hug. "Congratulations on your ceremony but commiserations for it to be this idiot." He pointed at Natsu.
"Hey!"
"I am quite happy to be mated with him, thank you." Lucy giggled. "Please, enjoy the food and drink! The Starfall will start soon and we want all of you to be amazed by it!"
After saying a quick good-bye, Juvia and Gray grabbed some drinks and food and went outside to find a nice spot.
"You need the best spot to experience Starfall for the first time." Gray explained. "You'll thank me for it."
"Did you enjoy your first Starfall?" Juvia asked.
"Anyone would." He shrugged. "It's my favourite so far, just because it takes your breath away."
They were chatting for a while until Gray looked behind her and gave her a big smile, pointing at the sky behind her.
Even in her wildest dreams Juvia couldn't have come up with such a thing.
Stars, shooting across the sky one after the other, bright and sparkling. Twirling and then a moment later thousands of them were unleashed from the edge of the horizon, like a archers had loosed them from mighty bows
It was the most beautiful things she had ever seen. It took her breath away and at some point, she began to smile, then giggle and then laugh in happiness while Gray took turns looking at the sky and then looking at her with as much joy as she felt.
So many things had happened since she found him, since she took a chance and changed her life. Juvia had done things she never thought she would, gone to amazing places, met people she considered friends and family.
She had been truly happy for the first time in her life.
All that was not the bond; it drew her to Gray, but everything she had done ever since meeting him, that was her and she had worked hard to get to where she was, to love the male next to her was just an extra amazing thing that happened to her and she couldn't be happier to love him. Mate or not, she knew she would be his in whichever world.
Juvia stepped closer to Gray and pulled him down for a deep, heartfelt kiss that he immediately responded to the kiss, arm wrapping itself around her waist and the other on the back of her neck.
"I love you." Juvia whispered and she felt his body freeze. She looked up and his black eyes were wide. He opened his mouth but Juvia kissed him again. "I don't need you to say it back, I don't need you to come with an answer because that's now why I am telling you. I just need you to know that I do and you don't love me back, it's okay. I don't want to hide it anymore." She hesitated. "Do you… hate me for telling you?"
Gray just looked at her for a moment and then pulled her for another kiss. "How can I be upset that you love me? If anything, I don't think I'm worthy." She opened her mouth to say he was wrong but he quieted her with a kiss. "If I can't comment on what you said, you can't either."
"Fair enough." Juvia smiled.
They watched the Starfall in each other arms and Juvia could have sworn she heard him say "This is my new favourite Starfall" but she could have been wrong.
#
AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I will try to be quicker with the next one!
Thanks to: alleb-twinkie-pie, Tracie Adams, alyssa1942 and Olivia1415 who reviewed! Thank you sooooo much!
09/02/25 ~ BonneyQ