Author's Note: I know. I know people are probably sick of this by now and it's been ages since this chapter happened but I've gotten reviews after all this time with people asking for this part. Funny story: It was supposed to be an omake or a drabble but drabbles don't usually go 6000+ words long. Sooo apparently I don't do drabbles. But this needed to be done! For my reviewers, followers & favoriters and for my laptop that I'm finally retiring after all this time. I let this be a farewell tribute. Thank you! (I mean 32 reviews and 141 people favorited this story! WOW! I'm so amazed and grateful!)

I used to want to write more about Gruvia but currently I wasn't up to it. I'm kinda sad with how some things went especially with that Avatar arc. I feel that Juvia was cheated out of the apology she deserved. I know I know. Love means never having to say sorry and what not but Juvia spent 6 months not knowing if Gray was even alive and she doesn't even get a decent apology. Not to mention while everyone was getting stronger Juvia spent those 6 months alone in the rain. I was going to write a story about it but somebody wrote a story that I enjoyed and I think it fairly said what needed to be said.

If you guys want me to write my own version of it then maybe I'll write it up. Only if you guys are okay with it. :)) I'm still not sure about my writing style and if it's good enough.

I really do hope you enjoy this part though. Thanks so much for all the support. Waking up to see those messages from fanfiction always makes my day better. If people feel that this chapter was unnecessary I could always remove it. (I hope it was worth a good read at least.)

But seriously many thanks to the following who actually wanted to see this part: yourface-JK; Animechibifangirl;midnight0sun95

Love you guys! And thanks for sticking with me!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Fairy Tail!

P.S. I'm actually quite happy with how I thought Juvia and Gray handled the aftermath in the manga. I wrote the first 2 chapters before those chapters came out and I'm quite surprised that I got a few things right (the whole Juvia feels that she doesn't deserve to love Gray for killing her father; and Gray thanking and apologizing to Juvia for doing so) so at least Juvia's and Gray's characters were not too OOC.

Sorry for the long A/N but I wanted to at least write something before the break was up! So until then! Enjoy!

Gray couldn't help but constantly drum his fingers on his lap. He was antsy and restless as he watched another hut pass them by too slowly for his liking. Couldn't this wagon go any faster?

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Gray calculated how far he was from the guild. Maybe he would get there faster if he ran all the way back. His musings however were interrupted as he heard giggling. Looking back across him, he watched as Lucy was unsuccessfully stifling her laughter.

"Looks like someone's all fidgety." Lucy commented, humor twinkling in her eyes. "What Gray? Can't wait to get back to Juvia's side huh?"She jabbed and Happy couldn't help but join her as he rolled out "He likes herrrrrrr"

Gray rolled his eyes in return, he had enough of their ribbing for the past 5 days. Seriously they're just like children. "Yeah go ahead and laugh Lucy. Tell you what, how about you stop teasing me and you just focus on taking care of your pink-haired boyfriend instead."

Lucy's face immediately flushed as she stammered out a retort. With a voice ringing two octaves higher and with the way her eyes refused to look at him, Gray was definitely not impressed. "Wha...Hah...Him? Of course not?" Her attempts halted as sounds of retching once again permeated the area.

"What was that Ice Head!?" Natsu choked out, in between his fits of nausea. "If you want to say something then come and say it to m-" Unfortunately the dragon slayer couldn't finish his sentiments as he was pulled back to his act of heaving as the motion sickness got the better of him.

Huffing in frustration, Gray popped his head out of the open window, gauging how much land they were able to cover in that bit of time he was distracted by Lucy.

"Now Gray. You just need to relax! What's the hurry? After all we're already ahead of schedule. Two days ahead of time in fact." Erza spoke up suddenly, breaking into a calm smile as she sat with her legs crossed. "It's not like Juvia's going anywhere. Porlyusica said that Juvia was still going to be in bed for more than a week from now."

Gray's mouth opened up to retort till Erza cut him off, "And yes. I know you have faith in Juvia and think she'll be up and running in no time but even you admitted that it would take another few days for her to wake up."

Gray closed his mouth in defeat but didn't bother to hide the frown that formed on his face. "Gray. Don't be like that. Juvia's perfectly fine. You don't need to rush to her side right away. After all you've been by her side for almost two weeks straight. I can just imagine how thrilled she'll be when she hears about it. The poor girl even faint from excitement."

Happy laughed at that. "Aye! She sure would!"

Gray grimaced at that. He definitely didn't want that to happen. Seeing her faint after her being in bed for more than two weeks. He didn't think his nerves could take it. Honestly it was a surprise that he could he get any sleep when he had been constantly worrying about Juvia all this time.

He was on edge and Gray couldn't help but feel his hand twitch. Was it too sappy for him to admit that his hand felt empty. That after almost two weeks of holding on to Juvia's it felt like his hand was in some constant void. Yup. Definitely sappy and mushy and silly but...not far from the truth.

Gray was already missing her. Sure it hasn't even been a whole 5 days but still. He knew that he needed to be by her side. He knew that he needed to hold her hand. After all, he had already promised to her and himself to never let her go.

Shaking his head in frustration. "Maybe it was too soon for me to go." he voiced out but was then greeted with a jab to his side. Not bothering to hide his pain he curled up as he held his aching middle.

"Nonsense. Did you see the way you looked during the last two weeks. It looked like you were the one who needed to be in bed." Erza scolded and even with Gray rubbing his now swollen side he could hear Natsu softly jabbing out that that was just how he always looked. He would have kicked the flame breath out of the wagon if Erza didn't continue with her sermon. "But look at yourself right now Gray. You look much healthier if you ask me. Nothing better than getting yourself back to your feet than an adrenaline rush from a job well done."

Gray huffed once again. Well he couldn't say that Erza was wrong. He definitely didn't take care of himself while Juvia was in bed. And though he hated the idea of leaving Juvia behind once again, he knew that he had to get himself back on track. After all, he had promise to better himself and he wouldn't be doing Juvia any favors when she wakes up, seeing him looking like the walking dead. And it was that and only that very reason why he decided to push through with the mission.

Begrudgingly Gray agreed with Erza's sentiments. "I know. I know. I just..." Gray ruffled his hair in frustration. "Can't this thing go any faster? I just...I just want to be by her side as soon as possible. I know what you're all thinking. Why the rush? No need to be in a hurry. She'll be there waiting for you. But...those words won't calm me down. Even if nothing's changed. Even if she'll still be in bed. I want to make sure that I'm by her side."

'If not for her sake then...maybe for mine.' he added mentally.

"Wow Gray...and here I thought I couldn't get any sicker." Natsu mumbled out while, Lucy and Erza could only watch Gray in surprise as he unusually bared his thoughts. So this was how a love-sick Gray looked like. It was strangely endearing.

"Well! You don't have to wait for long!" Happy chippered out as he flew out of the wagon to take in the view. "We're almost there! 10 minutes until we're back to Magnolia!"

Gray couldn't help but feel his tense shoulders and his grip around Natsu's neck relax from that information.

"Happy now Gray? We're almost back home. You'll be back to Juvia's side real soon." Lucy beamed and Gray couldn't help but let out a small smile too.

Finally back. Back to her side. With his hand finally around hers once more.

I'm back Juvia. And I hope you're ready to hear what I've wanted to say to you.

And Gray was sure he was ready to say it himself. He would. He'll tell it to her definitely

When she finally wakes up.

"You're back!"

"Well that was quick!"

"I thought you said it would take you a week?"

Different calls of greetings came from all corners of the guild. Their guild mates didn't expect them to come back so soon and it was a surprise to everyone that they actually arrived earlier than the Raijin tribe. Maybe Laxus and the rest decided to have some kind of stop-over.

Gray however didn't bother dallying at the entrance as he walked past his guild members with a goal in mind. Not bothering to answer every single greeting or congratulations, Gray stalked forward, inching closer to the infirmary.

"Gray!" He heard Cana call out in surprise. Maybe he should feel bad that he didn't even look at her but his replies can wait later. He needed to check up on Juvia after all. "Wait! Hold on!" He could vaguely hear her call out but he didn't feel up to hearing any of her escapades or newest drunk stories. Other matters took priority.

Feeling his tension flow away, he felt himself relax as he had finally reached the door to the infirmary. With a smile unfolding on his face, he turned the doorknob, excited to see Juvia after that job.

He then wondered if her complexion got better while he was gone. Was she still warm? Did anyone change her sheets while he was gone? Did she show any signs of improvement?

All these questions were going through his head these past five days. Finally his worries can finally be assuaged.

Opening up the door his eyes instantly locked unto the bed where Juvia was staying. The wooden poster bed, placed beside the wall, where Juvia should be resting.

But...

What

Gray's heart instantly stopped. He was pretty sure he had stopped breathing. But that didn't matter at all. Because where Juvia was supposed to lay. Where her head was supposed to rest. The bed was completely empty.

Where is she!?

Panicked, Gray ran inside the room. Took a look around the four corners of the infirmary. He crossed over to the bed and placed his hand on the sheets. The bed was made. The sheets were cold. Juvia hasn't been in the bed recently.

Where the hell did she go?!

Gray quickly walked to the bathroom. The door was wide open, clearly showing that Juvia wasn't using it either.

It felt like a bad dream. A horrible nightmare. Juvia's not here. She's gone. She's not in her bed.

What happened to her!?

"Ok look!" Gray tensed up as his head snapped to the entrance. Cana was standing there, her hands outstretched calmly as if she was dealing with a rogue animal. With the way he was feeling now, Gray didn't think she was over reacting.

"I know you're panicking but before you go on a rampage I can explain." Cana continued. Her voice treading carefully. "She's awake! She's actually very okay, walking and everything."

Gray couldn't help but feel relief and dread wash over him. His heart jumped for joy as he realized that Juvia was finally okay. He no longer had to worry and watch over her wondering when she would wake up. But at the same time he had done what he had always feared would happen.

I wasn't there when she woke up

Feeling frustration and anger flow into him he felt himself lean on the wall. He had promised to her that he wouldn't leave her. He had vowed that he would be there for her to make up for those times he couldn't. Oh how he had continued to make vows and promises of him changing. Of him becoming a better man for her. But he couldn't even be by her side when she woke up from that ordeal?! Two weeks in bed, fighting for her life and she wakes up to find him gone off to a mission!

Feeling his heart clench in horror, he gripped his hair in resentment. He had let her down. She probably thinks that he doesn't care. She probably thinks he just left her to fight it off herself. What the hell was he thinking, agreeing to Erza about going on the damn mission.

"Hey Gray! How's Juvia?!" Lucy's voice brought Gray back to reality as he watched her cheerfully walk in, clearly unaware of the tension in the room. Cana could only watch silently as she watched how things played out.

"So is the sleeping beauty looking better or-" Lucy's words got caught in her throat as her eyes caught on the empty bed. Her eyes then quickly darted up as it shifted between Gray and Cana. Cana could only bite her lip as she softly uttered. "She woke up the day after you guys left."

"Oh no." was all Lucy could say as her eyes then quickly shifted back towards Gray, assessing how he was taking it.

Hearing that Juvia woke up on the very day after they left was the last straw for Gray as he felt his emotions bubble up to the surface.

"T-The day...after we left?!" Gray spat out, he couldn't help but feel burning hot fury edge at the back of his throat. "Are you telling me...that if I just stayed for just another day by her side then I could have been here when she woke up?!"

Gray could only watch the two girls, as Cana didn't bother to answer him, knowing that it may just set him off.

"Why the hell didn't anyone bother to call!?" Gray's voice boomed out and he could see Lucy stiffen up at his voice. "If she was awake three days ago why didn't anyone bother calling?"

"We thought it was better for you to find out yourself." Cana answered him guardedly. After all, with the tension in the room it wasn't hard to see that Gray was pretty much a ticking time bomb. "We were also worried if we called you then you wouldn't be able to focus on the job. We were concerned that you would have gotten yourself hurt."

"Like that mattered!" Gray shouted back. Because Gray truly believed it. He knew that he promised that he would take better care of himself. That he would fix himself to make sure Juvia would get the man that she deserved. But how could he brush it off. How could he let her wake up once again, thinking for a second that he didn't want to be by her side.

"Gray!" Lucy attempted to chastise but was suddenly cut off as Gray continued his tirade. "I don't care what you guys were worried about! Why didn't you say anything? I could have gone back! I should have gone back!" The volume of his voice was no longer under his control.

Gray couldn't help but imagine how Juvia was feeling. How hurt she may have been that he never bothered to see if she was okay.

She must have been hurt. She may have felt betrayed.

Oh god...was she lonely?

Feeling anxiousness crawl up into the pit of his stomach he finished weakly. "I shouldn't have left in the first place."

"No...Gray don't be like that. No one expected her to get well so soon!" Lucy tried to appease him."You knew very well that you needed that mission. The timing was just...unfortunate." Lucy feebly finished. But Gray didn't want to hear any of it.

No matter the reason. In the end he had failed Juvia. She didn't get to wake up with him by her side. She wouldn't realize that he was there holding her hand all that time. She's probably thinking to herself right now that he never bothered to stay when all this time, he's just been craving and aching for her to be in his grasp once again.

Gray scrunched up his eyes in chagrin. "She must be so disappointed in me." he muttered to himself. But Cana spoke up to rebut his statement. "What the hell are you talking about Gray. This is Juvia we're talking about! Just talk to her! She'll understand, her more than anyone."

Gray looked up at Cana in questioning. Sure he knows that Juvia is not exactly the vengeful type or the one to hold grudges but could he really count on it. Could he really expect that much of Juvia? How could he expect Juvia to be okay with him just up and going to a mission while she was lying unconscious in a bed for weeks.

Or better yet, did he himself even deserve to have Juvia treating him like it was okay.

"What are you getting so huffy about?" Cana called out once again. "No use dwelling on it. The more time you spend thinking to yourself the more time you're away from her! Just go ahead and take action. Talk to her! Because I bet you want to see her and she's just as excited to see you too."

While thoughts of whether or not he deserved to see her swirled around his mind, Gray brushed off those doubts and pushed them back. He can worry about them later. Right now, what matters is to get to Juvia as soon as possible and explain to her everything that had happened and then he would finally tell her what needed to be said.

Moving his feet, one in front of the other he dashed outside the infirmary to search for the blue-haired water mage. Gray's eyes shifting from one side of the guild to the next, he scanned for the familiar shade of blue that he knew so well Walking quickly and avoiding other people his feet brought him around the guild but he couldn't find where the water-bearer was. Gray's heart was clenching. Where did she go?

"Oh Gray! You're back!" He heard a voice welcome him and turned to see Mirajane smiling up at him.

"Mirajane! Have you seen Juvia!?" Gray asked right away not caring if it seemed a bit rude.

Mirajane just clapped her hands together as if she had just come to a realization. "Ooh! I saw her just earlier. Maybe around 40 minutes ago? She should be around here somewhere?" Mirajane's eyes then gave a quick scan of the guild. Not being able to see the water-bearer herself she quirked her head to the side. "Unless she just went out."

Gray groaned out in frustration. "Do you have any idea where she may be going?" He asked Mirajane hoping she would give him any clue as to where Juvia went.

Mirajane just gave Gray an apologetic smile as she shook her head. "Unfortunately she didn't mention anything to me. I'm sorry Gray but I'm sure she'll be back soon!" she ended with a hopeful tone.

With all honesty he wasn't feeling very hopeful at the moment.

"What's going on Gray?" Gray turned to the voice inquiring. It actually surprised Gray how quickly his anger and frustration shifted towards the scarlet haired woman. Usually just by her brute force alone, he wouldn't even dream of raising his voice at her. But with Juvia going AWOL it was safe to say that Gray wasn't in the right state of mind.

"Well guess what Erza! Guess what! She's awake! Awake!" was all Gray could say, his voice raising, knowing full well he was calling attention to himself. With anger boiling up in him he didn't even know if he could hold a proper conversation.

"What?! She is?! Where is she?" Erza said now alarmed at this knowledge and her eyes proceeded to take a sweep around the guild..

"Well isn't that the million dollar question!" Gray spat back. "She isn't here and I have no idea where she could be!?"

Erza was definitely not pleased with his tone or the level of his voice but luckily for Gray, she didn't call forth a sword yet. "Calm down Gray!"

"How do you expect me to calm down Erza! Did you hear?! She woke up! She woke up just one day after we left! Just one! She woke up and I wasn't there to see it! I wasn't there to tell her that she was ok! Or to calm her down!" Gray continued. "If you didn't drag me! If you didn't tell me to leave her than I could have been there! If you just left me alone then this wouldn't have happened!" Gray croaked out feeling the anger that bubbled inside him, burst out, all in one go.

"Gray there's no need to raise your voice!" Erza scolded over his accusations.

"Well I don't give a damn right now!" Gray barked back at her. His voice resonated throughout the guild and he was pretty sure the whole guild was now looking at him.

He knows that Erza could strangle the life out of him by now but she didn't speak up after that outburst. After a second or so of silence, Gray felt the anger ebb out of him. With the anger flushing out of him, Gray was just left with both guilt and disappointment with himself. Panting out and taking deep breaths, Gray closed his eyes to further calm himself.

Opening them he then looked at Erza and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry...I know. I know I have no right to blame you. It's not your fault. I just...I'm just so angry with myself. And I'm so angry with what happened. I just can't help but feel that I let her down...I wasn't there for her. And I'm frustrated and annoyed. Because in the end I really did let her down...I've let myself down..."

Erza took a step forward and Gray couldn't help but wince as he imagined the slap that he would be given. She would probably give him a sermon on what he did wrong and the gall of him to raise his voice to her. Gray however was surprised to just feel a sudden and quick jab of pain on his forehead. He looked up to see that Erza had only given him a small flick on his forehead.

With her eyes staring him down, her hand then relaxed as she placed her palm on top of his head. Gray's eyes widened and his shoulders slumped as he was given a small and gentle pat.

"Gray...it wasn't your fault. Stop blaming yourself."

"But..."

Erza wouldn't have it though as she stopped him from saying anything further. "You didn't let anyone down Gray. You left because you needed to. You left because everyone agrees that you needed to get back on your feet. Everyone can agree that you weren't yourself these past few days. You needed to get back to normal. To once again be the guy who Juvia knows and loves."

"And it wasn't like you've done it on purpose Gray. You tried so hard to get back to her as soon as possible. No one could have imagined that she would have gotten better that quickly. She can't blame you for that. No one can." Erza defended as she gazed at him with gentleness. "Gray...Juvia will understand."

"But...I left her alone." Gray argued softly, letting out his frustrations. His hands unconsciously clenched into a fist as he felt his wrongs come to haunt him. "I left her all by herself."

"Honestly Gray. When has she ever been alone? What do you take your Guildmates for? " Erza replied with a smile on her face. "As long as she was in this guild, she would have never been alone. She woke up to these people who care about her. Mirajane promised to have stayed y her side. Cana, Lisanna, Gajeel, Master...everyone in the guild were just here Gray. She was never truly you may have not been there, the rest of the guild, the rest of her family was."

"That's the thing isn't it. I wasn't the one there for her. I wasn't the one she could have turned to." Gray spoke up once more. Once more bearing it all. Suddenly feeling drained her let out a humorless laugh. "I should have been there for her. I wanted to be there for her. But...in the end...I couldn't."

Gray felt it once again. The sharp pain, That feeling of uselessness that he's grown used to. Why...why couldn't he get even this right? All he needed was to continue to stay by her side and yet...he couldn't even do that much.

"That's not true!" a voice chimed up behind him. Looking behind him Gray saw Lucy's form standing beside Cana. As Lucy called out to him with emotions flickering in her eyes, he noticed how Erza stood back, letting Lucy take over for her.

"You go on and on saying how you couldn't be there for her Gray but you were there for her." Lucy continued with a finger pointing back at him. "You were the one who never left her side. You were the one who held her hand and watched over her. Never stopping. Never tiring. You were there for her Gray whether she knows it or not."

Lucy's eyes were now misting up as she continued on with a frown on her face and emotions flowing right out of her. "I know you wanted to be there when she woke up, Gray and I know you're frustrated about it. But just because you weren't there for her when she woke up doesn't mean that everything you've done for her was forgotten. In the end, you were there for her when she was still struggling. You were there for her when she was still in pain. You were her attendant, her cold compress and her strength. Gray, you were the one she held unto when she was barely holding on."

Taking a few breathes, Lucy stared Gray down as she finished what she needed to say. "That's why Gray...don't do this to yourself. Don't take it out yourself because everyone here in this room can see just how much you really care for her. So what are you waiting for idiot. Don't just stay here! Go on! Go and look for her! Because I'm sure that's she's been waiting for you too!"

Gray was left speechless for a moment. Their words made sense to him after all. Frustrations and anger can wait later. What's the point of obsessing about whether or not he was here when she woke up? Why continue wasting time arguing and blaming when he had someone who was waiting for him. When he was waiting all this time for her.

He'll make it up to her one day. Make up for all his disappointments and letdowns. He'll start now. But first is to finally see her. See her finally awake. To have her call out his name. To have her hand in his.

Closing his eyes and giving a shallow laugh at his foolishness, Gray took a deep breath. "You're right...what am I doing just waiting here? I better start looking for her. Now...where could she be?"

The people surrounding him all gave him smiles of encouragement, already seeing the change in his demeanor. "Why don't you start with the dorms?" Erza suggested and the very obviousness of that suggestion made him want to slap his own forehead. Of course...why didn't he think that Juvia was just in her room all along.

Lucy gave a laugh as she took in his expression. "I can come with you if you want! After all, guys aren't allowed there anyway!" Feeling himself reign in his emotions better, Gray was now starting to feel better.

"Oh! You're back already!?" a voice greeted him with the same sentiments he's been receiving ever since they got back from the mission. "I thought you guys said it would take a week?" Wendy asked as she then gave them a smile.

"Welcome back!" Chelia greeted in turn also with a wide smile on her face. While Gray admitted having a mission without Wendy was somewhat lacking he was glad that she had someone close to her age to talk and bond with.

Wendy then quirked her head as she looked at her fellow teammates. "What's going on?"

Erza smiled at their youngest team member glad to see her enjoying her time with the god-slayer. "We were just looking for Juvia. We've been trying to find her."

At that statement both Wendy and Chelia shared a look between them. "Oh we saw Juvia-san some time ago."

Gray perked up at that knowledge. "Really? Did she say anything to you?"

"Uh...yeah! She actually thanked Chelia and I for healing her. Apparently she remembered that Chelia and I were the one who helped her recover." Wendy revealed bashfully, still not used to being complimented like that.

Hearing her words, Gray felt his heart speed up. Juvia remembers things. She remembered that Chelia and Wendy healed her. If she recalls that...does that mean...does she remember him by her side?

"Gray!" Lucy exclaimed up in joy as she shook his shoulder in excitement. Apparently she came to the same conclusion. "She remembers things Gray! That must mean she probably remembers you! Gray isn't that great!"

"Oh! That's true! If she remembers you being be her side, Gray then she must be ecstatic to see you!" Mirajane commented. "She must be so happy about it that she's probably bubbling with anticipation until you come back!"

Cana laughed at that. "Knowing Juvia she would crawl all the way to Gray just to show her appreciation." Cana joked but her words were not followed by any laughter as her words rang uneasily true.

"Oh god! What if she decided to follow us to our mission!?" Lucy cried in worry.

Gray felt his heart now skip a beat. Damn. That is something she would do. "Then what am I doing just waiting here for? I've got to catch up to her!"

"I'll come with you!" Lucy offered.

"Me too!" Cana called out as the possibility of Juvia taking the aforementioned action seem more probable than not.

"Hold up!" Erza's voice called their attention before any of them could take even one step further. "We can't just start chasing after her when we don't even know for sure that that's where she went. How about we check her room first? Or ask around if people have seen her leave. Let's gather enough information first before we do anything rash!" the scarlet's voice reasoned out and while Gray would have wanted to start going as soon as possible he knew that going on a wild goose chase wasn't the answer.

"Um...well..." Chelia awkwardly spoke out thus calling the attention of the make-shift search party. "Juvia-san actually mentioned something else to us." By her side Wendy was fidgeting as she looked down at the floor.

"Oh what did she say? Did she mention where she was going? What she was going to do?" Erza prodded and Gray could only hope that what they said could finally tell him where he can find her. He wasted enough time already.

"Well..." Chelia gave an awkward cough. "She mentioned that she needed to thank someone else...personally."

Gray sighed out in frustration. Great. So she really did try to find him. Doesn't she realize that she's in no shape to travel long distances just a few days after she woke up. Not to mention it's not like the location of their mission was actually safe. She could get hurt.

"Then I better go as soon as possible! Maybe I can catch her before she could get a wagon." Gray voiced out as he looked at Lucy who looked like she was also ready to go.

"Butttt that's the thing...it wasn't Gray that she was going to thank." Chelia chimed in once again.

At that statement Gray's mind drew to a blank. "Hah!? What do you mean? Who could she possibly thank?"

"Maybe she went to thank Porlyusica?" Mirajane suggested as it definitely would make sense that Juvia would thank the woman who gave her the antidote. That wasn't so bad either, it wasn't like Porlyusica lived that far anyway. Gray felt him relaxing a bit. That would mean that she would be back soon.

"Uhhh...no. No she didn't thank Porlyusica either." Chelia replied and Gray tensed up, not appreciating the fact that they were delaying on giving out important information. The more time he spent here, the more time Juvia was out there.

"Well what are you waiting for? Just tell us already! Where did Juvia go? Who is she thanking?" Gray asked quickly feeling his patience drawing thin.

Chelia and Wendy once more shared a glance, exchanging between them different glares and wide-eyed stares.

"Well girls! Out with it!" Cana now raised as she was also never good with waiting. With a scrunch of their shoulders the two girls sheepishly looked at Gray. Chelia then proceeded to push Wendy forward apparently deciding that she would be the one to break the news.

"Well...you see...Juvia-san...uh..." Wendy started as she nervously twirled her fingers.

"Come on Wendy. Just tell us." Lucy coaxed, deciding to take the gentle approach. "Who did Juvia go out to thank."

All eyes were on the wind dragon slayer as she pursed her lips and gave Gray an anxious and shy stare. Gathering what courage she had in her she then spoke out a single name.

"Lyon-san."

"GRAY! YOU CAN'T JUST FREEZE THE WHOLE GUILD AND LEAVE LIKE THAT! THAW US OUT!"

Gray ignored the furious words that Erza growled out of her mouth. He knew that he would be dead meat when he got back but frankly he didn't care. Because how could he care about that when Juvia was with that bastard. How could he waste another second knowing that the woman who he worried about was at the grasp at his somewhat brother. And for what!?

What the hell is she thanking him for!?

What did Lyon do!?

Wasn't he the one who took care of her?

Feeling himself burn with frustration he felt his legs race faster towards the station. There was no way Gray was just going to wait and stay right there while Juvia bubbly chatted to his rival. No. Not while he was the one who has been waiting for her all this time.

No! Right now he was going to bring Juvia back cause he was the one who stayed by her side for those last few days. He was the one who had to go through that ordeal. He was the one who held her hand through it all. No way was he going to let Lyon take his place.

Juvia's just going to have to deal with it cause he's finally going to see her be okay. He's finally going to hear her voice again. And finally he's going to tell her what he's been wanting to say all this time. Whether she wants to or not.

Don't let go of my hand Juvia. After all I promised that I wouldn't let go of yours.

Next Stop: Lamia Scale

A/N: I wanted to put focus on Gray holding Juvia's hand because he has been holding unto hers for 2 weeks then finally when gets to see Juvia well enough he sees her holding Lyon's hand. Just wanted to point out that irony. :))