Author's Note: Okay so this is a belated present for my darling Meg aka. Fauxtr0t or Bequietmeg on Tumblr. Technically this is just something to tide you over until your actual gift is ready, because it's written but it's super rough and needs a ton of work. But really I adore you so much, and I hope this silly little drabble (based off your headcanon) makes you smile. I have at least one more and might have a couple other ideas so this might just become a small collection.

Also I have to give Momo Cicerone (aka Momociceron on Tumblr) a ton of credit for this. A lot of my inspiration came from your last chapter of Into Your Gravity which I strongly recommend you go read as well.

Finally I just wanted to say that I know a lot of people are against Gray leaving Juvia, and I get that and while I hope it's not the case it is a possibility and this fic is just a means of exploring that.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, or any of the characters in this story. I will not be making any money from this story.

Gray wakes in the early hours of the morning, a layer of cold sweat covering his body, and his heart is hammering against his chest. His breath comes in short gasps and he can feel the stiff trail of dried tears on his cheeks. Instinctively he looks at the empty space beside him and panics.

He's half dressed and lurching across the room before he remembers. Remembers that she's not supposed to be there. It's been almost a month but when he wakes like this he forgets. Forgets that she's not with him, and that he left her behind. It's moments like this when he questions whether he made the right choice, because he can't deny that he misses her.

He swears he can still feel her warmth and remember with perfect clarity the gentle caressing touch she would use to sooth him. He remembers the way she would look, how she'd be wide awake within moments and the way her ocean blue eyes would soften. Her pale skin would be illuminated by the moon, or sometimes by the first rays of the sun and he swears she glowed. She'd be perched beside him at first; always conscious of giving him space, allowing him time to come back to reality. And then, as his breathing would even out, she would reach out. Her fingers would feather against his skin, along his arm or back, whatever was within her reach, until he would give into the tenderness of her touch.

He'd practically throw himself against her some nights, while others he'd grip her and pull her into him. He fought it at first, but in the end he couldn't help himself. He couldn't keep his distance, not physically or emotionally.

That's why he had to leave. He'd written her a million excuses, all scribbled hastily on a single piece of paper in the predawn light. He'd listed every rational reason he could think. Told her how it wasn't safe, how it wasn't fair and how he couldn't focus if he had to worry about someone else. But the single truth was that he'd grown comfortable with her and it scared him.

He'd been so busy fighting against all the over the top public displays and declarations he'd completely missed all the small changes. Suddenly he was waking up with her nestled in his embrace, his fingers would seek to touch her without reason, and hugs and hand holding offered warmth and comfort. And he started to wonder what it would be like to kiss her, to let his touches wander farther, to truly give in. Somehow she'd found a way to seep through all his defenses until he found himself wanting and needing her in ways he swore he never would.

Gray sighed and fell back onto the bed and stared out the window behind it. The sun had yet to break on the horizon but the sky was clear of clouds. It was going to be a sunny day, and his gut twisted with guilt and disdain. He remembered how just over an hour after leaving her the sky had suddenly darkened and he'd had to wait for his train in the pouring rain. He swore the storm had followed him, but after a week it relented.

At first it he was relieved but now... now he wondered where she was. He wondered if she was okay, and if the rain still followed her. Deep down he knew it would, and that it was his fault. He'd crossed a line that day, and no matter how much he told himself it was for her own good he couldn't help but feel like he'd abandoned her. The suns rays stung his eyes and he cursed himself, because he didn't deserve to see the light when he'd left her behind in the darkness.

He released another sigh and forced himself to get up and finish dressing before heading out. Laying around wouldn't do any good, and he couldn't undo what he'd done. Besides, maybe now she'd move on and find someone worthy of bringing sunshine into her life.

Lyon sprang to mind and he fought back a wave of nausea, telling himself it was just hunger. He'd go buy breakfast in a few hours once businesses started to open, and he'd try to convince himself it was just as good as anything she cooked, because what right did he have to miss her?