Juvia's eyes fluttered. One, two, three. She had expected to see the colored blue walls of her bedroom. However, she was met with the sight of an unfamiliar place. Juvia bolted upright, surveying around the room furiously.

Where am I? Yanking the sheets off her body, she got on her feet and scanned herself. The clothes from last night were still on, buttons still intact. The only thing that was off was her shoes. What happened last night?

When she opened the door, she was met with the familiar sights of Laxus' living room. Did I not go home last night? Why am I still here?

"So you finally wake up?" A shirtless Laxus appeared from the kitchen. He leaned his elbow on his off-white wall.

"W-What happened...last night?" Juvia walked up, trying to ignore his muscular frame. She wasn't exactly used to the site of him shirtless. Unlike Gray, Laxus wasn't the one to show much of his body. Whenever they trained, the most skin he would show was his arms in a sleeveless shirt. So seeing him in his natural, shirtless state was a foreign sight.

He had been sitting there, sipping coffee and reading a newspaper.

Laxus' eyebrows furrowed. I hope she doesn't think anything happened last night, he thought.

"You knocked out while we were outside."

Juvia exhaled in relief, holding her chest. Thank goodness. The relief lasted all five seconds before she shook her head.

"Did we-"

He interrupted. He knew it wouldn't be in his best interest if he let her finish her thought. "I slept on the couch."

"Oh…' She said, turning her attention towards the couch. There was a blanket folded neatly with a pillow on top. He really was telling the truth. She turned to face him, feeling guilty for her assumption.

"You didn't have to give me your room." She bowed to signal how grateful she was.

Laxus shrugged, "It's not like it happens all the time."

Juvia gave a little smile before quickly frowning in realization. "W-What time is it?"

He took a sip from his mug, "Uh...8:17. What's wrong?"

"Why didn't you wake me?"

He shrugged. "I figured you'd want to sleep in."

Juvia sped towards the front door. Laxus followed behind her, "What's wrong?" She can never predict when she would get into her neurotic episodes.

"I have to meet Gajeel. I promised-He's going to kill me!" She hurried her pace towards the door.

She was stopped by Laxus, who, in a second, blocked her escape. He stood before the door, arms crossed, and looked down at her. She looked like a disheveled mess.

"Calm down. Why don't you eat something? I highly doubt you coming late to a training session would make him want to kill you."

"No, it's not that. It's…" She looked at him and then shook her head.

"Then what is it?"

"I can't! I promised Gajeel I won't."

Laxus smirked. "If you can't tell me, then you can't leave. Not unless you tell me what all the rush is about." Juvia sighed in defeat.

"Okay, well, Gajeel wanted to meet me early this morning so I can help him pick out a gift for Levy. Her birthday is coming up."

He chuckled. He couldn't believe that the metallic idiot was so...thoughtful? This was so weird.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'd never thought that he'd be the type to be...you know…"

"Romantic?" Juvia smiled, "Yes, it surprised me as well. But he really likes her."

"I can see." Laxus remarked.

"When I first found out they were going out, I was surprised because he never seemed like the type to open up to anyone but he has since being with her." Juvia straightened herself and exhaled, "Now, can you move please?"

Laxus shook his head, moving to the side so she could pass. Before she could twist the knob, he asked, "What's the deal with you and Gajeel anyways? I'd have thought you two would have been a thing before Levy."

Juvia shook her head before facing him, "We've been friends since the Element Four days. However, after the fall of Phantom Lord, we've been a lot closer since joining the guild. When I joined Fairy Tail, I tried to convince him to join as well. I told Makarov where he was relocated."

"And there was nothing between you two?

Juvia flashed a small smile, "I did...have a crush on him at one point. But that was a long time ago. Way before I joined Fairy Tail."

Laxus looked at her. "Heh, figures. He seems like your type."

"And what's my type?"

"The grumpy type."

"So then...by your logic, you would be too." Juvia said with a smile.

"This has got to be your third mission this week." Lyon smirked, leaning forwards.

Across from him sat Gray who leaned further into his booth seat.

"Relax. It's only the second." Gray's fingers rhythmically tapped on the table. Tap, tap, tap.

After his mission in the nearby Flora Town, he headed to Hargeon to meet up with Lyon for breakfast. It's been awhile since he's eaten with someone. There was the occasional lunch at the guild with Natsu but he didn't feel like hitting the guild as often. It's not as if he was in Magnolia often. The majority of his time has been spent out of town on solo missions.

"You know, it's not every day you drop by Hargeon to hang out with me."

Gray mumbled inaudible something before looking away.

"Something bothering you, Gray?" Lyon could pick up the slight tension between him and the other man. Gray hadn't exactly taken the news that he was seeing Juvia particularly well. He knew that he hadn't expected Lyon to still see her as often as he did.

In the beginning, out of respect for his friend, he tried to not mention Juvia as much. Anytime the other man would ask him about what he's been up to, he had been careful not to say anything about her. However, it's been a month now and he was getting tired of tip-toeing around the subject. He couldn't deny that there was something growing between them.

"Nothing. It's-nothing. Really, nothing at all."

Lyon sighed, "She's fine, if you must know." He knew he wanted an update, even if he outright tried to avoid the subject.

"You know, I wasn't going to ask tha-"

"You didn't have to. I already knew." Lyon said, his hand supporting his face as he leaned on the table.

"Whatever." He turned his head away, trying to look around the cafe.

Lyon shook his head. "This isn't healthy, you know. You're here. I'm here. We might as well address the big blue elephant in the room."

Gray faced him again. He was right. Annoying…but right. This was just so odd to process. The two people in this world that he truly cared for were something of an item together. He thought he needed some time to clear his thoughts and process everything. But, with every mission he went, it started to gnaw at him. First Laxus, now Lyon. This was all so off-putting to him.

"I'm fine." He said coldly.

He now understood why she took a break. It had all been one-sided on her end. It must have been exhausting. All the giving but never once taking. Gray thought that saving her from a couple of dangerous incidents was his way of giving back but he realized that he was neglecting her feelings as well.

He would turn her down, but then in the next moment, treat her as if he hadn't cruelly turned her down. Whenever she would ask about his feelings towards her, he would always delay and deflect his answers. He never really did give a straight answer about how we felt. It had to have been exhausting, if not downright embarrassing.

Lyon shook his head, "Whatever you say." This man is outright impossible, he thought.

So why couldn't he just say that he missed her? Why was it so hard to explain his feelings...with words? Why did he have to bury everything inside? This was harder than he thought it would be.

Gray closed his eyes, sighing, "What's she up to?" It was embarrassing to be asking Lyon something like that, especially since they're both in the same guild. But he realized that, if he never asked, he might not ever know. Even the folks at the guild tip-toe around him whenever she comes up as a subject. She had to have been avoiding him. She barely visits the guild hall anymore. And when she does, it's always during the times that he's out.

She was taking this break seriously and he just had to know.

"You're late." Gajeel scowled, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Sorry! I had to tend to something." Juvia said sweetly, trying to make sure that she was on his right side.

"Tending to what? Laxus?" He smirked.

Her eyes widened, "Huh?"

"Cut the act, rain woman. You smell just like him." He said with a smile.

Juvia closed her eyes and exhaled. This was going to be hard to explain.

Laxus eyed tea set. She forgot it. He sighed, walking towards his coffee table. He held up one of the used cups, brushing his fingers lightly against the intricate design.

"What a ditz." He said under his breath.

Laxus carried Juvia inside. She had fallen asleep on the grass while they were talking. She must've been exhausted, he thought.

Once he got inside, he placed her gently on the couch. The woman was still asleep. He retrieved a blanket from his room, carefully placing it over her. Just before he retired to his room, something made him linger. He observed her. He smirked. He had never seen her look so peaceful. It was almost angelic.

"She must be tired from running around everywhere."

She stirred a bit in her sleep, causing the upper area of her blanket to slide off her shoulder. Laxus quickly adjusted it, making sure she was appropriately tucked in. He looked over at her face. He found himself slightly dragging his index and middle fingers across her cheek.

He didn't know why, but seeing her sleep made him feel warm inside.