This is the final chapter. Ending at 68 pages. Thank you for all that supported this story.
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Juvia was finally able to walk; they had been in the hospital for three days. The healers were highly skilled and able to heal most of her physical wounds, but she still had a few bumps and bruises. Juvia sat alone with her feet dangling off of the side of her bed. She had changed into clothes other than her hospital gown. She got up and stood in front of the mirror. Her face was no longer scared, but her eyes said otherwise. Juvia continued to stare blankly into the mirror, oblivious to the fact that Gray had walked in.
"Juvia," he said "What are you doing?"
Juvia quickly turned around and faced him.
"Juvia was just looking in the mirror." she replied
"Why?"
"It seems like something is missing."
Gray looked at her as she stared down at her feet. He put his hands into his pockets. Something was in there. He grabbed it and pulled it out.
"Juvia." he stated
"What?" she asked
"Close your eyes."
Juvia nodded and did as he said. Gray took the butterfly clip and neatly put it in her hair.
"There." he said as he finished
Juvia opened her eyes; she moved her hand over the clip. Realizing what it was she turned to face the mirror.
"Gray-sama..." she trailed off
She stared at the butterfly clip. They had found it. Something about that thought almost brought tears to her eyes.
"You left it on the train." he stated
"Thank You."
Gray smiled as Juvia looked into the mirror. Not with a happy look, with a contempt look.
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Juvia had said goodbye to many of the girls. For some reason seeing them smile made her heart hurt. Maybe it was because they seemed so happy, it just overwhelmed her. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned around. Standing there was Mi and Lya.
"Are you guys going back to your guilds?" Juvia asked
"Yes." Mi replied
"Juvia is glad."
Lya smiled her brightest.
"We have to thank you Juvia." She added
"Why do you have to thank Juvia?" she asked "It was Fairy Tail that saved everyone."
Mi giggled,
"No," Lya stated "If you weren't there I'm sure many of us would've given up before help arrived."
"But..." she started to protest
"And," Mi added "We wouldn't have met such a wonderful friend."
Juvia blushed at Mi's words.
"We hope that we will run into you again." Mi continued
Lya finished, "Just in a different way."
The two girls laughed and waved goodbye. Juvia felt warm inside as they left.
'That's right.' Juvia thought 'Juvia has friends, and they're safe.'
Juvia smiled to herself and held her right hand delicately. She decided to go visit Aoi before she left. She scanned the hospital rooms for her name and found it. She knocked three times.
"Come in." she heard a voice call
Juvia went into the room and saw Aoi sitting there peacefully. They smiled at each other.
"How are you Aoi?" Juvia asked
"I'm fine, much better than I was." she replied "Did Lya and Mi, oh, I mean Rena, say goodbye to you?"
"Yes."
"That's great."
Juvia nodded.
"Hey Juvia?" Aoi asked
"Yes?"
"Are you happy?"
"What? Of course Juvia is..."
"No, I can tell. You're troubled."
Juvia couldn't argue.
"But you shouldn't be." Aoi continued "You really did so much for everyone."
Juvia was touched by the words and her heart became a little lighter.
"Thank you Aoi." she said "But Juvia came to say goodbye."
Aoi smiled.
"I hope we meet again." she stated
"Just in a different way." Juvia finished, repeating Lya
The two girls made their goodbyes short and sweet. Juvia left and closed the door behind her.
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The train ride back was long. Juvia just couldn't stay comfortable. Gray fell asleep next to her and his head was on her shoulder. Erza sat on her other side giggling at her red face.
"Juvia," she whispered "Cherish it."
Juvia carefully nodded. But Gray woke up from her nodding.
"Juvia?" he questioned
He realized he was sleeping on her shoulder and quickly pulled away.
"S-Sorry." he mumbled
Juvia nodded.
"It's OK Gray-sama."
Gray looked away and Juvia giggled. Things were starting to feel normal again. Levy sat next to Lucy.
"Hey Levy?" Lucy asked
"Yeah?" she replied
"Why can't any boys be sweet like that and fall asleep on our shoulders?" Lucy pouted
Levy giggled.
"I don't think very many are like that." she responded
They both looked behind them at Gajeel and Natsu who were both about to throw up.
"Lucy..." Natsu complained "How much longer until we get there?"
Lucy didn't respond and instead laughed.
"I see what you mean." she told Levy
The two girls laughed practically the entire way back.
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Levy held Juvias hand. Juvia didn't know why, but she was nervous. Gajeel went in first with Erza a while ago to report to Master. They would be back soon.
"Are you ready Juvia?" Lucy asked
"Yes, Juvia is ready." she responded
Gray stood behind the three girls with Natsu.
"Hey Gray." Natsu brought up quietly
"Yeah?" he asked
"Even though everything seems fine now, you should still clear up that misunderstanding."
Gray nodded. He knew what Natsu was talking about. The doors opened and Erza came through.
"Come on." she stated
Juvia nodded and let go of Levy's hand. The group walked through the guild doors and into a massive crowd. Cana, Wendy, Natsu, and Carla came forward first.
"Juvia," Cana said with tears in her eyes, "You're OK."
"We were so worried." Wendy said
"Juvia is fine." she stated
Everyone came to welcome Juvia back. She got many hugs and questions of concern. Juvia felt wonderful. She kept remembering that these are her friends. She was surrounded by people who cared for her. She laughed as people asked her how she was. Each time she would respond;
"Juvia is fine."
Once everything started to calm down, Master came out.
"Tonight we will celebrate!" he declared
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Everyone was socializing, there was music playing, and laughter filled the guild. Mira was singing a song and Lisanna and Elfman laughed together. Juvia sat at the bar drinking some tea watching everyone. Gray came up and sat next to Juvia.
"Hey Juvia?" Gray asked nervously
"Yes Gray-sama?" she responded
"I just wanted to tell you, welcome back."
"Thank you. Juvia is glad to be back."
Juvia continued to drink her tea. But Gray sighed.
"That's not what I wanted to say." he stated
"You're not happy?"
"No, no." Gray stuttered "I didn't mean that."
"Then what?" Juvia asked
"You know, right before you left?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't mean it." he blurt out
"What?"
"Juvia don't make me say it again."
Juvia laughed.
"OK."
While they continued talking, Natsu sat with Lucy.
"Hey Natsu, aren't you glad that everything is back to normal." Lucy asked
"Yeah." Natsu replied
"Hey, remember that dark cloud we were stuck in?"
"Y-Yeah."
"That really scared me. I had no idea where you were." Lucy quickly stopped "O-O-Or where I was."
Natsu looked at her flustered face and laughed. Levy was also laughing. Gajeel was up on stage trying to sing.
"Gajeel…" she laughed soft enough so he couldn't hear
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Everyone had fallen asleep by dawn. Except for Gray and Juvia they still sat at the ball looking at all their guild mates fast asleep on floor, ceiling, you name it.
"Look at those idiots." Gray mumbled
Juvia giggled. She had a lot of fun last night. She was back, and it felt great. The morning sun peered through a window and created a beam of light through the guild. Gray wrapped his hand around Juvias. Juvia looked up and they smiled at each other. Juvia was relieved that she was still able to smile like this. It had been tough and painful. But both Gray and Juvia knew, the end of this horror brought a bright new beginning. Juvia sacrificed, Gray protected, and they both loved.
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I have to thank everyone. This is my first time finishing a story, I never knew that it felt this good. I hope that everyone liked the last chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, and that goes for the whole story. For the last time:
Thank you to those who reviewed, followed, or made this story a favorite!