A Lost Boy

Chapter 20

When Juvia made it back to the underground house she still found herself unable to eat and now unable to speak. She was too busy thinking about her mother and trying to figure out why neither she or her father had been in her thoughts for such a long time. But the more Juvia thought of her mother, the less she could remember.

"Natsu." She said to her brother who at the moment was stuffing his face full of food.

"Yes?" He replied after swallowing a large mouthful of his meal.

"What's your father's name?"

"My father?"

"Yes what's his name?"

"Well I'm not sure if I'll ever acknowledge him as my father but for the sake of everyone else, Gray."

She then turned to Romeo.

"Romeo who is your mother?" She asked him.

"Well that's easy." Elfman muttered.

"You are my mother Juvia." Romeo said.

The children all laughed thinking it was a game but Juvia was quite unnerved by the answers her brothers had given her. Unnerved and worried. Later after dinner as the children all go into bed to hear another one of her stories, she realized that Gray had not yet returned and decided to take this moment to ask the lost boys a few questions.

"Why can't we hear the story now?" Gajeel complained.

"Because Gray is not back yet and it would be very rude to start without him." She said. "Besides I would like to talk to you four about something."

"What is it?" Elfman asked.

"Do any of you remember your real mothers? The ones who are grown ups, not pretend like me?"

Gajeel, Elfman, Sting, and Rogue all took a moment to think over her question before they answered.

"I don't know." Rogue said. "Did any of us even have real mothers?"

"I think I had a real mother once." Gajeel said.

"What was she like?"

"I forget. Which is weird because normally I remember what happened before I came here."

"I had a white rat." Sting said.

"That's no mother!" Gajeel said shoving him.

"You wanna go porcupine head?!"

"Bring it you weasel faced dolt!"

"Boys please." Juvia said. "No fighting at bedtime or there will be no story."

"Sorry ma'am." The two said quickly straightening up their act.

"That's better." She said. "So none of you remember your real mothers? You don't even think you had them?"

They shook their heads. Now Juvia was more worried than ever. If the lost boys couldn't remember their real parents due to staying here for so long then what would that mean for Juvia and her brothers if they stayed?

Shortly afterward, Gray finally came back and sat on a nearby stool to hear Juvia's story. However he would soon learn that this story would be the one he hated most.

"There once was a gentleman." She started. "And a lady."

"Was the lady pretty?" Elfman asked.

"She was the loveliest lady in all the world with long red hair that would make you think of Summer roses and strawberries."