MEANT TO BE | GRUVIA

46

Juvia woke up to a knock on the door. She groaned and sat up.

"I'm going to work now," Ur said from the other side of the door. "You guys will be alone until Wendy gets off school."

"Okay!" Juvia called back. She looked over to the clock and saw that it was six in the morning. She's only been sleeping for an hour. She looked over to Gray and saw that he was very much asleep. She was a little surprised that he didn't wake up. But part of her knew he wouldn't. They were up all night, after all. She laid back down beside him and fell asleep almost instantly.

"I'm coming to take you home."

Every time she closed her eyes, Juvia would get the same nightmare as before. She would wake up almost in tears. She would calm down when she saw Gray beside her. But every time it was worse, just because she knew that at some point when she has that dream it will be true, and Gray won't be beside her. And that scared her.

X

It was finally time.

It's been a week since Juvia got the letter from her father, and she was positive that he would come that day. Jennifer canceled class for that night. She had a feeling Marco would come as well.

Jennifer cried for a whole day when she found out. She couldn't bare the thought of losing her daughter again. David was pretty much in shock. Ciel and his friends were livid about it, promising to go find her father and kill him. They already knew why she ran away in the first place. Natsu and everyone else was pretty surprised. All the girls cried and demanded a girls day out, which they all enjoyed. Ultear was pretty upset. Ur cried as well. Wendy bawled and wouldn't let go of her for a least two hours. And Gray hasn't left her side. They did have all of their classes together, so that made things easier. But if she even went to the bathroom, he was right outside the door. He was really glued to her side. Juvia was we sure she caught him with a few tears in his eyes, but he never openly cried about it.

And so, Jennifer, Juvia, Gray, Ciel, Wendy, Ultear, and Ur were all cramped in Juvia's living room. They all just couldn't bare the thought of her leaving without saying goodbye. All of her friends tried to come, but Erza told them not to. She said it would be too hard for Juvia, which it would have been. Ciel insisted he came. No one seemed to argue his logic.

When everyone heard a car door, they froze. Juvia ran over to the window. She could see her father walking inside the dojo.

"I'll go talk to him while you say goodbye," Jennifer said, putting a hand on Juvia's shoulder as she walked past.

"Oh, Juvia!" Ur cried, latching onto the blunette. She hugged her tightly, never wanting to let her go. "Believe it or not, I love you like my own children. You better come and visit."

"I love you too," Juvia cried, hugging her back. It was like she had two mothers. And her bond with Ur was special, because she chose for it to happen, unlike with a normal mother where you can't choose who it is.

Ur kissed the top of her head. "I'm going to go downstairs. Don't forget to call, alright?"

Juvia wiped her eyes and nodded. Ur kissed her forehead one last time before rushing downstairs.

"J-Juvia," Wendy cried, running over. She was crying more than anyone. Juvia knelt down on the floor and hugged the girl. "Please don't go."

"I'm sorry, but I have to," Juvia said soothingly, running her fingers through the girl's hair.

"Okay, I have to join in," Ultear announced in a broken tone. She knelt down beside the two and made a group hug. Juvia removed one arm from Wendy to hug Ultear. After a minute, Ultear pulled Wendy away, knowing others needed to say goodbye.