MEANT TO BE | GRUVIA

55

Jennifer couldn't contain her laughter. She was out on yet another date with Gildarts, and she was having an amazing time. Juvia was seven months pregnant, so it was nice to be able to clear her mind of worries.

"I'm not kidding," Gildarts said, holding back his own chuckles. "Cana ran out of the house, screaming her head off."

Jennifer wiped a tear from her eye. "Your daughter sounded fun. It's a shame I could never meet her, she and Juvia could have been friends" Cana died when she was only fifteen from a sudden heart attack. It was rare for someone her age and just as heartbreaking. (A/N: no pun intended...)

"She would have loved both you and Juvia," Gildarts said with a gentle smile. He grabbed Jennifer's hand across the table. "I'm really glad I have you."

Jennifer blushed and looked down at her lap. It was amazing how in just under a year, Gildarts was able to make her feel better than Marco ever did. It made her wish she could have met Gildarts earlier in life. Things may not have turned out the way they did, though.

"Jennifer?" Gildarts asked, drawing the blunette's attention back to him. "I have something I want to ask you."

X

"Gray," Juvia whispered, pressing his shoulder. He moaned in his sleep but didn't wake up. She pushed a little harder. He just hugged her tighter. "Gray!"

"What is it?" he asked sleepily, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. He looked at the clock and saw that it was almost two in the morning.

"Do you have any pickles?" she asked, poking his cheek to keep him awake.

"What? Pickles?" He was still half asleep, so he didn't really understand what she was talking about.

"I really want to eat a pickle," she said in a whiny voice.

Gray sat up and ran a hand down his face. "I don't even know." That had to be his least favorite part about her being pregnant. She woke him up all the time, asking for the most ridiculous things. Just the other day she wanted sushi. She doesn't even eat fish! He had to drive around for almost an hour just to find a place that sold sushi so late at night. He ended up in the next town over. Some prostitute even tried to pick him up. It was quite the odd night for him.

"Well let's go look!" Juvia said excitedly as if she was going on some grand adventure. She grabbed his hands and jumped out of bed way faster than a pregnant woman should be able. She ran downstairs, pulling him with her.

Gray sighed as he opened his fridge. He was way too tired to go on a pickle run, so he was hoping he had some. Luckily, he saw a small jar in the back. Thanking the heavens, he pulled it out and slid it across the island. Juvia smiled happily and tried to take the lid off. He ended up doing that, too. She ended up eating half the jar.

X

"Geez, you look like a walking corpse," Juvia laughed, looking at Gray. He was walking behind her, looking half dead. "Didn't you sleep last night?"

Gray fought the urge to roll his eyes. She never remembers her nightly food hunting. It's funny because he's the most irritable in the relationship and he isn't even the one pregnant!

"I wonder how Mom's doing," Juvia thought allowed, opening the door to the dojo. She happily skipped to the door that would lead to the apartment.

When they got upstairs, they saw David in the living room, taping up boxes. He would be going to college the next day, so he needed to finish packing. "Hey," he said, noticing the couple that just came in.

"Is Mom here?" Juvia asked. She actually had to go to the doctor's for a checkup, and she kind of wanted her mother to come.

David got a dirty grin on his face. "Oh, she isn't here." He stood up and stretched his arms above his head. "Mom never came home last night."

"Where was she?" Gray asked. Juvia had the same confused expression.

"She went out on a date with Gildarts," Mira said, suddenly entering the room. She was wearing pajamas and running a brush through her hair.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Juvia gasped. She gestured between Mira and David. "Did you- Are you-?" Her eyes were like saucers.

"We're actually both going to Edolas University," Mira said. She went over beside David and put her arms around him. His face turned scarlet, which Juvia and Gray found surprising and hilarious.

"So Mom-"

Juvia was interrupted when the door swung open. She turned around to see Jennifer standing there, her face as red as David'. She looked pretty stunned to see everyone there. "H-hello," she stuttered nervously. They all noticed her shove her hands behind her back.

"Mom," David said skeptically, regaining his composure. "What are you hiding?" In a flash, Mira and Gray both had one of her hands. Mira let out a high pitched squeal.

"Don't touch it," Jennifer said, drawing the hand Mira had away. "You're killing the surprise."

One.

Two.

Three.

All hell broke loose. David looked like he was about to go kill someone, Gray was just plain shocked, Mira had hearts in her eyes, and Juvia started crying.

"Hey, what's going on?" Gildarts asked, appearing in the room.

"You bastard!" David yelled angrily, clenching his fists. "You can't just do something like that without asking! She may not have parents to ask, but I expect at least a heads up! You can't just marry her without saying anything!"

Jennifer smiled. "I'm glad you care so much, but we're both adults. And it's not like we ran off and got married without you guys knowing. The idea is just there." Juvia unconsciously gripped the cross necklace around her neck. "Now, I would like you guys to meet Gildarts Clive, officiously."

Juvia wiped a tear from her eye. "Jennifer Clive. That doesn't sound too bad," she said, smiling wide. She was so happy that mom wouldn't be alone anymore. With David leaving and her having a baby, the kids were slowly leaving the nest. It's good that her mother wouldn't be alone when that happened.