MEANT TO BE | GRUVIA

56

Juvia unconsciously rubbed her stomach as she looked out the window, watching the raindrops slide down the glass. April was truly bringing its showers, just as the old saying goes. Every day was just a little more exciting and nerve-racking for her. Being eight months pregnant, she could have her little girl any time now. The time sure did fly.

Down the hall, David's old room was being turned into the baby's room. He had, sadly, already left for college. Jennifer was painting the walls green, while Gray painted a jungle scene onto whatever had already dried. It was one of the few times he appreciated his talent for art.

"Gray?" Jennifer asked, not stopping her strokes for a moment. "You know that this baby will be really expensive, right?"

Gray sighed, already tired of hearing the speech. "I know. I've been looking into getting something better than working part-time at McDonald's, but there aren't many jobs around here, unless you have a college degree, of course. This town is full of specialists."

"I've been thinking about my future a lot, as well." This time, she stopped painting. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but I have my whole life ahead of me. I'm really happy with Gildarts, far more than I ever was with Marco." She sat down on the floor, dropping her brush into the pan. "We've been talking a lot about this together, actually."

"You can't decide everything desperate," Gray laughed. "But I am really glad you found someone. You've been alone for so long. Even when I didn't know you were seeing someone, I noticed that sometimes you would have really great days, within weeks of Juvia leaving. I was glad, but it was weird seeing you get over it so fast."

"Listen, Gray." Jennifer tugged on his shirt, causing him to look over his shoulder at her. He saw the serious look on her face. He set his own brush down and sat in front of her. "Gildarts found this wonderful little house that's just outside of town. It's beautiful, just the right size for us."

Gray's eyes widened. "But-"

"Let me finish." She took a deep breath. "I want you and Juvia to live here." She saw that he was about to protest, so she put her hand up. "I've wanted you to take over this dojo even before Juvia came. Gray, I see the passion in your eyes. The way you look at all the students as if they were your own siblings. You're very talented and a great teacher. I knew the time would come when I became too old to teach. I don't think now in too old, but rather ready to move on with my life. I would never dream of leaving behind my students, but with you, I'm not leaving them behind, but giving them a new beginning. You'll have a job, space to grow a family, and most importantly, you'll be together. I know myself that you'll have enough money that Juvia will never have to work. I know how you are about being apart," she laughed.

"I-I don't know what to say." The thought of earning the dojo never crossed his mind. It's definitely crossing it now. Juvia certainly couldn't run the place, and neither would David. Juvia was never as close to Jennifer as he was. It made sense she would try to give it to him. And how could he say no? But how could he possibly accept such a gift?

"I'm not giving you a choice here, Gray," Jennifer said sternly. "You're going to live here. I have most of my thing packed, and I'm going to move in with Gildarts until we get the house I told you about."

"Gray?" Juvia asked. He flinched. Slowly turning, he saw her leaning against the doorway, smiling. It was obviously she hadn't heard their conversation at all. "This looks great! She's just going to love it." The smile on Juvia's face was like nothing else. "It's almost two, so we should get going. I don't want to be late for my doctor's appointment."

"Right." Gray got up and tried to calm his breathing. He really couldn't believe what Jennifer was telling him moments before. And by the way she was already painting again, it was clear that Juvia didn't get a choice. It was all his.

Gray went back to Juvia's room, since he had extra clothes in there. His jeans had paint on them, but he was really just planning on changing his shirt. He pulled a black one out of the bag he had. He had just gotten the new one over his shoulders when he felt hands on his waist. He smiled over his shoulder, seeing Juvia there with a matching grin. He pulled the shirt down as he turned to give her a quick kiss. They hadn't had much physical contact beyond that in months. He was left completely frustrated, physically and mentally, but he knew she wouldn't be up for anything since she was tired and sick all the time. It drove him insane. Just looking at her gave him a hard-on. Her breast was at least a size bigger, if that was possible, and seeing her baby belly just made him think about how exactly she became pregnant, which got his mind going. She never seemed to notice his reactions, though.

Before he knew it, they were at the clinic for her appointment. They stopped going to the hospital for checkups at about six months, since Ur had suggested a specialist. So there they were at a small place in town, not too far from their soon-to-be house.

Gray knew the drill. The doctor would call Juvia back, she would beg for the doctor to let him come, the doctor would say no, he got annoyed, she got annoyed, and then he ended up in the waiting room anyways. He gave up trying to apologize long ago.

Gray flipped through a couple magazines. It didn't take long for him to be bored. He usually busied himself by watching the people walk outside the window. An older couple seemed to be bickering, despite the smiles on their faces. A mother was trying to keep a hole of her three kids. A younger man was talking on a cellphone. Just typical people doing typical things.

Suddenly the air rushed out of Gray's lungs. His breathing quickened after that. A cold sweat broke across his forehead. He started to tremble. Impossible. It had to have been someone else. He's been dead for years. But even after all that time, how could he not recognize that face?

It just so happened that Juvia entered the waiting room the exact moment that Gray bolted out of his chair. The doctor stopped her from running after him. She was left hurt and confused.

Gray ran down the street as fast as he could, trying not to run into anyone. He slammed into the man with the cellphone, hopped over the three kids completely, slid past the elderly couple, and continued on. How his target managed to get ahead that fast was a mystery.

It wasn't long before Gray saw the unruly raven hair that was too familiar. He ran faster. Rounding a corner, he grabbed the man's shoulder. The man's black orbs widened farther than Gray's did.