The Duchess - Gruvia

Chapter 17

AN: The consequences of Silver's arrival.

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The moment Gray turned around to face her, Juvia saw him and she had never seen him so afraid, not even when he had rescued her from the river she fell in.

"Do you see him?" Gray asked in a terrified whisper, his eyes were wide and he had gone so pale Juvia put a hand on his cheek, worried. "Do you see him?" He asked again.

"Yes, of course I see him." Juvia told him quietly and he nodded. "What is going on? Who is he?" Juvia must've heard it wrong, that could not be Gray's father. The Duke blinked a few times before shaking his head.

"He was supposed to be dead." Gray whispered and Juvia frowned, heart beating faster.

"Gray!" They heard from a few feet away and the Duke turned back to look at the man who was being held by two guards. "I need to talk to you."

"No, no, no." Gray said to himself and then back at the unknown man. "I don't know what is happening, but it can't be good, not after all these years." Juvia saw the man's face contort in pain with the words.

"Gray, please. I'm sorry I left you, but I-" Juvia came out from behind Gray to take a better look at the older man and the moment their eyes met, he stopped talking to look at her and all Juvia could see there was pain. His dark eyes – eyes that reminded her of her husband's – roamed over her figure until it settled on her swollen stomach and his expression became softer. Juvia frowned and opened her mouth to speak to him when her husband put himself in front of her, hiding her from view.

"Don't even look at her." Gray snarled and when he turned to look at Juvia, he was shaking, in fear or in anger she didn't know. "We need to go." Gray told her.

"Juvia has to go to the-" She tried, but her husband cut her off, putting an arm around her shoulders and pushing her towards the castle.

"Juvia, we are going home." Gray's tone was hard and left no room for questions.

"Gray-sama, you are scaring me." Juvia told him, a hand over her stomach and fear making her heart beat faster. Gajeel, who always accompanied Juvia wherever she went, was just a few feet behind them, his jaw set and his hand on the sword he had on his belt and she never felt even more afraid than having the two men in her life looking like that.

He looked at her and his expression turned a bit relaxed; she was probably looking even more scared than he was. Gray nodded and put his hand on top of hers over her stomach. "I know and I'm sorry. I'll have you safe at home in-"

"Gray! Look at me. Please, son."

The Duke stopped and his whole body tensed. Juvia looked up and saw his face harden and the grip on her shoulder tightened almost painfully. Gray let go of her and looked over his shoulder. "Gajeel. Stay with Juvia."

"Sure." The tall man stepped closer to Juvia and without even a glance at his wife, Gray turned around and walked to where the older man was, still being held by two guards. Juvia took a step in his direction, but Gajeel put a hand in front of her, holding her in place. "Don't even think about it."

Gray took a few steps and stopped just in front of them. The older man tried to speak. "Son, let me explain, I-"

"Don't call me that! And you are not going to explain anything because my father died years ago. I don't know how you're here or why, but you'll leave me and my family alone."

"I will leave you alone if it's what you want." He answered after a few moments and lowered his head. "But I won't leave town. I'm staying at the River Kraken Inn if you want to-"