The Duchess - Gruvia

Chapter 20

Six weeks of holding the new life her and Gray had created and Juvia still couldn't believe Ava was real. She was so perfect, so amazing Juvia could keep looking at her for hours and not get slightly bored. Everything Ava did fascinated Juvia, to her cute frown when she was waking up to her cooing sounds when she was happy.

"Let's go find your Daddy, sweetheart." Juvia whispered to the baby and kissed her forehead. Ava had woken up after her afternoon nap, had her diaper changed and Juvia had stayed in the rocking chair at the nursery for a while. "Faye?" Juvia called the nurse, a woman in her forties with light blonde hair and hazel eyes, a bit on the heavy side and with a very kind heart. She had two children of her own, but they were already grown up and the older woman was fantastic with babies and shared a lot of tips. "Juvia will take this little one to see her father otherwise he will work all day long and worry about the meeting today."

"Of course, Lady Juvia." Faye nodded and smiled gently. "I will prepare the Little Lady's bath so she can meet all the other Lords all fancy."

"Thank you." Juvia said and walked out of the nursery. She was trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Ava would actually need to stay in the nursery during the night eventually, but so far she was still choosing to have her bassinet next to hers and her husband's bed. Gray, thankfully, didn't mind the infant sleeping there and took care of Ava during the night as well.

Faye had explained to her that as a first-time mother, it was normal for her to be overprotective of her baby. Juvia had tried to spend a night away a few days before, but ended up checking on the nursery four times during the night, the night nurse reassured her every time that Ava was fine, but Juvia couldn't help but to worry and didn't sleep. Besides, she chose to breastfeed on her own and needed to go feed Ava.

"How is the Little Lady?" Gajeel caught up to her when she was almost on the stairwell and Juvia smiled at the nickname people gave Ava: The Little Lady. A few minutes after Gray saw Ava, he told the guards to ring the bells and let the people know the Duchess had given birth to a little girl and the nickname started.

"Perfect as always." She answered and saw her friend peek at the baby, he still hadn't been brave enough to hold her but Juvia knew he already loved her.

"I gotta admit she looks better than other babies." Gajeel shrugged and stepped beside the Duchess while they went down the stairs. "She's not too wrinkled now."

"Will you let go?" Juvia chuckled, remembering the first time Gajeel had saw Ava and said she was too wrinkled.

They stayed in silence for a few seconds. "I just got word Jose's ship arrived." Gajeel informed. "Are you alright with seeing him?"

"Of course." Juvia agreed. "All the Lords are coming here tonight to meet Ava, Jose coming here is only natural as well, he said in his letters that he looked forward to meet the baby once I delivered."

"Just... I don't know, he hasn't seen you in a while." Gajeel told her. "You changed a lot since you became the Duchess. Remember that when you meet him."

"Don't worry, Gajeel-kun." Juvia smiled down to her daughter. "Juvia can handle him."

"Alright." He nodded and they stayed in silence until they reached Gray's office. He knocked on the door for her and waited until they heard the Duke's voice saying to come in. Gajeel opened the door and held it so Juvia could get in.

"Thank you." Juvia smiled to her friend and stepped inside the office, noting the men around Gray's desk and her husband were standing and all of them turned to look at her when she was in. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

"We need a recess either way." Gray said, looking at the men. "I will call you back later." The older men bowed in Gray's direction and started to walk away, bowing in front of Juvia as well and some of them even stopped for a moment to look at the infant and once they were alone, Gray kissed Juvia's lips. "Hello." Juvia smiled and Gray and looked down to the baby. "And hello to you, Ava." Juvia passed the little girl to her father, Gray kissed Ava's soft black hair and she yawned. "I can see she's having a tough day."