Here With You

Here With You Part 2

On the train, Juvia lifted her suitcase to stow it in the overhead compartment. The train carriage was busy with passengers and their luggage, clogging the gangway and bumping Juvia as they bustled past. Gray stepped behind her, taking the case out of her hands and sliding it up next to his. His arms brushed either side of her head and she could feel the warmth of his body across her back as he shielded her from the crush. Her face burned and she felt a sharp pang in her chest.

"Hurry up and sit down." He growled in her ear and she yelped, jumping into the window seat with her ears tingling. She stared out of the window to the train platform, trying to calm down. She glanced up, expecting Gray to take the seat opposite but there was an old man sitting there instead. Gray was in the seat beside her.

"Ah, Gray-sama, did you want to the window seat?" She asked. He had his arms crossed and his knee angled out sharply enough to rest slightly against hers. He frowned at her.

"Why would I?" He asked.

"No reason!" She replied and turned back to the window. The train started to move off and pick up speed as it left Magnolia. Juvia read the ticket Gray had given her. 

"We're going to Lopen? Juvia has never been there before, what is the job, Gray-sama?" She asked but Gray had his head tilted back against the seat and his eyes closed. Juvia smiled, he must have been up early buying their tickets. His knee rested against hers and she felt embarrassed but she didn't pull away. Gray-sama's warmth was comforting. She thought of her conversation with Mira and Erza that morning and her heart pounded. Maybe this job would give them an opportunity to talk about their feelings! She clenched her hand into fist, resolved. Juvia would continue to fight for her love! 

They reached Lopen by midday. It was a pretty lakeside town with forested mountains behind and a staircase of cascading waterfalls running down from the mountains into the lake. The people were friendly and wore brightly coloured clothes, many of them smiling at Juvia and Gray as they walked down to the busy harbourside. Juvia saw lots boats being prepared in the harbour and there was a general feeling of excitement.. Was there going to be a festival? She wondered. Gray came out of the harbour office looking annoyed.

"The client's out of town, not back until tomorrow. Dammit!" He said and started back along the quayside. Juvia followed him, taking a last glance back at the trails of bunting that a woman was carrying along in a big bundle. 

"Gray-sama-" She started.

"Come on, we'll go find a hotel." He called back over his shoulder and Juvia was too surprised to respond. Her heart pounded. A hotel!?

"Yes, Gray-sama!" 

They wondered through the town, exploring several covered arcades of shops and cafes. There were musicians, dancers and acrobats in the streets, playing and doing tricks. A group of girls told Juvia it was the Summer festival that night and that was the cause of the merriment. 

"Did you hear that, Gray-sama? There's a festival tonight!"

"Ugh, what a pain." He said. "I wonder if all the hotels will be full." Juvia sobered. She hadn't thought of that. Gray stopped walking in front of the Hotel Frambon. It had a grand stone facade, tall glass windows and terraced gardens over-looking the waterfall.

"Let's try in here." Gray said, starting up the steps. 

"Eh? Um, Gray-sama, wait!" Juvia called, but he didn't respond so she followed him, really starting to wonder what was going on. To Juvia's astonishment, the receptionist handed Gray a key, ignoring his suddenly naked torso and the bellhop showed them up to their room. With the door closed, a cool hush descended and Juvia stared. The room was huge, with windows all along one side, a sofa and armchair, a bathroom through the other door and in the middle, an enormous four poster bed. 

The sun was beginning to set and it's waning glow glinted off something on the bed. Juvia looked closer and there was a gown of shimmering silver fabric laid across the bedspread. She turned to look at Gray, perplexed. He was grinning wickedly with his bare arms folded over his chest.

"Go ahead and put it on, our table is reserved for seven." He said.

"B-b-but, Gray-sama, this is!-" She stammered, overwhelmed. Had he planned this all along? She couldn't believe it. She also didn't want to jinx it so she snatched up the dress and ran towards the bathroom.

"Juvia will be right back, Gray-sama!" She called and shut the door.