Here With You

Here With You Part 4

The maitre d' showed them to a table outside on the terrace, leading them through the opulent dining room, busy with guests and waiters. The air out on the terrace was a refreshing balm against Juvia's overwarm cheeks and she was grateful they could sit outside. They sat down with their menus and Juvia looked out over the terrace balcony. Down in the town the streets were heaving with lanterns and stalls and festival goers, crammed in all the way from the hotel down to the harbour. Everywhere Juvia saw laughing smiling faces and the scent of street food drifted up. For a moment she thought it might be fun to be down there with them but then she reflected, her feet were tired from walking all afternoon and they had been up early traveling. Sitting down to eat in peace was already beginning to restore her energy levels. She looked at Gray as he studied the menu. Had he thought of all this? She rested her chin in her hands, leaning over the table on her elbows to watch him. He caught her gaze.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Just thinking that Gray-sama is definitely the one Juvia loves." Gray's cheek flushed and he coughed, looking back at the menu. In the past he would have pushed her away and said something cruel but now, that at least was different, she thought. "It's the same for me." He mumbled under his breath. Juvia's heart pounded.

"Pardon, Gray-sama? What was that?"

"I ain't repeating it!" He snapped and slammed the menu back down on the table as the waiter returned. Juvia smiled to herself as they gave their orders and gazed back out over the lake. 

"It's lovely here, Gray-sama. Thank you for bringing Juvia to this place."

"You like it huh? I passed through here once and thought-" He broke off and Juvia looked at him.

"Thought what?"

He looked down at the table cloth and smiled ruefully. 

"I thought to myself. 'Juvia would like this place'" Juvia blushed as he went on. "And then, before the battle against Zeref and the Spriggan Twelve I decided that if I could, I would bring you here one day."

Juvia's heart clenched as she remembered. It was a difficult time, and a lot happened. She was able to be a help to Gray-sama and to stand with all the other members of Fairy Tail and that filled her heart with joy. She thought of Mira and Erza's smiling faces that morning. She was a member of Fairy Tail. Even after all this time, it was still a fact that filled her with wonder. Gray touched her hand.

"Hey." 

She lifted her eyes to his and saw her feelings reflected there. He smiled and gently interlocked his fingers with hers. Their food arrived and the waiter poured champagne into tall flutes, leaving the bottle in an ice bucket by the table. The sun disappeared below the mountains as they ate and waiters came out to light the lamps even though there was plenty of light coming from the many strings of lanterns in the festival below. The noise of people grew louder and somewhere nearby, drums and flutes started playing a jaunty tune. Juvia found herself swaying to the beat and when she glanced up, Gray was watching her with a smile. She blushed and took a sip of champagne and she felt Gray's foot gently rest against hers. Her heart glowed with happiness. 

After their dessert plates were taken away, people started coming out on to the terrace from the dining room to look out over the darkened lake, murmuring excitedly. Juvia and Gray looked out on to the water where several boats had rowed out, with silhouetted figures moving about on them. Then, a small rocket flew upwards and exploded into golden light, followed by another and another. The people around them gasped and laughed, delighted. Juvia looked at Gray with amazement, he was grinning.

"Gray-sama, did you know about this?"

He shrugged and spoke off-handedly but Juvia could tell that he was pleased with himself.

"I heard about it a little while ago."

"It's beautiful!" She said and stood up to watch from the balcony railing. A moment later, Gray was standing at her side. The fireworks soared and bloomed one after another in the sky in all colours, their whistles and bangs faintly audible from across the water. People were thronged in the streets and all along the shore to watch but the view from the hotel terrace was perfect.

The finale was an awe-inspiring profusion of colour and noise, with huge explosions of sparkling light that dazzled the crowds. Everyone was sighing in amazement. Then, a single giant rocket was released and it flew screaming through the air towards the waterfall. Juvia gasped, worried but when the magic rocket struck the water it exploded and the waterfall began to flow in vibrant rainbow colours, cascading down and spreading out into the lake. The crowd clapped and cheered and Juvia put her hands to her cheeks. There were tears in her eyes.

"Oi, are you alright?" Gray asked. Juvia blinked rapidly.

"Juvia is," She took a deep breath. "Juvia is just so happy, Gray-sama."

"Heh. You're such a kid." He said softly, stepping close enough to her so that his lips brushed her hair. She shivered. 

"Are you cold?" He asked her. 

"Um-" She started to speak just as he lay his suit jacket over her shoulders. The crowd began to disperse now that the show was over.

 "It's getting late, do you want to go for a walk around or head back up to the room?" He asked in a low voice. Juvia's heart began to pound in her ears. The single room. The bed. She felt a tremendous blush rising up her chest. The warmth from his jacket suffused her skin and it smelled like him. He was standing close enough for their arms to touch and she thought she might pass out from the intoxicating effect of his presence. She dared to raise her eyes to his face and he was looking off the side with a slight colour to his cheeks.

"Or whatever, y'know." He said. Juvia felt some of her anxiety melt away. She loved his awkward side too. They understood each other's strength and weaknesses and supported one another. Any difficulties they had in the future, they would face them together. She reached out and lightly placed her hand in his.

"Let's go upstairs, Gray-sama." She said and Gray responded with a squeeze of her hand.

"Sure."