Ghosts of the past

Chapter 24 : Behind them

Juvia was sitting on a chair in one of the gest rooms of the palace where Gray was laying, patiently waiting for him to wake up. The tears she had shed where now dry on her sorrowful face. Outside, the sun was raising, putting an end to this horrible night.

"My love?" She said to the one who the probably didn't hear a thing, his right hand between both of hers. "Juvia simply wants Gray to know that she is here. Even though Gray probably knows it already, Juvia also wanted to say that she is in love with him since the first day. Since he had brought sunlight in Juvia's cloudy heart".

Her hands began to tremble while her tears started to flow again.

"Please..." she whispered. "Gray has to wake up..."

She finally gave in to her tiredness and placed her head on her crossed arms on Gray's bed. She barely had time to lay down before she heard a murmur. Lifting her eyes on its source, she saw Gray's gorgeous grey-blue gaze on her.

"My love..." she said, barely hearing her own voice while approaching her face to his.

"Don't w..."

He tried to say something, but had to stop and painfully swallow before resuming.

"Don't worry... I already know you love me".

Then he did that beautiful smile, the one that convinced Juvia since their meeting that she would always have a place for Gray in her heart. A huge weight left her shoulders while tears flowed freely, expressing how her relief was great.

"Stop crying" complained the young man with a still weak voice. "It feels like it's raining in the castle..."

"Sorry!" Exclaimed Juvia realising that the torrent of tear was now running on Gray face under hers.

Her reaction made Gray smile once more. No mater what hardship she encountered, Juvia was still Juvia. Was she intense? Yes. Did she do too much most of the time? Certainly! But if that was the price for Juvia to be Juvia, Gray wouldn't want her to change one bit.

After a moment, he could sit a little with Juvia's help, allowing the young woman to take place next to him.

"So? I held my promise, I hope you held yours."

"José was defeated by Juvia and Gajeel" she confirmed.

"And the king?"

"In the palace's dungeons".

Gray let out a sigh of relief realising that everything was now over. Then his cheeks reddened. The idea that had touched his mind before the battle was now possible. Taking a deep breath, he turned once more to the young woman.

"Eum...Juvia?"

"Yes my love?" She answered, a little worried by the serious tone he was using.

"You...eum... did you have some plans for the future?"

"No!" mentally panicked Juvia, "now that it's over, Gray wants Juvia to go away?". But before Juvia could get lost in her messy thoughts, he added with embarrassment.

"Cause... If you want to... you could come live with me."

This time, Juvia froze, looking agape at the young man.

"You don't have to, you know. It's just that you don't have a house anymore and...

"Ah!!!!!!" Yelled the young woman, getting out of her frozen state, clenching at Gray's neck".

"Hey! Be careful!" He complained.

"Yes! Juvia wants to live with Gray with all her heart!"

The young man however couldn't answer before Gajeel busted in the room, alerted by Juvia's screaming. Seeing that nothing was wrong, he grumbled.