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Leaving Hurts,
Hate Burns,
Love Heals

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You have the right to leave someone, but at least tell them why, cause what's even more painful than being abandoned, is knowing you're not worth an explanation.

- Drake
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Chapter 3: Important Mission

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Erza waited for all of her team to enter the room before closing the door to Makarovs room.

"What now?" the very old man groaned out as he leaned in his wheel chair, unaware of the little meeting he was about to be in.

"Pa'pa!" Said Luna in a cute little squeal as she saw the man she knew as Grandpa.

"I brought them in here to talk privately." Erza explained, she walked up to be by Makarov.

"Do I need to leave?" the man asked as he made small faces to the little Dragneel.

"No, this implies you." Erza explained as she sat on the desk which had many files of paper from the council.

"What is it? Luna doesn't like sitting still for a long time." Lucy complained as her little one reached for a pancake that Lucy took.

"Jellal just contacted me, telling me about a mission." Erza said.

Completely changing the subject, Natsu gained a smile. "How's he doing? I haven't seen him since you two announced you had a bun in the oven!" he said.

"He's doing fine -- but that's besides the point!" Erza shook her head. "This job, or mission, is rather important and he asked me to tell you three we needed to help out. It'll take a few months to achieve."

"Important?" Gray asked as he leaned against the wall.

"Yes." Erza shook her head "And sadly, you are not to tell Juvia- or Storm- or anyone. Its a secret job and is important as said before"

"Really? I can't even say bye to her?" Gray asked shocked, his back propped off of the wall he used to be leaning on. "Its hard not to tell her things. Why can't she and Storm just tag along?" he was folding his arms with a scowl as he and Erza secretly had a staring contest, even though it wasn't really a competition.

"Sorry, Gray, but its for the safety of her and your child." Erza explained again. Erza knew as much as Gray did that he didn't want any harm coming towards Juvia or Storm. Erza being told this when Juvia and Gray had announced their pregnancy, of course alone when Erza had pulled him aside congratulating him.

''I'm excited, I really am, but I have this fear that something bad is going to happen to the both of those people who I love with all my heart..'' Gray had said under his breathe, his head facing the floor as panic washed over him again

Erza smiled, knowing she'd be worried as well if she had a child with her husband, and something happening to the two of them; she would be heartbroken if they both were injured. ''I know for a fact that you won't let that happen.'' Erza said back after a moment of silence. ''Just don't put Juvia or your child in harms way.''

''I know, I made a plan for the future that Juvia and the child that we are going to be having won't get out of my sight during times where war is upon us. I also don't want them getting harmed because of me and a stupid decision I may make. I don't want anyone touching the two people that I love.''

Gray had kept that promise for years, and Erza would hate herself if she was the one that made Juvia and Storm get harmed because she let Gray take the two on the special mission they were going on.

"What about Luna?" asked Natsu. "She's as important as Gray's messed up child which looks more like him and not Juvia."

"Luna can come, since we do need both you and Lucy." Erza explained.

"Hold up- this isn't fare! Why can't I tell Juvia and why can't I bring her and Storm?" Gray complained. "I can't leave them without telling Juvia anything!"

"I'm sorry, Gray. When we get back she'll understand once you tell her. The job is really hard and can cost a life, and I know how important she and Storm are to you- and before you ask, Lucy and Natsu are strong enough- so they can protect Luna from anything." Erza explained as she folded her arms. "No offense to Juvia." Erza added in, just in case Gray took it the wrong way

Gray scoffed and shook his head to the left to get his bangs out from his eyes. "I know I am going to get killed for saying this- but aren't you pregnant? If you came, the baby could be harmed. So if you are going, why can't Juvia?!"

"Originally only you, Natsu, Lucy, and Wendy were supposed to go, but after I made a fuss to Jellal about how Natsu could ruin things without me being there, how without me supervising things could go wrong, and other things- Jellal finally agreed to let me go, under the condition I don't use my magic and damage the baby. Plus, with the absence of Wendy we'll need extra protection." Erza stood from the desk and looked at Gray straight in the eyes. "No more questions as to why Juvia can't go. I feel bad that we can't let her know, but its for the best."
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After silence filled the room for such a long time, Lucy finally broke the silence. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"What?!" Gray screamed after he tried to calm himself. "I can't even spend time with my wife for a few more days before we leave?! Come on!"

"I'm sorry Gray, again. The mission is too important to pass a few days before leaving." Erza explained once more.

"Great, just great." Gray said under his breathe.

"At least you won't have to try to keep it a secret from Juvia for long…." Lucy spoke quietly, feeling bad for Gray and just trying to lift his hopes.

"How am I even supposed to leave? Juvia is like a hound dog- she can tell when I am gone, and when I leave!" Gray tried solving what he would do to make up to his wife if he did end up going. Have fun with her in bed that night? Take her home and spend all day with her and their child? Cuddle with her all night?-

"Leave in the morning; 3 a.m. The train is scheduled to leave at 4, so that gives time." Erza smiled softly "I know Juvia is way past sleep after 2:23. Just sneak out, pack a bag, and then meet at the train exactly at 3:30."

"Okay." Lucy nodded and fed Luna the last piece of pancake.

-

After a while, it was just Gray and Erza who were left with Makarov after Lucy and Natsu had a diaper malfunction.

"Listen, I apologize." Makarov spoke. "I'll make sure Juvia is alright while you are away. Same with Storm. I'm sure Gajeel will as well. He cares about her and your child as much as you do."

Gray leaned against the wall, a foot placed flat against the surface behind him. His bangs cast a shadow over his eyes as he spoke not a single word. He scoffed "Storm's Birthday is in 3 months, and I'm going to miss it just because of this stupid job. I can't miss his birthday for the world even if that Pyro Freak sets the whole world on fire. And here I am, just up and leaving and not coming back until after my sons birthday?!" he didn't care if he got Erza mad for the attitude he was pulling, at this point if he got her mad, she'd probably decide to not let him go if he was going to act like this the entire time they are gone.

"I'll also make sure Storm has the best birthday of his whole life, just for you." Makarov added, which got an eye roll from Gray who still wasn't having it.

"Go spend time with your wife, act as if its the last time-" Erza almost finished the sentence when she saw Gray bare his teeth. "-like your life depends on it."

Gray lifted his prodding stare and nodded his head, getting up from leaning against the wall to leave the room. Something in his mind told him not to just stand there and pout all day.

After Gray left the room, Erza sat down in a huff crossing her arms and legs. "Its going to be long months for him" Makarov added to Erza as he sipped his coffee. "Imagine what Juvia is going to be going through."

"I know. I feel really bad but- I don't want Juvia or Storm to get hurt…" Erza bowed her head to look at her stomach which was indeed poking out of her stretchable shirt. She put her hands where a baby was growing inside of her.

"I know what your thinking. I know you'd do the same for your child." Makarov set his coffee down and looked at a newspaper in his hands.

It really was going to be long months, Not just for Gray, but Juvia too.

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Gray walked out of the masters office in a huff.

Why couldn't he stay, and the rest of them go on this 'important' job that they didn't even know what they'd have to face? He knew they needed him, but so did Juvia, Storm too.

He walked down the stairs and tried putting hands in his pockets, but couldn't when his legs were snatched. "Daddy!"

Wiping away his frown, Gray smiled at Storm. "Hey, buddy."

"There you are." Juvia's voice sounded as she approached the two she loved dearly. "We were looking all over for you, weren't we baby?"

Storm nodded frantically and raised his hands in the air, opening and closing his hands signaling for Gray to pick him up- in which Gray complied

"Daddy!" Storm immediately began as he remembered something from that morning "Mama tickle me to def! (Death) It was huwting (hurting) my bwelly (belly) SOOOoO much!" Storm's mouth formed an 'o' as he explained.

"He was being so silly, I just couldn't help it!" Juvia giggled as she tickled the little 3-year-old boy again. The boy belted out a cute giggle.

Gray laughed at the scene. He loved it when the two were laughing together, and doing other cute things. He loved these moments-

-and he knew he was going to miss them for the few next months that he was gone.

He frowned.

Juvia noticed and immediately stopped tickling their son. "Darling, are you alright?"

Storm turned with a smile on his face to look at his Dad, to only have his smile falter into a frown much like his Dads.

"Yeah- yeah. Totally fine." Gray returned a smile, Storm still frowned a bit with his cheeks puffing out.

"You sure?" Juvia asked again in which she got a nod from her husband.

"How about we go home and spend time together?" Gray asked as he held tighter onto Storm, as if the last.

"That would be lovely." Juvia smiled at her husband. Together, the Family left the guild to have the much needed family time.

Erza watched from the balcony with a frown on her face. Gray really was going to miss his family.