JUVIA'S POV

As soon as those words left Gray's mouth, the world around me stopped. When I looked at him, his eyes were speaking on his behalf.

From that, I knew his confession was honest. The inner high school girl was somersaulting as her wish came true.

All along her intuition was right, Gray-sama indeed loved her no still loves her.

What seemed like a fraction of second for me was a few minutes for Gray-sama.

"Juvia"

The way my name sounded against his lips brought me back to reality. And I kept staring at him, unbelievable of what he said.

"What do you say? Can we start all over again?" Gray-sama asked in a soft voice.

Before I could exclaim 'Yes, Juvia has never lost her feelings for Gray-sama'.

Memories of the break-up scene appeared in front of my eyes.

The tears which were stopped for a few seconds began to flow hardly.

"Hey, Are you alright, Juvia? Say something... Did I hurt you that much that you are hesitating to tell me no right on my face?" Gray-sama began to panic.

I got free from his hug and stood up. Seeing me even he did the same and was expectantly waiting for my answer.

"Juvia can't. She can't just come back into your life after all the things happened between us. She simply can't forget it as if nothing happened.
Moreover, there's another person involved in this. Gray, you should think about her as well?" I told him in a serious tone.

That's when Gray-sama unveiled his wedding was called off due to his fiancee's sudden request.

"So, Dianna is not involved in this matter. It's just you and me, Juvia. I know a simple apology won't suffice for the pain I caused. But I do have my reasons and it was solely to protect you, my dolphin."

Gray-sama said as he placed his hands on my shoulders and gently squeezed it.

"Oh, you still remember Juvia's nickname?" I turned around to face him.

He smiled just like the time he confessed his love for me at the camping trip in our second year of high school.

"I never tried to forget that as I was the one who named it for my girl." His comment made me blush while he simply smiled and kept looking at me for my answer.

"Gray, you were right. Juvia never wanted to see you another girl until the day she's alive.
Of course, that day, at Lyon-san's wedding, Juvia was literally shattered and many unwanted thoughts crept on her mind.
Luckily, Juvia still was brave enough to confront once again before succumbing to fate.
But that didn't mean she wanted to ruin your happiness. Juvia wants you to be happy because you are the one who showed Juvia what happiness, friendship and love means.
She isn't cruel to snatch that happiness which you decided to have with another girl." The stinging pain began to conquer my heart which was accompanied by tears.

GRAY'S POV

As she began to open her bottled up thoughts one by one. I can empathize with the pain and suffering she's been holding onto because of me.

"The reason Juvia came back to Magnolia was to move on with her life.
She thought maybe if Juvia indeed feels and sees for real that her Gray-sama actually never loved and carried on with his life, then she can move on.
But actual that proved to be futile, as ever since Juvia talked to you again. Her love for you began to grow much more.
Even that tiny portion of Juvia's heart which held hope and faith that she might be back with her Gray-sama shattered when Juvia met your fiance at the school."

Juvia stopped and placed her warm palms on my right cheeks and chest.

"Right now, if someone asks who's the happiest person on this earth? Juvia would proudly exclaim it to be herself.
Because the hope and love which held for you were true and genuine which she felt from you as well.
But....."

I can sense the hesitancy in her voice now.

"Go on, say it out," I assured her.

"Juvia needs time to think about us getting back together." She said and withdrew her hands away from me.

I tried to hide the hurt feeling which her words caused just now. Surely she might think I will betray once again in the name of love.

"It's not because Juvia doesn't love you. Believe her, the love for you has grown leaps and bounds but..." She bowed her head feeling embarrassed.

I placed my palm on her chin to lift her face so that she can speak what she actually feels without sprouting some excuses.

"Go on, say it. I will respect any of your decisions. If you want us together, we will be or else part ways.
But this time, I'm not going to stop until I claim you back and shower you with love and affection which we missed for a decade." I said with determination and waited for her.

"Juvia is feeling paranoid. She's having trust issues. Back then, you promised Juvia, we would be together but you broke up with her.
Even though it was for her sake, we parted away. What if it happens again?
Believe Juvia doesn't have enough courage to go through that hell once again. This is what makes Juvia hesitate, Gray-sama."

Finally, she called me 'Gray-sama' which I was dying to hear from her mouth in that mesmerising voice.

As I guessed, this is her problem which I should amend. It's my fault and I'm the one who should rectify it now with my love and commitment.

"Okay, I understand, Juvia. It's my fault that I made you have doubts about me. Don't worry, until you feel I'm worthy of your love back into my life.
I will not bother you but keep trying to prove myself in a way you feel assured that this time, I will stay by your side forever." I confessed sincerely before leaving her place.

As I reached the door, I felt a sudden weight on my back and arms wrapped around my torso, which certainly belonged to my lady-love.

"Thank you for understanding, Juvia. Juvia really loves you and will never hate you. Just give her some time to forget about these tough events before we blossom our love again, Gray-sama."

She said softly, more like whispering while laying her head on my shoulders.

Her action and words brought a kind of encouragement for me to take my task seriously and achieve it within a short period of time.

"Sure take your time, Juvia. I will try to make you forget about it. But do know that I still love you. And try forgiving me for my mistake." I placed my hand in her hand, patting it just like how I used to do.

"Juvia will. And wait a minute" She broke the hug and went to the kitchen to get something.

Then she came back with a bag, "Here Gray-sama, Juvia had baked quite a few cookies and tarts. Please take them, convey Juvia's regards to uncle Silver."

"Thank you, Juvia. Dad would love to eat these delicious treats. And he's been wanting to meet you since he came to know about your return. If you are free anytime, just tell me, Dad will come to meet you." I said and exchanged our numbers.

"Sure Juvia would love to meet uncle Silver. Mostly Juvia would be free during the weekends, if it's not a bother to you, she will meet uncle then at your place. What do you say, Gray-sama?"

She asked for my permission which I gladly told her to do as she wishes.

"Before I go, be careful. Even though this neighbourhood is safe. Crime rates against women are increasing across Magnolia. Don't let any strangers inside. Got it?" I advised her to be careful about her surroundings.

"Yes, Officer" She playfully saluted which made us laugh after a second.

"I'm happy to hear you laugh like this again. I have caused you so much pain but you still love me. I'm lucky to have you in my life, Juvia.
Don't worry, I will also make you feel the same. Trust me, this time, I will keep up my words, my dolphin. I love you, Juvia." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead, for now.

She blushed instantly and whispered, "Gray-sama, Juvia also loves you." Now it was my turn to blush and my whole face grew red and hot.

"Bye...Good night, Juvia"

"Goodnight, Gray-sama... Bye..."

She said before I left her apartment on a happy and positive note.

AT GRAY'S APARTMENT

It was around 8:30 PM, I reached home. I was feeling relieved and happy and weightless.

"You look awfully happy today. Did something happen, my son?" My dad's voice startled me. That's when dad was coming out of the kitchen.

"Is it that evident on my face?"

"Yes.. and don't forget, I'm an ex-police officer. I can find what the criminals think just by reading their face." My dad began to boast about his skills.

"Do I look like a criminal to you?" My eyes twitched and walked past him to reach the table to place the bag Juvia had given me.

Once I got freshened up, my mobile began to ring and it called from Natsu.

"Hello Flame-brain, what do you want at this hour?" I asked him irritatingly.

"What did you do in Juvia's place?" Another voice crossed over and it was none other than Gajeel's harsh voice.

'Looks like a conference call'.

"Yeah, tell us, what did you talk to Juvia about?" Jellal asked me.

Then I told them everything while the guys were snickering and congratulating for my second chance.

"And how did you guys know about this?" I asked.

"It was Juvia who told the girls and was asking for their opinion on her decision. That's how we know. Soon we called you to know more." Gajeel added.

"Then Gray, did mushy things happen between you both?" Natsu teased me.

"Shut up, it's none of your concern," I growled at him over the line while two other, two men were chuckling.

After talking a bit, which mostly consists of advice for me. I went to have dinner thinking about ways to gain my dolphin's trust back.

JUVIA'S POV

After Gray-sama left, I was practically on cloud nine thinking about his confession.

But still, I need to be cautious as I don't want another heartbreak.

All I pray to God is let this time be real. I want our relationship to last long without any issues, especially on trust aspect.

Then I shared this news to my friends, they were happy and it seemed they were expecting this to happen: Gray-sama's wedding getting cancelled and us taking restarting again.

Erza-San appreciated me that I didn't give in that easily because Gray-sama needs to learn his lesson.

Even though, I think, I have let him that easily. Hope, I didn't sound that desperate.

After that, I called Meredy-chan and Lyon-san through Skype. It's been almost two weeks since I last saw them.

Meredy-chan was happy with the things happening between us. I still can't believe this is the same girl who opposed me to go back to Gray-sama.

Then, Lyon-san revealed about Meredy-chan's sudden changes as he disclosed everything about Gray-sama's feelings for me and why he broke up with me which made my best friend see him in a different light.

When I heard Gray-sama's reasons I just couldn't believe it at first. Then, he told a few incidents which actually happened to me during school and college days, that's when I knew he was speaking the truth.

My Gray-sama wanted to protect me from that delinquent who escaped from uncle Silver's custody back then.

That fellow, Invel Yura, wanted to seek revenge on uncle Silver so he targeted Gray-sama and his friends.

It seemed that fellow sometimes did succeed like none of us got trapped.

It was when the delinquent case was shifted to Hargeon police station as he escaped there.

Gray-sama decided he couldn't save me from that far. So in order to protect, he broke up after our graduation ceremony in the football ground where that fellow was hiding, waiting for a chance to hurt Gray-sama or others.

Back then, I didn't know anything about this. Gray-sama, to make sure that I was safe in Hargeon used to visit me unknowingly.

It was Lyon-san who revealed it was Gray-sama's idea that we both became friends. So that Lyon-san can watch over me on behalf of him.

After all of his reasons, I had lost 99% of my stand and just resumed our relationship but I didn't want that 1% of hesitation to ruin our wonderful life ahead.

That's why I asked him some time to get over which Gray-sama understood that he wanted to amend for his mistake.

Meredy-chan, then told me that she and Lyon-san would be coming this Saturday to visit uncle Silver and seek his blessing as he couldn't make it to their wedding due to his health issues.

Then, we would meet up. She promised me that we would enjoy the rest of the weekend together which I agreed.

After eating dinner, I decided to think about my blog tomorrow as today it was very eventful and didn't want to break it.

Now I feel relieved as I had conveyed my sorrow and pain to my love which is making my heart feel light and rejuvenating.

Suddenly, my mobile vibrated and displayed a text from Gray-sama.

FROM: GRAY-SAMA

Good night😴😴😴 Sweet dreams, my 🐬🐬🐬. Thank you for giving me a second chance and making my night sweet.
Bye, my love.....

I blushed to see his text and replied

TO: GRAY-SAMA

Good night... Juvia is happy to finally know everything. She feels peaceful now thanks to her Gray-sama.
Bye, Gray-sama 🥰🥰🥰