warriorprincessinwonderland said: bonney! first of all, i'm still reeling over the fact that you read and liked my story. srsly, it was the best birthday gift for me *squeals* second, if you're accepting requests, can you do another blood-magic angst? or a AtLA AU with Gray trying to give Juvia a betrothal necklace? Have a good day!

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For the thousandth time that day, Gray cursed the fact Juvia Lockser was from the Northern Water Tribe because their stupid tradition was just driving him crazy. Couldn't she be born in the south to spare him?

Why the hell did they have to carve betrothal necklaces in the first place?

He looked at the latest one he had made and it was good, but would she like it? It had to be beautiful to match her own beauty, otherwise he wouldn't live with himself.

Gray let out a bit of a hysterical laugh because if someone had told him three years before that he would be trying to carve a betrothal necklace because he actually wanted to marry someone, he would've died laughing.

Three years before, he was beginning his trip to help Natsu by trying to get him the best waterbender teacher he could have – Gray was a good teacher to make Natsu know the basics of it, but he knew more about it being ice than water in its liquid form. Natsu felt he needed another teacher. When they arrived at the Northern Water Tribe, they were received with all honors – after all Gray was the son of the Southern Water Tribe's leader, Natsu was the Avatar and Lucy Heartfilia was a Fire Nation noblewoman.

And then Juvia appeared, the most powerful waterbender Gray had ever seen, not that he knew it when he saw her for the first time. In the North, women weren't trained to fight, they'd become healers and left the fighting to the men.

Juvia did more than that.

Juvia had learned on her own, watching boys' classes while hidden and then practicing by herself. Soon, she was better than anyone ever thought she could be. He had given Gray one hell of a fight and he was sure if she had been properly trained, he wouldn't have had a chance, not when she, somehow, changed her whole body into water.

She was so amazing she had created a bending of her own: stormbending. He couldn't believe in his eyes when she had summoned one hell of a storm. The first bender ever to change the weather.

Natsu told her how she needed to teach him and wouldn't leave without her. She promptly agreed since she always wanted to see the world.

Juvia Lockser was a prodigy and now that she was free to do as she liked, they would see her full potential.

She also told him she knew exactly who should teach Natsu earthbending, a friend she had made when an Earth Kingdom delegation went to the Northern Water Tribe to trade.

For some reason, she attached herself to Gray and they created a strong bond. It wasn't hard to see she was in love with him, but Gray was too focused on defeating Fire Lord Zeref, Natsu's older brother and the man who wanted to conquer the world.

Two years later, the moment Zeref was gone, Gray finally allowed himself to feel and told her he reciprocated her feelings. Some people say that first kisses can be awkward, but Gray never felt more at peace than when their lips touched, right there on the battlefield.

They traveled South to settle there; she told him she didn't want to return to a place she couldn't be herself, a place she couldn't explore the lengths of her own power and a place he wouldn't be.

His father was delighted when he brought Juvia to the Tribe, welcoming her like she already belonged to the family, found her a small house close to theirs and helped her, alongside with Gray, to develop her bending even more.

One year later, Gray was making her a betrothal necklace.

Only his father and Natsu (he had sent him a letter) knew he would propose. While Natsu had been very excited and told Gray to let him know the date of the wedding, Silver, even with how much he liked Juvia, was concerned with how young they were even though younger people were either betrothed or married by the age of sixteen.

"We fought a war together." Gray said to his father. "We are older than people our age. Besides, I know she's it so it doesn't make sense to waste the time we should spend together, waiting people think if it's the right moment or not."

Silver thought it over for a moment and finally nodded. "Then, I am sure you two will be very happy, son. I can see she makes you happy." Gray was glad to have received a blessing from his father. "But... since she's from the Northern tribe, she will probably expect a betrothal necklace."

After being told exactly what a betrothal necklace was, Gray knew she'd have to make one for Juvia; she deserved to have her tribe's tradition. Besides, she would love it.

Two weeks later, he was still trying to carve a betrothal necklace worthy of her. He held the one he had just finished and sighed, not knowing if she would like it or not.

The light blue stone had raindrops carved on a dark blue choker. It was how they really met, that huge storm she summoned like nothing he had ever seen.

"Gray-sama?" Her voice came from outside the hut and Gray quickly put the necklace in his pocket.

"Come in." Gray said, clearing his throat.

They had been together for a year but she still made his heart beat faster when she smiled his way. She still wore the dark blue furs of the Northern tribe, but her hair was braided the Southern way, her bangs almost covering her blue eyes.

"Hi." She greeted him and the moment he was close enough, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Gray's put his hands on her hips and was glad to kiss her back. "How was your day?" Juvia asked, between kisses. Gray groaned in annoyance, thinking about carving the necklace the whole afternoon. The sound made Juvia giggle. "That bad, huh?"

"I just made something and I'm not sure how it turned out." He told her. "How about your day?"

Juvia didn't let him go, her hand caressing the back of his neck. "Nice. Silver-sama said he thought of a way to make Juvia not feel so drained after using so much of her bending to change herself to water, so we went to try it."

"Did it work?" Gray asked, curious.

"Kind of?" She frowned. "Juvia was still tired, but not as much. She could probably fight after."

"Good." He nodded. "I worry, you usually faint when you come back to normal, that's why I don't like you using that."

The blunette gave him a light kiss on the lips. "Juvia knows, that's why she's trying to get it under control, so she feels better when she returns."

Gray wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer when the memory of how much it hurt when he thought she had died after giving him her blood during a fight. Thinking he lost her before they even got started, made him feel like his heart was ripped from his chest.

"You have to be careful." He told her.

Juvia nodded. "And you too. You get into as much trouble as Ju-"

"You have to be careful." Gray repeated, serious and Juvia frowned. "I can't go through that again..."

She smiled softly, understanding he was referring to the time he thought she was dead. "Juvia is fine, the war is over and we are here, together." Juvia gave him a peck on the lips. "Juvia is going nowhere, you are not getting rid of her anytime soon." She teased him.

"I know." Gray nodded and suddenly he knew it was time. "I made you something."

"You did?" She was confused, but curious. "Did Juvia forget an important date?"

"No, but I hope it becomes one." Juvia frowned, even more confused and she watched as Gray fished the necklace from his pocket to show it to her. "I think you know what this is?"

It was clear she was surprised to see the necklace. "Do you?"

"I do." Gray told her. "Carved it myself."

"You... what?" Juvia was getting more and more confused. "No, Gray-sama. No, no. This isn't a regular gift from the Northern Water Tribe." She shook her head. "This type of necklace has a different meaning, it is a-"

"Betrothal necklace." He finished for her. "The man carves it to offer the woman when he asks her to marry him. I know the meaning."

Juvia frowned. "If you know, then why...?"

Gray was exasperated. "Really? Juvia, I carved the necklace for you. What do you think it's happening here?"

She blinked twice. "You can't be serious."

He snorted softly. "The eight failed necklaces I carved the past week says different."

"You are serious." The blunette finally understood he was fully aware of what he was doing.

"More than serious." Gray nodded. "I don't have doubts anymore, I know I want you."

"You do?" Juvia asked, tearing up.

"I do." He liked being the one to throw her off her game for a change; usually she'd be the one to do something to make him speechless. "I hope you like the carving. I can make another one if you didn't."

Juvia shook her head. "No, it's beautiful. Perfect."

"Good." He was relieved. "So... what do you say?" Still a little dazed with the turn of events, Juvia didn't answer right away. "Do you want to marry me?"

Well, Gray's heart was beating like crazy.

"Did you really need to ask?" Juvia asked, a couple of tears fell as she started to laugh. "Yes! Yes, of course!" She told him and then started to kiss his face, just about as many times she could until she finally kissed his lips.

"Just prepare yourself to hear my father ask for grandchildren all the time."

The blunette laughed. "Juvia can deal with Silver-sama." She took a step back and turned around, using a hand to push her hair away. "Could you?" Gray stepped closer and put the necklace on her.

Juvia turned around and touched the necklace, looking up to Gray with the happiest smile he had ever seen.

"I love you."

"Good, because I do too."

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AN: I absolutely love Avatar, so writing this was so much fun!

07/11/2017 ~ BonneyQ