Juvia Pov

I was in the town early that day. A new hood, it dropped all the way to my ankles ams it was also a darker shade of blue, hung on my head and making it difficult to see my face. I was at a stall purchasing some new flowers to brighten up my small, little hut.

"Your highness, which do you prefer?" I heard the store vendor asked at the person who just entered the store. I peeked up from under my hood. My breath was caught in my throat as my eyes skimmed to the three of them at the other side of the shop, looking at the flowers on display. They were only a few feets away form the only door in the store. I cursed under my breath. I doesn't seem like they were moving anytime now. Taking my chances, I rushed out of the shop, right pass them. Unfortunately for me, right at that moment the store vendor decided to step back a step. My hood caught under his shoe but I was moving too fast and I let go of the hood and ran. I heard Gray's clutches tapping agsint the floor behing me and sped up. Then, the sound of metal crashing. I spun around to see Gray lying on the floor, he winched grabbed his casyed leg and his clutches were spawn aside. Without thinking, I rushed to his side to support him up, I draped his arm across my shoulders. He turned and gave me a side smile, heat rushed through my body. When was the last time I felt like that?  Lyon has caught up with us by then and he picked up the clutches and gave them to Gray.

"I should go....." I started to inch away from them but Gray caught my wrist.

"Please come to the Palace with us." I suddenly feel like there was more than two pair of eyes on me. Peeking from under my hair, I realised everyone had thei eyes trained at us. At me.

I cursed. "Yeah sure. Let's go quick." I urged them to go, pushing tjem slightly from the back.

"What's the rush, Juvia?" Lyon questioned,  walking slowly backwards. I glared at him the esr I could with my hair covering my face.

"She can't be seen by the public." Gray hissed. It took the white haired guy a moment and a few glances at the passers by to process before his mourh formed into a 'oh'.

"I got an idea." He took the metal sticks away from Gray, passing them to me. In one swift move he had Gray on his back. "Let's go." He shouted and took off as fast as he could with another weight on him. I did the same and soon, I overtook them, sticking my tongue out at them as I passed the duo.

******

Gray was in the kitchen, brewing a pot of tea while Lyon and I sat, resting in the grand room.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." I shifted in my seat.

"Why did you ran away the first time?" I glanced over the direction of the kitchen. "He will take a while." I nodded, now I know why he made Gray brew tea even on clutches, he wanted to get anwsers.

"I don't know." I mumbled.

"Come on, you can tell me. I won't tell Gray." I glanced between the guy in front of me and the kitchen. I started to bite my bottom lios without noticing. I took a deep breath and faced Lyon.

"I guess. I just thought he didn't want to see me."

"Are you kidding?" He sort of laughed-shouted. "That guy hasn't stopped talking about you ever since you left." Blood rushed up to warm my cheeks, adding a lot of colour in them I bet.

"Okay, fine. I didn't have the guts to face him yet." I finally admitted after he stared at me with one eyebrow rasied, puttinf stress on me. He sighed.

"I understand. Just know that I'm always here for you if yoh need." Lyon's mouth stretched higher on one side, showing a small dimple.  

"Thanks." My eyes were on my fingers which were fiddling with each other.

"Anyway, how have you been?" I jerked my eyes up to look at him. "Where have you been living?" He elaborated.

"Oh. Just a small hut in the woods a few towns away." I shurgged, he nodded his head silently.  Just them, Gray came out limbing with a tray on my palm and the other holding tightly on his clutch. He took small steps at a time. I got up, took the tray from him and set it down on the table. We sat around the table, sipping our tea.

"I should really get going, its getting late."

Gray said one word without looking up. One word that made my heart escalate with happiness yet squeeze in fear. One word that my breath get trap in my throat. One word that cause my heart to skip a beat.

"Stay."