TIME SKIP

NARRATOR'S POV

It has been 3 months since Gray and Juvia began to date each other. 

Life was going perfectly for them with its share of happiness, love and teeny-weeny fights in between which only strengthened their bond to greater heights.

Even Gray's parents were happy to see their bond blossoming into new levels much to their delight. 

Amongst their friends, they were teased by Igneel and Layla that they will the first ones to welcome their grandchildren.

The older Fullbuster couple even though were reluctant about those ideas but they did have little expectation as well.

Soon Gray and others will have their end semester examinations. 

After this, it will the mark the end of their college life for some while others will continue with their high studies.

LUCY'S POV

“Hi Gray, good morning. Where is Juvia?” I asked him as soon as he entered the class.

“Oh! She has gone to visit my parents. They will drop her at the evening.” He said after taking his seat next to Natsu.

“Why? Is something the matter?” Gajeel asked him in worried tone.

“Nah!! Just they want to spend some alone time with their future daughter-in-law especially my mom. 
        So dad has taken leave from his work and all 3 of them happily spending time together leaving me out here alone.”

Gray pouted something which he learned from Juvia.

“Surely your parents must love her very much more than their own son. Gray!! She has taken your place in their heart. You lonely hahahaha….” Natsu was mocking him.

“Natsu, shut up… Gray please don't take his words by heart.” I smacked Natsu in his head for being so insensitive.

“It's alright, Lucy. I know this Flame-breath didn't mean anything by his words. I'm happy that my parents love her very much. 
         At least, by this way, my princess is getting the parental love which she longed for since her parents' own demise. I'm not jealous of such interactions,Geez.”

Gray said with a tiny blush on his cheeks.

“Gray, as her brother, I'm really proud of you. At the start, I didn't know whether she deserved someone like you.
   But now after seeing you and her for these 3 months, I really felt she was really worth of your love and dedication.
    Thank you Gray for entering her life and making her this happy and content.”

Gajeel became quite emotional while Levy patted his shoulders while Jellal smiled and let out happy tears only to be wiped by Erza.

“I'm happy. But don't make it sound like I'm someone far superior to her. I'm lucky she entered my life.  
      She's my future queen and it's a true king's duty to take good care of his queen.” Gray grinned with a blush.

We cooed and teased him, “So Gray, have you decided to level up your relationship status?” Jellal asked him.

“Well I'm still thinking about this. For now, I'm not sure but I do have plans for it only after you and Gajeel gave permission for that.” Gray blushed while scratching the nape of his neck.

“Ice-princess, why do you need their permission if you have claimed her as yours. Idiot even after doing that, you still have permission huh!!” 

Natsu boisterously laughed without reading the atmosphere.

We face palmed while the colors of Gray's face faded away and both the brothers became enraged after hearing this news.

“Natsu, you idiot….” Erza smacked his head. Gray was now sweating beads and couldn't gather the courage to look into their eyes.

“You perverted Stripper, how dare you stole my sister's innocence. If you got her pregnant before the marriage, I will bury you under the sands.” Gajeel growled and caught hold of his collar.

“Gray, I didn't hope this from you. Don't try to play some games on her. Just man up and propose to her before things go very far.” Jellal sounded angry.

“Hey just calm down two of you. Geez, it's nothing like that. Don't worry, we did use protection. So she won't get pregnant. Even if she does, I will marry her.” Gray convinced them and they finally let go of him.

Just then Lyon entered the class and went upto Gray, “Hey Gray, did you check your email? I got accepted into the Hale's University in Australia. What about you?” 

He smiled happily while we congratulated him.

“What university? Why would I get accepted?” Gray frowned.

“Idiot, how could you forget your dream of studying in that university?
       You and I applied for that university at the start of this 3rd year course. 
        Yesterday, I received the mail stating my acceptance and I notified them. So check yours…” Lyon made him realize his dream.

After hearing this event we remembered how Gray used to talk about that university and his dream of doing higher studies in the business field so that he could become CEO of his dad's company.

“Yeah, I remember now. Let me check..” Gray took out his mobile and checked his mail. 

Then he spoke in a depressed tone, “Yeah, it looks like even I'm selected.” 

“So for what you are waiting for, notify them soon. I'm leaving for my class. Bye notify them soon.” Lyon waved bye and left us.

Gray looked quite depressed and confused. So I asked him, “Gray, what happened? Didn't Lyon tell you to notify them soon so do it.”

“Yeah Gray, it's your dream. Isn't it!! Just notify your confirmation to them.” Levy also convinced him.

“I have decided not to notify my confirmation. I'm not going to Australia. That's final.” Gray looked determined in his reply.

“Idiot, why are you making rash decisions? It's your dream to study and for what reason are you leaving that. Just think and decide.” Erza now yells at him.

“I'm doing this for Juvia. That course, requires 3 years and another 1 year of internship in my uncle Ryon's company. 
       Basically, I have to be away from Juvia for 4 damn years which I don't want to happen. That's it, don't talk about this to her.” 

Gray told and left us to clear his mind.

“He shouldn't be like this. How could he deny his dream course in the name of love? He's an idiot.” Natsu taunted.

Now I was really angry at Natsu, how could he be so tactless about the surrounding issues.

“Natsu, how could you be so inconsiderate and tactless? Can't you just read the atmosphere?” I scolded him.

“No, he is right. He should think about his future, then only, he could take care of her in a better way.” Now Erza was supporting this talk.

“Even I think Gray should not do this in the name of love even Juvia would not like this. Let's tell her about this so that she will convince him.” Gajeel added.

‘I think they do have some point. But how will she take this information? 
      Will she live apart from Gray for 4 years after all the things they have done together and moreover at this point of their relationship.’ I thought.

JUVIA'S POV

Today I will spend my time with Mom and Dad so I'm on my way to Gray's parent's house. 

It's my 2nd visit, first time I came with Gray for dinner a month back.

Soon in 2 weeks time, our end semester exams are going to begin so we need to start our study preparation soon.

As I knock the door, the servant opens the door and leads me in.

“Oh!!Juvia-chan, good morning. Come in.” Mom greeted me while I smiled back.

“Good morning Mom. Hope I'm not late.” 

“No dear, come let's have breakfast then we will go for shopping.” Mom smiled back and made me sit on the dining table.

Just then dad joined us, “Juvia-chan, good morning. Hope our son is taking good care of you.” He asked with a smile.

“Yes, my Gray is so sweet. I'm lucky to have him in my life. Thank you to both of you for bringing him into this world.
       It's your upbringing that he is such a gentle man. 
     I'm trying my best in taking care of him and I will do this till the end of my life.” I assured them.

“We know Juvia-chan, you will take care of him. He is in safe hands.” Mom patted my shoulders while serving the food.

“Mom, it's okay let me help you and dad in serving the food. Please.” I got up and stopped her but she refused then too.

I insisted on doing this sweet work of serving food to my future parents-in-law whom I consider them as my real parents.

“Thank you dear. You are so sweet.” They smiled and began to eat the food. I sat down to eat mine.

After awhile, “Juvia-chan, come let's go to our room. I will show you Gray's childhood and baby photos. I'm sure you will love it.” Mom led me to the room upstairs followed by dad.

“I would love to see them.” I blushed and was waiting to see my Gray's photos. 

Last time I couldn't see because Gray refused and he felt embarrassed.

Soon mom took out a few albums and showed me Gray's baby photos. He looked so cute and chubby. 

I was just melting seeing his cuteness. Hope our baby takes after Gray in appearance.

“Isn't he cute, my baby!!!” Mom was in her fangirling mode after seeing those photos.

“Yeah indeed.” I smiled.

“But Juvia-chan, we want our grandchildren to take after you in appearance. We had enough of Gray, now we want some Juvias.” Dad teased me and I blushed.

“Silver, stop teasing her. I'm sure our grandchildren will be a cute and beautiful mixture of Gray and Juvia-chan.” Mom cooed. “Mom not you too.” 

Then I took a look at his school photos and I saw his and Natsu-San's park debut photo along with mom and aunt Gradineey.

There were many photos of his and the friends gang from primary school to high school. This shows they have been together for a long time.

But one photo caught my attention, it was a photo in which little Gray, aged 11 years probably, was wearing dad's coat and spectacles and explaining something on the PowerPoint Presentation in an office room.

Seeing me staring at the photos, Mom intervened, “Oh this was taken when Silver got his 5th foreign collaborations successful. Gray was imitating Silver's manners. 

From then on, Gray's dream was to become a businessman just like Silver. He even tried studying hard to excel in his studies which he succeeded.

His dream was to join Hale's University in Australia which he applied for at the start of this year's course. Let's see if I get admitted into that university.” 

Mom told me a new info which even Gray didn't once tell me.

“I guess, he didn't tell you about this still. Don't worry once he gets the mail, he will tell you the happy news. But…….” Dad stopped in the middle of the conversation.

“No dear. It's nothing don't worry about. Silver be quiet.” Mom gestured to dad.

I have a bad feeling about this now, “Mom, let me know about this. What was dad trying to say? Please Dad, tell me.” I asked her.

“Well it's a four year course with 3 years of academics and a year of internship which luckily he will be doing in his uncle Ryon Vastia's company. 
        Juvia-chan, basically he will be separated from you for 4 years. How will you take this,dear?” Dad asked in a worried tone.

Hearing this my heart began to hurt, tears were welling up in my eyes. I don't know how to take this new, dreadful information. 

My Gray and I will be separated for 4 long years, it's too much for me to take in.

Unconsciously, tears streamed down my eyes, “Juvia-chan, please don't cry. This will only happen when he gets admitted into that university. Please dear.” Mom consoled me. 

I wiped my tears and smiled, “It's okay mom. As his girl, it's my duty to support him. I will continue supporting him from anywhere, let be near or far.”

“Okay dear, let's go for an outing.” Dad called us, I obliged to their invitation even though I was not in a mood for it.

GRAY'S POV

I soon reached home after finishing my part-time job as expected. Juvia still hadn't arrived from her outing.

I thought of taking a small nap by the time she reaches home. So I slept on the couch after removing my shirt.

JUVIA'S POV

I reached home around 9:30 PM, I saw Gray lying on the couch and taking a nap.

Still my mind was lingering on the thought of Gray leaving for his studies, I still need some time to take in that info and calm myself down.

I went upto him and took a look at his handsome visage. I will surely miss this cute, peaceful sleeping face.

I traced the outline of his sharp,pointed nose; his perfectly arched brows; his beautiful droopy eyes; his chiseled jaw bone and pointed chin and not to forget the plumped yet toned cheeks which I love to eat, oops kiss a lot and my favourite juicy, rough yet soft and smooth lips. I'm going to miss him in and out for those 4 long years.

Again tears began to stream down my face which also fell on his face.

I couldn't control my tears so I got up to leave but Gray caught hold of my wrist.

*yawns* "Juvia, why were you *yawns* crying?"

I quickly wiped my tears and smiled at him, "it's nothing dear. Come let me make some dinner for you." I escaped from his grip.

"No Juvia, wait a moment I need to talk to you about something very important. Hope you will understand." Gray said in a serious tone. I knew what he was going to talk about.

"Sure let's talk." I gave out a vague smile.