GRAY'S POV

"Okay, I will meet up in the mall. So everyone is coming right." 

I was talking to Erza on the mobile. She came up with an idea of watching a movie which just got released last week.

"For now, don't know whether Juvia is coming or not as she didn't pick up the call. But don't worry, everyone else is coming. Bye good night." She hung the call.

I took a look at the clock. It's quarter past nine. I called Juvia to know where she was, not that I cared about her. But that girl has the worst sense of direction.

So I was willing to help her out if she got lost somewhere. But she didn't pick the call.

I went out looking for her. As I was passing by an alley which was quite dark but had a dim street light so we can see.

I heard someone shouting for help. I ran towards the direction of voice but the voice became more like whimpering. 

That's when I saw Juvia was being assaulted by a drunkard. He tore her top and now making his way to her inners.

My blood boiled seeing this. I instantly slammed his head to the wall and kicked him on his butt forcefully.

That's when Juvia opened her eyes and saw me. She began to cry hard. I went up to her, opened her hand tie and removed the cloth from her mouth.

She instantly hugged me and began crying. I consoled her by patting her back.

'Man!! She looks traumatized.'

The drunkard once again stood on his feet and charged on us. Without removing my hands from her shoulders, I kicked him and luckily he passed out.

"Juvia, relax. It's alright. Nothing happened. Listen, calm down. It's okay. Relax........ I'm here with you. Fine don't worry. I'm there for you, Juvia."

I removed my shirt and wore it around her shoulder to cover her up.

She was hugging me very tightly and crying on my chest.

I slowly led her to our apartment. The neighbours were giving me a weird look as what was going on. I didn't care and made my way inside.

I made her sit on the couch and went to grab some water to make her relax. Still now, her crying didn't stop but whimpering had.

After drinking, she looked a little better. I sat next to her and wiped the tears with my fingers. Again, she hugged me.

"Thank you Gray. If it wasn't for your help, then who knows what would have happened. Thank you, I'm really thankful for your help."

I patted her back and kissed her forehead to make her relax. 

After staying in this position for sometime, she fell asleep on my shoulders. 

I carried and placed her on the bed. I decided tonight, I will sleep on the couch.

NEXT DAY

I got up earlier than usual. After getting freshened up, I decided to make breakfast. So once she wakes up, it will make her feel comfortable.

Once breakfast was ready, I went to wake her up. But she didn't wake up. Then I placed my hands on her forehead, it was damn hot. 

She was running fever which was preventing her from even opening her eyes.

I don't know what to do. I was running around the house thinking of some way to bring down her fever.

Just then Erza called me. It was unusual for her to call this early in the morning.

"Gray, so are you ready? We will arrive there in an hour."

I realized that I had a movie commitment  with my friends. I don't have time for that, I need to take care of her.

"Sorry Erza, I couldn't make it. You guys enjoy it."

"But what happened? Why are you pulling out at the last moment?"

"Hey my roommate is sick. So needs to be taken care. Now tell me, how and what I should do?"

"Check the temperature. If it shows high, call the doctor. And do..."

I cut the call. Really, I don't have time for this. I checked the drawer to find if any thermometer was there. But I couldn't find one.

Then I went to get it from Mrs.Ashley.

"Well Mrs.Ashley, I'm sorry to disturb you this early in the morning. Do you have a thermometer? Juvia is running a fever. She is not opening her eyes."

"What happened? Wait, I have one. Take this and check her temperature. By the time, I will call the doctor and come along with her."

I took the thermometer and went to check her temperature.

It showed 105°F. 

' Man!! That's really high.'

Soon, Mrs.Ashley came with the doctor. After examining her, she gave her an injection and a few tablets.

"Mr.Fullbuster, give these medicines once she gets up after taking food. I have given her injection to reduce her temperature. If her temperature doesn't reduce by the night, we will admit her in the hospital."

Mrs.Ashley asked her what could have caused her such high fever.

"Well she must be physically/mentally traumatized which took a toll on her body. That's why it must have led to this fever. 
  Don't worry, follow the prescription and give her something to eat. I will get going."

I paid the money and went downstairs to leave her while Mrs.Ashley took care of Juvia.

"Gray, did you hear what the doctor said? Tell me what pain did you cause her that she is being traumatized?" She asked me with a tone of anger.

Then I told her the incident that happened to Juvia yesterday. She was shocked and patted my back.

"Fine Gray, take care of her. Call me if you need any help. After an hour or two, I will bring the rice porridge and something for you as well."

"Thank you, Mrs.Ashley.We owe you one for your kind assistance." 

I smiled and went to sit next to Juvia on the floor.

ERZA'S POV

"What did he say? Is he coming or not?"

"No Natsu, he is not coming. His roommate got sick. So he needs to care for him."

I saw Lucy looked confused. So I asked her, "What happened? What are you thinking so hard?"

"Did Gray ever mention he was living with a roommate? I don't think so."

What she said was right. He informed us that he got into a new apartment on his own. 

'So who could this roommate be?'

"Okay I guess. It's only us 3 pairs then. Even Juvia didn't pick up the call from yesterday." Lucy added.

"Yeah Sprinkler, didn't pick up our call also. Don't know what happened to her. Hey Jellal, did she say where she lived? I don't remember the name of that locality." Gajeel asked Jellal.

After thinking for some time, he said it was Snowlane Locality, the same as the one in which Gray shifted.

We looked confused. How come we didn't know about this? Did they themselves know or not?

"Fine, today we will cancel our movie date. And take a tour around Snowlane Locality. It's been awhile since I went there." Lucy said, looking happy.

TIME SKIP

As we knocked the door, a middle aged blond woman who looked like an exact replica of Lucy opened.

"Mom, it's been awhile. How are you?" Lucy said and hugged her mom. We greeted her.

"What a surprise. What brings you all here? And Lucy, why didn't you come here for the last 3 weeks? I missed you."

"No mom, just got stuck with the projects and assignments. So mom, what are you cooking?" As the aroma filled the hall.

She bought us orange juice.

"Oh that is rice porridge. One of the tenants got sick. Her husband is really worried to do any other work.
    So I'm making it and helping them. Both of them will be around your age Lucy."

The mentioned tenants do seem like a lovely and young couple. I wish even I and Jellal can be like them in future.

"Both of them are quite young. But they are a perfect match for each other. You should look at his face for a moment as if his world stopped revolving when his wife was still not regaining consciousness."

Aunt Layla smiled while complimenting them.

"So Natsu, how are you taking care of my daughter? Hope you are keeping her happy.!!" She pulled Natsu's leg with that question.

"Yeah I'm keeping her happy. Yesterday, I took her on a dinner date. I know if I don't keep her happy, you will inform my dad and mom and he will bang me up." Natsu displayed his toothy grin.

Yeah Lucy's mom, Natsu's dad and mom, Gray's mom and dad and my mom were good friends from their high school.

"Isn't one of you missing?" She asked us.

When I was going to tell it was Gray, she got a call. 

"Okay I will come up right now. Just wait."

"Sorry children, just wait for a few minutes. The tenant is having a difficult time. Her husband is not able to handle it."

She went to the kitchen, took the prepared rice porridge and some sandwich and left upstairs.

"Poor thing, hope she gets well soon." Levy and Lucy prayed for that couple.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW IT WAS THEIR FRIENDS WHO WAS HAVING TROUBLE OR WILL THEY KNOW SOON.