The Duke and Duchess returned to their castle two days after the avalanche hit the village and the first thing Gray did was to send for the doctor to go to the castle and make Juvia have a check-up just to be certain. When the news proved to be real, he thanked the doctor and as soon as they were alone, he hugged his wife.

"We must wait until after we have the outside wedding to tell people." Juvia told him, smiling – as she had been ever since she knew it to be true. "The doctor said Juvia is about two months along, we have some time before it starts to show."

"Let's start planning, then." He told her. "It's going to be a great event for the Duchy." Juvia nodded her agreement.

A week into the planning, Lucy gave birth to a boy and Juvia never saw Natsu look so proud before as much as when he had his arm around his wife's shoulder while she held the small bundle. The baby had light blonde hair, just like Lucy's and he appeared to have inherited her hazel eyes.

When Gray commented on the fact the baby's appearance favored Lucy, Natsu shrugged and said, touching his son's nose "If he looks like Lucy, at least he will be a handsome kid." Lucy just rolled her eyes and kissed her husband on the cheek.

"I think he has more of you than we think." She looked down to the baby in her arms. "I have the feeling he will be so much trouble as he grows up. Like you." The four chuckled with the words until Lucy looked up to Juvia. "Do you want to hold him?" Juvia promptly agreed and as soon as she had the little boy, she looked up to her husband with a smile; a smile he shared, knowing that in a few months she would be holding their own baby. "Good practice for when you decide to have one." Lucy said, smirking.

With a nod from Gray, Juvia looked at their friends and smiled. "About that..." She didn't have to say another word for Lucy's eyes to widen and shriek in happiness, making her husband wince in pain.

"Goddammit, Lucy. What the-?"

"Congratulations! How far along?" The blonde hugged the Duchess carefully not to squish her son between them.

"Two months, give or take." Juvia answered and Lucy let go of her. "We are planning the outside wedding before Juvia starts showing."

"Showing what?" Natsu asked, confused.

"For someone who just had a child of his own, you are slow." Gray snorted. "Juvia is pregnant."

The pink haired man's eyes widened comically. "Really? That's so great!" In an impulsive action, Natsu stepped closer to Gray and hugged the Duke, patting him on the back. "Our kids will be just a few months apart."

Gray snorted. "They are going to destroy the castle."

"Oh, yes." Natsu laughed. "We'll need an army to stop them."

"Please, don't wish our children to be mess makers." Lucy whined.

"Juvia doesn't think it's going to be much different than what they are predicting." The Duchess chuckled and looked to the baby in her arms. "Let's hope at least one of you has some sense, hm?" She kissed the top of the baby's head.

#

The day the Outside Wedding was held, the sky was unusually clear and Juvia could feel her stomach twist in excitement; of course she had been officially married for months but that was the day their people would be a part of it and no one could refute their marriage.

Juvia looked at the beautiful white dress on top of the bed and the silver thick coat next to it, the one she hoped it would at least hide her stomach. She smiled and put a hand over the bump there; she was almost four months pregnant, then, and almost everyone was well aware the Duke and Duchess were expecting an heir.

Gray had been very careful with her from the moment he knew she was pregnant and Juvia could only guess it would get worse as she gets larger and she would be lying if she said she didn't like the attention.

There was a knock on the door and Juvia gave permission for the person to come in. It was Lucy with some of the maids, the blonde woman had her son in her arms and the boy was sleeping, vastly uninterested with what was happening.

"We came to help you get ready." Lucy smiled.

"Thank you." Juvia smiled and stepped closer to look at the baby. "Is he sleeping any better?"

Lucy sighed. "He's sleeping longer, but it's tiring either way."

The blunette nodded. "Juvia is not looking forward to that." Lucy laughed and put the baby on the Duchess' arms when she held them out, she just loved the feeling of his tiny body pressed on her chest. He only yawned and nestled into Juvia's arms further; the women laughed. "Ry-chan is changing day with night. That's not nice, young man." The blunette touched his little nose.

"Come on, Juvia." Lucy put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get you ready."

#

The streets were full as her carriage stopped in front of the largest cathedral in town and Juvia could feel the baby move, mostly likely feeling her nervousness and she put a hand over her stomach, trying to calm it down. She had no idea what reaction the people would have with her appearance in public.

Juvia took a deep breath when the carriage's door was opened and she stepped out carefully, taking the hand of Gajeel, who was waiting to help her, as support and she was quite surprised to hear the people cheering.

Not booing, not in rage but cheering at her appearance.

She must've been a sight, because Gajeel whispered to her: "Don't look so surprised, you are the freakin' Duchess, for the gods' sake, woman."

Looking at him with wide eyes, Juvia finally gathered herself, cleared her throat and arranged her silver coat better around her, hiding her stomach a bit more efficiently. Juvia, then started to walk the stairs of the cathedral, guards on both sides.

The moment she got inside the church, a beautiful music started to play and even though it was quite full, all Juvia saw was Gray standing at the end of the aisle, looking just as handsome as ever with his white shirt, dark blue coat and pants. The moment their eyes met, she couldn't help it but to smile at him and he did the same.

Once she arrived at the end of the aisle and stopped next to Gray, he stepped closer to her. "Are you okay?" He whispered.

"Yes." She nodded and both turned to the priest, the same one who had performed their private wedding almost a year before. Juvia felt the baby move and it took all of her to not put a hand over her stomach as she had been doing ever since she felt the child the first time.

"We are here today to officiate a marriage in front of the people. Today we are witness to the will of the gods, to the will of men long gone and the will of these two who stand in front of me." The priest said. "Today, they will be forever united." He stepped closer to the couple and took Gray's hand, grabbing Juvia's to place above her husband's. A young girl came from their left side, holding the sacred white cloth with the religious symbols. The priest took the cloth and slowly wrapped around their hands.

Gray turned to face Juvia, unlike their private wedding and she did the same, looking him in the eye and she smiled when she saw him staring at her softly, exactly like he only did when they were alone and no one else could see his softer side. Her heart filled with happiness.

"Gray Fullbuster, 31st Duke of Winter;" the priest said "do you accept this woman to be your wife in holy matrimony, to be your companion in life and your helper during your ruling over this Duchy and the March of Rain until death do you apart?"

"I do." Gray didn't hesitate and the blunette breathes out in relief, as if his answer would've been anything else. Noticing that, she could see one of the sides of his lips curl up in amusement.

The priest nodded and looked to the blue haired woman.

"Juvia Lockser, 29th Marquise of Rain; do you accept this man to be your husband in holy matrimony, to be your companion in life and your helper during your ruling over this Duchy and the March of Rain until death do you apart?"

With a bright smile, she nodded and said, firmly. "I do."

"Before the gods and this witnesses" The Priest said. "You vowed to be together and your bond will never be broken or fade away. You will be forever united in marriage. You are now husband and wife." He turned to the little girl and took the second cloth, a red one, and wrapped over the white that was already there. "You may kiss the bride."

The Duke lost no time in gently step closer to his wife, put a hand on the small of her back to pull her closer and kiss her on the lips. Juvia put a hand on his jaw and she barely noticed the claps and cheering inside the church.

Once the kiss was over, Gray touched her forehead with his and broke into a grin. It was easily one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen in her life. "We are married." He whispered.

"Again." She giggled and gave him a peck on the lips.

The priest cleared his throat, bringing them back from their own little world. Gray hesitated but stepped away long enough for the priest to unwrap the cloth from their hands.

Gray offered her his arm and Juvia quickly accepted, using it as support. She rearranged her coat and together, they started to walk down the aisle while the people congratulated them; the bells started to ring and the moment they stepped outside the church, they were greeted with the crowd cheering.

"I..." Juvia's grip on her husband's arm tightened. "I thought they hated me." She whispered.

"Not since you helped that village with the avalanche." Gray told her. "Besides, people love weddings and even more the news about a pregnancy." Her eyes widened and he chuckled. "The dress and the coat hide it well, but I think that the whole country must've heard about it by now. Everyone knows, don't worry. You are not the first or will be the last." He kissed her lips, which surprised her. "The people want to see us a happy couple and today I am quite inclined to comply."

Juvia's surprise was suppressed by a warmth inside her chest, so she smiled at her husband. "Well, then. Let's give them that." She kissed him and then turned to look at the people. Juvia saw Gray raise a hand and wave, so she did the same.

#

A few days after the wedding, when Gray told Juvia they were going to a honeymoon, she was confused until he explained what it was. The moment the words came out of his mouth, she was already too excited and all but packed right away.

According to him, they would spend a week at a friend's house at the Duchy of Summer, by the sea. Gray worked extra hard until the day they went aboard the ship so there wouldn't be any problems while he was gone.

The trip was quite awful for Juvia – her pregnancy hadn't make her feel sick, but the rocking of the ship sure did during the whole week that took for them to arrive at a small port of a town called Amaryllis. Once she saw the light blue sea, large green trees and colorful flowers, she forgot about being sick. Gray, though, didn't let her explore the town of the house they were staying in until she had some proper rest and ate something, which she found out she really needed.

When morning came, though, Juvia woke him up and didn't quit until he was grudgingly up, dressed and ready to go outside.

Juvia chose a simple light blue dress she didn't mind getting dirty and pulled her husband outside the moment they finished breakfast and proceeded to ask him about every tree, flower and animal they found: the novelty of it all overwhelming her.

"Juvia always saw those on her books." She told her husband, tears prickling her eyes while she tried to touch a yellow butterfly they had found a few minutes before. "I can't believe I'm here, that this is my life."

"Well, you better get used to it." Gray said gently, watching the butterfly move until it was on his wife's finger. "This is just the first place I'll take you."

"I heard the cook say something about a bird sanctuary near here. Can we go? I've always wanted to go see the colorful birds of Summer." She looked up with such hope, her eyes sparkling in hope, that Gray couldn't help it but to agree, to which she jumped into his arms and kiss him on the lips.

The third day they were there, though, she finally gathered enough courage to ask her husband to go into the water with her. Even though she was raised by the sea, the currents and waves had been so strong on the rocks she just played by the shore during the rare days she was allowed out.

The beach seemed so pretty at Amaryllis with its clear water and white sand right in front of the house, she just needed to at least go in one time.

Gray seemed to be highly amused with her hesitation to get in the water. She worn a thin dark blue dress while he had taken off his shirt and had just his pants on. He offered his hand and she took it, holding it tight but without moving, the water reaching her knees.

"I... I changed my mind." Juvia muttered, a hand over her growing stomach, feeling very afraid of putting their unborn child at risk, she didn't know how to swim after all. "Maybe we should come back to the house." She tried to step back, but Gray didn't let her.

"Juvia." He said and she looked at him. "You have always wanted to swim in a place like this and this is your opportunity." Gray squeezed her hand in comfort. "I am here with you and I won't let anything happen, I promise." She stared at his eyes for a moment, knowing he was telling the truth and wouldn't let her get hurt.

With a nod, she let herself get gently pulled further until the water covered her bump. That was when she stopped and pulled Gray's hand. "Here is fine. Please."

The Duke stopped immediately and nodded. "Of course." He wrapped his arms around her and she sighed in relief while putting her arms around his shoulder for support, she felt better if she had something to hold on to. "I won't let go, Juvia." Gray told her. "You don't need to cling to me like that." He chuckled.

"Sorry." She muttered and gasped when Gray lowered them until the water reached their necks. Juvia was well aware she just needed to get up be safe again, but she felt fear nonetheless and clung even harder on her husband.

Noting her fear, Gray rubbed the small of her back over the fabric of her dress and the other found her round stomach. "You are fine."

"I know." She let out a breath, feeling herself get calmer with his touch. "Juvia just needs to get used to it."

"Alright." He kissed her, slowly moving around and Juvia perceived more of her surroundings when she was not afraid, like how warm and nice the water felt on her skin, the sun on her face, the sand between her toes. They kissed for a while until she fully relaxed in his arms. "Do you want to try and take a dive now?"

Juvia blinked a few times and bit her lower lip in apprehension. "You won't let me go?"

Gray smiled. "Never."

It took her a moment to nod. "Alright."

"On three you hold your breath, alright?" Gray asked and the Duchess agreed, holding onto him tighter. "One, two, three." Juvia took a long breath as he pulled them under the water for a few seconds before immediately bring them back up.

Juvia blinked a few times and let go of her husband just long enough to try to dry her face a bit and once she saw his face, he was grinning at her. "Your hair looks ridiculous." She passed her hand through the locks. "What did you think?"

The Duchess thought for a second. "Not as scary as Juvia thought it was going to be." She admitted. "Perhaps because you were holding me." She smiled and gave him a peck on the lips.

"I don't mind coming to swim with you whenever you want even after you learn how to swim." He pulled her closer to his body and she giggled, clearly enjoying more and more their moment at the beach. They were kissing when she felt their baby move and then her husband gasp and pull her away just so he could see her face. "What-? What the-?" He looked down to the clear water and then to her.

"What is it?" Juvia also looked down, afraid he had seen something dangerous.

"I just felt something brush my stomach." Gray was confused and so was Juvia for a second until the baby moved once again she figured out exactly what he had felt.

"I think I know." Juvia grabbed one of his hands and put it over where their child was kicking; Gray hadn't felt the baby yet and had been very envious when Juvia declared she did.

The moment his hand was on her stomach and there was a small movement under it, Gray's eyes widened and he pressed it harder. "Is that-?" The Duke looked up to her and she nodded. "Oh. Oh." He laughed. "Oh!"

Juvia watched his face while the baby moved and she never saw Gray smile so much in such a short amount of time. Once the child tired itself out and stopped, Gray cupped her face and gave her a very sweet kiss. "I felt it."

"Yes you did." Juvia passed her fingers through his hair.

"I can't believe that in a few months..." He didn't finish the sentence, he didn't need to.

"Me neither." She kissed him again. "Let's get back inside." Juvia said and he nodded.

Juvia rose from the water and Gray did the same, their hands twined together as they walked back. She looked to her husband. "I like here." She told him and he hummed in agreement. "But I miss home." Gray frowned her direction and she chuckled. "Even though I love everything I see here and intend to enjoy every second, I miss it. I've never been homesick before, not even when Juvia left the March. It's kind of weird."

Gray stopped walking and pulled her to his arms. "You have no idea how much it means to me when you say the Duchy is your home."

"Well, Gray-sama," she smiled "Juvia's home is with you."

#

Two weeks later, they arrived back at Avalanche Castle and Juvia even though her time at the beautiful little town meant the world to her, she was more than happy to return to her home. She started to act on her ideas of how to improve the nursery to welcome the baby in a few months and, after running the idea by her husband, she started a charity.

After seeing the horror of the avalanche, she wanted to help the people who needed what to eat and wear. She rented a large warehouse by the docks for it and set up a kitchen and helped sort out through clothes' donations.

Almost everyday she would take her guards with her down to the docks to help with the cooking, serving or distribution of clothes.

In just a few weeks, whenever she walked through the fair to get to the docks, she was greeted by almost everyone in a friendly way and she was happy to reply in earnest, glad her work helped even if just a little. Some even stopped her to give her advice about pregnancy and wished her well – she was seven months pregnant by then – and she found out some of those advices actually worked.

Some days, Gray would walk with her and help once or twice a week, wanting more contact with his people and to keep an eye on his wife and the days Juvia didn't go, she spent her time sewing some clothes to give them back as new or knitting mittens or scarves. She decided she really liked to keep busy, no matter what.

A particular day, Gray had decided to join her and walk to the docks, even if he wasn't going to be able to stay. She had her arm on his for support and they walked slowly down the road, as her large size wouldn't let her go any faster.

"Good morning, Lady Juvia." A fruit merchant greeted them, a woman in her thirties with dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. "My Lord."

"Good morning, Gretel." The Duchess smiled and Gray tilted his head in acknowledgement and they kept walking, a few more people greeting them.

"You are a very popular woman." Gray told her and Juvia smiled.

"Are you jealous?" She teased him.

He scoffed but played along. "Maybe."

"Don't worry, you are Juvia's only love." She kissed his cheek. They stopped so he could kiss her lips better and they could hear the whispers around them. "People are talking." She told him, their lips so close together they might as well have been kissing again.

"Let them." Gray said, but they started to walk again either way. "Promise me you will rest today and won't be on your feet all day long."

"Today Juvia is reading for the children after lunch is served." She told him. "Don't worry."

"Alright." He agreed. "I just worry about... you..." Gray stopped walking and she frowned with his tone and how his body became tense.

"Gray-sama?" Juvia asked, concerned and saw he was looking straight ahead of them, eyes wide and mouth slightly open in surprise. Following his line of vision, she saw a man standing a few meters away; he was wearing a dark brown coat that matched his pants and boots, his black hair was slicked back, his eyes were dark, he had a terrible scar above his eyebrow and she could've swear she knew him from somewhere. More concerned about her husband, Juvia looked back to him. "Gray-sama, what is wrong?"

The unknown man took a few steps towards them before the guards stopped him. "Gray." It was all he said.

Breathless and confused, Gray whispered, to Juvia's surprise: "Father?"

#

AN: Yeah. Things are happening.