Summary: "Who makes you moan? Who makes you scream in pleasure and joy? I. Fucking. Do. What's mine is mine and sharing isn't an option I'd even have the idiocy to consider."

After the Grand Magic Games, Juvia Lockser took time to reflect on her life – including Gray Fullbuster. Something she wouldn't have done on her own since she was always caught up in her fantasy. It hurt like a bitch to realize that a one-sided love would never be returned, it truly did. And moving on was even harder to do. But still, Juvia swore to do so. Somehow, there's a way for everything.

Genre: Drama/Friendship.

Disclaimer: To say that Fairy Tail belongs to me is pure fantasy. Hiro Mashima remains the creator and has all the rights.

/!\ Warning: This fan-fiction has tons of smut and I won't tell when and where you'll read them in those chapters. I'm unpredictable, huh! Minors have been warned and if you're caught off guard...remember that this fan-fiction is rated M. Read the summary carefully before launching yourself on this story.

… In which Lyon Vastia learns to accept, to befriend and move on. Like it could have been from the beginning.

Chapter Nine: Lyon Vastia's Friendship

"... sure he didn't hit his head or something? He's not waking up..."

That lovely voice with this worried tone... Lyon would recognize it everywhere – it was Juvia's! So he hadn't been dreaming when he saw her naked backside into the spring, that moment really happened. The Ice Mage could feel a smile creeping up on his face, despite still 'floating in La-La-land'. Was she tending to him right now?

"...smiling and – wait, is that a fucking nosebleed? Damn it, Juvia! The guy is fantasizing about you even when he's unconscious! Out of the way, I'll crush his stupidly perfect face with –"

"Honey, no. You'll end up mauling him if you're angry!"

"And, which is the most important part in my opinion, fuckingcockblocked. I'm still hard and turned on, just as much as you are right now, and seeing you still flushed and almost naked under that bathrobe is doing nothing to take care of my problem. Fate must be laughing at us, damn it. What are the odds of being interrupted by a fan-boy or a fan-girl?"

Lyon twitched in his semi-unconscious state, recognizing the male voice at once. Was that Sting Eucliffe? And if so, what was he doing with Juvia? What the heck was he talking about?

"We were about to have sex in a hot spring, Sting. A public place, should I remind you?"

"Yeah, so? We've done it before in..."

There was a small silence, during which Lyon found himself 'unconsciously' holding his breath (as if that could ultimately save him from the merciless beating he'd get.), fretting for his life. An annoyed growl reverberated around the whole room.

"...who the hell do you think you're fooling? RISE 'N SHINE, ICE-FOR-BRAINS!"

Pain suddenly hit him in full force as Sting's fist collided with his cranium, jerking Lyon awake in the process; he hastily sat up while nursing the growing and painful lump on his head, his features scrunched up in pain and eyes closed. In the background, he could hear Juvia admonish the Dragon Slayer.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Lyon kept repeating, rubbing his head soothingly. "Did you have to hit me that hard?"

A snort. "And that's not even a quarter of the real pain damage I want to give you, but since Siren wants you to live," Sting grunted grudgingly, with a frown probably marring his face. "I have no choice but to leave you be. But we've got much to talk, stalker. So, heads up, suck it up and listen."

Once Lyon was sure he wouldn't get dizzy, he opened his eyes to look at a concerned and sheepish Juvia and a disgruntled, glowering Sting Eucliffe sitting beside each other. Lector, the red Exceed, was sitting on the Water Mage's lap and staring at him in wonder. The closeness between the woman he loved dearly and the Sabertooth mage instantly bothered the Ice Mage, who sent the lovely bluenette a confused, yet questioning look – he even tried hard not to stare at the inviting and delicious bosoms her bathrobe failed to completely cover, because he was sure that would earn him another punch and one violent nosebleed.

"Lyon-san, are you... alright?" she asked him awkwardly, biting her lips. "Y-you didn't hit your head or something?"

Before Lyon could answer, Sting stepped in. "Please," he growled, rolling his eyes. "His mind is completely clear, besides the images he's been dreaming about when he walked on us earlier. I hit his head, so he's fine."

"But that doesn't make it any better, Sting," Juvia admonished, sending him a stern look before addressing the Ice Mage with a more gentle, apologetic tone. "Nonetheless, he's right: we do have to talk about what you saw in the spring."

With that being said, the atmosphere in the room instantly shifted and Lyon couldn't pretend not to know what was going on; so he sat up comfortably, facing the two companions. Sting's perceptive eyes slid toward him, inquisitive and still burning. The white-haired man may be holding himself in composure, he still could hear the pounding of his heart and Juvia's; his mate had such a big heart and the Dragon Slayer already knew she was loathe to hurt one of her friends, so she would feel very sad for a moment – and Sting wouldn't like it one bit. Her emotions were already clashing with his, making the blonde edgy.

Heartbreak had never been kind to anyone in love, and Juvia was quite the expert at this kind of fucked up situation (a certain Bora had been added to Sting's kill-list due to this, when his Siren told him about her first failure of a relationship.). So maybe she would know how to ease Lyon's own heartbreak.

Lyon cleared his throat, feeling a bit unneasy. "... I wasn't dreaming when... when I saw the two of you in the spring... was I?" he asked numbly, looking at Juvia – mainly Juvia, because she was the one he needed to hear the truth and the words from.

She glanced at Sting, who nodded solemnly at her with a considerably softened expression toward her, then turned back toward the Ice Mage. She took a breath, encouraged by the blonde who was rubbing her backside soothingly (what the hell...?). "You saw what you saw: Sting and I are in a relationship, I'm his mate."

"And if you want some clarifications about when you saw Siren surface in front of me, ask without fantasizing," Sting added in a matter-of-factly tone, staring at the Ice Mage without shame.

Ah. Ah. Lyon voiced that sound, lowering his eyes so that both fellow mages – and Exceed – wouldn't see his deeply hurt and saddened expression. He'd heard from Sherry that heartbreak was very painful when one was rejected by the object of his or her desires, but Lyon hadn't known how painful it would be and how it would feel. Now he knew.

It was like someone purposely, wickedly and viciously crushed all your hopes along with your heart. And it also makes you want to cry in sorrow and sadness. Lyon may not have known Juvia Lockser longer than his foster brother Gray, but he heard from someone at her guild – that drunken Cana, maybe? – say that she'd suffered from one nasty break up with her first boyfriend and had cried for weeks. That and the fact that she was also hated for bringing the rain wherever she went years ago. Heartbreak was a great bitch.

So that's what it truly was. A blow to your ego, your pride and, most importantly, your heart. Even if Lyon deeply believed that Gray didn't deserve Juvia, he'd been certain that he, Lyon Vastia, would be the one to make her feel loved every damn second of her life.

"'Mate'?" he repeated, his brows furrowing. His voice sounded hoarse, as if he was about to cry. "You mean, as in a life partner?"

"Something like that," Sting said, inclining his head. His arm now fully wrapped itself around Juvia's waist, pulling her to him even though she protested lightly. "Wait – scratch that, it is exactly as you said. Juvia and I are bonded after I claimed her as my mate, she was fated to be mine. And there's nothing you can do about it, Lyon; your feelings for Juvia may be genuine and pure, they aren't even a blip on the radar once she became a Dragon Slayer's mate."

Lyon clenched his fists in repressed anger. "How does it work?" he asked, raising his head to meet Sting's electric blue eyes.

The blonde Dragon Slayer, unimpressed (if not, slightly stunned), raised one eyebrow at the stupidity of the question. Juvia, for her own credit, looked away in embarassment. But she still leaned in her mate's warm embrace.

"I'm fairly forty-five per cent sure that you already know the answer to that, even though you must still be hoping it's a lie," Sting stated flatly. "But oh well, you're asking for it. You do know the basics of sex, right?" He could have smirked, but inwardly rejoicing at Lyon's flushed, wide-eyed face was enough. Sting Eucliffe was still sympathetic, mind you. "C'mon, that's the same for animals, you can't be that shocked. Right?"

"Err... Sting?" Lector interrupted with a slight wince and sweat-drop. Said Dragon Slayer looked down at his best friend in wonder. "Remember: Lyon-san is in love with Juvia-fairy. The fact that you're telling him details about your relationship might stir his imagination. And if his imagination is still wild..."

… the Jack Frost-wannabe must be flashing imagined scenes of Juvia naked in his damn mind. One particularly seething, murderous Dragon Slayer slowly turned his head toward the Lamia Scale mage, eyes flashing in impending bloodlust. "... Lyon, if you do so much as fantasize about what little nakedness you saw earlier, you'll have more than just offensive nosebleeds and fucking dreams about my mate. Do you have a death wish?"

"L-Lyon-san?" Juvia tried to get his attention by calling him, worry and dread written over her features. "Are you...?"

Okay? He wasn't. In fact, Lyon Vastia's mind might have shut down on one specific sentence pronounced by Sting Eucliffe – Juvia's boyfriend, mate and whatnot. Seeing as he was staring at the blonde without blinking, his eyes wide and almost bulging out of their sockets, he looked like he had gone into shock. His mouth was hanging half open, and the Ice Mage was awkwardly deaf to every voice, be it the bluenette's or her man's. And the cause of that shock? One sentence that was being replayed in his mind, over and over again.

"You do know the basics of sex, right?"

Lyon wasn't an idiot since he'd been introduced to sex years ago, right before meeting Juvia Lockser – his first time had been awkward and boring, and the girl wouldn't stop gushing about being devirginized by one of the hottest males in Fiore. Boring and lousy. Ever since he met the gorgeous blue-haired fairy, Lyon had been imagining many things and, he wasn't going to lie, fantasy-like situations between himself and Juvia (some were romantic at their best, others were alluring and erotic. Masturbating was a damn pain.). The Ice Mage was jealous of his younger brother because he had her attention, but that didn't matter anymore; what mattered now was the fact that a Dragon Slayer had swept Juvia away from him before he could even convince his beloved to give him a chance.

Fate sure had a weird way to work things out for everyone.

His last thought, before blacking out, was directed toward the blonde who had captured her heart: "Damn that cocky, uncouth bastard."

"Uh-oh, his brain has gone overload again!" Lector exclaimed, running to check over the white-haired man.

"Is he serious?!" Sting was bemused. He stared at the Ice Mage he had caught before he could hit his head even harder. "How hard is it to handle the truth?"

Juvia ran an agitated hand over her face, startled and weary. That really... wasn't what she expected.

Juvia propped her chin on her arms, gazing at the unconscious Ice Mage in his cot. It wouldn't be long till he woke up to whatever he'd see, which she somehow looked forward to; Lyon's sudden appearance at the hot spring threw her off, knowing his outspoken feelings toward her. Sure enough, she'd know the words to talk to him, but she was aware it wouldn't be good enough for now – Lyon's love for her may have been overboard most of the time, but Juvia was one hundred per cent sure it was genuine and pure. As pure as snow. True love and good things like Lyon Vastia in life were so hard to find.

Fate had brought her Sting Eucliffe as her life partner before she could even make Gray Fullbuster fall in love with her, and while she had been utterly crushed to erase him from her heart and mind, Juvia Lockser knew she made the right choice to accept the bond between mates – after discovering a true family within Fairy Tail, she had never been so happy in her life. She would wonder about her happiness with Sting sometimes, how is it that just seeing him made her feel so light and complete – something that Gray never managed to accomplish despite their friendship and her former love for him.

And somehow, Juvia knew deep down that it would have been the same with Lyon.

She could have loved him with all her might, she was sure of it. Lyon had never seemed repulsed by her, which was a very good point about him (Juvia couldn't count the differences between him and Gray, there were so many. And with the rift in their friendship, this was added tension that could terminate everything that was built between them.). In fact, Lyon would have been the perfect match for Juvia if it weren't for Sting. If Fate already had plans for her with another man instead of Lyon Vastia or Gray Fullbuster, and if said man was the right one for her, then who was she to fight it? You can't force someone to love you, because love was something that happens. And Fate brought us together, the bluenette thought as she closed her eyes.

A mere second later, warm lips kissed the back of her neck tenderly, making her shiver in pleasure and bliss. "Not exactly what we both expected, huh?" Sting murmured against her skin, his arms wrapping themselves around her waist.

"No," Juvia answered, leaning in his embrace with a sigh. "I was hoping I could talk to him as gently as I could, but you beating me to it and marking your territory kind of...crashed everything. Couldn't you have been more subtle to him?"

He frowned. "No."

"At the very least?"

"No. That's beyond me and I'm a very jealous, territorial man." Sting nuzzled her neck, gazing lazily at the unconscious Ice Mage. There was no burning look in his blue eyes this time, a sign that he had calmed down a bit. "Though I'd like to say I understand him, I'd be lying to you and myself. I've never known a girl who wasn't infatuated with me and broke my heart because she was in love with another man, so I don't know how bad heartbreak can really be." He was silent for a moment, stroking Juvia's curve on her waistline. "You told me about that Bora bastard when I asked you if you've ever been in a relationship before me, and... it pissed me off so much when you told me how he dumped you because of the rain you used to bring everywhere you went. You didn't cry when I listened to every word, but I bet you cried a lot more than your share back then..."

At that, the Water Mage opened her eyes, solemn. She did cry a lot. A lot more than whenever people would get away from her; Juvia thought that she had found someone who did try to take an interest in her despite her being unable to stop the rain, and just the thought alone had made her so happy and giddy back then. But the rain didn't stop and never stopped, so Bora got bored and left her life. He walked away and never looked back to try once again to know who was Juvia Lockser. In the end, Bora was just like everybody else.

"I did," Juvia admitted, lacing her fingers with Sting's. "Bora showed me that he was just like everybody else back then – someone who didn't try to know who the former Juvia Lockser was. That hearbreak did hurt a lot, but...I think I got over it with time, especially when I met Gajeel and the other members of Element Four."

"Did... Gajeel help you?" Sting tried to suppress the possessive tone in his voice, but eventually failed at that.

She smiled fondly. "Well, he and Totomaru did try to kill Bora seven years ago on an errand – don't laugh Sting, the prat fell into coma and had his back broken!" she admonished at her boyfriend, who was snickering in mirth. "Not that I really cared, but still...," she trailed off, letting her head fall on Sting's right temple.

Nice. But the bastard remains on my kill-list, Siren, Sting thought with a slight feral smirk. "Well, he must have recovered since, right?"

"I think. But I don't care, he had it coming. Anyway, my point is, I'd like to become friends with Lyon-san at the very least. Even if that's not what he truly expected from me, there's a slight chance he'd appreciate the concept of friendship with me." Juvia smiled, feeling serene. Then her smile faded a little bit. "I might have been a little harsh and dismissive toward him back when I was still infatuated with Gray – which brought me to be quite...bitchy. Maybe sticking with his foster brother drove me to refuse yet another friendship, like with Lucy..."

The blonde guild master thought about it for a while, then slowly nodded. "That makes sense...yeah, you might have a point, Siren." Then he frowned, remembering something Lyon and Lucy had in common. "And they both have some damn good timing with cockblocking me, which is scandalous."

"Anyway," Juvia repeated with a slight glare directed toward Sting, who just shrugged with a disgruntled expression. "If it's possible for us to become friends, just friends and drawing the limits, then this might actually work. It worked with Lucy, why wouldn't it work with Lyon-san?"

"Because the sucker is in love with my mate and I don't like it one bit? Listen, Siren," Sting sighed deeply as he positioned himself in front of Juvia, crouching and staring at her. "I've come to understand that friendship means the world to you, and I respect that. I can't control your actions or thoughts, not even your feelings, but..." He gulped, seemingly struggling with his words, and licked his dry lips. "Do you have any idea what it means? To be a Dragon Slayer's mate? You can't compare with us being lovers, it's just so much more than that; when you become a Dragon Slayer's mate, expect to be jealously and possessively kept for himself. Even friendships are damn hard to tolerate for me, especially when I'm not constantly with you – I need to be possessive and jealous with you, Siren," he emphasized his words by nuzzling his face in Juvia's bosoms, eyes closed and breathing in her scent. Soon, her hands came to play with his hair. "I may learn to tolerate your friends through you, but that's it when it concerns what's mine. In other words, you. If I don't draw the limits and make myself clear, then who will?"

"Your reasoning is sound," he continued, pushing the bluenette on her back so he could lie and settle between her legs. "But it's Lyon I don't trust. The guy is so smitten with you it makes me sick and cringe. Makes me want to dominate you over and over just to remind you – the world and myself – who you belong to..." To emphasize his words, he gave her a slight, slow thrust.

At this, Juvia's heartbeat brutally picked up and she felt herself flush in anticipated pleasure, her breathing hitching up. Now that was hot. Even though he already did that when they first made love, she will never be tired of listening to Sting's sex talk; it would always make her feel so giddy and shiver in pleasure. But as her body started listening to the hormones, she thought about what he just told her.

Sting had showed his possessiveness over her thousands of time already, which was later emphasized by heated, crazed sex during which he managed to make Juvia scream his name over ten times. Her Dragon Slayer's mark on her neck was the ultimate proof that he claimed her as his, and if any male was mad enough to hit on her, there would be blood; the way he behaved around her was animalistic at best, but it showed that he cared about her. A lot more than love. Sting may tolerate her male friends through her, as long as they didn't try anything opposite to friendly, but that was it. She shouldn't ask for anything else.

She was his. She was Sting Eucliffe's. A friendship with Lyon may be possible, but he would have to be on his best behaviour and try to move on.

Nipping the flesh of her breast and eliciting her quiet intake of breath, Sting raised his head to hover over Juvia and smirked wolfishly at her flushed face. Then he lowered his face, drawing his lips close to hers. "Can you keep quiet?" he whispered to her, now biting her lips.

Juvia gripped his shoulders, struggling to keep herself in composure – which was hard with one of his hands already sneaking down her panties. "H-how do y-you... expect me...," she tried to say clearly, but failed as it came out as a whisper-moan.

"I'll take that as a yes," he snickered silently before capturing her lips.

"Uuuuh...," Lyon managed to utter as he clutched his throbbing head. "Damn..."

Lyon Vastia wasn't much of a drinker because he preferred to remain sober and in control of his actions, but a headache caused by something even more annoying and heartbreaking than alcohol would hurt more. He sighed ruefully, opened his bleary eyes as he struggled to sit up without feeling woozy. His bathrobe – which he didn't remember putting on since that heavenly and lovely sight in the spring – was wrinkled and loose, showing more of his skin than he'd like, and his silver hair was in disarray. But he truly didn't care about his appearance right now.

Juvia and Sting Eucliffe. Huh. Who would have known and who had seen that coming? Lyon surely didn't, and the fact that another man had swept up the woman of his dreams right under his nose without him noticing made him boil – damn, jealousy was so ugly! And it wasn't just that, it was also the fact that they looked good together: seeing them beside each other when they had that talk yesterday and how relaxed she had looked and behaved around him made Lyon feel like he was intruding in their space. They exulted such powerful chemistry it stunned him momentarily, he couldn't believe that Juvia fit so right in Sting's arms and not his. Not even Gray could compete – not that he actually could with that Dragon Slayer around...

Not even me.

"You awake?"

Lyon jumped a little, surprised to have caught spacing out, and looked up. He almost groaned at the sight of Sting entering the room, but forced himself not to; if this was the man Juvia fell for and decided to have in her life, then he should try to accept it. For Juvia's sake and his. Plus, the blonde didn't look territorial or murderous right now: he had this solemn, serene expression he had seen once at the finale of the Grand Magic Games. Which was quite suspicious, if you asked Lyon.

"Juvia just went to get us some breakfast with Lector, so they'll be back in a bit," the blonde informed him as he took a seat on his futon.

"Hm," Lyon managed to grumble.

Sting gave him a look. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you face-to-face. About Juvia."

"...oh."

The air around them immediately shifted, becoming somehow umcomfortable and challenging for both mem; Lyon didn't bother concealing his accusing eyes and his cold attitude towards the Sabertooth guild master as he straigthened himself, but Sting ignored him royally. He kept staring intensely at the Ice Mage, as serene as ever, but it was starting to grate on his nerves.

Finally, Sting was the first to speak. "I suppose you've noticed the abomination around her neck, it's not that you can really miss it."

"Right," Lyon answered icily, before he exploded. "What the hell, Sting?! What in God's name could have happened to make Juvia wear this...this horrendous thing?"

The blonde gritted his teeth, shuffling an agitated hand in his hair. "I didn't have much of a choice. That ordeal got out of control when I had to take action in this goddamn mess..."

"'Take action'? 'Take action'? Well, it certainly seems like you really took action here, guild master!" Lyon spat angrily, scowling. His anger was taking over, clouding his mind and reason, but he didn't seem to care; Juvia must be suffering right now not to be able to use magic. "Weren't you the one who claimed that you wanted Sabertooth to be a respectable and dignified guild you'd be proud of? What the hell happened?"

Apparently, Lyon had struck a nerve somewhere because his eyes finally lit up in anger. "Fullbuster, that's what happened four weeks ago!" Sting snapped back just as hotly, his fangs showing. "Him and his damn mouth started this whole mess when he insulted Juvia of being a whore, assuming that Laxus was screwing her, and though I was the one who wanted to maul him to death, Juvia was the one who actually snapped and attacked him before he could lay a hand on me. And he did attack back, I'll have you know!" he persisted at Lyon's shocked face. "You insult a Dragon Slayer's mate, you insult the Dragon Slayer himself, and my mate decided to protect me against the bastard she used to love so much for years. They fought, she almost broke him in half – god help me, I've never seen a woman this angry before – and we had to stop her. You get it?"

Sting had to take a breath first, but he wasn't done. He needed to take it out a second time. "Blame me if you want, insult me if that makes you feel better, but I had to act as a guild master because I was just as involved in the matter. And goddamn it, I regret doing this to her – to us." He clenched his fists, his eyes both hard and incredibly sad at the same time. Lyon couldn't move or speak either, due to shock. "I-I-I broke her, Lyon, because my duty had to come first before the woman I love. But now I'm trying to fix us back; it won't be easy, especially now that our relationship has become public knowledge but we're both willing to do this. Your bastard of a foster brother is just as responsible for this mess as Juvia and I, I won't deny it. So fuck you and your accusations, Lyon. You don't know how she's feeling because you're not the one bonded to her – I am," he declared fiercely, his blue eyes burning.

I am. It struck Lyon so much that he recoiled, his face pale and his features holding a horrified expression. But he understood now; there was still so much Sting Eucliffe needed to prove and learn, both as a guild master and a man. He may no longer look and sound like that cocky Dragon Slayer from the former Sabertooth guild, but he was still so young and inexperienced in the matter. He needed to grow and mature even more – being a guild master and a respectable man required leadership and qualities that would make him loved by his own woman and his friends and followers. He was trying to be someone who would be able to protect Juvia and his friends, be it their lives, their honor and smile. Sting was trying.

Listening to his explanations about what transpired four weeks ago made him boil with renewed anger toward Gray. Basically, he got angry because he had first thought that Juvia was in a relationship with Laxus Dreyar, saw her cuddling and snuggling up with Sting and chose to act before thinking. Insulting a woman was bad enough, but Juvia? Who's only been loyal and sweet to him for years? Even Lyon had to breathe several times, because his fingers were aching to hurt Gray.

"It hurt her so much to hear something like that from his mouth, even I couldn't believe it because she told me of her former love for that bastard," Sting said bitterly, once he calmed down a little. "After that dreadful collar's been tied around her neck, it's been one hell of an emotional rollercoaster; her emotions clashing with mine caused us to be in an extremely volatile mood, along with me feeling so guilty about that whole damn ordeal I'm partly responsible for." The blonde closed his eyes, grounding his teeth. "How can she still want me after that...? How can she still love me?"

It was then that Lyon finally found his tongue. "You still don't get it, do you? Do you think that love needs to be explained?"

Sting opened his eyes to look at him, inquiring. Lyon almost rolled his eyes, huffing.

"Juvia knows what duty every guild master is entitled to, and I'm fairly certain that she knows you couldn't have been partial in that matter. You've just become the leader of Sabertooth, it's such an important position and an enormous weigth on your shoulders – you're the one who will have to face the consequences of your decisions, because you're now a guild master of a whole guild and all your friends have to follow your lead. You're their anchor, got it? You're one of those anchors in the history of guilds that need to be around so they wouldn't feel lost. And you proved Juvia that you can take care of her the way she wanted to be loved and taken care of – something she had always wanted from Gray. If you can give her that and she wants to give it too you as well, then it's gonna be you for life. Gray may have been the first to have her heart, but he's been blind and ignored a beautiful woman who had been dying to offer her heart and her love. Love doesn't need to be explained. So why do you think Juvia still wants you and loves you?"

It was so obvious to Lyon, who didn't need to say it out loud, but he still did so for Sting. As he clapped his hand on his shoulder, surprising both the Dragon Slayer and himself in the process – because really, that man still stole his woman right under his nose. But he was still understanding. –, the Ice Mage instantly knew he was doing the right thing.

"She needs you," he told the blonde with an understanding, sad smile. "If I understand your explanation of Dragon Slayer's mate, then she is the cornerstone of your life. Did you ever tell her that you needed her too?"

Sting didn't know whether to be suspicious that Lyon seemed to be taking the news pretty well or relieved that he was taking them pretty well. But overall, his heart fluttered a bit when hearing those words. There was something about Lyon Vastia that made him so much better than Gray Fullbuster in Sting's eyes, something so mature that he overlooked due to the older Ice Mage's love for his mate. The fact that he seemed to understand that he had to back off and move on was a plus in his book.

He truly is better than Gray, Sting thought with a small smile.

"Yeah, I do need her," the guild master confessed softly. "As long as there's breath in my lungs and life in my body."

"Then everything is gonna be alright," Lyon finished in a lighter tone.

"Well, if you're able to move on and strike a friendship with Juvia – a real friendship, that's it –, I might consider you as a friend."

Lyon didn't need to be told twice and he nodded, appreciative. "I'd like that. As long as you take care of Juvia."

Behind the doors stood a smiling Water Mage, who heard almost everything between the two men. She was holding four trays breakfast in both hands (never mind how she could do that, the woman was multitasking.) and seemed to force herself not to jump into her man's arms and tell him how much she loved the way he handled things with Lyon.

On her head lay Lector, who was smiling as well. "Looks like Sting and Lyon might be able to get along, after all," he remarked lowly, paws up in the air.

"I couldn't have asked for something better," Juvia gushed before she stepped inside the room, balancing the trays together like the pro she was.

"You're leaving? Are you sure?" Juvia asked later in the evening, surprised. Then her expression fell. "But you just came here..."

Lyon shook his head, smiling at the trio. "My business here was mainly about you and your well-being, I was worried. But now that I'm sure you're in good hands with Sting, Lector and your master," He gave the blonde a meaningful look, which was returned with a nod and a smirk. "I think I've got nothing to worry about anymore. I'm going back to Lamia Scale."

"Well, beside the little show Siren unvoluntarily bestowed you in the spring, you didn't really enjoy your time in Spa Town Hosenka," Sting remarked as he slung an arm on Juvia's shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at the Ice Mage. "You've got to do it back home before taking missions if you want to leave in a good mood."

Lyon laughed lightly, even if it looked a bit forced. "Don't worry, there are various ways to relax. But for now, I've got a...'wound' to heal and that's gonna take some time." When he said that, the light in his eyes faded a little bit. Nonetheless, the silver-haired man refused to cry in front of such happiness. Heartbreak was an ugly bitch, but if there was a way to get over it, then there was a way for everything. Readjusting his bag on his shoulder, he smiled down at the pouting bluenette. "Juvia, please don't feel bad about me. You can't say it's your fault if I end up moving on with a broken heart. It happens."

It seemed to aggravate the situation, considering the tears gathering in her lovely blue eyes. "But –"

"No buts." Lyon was firm to her this time, his expression just a little bit severe. But then it softened, shifting to a slight smile. "It happens."

Luckily, she seemed to have gotten the picture and settled for a small smile – encouraged by Sting, who was secretly pinching her cheek. She nodded with a sigh. "Alright, then," she said, putting a hand on Lyon's shoulder. "You take care of you, now. Please?"

Flushing, Lyon blurted out one sentence that triggered Sting's glare. "Anything you want, my – sorry!" he quickly corrected himself, raising both hands in defense in front of one annoyed Dragon Slayer and a confused Water Mage. "She's just so..."

"That's gonna be a damn problem if you wish to move on, Lyon," he growled, scowling. "Don't finish that sentence if you want to live and go back home in one piece."

"Hehe...I better get going," the Ice Mage uttered uneasily, backing off while still facing the couple. He sent one last smile, waving. "See you soon, Juvia! Sting! Have a lovely holiday up the mountains!"

And then he was off, merging into the crowd. Juvia didn't really know how to feel about Lyon; the Ice Mage was such a wonderful person now that she got to know him after the air had been cleared between them, and knowing that he was going home sooner than he must have expected with a broken heart due to her being in a relationship with Sting Eucliffe bothered her. He was so unlike Gray – he was warm and caring where Gray remained cold and distant, he was a bright light whereas the other was so dark.

But her own light, brighter and burning, was the one who embraced her every second of her life. Juvia circled Sting's waist with her arm, leaning into his warm embrace. She was smiling peacefully.

"It happens," she murmured softly, knowing he would hear her.

He did. "Hmm-hmm. It happens, Siren," he repeated before kissing the top of her head. "At least you can call him your friend now. No more swooning or shit coming from him."

"Yeah," she giggled. Then she raised her head, staring at him. "What were you two talking about before I came back with breakfast?" she asked with a sweet smile. "You and Lyon were...getting along."

Sting raised an amused brow, walking back towards Master Zou's home in arms with Juvia. "What? I thought you already knew since you were eavesdropping, you little minx," he lightly admonished, going for the kill and tickling his girlfriend at her waist.

The bluenette cried out, laughing hard and squirming in his arms. "I was curious!" she squealed between peals of laughter.

"You're merciless, Sting," Lector sighed, shaking his head as he flew over their heads. "And you're wondering why people find you excessively terrifying and irritable when Juvia isn't around. Sheesh."

The trio walked back home laughing and smiling, a new light shining in their eyes – a sharp contrast between now and back then, when both mages were distraught and still trying to work things out together. Having a talk with Lyon Vastia actually turned out to be a better thing than he expected; as he looked back at Juvia's glowing, beaming face, he realized that as long as he could make that happy, loving smile appear on her face and make it permanent, Sting knew she'd remain by his side. She would and she will. As long as they loved each other.

Once they got back home, they were greeted by the sight of Master Zou watering the large collection of bonsais in his garden – Hoenn was God knows where, surely doing the last errands since they were due to leave in a few hours to the snowy mountains. The Master Water Mage took his time to address the lovebirds, but the light tone he used to speak was a sign that he was in a good mood.

"The sounds of your heartbeats are quite peaceful," he remarked as he switched to another bonsai. "And you both sound happy. I take it you've had quite a good time outside the house?"

It was an elated Juvia who answered, still glowing and beaming. "Yes, Master!" she exclaimed. "The hot spring was definitely useful this time, because we didn't have to – mmmh!"

"As Siren was saying," Sting continued while holding his Water Mage against his chest, smirking like a little devil. She, with the best glare she could summon, tried to get his hand off her mouth, but to no avail. "the hot spring was useful because we were lucky to run into one of her suitors," he practically growled the word, eyes flashing for one second before becoming shiny and serene once again. "who accepted to move on after discovering our relationship. We've also had a good talk and parted ways peacefully, though I never thought I would end up appreciating this guy..."

Master Zou's corner of his lips quirked. "Interesting," he mused. "Was it Lyon Vastia?"

"How did you... how?" Sting was stunned, blinking at the master Water Mage.

"Hoommmm...," was Juvia's muffled answer, who looked up at her man with exasperation.

The older man laughed silently, switching to another bonsai. "You should know by now that Hoenn has a very vast network. Thus, he knows about everything there is to know about Juvia's life before and after you came, Sting. It's almost terrifying, now that I think about it." He didn't even need to lift his head to know that the Dragon Slayer had blanched. "...I'm pretty sure he's dug up some solid background on you ever since you started dating Juvia. Be careful, Sting."

The blonde gritted his teeth and pinched the bridge of his nose, instantly annoyed. What did he do to deserve this? When he thought he was going to get some backlash for having snatched one of the hottest girls in Fairy Tail and being overjoyed to pubicly live his romance with Juvia, here was one of her relatives who was intent on becoming a serious threat to their privacy. That two-coloured freak really likes messing with people, he thought darkly as he dragged his mate toward their room, Lector in tow.

Releasing his Water Mage, the blonde let out an annoyed growl and balled his fists. "What's wrong with that butler of his?" he barked, scowling. "I knew I should have cracked his spine in pieces the second he told me he peeped on us – wait, it's not too late to do that. The bastard is coming with us to the mountains, so there'll be opportunities to plot his 'accidental' death!"

Juvia, who was now sitting comfortably on her futon, sighed tiredly. "Like that is actually going to work," she murmured, braiding her cerulean hair. Her dark blue eyes looked at her fuming boyfriend, who had yet to settle down. "You did try to maim him at the train station, all the way to the house, and you didn't even give him a scratch. He's way too nimble and elusive, Sting."

"And I'm freaking endurant," the blonde countered, shrugging off his jacket and lying down beside the bluenette. He nestled his head behind his hands, eyes narrowing in annoyance. "I can fight all day if I want to, and that butler..." He scoffed. "Tch. Juvia, is he even a real butler despite all those tattoos?"

Upon hearing the question, she paused in her braiding and thought about it. The likelihood of Hoenn being something else than just a butler was damn high, she knew that – even their neighbors must be wondering if the man truly was a butler. There had always been something so mysterious about Hoenn, but he would never talk about it; Juvia had tried to ask him where he was from, if he had family waiting for him or someone. His answer?

"Funny you're asking, Lil' Blue."

And that was it. Nothing else, he had walked away from her with a strange smile on his face. Up to this day, Juvia still hadn't gotten a good answer from him.

"Actually," she said, lying down onto Sting's stomach and supporting her head with her hands. "I know almost next to nothing about Hoenn, Sting. He's a walking mystery to me. Master Zou might know something about him, but wouldn't tell."

Sting frowned. "Weird," he muttered, his fingers stroking Juvia's backside slowly. "You think they'd be open to each other since he's been his butler and friend for years...and if he's got such a solid network all around Fiore, that means he must know a lot of things about a lot of people." His frown deepened, showing displeasure. "That man is...and you're saying I can't even touch him?" he asked Juvia exasperatedly, catching her gaze.

"If you can predict his moves, tell me and I will gladly join you in the beating," the bluenette chirped, smiling brightly at him.

"...yeah, that's a skill I've, unfortunately, never been gifted with."

"Then, that's going to be difficult."

Sting groaned once again, throwing a pillow at his mate, who only laughed.

Several hours later...

"Coats?" Juvia called.

"Check," Lector responded.

"Scarves?"

"Yep," Sting nodded.

"Gloves?"

"Check."

"Boots?"

"Right here, Siren."

"Food? Water? Supplies I haven't prepared?"

"We checked three times, Juvia. We've got everything."

Juvia giggled, bouncing excitedly on her spot. She was so looking forward to going back to the house she, Master Zou and Hoenn used to train in the mountains – this was one of the places she spent two years learning to use her Water magic, so she had created so many good memories of that place.

Sting carried their bags outside, where their carriage was waiting to get them to the snowy mountains, then came seconds later to steady his overexcited girlfriend by the hips. He looked amused.

"I really should monitor your dose of sugary beverages, it's becoming a little bit terrifying," Sting joked, holding the bluenette against him. "Haven't seen or felt you this happy in a long time, Siren."

Her eyes were shining when she smiled brightly at him. "Yeah...the first four weeks of my punishment finally went by, so we get to be together without anyone complaining. And there's nobody to piss us off since we'll be out of reach for some time."

"'Nobody'? Really, Lil' Blue?" the butler mused with a teasing smirk.

She turned toward him, glaring. "Don't give any reason to kill you, Hoenn!" she hollered, pointing accusingly at him.

The older man went on his way, laughing his head off as he went to charge the carriage. Sting rolled his eyes, exasperated, but there was a smile tugging at his mouth.

This is gonna be fun.

Author's Note 1: I never thought I would be this late... well, better late than never, huh? At least, you've got an update! Oh, have you seen Civil War? I LOVED BLACK PANTHER! Still need to watch The Jungle Book, X-Men: Apocalypse... still, I'm kind of disappointed in Captain America. I mean, what the fuck was his plan? Governments want the Winter Soldier dead and how did he plan on helping his friend? Hiding him? He can't. He blew his cover with Black Widow by revealing all those secrets back in The Winter Soldier.

Author's Note 2: And really, Steve...why are you fighting with Tony? Two on one? So unfair. You knew the Winter Soldier – a.k.a your best friend – killed Tony's parents, yet you won't allow Tony to hurt Bucky? He may be your friend, but you know he committed all those crimes. Brainwashed or not. And that's how you repay the man who made you who you are today?

Next Chapter: Snow & Fevers.