Chapter 6: Tomorrow is a new day

They spend one hour in training before going back to the boys. Lucy had managed to create water in her hands and throw it to a target like a rock or a tree. But she wasn't able to turn into water or make it rain. Juva said Lucy needed more time to adjust with these powers.

They found the boys still sleeping, some flames escaping Natsu's mouth. Juvia thought he was cute but her eyes lingered on Gray's figure.

She felt a wave of affection rushing in her chest. He didn't blame her for the body switch. He stayed with her and Lucy, even if they didn't find out a solution and his presence had calmed her down. She knew he cared a lot for all his nakama but she was grateful to him nonetheless.

Happy was the first to wake up. "Lucy! You're back."

He flew to Juvia who took him in her arms while Natsu and Gray woke up.

"Did you have fun with your girls stuff?" The pinked haired mage asked as he rubbed his eyes. "What did you do?"

Juvia exchanged a look with Lucy.

"It's a secret." She answered with a smile Lucy returned.

"It's late. We should go back to the guild." Gray said before Natsu could ask more.

"Oh yeah! Maybe Laxus is there! I want to fight him! Lets' go Happy!" With that he rushed in direction of the guild while the Exceed flew away from Juvia's arms and followed him.

Lucy chuckled a bit.

"Natsu is in better mood than earlier." She said an evident relief on her face.

"Food, sleep and fights. That's all that idiot needs." Gray commented with a mocking tone.

"You too."

"Hey! I'm not as simple as that moron!"

"Oh that's right. You also like to be naked." Lucy added with a smirk.

"What? Oh, fuck!" He started to look frantically for his clothes and Juvia couldn't hold her giggles. "Don't laugh Juvia! Jeez! Lucy! You had a bad influence on her!"

But that only made them laugh harder and Gray tssked in annoyance as he put his pants on.

They returned to the guild where Natsu was already in a fight with Gajeel, Laxus, Elfman and others. They crossed the guild, dodging mugs, stools, chairs, and even tables which were used as projectiles by the fighters.

Seated on a bar stool, Erza was chatting with Mirajane. She smiled when she saw them approached.

"I'm glad to see you Juvia! I was a bit worried this morning."

"Juvia's sorry." Lucy answered and bowed a little, copying Juvia's politeness. "She was a bit sad but Lucy-san cheered her up."

Erza nodded in approval. "Friendship is supporting each other. Did you spend the day together?"

"Almost. What about you Erza-san?"

"I went to this new bakery not far from the train station. They have a new recipe of strawberry cake." She explained with stars in her eyes and a large smile.

Gray snorted and Erza looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"You want to say something Gray?"

"N… No. It's nothing."

Erza starred at him for a moment and turned her head toward Juvia.

"How are you Lucy? Mira said you weren't feeling well either this morning and that you and Natsu didn't pick a job because of that."

"Oh, I'm better, thanks." Juvia had almost forgotten that fact. Many things had happened since the morning and she felt like it was days ago. "We're going on a mission tomorrow I hope."

"And Lucy-san offered to take Juvia to go shopping. She said that Juvia needs more sexy dresses." Lucy added and Juvia blushed while Gray's eyes widened.

"Maybe I'll join you." Titania proposed unaware of Juvia embarrassment. "I need a new dress too." She looked where the fighters had broken a window. "If you would excuse me." She headed towards the brawl, her sword out. Gray shivered in reflex.

They ordered food from Mirajane and sat at a table to wait for it. Wendy and Carla joined them, and then Natsu and Happy when the fire mage had recovered from his third beating of the day from Erza. At some point in the evening, Mira stepped on the stage and started to sing.

Lucy saw Levy asking something to Gajeel who blushed slightly and shook his head, mouthing something like "Not today". She smirked. He probably wanted to repeat the song before perform it before Levy.

Then Carla declared that it was bedtime for kids and she and Wendy said goodnight to their friends. An arm-wrestling match began between Laxus and Elfman, cheered by Freed and Bixlow on one side and by Lisanna and Warren on the other. Evergreen was providing encouragements too but it was hard to identify who was her champion. Natsu didn't want to be outdone and took Elfman's place after the first round. The cheers went louder as the crowd of supporters increased.

When Juvia saw Lisanna encouraging Natsu, she felt the familiar little pinch of jealousy in her stomach. She was surprised for a few seconds but soon she identified her jealousy as Lucy's. It wasn't the green-eye monster, just a slight feeling of insecurity and lack of confidence. So, the cheerful Lucy, who was in Juvia's mind the model of self-assurance, could also be unsure of herself and suffer from jealousy?

"Hum? What is it?" Lucy asked her and Juvia realized that she was staring at her friend.

"Nothing." She said hastily and averted her eyes, returning her attention to the tussle. Lucy seemed a bit perplexed at first, but she shrugged and let it go.

After a while, Gray, who surprisingly hadn't joined the competition, stretched his arms.

"I'll call it a day. What about you?"

Juvia and Lucy shared a look.

"Well. I suppose we have to go back to each other room." Lucy said not delighted by the prospect of sleeping elsewhere than her bed.

Seeing the reluctance of her friend, Juvia had an idea. "We can both go back to your place. You will be more comfortable if you're in your own room than Juvia's."

"Like a sleepover?" Lucy asked with a gleam in her eyes.

"Yes, but just the two of us. And maybe Natsu-san won't sneak in your bed like last night if he thought it's a girl night."

"Wait." Gray intervened. "Natsu was in the same bed than you?"

"Yes. Juvia woke up because he had put his arm around her." Juvia explained calmly. "Juvia was surprised at first but Natsu-san was kind and he liked Juvia's pancakes. Is something wrong Gray-sama?" She asked when she saw his knitted brows and his clenched jaws.

"Nothing." He replied harshly.

Confused Juvia looked at Lucy who was muffling her giggles with her hand.

"Okay. We should leave now." Lucy said as she stood up.

"I'll tell Natsu-san that we're leaving and he should stay at his home." Juvia went to the dragon slayer who was now encouraging Droy against Max.

Gray and Lucy watched her explaining the night plan to the pink haired mage. Natsu didn't looked pleased with her explanations as he made a sulking face. Softly Juvia put a hand on his chest and she seemed to excuse herself or promise something to him. Then Natsu nodded unwillingly and Juvia gave him a small smile and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. Gray made a strangle sound while a light blush colored Lucy's cheeks.

"What do you say to him?" The ice mage asked sharply when Juvia returned.

She tilted her head surprised by his inquiry.

"Natsu-san was a bit sad when Juvia told him about tonight so she promised to made food for him and to take a mission with him."

"Humph." Gray grunted turning away and Juvia sent a questioning look at Lucy who was still a bit red.

The three of them walked to Lucy's apartment in silence, Juvia still wondering why Gray seemed suddenly upset.

"Well, see you tomorrow Gray!" Lucy said when Juvia opened the door with her key and rushed inside with a content sigh.

Juvia glanced at Gray nervously, playing with a strand of her blond hair.

"Good night Gray-sama." She finally said in a low voice.

Gray seemed to loosen then, his shoulders relaxed and his lips lifted in a soft smile.

"Good night Juvia. And don't think too much about the body swap. We'll find a solution tomorrow."

She smiled back and nodded. She said goodnight once more and slowly closed the door.

She reached the living room where Lucy was lying on the couch, her blue hair spread against the cushion, her hat forgotten on the coffee table.

"Do you mind if Juvia takes her shower first?"

Lucy hummed tiredly in response but then a grin formed on her lips.

"Do what you want, it's your home after all."

Juvia blushed and fled to the bathroom.

With Lucy permission, she borrowed a pajama and waited on the bed for her friend while she took her own shower. When she exited the bathroom, Lucy stretched her arms above her head and sighed.

"I'm exhausted. What a day hey?" She added as she climbed on the bed beside Juvia.

"Juvia is so sorry for everything." Juvia apologized immediately.

"Don't be. Even if it was weird at first, I had fun. I experienced water power and I met a side of Gajeel I didn't know."

"But what if nothing changes?" Juvia expressed her fears.

Lucy grabbed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Everything is going to be okay. We're together and we have a family."

Juvia smiled back, a feeling of warmth in her chest. She was so lucky to have friends like Levy, Gajeel, Natsu and the others, her Gray-sama and Lucy. If she had learned something today, it was that she had much common with Lucy what she had thought. She had her own doubts and lack of confidence, and she was unsure about Natsu feelings for her.

"Goodnight Lucy-san."

"Goodnight Juvia."

Their hands still linked, they fell asleep quickly.

###

Juvia woke up slowly.

The room was dimly lit by a few sun rays.

Her mind still foggy because of the sleep, she recognized the ceiling of Lucy's bedroom after some minutes.

Ah, yes. The body swap.

She slept at Lucy's.

She turned her head, expecting to see the blue hair of her friend like last night when they talked a bit before sleeping.

But she only met the edge of the bed and the opposite wall.

She frowned and turned her head on the other side.

Long blond hair was spilled on the pillow.

But it belonged to the second person in the bed who was still sleeping on her side, her back facing Juvia.

Juvia sat up immediately, staring at the figure beside her.

Then she raised a trembling hand and pulled a lock of her hair before her eyes. It was blue and wavy.

She muffled her cry with her hand.

She was back!

Everything was normal again!

She put a hand on Lucy's shoulder and gently shook her to wake her up. "Lucy-san. Lucy-san." She whispered softly.

"Humm? What is it Juvia?" Lucy mumbled confused.

"We turned back! Look!" The water mage exclaimed happily.

Lucy blinked and Juvia saw in her eyes when she finally understood.

"Oh." Like her friend a moment ago, the celestial mage took a lock of blond hair and stared at it. "It's over." She murmured and the same smile as Juvia's bloomed on her lips.

"Yes. It's over." Juvia repeated with relief.

Suddenly, Lucy wrapped her arms around Juvia in a tight hug, startling the blue haired mage. But after some seconds she returned the embrace, a soft smile on her lips.

"We're having a great breakfast to celebrate this!" Lucy announced when they let go of each other.

They were in a such good mood, they laughed a lot while they cook, ate and got ready to go to the guild. Lucy lent some clothes to Juvia who opted for a white tank top and a pink skirt (still a bit too short for her but she was more comfortable than before).

When they arrived to the guild, they received curious look from their comrades. It was rare to see them arrive at the same time, and it was even more unusual because Juvia was wearing Lucy's clothes.

"Oooh! You almost look like sisters!" Mira exclaimed happily holding a tray full of mugs.

Juvia blushed with the comment while Lucy put an arm around her shoulders and smiled brightly.

"Yeah! Since yesterday, we find that we are very similar and have many things in common!" Lucy sent a knowing smile to the water mage who smiled softly in return.

"You should pose together for the next Weekly Sorcerer's cover! That would be very sexy!" Cana winked, drinks already in hand.

"Oh yeah!" Macao and Wakaba exclaimed from a nearby table.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Keep dreaming about this, perverts!" She led Juvia to the bar counter to get some soft drinks.

"Nobody seems to have noted something wrong with us yesterday." Juvia whispered to her friend.

"Yeah." Lucy said bitterly. "I'm a bit disappointed."

They stopped talking when Mirajane brought their drinks. As she took a sip of her tea, Juvia saw Gray walked inside the guild. She felt the warm wave of affection rising in her chest and the butterflies in her stomach.

"Gray-sama!" She called him enthusiastically instead of running and throwing herself on him.

He turned his head in her direction and when their eyes met, she smiled fondly. An expression of relief passed briefly on his face and he smiled back at her before coming their way. When he was near them, she could not hold herself and left her seat to close the distance between them.

"Good morning Gray-sama." She murmured a bit shyly.

"Good morning Juvia." He greeted back still smiling. "Hi Lucy." He glanced briefly at the celestial mage but his gaze returned immediately at Juvia. "I guess that you've turned back into your own body."

"Yes. Everything is normal again." Juvia answered happily. "Whatever caused the switch is over now."

"I'm glad to hear that."

A slight blush bloomed on her cheeks and she put a hand on his arm. She had missed this kind of contact with him!

"Thank you for your support yesterday." She murmured and then feeling bold she tip toed and kissed his cheek. Gray blushed a little and cleared his throat.

"Yeah. No problem."

His gaze didn't leave her and it stirred something inside her, she missed a breath. They looked into each other eyes for some times before Lucy interrupted them.

"Hey, if you kept staring at each other so intensely, you're going to be blind."

"Shut up Lucy." Gray sent her a death glare but she only smiled deviously.

"Ah that a rude boy. And you didn't say anything about Juvia's new outfit."

Juvia's blush increased and she looked away when Gray looked back at her. She played timidly with a strand of her hair, feeling rather self-conscious of his gaze on her cleavage and her thighs and in reflex she crossed her legs tightly. He gulped with difficulties as if his mouth was suddenly dry.

"Ye…Yeah… It suits you." He finally mumbled and Juvia heard Lucy muffling her giggles.

"Thank you Gray-sama."

She was probably as red as Erza's hair.

"So what's your plan for today?" Gray asked as he turned his head toward Lucy to hide his embarrassment.

"Well, I'll probably go on a job with Natsu to make up for yesterday. What about you, Juvia?"

The water mage was a bit taken aback. In her mind, she should be the one to go on mission with Natsu as she promised to him. But it was when she was Lucy so now that everything was normal again, she had no reason to take a quest with the dragon slayer. She had appreciated his company the previous day, she would miss it now.

"Juvia doesn't know. She probably has to apologize to Gajeel-kun. Maybe we'll pick a job too. Or Juvia will join Lisanna and Elfman."

Lucy opened her lips to say something but she was interrupted by Asuka who was running around the guild with excitement.

"My wish came true! Look!" She raised her hands to show them a doll in a cowgirl outfit with its red hair in a braid.

"Oh! She's cute!" Lucy exclaimed. "Is it a new doll?"

"Yes!" The little girl nodded with glee. "She was on my bed when I woke up! Mama said if you make a wish when the stars fall from the sky it comes true! So last night, when I went with Papa and Mama in the park to watch the stars, I wished to have a new doll! And there! I have a new friend!"

While her friends congratulated Asuka and complimented the new doll, something clicked in Juvia's mind.

"When the stars fall…" She whispered. "Could it be …?"

Just one day. I wish to be her.

Was it that simple?

A wish during a star shower?

No it couldn't be… It was just a popular belief. The doll was probably bought by Alzack and Bisca.

But… the potion was a fake and she did wish to become Lucy while shooting stars were spreading the sky.

"Juvia? You okay?" Lucy's voice broke her out of her thoughts. Asuka had left to show her doll to all the mages present in the guildhall. "You were looking into nothing like you were in deep reflection."

Should she share her thought?

"No, it's nothing."

Everything was good now, whether or not a falling star was the cause of the body shift. It didn't matter.

At that moment Natsu burst inside the guild. "I'm starving!"

"Take a seat Natsu! Breakfast is coming!" Mirajane replied immediately.

As the dragon slayer and Happy sat at a table, Lucy left the bar and went to them shyly. Juvia and Gray exchanged a glance and followed her a few steps behind her.

"Hi Lushy!" Happy greeted her as he put out a fish from his bag.

"Hi!" She whispered, took a deep breath and focused on Natsu who looked baffled. "Hum… Natsu… about yesterday… I was a bit weird, I know. I'm sorry. I had some things to deal with Juvia. But I'm completely fine now!" She exclaimed and waited for his reaction.

Natsu stared deeply in her eyes for a moment and then he grinned.

"So you're back to yourself! Juvia too? Great! Can we take a mission now?"

The three others looked astonished at the pink haired mage.

"Wait… You knew?" Gray exclaimed and Natsu turned his head to him surprised.

"That Lucy was Juvia and Juvia was Lucy? Of course I knew!"

"But… but… Why did you not say anything?" Lucy asked not knowing if she was glad or sad with the news.

Natsu shrugged.

"It was a game, right? I wanted to play too!"

"It wasn't a game, dumbass." Gray muttered and Natsu looked like he wanted to punch him but Lucy had another question.

"And… it didn't bother you?" She whispered shyly and Natsu tilted his head not understanding what she meant. "That it was not really me."

"I don't care how you look. Lucy is Lucy." Natsu replied as if it was the simplest thing to say. "You could be turned into a bird, a tree or a hamburger you would still be Lucy. I'd be careful not to eat the hamburger though."

"Oh… Natsu…" Lucy sighed tenderly, a loving gleam in her eyes.

"I don't get girls." Gray whispered in Juvia's ear. "He compared her with a hamburger and she's giving him the amorous gaze."

Juvia chuckled and Gray grinned proudly.

Happy who had chew his fish in silence since the beginning, put it down and purred. "He liiiikes you."

While Gray tried to catch the flying cat to strangle him, Mira put a plate in front of Natsu to his greatest satisfaction.

"Hey, Juvia." The fire mage said after some bites. "You didn't forget your promise, right? You said you'd prepare food if I didn't come in Lucy's place last night."

"No, Juvia remembers." She replied a bit surprised by his comment.

"Good." Natsu nodded. "We can go fishing again. You did great yesterday."

"Thanks." She smiled warmly.

"I'm going with you." Gray appeared suddenly, the cat hunt forgotten, with a glare at Natsu.

"I didn't invite you, Ice cube."

"I didn't ask for it, Flame breath."

"What's your problem, droopy eyes?"

"You, ash-for-brain."

At this point their foreheads were pressed against and soon enough their fists would fly in each other face.

"If Gray-sama and Natsu-san didn't stop, Juvia will not prepare food. For none of you. And she'll go on a job with Lucy."

They immediately froze.

"Whoah." Lucy murmured impressed. "Good job, Juvia!"

"Hey no!" Natsu looked at the water mage in horror. "You promised! Lucy! You're going on a mission with me today, right?"

"Yes, Natsu." The blond reassured him. "Lucy is going with you." Her eyes widened and she put a hand on her mouth while her friends stared at her. "I mean… I!… I'm going with you!"

Gray was the first to chuckle. "You pick Juvia's talking habit!"

"No! It slipped! Lucy swears! Argh no! I swear!"

Gray and Natsu openly laughed while Juvia hid her laugh behind her hand.

"Stop laughing!" Lucy pleaded, blushing red.

"Gray! Natsu! Lucy!" Erza called them as she waved a paper with her hand. "I found a mission which requires at least four mages to defeat a stone monster. Are you coming?"

"Yeah! I'm fired up!" Natsu shouted while Lucy nodded with a smile.

"Do you want to go with us?" Gray asked Juvia offering her his hand.

A radiant smile rose on Juvia's face as she slid her hand into his.

"Juvia would love to!"

Gray returned her smile and gave a little squeeze at her hand.

END

AN : Finally!

I'm so sorry for the wait! But this chapter is longer than the others so I hope it's worth the wait.

At the end of August, I was on holidays with some friends and then I returned to work and September was a busy month at my job with a lot of things to do. And when I started to write this chapter, at some points I had a lack of inspiration. It took some time to link the beginning with the end. I wanted to add a scene with Gajeel (because GajeelxJuvia friendship is so precious!) but alas I didn't find how to insert it.

Oh, and in case you wonder, Asuka's doll is inspired by Jessie from Toy's story!

I want to thank all who read, followed and added this story in their favorites.

And a special thanks to all who reviewed: Martygruvialover, glodenglowingsnowdemon, KassfromVenus, Releina Artemis Rockefeller, Grace Buckley, SrijitaTomlinson, siriuslight, Star197, Rac'coon12, SweetMemories1998, Juvia Fulbuster and Lyon Vasta, shelikescoffee, korpo2003, TooOceanBlue, bibliophileforevs, hisuichanxx, a fannN, flamingheart12, corabeth11, I12Bfree, Wysteria Fox and the multiple guests! Your feedback and comments meant a lot! I was very happy to read each of them!