"She needs a companion, Mr. Porla. I would suggest that you get her a pet- it's a great option for a child her age. I'll be able to map her better with the aid of her interactions with her pet."
These were the words from a child psychologist that had resulted in Juvia's first visit to the local animal shelter hand-in-hand with her two-months-and-three-days-old parents, or adoptive parents in layman's terms.
"D'accord, ma cherie.", Jose Porla, a man in his early thirties with a friendly smile and amicable personality, stooped to the ground and looked little eight-year old Juvia in her eyes. "You can choose whichever pet you want to choose, as along as it's not poisonous or dangerous, okay?"
Her big blue eyes shimmered in the sun as she contemplated his words before slowly nodding.
"Tres bien!" He reached for her hands and clasped them in his own, softly kissing her knuckles once before standing up. "Shall we go in then?", he asked extending his hand for his daughter to hold.
His question was met with silence as Juvia took her time observing his outstretched palm. After a moment, she looked up to her right, meeting the clear green eyes of her new mother. Receiving a nod and a smile from the older woman, Juvia carefully placed her free hand in Jose's welcoming hand while she tightened her grip on the woman's hand.
Jose smiled, his dimples deepening, as he and his wife walked into the shelter, a daughter between them.
And years later, while packing for college, Juvia Porla would stumble upon a picture taken on this day at the shelter, with herself wedged between her grinning parents and holding a dark grey cat in her arms and would then proceed to wipe a tear that had found its way down her right cheek.