A/N: Hello beautiful readers! I wanted to post this prologue as a test run. I've always felt Juvia is totally underrated and needs a better back story. I tried to keep this is as canon as I could, but small details will fall through the cracks.

The Rain Woman

Drip. Drip. Drop.

This was the sound Juvia Lockser knew better than anyone. It was a sound she had heard from the day she was born. It was a comfortable and familiar sound. However, prior to her fifth birthday, that sound went unnoticed. Her fifth birthday was a day of tragedy for Juvia. It was a day considers the worst day of her young life.

Drip. Drip. Drop.

July 29th, X772.

Juvia sat on her grandpa's lap at their small round kitchen table; her mother putting her birthday cake in the oven.

"Alright, little lady!" her grandpa said with a wide smile. "How would you like to open your gift from me right now?"

"Juvia would love that, Papa!" she gleamed up at him, then quickly hopped off his lap so he could retrieve the gift.

He walked back to her, holding the gift behind his back. "Any guesses, Juvia?"

Juvia shook her head back and forth, her curls flying around her head and smacking her in the face. "Juvia has no idea, Papa!"

Her grandpa held out the gift to her. She quickly unwrapped it. It was a bright pink umbrella with red hearts and ruffles stitched on.

"This is for Juvia?!" Juvia reached out and held it, her eyes wide with delight. "Juvia loves it! Thank you!"

"I picked that umbrella out for your mom when she was your age. She cared for it well, and sewed those hearts and ruffles on for you."

Juvia smiled widely and looked over at her mother. "Thank you, Mommy!" She ran to hug her, and her mom accepted the hug, picking her up.

"You're welcome, Ju-Ju. I sure wish your daddy could be here to see you. You've grown up into such a big girl," her mother's voice choked. Juvia looked at her with wide concerned eyes, but she just smiled back at her proudly.

A knock came at the door. "That's Aunt Alice! Juvia will get it!" Juvia wiggled free of her mom's arms and ran for the door. Her Aunt and 10-year old cousin, Wesley, stood on the other side. Alice was her father's older sister.

"Happy Birthday, Juvia!" Alice exclaimed, hugging her.

"Thank you!" Juvia ran for the kitchen, Alice and Wesley behind her.

The 5 talked, Juvia ran circles around them, excitedly, and they shared the delicious chocolate cake.

However, later, as it began to grow dark, another knock came at the door. Juvia looked at the door, puzzled. Juvia wonders who it could be…

"Juvia, why don't you go show Wesley your new room? I'm sure he'd like to see it."

"But who is at the door, Mommy?" Juvia asked.

"Just go up and play, okay?" her mom smiled to her.

"Okay, Mommy," she smiled and grabbed Wesley by the hand. "Come on, Wesley! I'll show you my room and all my dolls!"

"I love you, Juvia," her mom said with a smile.

Juvia smiled back, "I love you too, Mommy!"

The last thing Juvia heard on her way up the stairs was, "Alice...please take care of her…"

She did not know it at the time, but this would be the last time she would hear her mother's voice.

Juvia held up one of her dolls at a time to Wesley. "Look, Wesley! This is Josie! And this is Madeline! And this is Emily!"

Her Aunt Alice walked in the room, face red, and shut the door behind her. She quickly scooped up Juvia in her arms, and crouched down for Wesley to climb on to her back. He did so, questioning nothing.

She aimed her free hand at the window and said, "Water Slicer!" Juvia jumped as the window shattered. There was an audible shriek that echoed through the house from downstairs.

Juvia looked up at Alice and saw tears streaming down her face. Alice clutched onto Juvia hard. "Wesley. Do not let go of me for anything. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mom," he replied.

Alice took a deep breath, ran for the broken window, and jumped straight out of it.