A/N: Howdy folks! It's time for another one shot in the same vein as the last. This one is more Juvia-centric, and has lots of Mirajane! I'm considering writing more Gruvia focused stories, and this will be the start of my glorious one-shot collection. They won't be in chronological order, but some may flow into each other. I wrote this while at work, so if there are any issues with it, feel free to let me know. I'm tryin' to improve here.

Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the shirt on my back (and I had to work for 22 years to afford it). Fairy Tail belongs to people who are clearly not me.

"Dammit Juvia!"

"I'm not in the mood, Juvia."

"Augh, you're so weird!"

Juvia Lockser sat dejectedly at the Guild bar, swirling what was left of her orange juice in her cup. Normally, Gray's reactions to her advances would not bother her, but this morning, he yelled at her. Gray-sama really lost his temper with her.

The Bluenettte sighed. It's been several hours now, and all she could do was think about the different times she'd been rebuffed.

"Maybe Juvia should give Gray-sama his space for a while." Her eyes watered even as she thought of this.

Her depressive aura was not lost on those around her, however.

Erza looked up from the book she was reading and made contact with the already-buzzed Cana, who lowered her barrel and nodded in unspoken understanding.

"Juvia?" Erza said, taking a place to her left.

"Wassa matter?" Cana sat to her right.

"O-Oh, it's nothing." Juvia mumbled, reluctant to talk.

"Juvia, it's obvious that something is bothering you. We're your friends. You can trust us with whatever is on your mind." Erza said delicately.

The tearful girl looked up from her juice, debating whether it was worth it to say anything at all.

Cana nodded encouragingly.

"Gray-sama... Gray-sama yelled at Juvia today."

Erza looked murderous, but stowed her anger.

"How's that different from any other day?" Cana motioned for Mirajane (who was unsuccessfully trying to look like she wasn't listening to their conversation) to bring her a fresh mug of beer.

Juvia's eyes remained lowered. The only sound being the one of a mug sliding across wood.

"This morning, Juvia decided to make Gray-sama a card, thanking him for all that he's done for her." She paused, remembering the intense look on his face. "After he read it, Gray-sama's face looked really weird. Juvia thinks she might have written something to hurt Gray-sama's feelings.

"Gray-sama looked at Juvia and his face turned really red. He yelled at Juvia, asking why she cared about him at all, and that writing things like that was too much for him." Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. "He said he didn't like things like this and stormed off."

The bluenette buried her face in her hands. Cana shot a look at Erza.

"Um, Juvia," Cana began, "Did you happen to see if Gray kept your card?"

Juvia sniffed. "Juvia did not see him throw the card away. Gray-sama is too kind for that."

Erza and Cana breathed a sigh of relief.

"Juvia-chan." Mirajane paused her bartending to interupt. "Gray-kun is... a little 'different' than what you might expect."

"Eh?" The water mage looked up with red eyes.

"Even amongst the guild, Gray is usually a very reserved person. He's been alone for almost his whole life, and even after joining Fairy Tail, he rarely gets close to anyone. Gray-kun is terrified of loss. He doesn't want to go through it all again, so he keeps everyone at arms length. Even those he would die for." Mirajane glanced at the Ice-mage fondly (who was now sitting on the opposite side of the room, chatting with Gajeel).

"He shows affection in a different way, even if it seems a bit cold." She giggled. "The fact that he has not told you his feelings clearly actually says a lot." Mirajane covered Juvia's hand with her own. "Lately, he's been a little colder to everyone, and I have a pretty good idea why."

"Mira-san, how do you know so much about Gray-sama?" Juvia asked with equal parts suspicion and curiosity.

Erza and Cana tensed.

"He and I were very close when we were younger." Mirajane smiled innocently.

The other girls' jaws dropped.

Didn't she know of Juvia's jealousy?!

The water mage's gaze hardened, but she said nothing.

"When we thought we lost Lisanna... he and I became closer. We were young and broken, and he still held the pain of losing Ur-sama close to his heart. I guess we were kindered spirits." Mirajane smiled sadly. "He really helped me back then, and I like to think I helped him, but he was always so... distant. I knew I wasn't as close to him as I wanted to be. We drifted apart on good terms, but during that time, I got to know him pretty well."

Despite the burning jealousy in her heart, Juvia couldn't bring herself to say anything. She simply nodded respectful.

Seeing no fight from Juvia, Erza and Cana visibly relaxed.

"Gray often pushes the hardest against the ones he is closest to." Mirajane looked in blue eyes seriously. "And right now, that's you." Juvia blushed. Her heart was soaring, but she was still weighed down by fear.

"What you need to do, is give one SERIOUS try. If you do something with all the love and sincerity that you hold for him, he won't be able to run from you – or himself – any longer."

"B-but what should Juvia do? Gray-sama is probably still mad about the letter."

Her three friends looekd to each other. Cana smiled mischievously, leaned to her, and whispered.

"Eeeeep!"

With amused glances, the trio began to disband, leaving Juvia to her thoughts. Mirajane lingered a bit longer. "Now is the perfect time, ne Juvia-chan?"

The rain woman turned to see Gray now alone, holding her card in his hand, seemingly deep in thought.

Juvia gulped and hopped off the barstool.

With every shaky step, her face became more red. Her mind screamed, "This is too bold for Juvia!"

After what seemed like the longest walk of her life, Juvia found her self shaking in front of Gray's table.

"Oh, Juvia." Gray looked up. His cheeks rapidly heated as he tried (and failed) to discretely hide her card. "I wanted to errr... apologize for, y'know, the way I acted when you gave me your card."

But Juvia could barely hear his words over the sound of her own heart.

I can do this. I can do this! I CAN DO THIS!

"N-N-No, Gray. Juvia is sorry." Gray raised an eyebrow at the lack of the usual honorific.

"Juvia is sorry," she leaned closer to him, "for what she is about to do."

Her lips smashed against his surprisingly warm ones. She nibbled against his bottom lip, her mind rushing and cheeks flaring.

He's not responding. Juvia... has failed.

Tears began to form. Just as she began to pull away, she found herself unable to by a strong pair of (suddenly shirtless) arms holding her closer and bring her on to his laps. His lips opened and began ravishing her's.

The Guild was suddenly roaring with car calls and whistles, but Gray showed no signs of letting up.

Surprisingly, Juvia was the first to pull away.

Gray sat there gaping and confused, as if he didn't even know what he just did. Juvia was always aggressive and passionate, but this? She just crossed over the point of no return. She changed the dynamic between them.

He found he didn't even mind.

And as Gray looked at the blue haired girl in his arms, looking dishelved and blushing as furiously as he'd ever seen her, he felts his inhibitions wash away as easily as if she'd done it with her magic.

"I guess there's no fighting it then..." He muttered, smiling to himself. He brought his girl closer again, hoping that this kiss would say everything that needed to be said.

It did.

And so Juvia fainted.

Reviews are not only encouraged, but demanded. Don't you walk away from me!