hello again! okay i know, I know, I went ahead and started another story when none of the other ones have been updated! sorry about that! I have the attention span of a goldfish. eventually ill get back around to those, but probably not right now.

anyway, here's another gruvia story! :) hope its good!

-Radish

Juvia remembered the first time she laid eyes on him as he walked in with his jacket slung casually over his shoulder, his tie hung around his neck, and that weary smile gracing his features.

He was her first customer and she'd thought he looked like an angel. Her angel. A little tired and rumpled, but an angel all the same.

All day she had been waiting behind the bar, alternating between daydreaming and pacing the floor worriedly. This was her dream, and the thought of it failing was inconceivable. The seconds had turned into minutes, the minutes into hours, and the hours into what had seemed like an eternity.

They'll come. She'd assured herself time and and time again as she tapped her fingers on the bar counter. It's too early. That's all. No one comes to a bar during the day, right? So she'd passed her time by memorizing the drink recipes, which she knew that she already knew by heart.

Opening a bar was her dream. For five long years she'd worked relentlessly to save up enough money to buy her own and to gain experience. For five long years she'd dreamed and hoped and worked and it looked like those five years might have been for nothing. All her dreams would burn to ashes.

If no one came around on opening day, she could probably say no one would come around EVER. She'd felt sniffles coming and begged herself not to cry.

Then, the door opened and he walked in.

He sauntered in with his wind-blown dark hair and his sharp blue eyes, casually, and glanced around. He seemed to examine the walls, the windows, the floor, and every nook and cranny in a single glance.

She held her breath. She thought that never in her life had she ever seen another man so beautiful as he seemed to her right then.

Suddenly those eyes were on her face and she felt herself turning red. She let out her breath in a whisper. "Hey..." unconsciously she stood up straighter and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress.

He smiled at her. "Hey yourself!" His smile widened into a grin and he walked over to the bar. "How are you? I'm Gray Fullbuster."

She took his outstretched hand and shook it. His grip was strong but not crushing. All the while she said nothing, and finally she found her voice again. "Juvia is glad to meet you!" She smiled at him and blinked back the tears. "Welcome to Fairy Tail!"

"I like what you did with the place. It's real nice. After Phantom Lord shut down, I thought I wouldn't have a place to go after..." He hesitated. "After work." He shrugged, then sat down on a bar stool and stretched. "Just whiskey for me today. It's been a long day."

Juvia nodded in what she hoped was a pleasant manner and went about pouring his drink. She kept sneaking glances at him as she worked, feeling embarrassed and strangely out of place in her own bar.

"So, what brings a cutie like you to this sort of place?"

She blushed. It was a simple question, and he probably didn't want a long answer, but she found herself talking about her school years, her bartender, her troubles, and her dreams. She felt sure that it was boring him to death, but his enticing eyes never left her face.

When she finished with a shaky breath, she looked nervously at him. He was looking at her in a most peculiar way. She stared hard at the floor as her fingers unconsciously tugged at the ends of her hair.

She must have bored him with her silly stories.

Juvia opened her mouth to apologize, her eyes shining, when he chuckled. She froze, then relaxed.

It was a nice sort of chuckle, without malicious intent or mockery. It was friendly and kind, and melodious, even. The sound reverberated and hung in the air for a few seconds before fading away.

he was leaning back in his stool, watching her with a grin as he sipped his drink. his jacket was thrown over the counter carelessly along with his tie. Juvia couldn't help but notice how the first few buttons of his shirt was unbuttoned, and just couldn't stop herself from noticing how perfect his collarbone and chest were.

She felt her face growing hot again and turned away quickly. At the same time, he set his glass down and sighed contentedly.

"Awesome. Just what I needed." He ran his hand through his raven hair and stood up. "Well, Juvia, welcome to Magnolia. I still have some stuff left to do, but I'll be back later with the gang. They'll be glad someone like you reopened the place."

She watched him gather up his belonging and throw his jacket over his shoulder. Some part of her was sad to see him leave, but his visit had brought her back some of the hope she'd lost during the day.

Maybe things would be alright after all.

She watched him saunter to the door. "Bye Mr. Fullbuster."

He paused at the sound of her voice and turned around with his hand hovering over the door handle. "Nah, just Gray is good, 'kay? See ya later!"

And he grinned again before walking out.

Juvia thought she could love that grin as she stood facing the door for another five minutes. The burning of her cheeks refused to fade. The clock ticked away merrily in the background of her consciousness.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

Yup, she could definitely love that man.

okay... thats Chapter 1! please leave me some feedback! some things might be confusing now, but it'll clear up soon!

Uhh I have never been to a bar (I'm underage haha) so I actually don't know what it's like! I just sorta took whatever impression I have and put it into words. sorry if it's completely wrong! feel free to pm me or correct anything in the reviews.

ciao! next chapter probably won't be coming anytime soon hahahahaha :'(