She was indeed fine.

Juvia felt a bit light-headed when she got out of bed. Her back was aching and her neck felt sore, in some places her skin was just a bit too tender, but all of that aside, she was completely fine.

As intended, not wasting a single moment, Lucy, Gray and Juvia were on their way back to the guild as soon as they stepped over the threshold. Lucy asked Juvia a few times on their way if she was feeling weak and whether she wanted to maybe sit down for a while before continuing their journey. Lucy kept asking in hopes of hearing a yes mainly out of concern for her friend, but also because she herself desperately needed that rest. She was tired from being nervous and the stress really wore her off, but she didn't feel comfortable asking to stop in the middle of the forest for her own sake, given that neither of her friends was complaining and they went through an equal, if not worse kind of worry.

Half-way through their route Gray's stomach started making sounds.

"Ah, perfect.."

"You hungry, Gray?" – Lucy asked, half-chuckling.

"Yeah, I'm starving actually."

"Well, serves you right. You and Natsu ate everything before we even arrived at the station! Ugh, and the worst part was that damn cat... Just who the hell does he think he is, saying that I could "stand to loose a few kilos!"," – said Lucy, now waving her angry fist at the imaginary cat, who was supposedly flying somewhere above her.

"Would you relax already, you're not fat. Stop being annoying,"-said Gray, while rolling his eyes and turning his head.

The movement made him notice Juvia, who was now about eight steps behind him and Lucy. Gray stopped.

"Oi, Juvia? Everything okay?"

"Hm? Oh, Juvia! Are you tired? Do you want to stop for a bit?", - added Lucy.

Juvia didn't respond. In fact, it didn't look like she was listening at all. Juvia seemed… thoughtful. She was looking at the ground, her fingers held in a lock in front of her. She was shivering a bit, but it was very warm outside.

"That's weird…. must be the aftershocks", - thought Gray.

He called for her again and she kept silent. She wasn't looking where she was going, so when Gray put his hands on her shoulders to call for attention, she flinched and pulled back, a bit startled.

"Hey, is everything alright? You look worried."

"Oh, Gray-sama… Ah, no... I mean yes, I'm fine! Everything is fine."

I?...

"Juvia, you don't have to push yourself, we finished for today, anyway. Let's go sit over there! By the tree,"- said Lucy. She pointed to some old oak tree that was big enough for the three of them to hide in its shade.

"Ah, no, Juvia would prefer to go back to the guild. She is quite hungry."

Lucy and Gray nodded and turned to continue their walk.

The rest of it was very quiet and silent on Juvia's part. Lucy explained to Juvia the side effects of the sedative and told her that if she starts feeling somewhat unusual she should tell them and …Well, Lucy didn't exactly know what they would do then. Gray stepped in and just assured her that it's all going to be fine and that they're here for her. Juvia hummed once, nodded twice and ended her reply on that.

Though Juvia's sudden un-talkativeness seemed a bit odd to Gray, he decided that he'd rather dismiss the matter for now and blame in on her fatigue rather than start getting paranoid that the woman, who was currently about five steps behind him, has started to undergo whatever woo-do changes Porylusica had cursed her with. Lucy noticed it too, but she was more concerned as to her, it looked like Juvia was about to cry. Which was ridiculous, since her eyes were dry and she wasn't actually shaking. Lucy was really tired; she'd really love a break right about now…

They walked slowly, and to kill some time, Gray and Lucy chatted about a few non-important matters. When Gray asked when's Lucy's next rent and made a remark that she should pick a request for them to go on, and Juvia still didn't utter a word, - Lucy began to worry.

Alright, to anyone, who knew them, of course by "them" Gray meant the whole team, but to someone who was very much on alert and very romantic at heart by nature, it could've potentially sounded like Gray asked Lucy to go alone with him.

Juvia was now about ten steps behind them.

"Gray, I think something's wrong with Juvia. Noticed, how quiet she is?",- whispered Lucy to him, getting much too close for comfort.

"Yeah, but so what? She's probably tired. Hell, you're tired from just walking, imagine what being electrocuted feels like?"

"I guess you're right…", - said Lucy while lowering her head.

"Don't worry about it. She's strong. A few drops of Dr. Bitchy-nutt-head's-"

"Gray!"

"Oh, like you weren't thinking it."

Lucy started nagging Gray about how every decent person should know what manners are, while Juvia was silently observing the scene. She was very deep in thought, and didn't hear what they were talking about. But what she did see was Lucy reaching for Gray's ear, whispering something, and Gray leaning in.

#

After arriving at the guild, Lucy kept watching over Juvia. She couldn't really place it, but she had a very bad feeling that whatever was happening in that girl's head wasn't doing much good to her. Fair enough, she will admit it: Porlyusica freaked her out. If the last years (well, years, counting the 7-year recess they took from life) at the guild had taught her anything, it's that something always happened to Fairy Tail, and that usually, if something CAN go wrong, it WILL go wrong. So Lucy just wanted to make sure she would catch on to Juvia's symptom's before anyone else and….well…. maybe…. for once…she could deal with this matter on her own? By herself? Without anyone's help?... Lucy wasn't sure what exactly was she trying to do with Juvia, but she felt calmer keeping an eye on her.

Juvia was acting way more secluded than before. Natsu was already at the guild, so as soon they came back, he immediately threw a punch at Gray for getting him kicked out, whereas Gray delightedly upper-cut him in the jaw, saying that it was his own damn fault. Instead of cheering for Gray like she used to, Juvia went to sit by the counter and just stared at the empty glass in front of her, with her back to the hall. When Mira approached, Juvia dismissed her. Same with Lisanna. And Levy. When Happy flew by to ask about her new "mermaid tail", she ignored him completely.

When the water mage finally felt that unwanted eyes were watching her she turned around and shot Lucy a very hostile kind of expression. Not the usual more playful rivalry, kind off funny actually, look. A serious look. But she didn't look mean. She looked sad. Juvia's movements were also slower: she raised her hand lifelessly to pick up the glass, fill it with water and then wash it down with tiny sips. It looked like someone was pulling her by the strings. Juvia looked like a puppet, like her body didn't belong to her anymore.

Around two hours later, Juvia was still very deep in thought. She didn't speak to Gray, didn't even try to approach him once. He was now talking to Erza about something and it looked like she was scolding him for loosing his shirt. Again. Gajeel was out of the guild, so Lucy decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. Juvia has never looked that depressed. Her eyebrows kept twitching and once in a while she would squint and rub her nose bridge. Something was definitely going on with her.

"Juvia?"

Lucy was now standing behind her wearing a slight smile on her face.

"What?" – she answered dryly in a low voice.

"Um.. are you.. well, you're… you're not yourself."

Lucy was thrown aback by Juvia's sudden cold demeanor. They weren't the best of friends, and Juvia didn't exactly greet Lucy with open arms on a regular basis, but surely a guild mate would understand why someone was concerned with her health. They were one family, after all.

"I feel fine", - she brushed her off.

"No, but you see, Porlyusica gave you a potion-"

"That has supposedly changed me. Lucy, we've been over this. I feel fine."

Juvia was getting annoyed; she clearly didn't want to be disturbed right now. Lucy noticed Juvia's knuckles tightening, but she wasn't giving up just yet.

"You… you're not talking in third person anymore,"- Lucy noted.

"Hm? ...Ah…. Yes, I guess… I don't know; I was an idiot. Should've stopped a long time ago."

Gray spotted the two talking, and he could tell that Juvia was sitting on needles. Out of curiosity he came up to them just in time to hear Lucy reply:

"Juvia, you're not an idiot-"

"Look, I'm tired, and I can feel you want to ask something so do us both a favor and just ask already."

Gray froze on the spot. That didn't sound like Juvia. That actually didn't sound like her. Her voice was way lower now, set somewhere deep in the back of her throat, and too quiet. He never heard her use that voice, but he'd imagined this must've been how she sounded during a fight. She sounded threatening.

"Oi, what's with the attitude?"- stepped in Gray.

Potion or no potion, even if girls fought at the guild, he definitely didn't picture Juvia to be the initiator.

"If my way of talking is not to your liking, you can leave."

"Juvia..."- called Lucy.

Something cold ran down Gray's spine.

"The Hell?..."

"Alright, I see this isn't going anywhere, so don't mind if I do."

Juvia got up, and just as she was about to take her first step, Gray caught her wrist.

"Let go,"- she asked.

"I am not done talking,"- he hissed.

"No…,"- Juvia's expression softened, and now she was back to looking just sad, rather than sad and ready to murder.

"That's not what I meant…"- she finished.

Gray was now completely lost. Not what she meant?

Let go

Before he could say anything she covered his hand with her own:

"Let's just agree…that I won't bother you anymore, and you won't bother me…"

Gray didn't reply.

"What the hell?... Why all of a sudden- …Where did THAT come from?"

While Gray was looking at her in disbelief, Juvia pulled her hand out and walked slowly outside through the back door, whispering a defeated "I'm done".

"Juvia!"

Lucy ran after her. This time she was positive. Lucy definitely didn't imagine it. Sure enough, when the blond made the corner she found the water mage leaning against the outside wall, shaking lightly and sobbing. Juvia was crying.

"Juvia, what's wrong?" Lucy tried to put a hand on Juvia's shoulder, but she didn't let her.

"How could I be so blind?.."

"Juvia…"

"I mean it's foolish right?... so ridiculous…"

From the sounds of it Lucy came to the conclusion that she was right all along, and back there in the forest, when she thought Juvia was upset, her senses didn't let her down.

"Juvia, what are you talking about?"

Lucy drew her eyebrows together. It was rare to see Juvia cry like this, and she didn't exactly know how to handle it.

Juvia looked at the blond and after a moment breathed out, half-choking:

"Everything…."

It was getting chillier. The sun was now hiding behind a thick blanket of white clouds and the blowing wind was getting colder.

Lucy decided that the potion was beginning to take its effect. It was about 2 pm now.

"Juvia, maybe you should go back inside. Mira will make your favorite tea. Earl-Grey! Right?"- tried to comfort her Lucy.

Juvia grabbed her head and pulling her hat onto her forehead let out an afflictive cry.

Thankfully or not, the sound made a certain ice mage stop right behind the corner. Gray was leaning against the other side of the wall, near the exit door, trying to hear what the girls were talking about and what the hell was happening to Juvia. He was a bit shocked with the way she just spoke to him, but everything she said just sounded so unlike her: the manner, the tone, the voice, the feeling…the feeling, or rather the assurance, that whenever Juvia said something, - it was bound to be something positive was completely gone. This wasn't her.

"Ughh! I'm such an idiot! I mean what kind of girl does that?! Just throwing herself at a guy like that…. who does that…"

The dark-haired man was listening closely. Her usual behavior sure was a peculiar one. But then again, everyone in Fairy Tail was kind of crazy. For some reason the way Juvia's face would always have a tint of pink whenever he saw her made it seem like everything in this girls life was absolutely perfect. Come to think of it... He has never seen Juvia be embarrassed for her actions. She'd embarrass the crap out of him, sure, but herself? Not even once. Hearing her talk herself down now felt really out of place.

Gray couldn't really recognize the tugging feeling somewhere around his chest. It made him want to do something about Juvia's current state.

"It's just for a while. She'll be back to normal soon."

"Juvia, are you talking about Gray? Don't beat yourself over it, I'm sure he's probably used to it buy now-"

"Don't you get it?!"

Both Lucy and Gray were startled by the water mage's sudden outburst.

"The only reason I even came to Fairy Tail..."- Juvia sniffed. She was calming down now and wiped her eyes dry.

"The only reason I chose to join Fairy Tail was because of Him."

"That's not true," - thought Gray.

He had this conversation with Juvia before. Well, more like he heard her mention it. Though he was indeed the one, who made her interested in the guild, it was the guild itself that convinced her this was the place she wanted to belong to. And of course it did, how could it not? Fairy Tail is the best guild of all. Who wouldn't want to join?

She was definitely not herself.

"C'mon, say something useful, Lucy."

Lucy didn't respond, just nodded instead. She didn't actually know when Juvia and Gray had the time to overstep the "enemies" stage after their fight back when Juvia was still a part of Phantom Lord, but she figured that Gray was probably the first one she told about her intention to join.

"I don't regret coming to Fairy Tail,"- Juvia continued.

Something in her tone immediately sounded alarming to Lucy. She had a feeling where this was going.

"… but I have to leave."- Juvia finished.

Lucy didn't hesitate.

" Stop it! You don't know what you're saying! It's all the sedative! It'll wear off and then-"

"Lucy! I know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry, but I really don't think it's the sedative… or the rain… "

"The rain? ..." – Lucy repeated.

"The rain?", - thought Gray. "What the hell is she going on about?" Gray was now beyond confused: "Didn't Porlyusica say that memories were not affected? Did Juvia forget that the rain was long gone and she was now in full control of her powers? But, she's outside… ARGH! This doesn't make sense!"

As much as Lucy hated to admit it, but the idea of locking Juvia somewhere in a room before she did something stupid suddenly seemed more appealing.

"Honestly isn't it time we stop blaming random things for our mistakes?", - Juvia asked nobody.

Lucy scanned the water mage's face. Juvia looked paler and more exhausted. She didn't look hopeful like she her usual self. Instead she looked…. well, honestly?

Relieved.

It was like the idea of leaving Fairy Tail lifted a weight from the water mage, she didn't know she was carrying. Lucy's stomach started to twist. This was insane.

"I can't do this anymore", - mumbled Juvia.

Behind the wall Gray was getting very annoyed. He didn't like this new-regretful-self-hating Juvia. Gray wondered if these thoughts were bothering her in the forest as well. She should be dancing on rainbows by now….

"Why isn't she turning back?!"

"Cant do what? Juvia, you can't leave! Do you even hear yourself?! Fairy Tail is your home!-"

Juvia cut Lucy off by starring her directly in the eyes. The blond suddenly had a flashback to the day she first saw the infamous Rainwoman. Her face was blank, her lips were drawn into a thin line, and her eyes burned right through hers.

"You ran away from home".

Juvia's words hit the nail on the head. Lucy was instantly left speechless, as Juvia's words grazed an old wound. The Rainwoman continued:

"You ran away from your home. You left your father and all the people that cared for you and loved you."

Lucy felt her blood draining, as she thought about Spetto-san and the rest, back at her old mansion.

"..And that you loved… You left them wondering what happened to you. You ran, and you never looked back," – Juvia continued in that low, threatening voice.

Her words were cutting right into Lucy's heart. The blond was looking at the floor, her fringe covering her watering eyes. When Lucy finally looked at the blunette, she felt fear. The skies had darkened. Though Lucy had troubles in the past picturing how anyone could've been scared of this girl, with the brightest smile she'd ever seen, right now Lucy finally understood why Juvia was seen as a very valuable asset in Phantom Lord, and why she was worthy of being the only female in the Element Four.

"You don't have the right to judge me."

With that Juvia left a completely numb tearing Lucy barely standing on her wobbling legs outside the guild.

"Lu-chan?"

No other than Levy was standing in the doorway, with concern written over her face. It looked like she just came up so Lucy was sure she didn't hear their conversation. Juvia was now nowhere to be seen, and Lucy started repeating their conversation in her mind. As the blonde looked at her petite blue-haird best friend, something dropped inside her. For once Lucy thought that maybe she and Juvia would never really become true friends.

And Gray had nothing to do with it.

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AN: I cannot even begin to tell you what the reviews for the first chapter did to me... it made my day- no. It made my Week! In all seriousness, thank you very much for that! They really inspired me to write this chapter and as promised - it turned out longer than the first one! ^_^

Of course, there will be a next chapter, which will be focused on Gray and Juvia. (this one was more Lucy and Juvia, I know..but this was necessary...)

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me, I'm available almost 24/7 and I reply really fast ^_^

To look at what my inner-drawer makes me do, (including the cover image), my DA account would be your first go-to place ^_^ (oh, and my tumblr has the same username): chsabina . deviant art . com