I do not own Fairy Tail. Also I apologized for my long absence.

Juvia didn't know why she had made the tread to the train station. It was already after three in the afternoon the day after Gray had left. Seventeen trains have already passed through the busy station. No doubt, Gray was already meeting with the client. There was nothing here for her.

So why did she come here?

A question she still hadn't answered when she reached the platform. She sighed, "As Juvia thought, Gray-sama is long gone."

"Shouldn't you at least look around before you assume that?"

Juvia jumped at the deep, familiar voice, "You're still here! But it's almost 4... Why did you wait for Juvia?"

"What are you talking about?" He grinned, "I told you I would wait until ten right? Take a look at the clock."

Juvia followed his finger to the clock on station's main column. Gray heard her suck in a breath, and he smiled. "No matter what I wasn't gonna leave without you."

Juvia felt joyful tears well in her eyes as she stared at the station clock covered in Gray's ice magic. "Gray-sama..."

"We should start boarding, we don't wanna miss this train," he hitched his backpack up.

Juvia sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes, "But Gray-sama, Juvia didn't pack anything."

"Stupid Rain Woman," Juvia felt a heavy elbow rest on her head, "now's not the time for dumb excuses."

"Gajeel!" chimed the smaller blunette, "You should be nicer to Ju-chan!"

Levy smiled at Juvia, "I know this is gonna be hard for you, but we''l be right there with you, okay?"

Gajeel grinned, "Shrimp's right. It's about time you started relying on your friends a bit more."

Juvia hadn't even realized she'd started crying again. She could feel herself trembling, but not from the fear of the town that hated her. She shook from the joy that threatened to overwhelm her. Her beloved Gray-sama smiled at her, stretching his hand to her, "So, are you ready to go?"

Still sniffling, she took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the train, onto the hardest mission she'd ever take.

It was amazing how little the town had changed over the years. The station was placed at the far end of Suun Fair's famous farmer's market. The bustling market was one of the world's greatest tourist traps, and there was no one in the town who didn't work in there. Juvia pulled the hood of her blue cloak further over her head. She didn't want too many people recognizing her. Gajeel''s hand on her shoulder and Levi's hand in hers eased some of the worry in Juvia''s head.

She looked to Gray, "Where is the meeting spot?"

Gray checked the flyer, " The client's name is Lynna Kinder."

Juvia bit her lip and her brow furrowed. Gray observed Juvia, worried that he'd unknowingly triggered some bad memories. He prodded, "Is that name familiar?"

Juvia hesitated, "You're talking about Miss Lynna... Juvia used to be in her care."

Levi spoke up, "So, she raised you?"

"She gave Juvia a bed and food," Juvia replied bitterly, "but she did not raise Juvia. She simply felt obligated to feed and house all of Suun Fair's orphaned. Juvia was a part of that."

"Oh, Ju-chan," Levi's hand tightened around Juvia's.

Juvia gave Levi a grateful smile. "It's okay, Levi-chan. It helped make Juvia stronger. Anyway, Miss Lynna will most likely be at the orphanage. It's located in the back alleyways just a short walk from the red light district."

Gray blinked in shock, "Who puts an orphanage so close to a red light district?"

"Smart business men and corrupt leaders," Gajeel replied. "I can't think of many uses a kid could be there, but it would be a good place for those stuck in that type of life to get rid of their loose ends. And who knows what happens to the grown kids once they leave."

"Many of the girls Juvia knew ended up working for the Madame," the water mage whispered, "even Julia who was hated was offered a job."

Gray felt a pang of anger at the very idea. He hated the notion of some scumbag touching Juvia''s beautiful skin. Even worse was the obvious fear that her voice betrayed. He needed to protect her, "They can't hurt you now."

Juvia looked at him with teary eyes, "Juvia hopes Gray-sama is right."

"I won't let them," he said more firmly.

Juvia gave him one of those smiles that made him tingle. Her expression turned serious when she halted at a space between two venders. "Stick close to Juvia, keep your bags' zippers to your body, and mind your business. Gajeel-san should take up the rear, and be sure Levi stays in the middle. Someone so small and cute is a hot commodity in this world."

Her teammates nodded, getting into the formation. Juvia nodded once more before she started leading them down the alley. Gray didn't know what he expected, but the alley seemed pretty tame at first. But then the trash started becoming more frequent, and they began seeing people dressed in tattered clothing and searching thru the dumpsters. On occasion, when one of their eyes wander to the pathetic sights, they were almost immediately met with a hostile and sometimes incomplete stare.

All but Juvia jumped when they heard a scream from an adjacent alley. A young woman was fighting tooth and nail for a bag that a young thief seemed determined to take. Gray had the clearest view and was the first to respond. Or a least he tried to, but Juvia yanked him back with a hiss, "Mind your business!"

Gray looked at Juvia with shock. Wasn't she looking at the same scene he was? Levi and Gajeel seemed equally confused. Juvia sighed, "Even the most common of thieves in these streets don't steal without having protection under one of the bosses. Stopping him will only bring on retaliation and unnecessary obstacles during this mission and onwards. Juvia knows it can be hard, but please bear with it."

The team looked reluctant but they consented by following her only to be stopped a minute later. The solitary figure wore a hooded cloak like theirs, but the shadows worked better to keep his face from view. The mages were ready to defend themselves or run depending on Juvia's command. The figure spoke, a deep masculine voice, "So, has the rain returned to darken the Suun?"

Juvia relaxed, recognizing the voice and the riddle, "She does not darken the sun, merely shields it from ungrateful eyes."

The low voice chuckled, "It has been many years since this one has heard your pitter patter, Rainy."

Juvia frowned, "Juvia's name is Juvia."

"This one didn't care when you left ten years ago, and this one still don't care," he scoffed. "But this one is curious. Why would someone who hated this place so return?"

"Juvia is answering the request of a client, Miss Lynna," she stated tersely. "Why are you in the alleyways, Nube? The Madame doesn't take clients from this way."

"This one is looking for a runaway," he sighed, "it is a shame you would not join us."

"Despite what this town thinks of Juvia," Juvia said bitterly, "Juvia did have pride."

"It definitely would have been a waste of your magic, wouldn't it?"

Before she could respond he shot a jet of water at the group, which she easily dispersed without flinching. Nube finally stepped from the shadows, revealing himself as a tall, muscular old man with a cheeky grin and graying black hair. He laughed proudly. "Still perfect after all this time! This one expects nothing less from you. Continue on with your job, Lynna should be waiting on that old porch."

Juvia nodded her thanks, and Nube left. "That man was the closes thing Juvia had to someone who raised her. He is a water mage like Juvia."

"But he just suggested that you should have been a hooker!" Gajeel growled.

"Juvia never said he was fatherly. He taught Juvia on a bet: if Juvia couldn't join a guild before she was sixteen, then she would join the "Madame."

"That's terrible, Ju-chan."

"It was survival," Juvia spoke with a distant look on her face. "It was the best thing Nube could do for Juvia. Even if Juvia was forced to live that life, he at least have her a fighting chance and a way to defend herself."

When they reached the orphanage, Nube's prediction unfolded before them as they came upon the sight of older children playing in front of the medium sized house. The old, gray-haired caretaker seemed enraptured by the book in her hands, but Juvia knew she had her eyes trained on every child all at once. That's why she was the only one not to jump when the old woman addressed them. "What do Fairy Tail mages want with me?"

"We're here for the job you posted," Juvia spoke first.

The old woman stopped reading, looking up to regard Juvia with surprise. "The prodigal daughter returns. You're harder to spot without the disgustingly pink umbrella."

Juvia ignored the comment, "What is it that you need Fairy Tail to do?"

The old woman stood, revealing a long, blue shawl draped around her thin shoulders. She stood at an impressive height, easily just as tall as Juvia. In fact, Levy couldn't help but notice that she and Juvia were holding themselves in the same way. Gajeel noticed that both women had the same taste for blue. And Gray could felt a pang of disbelief when he realized that the had the same oceanic eyes.

"I don't need anything from your little rag team," the old woman sneered. "I only requested a water mage if I recall."

Gray spoke up first, "Fairy Tail doesn't just send its mages out without any back-up."

"You got a problem with that?" Gajeel growled.

"As a matter of fact, I do," the woman replied with flinching. "I thought this little brat had finally become useful. Or are you telling me she can't handle even a simple mission by herself."

Levy was about to retort when Juvia spoke up, "Juvia can dish out anything this town can throw at her."

"But can you reclaim a kingdom?"