Gray sat himself on a stool in the guild, slumping down over the bar. He just got back from a longer mission and wanted a drink before going home to sleep. Unfortunately for his pounding head, the guild was really rowdy today. Natsu and Gajeel were arguing over Gajeel's singing, Elfman was getting involved, and the girls were shrieking in mirth over something Cana said to Lucy, whose cheeks were flaming.

"Hey, Gray. What can I get for you?" Mira smiled at him.

"Oh, hey Mira. Can I get a scotch?"

"Sure thing! I will be right back." Mira bustled off, getting his drink ready.

Gray leaned back slightly on his stool, wondering what felt so off about the guild. Sure it may have been louder than normal, but that really wasn't that strange. Still, something just felt wrong.

Realizing, but not quite wanting to admit he knew, what was wrong, he looked around the guild for Juvia. Usually she glomped onto his arm as soon as he came in the guild, but she was nowhere to be found. Finally he spotted her sitting happily next to Wendy, laughing with the other girls as Cana now slid her arms around Lucy's waist and squeezed her breasts.

Satisfied she was safe in the guild, he turned back to the bar just as Mirajane brought him his drink. He thanked her and took a sip.

Actually, he wasn't satisfied. He still felt strange. And he couldn't get the image of Juvia sitting with Wendy out of his mind. Was something different about her today? Why couldn't he get her out of his head?

Headache forgotten, Gray turned slightly, oh so slightly, on his stool so he could glance at her out of the corner of his eye. He didn't want anyone in the guild to notice his distraction with the blue-haired woman after all. Just because she may have unknowingly held his heart, he wasn't ready to admit it to anyone else yet.

Something was different, he decided. She hadn't been quite as clingy lately, so that wasn't it. Her hair was still the same shade of cornflower blue, hanging in soft heavy waves down her back to her waist. Her deep sapphire eyes were still just as dancing, long lashes brushing her cheekbones every time she blinked, throwing off bits of light. Her lips were the same shade of blush pink, twining up in a smile. Her pale skin was creamy and blemishless, smooth and-

Wait a minute.

Blush pink? Juvia's lips were never that color, Gray thought. Normally her mouth was painted a pale shell pink, soft and inviting. Her lips were a rosier blush now, plump and perfect, just waiting for him to-

Stop it, he told himself. He still felt too weak, too flawed to start a relationship with Juvia just yet. He had to become stronger first. He had to defeat his inner demons before he could make her happy.

But still. Why did she change her lip color? Did she realize how this new color made her lips look shinier and fuller and even more tempting? Did she know what she was doing to him?

Juvia giggled then, and covered Wendy's ears with her hands. Gray groaned internally. Her rosy blush lips were enchanting, drawing him in with each peal of laughter. He couldn't stop watching her, feeling himself fall deeper in love with every movement of her bewitching mouth.

Gray gripped the bartop and dragged himself back to his drink. Taking gulping swallows to try and rid himself of the images in his head, Gray finished his scotch. Setting the cup down, he sighed. It hadn't worked. Juvia was still in his mind, taking over every inch of his brain.

"Gray-sama!"

Gray jumped. He turned around to see the woman occupying his thoughts standing at his elbow, latching herself onto his arm. Her face, so beautiful from afar was absolutely stunning this close. He swallowed nervously, trying to think of what to say. His eyes closed in on her mouth, blush lips pursed in a frown.

"Gray-sama?"

Shit shit shit. He still hadn't said anything. "Oh, uh, hey, Juvia," he mumbled.

"Gray-sama, what's wrong? Did Juvia come to talk at a bad time?"

"No!" he said hastily. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Oh, well, Juvia is going home now, and wanted to say hello to Gray-sama before she left!" Juvia smiled, and Gray found himself in even more of a stupor. She noticed his blank stare, and said sadly, "Well, Juvia is sorry for intruding at a bad time. She will leave now."

When Juvia turned to leave the guild, Gray's brain turned back on. "No!"

"G-Gray-sama?" she said uncertainly, turning back to look at him in concern.

Gray's eyes glanced once more at her rosy blush lips, then he shook his head and focused. "Let me walk you home. Just to be nice." he added, upon seeing the hearts in her eyes.

"Okay, Gray-sama!" Juvia's eyes sparkled, and Gray thanked his lucky stars she couldn't read his mind when he focused once again on her lips.

With that, the two members of Fairy Tail began the walk to Fairy Hills. The path took them through Magnolia, and it became less awkward for Gray to make conversation when he didn't have to look directly at Juvia's face. The two talked about many things, from Juvia's day helping at a local orphanage to Gray's mission defeating a gang of thieves on the road to Crocus.

Gray was just thinking how nice it was to just talk with Juvia, and how easy it was, when they got to Fairy Hills. He turned to look at Juvia before she went inside to say good-bye, and his breath caught in his throat. She had one tiny blue curl stuck to her glossy blush lips, and his eyes went to it immediately. Do something, stupid, he told himself. Without thinking about it, one hand went slowly to her mouth, and grabbed the hair.

"You had a hair stuck," he whispered hoarsely as he pulled it off her lip and settled it back behind her ear.

Juvia's porcelain cheeks colored, and her blue eyes widened. One of her hands reached up and touched her bottom lip lightly, unintentionally pulling it down into a pout. "Thank you, Gray-sama," she said.

Gray, voice still hoarse, said, "Not a problem."

Neither of them said anything. The silence grew, and Gray found himself beguiled by her full lips, still pulled into a pout by her finger. He took her wrist in his hand and pulled it away from her mouth. Still entranced by her, Gray found himself leaning in. The back of his mind was screaming at him, telling him something important, but Gray ignored it.

"Gray-sama," Juvia whispered, her pupils blown wide as she stared at his face so close to hers.

"Shh," Gray told her before crashing his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. Juvia gasped lightly into his mouth and froze for a moment, before moving her lips in time with his.

Her mouth is just as soft as I imagined it would be, Gray thought wildly. And even sweeter.

He moved his hand up to thread through her curls, letting each strand sift through his fingers before tugging lightly. Juvia moaned lowly and when her mouth opened Gray slid his tongue inside, trying to taste as much of her as he could. She slid her hands up his torso, fingers reaching for as much bare skin as she could find, exploring each crevasse and hill on his well-muscled chest. Her nails dug in when he pulled a little too hard on her hair and Gray groaned in pleasure. He pulled harder, making Juvia gasp again and put his other hand on her waist, tugging her body flush against his. She put up no resistance, and he could feel every single one of her curves against his hard body, loving how soft and warm she felt against his bare skin.

Gray pulled away when he felt her grind against his body. He rested his forehead against hers and the two of them panted, trying to regain their breathing. Gray realized his fingers were still in her hair, and untangled them gently, leaving a messy hairstyle behind. Juvia pulled her hands back from his chest and stared at him, wide-eyed, but their bodies were still pressed together with Gray's hand on her waist.

"Gray-sama?" she said quietly.

"What have you done to me?" he asked her softly, brushing her bangs back from her forehead. "Why can I never get you out of my head?"

"Gray-sama?"

Gray just stared at her. He couldn't remember why he ever wanted to wait, why he wanted to put them both through hell just so he could be stronger to protect her. Fuck it, he thought. We will just have to get stronger together from now on.

"I like your lip gloss," he told her with a grin. "It tastes like raspberries."

"Juvia got a new bottle yesterday," she said, still wide-eyed. "Does this mean-"

"You have had me under your spell since the day I first met you," Gray said. "I am finally ready to be all in. So here's me. All in."

With that, he pulled her back in for another kiss, which Juvia gladly reciprocated.