WOW. It's been a good minute guys. My life has been absolutely crazy for the past year or so. I've missed writing so much. I really don't have the time anymore but I will never give up! I've noticed a change in my writing style from the other chapters. Give me some critiques guys! I can't wait to hear from you all!

"Drip, Drip, Drop"

Juvia watched Gray as his chest rose and fell while he was lying on her couch. He was just so out of it. He was pale, well paler than usual. and he looked malnourished like he hadn't eaten in days. Juvia quickly got to work preparing a meal knowing that he would either be hungry, or Juvia would be force feeding him. No matter how angry with Gray-sama... No matter how angry she was with Gray she couldn't stand to see him in pain. After throwing all her ingredients in a pot she left it on the stove to simmer. Juvia then walked over and sat down next to Gray. After checking his temperature again, she laid a cold compress on his forehead. It would still be a bit before Gray woke up. Juvia decided to wake herself up out of her own funk she had been in for the last week and take a shower.

After thoroughly pampering herself Juvia just relaxed as the warm water from her shower cascaded down her body and she released a sigh and all the worry and feelings from the past week just seemed to roll off of Juvia as the water flowed over her body. It was nice and relaxing and peaceful until Juvia heard a loud thump from the other room. Juvia sighed as she turned off the water and quickly wrapped her self in a towel and opened the door to check on Gray. "Gray-sa... Gray?" Juvia corrected herself before she fell into the age-old habit. Juvia looked at the couch only to find Gray had rolled over and promptly fell in the floor. He still appeared to be sleeping the compress tucked beneath his head. Juvia sighed as she walked over to help him back into his resting position.

Juvia bent down and shook Gray's shoulder. "Gray.. Gray... Gray wake up..." "ummmmm..." Gray slowly rubbed his eyes as he slowly tried to open them. Juvia imagined they must felt very heavy with his fever. "Gray... you fell on the floor." Gray slowly started to sit up still a bit dazed. He still had yet to fully open his eyes. Much to Juvia's surprise he stopped trying to open them and laid his head on her shoulder. A week ago Juvia would have swooned at the thought of Gray acting as such but today she simply felt bad for him. Her shoulder was still bare considering all she had on was a towel, and there was no hair hanging down because it too was resting on a towel on top of her head. Juvia could feel Grays breath tickling her neck. Juvia couldn't help but feel the heat rush to her cheeks as well as... other places. But Juvia pushed the feeling aside as she could feel how extremely hot his forehead was. It almost burnt her skin. This was not typical for an ice make wizard such as he.

"Come on Gray, back on the couch..." Juvia coaxed Gray up with her left hand on his stomach and the other on his shoulder. He slowly responded with sluggish movement. Juvia got him setting back on the couch when he started getting dizzy. He reached for her to steady himself. In doing so he almost pulled her towel off. Juvia tried to hide her blush and shock. She was just glad the towel remained in place. "Ju..via.." "yes, Gray" Juvia responded as she grabbed his hand to keep him from pulling her towel off. "thank you..." Juvia didn't know how to respond. She was to caught up with keeping him steady. She couldn't help but notice their extremely close vicinity. His head was still resting in the crook of her neck, his breath tickling her neck driving her up the wall, all the while she has one of his hands in hers and the other laid on top of hers' as she steadied his neck from his dizziness.

Juvia couldn't help but relish the feeling of him being so close. It just felt so right. Nevermind the fact that he treated her like crap earlier in the week. Juvia sighed as she prepared to lay him back down. She eased him back down and he just laid there like a child. He looked so calm but obviously in pain. once Juvia was sure he wouldn't fall over she picked his feet up and laid them back on the couch as well. She refreshed the compress and laid it back on his forehead where it would do some good. She wiped his bangs out of his face as she did so. Gray let out a sigh of what Juvia could only describe as a relief as the compress seemed to help his head a bit. Juvia stood and returned to the bathroom to finish dressing so she could get some food in his system.

Gray was mad. How dare Natsu always trying to get under my skin. I'm so sick of it. Cant have just one day of peace. I had just left the guild hall after storming out after Natsu accused me of having a girlfriend. As If. The only girl I would ever consider the possibility of dating was the one he accused me of dating. The reason I was mad because I can't even think if it is what I want. I mean yea me and Juvia have been hanging out a lot lately. Its been nice ever since she stopped acting like a stalker. We've started to really become friends. I'd hate to ruin that now by giving her a glimmer of hope that a "we" might be possible. I just don't want her to get that stuff in her head again. I like how its been. I want her to get used to just being Juiva around me. That's all I want all I need from her now. I don't even want to think of anything else. Natsu always has to go and ruin everything. Now I'm going to have to avoid her for a few days until this blows over. Ugh.
I guess I'll go buy those tickets for that show I invited her to. Its two days away. Hopefully, that'll be enough time and Natsu will stop with his antics. Ugh. He pisses me off. Everything was going so well. Juvia was so excited when I asked her. She was cool about it. She just smiled. I like her smile. Her genuine heart on her sleeve smile. I wish I saw it more often and not the one she puts on every day at the guild hall, yea that's a real Juvia smile too, but it's not the same this one is different. Its the one I want for just for me.

I had been waiting at the guild hall for Juiva for a while. The show would start in a few hours, but no one had seen Juvia since the other day. Sigh. MAybe I was a bit harsh. But she should know by now its just Natsu getting under my skin I've apologized for saying stuff like that enough she should know that's not how I meant it to sound. Hmmm, maybe I should get her something to say I'm sorry. I suck at this but here it goes. I quickly tell Mirajane when Juvia comes in to tell her to meet me at the show. She says she will bt she acts weird about it. Whatever. It's raining hard. I wish I had brought an umbrella, but I know Juvia is always prepared so I'm not worried. I run to the flower shop. And I'm in luck the shopkeeper has just the ones I'm looking for. Yellow Alamandas, Juvia's favorite. Just like the fake one that sits upon her normal blue hat. I buy a dozen and have a card put on it Sorry for being a jerk. It's not much but she'll know what they're for.
I wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. The show started and finished hours ago. I finally get tired of waiting. I return to the guild hall and seek out Mirajane. she tells me that Juvia never showed up. Juvia stood me up. I couldn't believe it. I walk towards fairy hills. I look up and see no lights in the window. She must not be home. Juvia hates the dark. I wonder what could be so important for Juvia to stand me up. Maybe she just forgot. No this is Juvia were talking about. Maybe I really was too harsh on her the other day. But she should know I was talking to Natsu not here. Surely... Gray returned to his apartment dropped the flowers on the table and opened a cabinet. Grat poured himself a glass of brown liquid. I can't believe Juvia of all people has gotten under my skin. I'm worried I may have just lost her for good. With that though Gray downed the glass and poured himself another.

When Juvia returned she wore clothes that Gray had never seen before, but he thought she looked more mature, more well defined. She wore a skirt that hung just below her knees but defined her well. It hid her guild mark but the thought of it being hidden from others eyes somehow but Gray at ease. She also adorned a three-quarter sleeved top that dropped slightly in the front but had lace in the back for a small amount of embellishment. Her hair was different. She had it down but there was no hat on her head she simply had two braids pulling the hair out of her face that connected in the back and flowed down with the rest of her azure locks. Gray seemed to find himself quite fond of this new look.
Juvia paid Gray no attention as she entered her kitchen to check the progress of the soup she made for Gray. It was just finished. Juvia got out everything necessary. she gathered everything and sat it on her living room table. She once again reached over to shake Gray's shoulder. "Gray... Gray... Wake up..." Gray opened his eyes. He dozed back off after eyeing Juvia after she left the bathroom. "hmm" Gray stirred. He could smell the food now and he realized he was nauseous. He couldn't recall the last time he had eaten. He supposed it was the other day before he went to meet Juvie and she never showed. That plus the couple bottles of liquor he had consumed since she threw him out of her the day before and all the rain he stood in, just didn't mix well. " Gray sit up you need to eat something." Gray groaned but slowly tried sitting up. Juvia had to help him a bit but finally, he managed it. Gray had gotten himself into one big mess he wasn't sure he was going to get out of.

While he dozed just a moment ago he thought back to a couple days ago. After yesterday when Juvia threw him out. He stayed at her door till Mirajane made him leave. HOw could Juvia say that to me... me! I was mad, but I could also hear her crying on the other side of the door. I felt my heart ripped from my chest. How could I be so cruel to her? I shouldn't have said that even if Natsu provoked me. Juvia shakes my shoulder again when my eyes roll back into my head." Gray.. Come on Gray stay awake you gotta eat." I look at her. I lift my head up and the room spins. Back down it goes. Juvia puts her hand on my head resting her thumb on my cheek and her fingers in my hair. I can feel how high my fever is just by the feel of her hand. I lean into her hand. It feels so good and I'm so exhausted. Maybe all that alcohol wasn't the best idea, but I didn't think for a while. Come to think of it how did I get here? Great. I sigh into Juvia's hand. Juvia sighs and grabs the soup bowl with her other hand. She moves to sit beside me on her couch. I groan at the movement, but I relax when she rests my head on her shoulder. She then proceeds to spoon feed me. Lowest day of my Life.

Little by little Gray began to sit up as Juvia feeds him. When he finally finishes the bowl, he's sitting upright. As Juvia goes to clean the bowl Gray crossed his arms and leans against the armrest. There's a knock at Juvia's door. She hurries over as Gray sturs from his dozing position on her couch. Juvia is greeted by a delivery boy. Package for Juvia Loxar. Juvia signs for the package and the messenger leaves. "what is it?" Gray asks speaking the first coherent thing since he arrived at Juvias hours ago. Juvia glances at him and sits on one of the chairs adjacent to the couch. Juvia opens the box to uncover a small box wrapped in beautiful blue glitter paper with an extravagant bow. Juvia reads the card attached and quickly discards it as her curiosity is peaked by the message written on the card. Juvia unwraps the gift and opens it to find a lovely silver headband with a silver bow on the side of it. It's breathtaking actually. and Juvia can tell it was expensive. She's stunned. "Who's that from?" Gray asks her. "Leon-sama" Juvia replies as she gets up and walks into her room to put her beautiful present away. Gray reached over and grabs the card.

"I ran into Levy and Gajeel the were in a hurry to get back for your birthday. I must say I'm glad they told me. I wish I could deliver this in person my Juvia-chan. You shouldn't hide those beautiful azure locks behind that big ole hat. You're too gorgeous for it."-Leon Vastia

"Drip,Drip,Drop"