Juvia woke up in a dark room, narrow strips of light beamed through the edges of the curtains allowing enough light for her to see where she was. Memories of the previous night crept back into her mind as she recalled Gray offering up his place, and his bed, for her to stay in until her place was secure once more. She stretched and burrowed into the blankets and a light knock sounded at the door, "Juvia?"

"I'm awake," she called, "it's open." Gray pushed the door open and walked to his closet grabbing clothes, "hoping you aren't in a hurry, I'd like to get a shower before we get you to work."

"You don't have to do all that, Gray, I am sure you have stuff you'd rather be doing. What time do you have to be at your job?" she asked.

"Oh, well, I work for my mom's company and she knows I am adjusting my schedule, and I am definitely going, I—" he broke off and ran a hand over his dark hair, "what if you'd been home yesterday? What would have happened?"

Gray headed into the bathroom and Juvia asked, "Since you have to take a shower, can I use the mirror while you're in there?"

"That's fine," he said as a t-shirt came sailing out of the open bathroom door, she heard the shower curtain rattle and he called out, "you're good now, I'm in."

Juvia gave a glance to the shower before turning to face the mirror, her thoughts were being pulled to her naked neighbor and she forced them from her mind. She unzipped her bag and pulled the hairbrush out and began to tame her tangled tresses, once her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, she began to brush her teeth and she suppressed a giggle as Gray hummed in the shower, apparently he had no worries about someone hearing him. She quickly applied lip gloss and mascara before zipping her items back in the toiletries bag and heading back to the bedroom to change. Pulling her work clothes on she heard Gray call from the bathroom, "Coming out."

"I'm in the bedroom, almost done changing." She called back to him.

Before long they were walking toward the bust stop together, Gray went into a small shop and Juvia scrambled to follow him, surprised by his sudden change in direction. Inside the shop a woman smile in Gray's direction, "the usual?"

"Two" he replied politely.

"Oh, well look at you, this is the first time I have seen you bring anyone in here," the woman gave a wink as she put together his order and took the money.

Gray looked slightly embarrassed as he turned to hand Juvia a cup before grabbing the other and the bag the woman left on the counter.

The woman called out as they headed outside, "see you tomorrow."

"You have a usual?" Juvia asked, glancing back at the shop. "I didn't even know that place was there."

"Yeah, I found it on accident trying to go into the pawn shop next door, but I've gone back to get coffee pretty much every day since," he explained.

"Juvia sat on the bench at the bus stop and took a sip of the coffee Gray had given her. "mmm."

"Mint mocha," he said blushing lightly "kind of a guilty pleasure." The two sat in silence until the bus pulled around the corner. The seats were already packed when they stepped on board so they were forced to stand in the very tight space, Juvia breathed in the smell of his soap and smiled behind his back, as stressful as yesterday's events had been she was glad that Gray had begun to speak to her once again, she had not realized how badly she missed him.

"This is my stop," Juvia said as the bus pulled up to the flower shop, she was lucky to have a job so close to a bus stop. They exited and she pointed a few doors down to the shop and Gray walked her inside, he opened the bag he held in his hand and pulled out a donut before putting the bag into her hand. "see you when you get off," he said, Juvia looked down into the bag at the second donut and smiled at Gray as he left with a wave.

"Wow, your new boyfriend seems a lot nicer than the old one," her boss Mavis said with a grin.

"He's just a friend," Juvia stated, "He just walked me to work since I am staying at his place, mine was broken into last night."
"Oh, my goodness are you okay?" Mavis asked.

"I wasn't there when it happened," Juvia explained.

"And your friend there let you stay with him and escorted you to work with breakfast?" Mavis asked, Juvia nodded in return, "He's such a nice boyfriend," Mavis grinned again walking to the back room.

After a long day Gray arrived to the shop to catch the bus home with Juvia, Gray started in with stories about his day at work and questions about hers. As they made it to their floor they were smiling and laughing when they found Gajeel standing in the hallway.

"Cops still haven't found Bora to serve the papers, but I stayed on your landlord and he was quick about putting up the reinforced door and heavy duty locks," Gajeel handed her the keys, "you can stay here, I had a cheap bed out in for now until you can replace the furniture, I also brought an old couch by from storage for the time being."

Juvia unlocked the door and saw how empty her apartment looked, tears stung her eyes and she tried her best to blink them away. "Thanks, Gajeel."

"Are you going to be alright staying here," Gray asked looking concerned.

"Of course," she answered, sliding open the balcony door, "but the fresh paint smell is a little strong."

"Alright, but I will be right next door if you need me," Gray said looking reluctant to leave as he headed to his own apartment.

Gajeel looked around before turning to Juvia, "I'm going to get out of there, I got a date, I just wanted to get you the keys and let you know they fast-tracked the work on your place."

Juvia smiled, "is the date with Levy? I like her."

"Nosy as ever, sis,' Gajeel said, "and yes, it is, I like her too." He gave his sister a one-armed hug as he left, "see you later."

"Bye." She locked the door behind him, she did her best to settle in but it was just not as comfortable as before in her place. When she laid in bed that night the moonlight cast eerie shadows through the metal headboard, Juvia squeezed her eyes shut until she somehow fell asleep.

Hands grasped her, one over her mouth and the other holding her wrists, weight crushed against her and a raspy whisper called out "You're mine, Juvia."

Juvia screamed but found herself unable to move or open her eyes, she was petrified from fear. A loud bang rattled her apartment as the sliding door slung open, "JUVIA!" Gray's voice called out to her as movement rushed through her apartment. Warmth broke through her fear as his arms wrapped around her, "It's okay, it was just a dream."

"Are you sure? It felt so real, I heard him…I felt him, Bora was here."

"No one is hear, it's just us, your door is locked, I had to come around and hop onto your balcony to get in here," he explained, "but I don't like this, you're scared and I am worried, grab a bad and come back to my place, please."

It didn't take long for her to pack up and Gray hopped back over to his place to let her in. He pushed open the bedroom door for her, "Get settled in, I will be out here if you need me."

She stiffened, "Don't leave yet." There was a long look exchanged between them before she finished, "I'm scared."