Note: This chapter was much shorter originally but I kept editing and adding and this is where I ended up. I have another chapter I am editing and once I am satisfied I will post it. I appreciate all of the favorites and notes, it definitely made my day to see that, I was unsure of how people would feel about Gray not being a nice guy. Yes, I realize that Juvia is saying "I" part of the time, I am dropping the third person thing because my word processor likes to change it and then I don't notice all the time

Laxus left the bar and slowly walked down the uneven street, he squinted against the dim streetlights trying to get his bearings and realized he had way too much to drink. It had been a rough week with a failed mission and council inquiry and he needed to blow off some steam but maybe doing it alone hadn't been wise. The whole conversation with Gajeel hadn't helped, only making him angrier, he was sick of everyone thinking he was a shitty person, he had gotten to know Juvia over her time at the guild and she was always so genuine with him, was he bad for wanting to be around her more? No, Gajeel was wrong. Shuffling his feet trying to keep his balance he leaned against a brick wall and took a few deep breaths of the cool air before moving forward again. He made it another few blocks slowly and began feeling his limbs grow heavy he hit his knees and the world spun around him as he felt a pair of cool soft hands around one of his arms pulling him to his feet. Somehow the small framed person managed to get him indoors, pull off his boots, assist him down the hallway and he flopped back onto a down comforter and sunk into the soft bed, rolling over with a deep groan he slung his arm and unintentionally pinned his savior next to him on the mattress, unable to lift his own weight anymore he slipped off into a dreamless sleep as the person next to him struggled a bit under his weight and gave a sigh of defeat.

Sunlight peeked around the edges of the dark curtains and Laxus opened one eye slowly then the other and glanced around the strange room he was in. He lay in a simple bed with a thick comforter next to a small end table with a few items on top, a hairbrush, notebook and pen, glass of water. Peering to the other side of the room he saw a slim arm extending from the fluffy blanket next to him, clearly female, soft breathing indicated his bedmate was still sound asleep.

Did I have a one-night stand? He thought to himself, it's been ages since the last one. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, so much for my goal to not do that again, not that anyone would necessarily believe it but he'd given up that lifestyle late last year. Getting older seems to have that effect on people, he thought with his joints aching.

The body next to him shifted, softly groaning she stretched. Laxus peeled the blanket back slowly as not to startle her and his gaze was met by two bright blue eyes, "Laxus-san you're awake" Juvia said sleepily.

"Rain Woman?" he asked in disbelief, so much for Gajeel telling him to keep clear of her, despite it not being intentional it happened. "Wait, did we sleep together? Jeez I don't remember anything," he asked abruptly.

"No, no!" she quickly reassured him, looking embarrassed "I looked out my window last night and saw you having a bit of trouble walking home. I managed to get you inside and put you back here in my room because you are twice the size of my sofa. I didn't mean to stay back here with you but once you put your weight down I couldn't muster the strength to get you back on that side and well, I gave up and went to sleep. Sorry, Laxus-san."

"Nah, it's fine." He gave a quick exhale, "thanks for the help. I got pretty messed up last night." He gave a regretful look and they heard a knock sounded at the door. Shit, he thought, there's big brother, right on time.

She gave him a puzzled look and jumped up heading down the hallway to the living room. He admired her body in the tank top and small shorts she wore then it crossed his mind, did she go out in the cold in that revealing outfit to get me last night?

In the main room she opened the door. "Good morning, Levy, what a surprise." she said sounding confused.

"Oh, Juv I am sorry to come by so early but I lost the baby's blanket and she won't stop crying, I was wondering if I left it here last night because I really don't know where else to look at this point." Levy said flustered, pushing all the words out without taking a breath.

Juvia moved a few throw pillows on the sofa and found the lavender blanket tucked between the sofa cushions, "ah, here we are," she said triumphantly handing the plush blanket over to Levy seeing her immediate relief, "tell Miss Ari that Auntie Juv loves her."

"I will," Levy replied, turning to leave and something caught her eye, "Juv, there are men's boots in your floor," she pointed out raising an eyebrow. "I left pretty late last night, when did that happen?"

Juvia held a finger to her lips signaling Levy to be quiet and gave her a pleading look, "Shhh. Okay. It's nothing but it doesn't leave this room. I don't need Gajeel freaking out and telling me I can't handle living on my own again yet."

Levy nodded, "I understand," she said, eager for information, "it stays between us, I promise."

Juvia inhaled deeply before slowly blowing it out and explaining, "Laxus was a bit inebriated last night and I saw him trying to walk home pretty unsuccessfully, I helped him inside and he's sleeping it off back there." She gestured toward her bedroom.

"Juv!" levy squealed, "There aren't any blankets on the sofa, were you in bed with him?" she nudged her friend suggestively.

"I slept back there, but only because he was kind of trapping me when he passed out," she said with an expression of humiliation, "but it was kind of nice sleeping next to the warmth, and well, …" she trailed off and looked at the floor nervously.

"You like sleeping with him? I knew you liked him!" Levy squealed, "the first time I slept next to Gajeel I felt the same way, one bed in the room and stuck on a mission, we ended up cuddled up and I realized I wanted to do it again."

Juvia gave a small smile, "but Gajeel liked you, and well," her gaze flicked back toward her bedroom, "I don't think that's a possibility." Her smile melted away and the room dimmed, the sun had slid behind a layer of gray clouds.

"Don't say that," Levy warned, "I think it could be mutual, really, don't give up so easily. Don't let the rain come back right now, I know you've struggled lately and moving on from the Gray fiasco was really hard, but you deserve better than that." Levy hugged her friend, I unfortunately have to go before Gajeel storms over here with the baby, she smirked, "but you need to take things one step at a time. You'll find someone eventually, and again, I promise that this stays between us."

Juvia locked the door and waved out the window at Levy and took a moment to shake her nerves over the conversation before heading back to check on Laxus, who had sat up listening to the entire conversation, did she really forget he could hear incredibly well? He did his best to look less disheveled as looked at Juvia and announced, "I should get out of here before you have any more visitors," he immediately thought of Gajeel. "thanks again for your help Rain Woman," he stood and gave her a nod before heading to the living room and shoving his feet in his boots and walked out the door.

Juvia laid on her stomach in the billowy coverings of her bed and instinctively inhaled the scent of the cologne lingering where Lexus slept and let her mind drift to his arm draped over her as she daydreamed about intimate encounters that she wished could happen.

Laxus tuned his key in the door and walked into his apartment, he kicked off the still-untied boots and headed for the shower. Cranking the hot water he discarded his dirty clothing and stepped into the shower to remove the traces of the drunken night he forgot.

He ran his hands over his wet hair and lathered the shampoo and a flash of the night before came to his mind. Juvia pulling him with her to her room "we're almost there," she said through ragged breaths, "please stay with me, I am not sure I can drag you if you pass out." Bodies hit the bed, light touches on his head, "are you okay?" she peered over his body, hair cascading past her face brushing the bed, his arm flung over her and the look of internal conflict decision on her face as she pushed once to remove it but then laid still.

Laxus shook the memory away, he rinsed his hair and grabbed a bar of soap and lathered against his body, running suds over his arms another flash of the drunken encounter emerged. He rolled over, the room was almost completely dark yet he was able to make out the shape of the sleeping water mage next to him, her curves nestled against his body. He ran a hand over her hip, his rough skin against her softness barely concealed by the small garments giving him a good look at what was hidden under her usual modest clothing. She shifted to her back and looked up at him, still half asleep. He leaned forward and placed kisses on her collarbone and she gently pushed him back, "Laxus, no, you're drunk." He laid over her and pressed himself between her legs feeling her warmth through his pants. He bit her neck softly and shifted his weight enough to tug at the buttons of his shirt. Juvia's scent overtook his senses and a low growl emerged from the dragon slayer, she pushed back again holding his face between her hands, "You don't want this, Juvia knows you don't want to do this with her, just go back to sleep Laxus."

His fist met the tile of his shower, leaving a spiderweb design in the cracks he made. So he had tried to have sex with her… shit. Then hearing her conversation with the bookworm earlier, she apparently didn't think he could hear her…but now he knows. Even after he had pulled that shit trying to get in her pants she said she liked sleeping by him? She was something else. Although she clearly didn't think he had any feelings for her, he shook his head in disbelief, he hadn't thought he'd been very subtle.

He reached to turn the water off, as the last drops made their way from the shower head he remembered the way she looked waking up next to him, curled gently in the blankets and looking up at him with that sleepy expression, bed head topping off the sexy image in his mind. He had to do something, she was driving him crazy. What are the chances that she found him last night? Was it kismet?

He dried quickly with the towel and headed into his room for clean clothes, he had work to do, but first he had to take care of his inquiry with the council today which involved a long train ride that he did not look forward to one bit.

Juvia was tempted to hide in her apartment all day, after the night she had she couldn't see herself going to the guild hall, but she had to check in at least once or Gajeel would assume something was up and she was doing her best to show she was handling things well on her own. She had replayed the night time and time again over while she got ready; the way he smelled, his body pressed to hers, the warmth of his kisses on her collarbone, just the thought of it gave her chills. She brushing her hair out and realized and felt a bit guilty, she really hadn't wanted to stop his advances last night but she had known if she let it happen he would have probably never spoken to her again. Stupid, she snapped at herself, you can't so stuff like that with someone that is drunk, you're better than that. She huffed and decided to head to the guild and get it over with.

At the guild she settled into Gajeel's usual table with her tea and waited for him to make it there with the wife and baby. Her mind drifted off and she sat daydreaming staring into her cup, she hummed softly to herself and didn't even notice her friends approach. She faintly heard something before snapping out of her thoughts and looked up and saw them, "Juvia's sorry. I didn't catch that," she said with a meek smile.

"I just said good morning, and that you look happy today," Levy explained, handing Ari to Gajeel before sitting.

Gajeel looked at her with his brows furrowed, "spill, rain woman."

"What do you mean?" she tried to keep her expression neutral and not look too much at Levy.

"The smiles, humming, not a cloud in sight. You have a good day yesterday?" he questioned.

"Of course I did Gajeel, I love my new place and Levy brought Ari over to see me last night, I had already started to miss seeing her all the time," Juvia smiled, she was proud of herself for saying something logical and technically true and just leaving out the details he wouldn't be happy about.

He leaned over and sniffed, "you smell funny."

Juvia paled, "do I offend?" she tried to play dumb but she felt like and idiot for not remembering he could use those dragon senses to dissect things. Dragon senses. If she were pale before she was downright green now, Laxus had those senses too didn't he? She wasn't sure the different between the generations of dragon slayers but she was pretty sure she had known him to use senses like Gajeel. Had he heard her conversation this morning?

"Ameonna?" Gajeel asked. "you ok?"

"I think I left my teapot on the stove, I can't recall turning it off," she lied, "I got used to having you guys to check that stuff for me and now I am having to relearn to do it all alone." Flustered she stood and started walking toward the doors, "Juvia needs to check that now, a fire would be bad at the new place," she rushed out without another word.

Gajeel turned to Levy, "what do you know about this?"

Giving him a dumbfounded look, " how am I supposed to know if she turned her stove off?"

Gajeel scowled, "not that, shrimp, what's with her mood? I can't pinpoint the smell lingering on her but I know it's familiar."

Levy shrugged, "we hung out last night and I grabbed Ari's blanket this morning, both times she was in a good mood, I think she's just happy to have her own place again."

Gajeel gave her a lingering stare before accepting her answer and moving on, "I ran into Laxus last night."

This time it was levy's turn to give a look of skepticism, "Did you run into him, or did you go looking for him?"

"Hey, either way, I saw him," Gajeel snapped, "just gave some friendly advice to stay away from Juvia."

Levy sighed, "and how did he take that? I don't think he is the type to want to take any advice no matter how friendly, and you probably just threatened him."

His expression darkened, "damnit woman, that's not the point, he better stay away."

"And if he doesn't?" she pressed, "What do you plan on doing about that? She likes him and she would be so angry with you if he approached her and you fought him over it. You need to back off, she needs to handle her own personal life, Gajeel."

"And if he does the same thing Ice-Pop did?" he growled in frustration.

"Do you really see Laxus doing that?" she asked exasperated.

His palm slammed the table and Ari began crying, "Did you really see that happening with Ice-Pop? No one did and I bet no one would believe it if they found out, not their golden boy."

Levy took their crying daughter and shook her head disapprovingly at Gajeel, "despite all of that you still need to back off and let them figure this out."

"What is to figure out? She hasn't even been around him lately," he snarled.

Levy gave a sassy smile, "Ok then, be like that Gajeel, I'm going home though. You aren't going to sit here yelling at me about someone else's life and HER DECISIONS," emphasizing her words walking out and leaving a very angry and confused Gajeel alone at the table.

"I hate when she is right," he said to no one in particular.

It had been the inquiry from hell, Laxus had to give a report on how his mission had fallen apart and the person he had been sent to save lost a limb and remained in a coma. He remained in Era after the inquiry and slept in a small inn on the edge of town, waking early to catch a train back to Magnolia. He had made it through reliving the failed mission for the council, his charges of negligence dropped, and let off with a one week suspension from any guild work but all he could think about now was Juvia and the night that became more and more vivid as time went on. She had given him such conflicted looks at he caressed her and she still turned down his advances and put him back to bed. He should be embarrassed for his actions, in a way he was because he didn't mean to get drunk and push himself at her, but he also had the feeling that she would not have rejected him if he hadn't been drinking. Arriving in Magnolia after the longest train ride of his life he rushed to her apartment to find out how she felt.

She opened the door and he swooped her into his arms, kicking the door shut and pushing her back against it. He kissed her deeply, when he finally took a breath she whispered, "why are you doing this?"

"Listen Juvia, I am not drunk so that's not a reason to stop me this time, I came here to see you and here I am,' he still held her against the door, he leaned in and bit at her ear lobe and kissed down the side of her neck, feeling her body react against his as she fought back a moan.

"mmmm….No, stop." She gasped, Laxus pulled back and looked her in the eyes and they shone with tears, "I can't be your friend with benefits, or a one night stand," her voice cracked with emotion, "I just can't do that to myself."

He pushed his forehead to hers, "I don't want that either, I know I should have been clearer and come here to talk but I got carried away," he admitted, "I wouldn't do that to you, I actually want to try to see if this can go somewhere." He chuckled lightly, "not just the bedroom."

A blush caused her entire face to turn a deep shade of pink as she smiled, "really?"

"Yeah, really, But your protector isn't gonna be happy," he said, "I've already been warned to stay away from you."

Juvia fumed, "he told you that? How dare he!"

"Can I take that as a sign you want me around?" he gave a charming smirk.

She practically melted in his arms, "of course I do, I didn't think you liked me but I have been wishing I could find out for ages," she admitted with a giggle.

He leaned in capturing her lips again and plunged his tongue into her mouth, feeling her return his kiss and grind against him, when she pulled back her breath was ragged and her hair messed. Pulling her away from the door he sat back on the sofa, Juvia straddled him and leaned in for a kiss running her fingers through his hair and giving it a tug, not truly believing this was happening.

Laxus eventually took Juvia by the face gently and looked at her with a severity behind his stare, "I promise you I will never do something like I did last night ever again," he licked his lips, "It was a bad night and I let it get out of hand, I regret trying to sleep with you as drunk as I was, but only the drunk part because I would love to be in your bed with you again."

Juvia's heart fluttered, then she gave a look of concern, "what happened? What was so bad?" she asked softly, her fingers brushing his jaw.

"My last job," his face dropped and he began, "the person I was supposed to protect got hurt, badly, and is in a coma. I had to go speak with the council about being irresponsible. I should have called for help, I let my ego get in the way and someone nearly died." His head dropped back against the sofa and he sighed. "I am suspended from guild work and Gramps is probably going to extend that on his end."

"Has he not told you yet?" she inquired, running fingers through his hair once more, attempting to relax him.

He gave a slight snort, "I haven't even made it back to the guild yet, you were my first stop." He lifted his head and looked at her, giving a wicked smile, "I kept thinking about you in your little short shorts and I found myself here."

Juvia giggled and smacked him lightly on the shoulder, "Laxas-sama, stop."

"Sama? Mmm I like that," he kissed her again, "but unfortunately I do need to go to the guild hall and meet with Gramps." He noticed that her expression immediately shifted to one of disappointment. "What?" he pressed, "are you okay? What did I say?"

Her face still clearly filled with sadness, "no it's fine, I will just see you another time then."

"Aren't you going to the guild today?" he asked, puzzled, running his hands down her arms.

"yes, but Juvia will keep her distance there," she stated gloomily, storm clouds rumbled outside and her pulse quickened, her face paled and she whispered, "no no no no no" trying to keep her rain at bay.

Laxus grabbed her waist as he stood, lifting her with him, turning and sitting her on the sofa he kneeled before her, placing a hand behind her head and pulling her in for a gentle kiss. "First, I wanted you to come with me to the guild. Second, your rain is part of you, please don't panic and wish it away, it's linked to your emotions and shows your power. My lightning is the same for me, I learned to let it be a strength and not be seen as a weakness, and you can do the same."

She blinked back the tears and the clouds lifted slightly, "okay,' she nodded, "I have to work on that."

He nudged her, "get ready,' he said kissing her lips again, she rushed off to change and do whatever girly things she felt necessary before going out and he thought to himself, so much for Gajeel trying to keep me away, the girl was like a magnet.