A/N: And we're back! I mean, I'm back! I mean, me and the voices in my head are back! New warm and fuzzy installment! In case you aren't catching on quite yet, I tend to write more of the feel-good stories. Angst doesn't really do it for me, and I think there are enough good angst writers on this site. Who am I to compete?

Anyway, enjoy this new chapter! And if you enjoy it, review it! I am fueled by reviews. And tears.

It was at 12:06 AM that Gray found himself rudely awoken by a knocking at his door. The rain outside was pouring hard, so he immediately found it odd that someone would brave this weather to seek him out at this hour.

It's probably just Natsu. That flame-brained idiot is probably the only one who would show up right now for something ridiculous. Like a fight.

He snorted. With nothing but the sound of drops against his windows, he padded his way down the hallway. The knocks became louder.

"Oi, hold on Natsu! You can't just show up and expect me to-" Gray growled as he swung open the door.

"Juvia?"

The water woman stood dry in her Pjs, protected only by a modestly sized umbrella. A light blush covered her face, but what stood out were her eyes.

Not that he would ever admit it, but Juvia's eyes were by far his favorite thing about her appearance. Those beautiful large pools of dark blue were always what he focused on when interacting with her. But now, they were framed with red.

She'd been crying.

"Oi, Juvia! What are you doing out in this rain? You're going to get sick!" Dealing with a water mage, Gray immediately knew that it wasn't the smartest thing he could've said. He pulled her lightly by the wrist into his hallway and shut the door. He took her umbrella and placed it against the wall.

"So?"

She said nothing. The rain seemed to intensify.

Juvia looked down and choked back a sob.

"Oi, oi. Juvia..." Gray started gently. The girl didn't cry, and for that he was grateful.

"Juvia can't sleep like this." She said never looking up.

"Hm?"

"Juvia... hates the rain. She can't sleep like this."

While at first Gray thought that maybe the rain had been her doing, he knew now it was not so. He sighed.

"Did you walk all the way here from Fairy Hills?" He asked.

Juvia nodded, looking away ashamed.

"Well, I can't send you back. Not in this weather. What were you thinking?" He guided her back to the living room.

Juvia didn't answer.

Gray sighed and walked to the joint kitchen. The ice mage began pulling out hot-chocolate mix and milk. Better get her warmed up before he has to deal with a depressed AND sick woman in his apartment. Even if it was Juvia. He took a quick glance in the living room. Mild embarassment filled him. He hadn't cleaned his apartment in quite a while, though it did not seem to bother his guest in the slightest.

Juvia simply sat there on ihs couch, looking down and playing with her hands. She hadn't even noticed his glancing.

I'd be lying if I said this isn't both awkward and scary. She hasn't spazzed out on me once so far.

"Gray-sama." Her voice sounded just as he set the milk to boil.

Here we go.

"One sec, Juvia."

He hurridly set the mugs down and reached for the cocolate when a pale hand covered his wrist.

The ice mage nearly jumped, and was about to admonish her until he saw her face.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her mouth was moving with unspoken words. Gray stumbled back as Juvia wrapped her arms around him.

"H-hey, Juvia, what's wrong?"

She sighed into his bare chest. "Juvia always has nightmares when it rains like this. Juvia... doesn't want to be alone."

Gray gently rested one arm around her waist and one on her head. He tousled her hair lightly, knowing just what she needed.

He shut off the stove and began leading her to his bedroom. She wasn't crying, which was a good sign, but her sniffles and uneven breathing kept the man tense.

"Juvia is in Gray-sama's room for the first time." She mumbled.

Even in this situation... Gray smiled to himself.

He didn't bother to turn on the light, instead simply setting her down on the bed and easing her to a laying position.

There were no words. Only the ambiance of the rain. Juvia locked eyes with him for what seemed like the first time of that night and smiled.

Gray heard once that women look the most beautiful when they are crying.

Bullshit...

He fought the heat threatening to display itself on his face. There was nothing more beautiful to him than the honest smile that Juvia shows him.

He climbed into bed next to her, not feeling the slightest bit awkward (despite the fact that his pajama bottoms were now on the floor next to the bed) and wrapped an arm under her head.

Juvia nestled herself into the crook of his neck. In a moment of rare introspection, he asked himself internally "What am I doing exactly?!"

But his body was more than content to enjoy the moment. The sound of falling water on his window panes almost lulled him to sleep, when he no longer felt Juvia's hot breath on his neck. She rolled and faced the ceiling.

"To Juvia, the rain reminds her of what she lost, and what she never had." She whispered.

"It was Juvia's only companion growing up. It's what she thinks of when she thinks of friends and family. It's what reminds her that her parents are gone, and all the people who scorned Juvia."

He could feel her turn toward him again.

"To Juvia, rain is despair."

The sorrow in her words struck something inside of him. All of her grief, he could feel in her words, and for a few seconds, every drop outside felt like it was this woman's tears.

Gray turned toward her and looked into the beautiful eyes again. The eyes that showed all her vulnerability in this moment.

"Then from now on, every time it rains, I want you to come here. Just like before, I'll take away your rain."

Juvia smiled. "Gray-sama is too good to Juvia. Juvia doesn't deserve it."

The ice-mage pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead.

"Idiot..." He muttered, almost to himself. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve you."

Together, they fell asleep, the rain all but forgotten.

I usually have a hard time with closing sentences. The inspiration for this story struck me at work. Though it mortally wounded me, I managed to crawl to a computer to type it out for you folks, so go ahead and review it in my memory.