Chapter 5 The not so calm before the storm

A/N: Thank you to everyone who followed and favourited! And to everyone who reviewed! I love getting reviews! So thank you! Here is Chapter 5!

It took a few moments for the two of them to comprehend the situation as Juvia was lost in the gray eyes of the icemage beneath her. Even when someone else spoke in the room, the words didn't register in Juvias head, she was in heaven, the moment was perfect. It was only when the Grays face turned into a tomato and the startled look on his face was turned to one of panic that Juvia finally snapped out of her dream-like daze. Turning, Juvia stared wide eyed at the bedroom door, her heart in her mouth as her face resembled the colour beetroot. She knew she had to act fast.

"OH! Juvia is so clumsy with her feet!" She lied "Juvia just stumbled and Gray-sama caught Juvia but Juvia threw Gray-sama off balance and we tumbled to the floor!" It was silly really, Juvia just didn't want Gray-sama to make up an excuse. She didn't want him to feel awkward as he fumbled for a lie any lie. Juvia gave Gray a quick smile as she removed herself from him and got to her feet brushing herself off.

Gray eyed the watermage, surprised at how fast she had come up with an excuse, his heart was still pounding and he still felt an odd kind of buzz from the whole experience. His head was a mess. He was grateful for Juvias quick thinking. She turned to smile at him and he felt him start to lose himself again, Gray felt a strange weight shift and it took him a moment to realise Juvia was standing up now. Quickly he got up scratching the back of his head realising he was going to have to back up the story.

"Uh, yeah. Juvia was just showing me the view of the water fountain… as she came over to me she tripped and as I caught her we fell." The two mages looked at the little old butler in the doorway, he looked like he didn't believe a word of it. Why should we have to be making excuses, it's not like we've done anything wrong… Gray thought to himself as the three of them stood there in silence.

"I see." The butler eyed them both. "Well dinner is in just over an hour, there are clothes for you both to wear in your dressers and wardrobe. It's always a formal occasion when the master wants to dine with guests so you need to look your best." As he finished he turned and walked out the bedroom closing the door behind him. Gray and Juvia both let out a breath they didn't realise they were holding in.

"Well that was close." Juvia was the one to speak, she fiddled with her hands in front of her and twisted on the spot pursing and un-pursing her lips.

Gray ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Too close." He took a deep breath and looked at Juvia. What am I doing? I'm so hot and cold with her. I wish I knew what I wanted. The image of her leaning in towards him and her breath grazing his lips flashed into his mind again making his heart flutter. I'm in no state to be making decisions. "I'll see you at dinner Juvia." And without another word the icemage left, his heart weighing him down as he did, but he kept on walking, too afraid to glance back at her.

Juvia sighed and went to lay down on the bed. The watermage took off her boots and flopped down on the duvet, sinking into the pillows as she stared up at the canopy above her remembering the events that had just unfolded. She had leaned to kiss him, he hadn't pushed her away. Juvia could swear that he had wanted her to, she was sure she could see it in his eyes, the way he had fiddled with her hair as she had grown ever closer to his lips, then that butler had interrupted them. Juvia pouted at the memory wanting to scold the nosy butler with her boiling water. It had been so perfect and unplanned. It had caught her off guard and had felt so right. Frustrated she decided to take a bath in the tub to try and soak away her frustrations, the sound of the running water calming and centering her thoughts, but even as she lay in the warm bubble bath Juvia was at a loss, she hadn't known what to expect after the butler had left. The watermage knew that it could've gone three different ways. Gray could've swept her off her feet and kissed her, that thought pleased Juvia, they could've talked about it, but he had just left. Maybe he just needs some space. Juvia hugged her knees to her chest before sinking back down into the bath again. Why was this job making her feel more and more uneasy by the passing hour.

Gray frantically climbed out the shower and rifled through the dresser in front of him. Ah crap, I'm going to be late. The icemage flung various items of clothing out the drawers onto the bed behind him. Ah there it is. He pulled out a small bow tie that had been buried in one of the drawers and not with the rest of the suit. A formal dinner, Gray scoffed at idea as he got dressed I have trouble keeping on my own clothes let alone someone else's. As Gray straightened up his bow tie his mind shifted to the woman who had been on his mind all afternoon. Juvia. Gray sighed. He really didn't know what to do, but he would have to clear things up sooner or later. But for now he needed to get things straight or at least kind of straight in his head first. He took one last look in the mirror before heading out the door and down the corridor.

Juvia fiddled with the necklace clasp in her shaky hands. She hated wearing clothing that was revealing. Yes her dress coat was kind of revealing, but at least that was just her legs, this dress that had been left for her was very pretty but she didn't think that red was really her colour. Sure it exaggerated her curves but Juvia just didn't like it. It wasn't her sort of dress, she liked long elegant dresses. This one was short and tarty, definitely not the type of dress she thought Stan would've picked out for her as he seemed kind of old fashioned for such a young master. Juvia now fiddled with the straps of her heels when there was a knock at her door.

"Juvia will be right there!" Juvia finally managed to do up the strap on the heels as she made her way over to the door peaking out through a small gap as she opened it. "Oh! Gray-sama!" Juvia smiled at him feeling self conscious.

"Come on or we'll be late." The icemage replied gruffly feeling stupid in the suit. Juvia pondered her thoughts on whether she really wanted to leave the safety of her bedroom in this poor excuse for a dress, she eyed the icemage who seemed to be growing impatient.

"Coming Gray-sama!" Juvia exclaimed a bit louder than she had meant to as she opened the door and stepped out shutting it behind her. As she looked up her eyes were captured in Grays his mouth open slightly.

"You look." You look fucking amazing. He thought but he knew he couldn't say that. "Really nice Juvia." The short red dress was driving his brain crazy as it tightly clung to every part of her body, the heels making her endlessly sexy legs seem even longer, her blue Fairy Tail mark in full view. His eyes travelled up pausing as he realised that every time she breathed her chest rose and fell a lot. Gulping he looked up to her smiling face. It wasn't the usual smile though. This one was small. Juvia tucked an escaped lock of hair behind her ear and Gray remembered the feel of those blue waves in his hand.

"Thank you Gray-sama. Juvia is pleased that you think so." She started walking down the hall wanting to release the built up nervous energy. Gray followed her. "Juvia feels ridiculous in such a skimpy dress though, Juvia can't even bend over without-"

Gray flailed his hands in front of her to stop her talking "It's fine Juvia no one is going to be asking you to do any bending!" He said with a high pitched tone. Just looking at her was doing funny things to his insides let alone her putting thoughts into his hormonal head to. The watermage giggled and then touched the top of her head as they continued to dinner.

"Juvia also feels odd not wearing a hat." She started patting the air around her head as they turned a corner.

"Well I like your-" He was interrupted as the pair came to a stop in the dining hall.

"Juvia! My you do look outstanding in that dress!" Stan exclaimed from his seat at the dining table.

"Thank you Stan." The watermage went to bow.

"Oh." One of the butlers exclaimed.

Gray caught her arm "Juvia. Seriously don't bow. Remember. You said you couldn't bow?" Gray whispered out the corner of his mouth sweat dropping, a small blush lining both their cheeks Juvia going wide eyed she realised she had nearly flashed the butlers at the doors.

"Gray-sama is so modest." Juvia whispered back to him secretly hoping that one day he would let her bend over for him. Maybe later….

"Please do come and take a seat." Stan gestured for the two of them to sit in front of him. Gray went to sit in front of Stan but he stopped him. "I would like Juvia to sit there please." Gray simply nodded but inside he was seething. Juvia obliged and thanking him took the seat opposite him with Gray on her left. "You both do scrub up well don't you." He glanced at Gray before turning his full attention to Juvia. "I do hope you found the fit of the dress okay." He picked up a glass and took a sip.

"Juvia thinks it's a bit short actually." She fiddled with her hands slightly in her lap trying not to sound ungrateful.

"Yes it is different to your normal attire. But like I said before you do look stunning. Red really suits you." Stan swirled his drink around in his glass as the meals came out.

Gray ate his food with force, making sure he skewered the chicken with his fork as Stan flirted with Juvia like he wasn't even present. Juvia was trying to avoid his flirtatiousness whilst still being polite. Gray glanced at her from the side again, she still had barely touched her food and when the maids came to take the dishes away she simply said she wasn't feeling hungry, that she had had a big lunch before they got here. Which Gray knew was a lie. Stan continued to talk about anything and everything with Juvia as he drank, Gray had also noticed that his eyes kept wandering lower than Juvias face, Gray had to keep reminding himself that Stan was the client and freezing him or punching him would not go down well. Stan had offered the two mages alcohol with dinner (which he was drinking) but they turned him down wanting to be sharp in case they needed to fight. Stan asked Juvia questions about jobs she had taken on previous to this one and Juvia told him about some of them. Mainly the ones she went on with Gray much to Stans distaste. We've really been on that many together? Gray thought, shocked at first but the more he listened the more he recalled. How could I have forgotten? We always had fun, even with Juvia acting all crazy.

"So you were once aligned with Phantom Lord? What made you do that?" Stan asked the watermage he wanted to know everything about her. Her life was as mesmerising as her beauty.

Something caught Grays eyes under the table. It was Juvias hands. She was fiddling with them more and more a sign of her growing discomfort.

"Juvia didn't have an easy childhood. Phantom Lord was the first place to really accept Juvia." Her voice dropped laced with sadness, Grays heart squeezed and he looked from her hands to her face, her smile just hanging on her eyes never faltering, remaining neutral as Stan pressed on oblivious.

"I see. So your childhood then." Juvias hands stopped fiddling and she straightened in her chair as dark memories of countless beatings flashed through her mind. "What happened to you then to make you join Phantom Lord?" He took another long sip of his drink. "You're a very interesting person Juvia." Juvias smile faltered, her eyes distanced as she fiddled with her fingers in her lap. The silence was heavy as Stan waited for the watermage to answer.

"Juvia…. Well….. Juvia…." She didn't know where to begin, she just wanted to run away from here, from this room, out the dress and away from Stan. He was opening wounds and memories that were best kept sealed. It started to rain outside, heavily, causing it pelt the windows so hard Gray was sure they were going to break. It was Juvias rain. He didn't know what to do. What to say. "Juvia? Was it really that bad?" Stan asked again. Juvias hands shook in her lap now as the rain got heavier. "This rain has come about all of a sudden… I didn't think we were expecting any." He turned to face the big arch windows.

Gray placed his hand over Juvias, causing the watermage to look at him. The rain stopped almost instantaneously making a smile pull at Grays lips. Juvia stared into his eyes, Gray-sama cares. His eyes were normally so cold but now were now gentle and caring. He squeezed her hand making Juvia blush slightly.

"Thanks for dinner Stan, it's getting late now so I think we'll be off." Gray said as he stood up placing his hand on Juvias shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze.

The billionaire spun around in his seat to face them, he'd been distracted by the rain. "Oh. Together?" He eyed the hand resting on Juvias shoulder. He opened his mouth to say more but Gray stopped him wanting to get Juvia out of there.

"Yes. Together. We have a job to do. It is night and I think me and Juvia should familiarise ourselves with the layout of the town." Juvia got up from her seat carefully, pulling the bottom of the dress down as she did.

"Ah. Yes. I see. Well stay safe and good luck. Thank you for joining me for dinner. It isn't often I have company." At that last comment Gray felt a pang of guilt for the billionaire. All that money and he was alone. No-one to share his thoughts with. Gray glanced to his right glad in that moment for Juvia. He trusted her implicitly he knew he could tell her anything.

"Thank you for dinner." Juvia said as she turned and walked out the room, the second the doors closed to the dining room behind her she bolted for the front doors needing to be outside in the air. The butlers scrambled to open the doors in time as Juvia grabbed hold of the railings on the Veranda taking a deep shaky breath as the sky let out a drizzle. The rain was comforting as it trickled down her face, she imagined it washing out her memories of her childhood and the memories of this evenings meal. A few more breaths later and Juvia felt almost sane again.

"Juvia…." The voice was soft and deep at the same time. It was Gray, she was sure she could practically sense him. Maybe I do really have a built in Gray-sama-dar Juvia thought to herself as Gray came and stood next to her their elbows touching. Gray didn't really know what to say. He wanted to ask her if she was okay, he wanted to tell her he hated how much Stan flirted with her, he wanted to apologise for walking out earlier, he wanted to hold her again. All at once.

"Juvia is fine Gray-sama." Juvia could see he was having an internal battle. Gray turned to look at her, how was it she always knew what to say? "Juvia just needs to take a walk." He continued to stare at her. He knew she wasn't okay.

"Yeah, I'll come with you. I wasn't joking about familiarising ourselves with the streets, although it would've made more sense to do it in the day…" He trailed off realising she was still in a dress. "Shouldn't we get changed first anyway. Maybe we can get a good nights sleep and do this in the morning?" The watermage turned to face away from him focusing on the gates at the bottom of the driveway that was lit by mini lamps.

"Juvia can't, Juvia doesn't want to go back in there yet. Dress or no dress Juvia needs to go for walk. Besides the streets will be quieter at night Gray-sama. It will be easier to memorise them." Gray nodded and they made their way down the gravel drive the gates opening for them as the butlers buzzed them out.

The streets of Windmill Village weren't actually all that confusing, it was a small village and all the roads except Stans joined up to one another. The main street went the whole way through town, there were few alleyways which made patrolling them easier. The pair passed a blue and white striped cart selling caramarde franks and Grays face lit up straight away, the two of them had been travelling in silence so far and this was the perfect ice breaker.

"Hey Juvia want a caramade frank?" He asked the watermage drawing her out of her thoughts.

"It's okay Gray-sama Juvia isn't-" Her stomach let out a loud rumble.

"Well your stomach disagrees and besides you didn't eat dinner." He turned back to the old merchant and ordered two. He handed one to Juvia.

"Thanks Gray-sama." Juvia smiled at him, a genuine smile. "That's very kind of you." She took a big bite of it. Gray smiled as he watched her, remembering the time in Guild that he had shown her how to eat them, it was her first time and she had got very sticky.

"Don't mention it." He took a bite of his as they walked further up the street near the top of the village, Juvias heels clicking on the cobbles being the only sound. "Remember when I showed you how to eat one of these?" He turned to her smiling. Juvia blushed at the memory.

"Yes. And Juvia wasn't very good at it." She remembered herself twirling the sticky goo around her fingers, at the time she had been so embarrassed but now the memory made her smile.

"No you weren't. But we've eaten enough now that you've got it perfect." Gray said as he finished his last bite tossing his wrapper in a nearby trashcan.

"Juvia wants to make more memories like that." She turned to face the icemage as they walked. Gray didn't know what to say (again) did she mean with him? Or in general?

"Er I'm sure you will Juvia. That's what life is about, making memories." He took her empty wrapper off her and put it in a bin.

"Juvia wants to make so many good memories that they overwrite all the bad ones…" Juvia looked into his eyes, not saying what she really wanted to say for once. He'd only back away if she told him she wanted to make those memories with him it'd put him in an awkward position. He looked back at her an odd feeling creeping over him as they turned down a side road about to go into the neighbouring alleyway.

"Ahh hello there pretty lady, what are you doing out this late at night? Come say hi to me and my friends." A drunk voice wafted in their direction and Gray positioned his body automatically slightly in front of Juvia.

"Not a chance. Now come out here and show yourself!" Gray shouted as four men emerged from the depths of darkness out the alleyway magic in hand. They were going to have to fight.

A/N: I hoped you enjoyed it! The story takes a quicker pace from the next chapter! Don't forget to favourite and review! I never know whether to add more description about the rooms and streets and things.

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CrookedMoonlight