Standard disclaimer applies.

RIGHT AS RAIN

First the drizzles, and now it poured heavily. Despite the sunshine, there was rain everywhere. People at the park were running for covers, some cursing the downpour.

Juvia heaved a heavy sigh. It was only her second date with Slate and already the rain was getting in her way. Perhaps it was a sign that she's making the wrong decision. She stole a glance at the man standing beside her, a smile splayed across his face.

He invited Juvia for lunch, after a successful dinner date the previous week. The water mage graciously accepted, much to his delight. He brought her to a small restaurant that only rich patrons knew about, Slate wanted to extend his time with the beautiful bluenette. He asked if she'd like to walk at the park to enjoy the blue skies and bright sunlight.

Then the rain happened.

With quick reflexes, he shyly took Juvia's hands and ran towards the nearest shelter. The place was already crowded with people, muttering under their breaths about the 'annoying rain'. Slate couldn't help but laugh. The petite woman beside him looked puzzled. He winked at her and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Slate-san?" her melodious voice called his name.

"You're probably thinking I'm weird, right? But rain on our second date? Isn't that amazing?" He returned his gaze to the surroundings in front of him. It didn't look like the rain would stop any time soon.

Juvia gazed at the ground being pelted with water. "Juvia didn't make it rain," she suddenly mumbled but enough for Slate to hear. When he asked what she meant, she stepped closer to him to explain, just so the bystanders wouldn't hear. "Juvia can affect the rain, but not this time, Slate-san. Juvia swears."

"Really?" he asked, leaning down so his lips were near her ears.

"Really. When there's a feeling of gloominess inside," she puts her hands in front of her chest, "Dark clouds appear and the rain starts to pour." Her words continued to be said in a whisper, only wanting for Slate to hear it. "Juvia isn't sad right now, so it's not Juvia affecting the rain," she said with a frown.

There was silence between them. Slate straightened his back. The whole time Juvia was talking — whispering to him — he was leaning down a bit. It made it more intimate between them. Someone inside the shelter complained that the rain wasn't stopping, and many agreed that it's such an inconvenience whenever it rained. This time an obvious sadness displayed on Juvia's face.

"I love the rain!" Slate declared quite out loud, surprising Juvia. He wore a foolish smile, not caring whether the people around them gave him a weird look. "The rain makes me happy," he laughed, and then turned to face Juvia, "It always made me happy."

It was the truth. He wasn't just saying that to make Juvia for fall him. "My mom loved the rain. She was a very quiet and reserved woman. But whenever it rained, she would go run outside, bringing me and my brothers. She would twirl around, laugh out loud, and just play like there's no tomorrow. Whenever it rained, my mom became free. She passed away when I was 14. So every time it rains, I remember her, and it always makes me happy."

Juvia has never met someone who loves the rain. When she titled her head to look at him, she felt a flutter in her heart. Slate took her hand, intertwining their fingers; Juvia let him.

"Come on, my goddess of rain," he winked at her, tugging her hand, and then gently pulls her out of the shelter. Juvia yelps in surprise but a giggle escaped her mouth. Together, the two of them ran out of the shelter to enjoy the rain. Bystanders watched them with a clueless or bewildered expression. Slate didn't care, and Juvia decided to relish the moment.

This rainy date turned out to be right, after all.

Three months later…

Juvia opened the door at the first knock. Again, that Gray-dar was still working despite her determination to uninstall it.

"How's Steel?" was the greeting she got from her son's father. Deep worry was etched on his face.

"He's crying, Gray-sama," Juvia answered in a sad voice. Their little son was involved in a minor accident at the playground. The fragile bone of his arm sustained a minor sprain. The doctor assured Juvia that it would heal eventually, but the pain for a little child would be amplified. Juvia couldn't console her son alone. The boy kept asking for his dad.

Gray gave her a slight nod, and went directly to the room his son shares with his mom. He could hear the wails coming from the room.

"Hey kiddo!" he greeted his son. Immediately, the wailing stopped but tears kept streaming down his face. Gray felt something squeezing his heart when the boy sat up from his bed and lunged himself to Gray.

"Daddy," he sobbed, wrapping his unhurt arm around Gray's waist.

The boy felt tiny in his arms. Although his growth progress had been tremendous, Steel would always be a baby to him. Gray picked him up with one arm while the other rubs the boy's back. "Daddy's here. You've been a brave boy," he comforted the most precious being on Earthland. Steel continued to cry, but he felt safe in his dad's arms.

Like magic, Steel slowly descended to la-la land. Gray wiped dry his tear-stained face. When he knew the boy was already deeply asleep, he quietly made his way out of the room. At the living room, he found a sobbing Juvia.

"Juvia is sorry, Gray-sama. When Steel was falling from the slide, Juvia stood frozen, unable to move. Juvia should've caught him. Ju-Juvia is a bad mom…"

In no time, Gray enveloped Juvia in his arms. She was still inconsolable. "What kind of mother couldn't catch her son falling? Juvia saw Steel fall. She watched him fall in slow motion. When he hit the ground, Juvia still couldn't move."

Gray tightened his embrace around her. He let Juvia continue her outburst. When she finally calmed down a little, Gray pulled away to face her. "Don't blame yourself, Juvia. Don't ever do that." He wiped the tears away from her eyes, tucking the strands of hair sticking to her forehead.

"Juvia is so sorry, Gray-sama," she continued to apologize.

"Juvia," he said her name sternly, which made her stop. "Accidents happen. It's never intentional. You've done a good job raising Steel. This one accident doesn't suddenly make you a bad mother."

"B-but Steel-kun… Juvia couldn't even make him stop crying. Gray-sama, our son knew it was Juvia's fault that he fell."

Gray sighed, not knowing what else to say to pacify the blue-haired woman.

"MOMMY!"

Both ran towards the room when the high-pitched scream of Steel reverberated throughout the apartment. Juvia got there in a flash with Gray trailing behind her.

"Mommy's here, baby," Juvia knelt beside Steel's bed.

Steel continued to whine, his little arm trying to reach for his mom. "Mommy, don't leave Steel!" Juvia was crying as well, but she gently hugged her son and placed a kiss on his forehead. She shook her head, promising her angel she would not leave his side. The boy's eyes darted from side to side, looking for Gray. "Daddy, don't go," he begged. Gray nodded.

"Daddy and Mommy will be here. Go to sleep, kiddo."

Gray nudged Juvia, signalling for her to lie down beside Steel. The water mage complied. She expected Gray to go to Steel's other side, but he did the opposite. Instead Gray lay down beside Juvia, caging her so that his arm extended to reach their son. Juvia felt safe, and Gray knew this was the perfect fit.

The rain outside continued to fall, but it no longer contained the gloominess it did earlier.

A/N: Thank you again to everyone who reviewed/favourited the story. This story is nowhere near over (although the conclusion is all 'written' in my head). To be honest, Slate Hawthorne is actually patterned after Lyon... I've a reason why I used an OC instead of Lyon (or an existing Fairy Tail character). However, that reason will be given much later. I'm not trying to be secretive; it's nothing major. But if I state my reason now, I'll be giving the story away. Once again, feedback's welcome. Hope you all enjoy this one, despite being a short chapter.