It's been a while since she last step foot in the city of Triton, the land of water. She's happy, seeing everything has changed since the day she left the city. The sun is shining, the clear blue sky and no droplets of rain. It's different, seeing how lively the city has become and it's a great feeling. Everyone greets them like they are a part of the city, such friendliness brings joy to her heart as this is how she wishes her hometown would become.

Juvia Lockser was the Rain Woman, she brought rain everywhere she went and people hated her for that. It wasn't her fault, they knew that yet they couldn't help but blame her for everything. Many years after she left, the rain was still there, torturing the people of Triton City, and then one day, it just stopped. No one knows the reasons why but they were very happy with this and for that, they hold a festival to celebrate this day every year.

"Natsu, I heard they sell fish, let's go get some!"

Happy is indeed very happy when he hears the fish vendors calling out to their customers. She giggles as Natsu, who has finally regained consciousness, decides to go on a hunt for the best food in town. Gajeel decides to go somewhere with Lily, which she guesses it's either the weapon vendors or some souvenir shops to get a gift for his precious bluenette. Gray cast a look at the water mage and sighs, alone with her again…

Juvia has hearts in her eyes as she finally has some quality time with her beloved Gray-sama. They can have so much fun, she just saw a coffee shop that is worth trying out and hoping that he will agree to go with her instead of heading back to the inn.

"Gray-sama?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to grab some coffee with Juvia?"

"Coffee, you said…" he looks at her blue orbs filled with pleading and hope "Sure, you lead the way, Juvia."

She squeals in excitement, this is one of the rare time Gray agree to do something with her. Of course she thinks of it as a date, every moment she shares with her beloved is considered a date, whether Gray agrees with it or not. The ice mage can't help himself but smiles at her cuteness, he knows what's going on inside her head and doesn't mind if she 'misunderstands' this coffee break as a date. After all, he hasn't said a word or even complained about her clinginess after the defeat of Avatar. Gray knows he's playing with fire, giving her false hopes and leading her on but he can't help himself, not after how cold she has treated him after discovering the truth.

It broke his heart when she looked at him with a blank stare, no love, no happiness, just full of hurt and agony. His and Erza's selfish decision brought the rain and sorrow back to her life, the thing that she has praised him for chasing them away. He had thought she would accept his apology and everything would go back to normal but boy he was wrong.

Juvia avoided him, she chose to sit next to Gajeel and the Iron Dragon slayer wasn't helping either as he stopped Gray from even having a chance to call out her name, saying it was the punishment for being a jerk. She chose to go on jobs with Levy and Gajeel more than he could count and it hurt to see those blue orbs that were once full of love just look at him blankly.

There were nights that he just stared at himself in the mirror, wincing at the thought that Juvia would never forgive him and Erza for what they did. It was one of the dark times in his life and it would be embarrassing to admit how he missed her presence around him, something about her just brought a wave of calmness into his dark soul and for her not to be there anymore, it just hurt…

"Gray-sama, what do you want to have?"

"Huh? Oh…" he was so deep in his thought that he didn't realize that they were standing in front of the cashier "Get me a hot black coffee."

Juvia looks at him, puzzling.

"Juvia will have an Earl Grey tea latte and a strawberry cheesecake."

"That would be 15 jewels, your drinks will be brought to your table as soon as possible."

They decide to sit near the table, where the light reflects her beauty in the most breathtaking way and Gray can feel his cheeks grow hotter than usual.

"Gray-sama, are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine, Juvia." he lied, again.

"Then is there something that bothered you?"

"No, nothing at all. Why did you ask?"

"Well, Gray-sama only has hot drinks whenever you have something in your mind?"

And this makes Gray stop his action to look at the bluenette in front of him. She always knows, doesn't she? He casts his eyes down to the cup of coffee in his hand, feeling the warmth spread through his palms, such a peaceful feeling. When Juvia calls him again, she smiles and feeds him her cheesecake which she had ordered which he surprisingly accepts. Gray swears there are hearts in her eyes as he accepts her affection and can't help but smile as well.

"You know…Juvia is no longer angry at you for what you and Erza-san did to her…"

"What?"

"Well, Juvia notices how uneasy you guys are and she feels guilty for causing such a scene when it was a very important mission." Juvia stirs the cup with her teaspoon "She realizes that she was just being silly for being angry at you guys for so long."

"No, don't say like that." grabbing her hands, he almost yells at her "Never say like that, how can it be your fault?"

"G-Gray-sama…"

"It was our fault, and I felt ashamed for even having you by my side right now. You deserve so much better than this Juvia, so much better." He lowers his head "You should never think that this's your fault, you deserved to know about this and yet we took advantage of your kindness. You have the right to be angry, Juvia. So please…"

Juvia looks at him, surprised by his outburst.

"Please for once…care about yourself…let yourself be selfish…You deserve so much better than this, than us, than me…"

The water mage smiles, a heartwarming smile, the one that causes Gray's heart to skip a beat. She holds onto his hand, her delicate fingers intertwine with his. Her beloved Gray-sama looks so small, so vulnerable in front of her like he's the one who needs all the love and care in this world. A broken child with so many scars on his heart.

"Gray-sama, she is happy. Juvia is happy that she can finally see how sincere you and Erza-san are so please, don't feel bad. She is no longer mad at you, or Erza-san, or anyone who has known about this mission."

Sweet Juvia and her big heart, the more she speaks, the more pain he feels in his heart. He really doesn't deserve her, he never deserves this angel in the first place. He smiles and looks at their hand, how perfect her small hand rests against his.

"Juvia loves you, Gray-sama. Forever and always." she gives him a sweet loving smile "That's why you don't have to feel guilty because Juvia will always be here for you, her darling, her beloved Gray-sama."

Gray is speechless at her confession, feeling his heart ache as it welcomes a feeling that has been forgotten in a very long time, love. Her kindness and love shine through the darkness inside his heart that has been wounded with many scars. His Juvia, although has always been beautiful yet today, is simply gorgeous.

"Juvia…thank you, for everything you have done…"

"You are welcome, my darling."

Gray and Juvia are waiting for their teammates to return to the inn, they were supposed to be here at 5 yet the two dragon slayers are nowhere to be found, guess they have more fun than they need…

"So, where do we need to meet up with the client?"

"Juvia believes that we will meet them at the Triton fortress, which is over there, the building with the large tower." she points toward the fortress "For some reason, she feels kinda uneasy by just looking at it."

"Why is that?"

"That's the place where she learned her magic, it had a lot of good memories as well as painful ones."

She stares at the fortress, the scenes where those kids whom she called classmates pouting and whining at their parents, complained about how they couldn't go out and play BECAUSE of her. How she was 'cursed' with the rain and they hate everything about her. Such youthful experience she had as a child…

Look at the bluenette with a sad expression on her face, Gray reaches out and holds her hand tightly, giving her a reassuring smile that he's here for her. Juvia blushes, cute pink spreads across her cheeks as she returns his affection with a bashful smile.

"Didn't know that you guys get all lovey-dovey while we were gone…" said Gajeel as he slowly walks towards them.

Juvia giggles, wrapping her arms around Gray and expressing her love to him, ignoring how Gray is literally yelling at her to stop. Lily looks at Gajeel and smirks, the lover boy is in defense mode while the Rain Woman is ready to take her precious darling to La la Land is such a lovely sight…

"Guys! Look at how much food we have."

"Salamander, you're late!"

"This fire prick ain't know about time, so it's useless to expect him to be on time."

"What did you say, Stripper?"

"I said that you're a moron, asshole!"

Gajeel and Lily sigh as the fight breaks out while Juvia tries her best to stop the two men from jumping on each other. She wishes to cheer for her darling but without Erza around here, she needs to step in and be the 'responsible' one if she doesn't want half of her reward to go into repairing the damage of this fight.

While dealing with the problem, neither Juvia nor Gajeel notices a tall figure walking towards them. A hand circles around her waist, the other holds her hand tightly, the stranger pulls Juvia away from the ruckus and the water mage blushes madly as she feels a soft pair of lips touch her right cheek. Gray immediately breaks free from Natsu, eyes filling with rage and jealousy as another man dares to touch his lovely water mage like that. The pink-haired man becomes alert and Gajeel looks like he's ready to fight, looking at Juvia who is still in the hand of the stranger, the three men ask themselves the same question…

Who is this guy?

Only when a squeal comes from Juvia that pulls all three of them out of their cautious mode, surprise them with a tight hug she gives the stranger. Gray can feel his blood begin to boil, she can be friends with Natsu, Gajeel, heck even that bastard Lyon but this guy…Who the hell is he and why is he holding Juvia so close like that?

"Uranus-san, Juvia misses you!"

"My lovely girl, I miss you too."

Gray looks at Gajeel, trying to search for an answer but the dragon slayer just stares blankly at them. If Natsu isn't holding his shoulder right now, Gray will probably jump onto this stranger who dares to hold her like that.

He knows his action will lead to misunderstanding, he knows that she will question it yet Gray is too irritated to care. Reaching out his hand to hold her arm, Gray pulls the bluenette back to the group, protective arms circling around her body while sending the stranger a cold look. The blonde man in front of them smirks, challenging the Ice mage's rage by holding her delicate hand.

"Let her go."

"Pardon me?"

"Uhm…"

She looks to her side, blue orbs pleading with her best friend to step in but Gajeel is so focused on the blonde man that he completely ignores her, she looks to Natsu only to receive the same answer. Tension rises between them as her teammates step in, shielding her from the stranger as he is forced to let go of her hand.

"Gray-sama, p-please listen to Juvia…"

"We can talk later, Juvia."

"Ah, b-but it's very important. She doesn't want you guys to have any misunderstanding with Uranus-san…" she feels her breath hitch as Gray sends her a cold look "She, she knows this person s-so you guys don't have to…"

They all turn to her, sending her the same puzzling look while the blonde man can't help but laugh out loud. The three slayers glare at him, how dare he laugh at them for protecting their guildmate?

"Uranus-san, please stop making things more difficult for Juvia."

"But my dear, such a lovely sight. They all want to protect their precious little teammate. How cute."

"Juvia, care to explain?" Tightening his grip on her waist, Gray asks, a cold stare drills straight into the guy.

Juvia sighs, this is going to be a long day…