The Rain Woman

A/N: This is my new fic which I'm hoping can be just as good or maybe even better than Liquid Ice. A Juvia-centric fic, with an angst back story and of course Gruvia!

Disclaimer - I do not own Fairy Tail or the characters.

Chapter 1 - Yellow Envelopes And Blue Wool

Juvia Lockser sighed as the rain pelted the window panes of the Fairy Tail guild, she hated the rain, it made the world seem so dark and cold. So full of despair and hopelessness. Or maybe that was just how it made her feel. Drumming her fingers against the table whilst resting her face on her other hand the water mage dared a look into the deep dark sky. It was so black it could almost be mistaken for night, a storm was brewing she could feel it, sense it, that was the gift or curse of her water magic. Juvia knew she was different to other water users, her magic was stronger and at times unrelenting, she could manipulate it like noone had ever seen and she knew deep down she had barely scratched the surface of her magic power; but the water mage felt that what she had was enough to protect herself and her friends.

"Hey Juvia. Are you okay? You've been awfully quiet these past few days." A gentle voice floated over to her. Juvia turned around slowly not realising how caught up in her own thoughts she was.

"Yes! Yes! Juvia is fine!" Juvia flailed her arms around "You don't need to worry about Juvia Lisanna!" The water mage smiled up at her friend, the two girls had grown closer recently which Juvia was grateful for it helped make the time between Gray-samas missions pass a bit quicker.

"Gray should be back soon." Mira winked at Juvia causing her to cheeks to flush pink as she squirmed under the Strauss sisters knowing gaze.

"Juvia knows!" She fiddled with her dress coat as different scenarios of Gray-sama declaring his love for her when he returned from his mission danced through her brain. "Juvia has something special for when Gray-sama returns!" She smiled at the two girls before being hit with a sudden realisation. She had forgotten to buy some more wool from the store when she went shopping earlier. "Oh my! Juvia has forgotten something very important!" Her hand flew to her mouth. "Juvia must go!" The blunette ran out of the guild into the rain. Cursing under her breath she made her way to Fairy Hills to retrieve her pink heart umbrella.

The watermage walked through the bustling streets of Magnolia, her boots clicking on the wet brickwork as she glanced to the side watching as some people ran to escape the rain, standing undercover in shop fronts, huddling as many people under umbrellas as they could or sprinting to their next destination cursing the wet weather. It was October after all it was bound to be gloomy. Turning a corner Juvia was warmed to see three children playing in the rain, enjoying splashing around in the puddles, having fun.

Juvia stepped into the little shop shaking the water off her umbrella before immersing herself completely into the building. The colours and patterns of all the different wools was pleasing to the eye and gave off a warmth of comfort. Knowing exactly where the blue wools were the watermage was in and out the shop quickly, humming as she walked briskly back to Fairy Hills to continue her latest gift for Gray-sama; a Juvia plushie made by her. The wool swung around in the carrier bag as the water mage walked around the puddles accidentally bumping into someone as she sidestepped a wide one, only seeing his cloaked reflection in the puddle at the last minute but it was too late. Both herself and the stranger stopped almost immediately.

"Watch it…Juvia Lockser." He mumbled keeping his head bowed as he walked off leaving Juvia to stare on at him. His voice had been muffled but that didn't mean she couldn't hear the roughness in it. Did she know him? Why was he dressed so suspiciously? Not wanting to hang around any further Juvia picked up the pace even more as she returned to Fairy Hills her thoughts fixated on the cloaked figure as she tried to put a face to the voice.

When Juvia returned to Fairy Hills she eagerly pulled the wool out the bag keen to start knitting her plushie when a pale yellow envelope caught her eye. Curiously the watermage pulled it out, there was no name on it. Juvia stared at it for a while unsure whether to open it, surely the girl at the counter had put it in her bag by accident when she brought the wool? Undecided, the blunette carefully prised the envelope open incase she'd have to try and reseal it to take it back to the shop. What if it's a love letter?! Juvias face steamed as she removed the contents which proved to be photos. Black and white snapshots of her at the Grand Magic Games; with a red circle around her face in every frame. Juvias blood ran cold. She doubted that the girl behind the counter at the wool shop would have put this in her bag. How did it get there? What was the point in the photos? There was no ominous message, nothing on the back of any of them. Confused Juvia decided to push it aside and focus on knitting the Juvia plushie for Gray-samas return. As the she wove the blue wool her mind reeled with possibilities until she replayed the scene in her head when she had bumped into the cloaked figure. The bag had been on the side she bumped him with. Was it him who dropped the envelope into her bag? If so then he didn't bump into her by accident at all. Sighing in frustration Juvia got up to shower and go to sleep, she was confused by all this it was making her head hurt. She would finish the plushie in the morning.

Juvia awoke groggily the next morning she hadn't slept well after receiving photos with her circled on them, they had left a bad taste in her mouth. Rubbing her eyes Juvia got up and dressed as normal determined to put yesterdays events behind her. Today was a new day, sure they guy seemed dodgy but for all she knew he could just be some head hunter. She could've been circled for a good reason right? With newfound enthusiasm for the day ahead the watermage got stuck in knitting the plushie thinking how much Gray-sama would like the plushie, after all who didn't? Juvia was sure she overheard Lisanna saying that Elfman even had one. And as Elfman liked to say "He was a real man" giggling to herself Juvia wondered if she should present the plushie to him at the guildhall or somewhere more private. Maybe they could go on another mission together and she could give it to him then? Trying to think up the perfect place to give the icemage his gift kept Juvia busy as she spent the next few hours finishing off knitting the plushie.

Juvia twirled the mini version of her around in front of her eyeing it with scrutiny, it had to be perfect. Smiling at her handiwork Juvia stretched her arms out arching her back, she had been sitting down for hours and needed to get out and stretch her legs. Slipping her thigh high boots on Juvia glanced at the clock it was nearly 4pm, she could grab some food whilst she was out. With a bounce in her step Juvia left the dorms and headed into town the sky didn't seem so dark today although there was still a drizzle of rain, the storm that she thought was going to hit Magnolia had seemed to have changed it course. A harsh breeze blew her blue waves around as Juvia walked into her favourite café just across the way from the wool shop enjoying the familiar aromas that filled her nose when she entered. Juvia spotted her favourite spot in the corner of the room, next to a window and tall Yucca plant. Juvia took a seat and waited patiently to be served, staring out the window, she missed Gray-sama. She thought it funny how for years she had adapted to being on her own not letting anyone in, drowned in despair by her 'curse' never having any friends, she had been cold and unwavering and now here she was obsessing over someone, she had made many friends in Fairy Tail too and she had never smiled or laughed as much as she had during the time she had been part of the guild. It was her family.

"Excuse me miss…" A petite blonde waitress stood before her peering out from under her fringe. "Are you by any chance Juvia Lockser?" She asked nervously biting her bottom lip.

"Yes. That would be me." Juvias blue eyes searched the girls green ones.

"Urm…." She fiddled with the pocket of her apron. "A man stopped by earlier." Juvias eyes grew wide, her heart pounding hard against her chest. "He asked me to give you this." She placed the envelope down on the table. Juvia stared at the pale yellow envelope fingers gripping the edge of the table. "Are you okay Miss?" The blonde clearly felt awkward.

"Yes. Juvia is fine." Juvia smiled up at the girl. She was just a messenger after all. "Juvia still hasn't decided what she is having." The waitress walked away leaving Juvia and the envelope. After a few more minutes staring at it Juvia slowly reached out for it not sure if she really wanted to open it. This is silly Juvia.. It's just an envelope. The watermage chastised herself as she snatched it up in one quick motion tearing it open furiously in contrast to how carefully she had treated the other one yesterday. It was a single photo. This ones made her heart beat erratically as her eyes took it in, grazing over the photo for what seem like an age. It was her house. Her family home. Her blood family. The house she had grown up in before she had left. Noone knew she lived there, she had left when she was so young it was impossible for someone other than her mother and father to link her to that house. Especially since she had changed her surname. Lockser wasn't her original surname. Slamming the photo down on the table Juvia noticed this time there was writing on the back.

"Return to Primrose Village."

That was all that written. No explanation. Juvia did not want to go back there. She had left that place behind for a reason. Angrily, the watermage picked up the photo and stormed out the café, the sky growing dark as the rain began to fall heavier her thoughts running wild as a memory flashed through her mind. A memory of a usual rainy day at her house, thankfully it was so large the village wasn't affected by her rain. Juvia had been sat staring out the window watching as the raindrops trickled down the window as her parents argued. Her father was complaining as normal about the rain. He was working himself up about it pointing at Juvia with a look of disgust, he was a very intimidating man standing at around 6ft2 and broad, he stormed over to Juvia cursing and as he neared Juvia could smell the liquor on his breath but before he could reach her Juvias mother had put herself between them, he had demanded that she move out his way so he could deal with the 'brat.' He had pushed her mother aside and struck Juvia knocking her unconscious. That was the first time he had hit her and Juvia still never understood why he held so much hatred for her. She was his daughter. She couldn't go back there.

"Hey did you hear that those wizards from Fairy Tail caused quite a lot of damage on their last mission again? They just got back and are apparently in a lot of trouble." Some people were talking on the street bringing Juvia back to reality. Fairy Tail? Gray-sama must be back! Juvia beamed from ear to ear as she hastily made her way down the street to the guild she couldn't wait to hear what mischief they had caused this time.

The houses and shops blurred past her as the watermage neared the guild stopping at the big brown oak doors as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, slowly she turned around her blue orbs growing wide as she took in the figure across the road leaning up against a wall in the shadows. The cloaked figure stood watching her, unmoving. Panicked Juvia threw open the guild doors still looking back at the figure hoping he was just a figment of her overactive imagination when she collided with something.

"Woah! Hey! Watch it!" The voice belonged to a particular icemage.

"Juvia is so sorry Gray-sama!" Juvia squeaked. "Juvia wasn't watching where she was going." She felt all flustered. This was not how she wanted to greet him,

"Yeah well you came in here like a freaking whirlwind." Gray was agitated. He normally was after long tiring missions. Juvia just looked at the floor hands clasped in front of her. Gray ran a hand through his raven hair exhaling. "Sorry. Just be more careful. Kay?"

"Yes Gray-sama. Juvia just-"

"Couldn't wait to see Gray eh Juvia, so you rushed in." Cana winked at the pair.

"No- Juvia just-" Juvia began again.

"No!" The whole guild practically roared taken aback.

"Juvia just saw-"

"Is she over Gray?" Jet whispered to Droy.

"Nah that can't be it Jet."

"Maybe Juvia was just feeling mega hungry!" Natsu roared breathing flames.

"Natsu!" Lucy face palmed. "Not everyone only thinks about their stomachs."

"Nevermind." The watermage whispered with a heavy heart as she walked to sit on her own. Gray watching her every move. Something was up, she looked more tired than he did. He wanted to ask her but he was exhausted and wanted to get home and sleep. Besides she didn't look like she wanted to talk to anyone right now. He'd ask in the morning. The icemage left the guild stopping just as the doors closed behind him surveying the area. Juvia had been looking this way when she came into the guild like a hurricane looking like she had seen a ghost; but he couldn't see why. The whole area was deserted. Shrugging he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and made his way back to his home.

A/N: Well that's the end of the first chapter. I know it is a tad bumpy and slow. But I promise pace will pick up! Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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CrookedMoonlight