Hello, dearest readers! How are you all doing this new year?

Well, I am really excited because this is my first story of 2019 and I gotta say, I'm proud of it. From what I've written so far, it's turned out pretty good. (and short too. What a miracle!)

Then again, I guess you'll be the judges of that.

First let me explain how this will work: This story will be divided in 2 parts. The first one will have 3 chapters and will cover Juvia's backstory, as well as Gruvia moments from the Grand Magic Games, Tartaros, and a bit of the Avatar arc.

The second part will be a multi-chapter story including Avatar and Alvarez Arcs and it will follow the episodes of the new season. Therefore, if you haven't watched the anime or read the manga, there will be SPOILERS.

Now, let's begin with this first part. I made sure to include plenty of Gruvia moments, of course, as well as flashbacks to her childhood.

You'll notice I didn't actually change much from Juvia's backstory, I merely interpreted it my own way.

Happy reading!

July 14th, X773

A young girl stared out the window as two other children were directed towards a carriage. Her eyes were sad once she watched a couple take each child's hand and help them inside the vehicle.

A woman in her forties came into the room just after the carriage left and gave the girl a sympathetic look. "How are you doing today, Juvia?"

"Why didn't they choose me, Ms. McGonagal?" The question came out before she could stop herself.

"I don't know. But I'm certain someone will choose you someday." Was the woman's response.

"What if they don't?" That was Juvia's worst fear. Staying in that place forever; trapped.

"Then I guess you'll be keeping me company." The adult knelt down and gave her a bright smile. "You can help me look after the younger kids. We'll have some fun."

"I don't want that." The child shook her head, pouting. "I want to have a mommy and a daddy. I want to go home." Her frustration was easily felt and, as if on cue, rain started to pour.

"And where is your home, I wonder?" Ms. McGonagal whispered, ever curious. "You were left here at only a few weeks old. No notes, no explanations. Not even a name."

"But my name is Juvia!" The young girl protested.

"Yes, that's right." Giving a false smile, the caretaker stood up."Now, it's almost dinner time, so why don't you go freshen up, dear?" Nodding, Juvia walked towards the small bathroom to wash her hands.

The woman watched her with interest. "She's truly a mystery, this one. I wonder if she'll ever learn the truth."

July 3th, X791

"I didn't know that." Cana stared at the bluenette in surprise.

"I'm so sorry, Juvia." Mirajane placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder while smiling sadly.

"So you really have no idea who your parents are?" Laxus asked, interested.

"That's gotta suck." The brunette said.

"Sometimes knowing who they are is worse." The dragon slayer sighed, and they gave him sympathetic looks.

Ivan had been arrested earlier that day and everyone was still talking about it and coming up with theories. Some even went as far as to say that Laxus knew about his plan all along and aided him.

"I wish I did." Juvia said, sighing.

"You could figure it out." Gajeel suggested.

"You've suggested that many times." She pointed out.

"And you always say no. What's with that?" Biting her lip, Juvia admitted yet another secret.

"I'm scared." They gave her confused looks.

"Scared of what?" Cana asked.

"That they didn't want me. Knowing that will be worse than anything I could think of." Once again, they were sympathetic.

"If they didn't, it's their mistake." Gajeel reassured her.

"And what if they did want you? What if something happened and that's why they had to give you up?" Mirajane pointed out.

"You'll never know if you don't search." Cana told the bluenette, but before she could reply, the door of their hotel room was forcefully opened by none other than Natsu Dragneel.

"Alright, who's ready to party?" While they raised brows, Erza explained.

"We figured it'd be nice for both teams to bond for a while." As soon as Juvia spotted Gray, a smile immediately lightened her face.

"I like that idea." She whispered, trying to contain her excitement. By then she was well aware that being overly affectionate only made him uncomfortable.

"Hey, Juvia. How are you?" The ice mage casually asked, coming to seat beside her. She tried her best to contain herself as they lightly chatted for the next few hours.

The night turned out to be a lot of fun, with the continuation of the game of truth or dare and even a drinking contest which Cana won, obviously.

Even though Juvia's mind was overwhelmed by questions regarding her parents, she tried her best to push them aside and just enjoy the time spent with the friends she had never thought she would have.

October 12th, X779

"What are you doing here?" Juvia nearly jumped.

"I...I'm just...Sorry." Keeping her head down, she stepped back from the window and began walking away. The girl with dark brown hair pulled in a braid and brown eyes stared at her suspiciously for a moment before approaching the window as well.

Her eyes scanned the view until she spotted the young couple that Juvia had been watching. "Don't tell me you've been watching Yuri and Liz being disgusting?"

"I don't think they're disgusting." The 12-years-old replied in a small voice, stopping.

"I see." The older girl smirked. "I bet you wish you could have someone to be disgusting with, don't you?" Juvia didn't reply.

"Will you stop calling them disgusting, please, Anne?" Another girl came in; she had light skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.

"It's none of your business, Laura." Anne rolled her eyes.

"Don't listen to her, Juvia." Laura gave the younger girl a soft smile. "She's just jealous because she doesn't have anyone."

"Neither do you." The brunette pointed out.

"But I will someday." A dreamy look came upon the blonde's face. "I will find a handsome boy who will love me like Yuri loves Liz."

"You really think so?" Juvia wondered.

"Of course!" Smiling brightly, Laura turned to her. "And you will too. Someday you'll find someone who'll do anything for you. Even give his life to save you because he will be a hero."

"I think you've been reading too many fairy tales." Anne rolled her eyes.

"Mrs. McGonagal told me that sometimes fairy tales come true." Laura told her.

"So you really think I will find someone like Yuri?" Juvia looked back towards the young couple on the gardens just as Yuri gave Liz a rose.

"I do. You're a special girl." Liz was a rare gentle soul in the orphanage, but she was adopted a few weeks later and thus Juvia's life went back to being rainy and lonely.

However, she never forgot the older girl's words and hung onto hope that someday they might come true.

July 7th, X791

"Juvia, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now..." Gray seemed nervous, which only made her nervous. He had showed up out of nowhere, saved her and and now he had something important to say.

Could this be the moment she had been dreaming of? Would he confess his love to her at last? "Looks like this is about to get really awkward." She barely heard Meredy's whisper; too focused on her hopeful thoughts.

"Whatever it is, I am ready to hear it." Juvia confidently told the ice mage, who blushed. Was this really happening?

"Juvia, move!" Only Lyon's desperate scream could make her change focus. Looking back at the older mage, she was terrified to spot the laser beam heading her way.

No. This wasn't supposed to happen. There was no time to avoid it or block it. She was frozen in place, shocked and afraid.

Gray noticed it too. His expression changed from nervous to determined and before either of them knew what was happening, he had pushed her.

Juvia fell to the ground, but barely noticed it as her eyes were solely focused on him. They widened once she noticed that he had been hit by the laser and blood was spilling.

Suddenly, more beams were shot and the ice mage could do nothing once they pierced his body. It was truly horrifying and her voice was stuck in her throat.

Silent tears fell down her cheeks and she felt like her whole world was breaking once his body fell forward. Unmoving, lifeless. He was gone.

"Noooo!" The water mage screamed so loud that her ears hurt. Desperately, she crawled, trying to reach him.

Once her hand found his cold one, she sobbed. "Please no." She brought it to her cheek and closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears.

"Juvia..." Lyon and Meredy were staring at her, worry and sorrow in their eyes, but she ignored them.

Letting go of Gray's hand, she moved again and wrapped her arms around his middle, trying to bring his body onto her lap. Once his head was settled against her chest, she cried again.

"Please, don't leave me." No reply. He was silent, everything was suddenly silent.

"Is he really dead?" Meanwhile, Meredy was asking the other ice mage.

"I should call Chelia. She can heal him." Lyon suggested, but Juvia knew it was no use. Gray was gone, dead in her arms, and everything was cold.

"Why did you do this?" She whispered, sobbing, still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

He had sacrificed himself, willingly and selflessly, for her. Why? Did this mean, as Laura had said, that he loved her? Was that what he had been trying to say?

The answer didn't come as Gray avoided her in the following days, after being mysteriously revived. Juvia didn't see him again until the night of the Grand Ball, when many secrets were revealed.

September 22nd, X785

A man with white hair and black eyes sat on the red velvet couch, staring at the newspaper in his hands. There was a picture of Fairy Tail's missing members and his eyes were focused on a certain bluenette.

In the picture, Juvia Lockser was leaning against an angry looking Gajeel Redfox while Gray Fullbuster stood on her other side, looking towards the camera. The water mage was smiling brightly, seeming content to be amongst her friends.

The man looked away from the image and faced the painting on the other side of the room. It was a large portrait of a woman with the same blue hair and eyes. She wore an elegant jade dress with long sleeves while sitting on a chair of the same color.

"Unbelievable." Letting out a sigh, he shook his head. "How could I not have noticed the resemblance before?"

He had been cursing himself ever since he had found the picture as something clicked. Truth be told, he hadn't paid attention to Fairy Tail's water mage before, but now that she was currently missing and her face was on every newspaper alongside her friends, it was impossible to miss her.

Earlier that morning, he had decided to actually read it himself instead of having his advisors do so. As soon as he had laid eyes on the beautiful mage on the front page, realization had sunk in.

He had known exactly who she was and now, looking at the painting, his belief was confirmed. Juvia Lockser was indeed his daughter and she was lost. Again.

"I will find her." The man vowed before standing up and walking away from the couch. Opening the door near the painting, he made his way into the next room, where his most trusted advisor was.

After quickly explaining the situation and making the latter promise to keep it a secret, the man with black eyes gave the order for them to assemble all forces necessary and begin searching for the missing water mage.

July 12th, X791

Juvia sighed while watching her friends dance. The night hadn't turned out well so far. Not only had Gray rejected her in front of everyone, but he'd somehow disappeared before she could talk to him.

Things had been weird between them ever since his sacrifice and they had yet to discuss it. It's not as if she hadn't tried, but he just seemed to always find a way to ignore or avoid her.

She wasn't sure why, considering she had done nothing to anger him so much. Was he resenting her because she had nearly caused his death? Did he regret saving her that night?

"He doesn't regret it." She nearly jumped, looking towards Lyon, who had just appeared by her side, in shock.

"What?" He gave a small smile.

"I can tell you're thinking about Gray and what happened that night. Probably blaming yourself for it and thinking he does too." How could he know her so well?

"How do you even know?" His smile enlarged.

"Because I know Gray and his tendency to blame himself for everything." Lyon rolled his eyes. "And after seeing your reaction that night, I figured you must be feeling the same."

"He died became of me." Juvia swallowed hard, holding back tears. "And now he hates me."

"You couldn't be more wrong." The ice mage shook his head. "He doesn't hate you, if anything it's the opposite."

"Then why is he avoiding me?" She wondered, looking towards the stairs where Gray was currently talking to Erza.

"Because that's what he does." Lyon explained. "Every time something happens and he comes close to losing someone, he closes himself off. And with you, well, I saw how terrified he was when you were about to get hit by that laser."

"So what are you saying?" The bluenette asked and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm saying you should give him time to get over what happened. That's all he needs." Juvia nodded, understanding.

"Okay. I can do that." She could wait for Gray. If time was what he needed, she would give him all of it. She would step back and let him figure things out for himself, no more pressure.

It was the right thing to do.

Lyon seemed like he was about to say something else, but before he could, an unexpected person joined them. Princess Hisui quickly greeted the two before telling Juvia to follow her.

With no other choice, the water mage did so and was led towards a large room with a red couch, where all the answers she'd been waiting for her entire life for awaited.

So, thoughts?

What did you think of the flahsbacks to Juvia's childhood? I chose to name the young couple Yuri and Liz because that's my parents' names. They're my ultimate OTP and the main reason why I believe in love. 😍 ️

Can you guess who Juvia's family is based on this chapter? Shouldn't be too hard to figure out. 😉

Lastly, what did you think of the Gruvia scenes? I've written about Gray's sacriffice so many times, but it's amazing how different my point of view can be during each one.

Next chapter: Wounds. It will cover the whole truth about Juvia's past and you'll understand the true purpose of this story.

Ps: Reviews are appreciated so I can keep excited.

Happy New Year again!