The guild hall was filled with it's normal hustle and bustle, Laxus was on his stool with his back against a pillar checking out Fairy Tail's resident water mage as she stretched across a table to reach a pacifier for her friend, Levy, barely reaching it with the tips of her fingers she had exposed her long legs through the slits in her skirt and her ass looked great from the angle. Laxus realized Gajeel had spotted him as he joined Juvia and Levy at the table with his tiny daughter. Juvia looked his way and asked Gajeel, "was he looking over here?"

"Nope." Gajeel said matter of factly.

"Are you sure, Juvia was almost positive that he was looking at her," she smiled slightly.

"Not a chance Ameonna," held Gajeel.

"oh," she said disappointed, "I just thought that maybe….Laxus-san is attractive…but if you say" she rambled.

Gajeel shook his head firmly, Juvia stood looking defeated and headed to the bar for a cup of tea.

Levy shifted the baby's weight from one side to the other and scolded her husband, "why do you do that? He could have been looking over here, I actually thought he was. Do you get something out of making her stay so depressed all the time? She's barely holding her rain off lately and when it does come it takes hours to calm her down because she is so embarrassed it makes it worse."

Gajeel scowled and furrowed his brow, "she doesn't need any trouble, no guys means no trouble." He glanced at Juvia ensuring she was still busy at the bar before dropping his voice, "do you think we need another situation like the ice-prick?" he raised his eyebrows questioning his wife.

Levy let out a short sigh, "no, you're right. You do know that she can't stay single forever, right?"

"Not forever," Gajeel stated, "just until she can see the dangers."

As Juvia turned with her drink to rejoin her friends Laxus stood to leave and they passed by one another in the center of the room, Laxus brushed his arm against hers, their fingertips touching and she felt a flutter in her stomach. She glanced over her shoulder watching him head toward the doors as he called out, "Mira, I'm leaving for that mission, be back in a few days."

Juvia sat at the table and slowly sipped her tea, and Gajeel glanced toward the job board, "Wonder if he took that S rank job, figured he would have taken a team for that one."

Levy shrugged, "maybe he went on a different one."

It had been nearly two weeks when Laxus staggered through the doors of the guild. Freed rushed forward catching him before he crashed to the floor, bleeding and sporting many severe looking injuries he struggled to remain conscious.

Juvia rose from her seat across the hall and craned to see what was happening, she pushed through the crowd and came to the front just as Freed and Bixlow carried Laxus past toward the infirmary. She whispered his name as he went by and swore his eyes fluttered as if he heard her. Gajeel walked behind her and escorted her toward the exit, "We have to go sign your lease today."

"oh, yeah." She murmured glancing back. Juvia had been staying with Gajeel and Levy for nearly six months now, everyone assumed it was because of their new arrival and Juvia helping out, but Gajeel had been overly protective of the water mage, one never seen without the other as long as anyone could remember. It had been ages since she had even been near Gray, and everyone secretly wondered what it was that caused the girl to finally move on.

Signing the lease to her new place meant a certain level of privacy again, all that time living under the watchful eye of her friend had caused her to have a bit more anxiety than usual and her rain had crept ever closer and sometimes would release for entire days before she could control it again. She blamed it partially on not being around the one that stopped the rain, but she knew deep down that she could do it without him. Looking around, she saw the modest furnishings of her new place, a small sofa that barely fit two people, an arm chair, a shelf and a kitchen table and chairs in the living and dining area. The bedroom only had a bed, dresser and end table but Juvia had planned on getting more as she started to take more jobs again, she only went occasionally when Gajeel needed help but now she would need to work more to afford her place. She was surprised she managed to talk Gajeel into letting her get this place without too much fight, it being a ground level apartment made him nervous for her safety but she assured him she would be cautious. Her old place was much larger and more customized, reflecting her style in every inch of space but she knew it would only be a matter of time until she made this place her own as well.

When night fell and Magnolia slowed down Juvia locked her door and headed toward the guild hall. Once inside she saw that everyone had left for the night except Mira cleaning up in the kitchen and Master in his office. She crept through the hallway and made her way to the infirmary, cracking the door and sliding carefully inside. Standing in the dimly lit room she peered toward Laxus and walked slowly toward him. She stood near the end of his bed and looked on, seeing the strong dragon slayer look so hurt was something new for her, he had always seemed robust and in control even when he had been injured before. She placed a hand softly on his arm for a moment and wished for his quick healing before sneaking back out of the infirmary and praying to make it back home without running into anyone. She was free to do as she pleased, but that wouldn't keep her 'Big Brother's' protective nature from creating a lengthy lecture for her later.

Juvia made it back home and locked her door securely before changing into her pajamas and laying down for bed in her empty apartment. She was unsure of why she had felt compelled to go see Laxus tonight, but she wondered what had taken him so long on the job and what had caused such awful wounds on him. Drifting off to sleep she felt independent once more in her life.

Days later Laxus emerged from the infirmary after some tending to by Porlyusica. He did not seem to want to speak to anyone, even avoiding his own team who wanted nothing more than to sit around a table with him in their usual fashion. Juvia had been walking out of the guild that day and overheard some commotion behind the guild, walking around the side of the building she saw Laxus working out, she supposed he must have felt like training after his injuries to regain his strength. She lost track of time standing there watching his muscles flex with each motion, she sensed the anger and frustration in his magic with the release of every spell and she was enamored by the way it made her not want to look away. Realizing she had things to do she snapped out of her haze and headed toward home. Laxus had been aware of her presence and had been wondering how long she would stay, he didn't mind her being there, but he had a certain soft spot for the water mage and found her sexy when she looked at him with the light in her eyes.

No longer having her there allowed his frustrations to once again creep in and take over his mind. Growing bitter once more he spit into the dirt and headed back to his place to clean up, maybe he just needed to go out for a drink to unwind.

At the bar Laxus sat at the bar nursing his first beer and sulking in his sour mood when someone sat next to him and ordered a beer for themselves. He immediately recognized the voice and looked over seeing Gajeel next to him. Laxus, not looking for social interaction, gave a nod acknowledging his presence and went back to staring at the bubbles hugging the rim of the glass. Gajeel however had come with a purpose, looked directly at him and gave a firm warning, "stay away from Juvia."

Not liking the tone nor the message Laxus gave a glance filled with arrogance back at Gajeel and sharply responded, "What if I don't? is big brother gonna beat me up after school? Seriously metalhead, she's a big girl let her make the big girl decisions on her own."

"Just do everyone a favor and do what is best for her and walk away. I see you checking her out and getting closer to her, it's been going on for months. Just stay away." Gajeel lashed back.

"Listen bud, I don't know what kind of sick 'not under my roof' shit you got going on but you can't threaten me or control her. If she wants me to be around I will," Laxus retorted with a smirk and gulped the lukewarm beer down, signaling the bartender to bring another.

"I'm telling you one last time, you don't know what is going on and you need to stay out of it." Gajeel swigged his drink, slamming it down and leaving.

Feeling livid, Laxus drank beer after beer dwelling on what Gajeel had said, what the hell had happened? He wasn't always so protective over her, then he turned into this. Shaking his head he had another thought creep into his mind, this one about the failed mission and upcoming trip to ERA for the inquiry. He decided he would need a few more drinks to dull this pain.