Author's Note: I had a bad day today and needed a distraction. Usual drill: no beta, I don't own Fairy Tail.

The sun painted stripes over the walls and furniture as it seeped through the slotted window blinds. Jellal's eyes flickered open and he took a moment to orient himself with the surroundings. He'd been waking up in the same bed for half a year and it still didn't feel entirely real. Getting used to sleeping on a mattress was strange enough but the body next to him never failed to make him reach out and touch her just to be sure he wasn't dreaming.

Sometimes she slept next to him content to simply be there. Other nights she tangled their limbs and didn't let him go until morning. His personal favorites were the nights he spent with his face against the back of her neck and one arm securing her body against him. On this particular morning he woke with her head on his chest and one hand wrapped up in her hair. She still slept soundly and Jellal enjoyed the peacefulness in her features. It probably wouldn't last long.

They'd fought the night before; same argument, different circumstances. He hated fighting with Erza. They'd spent far too long on opposing sides to waste the time they now had together disagreeing.

He watched the morning light creep across the room in silence allowing the strands of her hair to slide over his fingertips. When she finally stirred she yawned and looked up at him. He smiled.

"Good morning." She smiled back, though less brightly, and leaned over him. Jellal waited for her to brush her fingers over his face and kiss his cheek before she settled next to him again.

"I don't want to fight."

"I hate fighting with you, Erza. And I won't anymore. I'm not going to stop you but at least tell me you understand why I think it's a bad idea." She reached across his chest and found his hand. Her fingers laced with his and she fell into a thoughtful silence.

"I understand."

"But you haven't changed your mind?"

"No." Jellal sighed and glanced down at her.

"One of these days my hair will turn completely grey." She laughed softly.

"Will you blame me or Meredy?"

"Both of you give me equal amounts of anxiety," he grumbled. "I guess if you're on her side that means this battle has been lost."

"It's not a loss for Meredy."

"She's too young."

"She's an adult, Jellal." Erza gave him a moment to process. His mental cogs always had turned slower and more pragmatically than hers. "She's happy."

"Ultear was always better with her." Erza recalled her hand and propped her chin in his chest to look up at him.

"She loves you, too."

"It's not the same."

"I don't think it matters, really. She just wants your approval. Can you give her that?" She smiled sadly. "You and I never had parents to speak of. Meredy had Ultear and now you. Your support is important to her or she'd have done it already." Jellal sighed heavily and stared at the ceiling.

"I know."

"Then why are you being so stubborn?" When he had no answer for her, Erza laughed. "You'll make a great dad someday."

"Do you have news to shock me with, too?" He arched a wary eyebrow.

"Not today, no. I promise."

"Good. Now can we start the morning over and pretend Meredy isn't marrying that ostentatious ice-make wizard?"

"You're cute." Erza slid her body onto his. "You can't ignore it forever."

"I know," he said settling his hands on her hips. "But can you give me five minutes? At least?"

"Sure." She kissed him briefly on the lips before moving to his ear. "Good morning," Erza whispered. "You can take your five minutes now."

"Only five?" She giggled when he flipped her over on the mattress.

In the end Jellal took fifteen.