Hi! Couple of days ago, I noticed I'd gained my three stories had gained a couple more follows, favourites and even a review, so I just want to say thanks. It really means a lot to me. :) Please continue reviewing?

I also have a question for you guys: Should I change the genre? The story is going to have adventure, romance, humor and drama but obviously, I can only have two genres. So what should I list it as?

Enjoy!

Simon stopped only a couple of feet away, patiently giving Erza her space.

She was struck by a bolt of gratefulness; there was no doubt she needed his tolerance. The sudden lightheadedness that hit-freezing and taking time to process her thoughts was the only thing she'd be able to do anyways.

Her gaze slid downwards to her hand. It seemed real enough. But she made a fist anyway, forcing her nails to bite into her palm. Not in the least was it painful, seeing as what she'd been through, but she indistinctively felt the skin being pushed down, noted a temporary, new palm line and faint nail marks when she released.

So this- this is real.

With that thought, Erza finally allowed herself to release the breath she'd been holding back and welcome the breakdown of her warry, defensive dam of instincts. The relief… Oh… It was so sweet, coursing through her.

Her inner wolf shared the joy, yipping like a puppy. "Jellal's alive! Simon's alive! They're both okay!"

She nodded to herself, smiling. Yeah. They're okay.

Then Erza looked up to meet his gaze, noting how his smile was lined with worry. For me?

Maybe he was reassured after seeing her smile, but his became purely sincere as their eyes met. Erza bit her lip, affection warming her. Have you still been looking out for everyone all this time. I can tell you haven't changed at all.

Well at least his personality hadn't.

Erza began studying him.

She thought Jellal had grown, but Simon - he had at least ten inches on her, easily dwarfing even Elfman and wore a simple t-shirt that was thin enough for Erza to tell he wasn't the same skinny, underfed child she knew back then. This man was muscular, lean and fit with lightly tanned skin, not red and burnt by excessive sunlight, nor pale because of a lack of it. His hair was darker and richer now, though the two hair-parting fringes were gone, replaced with several smaller, spiky bangs instead.

He looks so different now. Healthier. Stronger. Happy.

Yes, the last one was obvious. His smile- his eyes were the same. Brown and soft, warm and welcoming.

"I'm glad you're okay." Simon tilted his head to the side. "You are okay, right?"

"That's the first thing you say?" Erza's voice was hoarse with relief. "You-" She looked over her shoulder to Jellal then back to Simon. "You're both idiots."

His smile only widened. "That's the worse insult you can come up with?" He shook his head and softly said, "Still gentle as ever. You haven't changed at all, Erza." From his sides, his arms rose and extended towards her.

Erza couldn't stop herself from eagerly rushing forwards into his arms, earning an ooff from Simon when she collided with his chest. His arms folded around her, one hand gently in her hair, the other at the center of her back. Erza let her fingers rest on his shoulders and whispered, "I've missed you."

Simon ran his fingers through her silky mane of scarlet, stroking it one more time before gently smiling back, the expression out of place for a person of his stature. Though for Erza, it was as familiar and reassuring as ever. "I've missed you too."

The moment where Erza practically jumped into Simon's arms? Jellal stiffened. His legs and feet felt heavy, like they were weighted down and yet he still forced himself to step backwards. But when Simon brushed his fingers against Erza's hair, the way he used to do, Jellal actually let out a growl, a haze of red drifting through his head.

His inner wolf snarled, 'Fucking Simon- Jellal, don't let him touch her!'

Jellal almost lost it right there. He wanted to shout a challenge. He wanted to punch Simon. He wanted him submitting and backing away from Erza. But just as he tensed, readying himself to attack, he felt a hand commandingly grip his shoulder and squeeze. Hard.

"Let me go asshole."

"No. Not until you calm down."

Jellal pivoted backwards. Simultaneously, his hand flew diagonally up across his chest and struck Cobra on the wrist at an angle Jellal knew would hurt. The other man hissed in pain before releasing Jellal.

"You bastard."

"I could say the same."

"Fernandes, you were asking for it. I know you, and when I see that look in your eyes, I know you're about to do something stupid."

"Shut up." Jellal rubbed his temple, and exhaled harshly, his dominant aggressiveness beginning to fade. He didn't know what had overcome him or why, but he supposed Cobra was a little right.

When had he become so petty and overprotective?

Jellal watched Erza laugh at something Simon said and felt his chest tighten.

Is this jealousy?

Nonono. I kissed her and she returned it.

The frustration in his chest eased slightly. Come to think of it, so did hurting his general. "Cobra, I forgot to say thanks."

Cobra raised an eyebrow. "A thank you, huh? I've never gotten one of those from you before."

"Don't test me or I'll tear your intestines out. And yes, I'll do it. I hope you'll taste even better than what I imagine Simon tastes like."

"Dude. Grossssss."

"You were asking for it."

The general let it pass.

Jellal let out an inaudible sigh of relief when Erza finally stepped out of Simon's arms. Though his eyes narrowed at Simon's slow pace of movement; clearly he was reluctant. His wolf was pacing relentlessly but Jellal had him under control.

At least I think I do….

The alpha cleared his throat, hoping that the same would eventually be done with his mind. Erza and her friends turned to watch him with expectant expressions.

Jellal opened his mouth and paused as his eyes met Erza's. She gave him an encouraging, if somewhat distracted nod before looking back to Simon.

His heart twisted. What did that look mean?

"Cobra-" It came out as a rasp. Jellal cleared his throat again. "Is everyone in camp?"

The said person nodded. "Shall I gather them?"

"Yes."

In the meantime, Erza and her friends began picking sitting spots. Lisananna and Elfman were with Meredy, Millianna and Wally beside Simon, while Mira sat with- Erza choked. The large blond that'd picked a fight with them. Laxus was it?

He was leaning towards Mira with interest, probably saying something stupid, Erza guessed. Mirajane tended to have that effect on men, entrancing them then turning them down. The white haired woman raised an eyebrow, looked unimpressed, if somewhat mildly amused.

Erza giggled to herself. "I guess old habits really don't die."

Jellal's head snapped towards her and Erza froze. His gaze was intense and searching- but what for?

He held her gaze for a long, waiting moment before eventually turning away, walking to the front of the semicircle and raising his voice, without a trace of weakness. "As you already know, I'm the alpha of this pack. Laxus," He nodded to the blond. "Is my beta male."

Suddenly Jellal's voice became guarded. "Ultear is the female alpha but she won't be joining us." He paused as if waiting for someone to question him but there was only silence and people listening respectfully. "Ikaruga is my beta female but she's taking over the alpha female's duties."

Hearing her name called, a woman with pale pink hair sitting at the very front stood, turned to face and scan through the crowd. Her eyes settled on Erza's for a quick movement and a sneer crossed her face. She raised her chin even higher.

Erza scowled back. The attitude, the way she looked down at them, the way she stood and held herself- like she thought she deserved so much more and was too good to be here. In a mere five seconds, Erza knew she wouldn't like this snobby woman.

She didn't sit down until Jellal continued, "Then we have the three generals. Cobra." Erza's eyes shot to the spiky haired brunet who didn't bother to stand.

"Freed."

A man with long green hair waved.

Erza's eyes narrowed. He looked like he might be a strong opponent. He wasn't extraordinarily tall or muscular, but he had the wiry planner look, someone who only made dead-on calculations.

"And Simon."

He took a brief stand.

"The rest of our members: Kagura. Hoteye. Midnight. Bickslow. Meredy. Evergreen. Angel. Our elder Makarov."

Each respective member stood, nodded or waved to the rest of the people gathered.

"And Sho."

"What?" Erza blurted. "Sho?"

"Nee-san!" Spinning around, she met her little brother, who wasn't so little anymore.

He still had straight straw-yellow hair and the same wide green eyes. Even though he was trying to smile, Erza could see his face was stained with tears as he ran up to her, throwing his arms around her, burying his face into the clothing over her shoulder.

"You're okay!"

Affectionately, Erza ruffled his hair. "You always were the biggest crybaby."

"I've missed you big sister!" Sho ignored her, turning his head to glare accusingly at Jellal, then Simon. "Those two assholes didn't bother telling me you were here and they always leave me out of every-ow!"

The hand that was in his hair now yanked on his ear. "I don't want to hear any more bad words from you!" Erza scolded. "Unless you want to know what soap tastes like?

"I'm not a kid anymore!" He grumbled. Ow!"

"No more cheek from you mister!"

"It's not cheek!"

Erza swelled to reprimand him again. But then she abruptly softened , posture, eyes and voice. "You know, you haven't changed at all." Now, her gaze rose upwards, meeting first Jellal's, then Simon's. "Nothing has."

Jellal gave her a questioning look but she was talking to Sho again.

What did that look mean?

He replayed her words in his head.

"You haven't changed at all. Nothing has."

Erza… are you talking about us? Are you saying our relationship- it's still what it used to be?

Wariness introduced itself to Jellal. The day he lost her was when his heart broke for the first time. Simply, the thought of never seeing her again, never telling her how he felt about her, never getting to be with her- the despair consumed him, drowning out everything else. Jellal wasn't sure he wanted to go through that again. Because he knew if she said no to him, he wouldn't be able to take it.

But deep in his healed heart, hope whispered to him.

Even though it's been years, are you saying you still have feelings for me?

"Because I still do for you." He watched his Scarlet, beautiful, smart, gently and kind- Erza was right. Nothing had changed. She was still the same. Jellal murmured, "I still love you." so softly the words were lost in the wind. Because so are my feelings. I'm almost afraid because I know they'll always be.

Until Erza flopped onto her assigned bed, she hadn't known how tired she really was. Lying face down, she closed her eyes and sank into the soft mattress. The sheets still had that fresh, recently washed smell that reminded Erza of fragrant wildflowers.

"I don't think you know how ridiculous you look."

She ignored Mira and let out a content sigh.

"I mean it! It's like a red starfish decided to try and absorb my bed."

Unselfconscious, Erza lazily rolled onto her side, propping herself up with an elbow. "And who said this was your bed?" She questioned. "I put my clothes on this bed first so it's mine."

"No, I called it first so it's mine."

"No, I sat on it first so it's mine!"

Meredy stopped in their doorway and giggled. "Are you guys done yet?"

Kagura slipped past Meredy and went to her bed in the farthest left corner. Like Meredy, Kagura's corner included two large and two small dressers, a reading lamp, and a study table, accompanied by a matching chair. But whereas Meredy's sheets were bright pink and her space was messy with magazines, snacks, a laptop, books, a phone, and a pair of headphones, the only thing out of place in Kagura's zone that Erza noticed was a beautiful sheathed katanna with a black leather casing and a smooth handle, studded by white gemstones.

Kagura noticed and nodded to the blade. "That's my favourite, Archenemy."

"You use katannas?" Erza raised an eyebrow. She'd thought she was the only one.

Meredy tucked her knees up. "We have regular training frequently so everyone has their preferred weapon or style. But most of us prefer regular swords."

Mira looked intrigued. "Any of you guys use daggers?" Erza knew why she asked. As an orphan, she picked up fighting skills on the streets. Handling knives must still be a second nature.

Kagura thoughtfully tapped her chin. "Let's see… Laxus does decently with them in weapon training. Otherwise, he sticks to wolf form fighting or normal hand to hand combat."

Erza was brimming with curiosity. She wanted to know more about- about everything, But her first question was, "What are you training for?"

Kagura and Meredy shared a glance and unspoken words passed between them. Finally Kagura shook her head and tried to smile, but it was false with tension. "Don't worry about that."

Now, Erza silently contacted her best friend.

Mira, they're hiding something.

I know.

Well?

There's nothing we can do about it. If they don't want to tell us, they're not going to.

Erza sighed. Okay. What else could she do?

Trying to patch up the awkward lull, Meredy tried, "Did you guys know Kagura's Simon sister?"

It actually worked. "I remember him telling us about you. But…" Erza hesitated, unsure how to word this nicely. "How did you escape? They captured every shifter in my village, burned down all of the buildings…"

Kagura meshed her fingers together, looking slightly ashamed. "I- I didn't get taken. They said I was too weak and decided taking me would slow them down. So they just let me live, but because all of the other werewolves were taken, I grew up without knowing many." She wrenched her hands apart now. "But when I heard Simon was alive, I left to search for him." She looked up again, meeting Erza's gaze with quiet pride. "And now, I'm here. I've actually been here for a couple of years now."

Meredy got up to go sit with Kagura on her bed. "Jellal and I are old friends so I've been in the pack for a few years now." She slung her arm across Kagura's back. "But Kagura is still my favourite person."

Kagura laughed, her shoulders relaxing. And for the next half-hour, they made small talk, trading questions on lifestyles and pack life, stories on their friends and families, everything from fashion tricks to shifting tips. Mira and Erza intentionally avoided talking about fighting again, not earning an objection from the other two girls.

Mira giggled deviously. "Really?"

"Yes! If nobody can find Meredy in the camp, Cobra's missing too."

"That's not true!"

Erza butted in, sincerely enjoying their conversation. "I'm with Kagura. It's fair to assume you two are doing something."

Kagura's eyes twinkled. "Jellal and Meredy may be old friends but he still acts like an overprotective father."

Meredy's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of Jellal…"

Erza felt her cheeks reddening. "What?"

Mira laughed. "Meredy just said his name and you're already blushing! That reminds me, I forgot to tell you guys-"

"I'm not!"

"-Jellal kissed Erza!"

Meredy nearly fell of her side of Kagura's bed. "What!?"

"They see each other; Erza slaps him and then the two start kissing right in front of Laxus and me."

"We talked first." Erza said meekly. "And I had good reason to!"

Kagura and Meredy's squeals made her protests unheard.

"This sounds like a romantic comedy!"

"That's so sweet! And cliché! And cheesy… Meredy's right."

"It might be cliché but it's still so adorable! Erza here hasn't been with anyone since the last ice age."

"Mira!" Erza found her voice. "Go away and mind your own love life!"

"Love eh?" Meredy's eyes glinted.

Erza flushed. "You know what I mean! Whatever you call it!" She buried her burning face into her hands. "Can I be left alone now?"

Her comment was met with silence. As if they'd actually considered it. But then:

"Kag, do you think I could rub it in Ikaruga's face?"

"Mmm… If you don't, I will."

Still extremely mortified, Erza peeked between her fingers and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Again, the two younger women traded a glance before offering,

"She's naturally arrogant."

"And bossy."

"And she uses people for their skills ."

"Her attitude."

"The way she acts like she has a stick of her ass so she deserves the right to do anything she wants?"

Mira cocked her head to the side. "So she's your typical A-class bitch?"

Kagura nodded. "Exactly. And you know how they're always use people, trying to climb the ladders in ranks, popularity, whatever? Well her current goal is to become Jellal's mate."

Erza wasn't aware she'd bitten her lip until the metallic taste of blood was thick on her tongue. "What?!" She snarled. "That stuck up, no good-she wants to be with-what!?"

"Excatly." Meredy looked extraordinarily pleased, exchanging a sly smile with the Mira and Kagura. "So, do I have your-"

"Yes." Erza gritted her teeth, the blood staining them pink. "Tell her. Exaggerate every. Single. Detail."

Mira was both proud of her best friend and the vivid change of emotions over her guy! First embarrassment, then jealousy, and now, protectiveness?

I'm so proud of you Erza! Stick up for your man!

Mira slyly smirked, adding, "Or better yet, why don't you reenact the scene with Jellal?"

She expected Erza to return her smirk and say something like, it would be my pleasure.

But instead, the blush that had just been fading from her cheeks returned at full force and she buried her face into her hands, yelling, "No! Mira!"

Kagura and Meredy laughed again and Mira sighed, stopped listening to Erza's weak denial. Never mind. I guess you still have to grow up a little more.

"Will you stop your pacing?"

Jellal didn't relent. Laxus was leaning back on the legs of his chair while Makarov sat opposite to him. Cobra had decided to sit on the couch's arm.

"I'm thinking."

"Are you?" Makarov raised an eyebrow. "My boy, I know you and the girl have a deep history, but allowing her to join the camp at this time?"

Jellal didn't answer.

"And what about Ultear?"

"What about her?"

The elder let out a tired sigh. "We both know what. We need to get her to a hospital or somewhere she'll be safe from-"

Cobra cracked his knuckles. "Or we could go ahead and attack. It'll be easy to destroy-"

"You mean the way they're trying to do to us? Have you forgotten they've been trying to exterminate our kind for years? " Laxus rolled his cigarette between his fingers. "How would we even manage to do counter them?"

"No one is going to be exterminated." Jellal firmly growled. He finally stopped pacing and the other shifters watched him attentively. "Not as long as I'm the alpha of this pack."

An approving light shone in Makarov's eyes and he gave a nod. "Good for you Jellal."

Jellal looked away as strong, flaring waves of shame washed over him. He didn't deserve any praise; He'd made too many mistakes in the Tower of Heaven…

Losing Erza-losing my friends was just one- but not being able to protect them in the first place… It's all my fault. I should've been stronger-I should've been there to take save them, to take care of them.

I promised myself I would never make the same mistakes again. With anyone. This pack is my second chance, my opportunity to atone for my wrongs.

A pang of guilt hit him. And yet I still broke that promise.

Oblivious, Cobra nonchalantly asked, "Does anyone know where the other generals are?"

Makarov cast an apological glance at his grandson. "I sent Simon and the Raijinshū to border patrol the whole territory. They should be back in an hour or so."

Laxus waved it away with his free hand. "It's fine. I don't know why all of you still refer to them like that. That pack name should've disappeared when we merged packs."

Cobra opened his mouth but Makrov cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"Stay on track boys. What are we going to do about Ultear? The hunters aren't going to give up, they want us dead."

"Leave her as she is Gramps. It's a coma, not a disease that can be fixed with needles."

"But it's dangerous. They know just as well as we do knocking out the alpha female of a pack was a good move. Not only that, she'll be our biggest weakness if they attack again and we're forced to defend the camp."

"I don't care." Jellal stubbornly said. "It'd be more dangerous to have her in somewhere we can't monitor her. Or what if they send assassins and they manage to finish the job?"

Saying it out loud allowed his guilt to overwhelm him and take him back to the day.

"Fuck! They're so many of them!" Even as Cobra shouted, another black clothed invader appeared, thrusting something towards the general. Because Jellal was equally occupied, all he saw was a flash of silver, although he knew well enough to tell it was a blade. Thankfully, Cobra managed to step back and skillfully stopped it with the hilt of his own sword. Then he turned his wrist, using the attacker's momentum to redirect the blade sideways, away from him.

"Shit-Ultear move!"

The black haired woman was concentrating on fending off another attacker with her sword, black as the night itself. Though she wielded it with clear experience, her eyes were narrowed, taking in each of her opponent's moves. But hearing Cobra, she glanced back just as a second person rushed her.

Simultaneously, her other opponent suddenly dashed forwards, his sword swinging in wide arc.

Too wide.

Jellal flung himself between them and parried with the sword he'd picked up. The ringing, jolting of their weapons nearly made Jellal drop the unfamiliar blade, but he steeled his nerves and held on, if a bit loosely. The assassin let out a muffled curse through their scarf before retreating a couple of steps.

Jellal frowned. The high pitch meant his attacker was feminine. But that didn't explain why it sounded so familiar…

"Jellal!"

Now it was his time to turn, but he was late.

He heard the sound of his flesh ripping as the blade pierced his lower torso first. But when his mind acknowledged it, there was this agonizing, terrible, bomb that was pain, exploding in his side. It flooded outwards through his body, hard and fast, striking every nerve, rewriting every sense and thought to scream PAIN. All Jellal allowed himself to do was gasp as he sank down onto one knee.

But just for a heartbeat. Then he forced himself to stand, gritting his teeth. But Ultear beat him to it. Somehow, she'd shifted to wolf in the midst of the battle and was now viciously snapping at every accessible inch she could reach.

Her opponent let out a screech, scrabbling backwards as she shoved Ultear away. Then, in a blink her sword was whistling through the air and Jellal's breath caught in his throat. But Ultear simply ducked under it.

Jellal winced from the pain of letting his relieved breath loose. Of course Ultear would be alright. She fought equally well, whether she was a human with a weapon or wolf.

That's when it all went wrong.

Her opponent raised her sword again and Ultear instinctively concentrated on it. But in the assassin's other hand, a large chunk of gray whirled through the air, crashing into Ultear's head.

The black wolf staggered to the side while the assassin triumphantly raised her sword to finish her job.

"Fuck no!"

Jellal took a risk- a risk he'd take over and over again, as many times as he needed to. He threw his sword.

The assailant let out a muffled scream and her hands sought her thigh where the blade had claimed its home. She let out another curse before turning around and sprinting away. The remaining few assassins immediately followed, and in a minute, the clearing was empty except for his quiet pack mates.

Jellal's hands clenched. Fuck. The person he'd been fighting- she was the leader of the group the whole time? If only he'd managed to beat her… Maybe he could've found out why they were hunting for them. Maybe he could've saved his pack from a load of trouble….

"Ultear! Ultear? Wake up!" Jellal turned around.

Ultear was on the ground her eyes closed, breathing weakly, almost still. Meredy looked up to him with wide eyes. "What's wrong with her?"

"Jellal, keep it down."

The alpha's head snapped up, back into reality. Makrov was flexing his fingers tiredly. "We don't want to send the pack into panic."

Jellal's heart quickened from the memory but so forced himself to take a deep breath as Makarov went on.

"It's true we don't have any good options, but what we can do is, split the pack in half. The majority of the pack will stay and protect camp." His voice darkened. "While small group goes and eliminates the hunters."

Cobra and Laxus exchanged a look before turning to Jellal. His heart was finally slowing down but as much as he tried, he could only push the memory- and my broken promise away, farther to the back of his head.

Makarov's plan wasn't bad, but it had faults… A beautiful, amazing, scarlet haired fault to be exact.

Cobra seemed to read his mind. "What about Jellal's girlfriend and her buddies?"

"She's not my girlfriend." He gripped but his best friends rolled their eyes.

There was a silence. Then: Makarov awkwardly clearing his throat. "Jellal… They have to leave."

"That's…" Gods. After all these years, I meet you again Scarlet. But I only get to know you for three days, before you go back to your normal life, I go back to mine and we…

We never see each other again.

His heart was breaking.

No. It was always cracked. Now it's shattering.

"That's fine." Jellal cleared his throat. "Really, we're just catching up. They'll be gone the next day. It's fine." But he knew the truth; saying something didn't mean he really believed it.

Laxus and Cobra traded a doubtful glance. Makarov bit his lip. But none of them pressed him.

"Okay." Makarov's uncertainty was masked but Jellal knew the old man too well to not hear it. "Well, I'm off to bed. You boys do the same." He glanced at Jellal. "When will we discuss this again?"

He took a deep breath, trying to force all the pain out before tonelessly saying, "In a week, when Lahar and Mest visit."

Makarov nodded, stood up and headed out of the cabin without another word. Cobra followed suit.

Laxus got up. "The old man's right. Try to actually get some sleep tonight, okay?" At the doorway, he stopped, turning to look at Jellal. His voice softened. "Jellal, I know you have feelings for Erza. But you need to let her know."

Jellal opened his mouth, then closed it, shaking his head. What was there to say?

Yes, I will? No, there are a hundred problems with that. He gritted his teeth. It wasn't even fair, after what they suffered though at the Tower… What did we do to deserve this? Meeting again after years, only so we'll be pulled apart, days later?

It wasn't like she would leave her new friends, just for him. He'd seen the way she was laughing; she was truly happy. The way things already are, not the way things could be. With me.

Inside, he laughed humorlessly. How would it even go if he tried to tell her?

Oh hey, I know it's been years but I'm still head-over-heels in love with you. Or, even though I'm never going to see you again when you return to everyday life, I still really want to be with you.

Jellal sighed, genuine sadness dissolving the bitter mockery. There were just no possibilities for them. Well, if you even considered there was a them. What if over the years, her feelings changed? His heart twisted and his throat closed.

What if… What if she didn't love him anymore?

It didn't matter. Nothing was going to happen, whether she did or didn't.

Sensing Jellal's internal conflicts, Laxus finally exited the building, leaving the alpha to his thoughts.

A sigh escaped from him. There'd been sparks of hope flickering in his chest earlier. When she'd ran up to him. Accepted his kiss. Returned it. Smiled, promising nothing had changed.

But now? Jellal couldn't help but feel doubt.

His wolf, who'd been quiet for most of the meeting, thinking equally hard about the pack, now prodded Jellal. "Maybe you should anyways."

Jellal rubbed his forehead. You really think so?

"Yes. You and Erza- You've both changed a little. But deep inside, you're the same two people. I'd say your relationship hasn't changed. Nothing has."

Jellal smiled a sincere, true smile for the first time that night. "You know, that's exactly what she said."

"So she believes in it too." The wolf went silent before poking him with a forepaw. "Knowing that, does this mean you'll tell her?"

Jellal hesitated for the briefest of seconds. Thankfully, his hope had found some debris to keep burning on. I mean, I guess he's right. "Fine. I mean yes. I'll tell her…"

He looked down at his hand and extended his fingers. Back then, she'd always sought comfort in him. Even now, it was hard to forget them together, Erza smiling up at him as he held her gently, her hand in his, their fingers intertwined.

Jellal flexed his fingers, wishing they could do the same today, knowing they couldn't. Or maybe we can? He took a deep breath. Three days wasn't a lot, but Jellal knew his wolf, Laxus, they were right.

"I have to tell her,"

Not just have to, I want to.

And I will.

"I love her."

Oooh! What do you think? *Sings, "Jellal is confessing, Jellal is confessing!" YAY!

How shall Erza react? Confused? Overjoyed? Sad?

Keep reading! Send in a review? xD