Day 1 (Nov 4) - Promises

Erza slid the room card she received in her mailbox yesterday over the card reader and the door unlocked with a click. She opened the door just wide enough for her to slip inside the room and gently closed it again and put the security chain in place.

Jellal wasn't there to greet her, and the sound of running water coming from behind a closed door on her left told Erza that he was in the bathroom instead. She took a seat on the sofa and inspected the plate of food placed on the coffee table in front - a slice of absolutely delicious looking strawberry sponge cake. She grinned and picked up the fork on the plate and began eating the dessert bite by bite. Meanwhile, she gave the room a quick glance. The late afternoon sunlight infiltrating through the gauze curtains had lit up the room in white light. A double bed had been placed against the wall under the windows, on which there was a pile of clothes she supposed Jellal stripped off before he went for a shower. And his travel bag was left on the chair by the dressing table.

The bag looked shabby, fraying and having lose some of its' color. A tint of sadness shahed Erza's eyes as she wished again that Jellal could settle down one day, so that he didn't need to move around with the travel bag anymore and she could meet him at his home instead of random inns where he made temporary stops at.

After Erza finished the cake, Jellal still hadn't come out from the bathroom. With nothing better to do, she decided to help Jellal tidying up the clothes on the bed. One by one, she hanged his clothes - a pair of pants, a long-sleeve undershirt, a armor vest and a coat - on the hanger stand at the foot of the bed. Only when she had done the work that the bathroom door was finally opened. With only a towel wrapped around his waist to cover his lower body, Jellal walked into the room and smiled a relieved and grateful smile at Erza.

"I'm glad that you've found the time to come despite the short notice, Erza. It has been a while since we last met."

"It has. I've missed you, Jellal." Erza closed the distance between Jellal and her with a few steps and gathered him between her arms. Jellal immediately wrapped his arms around her waist in return. "I'm glad that I've finished my mission earlier than expected that I haven't missed this chance to see you again."

"You have perfect timing." Jellal placed a kiss at Erza's temple. "I've missed you too." He pulled away a little and ducked his head to press his lips on Erza's. Erza enjoyed the way their lips move against each other gently but with insistence and a tinge of desperation which took her breath away.

When they finally broke apart, being out of air in their lungs, Jellal chuckled.

"You taste sweet. Is the cake good?"

"It's very delicious. Thanks for the treat." Erza smiled up widely at Jellal. "And have you gotten yourself something to eat?"

"I've had sandwiches earlier."

"Good." Erza slid her hands lower at Jellal's back until her fingers touched the towel wrapped around his waist. "How long will you be staying this time?"

"Until tomorrow noon only. I'm sorry I can only stay for such a short period of time this time."

"It's fine. We still have almost a day together." It was indeed such a brief reunion but Erza decided to focus on making good use of their time together instead of on how little hours were left before Jellal would leave her again.

She slipped her fingers under Jellal's towel; the fabric loosened around his waist and fell on the floor. In a flash of light from her requip magic her own clothes were gone as well and left her dressing only in a half-cup bra and a thong made with white lace of butterflies pattern - one of the many lingerie sets she had stocked up for her to please Jellal's eyes with something different every time they met. She wrapped her arms around Jellal's neck and he took her hint, lifting her off the floor by grabbing the back of her thighs.

Jellal moved them to the dressing table and placed Erza down on its' surface, before he pulled away to have a better look at what she had put on for him to enjoy this time.

Erza inhaled deeply when Jellal groped her breast and brushed his fingers against her nipple barely covered by the lace bra.

"You look absolutely lovely and gorgeous, Erza."

Despite already having heard Jellal praising her many times before, Erza still couldn't help blushing. She didn't need validation from any men on her beauty but Jellal's words of compliment would always make her feel happy and special.

She let out a tiny squeal when Jellal began rolling her nipple between his fingertips through the lace cup. And she couldn't help the flutter of her heart, seeing the confident smirk he gave her while he stimulated her. She found herself missing his intense gaze on her immediately when Jellal lowered his head, breaking their eye contact. But when Jellal closed his mouth around her other nipple and sucked it gently, she decided to forgive him for taking his eyes off her and closed her eyes to get loss in his ministrations.

Erza's breath quickened and sighs fell from her mouth as the friction from the lace bra and Jellal's incessantly working fingers and mouth on her nipples made her womanhood damp and quiver with needs. And her sigh turned into a moan when she felt Jellal's hardening cock prodding at her covered entrance.

Running her fingers through his hair, Erza pulled Jellal away from her breasts but drew his face towards hers for an open-mouthed kiss. While their tongues fought for dominance inside his mouth, she slid a hand down across his front, from his chest to his abdomen, until she found his cock in her palm. Wrapping her fingers around his hardness, she gave him quick and firm strokes which drew out low groans from his throat and made him thrust his hips forward.

Erza released Jellal when her fingers become wet from his pre-cum. She pushed him back gently and leaned her back against the mirror of the dressing desk, before she bent her legs and raised them above the desk. Jellal kissed each of her kneels, before he hooked his fingers in her thong at both sides of her hips and slowly pulled it down and over her legs. Digging her heels on the desk, Erza spread her legs open to welcome Jellal between her thighs and crossed her lower arms at the back of his neck. They both moaned in satisfaction when Jellal pushed his whole length into Erza's wet and warm core, filling her fully. Holding Erza by her hips, Jellal began thrusting in and out of her at a quick pace.

In the back of her mind Erza knew that she should try to keep her moans low, as the walls of the room might be thin that people might hear her from the outside or another room. But she couldn't bring herself to care about being heard or receiving complains for the noise she made when Jellal buried himself deep inside of her, burning her soul with intense hot gaze filled with adoration and resolution. She chanted his name like it was the only word she knew how to speak in the world, while her heart pounded loudly against her chest for Jellal, for the unspeakable pleasure only he could make her feel, and for having him the closest to her once again after the prolonged separation. She didn't want Jellal to leave her again.

"I love you." Erza gasped between her moans, before she cupped Jellal's face between her palms, pulling him in and kissing him desperately.

Erza felt Jellal slamming harder and faster into her while he kissed her back with equal force, and tightened the grip of her thighs on his body. She threw her head back and cried his name, breaking their kiss at last, when he brought down the final wave of ecstasy on her while he spilled his seed inside her.

Erza weaved her fingers through Jellal's blue locks when he dropped his head on her chest while both of them tried to catch their breath after coming down from their highs. It took a minute or two for Jellal to raise his head again. He looked at Erza with a tired but satisfied smile.

"I love you too." Leaning in, he kissed her softly on the lips.

Erza had nothing to complain when Jellal gathered her in bridal style and carried her over to the bed. She rolled on her side after Jellal climbed into the bed and lied down beside her, touching his chest with her hand and looking at him fondly. Despite feeling tired, she didn't want to fall into sleep, wasting the limited time she had with Jellal. She thought Jellal must feel the same when he hadn't closed his eyes but locked gaze with her, while he played her scarlet tresses between his fingers.

The wish for Jellal to stay by her side and not leave her ever again bubbled up in Erza's chest once again as they stayed in each other's company in peace and comfortable silence. It was a kind of feeling she didn't want to ponder over too much and too often, but was unable to suppress from surfacing whenever she met him or felt lonely on her own. She was very well aware, both before and after they got together, that a future of them staying together forever wasn't something Jellal was capable of promising her given his fugitive status, and that temporary happiness and pleasure was all he could give her when they found the chance to meet. She couldn't, and wouldn't ask him for more than what they had now. It was enough for her to know that although her wish might be unrealistic at the moment, Jellal was more than willing to make her wish come true, if only one day the circumstances he was in allowed him to.

"What are you thinking?"

Jellal's question brought Erza out from her deep thought. She smiled softly at him.

"I was thinking what we could have for dinner."

Jellal stared into her eyes for a long moment. Erza knew he didn't fully believe in the answer she gave.

"Have you come up with any good idea?" But Jellal also knew not to point out the obvious excuse when Erza didn't want to tell him what was truly on her mind, probably something related to him.

"Not yet."

"Do take your time." He pressed a kiss on her forehead.

They continued to rest in the bed, cuddling and caressing each other, until they felt that their tiredness had mostly subsided and it was time to refresh themselves with a shower. After cleaning herself, Erza made up her mind about dinner. Leaving Jellal in the room, she went out to go to a food stall which she had passed by earlier on her way to the inn, and ordered roasted chicken and some vegetable dishes for bringing back to the inn for Jellal and herself to eat.

After filling their stomachs, Jellal disguised as Mystogan to take Erza out. They had a leisure stroll in a small night market selling clothes and accessories, and bought two pieces of strawberry cheesecake at Erza's request when passing by a bakery. Jellal then used his meteor spell to fly them to the top of the highest building in the town - the train station clock tower, to stargaze and enjoy their desserts out of other people's eyesights and earshots.

They made love again after returning to the inn, before they finally let tiredness consume them and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning, they woke up to the sound of birds' singing outside their room's window at sunrise. They had another session of love-making and took a short nap afterwards before they finally got up from the bed. They ordered room service breakfast, and went to shower while waiting for their breakfast to arrive.

After finishing their breakfast and picking up their belongings, they checked out the inn. Erza insisted on sending Jellal off first before going to the train station herself to go back to Magnolia, and Jellal accepted her decision after failing to persuade her otherwise. To avoid unwanted attention, Jellal led them to the paths that were desolate to get out of the town.

"We should part ways here." Jellal told Erza when they reached the edge of a forest which marked the end of the town's north border.

Erza nodded, before holding Jellal in her arms.

"Take care, and come back to me safely again."

"I will." Jellal hugged Erza tightly against his chest. "You take care too. And I love you."

"I love you too."

Although she couldn't make Jellal make promises for their future, Erza was satisfied to have him promised her to stay alive while they were apart and come back to meet her again. As long as he lived on, there was always a chance for her wish to come true, she believed, no matter how slim it was. And her heart sored with mixed emotions when Jellal kissed her deeply one more time, before he finally pulled away.

"See you again soon, Erza." He gave her one last long look, before turning away from her with determination and stepping foot into the forest.

"See you again soon, Jellal." Erza whispered. She watched Jellal moving forward and didn't began her return trip until his figure was completely swallowed up by the forest.