A/N: I don't think you guys realize how much you mean to me. I've gotten such wonderful feedback for the last chapter I was actually moved to tears. Your words actually helped me through the stressful week and made me so so so happy. I love you guys so much, and your words mean so much. Even though I was unable to respond to a majority of them, I want you to know that you made my day and I and so grateful for you guys. Thank you so much.
Chapter four: Never Forget
Present day
Even though Jellal knows Erza is perfectly fine, he can't help but look for her anyway. Amidst the people crowded in at the Mercurious hotel ballroom, he is looking for the one person who holds his very being in her hands. He knows she likes these parties (she has her own dedicated in her name, after all) but he still feels the urge to make sure she's happy.
However, those are parties for the author elites, for people like here. This is a drab business party where all the CEOs gather to tell boring stories about their boring enterprises and drink boring champagne and whatnot.
He catches a glimpse of Laxus out of the corner of his eye. It's not hard to miss, Laxus is rather tall after all, and the light beige suit he's wearing stands out among the sea of blacks and blues and grays. Laxus is currently in the middle of talking to a few of the older men, including Bob Master, one of the most influential CEOs in the country, famous for his men's fashion. Jellal grins and turns around. Laxus can handle it.
He returns to his game of "Where's Erza?", eyes roving over the mass of people. He purses his lips, wondering what the chances were that he could steal her away to one of the back hallways for a few minutes and sneak in a kiss. Or two. Or ten.
He makes his way towards the stage, thinking that he'd probably find her there, when someone launches their attack. In other words, he's intercepted by the one and only Mr. Kageyama, a very persistent man who is convinced Jellal should sell his company to him and come to work for Kageyama Enterprises (Jellal wonders if Mr. Kageyama knows that DF Corporations is owned by two men, himself and Laxus. It's not called DF Corp. for nothing).
At some point in the conversation, Mr. Kageyama brings Erza up, and wonders how she managed to "snag a successful businessman like himself". Jellal nearly strangles the man, but settles for a firm answer. "She didn't snag me. I love her, and she loves me."
"But you two come from such different classes."
"That is of little consequence," Jellal says. Erza cannot be replaced. She will not be replaced. Nothing will ever change that.
After finally ridding himself of Mr. Kageyama for the fifth time, Jellal looks around and sighs in relief. There, standing next to the stage with a glass of champagne in hand, stands Erza, looking absolutely lovely in a black lace gown. Standing next to her, draped in white, is her ever present counterpart Mira, quietly sipping her champagne while her beautiful blue eyes stay locked on what is probably her husband, Laxus.
Jellal smiles and approaches the two, sliding an arm around Erza's waist and pulling her in protectively against his body. She smiles and turns her head upwards, placing a kiss on his jaw with a "hey you".
"Jellal," Mira acknowledges, her gaze breaking away from Laxus to meet his eyes.
"Hello Mira," Jellal says turning and placing a kiss on Erza's cheek, making her giggle cheerfully. Mira rolls her eyes at the interaction and takes another sip of champagne, muttering something about "lovey dovey" under her breath. Jellal pays her no mind and looks down at the woman he loves.
"How's the party?" Jellal asks, rubbing his fingers on her hip soothingly.
Erza smiles, a dazzling and radiant smile. "It's great!" she says eagerly. "Mira and I just got done talking with Ms. Hisui! She heard about the recent book signing I was planning and offered to host it here. I'm really excited."
"That's wonderful, Erza," Jellal says and absentmindedly takes her hand, lacing their fingers together.
"Whipped," Mira coughs out.
Jellal grins and turns to Mira. "What?" he asks innocently. He lifts up both his and Erza's hands and places a gentle kiss to Erza's knuckles. "It's nice."
Erza blushes a beautiful shade of red, while Mira pretends to heave. "It's like your wedding all over again. Horribly mushy and cavity inducing."
Erza rolls her eyes at Mira's over exaggeration, while Jellal merely smiles.
"Moving on," Mira says, placing her empty glass on a nearby buser's tray and taking a full one off. "There isn't enough alcohol being given to me right now."
Erza frowns. "What's wrong, Mira?" she asks
Mira sighs. "Just another boring awards party for boring CEOs."
Jellal frowns (although he's ignores the fact that he called this very party boring earlier- all for Erza's sake). "Hey!" he complains. "This borning CEO happens to be receiving one of those boring awards tonight. Your boring CEO of a husband is getting one too!"
Mira side eyes him. "Are you saying that because you're genuinely excited to be receiving the award or just because you get to show off how beautiful Erza looks tonight."
Jellal pauses, and Mira snorts. "I thought so."
Erza blushes again. "Mira, don't say that."
Jellal kisses her on the cheek. "What, it's the truth. You look beautiful."
"You told me that already. Three times."
Jellal grins widely, and leans in, kissing her on the lips. "Make that four."
A few minutes late Laxus joins them, wrapping his arms around Mira in a hug. "Hello gorgeous," he whispers sensually in her ear, and Erza begins to poke fun. Jellal watches in mirth, happy that Erza is enjoying herself.
Movement on stages catches Jellal's eye, and he turns, watching as Ms. Hisui (owner of the Mercurius Hotel) climbs on stage and taps the blunt edge of a knife against her champagne glass. "Everyone," she says, getting the crowd's attention. "If you would all please sit down, we can begin the awards."
Jellal tucks Erza arm in his and walks her over to their table situated right in the middle of the crowd. He doesn't let go of her hand when they sit, and out of the corner of his eye, he sees Laxus do the same.
As the presenters continue their awards and the CEOs accept and give their speeches, Jellal looks over to make sure Erza's comfortable. When he see her, she's blinking hard. Smiling, Jellal leans in. "Go ahead and yawn, love. Everyone's doing it."
Even the one and only Mr. Kageyama, sitting three tables away, is yawning, but he's not even trying to hide it. Erza, on the other hand, retains her dignity and covers her mouth.
Ms. Hisui makes her way onto the stage, two plaques in her hands. "And this is the last presentation for the night. Ladies and gentlemen, for the third year counting, Fiore's best business corporation award goes Mr. Jellal Fernandes and Mr. Laxus Dreyar. DF Corporations, everyone!"
Others are standing and congratulating him, but all Jellal can focus on is Erza's lips on his face and a quiet whisper of "Congratulations, Jellal."
He smiles and makes his way to the stage, Laxus following closely behind. Jellal's not quite sure if Laxus knows about the lipstick mark on his cheek (left purposely there by Mira).
"Wow," Laxus says, admiring the plaque in his hands. "This is... Wow."
The crowd laughs.
"I completely agree," Jellal says. "This is amazing. Thank you so much."
"We built ourselves up from nothing," Laxus continues. "Two young men with nothing but dreams keeping up going. It is those dreams and our perseverance that became into the fruitful enterprise Jellal and I like to call DF Corporations."
Mira begins to cry, and Erza hands her a tissue while rubbing her back. She looks up, makes eye contact with Jellal, and flashes him that beautiful smile that causes his heart to flutter, just like the first time.
"Laxus and I have two people to thank for this award," Jellal says, never breaking eye contact with the love of his life. "Two people who have never wavered in their love for us. Thank you for standing by us, through thick and thin. Thank you for putting up with late hours and missed time. For loving us unconditionally no matter what we've done. You are the only reason we make it through the work day. You make life worth living."
He sees the tears slip down Erza's cheeks. "Erza Scarlet-Fernandes, I love you."
She smiles. "I love you," she mouths, and for Jellal, that's all that matters.
It's a few weeks later when Jellal finds himself in a reverse situation. He is once again at the Mercurius hotel, but this time it is he who is on the arm of the most important person in the room. As Fiore's top Bestselling Author, Erza is sought out by all who arrive tonight. She is stunning in her plum colored dress, and Jellal watches from afar as she laughs alongside many other famous writers. Jellal smiles, because when Erza is happy, he is happy, and that is one of the best feelings in the world.
And when she wins the National Fiction Award for her novel, Rave Master, for the fifth year in a row, Jellal is the first to stand up, clapping as hard as he can. He kisses her long and hard, making sure she knows how much she's loved.
Later, when they lay in bed, tangled up in the most intimate ways, she breathes into his ear I love you, and Jellal smiles. When their lips meet in another long, sensuous kiss, he feels the same sparks fly just like the very first time.
A/N: Okay, so here's the thing. Jerza are adults in every other chapter. Adults do...adult things. Like drinking. And making out. And... lemon.
So y'all know how I've said I wouldn't write smut, right? I might make an exception for this fic. Granted, it's gonna be undescriptive and as small as possible, but I think it's gotta go in since they're adults and adults partake in adult activities. Idk yet, we will see.
Let me know how the chapter is. Don't you just love married jerza? *goes off into fantasy world*
-Wolf
