Gladiolus- you pierce my heart

In her convalescence Erza's mother preferred the gladioli. She would jokingly call them the sword lilies. Erza groaned. Jellal chuckled. The ailing woman preferred the brightest, most vibrant colors for her garden and Jellal would often fetch her the reds, yellows, and purples for the vases that littered her bedroom.

If Erza was jealous or hurt that her mother preferred Jellal's company on her bad days she didn't show it. Mother and daughter had never completely gotten along but the illness seemed to bring them to an entente, though there were still times when Erza couldn't handle both her mother's hinged jaw and the thought of losing her at once. Doctor Scarlet traveled too often to be of any comfort to his wife or daughter. Jellal suspected he, like Erza, hated to see her suffer and chose to distance himself from it.

Jellal called her Lady Scarlet and she would smile wistfully and thank him for putting up with her. It was early autumn when Simon was brought around to help with their property. Doctor Scarlet planned on being away for most of the winter and Jellal had his own family's farm to tend to. At seventeen his father expected quite a bit from him. Simon would handle things Erza couldn't manage on her own and would live in the caretaker's quarters behind the main house.

Simon was transparent. Jellal was observant.

So was her mother, apparently.

"Does it bother you?" she asked without looking up from her book.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're referring to, Lady Scarlet," Jellal said with a grin as he replaced the water in her vases one by one. The waning sun cast long shadows across the floor.

"You're a terrible liar, young man." Despite the accusation her lips twitched into a smirk.

"It isn't a skill I have much use for."

"Yet," she insisted. "It's not a skill you have much use for yet." Erza's mother sighed and glanced out the windows at her daughter discussing the groundskeeping with Simon. "I've grown cynical in my old age."

"You aren't old," Jellal said following her gaze. Erza's hair was tightly braided in a coil but a few wisps had broken free. Her cheeks were red with chill and her mouth had an irritated twist to it.

"You flatter me because you're in love with my daughter."

"I would never be so deceitful. Haven't you just accused me of being a bad liar?"

"I suppose I did."

Jellal felt her eyes on her but didn't look away from the window.

"You still haven't answered my question truthfully. Does his obvious attraction to her bother you?"

"Not at all. Erza is beautiful and kind. Of course he's drawn in, though, I will say if he knew her better he'd stop insisting on whatever point he's trying to make. She's annoyed." Jellal chuckled as he said it.

"You can read her so easily?" Lady Scarlet noisily turned a page in her book. "I've never had the knack for it."

"Not completely, but I know enough."

"Will you take care of her when I'm gone? My husband is lost in his studies and I fear I'll be in the ground before too long."

Jellal sighed and turned away from the window.

"It would grieve her to hear you say that," he said softly.

"Which is why I'm saying it to you."

He crouched beside her chair and looked up into her eyes.

"I will always be here for Erza until she pushes me from her side. That I can promise."

Erza's mother smiled and went back to her book.

"I'm sure your own mother is expecting you. I've had enough fawning for one day."

"Of course, Lady Scarlet. I wouldn't want to impose."

She huffed indignantly but continued to grin behind her book. Jellal left the sitting room and found Erza removing her coat in the front hall. Her mouth was still twisted down in irritation and after a quick glance around Jellal quickly leaned down to kiss the corner of it.

"You're shameless," she whispered before grasping the lapels of his coat and dragging him back down to her lips.

"I can't help it." Jellal grinned and pulled the pin from her coiled braid. The thick rope of hair fell over her shoulder.

He left her blushing in the front hall and headed home. Erza had pierced his heart and he couldn't find one shred of remorse for the wound.