#10. When She Doesn't Answer For A Long Time,

reassure her that everything's OK

What if they found out about it?

That was the only thought that crossed Erza's mind at that moment, her heart pounding. She felt as if it was going to beat out of her chest.

What if they didn't… approve?

The very question had been haunting her for days now. It had been one of the only things she thought day and night. Only a simple question, normal teenage girls probably thought that all the time about their parents, but of course she wasn't normal.

She didn't mean her parents. She didn't have any.

And she didn't mean the guild members either. No they had already known. And believe it or not – more believable than not – they had accepted, and had even been happy for them. Even Natsu, who had screamed and raged against Jellal, had been happy for them – well, not happy exactly, but he was smiling, that had to be a good sign, right? – he accepted. It wasn't him either, that she was worried about.

It was everyone else.

Those people who supported Fairy Tail. The normal people, the other guilds, and most importantly, the magic council. What if they had found out, and were still angry at him, what if they took him away from her? She didn't think she could handle that. She had already lost him once, she couldn't even bear the thought of losing him once more.

What if they took him away?

What if she could never see him again? What if she could be separated from him forever? It was just too unbearable, she already had a taste of love, and to have it taken away from her? Would the world be so cruel as to do that to her?

"…Erza? What's wrong?" A familiar voice asked. Erza looked up to find Jellal looking at her with a worried expression on his face.

She jumped a bit, startled. Oh that's right… She thought. I was meeting Jellal here. I was waiting… must have dozed off. Her face flushed bright red. She and Jellal had been going out for a few months and she still wasn't used to it. God, what was wrong with her?

"Sorry I'm late. Were you waiting long?" He asked.

"No, not really. Just got here." She bluffed. Actually, she had come here half an hour early because she was nervous to keep him waiting. What if he had waited? She thought he would've been mad…

Jellal didn't look as if he believed it (probably due to the fact that she was half-asleep before just then), but nodded. "You kind of had a sad expression on your face there, is something wrong?"

"… it's nothing." She answered quietly. "It's really nothing. Just a sad thought I had."

"Sad thought?"

Erza thought quickly. Her mind thought back to a story she was once told by her parents. "Er, just a sad story my parents told me when I was little…"

"Oh." He said. "But are you sure you're OK? You still look a bit pale, Erza."

"I'm OK."

He nodded. And for a while they just sat in silence.

He's so kind to me… Erza thought. She looked over to him. I wish every day could be like this. So peaceful and nice. But somehow… it feels a little lonely. I wish I could tell him how I feel right now. I really am a coward. I can't even admit to my own feelings.

What if they found out?

"What if they found out what?" Jellal asked.

Erza's eyes widened. She didn't realize that she had said that out loud. "N-Nothing!" She lied unconvincingly.

"Why can't you tell me?" He said, a bit of hurt in his voice. "You're always so… distant lately. Like there's something bothering you. But you wont tell me about it. It looks as if you're torturing yourself with all of this…"

"… so what if they found out?"

"They who?"

Erza laughed softly. It was a sad laugh. "Everyone. People outside the guild. The magic council. What if they didn't approve? What if they didn't like it? What if… what if they took you away from me? What if we could never see each other again?"

Jellal said, "That would never happen." He said. "The world wouldn't be so cruel as to do that to you, Erza. You're a good person…"

"Am I? I don't know anymore. If that's true, then why do I have this lingering feeling in my heart that one day soon, I'm going to lose you forever?" She rambled on. "Haven't I been a good girl? Didn't I always do as I was told? Haven't I always tried to do the right thing? Everybody has had it this whole time… when do I… when do I finally have my happy ending?"

After that they both stayed silent for a while, both not knowing what to say.

Erza looked up at the night sky, feeling the breeze. She didn't know what to say for herself. The words just suddenly came pouring out of her. It was in the heat of the moment that she had said such things. She had to apologize… but could she? She was so embarrassed.

Oh, what should I do? She pondered worriedly. Is he okay with all of this? Am I okay? Oh, I don't even know anymore!

"…Everything will be alright, don't worry." Jellal said suddenly.

Erza sat up straight. "…" She didn't say anything.

"…Promise?" She asked, the way you would to your parents; you know, when you believed that they could do anything.

Jellal chuckled at her childish plea. "Yes, I promise." He said, smiling.

"… I-" She hesitated for a brief moment, but then said, "Will you… hold me?" he asked. "Please, just hold me. I don't want to feel alone anymore."

It was painless. His arms gripped her, leaving her breathless as he held on to her. She relived her past memories in the comfort of his arms. For a moment, she didn't care anymore. She didn't care what would happen if the world found out that they were together. All she cared about was that they were together now, and for a moment, nothing could separate them.

All good things must come to and end though. With one last chocking squeeze, she let go of the light that made her darkness fade. She looked into his eyes, there were tears brimming in her eyes so she once more buried her face in his chest.

He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "I love you, Erza." He said. "But you're really hopeless."

She smiled in the darkness. "Yes," She said. "I know that much."

OMIGOSH I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN LIKE A MONTH. I am so, so, so, so, so, so sorry! I just had a lot going on in my life and I still do! I'm supposed to be studying but I felt like I had a responsibility to write this freaking chapter!

Oh, and I forgot to tell you guys, but one chapter is connected to the other. So in the last 4 chapters its gonna be either a happy ending or a sad ending. You figure it out.

Again, I am sorry. But did you think Erza and Jellal were a bit OOC? If they were, I again apologize. What did you think of this chapter? Which couple should be in the next chapter? Please tell me in the reviews!