It seemed unfair to post the other one without the relief that came with the following chapter so I wrote two this week. :)

Though his shoes felt full of lead, Jellal somehow managed to drag himself toward the parlor after an awkward last two courses. He was so distracted by thoughts of his past that he didn't notice Erza keeping pace by his side the whole way, attempting to send him reassuring smiles. So he was completely surprised when she immediately took the seat next to him on the sofa. To him it was as if she had appeared out of thin air. He had assumed from her mother's comment, that Erza must think him some kind of monster but somehow there she was, fiddling nervously with her fan in her lap. It boggled his mind.

Jellal was afraid to look at her, as if she was some sort of mirage that would disappear when he looked too closely. Eventually curiosity got the best of him and he slowly turned to her, eyes leading the rest of his face. He was sure he reddened slightly at her small smile, there was no other way to explain the sudden heat that spread from his cheeks down to his chest. Jellal swallowed deeply and quickly turned his attention towards the piano. He hoped that by not looking directly at her, he might lessen the overwhelming excitement at her closeness and allow his brain to finally catch up with the rest of him.

"Would you please thank you cousin for his brashness? I very much enjoyed the cake," Erza said softly, leaning his direction in a way that made all the little hairs on his neck stand at attention.

Jellal turned to her with what he hoped appeared to be an unaffected grin. "I can, though I hope tomorrow you will be able to tell him yourself." Erik had excused himself immediately at the end of dinner. Jellal had been tempted to do the same but somehow escaping to his room felt like letting the Countess win.

"Luckily the sickness Laxus imposes is usually cured by the next day," Erza said with a grin.

Jellal could only stare at her. That she could sit next to him and joke, the whole thing felt like a dream. When he continued to stare, she arched a brow and grinned wider. "Perhaps you partook as well?"

Jellal snapped from his stupor and chuckled, then he shook his head. "No, I've learned my lesson. I avoid anything Dreyar keeps in his desk."

"No, no, no. That will not do," the Countess practically shouted from across the room. "Miss Strauss you cannot go first. Let Erza go. I don't want her performance lessened by comparison."

Miss Strauss slowly lifted herself from the piano bench she had just lowered herself onto, her jaw tight with displeasure. She looked to the Dreyar's for help but the Duke was drifting to sleep in his favorite chair and Laxus merely toasted her with an already half finished scotch. Jellal could tell Miss Strauss was working very hard to contain an eyeroll when she left the piano to take a seat next to the Count.

Erza sighed, "It's a wonder that mother wants me to sing at all."

Jellal grinned and decided to risk a tease. "Maybe she just realizes she can't stop you."

He was rewarded with a twinkle in her eye and a snarky twist to her lips. "Hmm. . .I suppose she can't." Then she stood and made her way towards the piano.

Jellal rested an elbow on the arm of the sofa and leaned contentedly into the palm of his hand. It was always a treat when Erza sang because it meant he was completely free to keep his attention on her and her alone. He watched the way the skirt of her dress swayed with her walk, studied where it cinched at her waist, and when she turned to sit at the piano, he allowed himself a quick glance at her chest before resting his eyes on her beautiful hair.

If he had his way she would be the only one at the piano for the entire night, unfortunately she usually only performed one song, maybe two at best. Erza was not the worst singer but she was far from the most accomplished. Unfortunately her enthusiasm for performing always ended up being slightly overshadowed by her nerves and, though usually on pitch, her singing would end up being more of a shout than a warble. She was well favored among the elderly because they could actually hear her but the part of the crowd that wasn't hard of hearing sometimes winced at the volume.

Erza started to play and the tune of 'long long ago' found its way from the keys to his ears. Jellal's lazy grin flattened to a serious line. Her voice was softer than usual when she began to sing and it buzzed through him, putting every nerve in his body on alert. Then her eyes caught his when she sang "now you are come all my grief is removed," and Jellal felt as if his stomach and his heart tied themselves together in a knot. Her feelings for him felt so suddenly clear. She looked away and had to cough slightly before she sang about love and Jellal felt the strongest urge to leap up from his seat and kiss her newly reddened cheeks. The room suddenly felt small and claustrophobic, the fact that others were sitting and listening to this song seemed intrusive and wrong. It frustrated and embarrassed him to experience such strong emotion in the middle of everyone else. Yet she sang on, ignoring their audience and only looking up to catch his eye. She was beautiful.

She stopped and the silence was deafening. When Erza stood he could only stare, even when the room gave a polite applause. She bowed slightly to everyone else. Then she turned to him and his eyes couldn't leave hers as she glided towards him. He barely heard her mother say, "Very good Erza, I think melancholy tunes suite you. Wasn't it good Count Neekis?"

"Yes, Miss Belserion you have really improved," Count Neekis agreed.

"Thank you Count Neekis. You are too kind," Erza said but her eyes remained on Jellal. She took the seat next to him and Jellal forced himself to turn his gaze to the piano. He was afraid looking at her in this close proximity might cause him to do something stupid.

Miss Strauss hurried to the piano and took a seat. She made a happy sound and immediately her fingers were dancing over the keys, playing in the elegant, almost inhuman way she always played. Everyone visibly relaxed, probably happy to forget the night's discomfort and lose themselves in the sounds of Miss Strauss's plunking. Jellal took advantage of the room's distraction and leaned towards Erza. "That was lovely," he murmured while keeping his eyes on the piano.

"I know you only did what you had to," Erza whispered.

Jellal slowly turned to her. He could see that she was surprised that her remark didn't please him, but he couldn't even pretend. He wasn't proud of his past, he would spend the rest of his life haunted by his actions, but he would not allow himself to forget them, he did not deserve to forget them. While Erza's comment was meant to put him at ease, it only made him fear that she might be seeing someone else when she looked at him. He could not be Siegrain, he could not be the perfect boy next door.

He turned his head back to the piano. "I didn't have to do any of it," he whispered back and his mouth turned down into a grim line.

Erza gave a frustrated huff. "But you would have died if you didn't. Wally told me . . ."she trailed off when Miss Strauss ended her piece. On the inside Jellal was fuming, if Wally knew anything about his time in India then Jellal was sure a certain valet was to blame. He wondered if he had found his leak to the Countess. The thought that he might have been betrayed in such a way made him sick.

Miss Strauss began another song and Erza's brows lowered sharply. "I don't understand you, are you trying to say your life isn't important. Are you saying it's something you could so easily decide to throw away?"

Jellal sagged and sighed, "Yes." If he could he would go back and make that decision for himself all over again, he would. The world would be a better place if his life had ended with that brand.

She made a small growl of annoyance and began fiercely waving her fan. "That is completely ridiculous. You had to do what you needed to to survive." He only frowned and stared at Miss Strauss's expression of concentration. He wasn't going to fight with Erza about this, not now, not when they could draw such an audience.

She closed her fan and jabbed it into his ribcage and he grunted with discomfort. "What was that for?" he hissed, finally turning to glower in her direction.

Her face was now red with anger. "Then I suppose nothing is sacred for you? How can anything not have a price when you treat your own life so callously?"

His face softened as he processed her words. He looked from her hair to her eyes and smiled slightly. It felt good to say, "That isn't true."

"Oh? Then what is it? What is the one thing that you would do anything for? What in God's name could you consider more important than the very breath within you," Erza snapped.

"You," he said simply. It was her turn to stare stupefied, her face fading to a pale porcelain before turning a lovely shade of pink.

Miss Strauss finished playing and the Countess stood before anyone could clap. "I think that's enough entertainment for the evening. Erza, walk with me dear. I feel tired and I need an arm."

"Madame, I could . . ." Count Neekis began.

The Countess cut him off with a scowl and a snap of, "No, don't trouble yourself. Erza can help me."

"I . . ." Erza seemed conflicted. Her eyes flicked from Jellal to her mother and back again.

"Erza . . .good grief. Will you hurry up? I'm exhausted," her mother said.

Erza sighed, "Yes mother." She held Jellal's gaze as she rose from her seat and for the first time in a long time he didn't feel hopeless about her leaving. He had finally managed to convey to her exactly how important she was to him and she had yet to reject it. The way she seemed loath to release eye contact made his heart feel as though it might beat out of his chest.

He watched her leave, too high in spirits to worry who saw. Miss Strauss plopped down in Erza's place. She cocked her head and smiled coyly, "Who knew that Mr. Fernandes could be so charming?" She sighed and clutched at her heart, "How she could not be moved by such . . ."

"Mira!" Laxus slurred. "She might be done but we're not. Play more!"

"Yes Mira! Please continue," agreed the Duke.

"Freed, some cigars," Laxus shouted over his shoulder. Then he slapped the Count on the back, "One for my new friend here too. We've all been through hell and survived."

The count chuckled, "I wouldn't exactly say that but a cigar does sound lovely."

"Don't you worry, I'll find a way to get you more time," whispered Miss Strauss.

"Mira quit wasting bloody time with Fernandes. He's a lovesick bore!" Lord Dreyar commanded. "Play me something lively, I need my spirits lifted."

Mira cut her eyes to Lord Dreyar and her nose twitched. Jellal grinned, "He's a bit drunk."

Laxus threw his head back and called, "Mira!" at the ceiling.

Miss Strauss looked ready to throttle him but instead she stood and after winking at Jellal, marched over to the piano. She sat with a loud thump then after casting one more furious glance in Lord Dreyar's direction she began to play almost violently. Her mood was completely lost on Lord Dreyar. He sighed, "Finally," and helped himself to the cigar and fresh glass of scotch that Freed offered him. Jellal grinned and settled back in his seat. The world around him was madness, but this place never changed.

thanks kccb16 for looking stuff over!