Erza didn't consider herself the jealous type. She never minded if Jellal spoke with or maintained friendships and working relationships with other women. She wouldn't bat an eyelash if he were alone with someone or even shared a meal without her. Their love was so solid that Erza didn't think anything could shake its foundation. But that was before Ginger.

The worst part of the situation was that keeping the cat had been her idea. Jellal had found her cowering behind a garbage bin hiding from a group of stray dogs and brought her home. His intention was to simply feed her and then relocate her to a shelter in town. However the sight of Jellal caring for such a tiny helpless creature and the catharsis it seemed to bring him made Erza smile. She encouraged him to let the kitten stay.

It had been three months since Ginger had first curled up on the edge of their bed and Erza's resentment was growing. Their evenings used to be spent in close and quiet quarters. Jellal would run his fingers through her hair and tell her about his day as his lips brushed against her temple. At some point she would slide into his lap and they'd usually end up leaving a trail of clothes leading to the bedroom.

But no more!

Now Ginger's fur commanded Jellal's attention. Erza would look on, trying to contain her scowl, and sometimes she would swear that the usurping cat would shoot her a triumphantly smug glance. He would speak to the salaciously purring creature in the low, soothing voice that used to be reserved only for her. The jealousy burned hotly in her chest.

On one particular evening Erza watched with not at all concealed disgust as Ginger meowed and mewled like the man-stealing harlot she was as Jellal scratched beneath her chin. With a frustrated huff Erza stood from the couch.

"I'm going to bed," she said curtly and left him with his new girlfriend. Erza shut the bedroom door behind her and requipped into a nightgown. As she was yanking the sheets down with an angry sort of grace, Jellal cracked the door open and peeked through.

"Erza?" he said softly. "Are you upset? You seem upset."

"I'm fine."

"You aren't fine." Jellal stepped into the room and shoved his hands into his pockets. "You can't tell me what's bothering you?"

Erza's jaw twitched. He was doing that thing with the tone of his voice that would only lead to her caving. And Erza didn't want to cave. As much as she'd like to think her reasons for holding out were because her feelings were completely valid and the cat was stealing him away from her – she knew her clenched jaw was actually because her behavior was utterly irrational and stupid.

Erza turned and pressed one knee into the mattress. She sighed and opened her mouth to speak but Ginger interrupted. The cat pushed the bedroom door open fully with her nose and leapt onto the bed. Jellal scooped her up and Erza frowned. She reached over to click off the lamp and crawled into bed facing away from Jellal.

"I'm just tired."

She heard Jellal sigh and leave the room. He didn't return for several minutes and when he did the door clicked shut behind him. Erza listened as his clothes hit the floor and felt the mattress dip behind her with his weight. She half expected him to just accept her silence but instead his arm slid over her hip and around her waist.

"Please tell me you're not jealous of the cat," he whispered in her ear. "Tell me I'm wrong about that and it's something else that's been irritating you lately."

Erza bit her lip. How could he have guessed?

"Erza?" Jellal propped himself up on one elbow and pushed her onto her back. She tried to glare up at him but he smiled. "You are! I was hoping I'd misinterpreted." His thumb drew absent circles on her stomach. "Talk to me, Erza."

Later she would wonder if it was the weight of her jealousy finally snapping or the way he touched her so familiarly or the way his hair brushed her skin when he leaned down to kiss her collarbone… whatever the reason was, Erza suddenly leaned up and took his lips in a fierce kiss. A surprised sound rumbled through his chest before his hand pressed against her back, anchoring her to him.

"Are you leaving me for Ginger?" she asked with a self-depreciating grin.

"Well…" He pulled a contemplative face, and laughed when she tried to shove him off her. "I'm kidding, Erza. You're the first and only redhead that owns all of my heart."

"Does she have to sleep in our bed? I can handle the love-fest on the couch every evening but can't we have this space to ourselves?"

"From now on the cat can sleep in the living room. I can't have my main girl sleeping in the same bed as my side-piece."

"Your… what?"

"Erza, you're taking this way too seriously. Ginger is just a cat. She keeps me company when you leave on jobs and the house feels a lot less lonely."

"I suppose when you put it like that…" She suddenly felt ridiculous. "Keep your side-piece, Jellal, just not in our bed."

"You're a generous woman, Erza." Jellal smiled and kissed her in that slow way that always made her insides curl with anticipation. His hand slid up her thigh and beneath the hem of her nightgown.

The things he did to her with that hand made her wonder what on earth she had been jealous of to begin with.