Chapter 21: Babysitting
The rest of the mages' vacation was spectacular.
Every day, they would enjoy free breakfast down in the lounge before Lucy would look up a great place for them to hang out. Usually, it's either sightseeing in Vail or Aspen, or skiing from Winter Park to Loveland.
Every night, the female mages would usually watch whatever is on (usually Supernatural or How I Met Your Mother) on TV until midnight; always resulting in them waking up later then the guys.
They finally reached Los Angeles the day they promised they'd be back. Levy and Gajeel said their farewells before the road trip back to California.
"We'll see you in two months when we're on summer vacation," Erza promised.
"Until then, behave yourselves," Gajeel said and they disappeared from sight in Denver International Airport.
…..
Jellal was so happy when the formal went according to plan, and even better. West High School's student council was very productive while he was on his 'Emergency Vacation'.
When they returned, Jellal only had to help set up, which required him getting up early on the three days leading up to it to help them set things up.
He wore a sleeveless black vest with a white button up undershirt. Natsu wore a tuxedo and Gray wore a simple collar shirt with a black tie.
But he'll never forget how cute Erza looked in her outfit. She wore a short light pink dress that only covered 75% of her thigh. Her hair was tied high with a white ribbon as her side bangs hung freely down the side of her face.
Jellal did allow her to dance with some of the guys that asked her out but during the slow songs, she was all his.
Lucy wore a white open back dress that was about as long as Erza's. Her hair was tied up in a bun. She and Natsu spent most the time together but whenever Lucy took a breath, Natsu would be whipped away by one of her fellow cheerleaders.
Juvia and Gray were the quiet couple half the time (until Natsu decided to challenge Gray to a dance-off). Juvia wore a nice one strap blue dress with a belt. Her hair curled and lied down her back.
Overall, the six mages enjoyed themselves with their new unmagical friends at the formal.
However, work for the Jellal and Erza started that Monday after the formal and it was a job that they never expected.
….
"Wow," Lucy panted, when she and her five guildmates reached their locker on Monday morning at 7:20, "We made it in time."
Erza shook her head as her combination unlocked her locker, "We were later than we used to be. Remember, we would usually greet Christina while she's in the parking lot, not when she's already in the lobby reading a book."
"Lighten up, Erza, we made it even before the first bell," Gray said as he loaded his backpack up with his math textbook and history binder. He walked over to Juvia and wrapped her shoulder.
"I know that but I don't like being so late," she sighed searching through the pile of school supplies she needed.
Titania suddenly felt strong arms wrap themselves around her waist and the only whisper that can sooth her in any situation.
"Everything will be alright, Erza, just calm down," Jellal smiled.
"You better not be lying," she quickly pecked his lips before closing her locker.
Lucy and Natsu walked over hand in hand.
"Let's go already, or we're really gonna be late!" Natsu exclaimed.
…
Erza and Jellal were laughing at a joke that Natsu cracked right when they took their seats. This prevented them from noticing a worn out Brett right in front of them until Mark's grandfather entered the room calling for attention.
After announcing what they were doing for the class time, he made his way to the computer and tried to pull up the roster.
It was Jellal who noticed. Erza was still busy talking to Gray and Juvia behind them.
"Hey Brett, what's wrong man?" Jellal patted his shoulder.
He turned in his seat and looked at the blue haired mage, tired, "Morning Jellal. How was your trip to Japan?"
"It was okay," Jellal nodded. "But what's up with you? It looks like you didn't sleep all night."
His friend just shook his head, "My little sister and brother wouldn't stop crying all night. My parents are still out of town so I was in charge of them. I'm actually stressing out on what to do for tonight."
"Elaborate."
"Well, you know I work part time at that Vietnamese restaurant a few miles from here, right? The owner needs me to work tonight and I can't seem to get anybody to watch them for me until ten. Their usual babysitter during the day has to attend a funeral at five so I was supposed to watch them for the rest of the night."
Jellal offered him a smile, "I'll watch them."
Brett nearly jumped out of his seat when Jellal volunteered, "Really? You mean it, Jelly?"
Jellal nearly laughed at his nickname given to him by Erza one day at lunch before they decided on leaving the school. Lucy had packed each of them some jelly.
Flashback:
"Hey Jellal," Erza opened the seal to her Jell-O cup. When she spoke Brett, Jonathon, and two other football players named Tyler and Edgar stopped eating and looked at her.
"What is it?"
"I just noticed how close your name is to Jell-O," she smiled taking out a plastic spoon. "I'm surprised I never called you Jell-O before."
"Please don't," Jellal twitched once.
"Aww, what's wrong? Not manly enough for Jellal?" Edgar teased.
Jellal threw a handful of grass at his friend who only continued laughing.
"I got it!" Erza exclaimed, causing everybody to turn their attention back to her. "I'll call you Jelly!"
"Why?"
"Because it just sounds cuter and shorter than just calling you 'Jellal' all the time," she admitted.
"You kidding me? We've known each other for how long and you're annoyed with my name?"
"Jelly's getting mad, Erza," Tyler teased. "But I think it fits you. I mean, your hair is kinda a bizarre color, Jellal. Calling you Jelly will only fit."
End of Flashback
"Of course I do, Brett," Jellal smiled.
He finally smiled, "You're the best, Jellal. But I'll warn you now, they're only one and Adrian is kind of a handful. I think you might want to take Erza with you on this one. Maybe take Lucy and Juvia just to be safe. You can leave Gray and Natsu at home."
The mage shook his head, "Nah. I'll just take Erza. If I brought everybody else, I don't think your house will be there when you return."
"Whatever you say," the junior said, "Just meet me by the front gate when school's out and I'll take you to my house."
When Jellal nodded, a student called Brett's name before they started a conversation.
"Hey Erza," Jellal called.
She turned to him, "What's up, Jelly?"
"Um, do you want to take care of kids?" he asked.
When his words were out, all his friends starred at him with mouths as wide as a door. Erza on the other hand, turned all red, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Jellal's ready to be a father, huh?" Gray smirked, crossing his arms. "Though I don't think our great Titania is ready to be a mother yet."
"Shut up, Gray," the mage shot his guildmate a glare. "I didn't mean it like that!"
"Then spill because there are countless thoughts going through each of our heads that can never be voiced," Lucy admitted.
Jellal sighed, "Brett's twin brother and sister need a babysitter and he just asked me to watch them. I'm thinking of taking Erza with me…"
The knight wizard took a breath, "That's it? Then sure, why not?"
…
The little girl with long brown hair looked at Jellal's face with wide blue eyes filled with curiosity. She cooed when Jellal smiled at her.
"She's really cute," the wizard admitted. "What's her name?"
Brett appeared in the living room again, this time wearing a white polo, "Her name is Aspen. And the boy is Adrian."
"Aspen and Adrian," Jellal said, giving the cooing baby to her older brother. "Yeah, when do you leave so I can go and pick up Erza?"
"In about an hour," Brett replied taking a seat while he sat her up on his lap. Somewhere in his little playpen, Adrian giggled as one of his teddy bears squeaked.
The mage nodded, "I'll see you then."
….
"Jellal, welcome home," Christina looked up as one of her 'adopted kid' walked in.
He acknowledged her presence with a nod, "Hi Christina. Sorry can't talk now, need to get Erza."
"Oh? What for?" she followed him as he walked to the elevator.
"A friend of ours asked us to babysit his twin siblings while he worked," Jellal said as the elevator doors opened.
Christina followed him inside, "Only you and Erza will be watching them?"
"That's right."
"Then what would Natsu and the others do?"
"They have a mountain full of homework to do. I highly doubt they'll burn anything."
"I can't say the same for Natsu," they exited the elevator together as they continued walking.
"You know what? Mark and I will have some bonding time with them while you two are out," she smiled.
Jellal looked at his guardian, slowing his pace down a bit, "Bonding time?"
"Yep, we might just play board games in their rooms," Christina said.
"Sounds fun," Jellal said as he reached the girls' home.
"Alrighty, I'll be back with some games," and his guardian ran off.
As he knocked, he heard Lucy's voice then silence. Juvia then appeared at the door with her hair in a ponytail.
"Erza will be right with you, Jellal," she beamed.
Just as she said that, the scarlet appeared behind her with a white plastic bag, "I'm ready."
"Oh, Erza! Remember to heat it for two minutes when you guys decide to eat some dinner, okay?" Lucy said from the kitchen.
"I got it," she answered before adding. "Don't wait up for me."
And she shut the door. Pretty soon, it was only Jellal and his girlfriend standing there, starring at each other.
"I seriously don't know how you dragged me into this, Jelly," she sighed.
He took her smaller hand in his bigger one, "Even if I didn't drag you into this, you would've tagged along anyway."
"And why would I do that?" She cocked an eyebrow.
"Because you love me, that's why," he kissed her cheek.
Erza Scarlet only smiled as her man led her down the hall and to a job that she had been nervous about for the whole day.
This will be a test, she decided herself earlier in history while Gray snoozed next to her, to see if I will make a good mother for Jellal's kids one day…