Author's Note: Happy friggin' new year, everyone! Thank you so much for your warm reviews Mikasa-chan and SkarltHart. Also, SomnolentSushi Roll, thanks a bunch for fav-ing and following the story. I'm utterly sorry for keeping you guys waiting for more than two weeks. I'd become busy with my holiday schedule. I do hope you forgive me and thank you for waiting!

Here's the final chapter, everyone! Raw file as always and hope you do heads up for typos and errors.

Three months later. The soundless whisper of the wind's austere breeze solaced her as she wiped down the thin layer of dust from his cold tombstone. The birds' sonorous elation song medleyed the flowers' smiling faces as Irene gently wrapped her arms around her after Erza placed the flowers on his grave.

"Dad, I'm engaged now. I miss you and thank you so for watching over us," Erza said as she leaned on Irene's shoulder.

"Time hastily flew over us, Rai. It was just like yesterday when we were dreaming of having her yet now, she's about to build her own family. My goodness, what's going on! Why am I tearing up all of a sudden?" she fluidly wiped her unshed tears as she reminisced their memories together.

Erza contently smiled as she rubbed her back. "Although I've lost a lot of years having her by my side but meeting her again had offered me tons of warm memories. Don't worry Rai, Erza's fiancé is as loyal and tenderhearted as you. You don't need to worry about her. I know she's in good hands."

About an hour later, their relatives and family members had started arriving at the east wing of their mansion. They stared in awe as the inexpressibly old-fashioned ostentatious reception greeted them. Irene cleared her throat as she descended from the stairs to greet Jellal's parents.

"I never thought you'd come," she remarked as she saw Ellen happily clinging to Julius's arms.

"I can't miss my son's engagement party, Irene," he said.

"Oh, but you missed his birthday. He already informed us about his proposal yet you still missed it," she added as she exchanged greetings with Ellen.

"Something came up during the flight so I was delayed for a day," he added as he scratched the back of his head as guilt surged in.

"Oh, c'mon… Today's their first engagement party, please don't make a scene," Ellen winked as she held Irene's hands.

Irene pouted at her remarks and teased her, "I guess my slap really brought him back to his senses."

A few years ago, and a day before, Erza was discharged from the hospital. He gently shuddered as his knees kissed the cold, bleached beige floor before him. He begged with tears in his eyes as he lent her the fabricated papers that Felix sent him.

"E-Erza, I-I am terribly sorry for everything that I've done to you," he mumbled as tears gently slipped his pale cheeks.

Erza averted her gaze from him as her breath ragged. Jellal immediately tried to calm her down as she started to panic. Irene's heart sank as she saw Erza's reaction towards his presence. Jellal wrapped his arms around her and looked back to drove him away, but the sight that greeted him made his eyes widened.

"Da-"

His ears rang continuously as Irene's slap ricocheted in the ward. Erza froze and looked back at him with her trembling eyes. Irene's chocolate eyes were sullen as she fixated her gaze on Julius's stunned face as he apprehended the sharp pain in his cheeks. Irene remained silent though she already seized the events that had happened could no longer hold her emotions and slapped him hard as she burst her anger. She clicked her tongue as she massaged her temple with her hands.

"I know for sure your slap was way harder than this. Oh, I feel so honored to slap you first," she sarcastically said as she bowed to meet his gaze.

"Listen, Julius. Would your 'sorry' made any difference? It's just a word. One word against a thousand actions that you've done to humiliate her. It already scarred her heart. Your prejudice against people with lower backgrounds does not warrant any excuse for Erza to forgive you. What you've done to her is unforgivable yet if she chose to forgive you in the end, just give her some time to think and try to prove it till she accepts your apology."

"I guess you did because that day was the turning point of his life." Ellen laughed as she reminisced what Irene told her.

"I guess you two had been having a good time talking behind my back," Julius remarked as he intertwined his hands on Ellen's.

"Oh c'mon, you two. Quit acting sweet will ya? Else dad and others may think that you're the one who's getting engage rather than them," Irene said as she pointed out their entrance.

"My goodness, they look so dashing!" Ellen complimented as she saw him clad in his classy black and gold metallic jacquard tux.

Entering on the opposite sides of the hall, they paused and stared at each other's eyes as if it's their first meeting. Jellal's mouth slightly went agape as he saw her in her lace off-shoulder champagne dress. Erza felt the world ceased before her as he slowly walked his way towards her. He softly chuckled as he asked for her hand. Her heart started to beat faster as her fidgety hands made their way towards his waiting ones. Why can you still make my heart beat this fast when we had already known each other for years? She thought to herself as she watched him kissed her hand.

"Why can you still make my heart beat this fast when we had already known each other for years?" he asked as he brought her hands to his chest.

"Guess you can still spark my heart in every meeting like our first one," he added before tugging her closely.

"We're still the same after all," Erza said as she let her head lean on his shoulder for a while before they descended from the stairs.

"Congratulations," Irene greeted as they reached them.

"Mom," Erza said, and Jellal let her go as his mom and dad greeted him too.

"Dad, glad you made it here," Jellal said as he greeted him.

"Congratulations, son!" Ellen hugged him after fixing his slightly crooked vintage baroque lapel pin.

"Congratulations to the lovely couple," Rhea greeted.

"Thank you, auntie," Erza said as Jellal wrapped his arms around her.

"Who would ever think that the joke Ellen had made years ago would come true?" Ruve said as they joined the crowd.

"Dad!" Irene shouted.

"Oh, my bad, I don't know that they don't know about that,"

"About what?"

"Actually, it was a month after Ellen had given birth to Jellal and she once taunted Irene about arranging your marriage after knowing that Rai and Irene are having a girl," Ruve explained.

"Wow?! Why?" Jellal and Erza exclaimed in surprise as they look at each other.

"They are actually arranged for marriage since they were younger because dad and uncle are the best of friends during their younger years. Though they were best friends during childhood they eventually despised each other after knowing that they're arranged for marriage."

"Rhea!" Irene yelled in annoyance.

"For heaven's sake, sis, is it real that you never told them about your story?"

"It's embarrassing," Irene pouted.

"Did mom and dad had eventually fallen in love with each other, auntie?"

"Erza?"

"Yes," they said in unison, teasing her.

"And they were the most adorkable couple that I'd ever seen," Ellen added, making Irene blush furiously.

"I-It's not our engagement party a-anymore! Stop bringing up that subject and let's just celebrate my daughter's engagement,"

"Aw," they squealed as Irene desperately tried to change the subject.

Erza smiled as they cracked a peal of boisterous laughter, and she looked back to him. Jellal exhaled deeply before lowering his face to let their forehead touch. He cupped her cheeks and uttered in a shaky voice, "I love you. Erza, I love you for so long."

"Me too, Jellal. Thank you so much for completing me," she said as her eyelids fluttered close before she swung her arms around his neck.

He leaned in and gave her a little peck before planting a deep kiss on her lips. They found themselves in deep wonder as their lips and tongue touched and collided. They were there, right in front of them, witnessing the seal of their love. They pulled their lips apart, and they rejoiced for their union.

A few hours later, Jellal snapped the doorknob with ease and pushed the door open as he let her in. She paused as she met his gaze and grabbed his wrist as she dragged him to her room. She smirked as she pinned him against the door, locking it. He closed his eyes as he readied himself for a warm kiss from her but was disappointed when he only sensed her warm breath on his ears whispering to him, "Thank you for this," she said as she placed his coat over his shoulders.

"Disappointed, aren't you?" she asked as she heard him groan before slumping to her bed.

"I was expecting you to kiss me," he blurted.

"Looks like I had spoiled you enough," she said as she changed her dress.

"I love being spoiled by your love, love."

"Funny,"

"Are you sure you're alright with our long-term engagement? I don't wanna rush things and I want everything to be perfect for our big day. Also, I already bought ourselves land and I'm planning to build our house there. Although I can't guarantee that our house would be as gallant as your mansion I'll try my best." Jellal said as he scanned the book on her nightstand.

"You don't have to worry about the house because…" she paused as she wrapped her arms on his shoulders.

"Being in your arms feels home," she said as she kissed his temple.

"Today's great." She said as he looked back at her, and she chuckled before slumping to her bed.

"Rest now, we will still have guests for tomorrow's event," Jellal said as he tucked her blanket on her.

"Stay. Please, Jellal, stay until I fall asleep."

"Fine," he said as he adjusted his sitting position to caress her scarlet tresses.

Erza hummed in delight as he slowly ran his fingers on her hair. He slid her bangs next to her ears and gave her a soft kiss on her temple. He sighed as he reiterated his question a while ago, "Are you sure you're alright with our long-term engagement?"

Erza abruptly blinked her eyes as she turned her head to face him and asked, "Were you afraid that something might change between us over the years?"

"It's not like that and it's not like I'm afraid with the responsibilities that I'll have to shoulder when we'll become a family. It's just that I already felt so secured that you're meant for me after all these years that I don't feel the need to rush things over. I'm planning to quit my job after our wedding so that I can focus more on our family. Don't worry about that, dad already asked me to run our hospital in his stead,"

He looked at her with a smile, and her eyes soon softened as she realized his words. She clenched his hands as she brought them to her cheeks.

"Thank you so much for understanding my pain. Thank you for being that someone who'll convince me that love is real and that it can heal even the most damaged heart. I may not say this too often but thank you for completing my shattered life and making me whole again, I love you so much."

"I love you too," he said.

Two years later and two months before their wedding day. Jellal hurriedly tidied his hair in the mirror as his alarm ran continuously. He clicked his tongue as he turned it off after grabbing his goat nearby.

"Shoot, my keys!" he groaned, and he rolled his eyes as he walked back to the table.

"I can't be late for heaven's sake. I can't let her wait in the airport," he uttered as he turned the doorknob.

He paused at the sight of her turning to him with her usual bright smile. He froze as she ran to his arms. The keys rattled as he hugged her back and placed a sweet kiss on her temple.

"You're back!" he said after kissing her.

"You're an early bird. Going to the airport an hour earlier, eh? Did you miss me that much?"

"Of course, it's been a month since you had your trip in there. I was starting to get worried about you."

"Aw, I was about to surprise you yet,"

"Don't be bothered about it. I already prepared breakfast, let's eat."

"Oh, that's great coz I'm hungry,"

"A minute coz let me help you with your luggage first,"

"Oh, thank you,"

A week later, Erza found herself holding Irene's hand as she watched her moved in her sleep as her fever made her uncomfortable. Please stay with me, mom. She pleaded as she kissed her hands. Erza stared at the room as an unexpected nostalgia hits her. It was the same room where she had been admitted and taken care of by her mom. I'll take care of you just like how you've taken care of me, mom, I promise. She thought to door creaked, causing her to look back.

"Gramps,"

"How's your mom?"

"She's still sick,"

"It's been three days yet her fever's still high. Goodness. Erza, here, I brought you some food for breakfast."

"Thank you,"

Ruve sat at the bedside as Erza unpacked the lunchbox. The door ponderously creaked as Jellal entered. She paused as she anticipated his entrance, and she was right, it was him, so she happily greeted, "Jellal!"

"Erza," he wrapped his arms around her as she ran to hug him.

"Dr. Fernandez,"

"Oh, Sir Ruve… I'm glad you're here. I have something to tell you. Oh love, please continue eating your breakfast first."

"Did you already have yours?" she asked as they traipsed to the door.

"I'll have mine later, 'kay?"

"So, what seems to be the problem, Dr. Fernandez?" Ruve asked as he watched Jellal closed the door before them.

"What? I'll be quarantined, why?" Erza asked as Jellal told her the details.

"Nienhart tested positive and we're still running auntie's test results. At the moment, it would be better if you quarantined yourself for 14 days because you had direct contact with auntie. It was just yesterday since the news reached us that one board member of their meeting was already infected. Please, love."

"Jellal, I'm perfectly fine! Mom needs me so I'm not leaving her at any cost."

"Yes, you're fine, love, but Nienhart tested positive and is asymptomatic. We can't be sure. I just want to prioritize your health above anything else. I can't risk losing you. There's no cure for this disease yet that's why we have to take extra precautionary measures. Alright. Please, trust me. You can leave auntie's care to me."

"Alright, but I'll be quarantined in here rather than in our mansion. I can't risk grandpa and others."

"Yes, I'll move you to the opposite VIP ward on this floor."

"What about you? You need to be quarantined too."

"I'll take the test, don't worry." He reassured.

The following day.

"I have good news!" Jellal said as he entered her room.

"Yes?" Erza raised her brows as she stopped writing.

"You writing something?"

"Nothing, how's mom?" she asked as she hid her journal under her bed.

"Her condition had ameliorated and her fever's gone."

"That's great."

"She wants to see you but I advised her to stay there. I'll give her phone soon so that you can call each other,"

"Thank you," she said before coughing.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah,"

"You sure?"

She smiled and tousled his hair as she said, "I'm just fine."

"Then, tell me what do you want? Do you want some water?"

"I wanna kiss you right now but it looks like I can't because you can't take off your mask,"

"Aw, there's a time for that,"

"I promise I'll be fine because I'm not planning to stay in the hospital during my wedding day, y'know that." She let out a soft chuckle and added, "Your mask can't hide your smile, ya silly!"

"I know," he shook his head in defeat as he watched her write again.

"Will the results be available tomorrow?"

"Yes,"

"I swear if you test positive, you'll be quarantined with me." She pouted as she watched him rose from the edge of her bed.

"My heart is already quarantined with yours, love" he grinned beneath the mask and winked before leaving.

A week later. Irene had fully recovered yet Erza's health started to deteriorate. Jellal gritted his teeth as he watched her sleeping form. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes as she heard his soft sobs.

"J-Jellal?"

"Love?"

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not." He insisted as he watched her turned to a sitting position.

Silent waves drowned them so Erza asked in a plaintive tone, "I'm afraid you'll get infected because of me,"

"I'll still take care of you even it comes to that point. You once said that you want me to be quarantined with you if that happens, right?

"But I'm afraid, Jellal. This disease is very precarious and had already caused a massive death toll worldwide. Love, I can't lose you,"

"I can't lose you either so please don't give up, love. It's only a week and a month left till our big day, okay? We've waited so much for that day to come. Just please be strong and stay with me-"

"I will. I will never leave you, love. That's a promise,"

"Don't ever break that promise, will ya?"

"I won't coz I have the best doctor around me and that's you."

"You're far better than I do,"

Two weeks later. Jellal squinted his sleepy eyes as he felt a sudden pat on his shoulders. He groaned as he turned his desk chair to face the nurse. She was panting in front of him so he extended his arms to give her the bottle of water on his desk. She shook her head as she received the bottle and said, "Dr. Fernandez, your fiancée…"

"I-impossible!?" he asked as the cold shiver of fear froze him.

His quick yet weary and staggering footsteps resonated in the empty halls of the hospital. He was so lost and distraught as he ran to the elevator. Closeted in his emotions, he slumped on the cold floor as he entered. The long shrills of the wind's whistle escalated his anxiety as he tried to analyze his situation.

"Damn it!" he yelled as the pain pierced his heart.

A few days ago, she was starting to get better. How is it possible? It's not real! This must be a dream, right? He asked himself as he stared at his cold hands. The elevator dinged as he reached the last floor.

"Erza?" he yelled as he stepped out of the elevator running towards her room.

He gulped as he reached her room. He stopped and wearily unlocked the door. His breath hitched as soon as he heard the mind-numbing steady sound of the EKG reverberating in her ward. He fell to his knees as the beeping sound deafened him. His shaking hands gently unfolded the white blanket covering her face. He closed his eyes as he prepared himself to confirm his doubts. An ineffable pain soon muted him as soon as he had seen her face so his tears initiated to yell his inner despair.

"No," he shook his head in disbelief.

Everything went blank. His stomach felt upset as the world shattered around him. He grasped the blanket and it feels like he's crumbling a broken mirrors' debris. He felt so fractured and broken in the darkness' clutches. He tried to readjust his thoughts yet he knew it was so real to be unreal. He kept it against himself. He failed as a doctor. He had witnessed so much death before him but hers… He never thought it could tear him up like this. He was not ready.

"Y-YOU PROMISED ME!" he yelled as he bawled before her.

"ERZA, YOU SAID YOU'LL STAY WITH ME UNTIL THE VERY END. LOVE! WHY?!"

"YOU PROMISED ME!" he started beating himself as the excruciating pain choked him.

"DON'T LEAVE ME. I BEG OF YOU,"

PRESENT.

"Jellal," a soft voice said.

"Erza?" he jolted from his sleep as he felt a gentle tap on his shoulders.

Ellen cleared her throat as her face turned sullen. He sighed as he rose from the floor still hugging her urn. It has been weeks since her death yet he's still not looking bright, he looked very tired with dark circles around his eyes.

"You came back," she said as she watched him arranged Erza's portraits lying on the floor.

"Today's our wedding day, mom. I must not be late, right? Oh God, why didn't I turn the alarm-" he asked her as his face lit up.

"Son! I already called Irene. We'll prepare her burial now,"

"Bu-burial?" he asked as tears grazed his cheeks.

"She's not dead! SHE'S NOT DEAD!" he yelled as he staggered.

"She is," Ellen mumbled before letting her choked sobs out.

"Ah, I KILLED HER. I COULDN'T SAVE HER. I LET HER DIE."

"You can't save all your patients, son."

"THEN, WHY HER? OF ALL PEOPLE THAT COULD DIE IN MY HANDS, WHY HER? MOM, ANSWER ME! WHY IS IT SO UNFAIR? I WAS ABLE TO SAVE OTHERS' LIFE BUT NOT MY FIANCÉE! NOT HERS... THE LIFE THAT I TREASURED THE MOST MORE THAN MINE, I LOST IT. I FUCKING LOST IT. I'M A DOCTOR BUT WHY?"

"You are not Jesus. You can't save everyone just because you're a doctor."

"I'm sorry but I'm not going," he said before running upstairs.

His emerald eyes stared blankly at her niche and soon trailed their way to her photo. Her usual eye smile painted her face. He deeply sighed as he tried to rub away the pending pain in his heart. Her smile is way too vivid and it can't fade into oblivion no matter what he does. It felt like it was just yesterday when I took that photo, Zai. He thought to himself as he closed his eyes. He flinched as he felt someone's hands on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you came," Irene said.

"Auntie? A-aren't you mad at me?"

"I never once blamed you over her death, Jellal."

"But I couldn't save her. I'm a despicable man,"

"Maybe this would help," she said as she took out the journal from Nienhart's hands.

"What's this?"

"She wrote that during those days… I know it's hard to accept the fact that her journey had already ended."

He stared at her before opening the notebook.

"I too don't want to accept it yet," she said before bursting into tears.

He averted his gaze back at her journal as he saw Ellen comfort Irene. Auntie's not a strong person either. Erza, how can I stay sane without you? He asked himself as he turned the cover page.

Being quarantined for a while made me realize how blessed am I to have everyone around me especially my dearest fiancé, Jellal. Jellal, he was the best person I could ever ask for. It's quite funny but I guess this journal is mainly about him. Um, how do I start this? Lemme just reminisce on our first meeting, I can't really deny the fact that I had fallen in love with him at first sight. The moment I had met his eyes, I exactly knew that his eyes are longing for warmth and understanding of others like mine. I think the saying, "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same". I didn't really love him because he is handsome or whatnot. I loved him because he's more myself than I am and… I do and don't know at the same time. I thought love's just fiction till I met him. He was my ever after…

But if ever you really are reading right now that means I'm no longer by your side. I don't want you to read this because I don't want to leave you. I know everything has an ending but I don't wanna end it yet. I wanna create more chapters of my life with you, Jellal. I love you and don't ya worry 'kay? Please stop crying. I'm always with you. Remember, you told me that your heart is quarantined with mine and so, my heart is to you. I'll always be at your side. Please smile and be happy, Jellal.

Inexpressible bitter tears soon flooded his eyes as her letter tugs at his heartstrings. He clutched the journal as ineffable sadness struck him. He choked his tears as he called her name.

"Erza…"

"Are you okay?" Ellen asked as she watched him hugged her journal as she drove down the highway.

"No,"

She stayed silent at his reply. The car stopped as the lights turned red. She extended her hand to cup his cheek.

"I'll take you home, 'kay? Don't stay in your home yet. It may help you if you try to detach yourself from the things that keep on reminding you of her so that you can breathe a little bit,"

"It doesn't matter, mom. My home is no longer here because home is a feeling of her with me,"

She sighed and stepped on the accelerator as the lights turned green. Jellal looked sideways as he watched the bustling streets but was shocked to see a tractor-trailer truck rushing to them.

"Mom, watch out!" he shouted as he tried to turn the steering wheel trying to avoid the truck but it was too late.

He blinked his eyes as he tried to clear his blurry vision. Did we survive the accident? He asked himself. He then soon felt a sudden pat on his shoulders. His eyes widened as he turned his desk chair to face the nurse and immediately felt a sense of déjà vu. He gulped as he realized that it was the same nurse who told him that he lost her. He turned his head and saw the same date. Was everything's just a dream or a vision of the future?

"Dr. Fernandez, your fiancée…"

He immediately rose from his seat and shrug her off. His tears were already forming as he ran to the elevator. Did I just dream about losing her? It can't be true right? He asked himself as he hastily turned the doorknob.

"Erza!" he yelled as he entered.

He gasped as he heard a loud popping sound greeted him. He was stupefied with his tears lapping his cheeks as he saw a bunch of familiar faces smiling at him.

"You're late," a familiar voice greeted from behind as she locked the door.

"E-Erza? Is that you?!" he asked as he staggered back.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying? Hey, Jellal?" Erza asked as she took off her mask.

"I-t's really YOU!" he burst into tears as he wrapped his arms around her.

She blinked a few times before she awkwardly patted his back. She furrowed her brows and asked their parents but they shook their heads in confusion.

"What's wrong? We just had talked over the phone last night yet why are you acting like you had lost me for months?" she asked as he let her go out of his hug.

"I-I'm sorry. I just had a terrible nightmare," he said as he wiped his tears.

"I told you to sleep early yet you insisted we talked all night although I'll be discharged by dawn,"

"Can you please slap me? I just wanna make sure that I'm not dreaming, love"

She smiled to herself as she lifted her head to kiss his lips. After parting, she uttered, "I'm here and real." He sniffled as he cupped her cheeks before capturing her lips once more. She was there and it was real. He knew her scent and the taste of her lips on hers. No one in this world can make him lost in his thought. No one can defy his world's time and his heart rather than her. It was his Erza, his fiancée.

"Ahem," Irene cleared her throat as she tried to divert their attention after breaking up from their steamy kiss.

"I knew you missed each other so much but please refrain from kissing and touching, y'know. Lest you wanna get COVID-19 together," Julius reminded.

"Then, I'll just have to be quarantined with you," they said in unison as they stared into each other's eyes before giggling.

"I guess they both inherited your hardheadedness," Ellen said as she stared at the older versions of the two lovebirds.

"No way," Irene and Julius denied.

Author's Note: It might be the dumbest plot twist ever but I just wanna crush your heart first before letting you breathe, realizing that they had their happy ending (that my babies deserved). I'm a sucker for tragic endings but your reviews made me change my mind. Lol, but don't ya worry much about it. But, should I write a one-shot for their wedding? I'm officially closing this fanfic and thank you so much for the love that I received while writing and I hope you'll still support me with my upcoming story. Even though it took a while before I had finished this story, you stayed with me till the very end. I'm very grateful for that. Love lots!

Once again, Happy new year, everyone and stay safe!

I may publish chapter 1 of my next story next week or earlier! I do hope you'll also check it out if it's out! Thanks.

~Adios amigos!

~Yoshi