Wendy blinked, not quite comprehending what happened. One minute Erza was in front of her, leading them down the stairs, and the next she vanished. "Uh, Erza?"

"What happened?" Gray asked from behind her, the other four wondering the same.

Wendy shrugged, stepping forward slightly so she was no longer being pushed forward by her friends. "I dunno. She just stopped randomly and I couldn't stop myself in time. That's the second time she's done that today."

Natsu's expression dropped in horror. "Shit, you don't think she… she didn't fall down the steps right?"

Everyone stared at the Dragon Slayer in terror. "I don't wanna know," Happy whimpered.

They crowded in the door frame, peering down into the stairwell. "Why did she stop earlier?" Lucy whispered.

"It's funny, we were at a shop and she thought she saw-" Wendy cut off abruptly, squinting as she got a better look at the scene on the landing. Then she broke into a grin. "Jellal," she called happily, his familiar scent invading her senses.

Down below, the pair had barely moved. His hand remained against the side of her face, cupping her smooth skin and keeping her brown eyes locked on his. Her hair fell on either side of them, a screen of scarlet separating them from the rest of the world. Her lips parted slightly in shock, something he found his eyes kept drifting to. They just couldn't look away from one another, not after two years and four months of separation.

"What are you doing here?" She murmured, breath brushing his cheeks.

"Looking for you," he whispered back, thumb just barely sweeping across her cheekbone. She leaned into his gentle touch, eyes sparkling as she remembered a time many years ago when they'd been in a similar situation. She wanted to kiss him just as much then as she did now.

"Yo, what's Jellal doing here?"

"Erza? Are you okay?"

"You guys comfy down there?"

The voices of her friends called her back to the present. Erza's cheeks flushed a violent shade of red as she realized the position they'd landed in. She shifted slightly, struggling to push herself up into a seated position. Jellal moved fluidly with her, propping himself up with one hand while his other remained slung across her bare waist. Her flush deepened, one arm sliding around his neck automatically to catch herself. Jellal stared at her a second longer before his own blush formed. She practically lay draped across his lap, her skirt tangled around his legs and other hand pressed against his chest. He pulled his arm from her hips, missing the feeling of her on him as she pushed herself up to her feet.

He took her offered hand and used it to stand, taking the chance to take in those still standing in the doorway. Natsu grinned down at them, Wendy and Lucy smiled with happy eyes, and Gray smirked. That's right, I have to remember to give him that letter tonight. The two Exceeds hovered behind their friends, laughing together at the beet-red faces of the couple on the landing. Even though he was flustered and sweating, he couldn't fight the small smile. Here they all were again. After searching and waiting for so long, they'd finally found each other again. It actually hadn't been as hard as he thought. But he would do it all over again if it meant that he would be able to still stand at Erza's side right here and now.

"It's great you're here," Lucy said, slipping her hand into Natsu's. "But why are you here?"

Jellal rubbed the back of his neck, face still heated and growing even hotter. "Er, I'm looking for you all. And here you are."

Wendy beamed. "That's great! Wow, I never thought we'd see you here, and after all this time."

"That, that's kinda the point." He shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "Everyone's been worried. And when the reward shows up without the people who earned it, well, some people start to assume the worst."

Gray's smirk faded, replaced instead by a frown and unfocused gaze. He'd never thought about that. He'd never thought this through, apparently. "Wait, but I sent Juvia a letter. Well, I gave the reward guy a letter to give to her, and I told her why we weren't coming back."

Jellal looked at the Ice Make wizard with a steady gaze. "I don't know what to tell you, Gray. No one's had any idea of where the seven of you have been for the past year. If anyone at Fairy Tail knew something, they must not have shared it with me." He shrugged again. "My guess? Either Juvia didn't tell anyone, which is extremely unlikely, or, well, she never got the letter. I'm sorry."

Gray frowned at the opposite wall, all of his self doubts and worries flooding back from months ago. "Huh. Uh, thanks, I guess."

Erza's brows furrowed slightly. Then she rolled her shoulders, looking from the man at her side to her friends above. "How about we all get some dinner, hm? That's where we were headed in the first place. Unless you already ate…?"

Jellal shook his head with a soft smile. "No, that would be good. If that's not a hassle."

"Jellal, man, we haven't seen you in like two years. 'Course we're gonna invite you to dinner. And I'm starving, so can we just go already?" Natsu stared at Lucy with big eyes, the Celestial Spirit mage rolling her eyes with a smile.

"Yeah yeah. Let's go get some food. But I'm not paying for you if you plan on eating like an animal."

"Aw, come on! Please?"

The couple continued their bickering as they started down the stairs, oblivious to the world around them. Gray dragged his feet and trailed behind, Wendy close on his heels with the Exceeds. And bringing up the rear of the group were Erza and Jellal, both still red in the face and wishing they had the courage to simply hold hands as Lucy and Natsu did before them.

XXX

"Anything else you can tell us?" Lucy sat with her head propped on a hand, bright eyes shining as they remained focused on the Heavenly Body mage across the table.

Jellal shook his head with a small smile, folding his napkin on the table. "There's not much more I know. I would only stop by Fairy Tail every couple months, and I wouldn't often stay for too long. I've told you all I know."

"And ole Lightening Head is really Master now?"

He nodded at Natsu, the Dragon Slayer leaning against Lucy with his arm slung around her waist. "Yes, Laxus took over the mantle of guildmaster this past October. And he's done a wonderful job thus far. I've met him at a couple of meetings, and he knows exactly how to handle most situations. Although, I do believe that will change once your group rejoins the ranks of the guild."

"That's right, you're the master of Crime Sorciere, aren't you? How's that been?" Wendy asked, fighting back a yawn as the long day caught up to her. First they had been on the road for like two days, and then she'd been out shopping with Erza, and then they'd all sat in their room and talked for like an hour, and then they ran into Jellal, and now they were here. She was exhausted.

"Well, Meredy and I are sort of co-masters, but it's good. Everyone in the guild is good. We still haven't settled down in a guildhall or claimed a town as our home, but I think everyone enjoys the traveling we do. After being feared or despised for so long… well, it's nice to see the country without fear." He said this with a smile, but Erza sensed the underlying tones in his voice, the emotions that plagued him constantly. She remembered the conversation she had with Wendy earlier. I'll talk to him tonight, she vowed. No matter how much I want to run and hide. At least he'll probably feel the same way.

Natsu felt no qualms about hiding his feelings. He yawned hugely before burying his face in Lucy's neck. "That's great. And it's fun to see you. But I'm tired, and I wanna go to bed."

Lucy rolled her eyes, leaning her head against his. "He doesn't mean to be rude, do you?" Natsu grumbled noncommittally, using his free hand to tug on his scarf. The blonde ruffled his hair before wrapping her fingers around her pendant, a habit she'd developed years ago and didn't think she could ever break. Not that she minded. She loved the necklace and the connection it gave her to Natsu, as well as the knowledge that he was always looking out for her, no matter what they were going through. Then she looked back at Jellal. "I'm sorry, but I think we're all ready to sleep. Especially since we were planning to head out early tomorrow morning."

Natsu grinned sleepily, pushing himself to his feet and pulling Lucy up with him. "I'm gonna sleep for a month."

"I'll sleep for a year," Gray shot back, finally returning to the present. Happy sniggered at the rivalry bringing Natsu back to life, the Fire Dragon Slayer's mouth falling open to deliver a retort childlike in nature.

"Enough," Carla said, stretching as she rose to her feet as well. "It's too late for these types of shenanigans." Wendy murmured in agreement, straightening out her new blazer from Erza.

The others stood, looking around at the empty dining hall. One server remained behind the bar, patiently cleaning empty glasses by the dim lighting. Lucy pulled Natsu over to the man, pulling out her purse to tip him for waiting so long for their group to finish their extended meal.

Gray shoved his hands into his pockets, mind drifting once more to thoughts of the woman he'd apparently left completely in the dark. It wasn't his fault, of course, that his letter had never been delivered. But if he'd gone home when they should have, then she never would have had to worry. If he'd never left in the first place, actually, she wouldn't have had to worry at all. Ugh, emotions confused him.

"Gray?" The Ice Make wizard blinked, focusing on the blue haired man who stood before him.

"What's up, Jellal?"

The older man paused for a moment before reaching into his back pocket. He pulled out a thick white envelope, and Gray saw familiar, looping handwriting spelling out his name on the front. "Juvia gave this to me before I left. I promised I'd get it to you as soon as possible."

"Uh, thank you. Really. Thanks."

Gray took the envelope and slipped it into his own pocket. Jellal frowned slightly, feeling he had to tell the wizard more. "Gray? I, uh, listen. Read that soon. And I would suggest reading it alone."

"Why?" Gray asked suspiciously, the weight of the paper hanging heavy in his pants. "What haven't you told us?"

"It's not for me to tell," Jellal responded softly. "She's explained everything. But… if you have any questions, I may be able to answer them. Remember, I don't know everything that's happened in Fairy Tail since you left, but I should know enough to help you."

Gray nodded slowly, anxiety burning a hole through his chest. "Uh, sure. Thanks. Again. Thank you." He shifted awkwardly, countless scenarios running through his head. Why would Jellal seem so concerned if not for something horrible? God, he needed to know what happened. He might go crazy otherwise.

"Everyone ready?" Lucy asked, replacing her money pouch in her pocket as they all gathered in the doorway. Everyone nodded, several hiding yawns. They started heading upstairs, Gray with his head down and Erza and Jellal at the back of the group. The pair didn't speak much, both full of words searching desperately for a way out. But Natsu made up for the silence, the air saturated with his voice and laughter. Wendy and Happy chimed in, Lucy and Carla speaking once in a while to fill the empty spaces.

The group reached the hallway between the three rooms, pausing and finishing whatever conversations they'd been in the middle of. Then Natsu and Lucy waved goodnight, Happy floating behind and closing the door with a soft click. Wendy murmured her own farewell, Carla the Exceed in her arms as she slipped toward the room she shared with Gray and Erza.

"Jellal?" The Heavenly Body mage looked down at Erza, waiting for her to continue. She did. "May I have a word with you?"

"Uh, of course. Did, did you want to come in?"

Erza nodded once, glancing over at Gray to make sure he heard. He didn't really seem to be listening, but she doubted they would worry too much.

She followed Jellal down the hall, waiting as he unlocked the door and pushed inside. She paused in the doorway, peering over his shoulder at the new setting. A large bed took up most of the space, and a blue couch sat opposite, framing the bathroom door and near enough to the window that moonlight danced across the upholstery.

Jellal looked back, brown eyes shining under thick strands of blue hair. "Are you just going to stand there all night?"

Erza snorted, tucking hair behind her ear as she stepped forward into the hotel room. Jellal's eyes followed her body, lost for a moment in the sway of her hips and the way her top clung to her skin. One of her sleeves had slipped and now it hung around her elbow in light rolls. He fought the urge to pull the material back up.

Erza hesitated with one foot in the air before turning to the bed. She sat down on the edge, balls of her feet resting on the floor. Jellal closed the door, leaning his forehead against the panels as he struggled to compose himself. No big deal, just Erza sitting on my bed. Oh god, it's like I'm fifteen again. Well, maybe seven. At fifteen, I was more concerned with resurrecting the Black Wizard. Damn, my childhood really was messed up, wasn't it?

"Are you just going to stand there all night?" She copied, and he smiled despite himself.

"Ha ha." He turned, hoping his cheeks remained a normal color. A smile of her own lit up the dark room, his aching heart skipping a beat at the simplistic beauty that expression gave to her face. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Sit down," she replied instead, smoothing the comforter at her side in an inviting gesture. His brows furrowed slightly. Then his forehead smoothed out, and he took the few steps to the couch, lowering himself to the plush furniture. He avoided Erza's gaze. He had no idea how she reacted to him purposefully sitting farther away from her, and he really didn't intend on finding out.

Several long moments of silence passed, ending only when Jellal finally looked up at Erza only to find her staring right back. He cleared his throat, fire shooting into his face and words spilling out before she could say anything. "Uh, your friends are good."

Erza raised an eyebrow. "You know you may have to be a little more specific when referring to my friends."

Jellal rubbed the back of his neck, fingers dragging through the slightly damp hair. "Sorry. Right, um, I meant Millianna."

Erza blinked in surprise. "You've talked to Millianna recently?"

He nodded. "Yes. Last July, she was finally able to track down Wally and Shô. When she told him that she knew where his brother was and that Richard still searched for him, they set up a meeting immediately. The two of them have been hanging around a lot since then."

"How wonderful. It's long past time the two of them found one another." Jellal nodded in agreement, turning his gaze to the window. A slight frown slipped onto Erza's face. "And, what did they think?"

"Of what?"

"Of you."

Jellal sighed, eyes dropping to his lap. "What else is there to think besides what they've known for years now?"

"Jellal." Erza shifted, concern spilling from her eyes. "Tell me you don't believe that. You must have spoken with them. They have to know the truth about what really happened all those years ago."

"Millianna told them everything she knows, as did Richard. And I think she even brought Kagura with her once to introduce her to her brother's friends."

"But you never once spoke to them yourself," Erza inferred, reading the signs evident on the wizard's face. "But why? Don't you want them to know the truth?"

"They do know the truth," he retorted, no power behind his words. "I just don't know how much they believe it. Or if they even trust me. If they ever will again."

"So why didn't you go to them yourself? Explain everything so there was no chance of them misunderstanding?" She paused, tilting her head as she examined him. "Oh. Oh, Jellal."

"Guess I just can't get rid of this self-destruction streak, hm?" Jellal chuckled in a familiar, depreciating manner. Erza continued to watch him, hoping he would open up to her. Or at least tell her something. Anything.

He sighed once more. "It's nothing."

"Don't say that." The requip mage shifted once more, fully facing the Heavenly Body wizard. He looked at her, taken aback for a minute by the sight before him. She sat on top of her knees, skirt hitched up her thigh and sleeve still hanging low on her arm. Scarlet hair dragged across her lap and framed her face, partially hiding her beautiful brown eyes that always seemed to look right through him. God, he'd been falling hard for so long, hadn't he? "Jellal, I don't understand you. Why can't you see that you deserve their forgiveness?"

"I don't deserve anything from them after the hell I put them through. I don't deserve anything from you. I threatened you, I forced you to ruin your friendships, hell, I tried to kill you, Erza!" He took a deep, shaking breath and braced his hands on the couch, looking down once more. "I've spent so long, so many years, trying to make up for all of my mistakes. All the pain I've caused you… I don't know how you can look at me with a smile. All this time, you've stayed by my side. You were the only one to believe in me, even when I didn't. You may have forgiven me, Erza, and your friends may have too. But how can I ever forgive myself?"

A puff of air escaped from her lips, chest aching at the intensity of her desire to hold him in an embrace and protect him from the world. "Oh, Jellal," she murmured, sliding off the bed with the gentle sound of fabric on skin.

He held up a hand. "I know what you're going to say. But I can't. I don't know how to get rid of these thoughts. Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't. Don't I deserve to be plagued with this torment as punishment for my sins? My crimes may have been forgiven, but that does not mean they have been forgotten."

"You got it all wrong," she whispered, coming to a stop before him. "While I do wish you could see yourself as I do, I know that's impossible. But I want you to know that I am here, and nothing you say will ever make me leave, not during the good days and especially not during the bad ones, for that's when you need someone the most. And I, I care about you, Jellal." Then she made her move.

He sucked in a gasp of air as she knelt over him, his hips bracketed by her knees. He tipped his chin back to look the few inches up at her, unable to release the breath in his lungs as her hands cupped his face and kept his gaze locked with hers. Scarlet hair brushed his shoulders as his arms moved instinctively, hands sliding into place on her waist. "What are you doing?" He whispered, sweeping his thumb over a smooth expanse of skin.

Her eyes switched from one of his to the next. "How much longer must we play this dance of ours?" She asked instead, voice pitched low and intoxicating. "We've been on two separate paths for so many years now, meeting on occasion only to depart once more. But must our paths diverge? Can't this be the moment where our journeys intertwine, never to split again?"

"Erza, I-" he began, only to be silenced by one of her thumbs brushing over his lips.

"There's something you need to tell me, right? Something important. Something we've both held onto for far too long now. I'm not kidding myself, I know there's something there. So won't you say those words? Won't you make the bridge and close this gap we never intended to make?"

"I…" He inhaled slowly, hating that these words had to leave his lips while he held Erza, while he looked deep into the eyes he'd only fantasized about for the past few years. "I can't," he finally said voice breaking in time with his heart. "I'm broken, Erza. And I, I can't, I mean, I just-"

"Then I'll say it," She cut through his rambling, something he was grateful for. She swallowed once, took a deep breath, swallowed again, and then pressed her forehead against his. "I love you," she whispered, breath stirring across his cheeks as his eyes fluttered closed. His breath caught in his throat and his hands tightened around her waist. "I love you," she repeated, "and I'm going to kiss you now."

"Uh huh." His brain hadn't the capacity to form any more complex words. But she seemed to understand, for she smiled and leaned down, her eyelashes skimmed his cheeks as her hands pulled his face towards hers.

Their lips met in a gentle brush that all but sent electricity shooting through his veins. He gasped and surged into her touch, igniting the flames in his stomach as their first kiss burned with a passion he never thought he'd get to experience.

Erza eventually leaned away, cheeks glowing and eyes shining. "Might not have been a romantic beach, but still."

He chuckled weakly, running his thumb over her waist again. "My fault, I guess." Then he was pulling her back in, finding her lips on him was like a meal he could never be full of, a drug he could never get enough of, a poison he could never be healed from. One of his hands slid up her side until it reached her neck, eliciting a gasp from the woman in his arms. One of her own hands traveled from his cheek to his hair, her fingers twisting in the thick strands and keeping him pressed firmly against him. The other hand quickly joined.

"I love you," she said again, breathless against his lips. He groaned at the words, arching into her until there was no space between their aching forms. "I love you," she whispered a fourth time. "You don't have to say it if you aren't ready."

"I love you," he said simply, breaking away to look up into her eyes. "I always have."

She laughed in quiet disbelief, leaning into the hand cupping her neck. "Me too," she murmured, eyes dancing across his face as she took him in.

He'd had enough of her above him. He twisted to the side and pulled her down so she lay on the couch, half of her body covered by his. He leaned over her, barely suppressing a smile as he pressed his lips to her cheek, her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. She moaned beneath his touch, hands still running through his hair. His hand at her waist made small sweeping gestures, reveling in the simple pleasure of her skin on his.

"Erza…" Her name was a prayer on his lips, the light that had guided him through all of the darkness and sorrow, the savior that made each and every day worthwhile. She arched against him with a gasp, incentivizing him to continue the line of kisses he left against her flushed skin.

"Jellal," she breathed back, thoughts melting away as all of her attention centered on every point of contact, every inch of bare skin between them. She took his face in her hands once more and pulled him up so their lips met, and the world spiraled away in a flurry of meaningless doubts and cares.

XXX

Wendy sat at the table they had claimed, head against the worn surface even as Carla looked down at her and scoffed. "Come now, child. Pull yourself together." Gray laughed, setting down his cup of coffee and leaning back in his chair.

"Are you really that tired? I heard you tossing a lot through the night." Wendy raised her head with bleary eyes, and Gray realized with a start that this was no longer the little girl he had first met all those years ago. In these two years they had spent in Benos and Coracre, she had truly grown into a beautiful young woman. She had lost none of her kindness, even though the world certainly hadn't been good to her in all aspects of her life. He couldn't wait to see what the guild thought of her when they finally returned, which was hopefully sooner rather than later.

"That's what happens when your friend disappears and you have no idea where he is until the middle of the night. And your awful snoring wasn't any help," she accused, pointing a finger at him even as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Just as soon as I think I'm getting a break, you start back up again and then I'm lying awake for the next five hours."

Happy caught the last of Wendy's words, and he snickered as he soared into the dining room, fur ruffled along his cheek from sleep. "At least you weren't in the same room as Lucy and Natsu. They're so in looooove," he crooned, shooting towards the ceiling as the aforementioned couple appeared, Lucy aiming a swat at the Exceed.

"Can it, cat! Besides, I know for a fact that Natsu's snoring is way worse than Gray's." Gray stuck his tongue out at the blonde, Natsu returning the gesture as the two of them sat down at the table. "And Gray, are you gonna tell us about what happened last night? I couldn't get anything out of Natsu."

"Uh, yeah, sorry for worrying you all." The Ice Make wizard rubbed the back of his neck, obviously still flustered by the events of last night. "Can I tell you on the road? I need some more time to pull myself together, I think. And then I don't have to repeat myself for Erza." He shuddered at the thought, Natsu sending his frenemy a sympathetic glance.

"Wait, where is Erza?" Happy asked, looking around the table in confusion. "Did you leave her in the room?"

"Actually, Erza never came to the room last night," Carla said, a small frown on her human face.

"She spent all night in Jellal's room," Wendy sighed tiredly. "Yet another thing that kept me up."

"What?!" The others exclaimed. Wendy shrank away from the loud noise.

"Uh, what did I say?"

"Basically that Jellal and Erza did stuff last night that apparently kept you awake!" Lucy looked to be in shock. "I mean, I'm happy for them, it certainly took long enough, but my god, I didn't expect for them to do it last night."

"How come I didn't hear anything?" Natsu said with a frown.

"Ew, why would you want to hear anything?" Gray said with a frown.

"It's cause you were too busy to hear anything else," Happy sniggered, knowing he lied and yet unable to keep from pestering his friends. He was rewarded with a flying piece of toast thrown by the busty blonde.

"They didn't do anything too crazy," Wendy said, feeling she needed to quell the rumors before they started. "They just talked a lot and kissed. We've all seen Gray and Juvia in much more compromising positions before."

Gray glared at the Sky Maiden and Lucy flushed as she recalled those memories, fingers wrapping around her pendant. Natsu shrugged. "Damnit Wendy, why didn't you tell us last night? We totally could've embarrassed her!"

"Uh, cause I like living?"

Gray nodded, rubbing the back of his neck in agreement. "Yeah… that was probably the safest call." He downed half of his mug of coffee in one go. "When should we wake them up?"

"We're already awake," Erza's strong voice cut through the commotion of the rapidly filling dining hall, and the Fairy Tail wizards looked up to see her coming, Jellal not two steps behind. "And since Wendy's saved us the hassle of discussing our love life, I think it's time we got a move on. I know we're all anxious to return home as fast as possible."

Some groaned and some began teasing the new couple about their activities the night before. But none complained about hitting the road once more. After all, each second that passed was another spent away from home, but each step they took merely brought them closer.

Ahhhhh it finally happened! And I'm so glad it did! I've been waiting for this chapter for a while, so to finally be able to write it and share it with you all really means a lot. To write the real good bits, I sat in my room with no light but a candle and whatever got through the curtains, played romantic classical music, drank hot chocolate, and just wrote for about an hour. I'm happy I did it, and I hope my hard work paid off! Let me know your thoughts :)

Only a few more chapters until our team makes it back to Fiore. But who knows what new adventures and dangers wait for them there? And who knows what shenanigans Gray and Natsu got into last night? (I do ;) And when I finally have the time, I'll write another oneshot explaining it. But it will have to come out after Chapter 50 comes out since I don't wanna spoil things before the main story says the juicy details that have occurred. Oh don't worry, I have a story planned for that)

Until next time! And that next time will be after my first four days at college! Ahhh, super scary. Classes won't have even started yet, but I'm nervous! Only three more days at home and then I actually have to be an adult :() But never fear, I don't intend to ever stop writing (at least, not until these stories have been told to the best of my abilities.) Enjoy!