Her job finished earlier than planned, and Erza decided to catch the last train of the day to head back to Magnolia instead of spending one more night at the unfamiliar town. When she got off the train, she looked up at the clock at the platform. It was already ten to one a.m.
It took her another thirty minutes to finally reach home. The wing-shaped wall lamp above the door frame shed yellow light on the front door as well as the name plate pinned on the wall at the door's right side. She couldn't help smiling as she saw the names "Jellal & Erza-scarlet Fernandes" engraved on the star-shaped steel plate made by Heart-Kruz.
While they both agreed that the name "Scarlet" was too significant for them to be abandoned, Erza also desired to share Jellal's last name after they got married. So she ended up having new last and first names which satisfied all her wants. She was still getting used to being addressed as Mrs Fernandes, but she certainly loved how it sounded.
Erza opened the door as quietly as she could and slipped inside the house. She was eager to see Jellal; to be at his side again. But if he was already asleep, she wouldn't want to wake him up.
The living room was dark and without Jellal's presence, but there was faint light escaping through the cracks of the door of the study room. She left her hand luggage on the floor as she approached the source of the light with silent steps. The room's door was pulled open before her hand reached the door knob and Jellal greeted her with a smiling face.
"Welcome home, Erza."
He laid a hand on her shoulder gently and leaned forward to kiss her. She grabbed his wrist as she returned his kiss hungrily.
"I'm glad to be home earlier than expected. I miss you, Jellal." Erza said breathlessly as she pulled away.
"I miss you, too, Erza." Jellal palmed Erza's face and she leaned into his touch. "Lucky that I haven't gone to sleep yet."
"What keeps you up at this late hour? Are there troubles from the Council again?"
Jellal laughed heartily. "There are always troubles from the Council. The current ones can be dealt with when I'm back at the office tomorrow." He took Erza's hand and pulled her with him to go inside the room. He settled on his reading chair and made Erza sit on his lap. Looking at her with a tender gaze, he began stroking her hair.
"I stayed up late because tonight I got an unusually strong sense of your presence around me and felt that you may show up anytime."
Erza knew Jellal wasn't just talking sweet to her but was telling the truth. They always had an unbelievably good sixth sense about each other, as if there was an invisible thread connecting them no matter how far away they were from each other. She wrapped her arms around Jellal's torso and buried her face in his neck. His scent which smelled like the woods filled her nostrils as she breathed in and it made her feel safe and relaxed.
"I felt both relieved and happy when you welcomed me home. Thank you, Jellal. I love you."
"I love you, too." Jellal kissed Erza on her head. "I will be at your side whenever you need me."
Erza turned her head and gazed up at Jellal with sensual eyes. "Can I ask for one more favorite?"
"Certainly. What is it?"
"Will you take me to the bathroom and wash me?"
Jellal chuckled as he felt Erza's hand slid down his back and her fingers played with the waistband of his lounge pants.
"Yes, ma'am. My pleasure."