Hello! Okay, so to be honest, I've had this chapter done for a while, but I didn't want to post it so soon after posting the second one. I understand that some of you didn't like what happened to Erza, so I'm just going to tell you right now that if you really don't like stories like this, just stop reading.

Have a nice day!

"I have something important to tell you!" we both blurted at once.

"Uh... You first," I quickly added.

"N-no, you first," Jellal stammered, he sounded a little nervous.

"No you," I insisted, "I-I need to think of how to word what I'm going to say.

"Okay um..." he hesitated, "I have to go to a different state for a while; I'm not allowed to say why or where I'm going though..."

"Oh," I mumbled.

Maybe I shouldn't tell him then; it might make him decide to stay...

"Uh... What was it you wanted to tell me?" Jellal asked.

"O-oh it's nothing," I forced a smile, "So when are you leaving, and how long will you be gone?"

"I leave in five days, and I'll be gone anywhere from a month to a year," he answered.

I looked down to my feet and frowned.

It would be best if I didn't tell him...

"Erza, what did you want to say?" Jellal asked again.

"It doesn't matter," I looked up and forced another smile, but Jellal frowned. I insisted, "It's nothing, I promise."

My thoughts were jumbled with worry and sadness, causing my natural anxiety to go up. Jellal could tell because I was digging my fingernails into my arm. What he didn't know was that I was doing that to prevent any hallucinations or voices.

"Hey, Erza, I won't go if you don't want me to," Jellal grabbed my hand, not wanting me to make myself bleed.

"No, you should go," I nodded, "Director Makarov usually doesn't trust you with much, so you should definitely go."

I sighed and walked to our room. After pacing back and forth for a bit, trying to clear my thoughts, I changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants. Jellal came into the room just as I laid down on the bed. He silently grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom to change. When he came back, he turned off the light and laid down by me. As I tried to get comfortable, I thought about how I still remember how scared I was soon after arresting my father; I was so scared, Jellal ended up having to stay at my house.

It was only a week after arresting my father again, and I was still quite scared. Jellal had brought me home and made me dinner, but now it was time for me to go to sleep. I was still unsure of whether or not I'd wake up and be safe, so instead of even going to my room, I sat down on the ground with my arms folded across my chest.

"Really Erza?" Jellal sighed, "You'll be alright, I'll be here if you need me."

"B-but…" I started to complain.

"But nothing. You need to get your rest," Jellal interrupted, "I will make sure nothing bad happens to you, Erza."

When I didn't respond, Jellal sighed once more and walked over to me; he held out his hand to help me up. I hesitated for a moment then took his hand, and he pulled me up off the ground.

Jellal brought me to my room and kissed me goodnight, "I promise you'll be safe."

He was just about to leave the room when I suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. Jellal looked back at me, confused.

"Don't leave. Please," my voice came out a whisper.

"Erza, I'll only be in the living room," Jellal stated.

"Please," I tried again, tears forming at the corners of my eyes, "Just until I fall asleep?"

"Okay, but you have to actually be trying to sleep," he decided.

I laid down and curled into a ball, meanwhile Jellal laid down on his back, next to me. Without much hesitation, I moved closer to him and curled up against his side.

I smiled to myself as the memory stuck in my mind. Jellal was already softly snoring, but he had a rough day, especially with having to put up with me all day. Sighing, I frowned at the memory of my most recent problem.

I'll have to tell him eventually but… How will he take the news? Will he be mad?

A few tears escaped my eyes, and I turned onto my side to curl up against Jellal. His snoring stopped, so I guessed that I slightly woke him up. I was almost asleep when Jellal's phone rang, causing both of us to flinch.

Jellal sighed and lazily grabbed his phone while I turned on a lamp. I suddenly remembered I had started crying just moments before, and I quickly wiped my eyes.

"Yeah, Levy?" Jellal yawned.

I could barely hear her, but she was talking fast.

"Wait, what?" Jellal jumped, "You found her?"

"They found Meredy?" I asked, suddenly awake.

Jellal shook his head.

"Then who did they find?" I frowned, crossing my arms.

"Um… Someone," he answered quickly.

I opened my mouth to respond but couldn't figure out what I was going to say. A few minutes later, Jellal ended the call, and I looked at him questioningly.

He shook his head, "You'll find out tomorrow."

"Why not now?" I replied.

"Because you're probably tired," Jellal answered.

I started to protest, "But-"

"Erza, you need to sleep," Jellal interrupted.

"I'm not tired," I lied.

"I think you actually are tired…" Jellal rolled his eyes.

I shook my head, "Nope."

He gave me a disbelieving look, "Go to sleep and find out tomorrow, or stay awake and don't find out at all."

I hesitated for a moment, "Fine…"

Turning off the lamp, I laid back down and curled into a ball. Only a couple moments later, I felt Jellal next to me again, and I curled up tightly against him.

The next morning, I woke up when I heard Jellal talking on the phone, however, I didn't show that I woke up. I listened to Jellal's voice instead.

"I know, but she's sleeping right now," Jellal sighed, "Plus, we aren't even sure how she'll react."

There was a long pause.

"Yes Levy, I know that. I hope you know that I do have a good memory..." Jellal mumbled.

Another pause, but it wasn't as long as the first.

"Okay," Jellal hesitated, "Can you at least wait for her to wake up?"

Jellal ended the call then walked over to me and lightly kissed my forehead; a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

Once Jellal left the room, I opened my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. After a few moments, I sat up and stretched. Letting out a yawn, I got out of bed and sleepily stumbled out of the room.

"Morning..." I yawned as I entered the living room.

Jellal lightly laughed and walked over to me, "Good morning, Sleepyhead."

I wrapped my arms around him and sleepily rested my head on his chest. The steady beating of his heart seemed to calm me, but I didn't know why I wasn't calm in the first place. Maybe it was the stress I had heard in Jellal's voice.

Jellal kissed the top of my head, "Go get ready for work, I'll make breakfast."

Even though I nodded, I didn't move right away. I stayed right where I was. After a few moments, I felt motivated enough to walk back to my room and change clothes, by which I did. I changed into jeans and a dark grey T-shirt then brushed my hair and walked to the kitchen.

"Good morning again, now that I'm fully awake," I smiled.

"Good morning, Fully Awake Erza," Jellal teased, walking over to me.

When Jellal was close enough to me, I stood on my toes and kissed him. As our lips touched, I could feel butterflies in my stomach — like I would most times when I was near him. When we parted and I dropped back onto flat feet, I hugged him. The guilt was getting to me. I didn't deserve to be so happy with him, not at this point; I was pregnant with a kid that wasn't his.

I didn't deserve Jellal's love.

Subconsciously, I had hugged Jellal a little tighter. Okay, much tighter. Although, he didn't say anything at first.

"Erza?" Jellal caught my attention after a moment, and I could hear the breathlessness in his voice. My arms immediately dropped to my side, and I awkwardly looked to the ground. When I glanced up, I saw Jellal frowning.

"Are you okay?" Jellal asked, "You've been acting strange..."

'Tell him! Tell him now!' I mentally shouted at myself.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile and looking back up at him.

That's not telling him...

"Um, what's for breakfast?" I changed the subject.

"For you, strawberry cake. For me, well... I already ate," Jellal responded.

"What did you eat?" I asked.

"Eggs," he answered simply.

"What a great breakfast..." I mumbled sarcastically.

"Says the one that mostly eats cake for every meal," Jellal retorted.

I stuck my tongue out at him and grabbed a piece of cake.

"Let's go," I smiled, "I'll eat on the way."

"Are you sure? We can stay here a few minutes longer than usual," he offered.

"Yeah, it's fine," I assured him, "Plus, we can't be late for work."

Jellal nodded in response, already knowing he wouldn't get me to change my mind, he grabbed his keys, and we went out to his car, beginning our way to work. I managed to finish my cake in two minutes.

By the time we got to work, it was 7:30am. Rather than going up to the cafeteria right away, we decided to quickly go to my office for something.

Just as we turned the corner to the hall my office was in, we came face to face with Levy and a familiar woman with brown, scarlet-tinted hair. All of our faces had surprised expressions, but I was the first to move, not that I moved very far. I took a small step back and half hid myself behind Jellal.

Jellal half turned to face me, "Erza-"

He cut himself off when he noticed I was slightly shaking. I looked to him, then back to my mother. She seemed to be just as surprised as I was. Before anyone could say anything, I turned back around the corner and pressed my back up against the wall. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath; I could hear Levy and Jellal talking in hushed voices.

After a few moments Jellal came around the corner to find me.

"Erza," Jellal caught my attention. I looked over to him, frowning. Jellal grimaced and slightly shifted his gaze.

Before he could speak, I spoke quietly, "Is that really her?"

Jellal nodded, "Levy found out a few months ago that she faked her death."

Taking a shaky breath, I looked to the ground as tears formed in my eyes. Jellal lightly put his hands on my shoulders, and I just barely glanced up at him.

"She doesn't hate you, Erza," he whispered.

I bit my lip and wiped the tears from my eyes.

Jellal spoke again, carefully lifting my head so I was looking at him, "I understand that you've had it stuck in your mind that she hates you, but that's because you've been told that ever since you were little. The thing is... You need to forget what you were told after your mom left. Everything your father and his friends told you, were lies."

"Sh-she h-has every r-reason t-to hate me," my voice was shaky and more tears entered my eyes.

"Don't think like that," Jellal lightly scolded, "Anyone could think of anything as a reason for someone to hate them, but that doesn't mean that person hates them. I could come up with many reasons to make myself believe you hate me."

"B-but-" I started.

"But I know you don't hate me," he interrupted.

Although you should hate me... Even if I don't hate you.

The tears I had been trying so hard to hold back, poured from my eyes. I hugged Jellal tightly and cried against his chest. Jellal wrapped his arms around me and lightly kissed the top of my head.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled into his shoulder.

"You don't need to apologize to me," Jellal whispered.

Rather than responding, I tried to calm myself, but my breathing stayed shaky.

"Erza, you need to calm down. You don't want the hallucinations and voices to come back," he reminded me.

Too late.

I heard a hauntingly familiar laugh of mockery, and I slightly looked up. When I looked over Jellal's shoulder, I could see an apparition of my father.

'If you weren't so weak, this wouldn't happen,' my father's voice mocked.

I bit my lip, forcing myself not to respond.

'Oh, you're shaking!" another voice entered my mind.

Cobra. He was the only one of my father's friends that we didn't catch, which scared me a lot.

"No I'm not," I whispered, facing down again and tightening my grip on Jellal.

"Erza, don't listen to the voices," Jellal murmured.

More laughing and more mockery.

'You look so pathetic!" Cobra's voice laughed.

"I know I'm pathetic..." I whimpered.

Jellal tried speaking to me, but his voice was blocked out by the ringing and the other voices I heard. I let go of Jellal and pulled away from him, backing myself against the wall again. Sitting down, I had my knees tucked up against my chest, and I hid my face as even more tears fell.

I could hear that Jellal was talking, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. Suddenly, I could hear that Levy was speaking as well, but, again, I couldn't hear the words.

'Crying as usual. That just shows how weak and pathetic you are,' my father's voice grumbled, 'No wonder your mother left.'

"It's all my fault," I mumbled.

I suddenly felt Jellal's hand on my shoulder, and I could just barely hear what he was saying.

"Erza, not everything is your fault,"

'What a pathetic lie!' Cobra's voice scoffed, 'How pathetic does someone have to be to believe a lie like that?'

"Shut up, Cobra! I know I'm pathetic!" I cried, hugging Jellal once more.

The ringing had finally stopped, but the laughter and mocking voices hadn't. That was worse than the ringing.

'You realize that your mother left because she was embarrassed by how pathetic you were, right?' my father's voice taunted.

"If she was so embarrassed by me, then why is she here?" I mumbled.

The voices stopped at once, and laughter slowly died down. I slightly glanced up from Jellal's chest and saw that the apparition of my father was gone.

"Erza," Jellal started, and I looked up at him instantly, "You aren't pathetic. You know that, right?"

"Then why do I feel so pathetic?" I asked.

Because I wasn't strong enough to prevent anything bad from happening to me?

"I'm sorry, I can't answer that," Jellal frowned.

It's true, isn't it? Keeping my mouth shut, I felt broken.

"Erza?" I heard a soft voice. A voice I thought I'd never hear again.

I stood up and helped Jellal up with me, not daring to turn around right away. Jellal slightly nodded when I looked at him for reassurance. Taking a deep breath, I turned around, careful not to lose my balance.

Suddenly arms embraced me as my mom pulled me into a hug. I could hear soft cries.

"E-Erza..." she whispered, still hugging me, "Y-You're alive..."

At the time, I couldn't find my voice, and after a few moments of hesitation, I returned the hug.

"I hate to ruin the moment," Levy muttered awkwardly, "but you guys might want to like go into an office. We're blocking the hallway."

"Right..." I mumbled, turning to face Levy and Jellal, "Um... You two keep trying to find Meredy, we'll go in my office."

"Alright, we'll let you know if we find anything," Jellal nodded, then he and Levy left. Meanwhile, I led my mom to my office.

When I was shutting the door to my office, my mom suddenly spoke, "When did you get engaged?"

"A few months ago," I responded.

"To the man you were with in the hallway?" she clarified.

I nodded, "Yeah... To Jellal."

We were silent for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry if I offend you, but... You're sure he's not taking advantage of you?" she sighed.

"He wouldn't take advantage of me, and I know he hasn't been," I frowned.

"How can you be so sure?" my mom asked, "I thought the same about your father then-"

I interrupted, "If he were taking advantage of me, he wouldn't have waited so long for me to wake up from a coma, and he wouldn't have had to have been forced to eat and sleep. Which I still need to thank Ultear for making him sleep..."

"Right. I'm sorry, I had no right to bring that up," she looked down.

"I understand why you brought it up," I sighed, "One, you're my mom, of course you'd worry about that, and two..."

I hesitated, "Father told me what he did to you."

She flinched the mumbled, "Oh... Um... W-where is he now?"

"Uh... He's in prison," I answered.

Or at least I hope he is...

"He is?" Relief shone in her blue eyes.

I nodded, "It took a while, but he is."

She sighed in relief and became less tense.

"So... How have you been?" she asked awkwardly.

"Uh... Pretty well, other than getting beaten, slipping into a coma, and nearly getting burned to death-" I started nonchalantly.

"Wait what?" her eyes widened.

"Right uh... Right..." I couldn't think of what to say.

Idiot! You have to get used to the fact that these things don't normally happen to people!

"You nearly got burned to death?" she clarified sternly.

"Yeah..." I mumbled, nodding.

"Explain," she instructed.

"W-well... A few years ago when father was hurting me I managed to get away from him long enough to call the cops, and he was arrested for that and crimes that I didn't know about at the time... Then around a year ago he got out if jail, and... And... Then a lot of stuff happened, one of which being him trapping me in the basement of Ravens Hotel and starting the place on fire when Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal got there..." I looked to my feet.

I waited for a response but didn't get one. When I looked up, I saw tears on my moms face.

"I should've never left you," she whispered.

"I'm fine now though. Like I said before, Father's in prison, and so are his friends," I added.

All except Cobra...

Memories of him shot through my mind at once, starting at age 14.

I was very cautious around Cobra, more than usual because of the one time I saw him. It was the first time he had done that, and now, I was stuck in a room with him again. I can't remember why I was stuck in that room with him though.

Suddenly, I felt his hands just below my waist, and soon after that, his lips were on mine. I immediately pushed away from him, but his hands quickly caught my wrists.

"Let go of me," my voice came out as a whisper of fear.

Rather than responding, he began kissing me again. Everywhere. The next thing I knew, he was-

"Erza," Jellal's voice interrupted my thoughts and I felt him lightly shaking my arm. He looked as if he were about to ask me the question he always asked me —are you okay?— but before he could, I hugged him tightly. He didn't speak for a while and just stood there silently while I softly cried.

"Erza?" he tried again, "What's wrong?"

I slightly shook my head and mumbled, "It's just a memory."

"Your mom's worried about you," Jellal stated, "She called Levy and said you randomly started trembling."

"I'm fine now," I lied. I wasn't fine. I wasn't anywhere near fine. Not at the moment.

"That's a lie," Jellal sighed.

"No it's not," I argued.

"Really? Then why are you still holding me using like half your strength?" he responded.

Because I don't want to lose you.

The words remained unspoken.

Thanks for reading chapter three! Haha... Yeah, I can't end this one with 'cliffhanger'.

Anyways, please leave a review! No hate please! I'm fine with constructive criticism, but I don't want you plainly telling me what you don't like. You can keep that to yourself. If you don't like what I write, then stop reading the story. Simple as that. I'm the author, so I can write whatever the fuck I want; you are not in charge of my writing. I'm sorry if you think I'm overreacting, but I just can't handle any hate right now. I'm stressed out enough as it is.

Sorry, but I'm kind of in a bad mood, and I'm really stressed out. Anyways, I hope nobody takes any offense to my rudeness.

Please leave a review! I promise I'll put my bad mood to the side for any responses.