Well, I can't believe it took me almost a month to update-Dang. I've got no excuses for it, coz I'm a lazy person, a busy student, and a sickly human as that. Hah. I hope next year will be a good year for me. Hehe. Now, let's see- this fic is going to be a long one. I hope it doesn't put you guys off on this, though. NEH, I've made you wait for so long, and I guess I have replied to you guys through PM:) it was so fun talking to you guys! Hehe. Again, thanks for the support!

TsundereFairy: Thank you so much for responding! I'm glad one of my bunnies caught your attention^^

graysama:OOOhhhhh-Thanks! I'm glad to hear your side, too!

regina scarlet: Owwhh-Another JerZa fan!Yay!~well, even though this is a GrayZa fic, I hope the JerZa moments in this chap and the next ones will satisfy you! I'm glad to have the other side of the two pairings!~Yay!

For those who are still interested in voting for my next multi-chapter stories( which I won't post 'till this story ends-nyahahha. ), you can just click the Chap 3 and well, read the summaries that might interest you^^.

Nowwwww-

Disclaimer: In my whole life's existence, I've never seen a fairy with a tail. I never owned Fairy Tail. Pfffftt. Where's the connection?

Chapter 4: Taken for granted

A week before...

The day I personally received the letter from The Magic Council's official messenger, my heart throb with a mix of feelings I never felt for ages. I'm nervous of what I will read and figure out. Especially that it's him, Jellal. Since the day they've decided to surrender to the authority, I never heard from them again. I don't know if Master knows about this already. But whatever it is, I'll soon find out.

I sat comfortably on my bed with a pillow on my lap. As I grasp for the corner of the yellowed paper, a sudden thought rushes into me.

Maybe they will be executed.

My heart skipped a beat and sent a bitter taste to my throat. No. The Magic Council promised to consider their act at the Grand Magic Games and let them live.

My hands went cold and stiff. These are the moments I feel so weak, unarmored. I swallowed hard to keep the fear from threatening me. Jellal. I muttered his name, and with that, all memories came back to me. My heart raced as those flashes of images flowed into me. As if it was moving on its own, my hands turned to feel my lips.

The almost-kiss.

How could I forget that? That feeling.

I slowly opened the letter as my attention withdrawed from my surrounding. I never even bothered to look at my fingers, trembling. Jellal, please be okay.

Dear Erza,

I know it's been a long time and I'm sorry if we never got to say our proper goodbyes. I hope you still remember me.

Of course I do.

How have you been doing all this time? I know you can always take care of yourself but I can't help to constantly worry about you. All those times that I felt so down, I always think of you and how your scarlet hair reminds me of those sunsets we used to see when we hoped for freedom behind that tower. Those were the moments I treasured the most and gave me hope that maybe one day, I'll see you again. I still haven't repay you with all the debts of saving me countless times. I want to make up for the things we lost.

I'm sorry if I had been a burden to you, for causing you too much. There're tons of things I want to say to you, and I regretted not saying before we departed our ways. But I never lost hope that this day will come. The Council has finally decided to set us free. They said that of we do what they say, we might just be lifted of our sentences. I will be able to explain to you everything once I get back.

Our time might be limited for now, as this piece of paper will never be enough to contain the words I wanted to say to you, but I hope it isn't too late. For me. For us. I always loved you, Erza Scarlet. I never stopped dreaming to see you again.

Jellal Fernandez

Jellal...I -I- already forgave you a long time ago.

This feeling rose up to me again.

This feeling I thought-I thought I had buried a long time ago. I was too thrilled by the news. He's back-he's finally back. I can't help that my eyes started to cloud with tears. I never cried in years.

Longing.

Perhaps I never stopped believing this day will come, too. I feel so happy. No. This is an understatement. I feel no words can explain my happiness. It's like a heavy part of my chest was lifted up in that exact moment.

That's right. I never forgot you for once, Jellal.

Then a face-

"I love you. I always will."

A sudden feeling of warmth came to me- a hand into my scarlet head. It's the one thing that calms me. Tonight, it was different.

Gray...

No. No. I had moved on. All those feelings for you, all the pain I had to go through-how my heart was broken because of you- I've moved on. He brought me up from my knees again while you pulled me down to my sorrow of you leaving me; he fought the tears I laid on you that I don't even know of you did the same for me, too; he lifted my burdens and insecurities, and shared our sadness together while you caused most of them: he loves me. I love him.

I care for you- I always wanted to protect you.

I love you, too.

No! I cant-I shouldn't-

Why did you have to come back! No. I wanted you back.

Tears started to roll uncontrollably down to my cheeks, immediately wetting the pillow and the letter in my shaking hands. I had to drop it. I can't seem to have the strength to hold it. I lost every will to get a grip to the letter. To myself.

Because I loved you.

Does that mean I only used Gray to get over you?

Then there it was. The pain of guilt.

Does that mean I've taken him for granted?

She cried for the rest of the night, unrested. She was never this confused. Never this uncertain. Never this indecisive. Never this shattered and messed up behind her armor. She was too guilty of thinking about the ice mage, too hurt to think about Jellal. She felt being the most terrible mage, a villain for being so selfish. Her weakness inflicting pain to her nakamas she held so close. She was a famous S-class mage, one whose intelligence is remarkably stunning, thus being respected and admired by all. And yet she was the dumbest in these situations.

But she loved him. And she has to make a decision, sooner or later to prevent further hurting. To either of them. And sad to say, only one of them will be spared.

There you go! I know you've waited soooo damn long. SSSOOOORRRYY. Part 2 of this will be up, before you know it!-hehe. after that, we'll go back to the present time where we left at.

Review? please..Hehe. i know- OOC a bit. might give me some comments? Was it bad or worth it? Oh, if my grammars really bug you-tell me, in a nice way so I can know my mistakes.

Sorry for GrayZa fans out there that I might broke your heart on this one~ Don't worry.

Hehe.

See yah!