Eventually, this became a regular event. Erza would come back from a job, request a strawberry cake from Mirajane, pick out another job, call out how long until she would be back, and leave. The only words anyone had heard come out of Erza's lips for two months were 'a strawberry cake please' or how long she would be gone for. However, one day, Erza was stopped by a certain pink haired dragon slayer.
"I'll be gone for one year," Erza called out.
"You can't go for that long, not without our team anyway!" Natsu retaliated.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Erza turned and snarled at the dragon slayer.
"Actually, yeah, we do."
Everyone in the guild looked for the source of the rebellious voice. Their eyes landed on Gray Fullbuster, who had just stood up from his seat next to Natsu, and was currently making his way towards the fiery red-head.
"What's wrong with you Erza? You never talk to anyone anymore; you're constantly going on jobs, coming back to the guild, getting another request, and leaving again."
By now, Gray had reached Erza, and was looking straight into her eyes before asking, "What happened to you?"
Erza, not being able to stand Gray's lethal stare, drops her head and looks at the ground before whispering, "Y-You…"
Tears pouring down her face, Erza looks up and yells "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOVE SOMEONE, AND THEN TO HAVE THEM LEAVE THIS WORLD, WITHOUT YOU BEING ABLE TO TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL!"
Gray's eyes softened slightly, before replying quietly, "No Erza, I have felt like that. In fact, I'm feeling like that right now."
Erza's eyes widened in surprise. Was he in love with a girl before he came to the guild?
"It's you Erza"
Erza's world stopped. Gray was in love with her?
"Technically you're not dead, but it a way, it kind of feels like that. I never get to see you anymore; I never get to talk to you anymore."
"I miss you Erza."
For the second time that day, tears began to run down Erza's face as she pulled Gray in for a hug.
"I'm so sorry Gray; I didn't know that's how you felt."
Gray pulled away slightly so he could look into Erza's eyes.
"Just promise me one thing; you never make me worry like that again."
"I promise."
The guild erupted in applause and cheering as Gray pulled Erza back into the hug.
Both Gray and Erza knew that she would always truly love Jellal. However, from that day forward, Erza would always hold a special place for the ice mage who helped mend her broken, armoured heart.
Thank you for reading! This was meant to be a single chapter, but I decided to make this story two chapters as it was getting kind of long.
If anyone's wondering about who I ship with Erza, my main Erza OTP is Jerza (Jellal x Erza), however I also ship Grayza (Gray x Erza), although Grayza is more of a boat than a ship (because it's smaller than my other ships). As for Natza (Natsu x Erza), I don't personally ship it, but it isn't a NOtp, and I don't mind reading Natza fanfics every once in a while.
By the way, thank you so much for all the reviews I've been getting. It make me feel great when people enjoy my stories!