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Disclaimer; I do not own Fairy Tail. It belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Reward

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Currently the Fairy Tail Guild house was under construction because of the attack by the Phantom Lord Guild. After everyone joined together to defeat the rival guild, all the members were pitching in order to re-build the new house, even Natsu and Gray tried working together but the fire and ice wizards were still at each other's throats. Even Erza was dedicated to building the new house, she had requiped herself into an official construction outfit, hard-hat and everything. However today she was more sluggish than usual. Jellal's visited left her with little to no sleep and she couldn't help but keep looking over her shoulder for those eyes, those devilish eyes. After she spent a good straight three hours of working, Erza decided to relax at the temporary beer hall outside. Lucy was sitting at the counter chatting with Mirajane as usual. The happy, blonde girl was wearing her routine clothes for this week of a blue, tight-fitting shirt along with a very short, tan skirt and her signature high-heel, black boots. Mirajane offered the Titania a fresh, cold drink and Erza graciously accepted. The blazing sun's rays amplified the overbearing humidity of the afternoon and Erza could feel the sweat starting to form on her forehead. Mirajane slid a cup of iced juice across the bar towards Erza, who caught it before it had a chance to fall off the table. Unlike most Fairy Tail members, Erza preferred the sweet and tangy taste of orange juice instead of beer.

Being with her guildmates had eased Erza's stress and working on the new building kept her mind away from last night. Erza was even beginning to believe that it was nothing but another nightmare. Though anxiety and worry tugged at her mind and her friend, Lucy Heartfilia, could tell that something was wrong with Erza. Her curious brown eyes gazed at the scarlet haired knight with concern.

"Is something wrong?" Lucy inquired just as Erza finished her glass. The question was inevitable, Erza knew that, but she didn't know how to answer. The last thing she wanted is for her friends to be worried. "Don't ever tell anyone I've been here." Jellal's voice repeated in her mind. Her gloved hand tighten on the glass as she remembered Jellal's voice, there was no way that was just a dream.

"The sun, um, it's hot and I've been working all day. It's probably just the heat getting to me." Erza made up an excuse, fanning herself with her hand. Lucy was reluctant to accept Erza's answer but only grinned kindly.

"Don't try to overwork yourself!" Lucy warned with a slight chuckle before she turned back towards Mirajane. Quietly, Erza let out a sigh of relief as Lucy didn't press the subject any longer. The snow, white haired waitress and the celestial wizard seemed to be on another topic about Loke and why he had been acting strange lately. Erza didn't know much about Loke, she kept her distance from the flirtatious lady killer. Loke was still a fellow guild member and she couldn't help but wonder if everything was alright.

"Shut up, droopy eyes! I don't need your help!" Natsu yelled. Gazing over at the scene, Erza could see both her teammates, Natsu and Gray, starting up another fight. Natsu held his fist angrily up in the air, while his other hand was used to carry a quite heavy load of wood. The ice mage probably had offered to help Natsu to carry some of the planks but the proud fire dragon wasn't going to let such a thing happen.

"You're going to drop all of those, you flame-brain!" Gray retorted, his fist resting on his hips as he rolled his dark eyes. There quarrel was over as soon as it started, Erza was relieved she didn't have to jump in between them again. Just as the Titania turned her back on the two, she heard a crashing sound with the falling of wooden planks short after. A frown appeared on Erza's face and her brown eyes narrowed as she clenched her fist. She heard Lucy let out a small squeak, she always feared the anger of Erza.

"Quit showing off and start working! We need to get this done!" Erza roared as she stomped over to the boys, who were now cowering in fear.

Lucy giggled, whatever was bothering Erza in the first place seemed to disappear now, "Maybe I was just imagining things."

The day proceed like normal. The construction of the building was progressing at an excellent rate and the new guild house would be done in no time. Erza found herself breaking up fights between Natsu and Gray again and again, but part of her didn't mind. She was also glad to see Levy working again with her partners, Jet and Droy, as they were fully recovered from their horrific ambush from Phantom Lord's dragon slayer, Gajeel. The blue haired script mage was still a bit jumpy and shaky but worked as hard as she could. Erza couldn't help but smile, she loved her guild and her fellow guildmates. Night drew near as Erza returned home and her fears returned and grew stronger. This time she double checked, no triple checked, every door and window within her small home to make sure it was locked and secure. There was no way Jellal would be able to sneak in as he did last night, not without her knowing.

Once Erza drank a cup of milk and requiped into her lavender and red crosses pajamas, she settled down in to the comfort of her bed. Her muscles ached from her overworking herself in an attempt to keep her wandering mind busy, she should have listened to Lucy and not work so hard. Her body sunk into the plush cushion and her clean comforter felt soft and silky on her skin. There was a slight chill in the air but her body grew warm quickly under the blanket. Her eyes fluttered shut and she soon slipped into a deep sleep.

"P-Please, don't hurt him!" Her voice screeched. Her voice was hoarse and inflamed due to lack of water, she was surprise she was even able to say anything at all. Just below Erza's tiny, bare feet laid her friend, Simon. His body was battered and bruise just as one of the guards gave him a severe beating for not working. It wasn't his fault, Simon was hungry and was beginning to feel light-headed so Erza told him to sit down for a moment and she would do his work until he felt better.

The guard only cackled loudly, ignoring Erza's pleas, and continued kicking the child violently in the side. In one big kick in the face, the man sent Simon flying and hit roughly against the wall. Erza raced after her friend, tears already streaming down her face. Dirt covered Simon's body and his right eye, where he got kicked, was starting to swell. Erza started to shake him awake but Simon wouldn't move, though the faint rise and fall of his chest gave her hope. The sound of footsteps drew closer, it was the guard. A hand grasped Erza's shoulder roughly and she felt her entire body tense up in pure fear. The man cursed hatefully as he lifted up Erza's tiny body with one hand, his grip was tight and painful as she struggled against his hold in the air, "Piece of trash."

"Leave her alone!" A familiar voice called out in rage ... Jellal! Erza weakly smiled but as soon as she did, the guard slung her body to the side. Erza crashed into the dirt wall, the impact caused her vision to fade into darkness.

... "Er-chan? Wake up ..."

"Er-chan. Wake up, Er-chan." Millianna? That was the only person that ever called her that but it couldn't possibly be Millianna. At first, her vision was blurry due to the darkness surrounding her room but as her sight grew accustomed to the night, Erza's teeth clenched tightly together and her body tensed up. Looming above her once sleeping figure was none other than Jellal. That same sly, sadistic grin was plastered on his face as he was straddling her sleeping form in her own bed with his face dangerously close to hers and his finger poking at her cheek. She balled up her fist and then 'Pow!' as her knuckles came into contact with Jellal's face. He was sent flying off her bed and landed on the floor with a big 'thud'. How he was going to save her in her dream was quickly forgotten by her rude awakening.

"H-How dare you!" Erza snapped, covering herself protectively with her sheets as she sat up from her bed. As Jellal recovered from his sudden surprise attack, he stood up and wiped the dust from his expensive looking attire. He brought he hand to his temple, massaging the side of his head.

"I wasn't expecting that, Er-chan." Jellal grumbled like an upset child, but Erza could hear the venom in his voice. With a hefty sigh, Jellal sat down on Erza's bed, in the same seat he claimed the night before.

"Don't call me that." Erza growled, tightening her grip on the covers, Millianna was the only one that ever called her Er-chan. It felt sickening to hear Jellal call her that, she knew the only reason he was doing it was to upset her. And it was working.

His presence wasn't as frightening as the night before but the thought of him inside her home, on her bed, sent chills down her spine. Erza had to keep reminding herself this wasn't the Jellal she knew during her childhood before he lost his mind. The creaking of the window sill distracted Erza for a moment, her window was opened but she clearly recalled locking it before she went to bed. The light breeze of the night touched her exposed skin and caused her to shiver slightly. Erza never liked the cold.

"You look cold, Er-chan." The sound of his voice had a hint of concern but Erza wasn't fooled by his sudden kind-heartedness. Erza shook her head and pulled the blanket close to her shoulders. Ignoring her denial, Jellal's body leaned closer to the blanket-covered Erza. She scooted away from him until her back hit the wall, she was cornered. Jellal crawled closer and grasped Erza's body, holding her tightly. She waited for the pain, where he would dig his fingers into her skin, but it never came. She felt the warmth emitting from his body and the chill of the breeze was gone. Their position was quite uncomfortable, Erza's knees were bent up to her chest and Jellal's arms circled around her body. The way he held her firmly, her legs were crushed up against his chest and his knees on the bed as he leaned over her, his chin on her shoulder.

During the cold, dark nights at the tower, Jellal would sleep next to Erza and hold her tightly until she would fall asleep. They way they slept wasn't like how Jellal held her now but it made Erza reminisce about those times. She hated being a slave and working in that tower, but when Jellal was with her; it made everything better.

"I see you've been a good girl, Er-chan. You didn't tell anyone about our secret." Jellal whispered into Erza's ear, implying that he had been watching her throughout the day, "Think of this night as a reward for your loyalty."

"Why are you doing this to me, Jellal?" She kept her voice calm even though she was beginning to shake with rage. A grin appeared on his face, it wasn't the evil, murderous grin that was usually on his face ... but more of a happy grin. Erza's frustration grew, Jellal's insanity was impossible to predict.

"Didn't I tell you, Erza? You're mine." Jellal said. He turned his head slightly, so that he was facing the Titania and he gave a small kiss on her cheek, which was starting to turn red. She was waiting for the discomfort of Jellal's grip tightening until she couldn't breath but throughout the night, it didn't come. They stayed in their awkward position. Even though it was uncomfortable, Erza grew use to it until she found herself falling asleep on Jellal's shoulder. Her mind feel into a rare, dreamless sleep.

A/N ;; Another chapter! If you leave a review, I'll reward your loyalty with more chapters~ Haha ... seriously. Anyway, the next chapter might be a bit later because hopefully, I'm going to the beach tomorrow and I won't be able to write anything during that time. Thanks for reading!