It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I've started this - and all because Erza and Jellal starred in a dream, standing around and then leaving (hey, this isn't so different from the canon material... -.- )

I'll be going back to Sunday updates after this; I can't make it during the week without holidays.

In any case, here's to Jerza, continuous updates and to all of you who have supported me throughout this time. I cannot thank you enough, perfect stranger, for what your motivation and kind words mean to this like-a-maniac-writing someone perhaps sitting all the way across half the planet. Happy New Year everyone!

"Papa?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever told a lie? To Mama?" Big, innocent eyes stared up at him. It was the voice of an angel, but it hid a demon inside. A moment of hesitation passed. His mind caught on.

"… Meredy!" Jellal hollered. Snickering was heard down the hall, and before he could go and threaten with stars passing their judgement, his son joined in with the most adorable laughter. Adorable and cheeky in equal shares. Jellal let out a sigh. "Yes, I have, but I'm guessing you're referring to what the Gremlin told you," he countered.

"Hey!" Meredy shot back from further away.

"Why didn't you want to be with Mama?" His son tilted his head, violet tresses of hair tumbling over his ear. Jellal felt his neck heat up, even after all this time. Stupid beach, stupid lie. Worst of all the moment, that aunt devout to carrying out Ultear's legacy.

"Well, back then, things were complicated – even more complicated than they are now – and I was afraid…" he let out another breath. It was in the past, and the guilt was buried. Why he could not put the embarrassment six feet under remained a miracle, but one that Jellal attributed to his unique set of untoward talents.

"It's okay, Papa," a small hand landed on his knee, "sometimes, I'm scared of Mama too," his son confessed sympathetically. Still big-eyed, but this time full of compassion instead of mischief – it made Jellal laugh and cry at the same time. How was it possible that something this pure, this enchanting was fifty percent of him?

Jellal awoke with a mild, inward jolt. As if trying to catch a falling plate to save it from shattering. Reluctantly opening his eyes, he stared at his chest. At a plate – an actual plate – on his chest. Empty, licked-clean – Erza's midnight snack.

Blinking repeatedly, his eyes longing to stay shut, he forced himself to wake up properly. There was something else on his stomach, and before he could bend his neck again and take a peek, something weighed down on his forehead. The sheets were rustling – she was awake – but had she not noticed that he was too?

"Erza…" Jellal hoarsely grumbled. The item stopped, then lifted off again. "What are you doing? It's too early," he complained. He had not to foggiest idea of how late it was, but she should have been even more tired than him. And was she balancing random objects on him while he slept to keep her energy at bay?

"Mmh, good morning," she purred into his ear. Removing whatever had been on his abdomen. Then something else from his thighs, he realised when she retracted even more weight – she seized the chance to replace it with her leg. The belly was more than in the way, so she had to stretch a little, rubbing her knee over his groin. "Someone's thinking naughty things," she smirked into his tired face. "Or dreaming."

"Erza, this happens every morning of its own accord," he reminded, feeling slightly awkward. It roused him thoroughly though, an uncalled-for twitch answering her ministration.

"I know," she grinned, "I'm just teasing you," she slid off to reach his face. Nudging her nose to his, her smile only widened the more the grumbled. She pecked the tip of his nose. "Nahw, you're so grumpy," she giggled. With her index fingers, she poked the corners of his mouth, then pulled on them, compelling a most clumsy smile. It made her accidentally snort into his face when she had to laugh.

"Having fun?" Jellal asked. He had closed his eyes again, trying to arrive in reality.

"Yes, quite, thanks," Erza beamed. Making her giggle by grousing some more, Jellal slung his arms around her. She squeaked in surprise, though also delight when he turned them over. Now on her side, hugged deliberately tightly, she found her neck attacked with kisses and nibbles. Giggles turned into soft, vocal sighs, avid strokes through his hair encouraging him further. "Why does it do that?" She asked, sounding surprisingly composed. And was she plucking on the blanket in an attempt to make the bed despite them still being in it? Was pregnancy making him more tired than her?

"Why does what do what?"

"This handsome one here," she trailed down his abdominals until reaching her aim with a firm but playful grasp.

"Hm…" Jellal pondered, trying his best to ignore her hand, "I suppose routinely check-ups to make sure that everything's still able to deliver a flawless performance?"

"In that case, it's doing a good job," Erza praised.

"Think so?" He arched a brow. She smirked back, but the cuteness was overruling, usurping any potential seduction. (And thank goodness for that, Jellal thought, remembering just in time that Meredy was still upstairs.)

"Will it still do that when you're, like, ninety?" Erza asked. He frowned.

"I'm neither ninety, nor do I habitually converse with ninety-year-olds about their best piece's activities," he plainly replied.

"Best piece," she snickered, unintentionally grunting. He had to grin at that, loving the unladylike sides of her she preferred to keep hidden. With a tug, he revealed to her to have heard, and she blushed lightly. "What's my best piece then?" She overplayed, although she was just as genuinely interested.

"Easy," Jellal smirked. Wiggling his brows, he lifted the blanket. "I'll show you," he lowered his voice, giving it a desirous ring. It made her blush and giggle even more. She glowed, thrilled when he disappeared beneath the sheets.

His hands roamed over her breasts, her belly, purposefully brushing her hipbones and thighs, slowing down to leave her shivering shortly. Then he skipped the anticipated area, lifting off. She opened her mouth in question, when his fingers suddenly landed, grabbing her fifth toe.

"There!" He pulled it up as far as possible with her knee against her belly. "Just look at it – marvel," he seriously said from beneath the blanket. She saw right through him, spotting the mocking sparkle despite the darkness. "A true masterpiece; such a work of art, it's by far the superior—oh, hold on," he inspected it closely.

It wiggled in his grip when she could not keep from laughing, then even more when he tapped it scrutinisingly.

"Wrong toe." Jellal disappeared again, poking his head out once to say, "It's the ugly one." She slapped him scoldingly, but weakly since she had to laugh.

She let out a surprised yelp when he got hold of the other foot's little toe.

"There we go!" He drawled, nodding matter-of-factly. "Spectacular."

"I don't have ugly toes!" Erza kept punching the more he wavered his head from side to side, as if telling her the truth made him uncomfortable.

"Let's just stick to that story, yeah," he pressed his lips together, receiving another hit to his chest.

"You're so mean!" Erza complained, never ceasing to laugh.

"… so ready for the S-Class Trial – even though I'm pretty sure I'll lose to pretty much anyone," Meredy grinned. "Oh, and the Grand Magic Games," she raved. "Being in an official guild is so much cooler than sleeping in mud."

"I think your chances are fine. I doubt that Gajeel will participate, and neither will Levy," Erza remarked.

"Yeah, right, remember the guy who beat both Zeref as well as Acnologia? Kinda sure he's gonna pass," Meredy pulled a face, though one of amusement. Erza nodded. With Natsu, Gray and Lucy having gotten so much stronger – no to mention Juvia, Wendy, Elfman and the rest – it was hard to imagine that they had not yet acquired the rank. Too much had happened over the past two years.

Sighing, Erza savoured the way her tea warmly ran down her throat. She was more than glad that they had finished building the cradle the day before – they had slept until noon, yet she was still tired. As was Jellal. He never seemed too tired for laundry though, she noted. He was by far the better housewife, she had to admit to herself, having felt the need to clean but never enjoyed it. He did – for some to her inexplicable reason.

What she did not know, was that she had for once not messed up the washing, however then left it wet and wrinkled.

Walking in just then, Jellal leaned down to kiss her. Erza hummed when he did, having to smile into the vibration. A tiny jolt of excitement stirred her stomach when his tongue shortly flicked over her lips.

"Mmh, honey water," he smiled down warmly, planting another kiss to the crown of her head. Meredy frowned where she hugged her tea with both hands.

"Honey water?" She raised a brow. Jellal tapped the rim of Erza's cup with his nail, emitting a soft clink. "You mean tea?"

"No, it's honey water," he corrected while rummaging through a drawer, taking out the to-do list. "Overused tea leaves, only refilled with hot water and honey," he said. Erza heard him adding a point, then decidedly crossing out another. She knew exactly which one.

"So just honey," Meredy assessed boredly. Getting up, Erza took the list before it vanished again. Buy flowers for window box, it read. She snatched away the pen too, copying the disposed idea beneath so it would not be forgotten.

"No, it's still tea," he argued. Before Erza could finish, he slung his arm around her waist, swooping her against him. His mouth was on hers before she could react, giving a muffled sound of surprise that was very close to a husky yes. "Fennel tea," he said lowly, licking his lips. "With loads of honey." Erza shivered, hoping the way she gripped the counter behind her for support when he released her would be unsuspicious enough.

"As if you just tasted that – you just know her favourite tea," Meredy retorted. Her cheeks were tinged with a light pink, but her eyes stayed glued to the scene in front of her.

"But her favourite tea is lemon tea," Jellal friendlily said, patronisingly patting Meredy's head on his way out. She swatted him away, growling when he laughed.

"I can't believe he did that – just like that," she puffed, spinning back to Erza.

"I was just going to say it!" Erza was nearly bursting, having caught herself at least physically. If pregnancy made her crave sweets and sex, it made him bolder in turn – there was no way her hormones could have made her interpret all of that; he was thawing in more regards than just socially.

"I remember so distinctly how I walked in on you two and he refused to kiss you again in my presence," Meredy stomped her mug down on the table.

"And would you look at him now," Erza swooned, much like a schoolgirl pining after her first futile celebrity crush. She could not wait to snuggle him once he came back.

As if her prayers had been heard, Jellal rounded the corner just then. At the same time, Meredy's lacrima vibrated against the wood. She slapped down on it, hiding the screen. Jellal frowned, but before he could ask, Erza had gotten up and all but thrown herself against him. With a huff and a chuckle, he hugged her back.

"Looks like I gotta go – the girls and I are gonna play some games tonight at Fairy Hills; just a couple of games," she shrugged, repeating herself. Erza raised a brow, seeing that Jellal did the same.

"Mind if I come?" She asked.

"No— I mean, sure, you could, but it's mostly—oh wait, no, we'd be an odd number, but next time! You know what? I'll ask them. Call you later," Meredy hastily said, downing her tea. Then she rose to her feet, flying down the hall to get her coat, putting it on while already out the door. "See ya!" She waved, nearly dropping her lacrima. She had to run back and close the door behind her, having forgotten.

"Baby shower."

"Baby shower," Jellal confirmed her assumption. "So then no Era today," he sucked in his lips, inwardly restructuring his plans. He had wanted to leave that day, but they had waited for some sort of sign to tell them whether and, if possible, when their friends would strike. It could not have been clearer.

"It's not that bad," Erza squeezed him. Sensing that there was no intention of being released any time soon, Jellal tugged her to him in response. "Now we can gather all we already have – the pacifier Mira gave us for our wedding—"

"Should be in the cellar somewhere."

"And the socks and romper I bought," she enumerated. "Then we know what we still have to get," she said. There was another thing on her mind, but she hesitated for a moment. "Say, Jellal," she propped her chin up on his chest to meet his gaze, "don't you want to do the S-Class Trials this year?" She asked. He smiled at her softly, though she guessed it to have nothing to do with the question itself. It caused a fierce battle for number one between loving and flirty Jellal.

"Not really," he scratched his nape. "And I don't fancy the Grand Magic Games either – at least not when I have to participate," he replied before she could continue. "That disaster of embarrassment cannot be wiped from history, but at least I can make sure it won't ever happen again."

"It still bothers you," she noted. He gave a wry smile.

"It does," he confessed, "as is natural."

"Well, it shouldn't," Erza cut in. "After all, it's not just anyone who can have a meteor rain from the sky with such precision and controlled destruction," she pointed out. "You would've beaten him with Sema for sure."

"I can't do it whenever I want," he explained. Taking the empty mugs off the table when being released, he sauntered over to the sink with them. "It's not every day a meteor is close enough to my coordinates above earth for me to bring it down – most days, but not every day," he belittled himself. "I might be an above-average mage, but I'm not a god," he added. Erza pursed her lips.

"Above average," she tutted, crossing her arms.

"You know what I mean," he said while rinsing the soap off the now cleaned mugs.

"Me, yes, but I don't think you do," she shook her head. "You have to realise that you're so much more than above average, meteor or not," she said, advancing. "You stood your ground against Acnologia and even pushed him through the sky with nothing but your magic power. You beat all of the Oración Seis at once. You bested Neinhart – one of the Spriggan 12 with a single spell. You married me," she emphasised. The latter cracked him up, and his laughter made her smile in turn.

Deciding on a different approach – not least because he had started it, she told herself – Erza spun him around with a hand on each hip, cornering him against the counter. Stunned, dripping mugs in hand, Jellal blinked down at her.

"If you still don't believe how incredible of a person you are, I'm willing to show you," she gave him one of the looks that worked on him like the command heel did on a dog. At least in Era.

"Didn't you just make a point of marrying you?" He gave back, surprising her by returning the gesture. Supressing a shiver when he placed his hands on her hips and leaned down to overshadow her face, Erza had a hard time with keeping the upper hand. She had always enjoyed his henpecked‑ness, but this was definitely a change she was willing to sacrifice a fraction of her dominance for.

"Of course," she gave back despite the acceleration of her heartbeat.

"Then how is this supposed to boost my confidence? You are inexhaustible," he reasoned.

"Well, then you'd better get to work – we'll start on your stamina," she smirked. Trailing a finger up the buttons of his shirt, she circled the upper one until it came undone. "Come to think of it, how about we commence with a little exercise on balance on slippery surfaces instead?"

"No," he cut in. Letting go, he turned back to where she had not yet finished her task for him to do. He struck the words from the list, complete or not. "We're not doing that," he said. "But," he interrupted her deep inhale that promised protest, "since I need to go to the Council and stay for as long as possible – about two weeks – and you know I don't want to be apart from you for that long," he gave her pout a stern look, making it retreat, "or ever," he added, softly kissing her cheek. "We can work on my lack of stamina and creativity all evenings," he murmured close to her ear. Another shudder, this time impossible to restrain.

"Creativity?" She asked excitedly.

"Mhm," he hummed, placing another peck on the side of her neck. "For now, we should probably execute your plan and be ready for the baby's arrival before someone else's arrival – I have a feeling they're going to celebrate here," he mused out loud. He was right, she thought. Not only about the party, but that they had to prepare. Staying in Era for so long and without the security that everything was done and waiting at home would cost him two weeks of no sleep whatsoever.

Sadly letting the shower tryst go, Erza focused on what needed to be done. Her gaze fell on the list again.

"You want to buy flowers for outside again?" She asked. He was almost beaming when turning to her.

"I do – since you liked them," he smiled, drying the mugs then. He liked them, she knew. So did she, of course, but if it took him disguising something he wanted as her wish, she would gladly let him. "I read the other day that if you water your plants with leftover vegetable or rice water – unsalted – it's good for them," he informed. "Very nutritious," he nodded to himself. Her smile softened.

"Jellal," she leaned against the counter, watching him neatly put the mugs away.

"Hm?" He hummed, happily busy. Soft became warm, her eyes never leaving him.

"Look at you," she ran her hand down his arm, "you're loving life," she said. It made him stop, the cupboard remaining half opened as he glanced at her with a mild frown. Not yet shocked, but as if unable to believe her.

"Well, I—" he felt pressured to answer, now frowning at the sink to avoid her affectionately twinkling eyes. "I'm just… I appreciate domestic life," he shrugged. Her smile only grew.

"That's life too," she tilted her head.

"I wouldn't say, well…" Jellal glanced aside, and she could see that he was trying to be honest with himself. She could have burst with happiness. "I do like it," he drew his fingertip along the rim of the sink, "a lot," he looked between the dish soap and sponge the way she never would. The way she would have never thought to see any man – or woman – cherish them.

"You can say love," she edged closer.

"That's a little strong," he cleared his throat, awkwardly ignoring the cleaning supplies now. Playfully yet still tenderly, Erza nudged his side with hers. "I love you," he ventured a peek at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A whole lot." She hooked her arm into his, then reconsidered and wound it around him instead.

"You can love things differently – you don't have to love this as much as me to love it," she offered. It made him ponder, and she let him, waiting. Stroking down his arm again, plucking at the hem of his shirt where a rarely seen tail poked out, she summoned all her patience while he did the same with bravery. Bravery and honesty – one did not happen without the other when it came to him.

"Then… I guess I'm… loving life," he managed as if it were hard to pronounce. And it was, so it seemed, but again, Erza could not have been happier. Her eyes showed him as much, enticing another sheepish grin but the same fond shine her eyes were brimming with.

There was a knock on the front door, saving him another lecture of the topic. It did not save him from attention on him – both of them – or his wife's clinginess. And it got by far later than they had anticipated.

"You know, maybe we should go to the hospital like Gajeel did," Jellal said while they tidied up the kitchen. He should not have insisted, he knew, but he did not like to leave the task to guests, even if they caused the mess.

"Why?" Erza asked, shuffling plates and bowls around the fridge to fit the leftover snacks.

"Or have Porlyusica stay for a couple of weeks – we don't know when it'll happen. I can postpone Era and work from here, I suppose," we went on. She arched a brow at him from the side. "She could stay up in the attic – oh, wait, she's quite old. Then downstairs – we'll put something between the mattresses so you won't hog her; she wouldn't like that…"

"Jellal," Erza spooked him with a hand on his shoulder. He tightened his grip on the towel in his hand, the cleaned cutlery clattering right back into the sink. She was not nervous, as if there was no possible birth within the coming two weeks – or less, he anxiously reminded himself.

"Nothing's going to happen – don't you think I'd have felt something by now?" She offered a reassuring smile. Letting out a breath, Jellal tried to let her allay him. "She might have said 'more than four months' but that doesn't mean—"

"She said what? When?" He dropped the towel this time, right into the remains of soapy water. Erza fished it out with ease, shaking out the access water and hanging it up. Taking his hand, she made him face her.

"When she told me I was pregnant, she said it was over four months; a couple of days I would assume."

"Assume?" He raised his brows sceptically. She had to kiss him to drown out the hectic rant his mind was cooking up.

"You read all those books right? Didn't they say it takes hours and hours to deliver?"

"Yes?"

"Then we'll have plenty of time to adapt, get Porlyusica, go to the hospital, maybe call Meredy," she said.

"You're awfully calm," he narrowed his eyes, making her chuckle. "I would hazard to doubt as to whether it'll still be that way when you're in labour – then I'll have to be the calm one."

"And?" She asked, amused.

"And, should it have slipped your notice," his body tensed, "I'm already not the impersonation of calm."

"If you keep saying 'calm' you might," she teased. Rising up to her toes, she pecked his lips. "I'm just as excited as you are," she rubbed his arms to get them to loosen, "but I can't wait to finally hold our baby in my arms, and having you here gives me strength," she explained. "Let's prepare tonight so you can sleep soundly when we're in Era," she proposed. He nodded – he had completely forgotten about that.

He pondered on her words while he went outside to the cellar doors. Maybe calling Meredy – of course, he would call her. If he were not busy with Erza, he could imagine himself rushing to pick her up, racing them to the hospital. Meteor, he contemplated, then scratched the idea. He did not want Erza's face whipped by the wind or her body to cool down, and it was the same with Meredy.

A car was his next idea. Renting a Magical Vehicle to get them to the hospital would be perfect. He would start looking for one first thing in the morning, he told himself. Alright, perhaps not first, seeing as he would have to walk them to the train station.

Down in the cellar, Jellal regarded the small pile of wedding gifts. The pacifier had to be there somewhere. Mira's presence that evening should have reminded him.

The baby shower had been nice, if a tad too long for his taste – solely due to having to leave early in the morning. Lucy, Natsu and Happy had left around ten, as she had talked him into taking a train in exchange for hiking the way back. They had a lengthy mission ahead of them, and the longing in Erza's eyes had not gone unnoticed at the mention of fighting and investigating.

Meredy had left with Juvia and Gray. The girls had all boosted the water mage's morale, building up the chemistry the pair had developed and eventually pressuring Gray to work up his courage. On the way to Fairy Hills, Meredy had done her best to stay invisible or cover one of those awkward silences her friend feared.

Via messages, Meredy had reported to Erza's lacrima that Gray had done it – he had finally kissed Juvia. It had left the latter out cold, or rather out hot, seeing as her head had kept on steaming while Meredy had carried her limp form up to her room.

Jellal had had to smile. If ever Gray wanted to talk again, he would be happy to – he saw a lot of himself in that hesitant, uneasy attitude, at the same time craving the outcome. Still, he doubted to truly be prepared for the outcome he was facing now as he searched for that pacifier. He wondered whether he would have accepted her pleas and tried for a baby at all had it not happened on accident.

Something shattered above him. She would not try to break the new glass, he mused; she must have been clumsy with excitement – it had sounded like porcelain anyway. Giving her another minute to hide the evidence, Jellal stared at the pacifier in his hand. Again, her words circled through his head, making him see a baby held in her arms – hers, never his own.

The cellar doors creaked when he shut and locked them. Back upstairs, he toed off his shoes, about to put them away neatly as she now seemed to like, when he caught sight of her in the kitchen. Erza was gripping the countertop, knuckles turning white. Her breathing was quick and irregular, her forehead drenched in sudden sweat, rolling down her face. She was pale, nearly greenish.

There was a small puddle at her feet, plate shards scattered all around. He failed to see the liquid running down her leg.

"Jellal…" she wheezed. Her voice broke into an uncomfortable groan, and she bit her lip in order to keep from being any louder. She quivered, her entire body rippling with cramping pain from her belly. "Help…" she whispered. Tears ran down the bridge of her nose, her pupils shrunken and her eyes wide.

He nearly fell twice, bolting to her side.

"What's wrong?"

"It hurts…" she croaked, gasping, shuddering. "I think…" she groaned, squeezing the wood. She cried out, a hand shooting down to her seizing belly. He noted the water now, the quaking of her legs giving it away. They tried to curl up and stretch at the same time, none of her limbs knowing what to do.

As carefully as he did it quickly, Jellal picked her up. Erza gave another moan, an erratic dance of holding her breath and wheezing rattling her lungs.

"I'm calling Meredy," he announced, setting her down on the bed. He pulled out the entire drawer of the nightstand in his panic, and it slammed onto his toes. Hissing, he disregarded the pain, grabbing the lacrima. He tapped Meredy's name repeatedly, the call going out.

"Jellal," Erza frantically waved her hand, so he took it. She nearly crushed his, several bones popping. "It's coming," she managed, interrupting herself with a painfilled groan. "It's coming now."

"It can't come now!" Jellal tried to squeeze her hand reassuringly, but his own was numb. His entire body started to numb, blood rushing in his ears like it never had before – not when fighting, not when being arrested and not even when having kissed her for the first time. It felt like a hammer drumming against the inside of his head.

"It already is," Erza yowled, biting down her own voice. She was pushing, he realised, his heart jumping into his throat.

"Don't let it!" He abruptly said. "You have to—you have to pant – don't build up pressure; keep it in."

"What?!" Erza shrieked, then again when her belly contracted, legs twitching uncomfortably where she was ruining the sheets. The last thing on his mind. "I didn't even clean the attic yet," she whined, letting out a strangled moan, her free hand shooting to her belly.

"It comes in waves," he said, frantically flashing a glance over to the corner – the empty corner where his over thirty books on pregnancy had been once. "We have to wait this one out, then we'll go to the hospital," he decided. It hurt him in turn to see her cry and endure, but there was no other way. He could not deliver a child, he repeated to himself, least of all his own.

"Jellal," Erza croaked in between pants, "I don't think it'll stop," she brought out, just when her body seized again, trying to push. She was right, he knew; they had waited for over two minutes. He kept slamming down on Meredy's name on the screen, cursing the late hour, cursing the alcohol that had made her sleepy.

"It has to," he pleaded, feeling tears of his own itch his eyes. She shook her head, face flushed and shiny with sweat. "Just hold on," he tried, knowing it was no use. The baby could suffocate on umbilical cord, but he could not cut it, not until the baby breathed – he had read about it all, but no words in the world could have prepared him for the reality he was forced into now. It could be a still born, it could simply not breathe, Erza could stop breathing.

"Jellal," Erza rasped, hardly panting but occasionally grasping for air. Her hand found his cheek, making him wince. Shaky fingers brushed as gently as they could, tears running down both of their faces. "Stay with me…"