The chapter was done but I forgot to reread and upload; I'm drowning in work ':D

Thanks for the reminder, Senbonzakura-20!

It was well past midnight when Erza's bladder forced her out of bed. Pregnancy was a fond memory – not a faint one, but a fond one. Certain aspects of it however, she did not miss. Her shrunken bladder was one of them.

Fortunately, it was not squished and needy anymore, only she had been up late, waiting for her husband to quit work for the day, drink a nice cup of tea with her, then go to bed. She has resigned at eleven thirty and promptly fallen asleep. He had yet to show up.

It was an odd in between of surprise and lack of surprise when she found him in the bathroom. On the bright side, she tried to tell herself, he was not working anymore. Naturally, he was busy with his daughter, or perhaps she was with him, watching with big, tired eyes how he spurted toothpaste out of its container. He seemed equally tired, but just as fascinated by her as she was by his actions.

Silently, gratefully, Erza snuck around them to the toilet. He was the reason the nights were getting longer after all, if only by a tad. An awake and mentally challenged baby at quarter to two in the morning meant peace and quiet until four.

Washing her hands nearly went unnoticed despite the two camping around the sink – he was doing it again, making Erza realise that he must have long finished brushing his teeth, now demonstrating over and over, washing the toothpaste off and putting on more just to see that hint of widening eyes. Erza wanted to laugh, but sighed instead, too tired to reprimand.

"What do you think she's thinking?" Jellal whispered. Never taking his eyes off the task until she gently took the toothbrush from him, setting it aside. Without any grudge whatsoever, his hands quickly found his daughter's sides, picking her up from her basket.

"I don't think she really thinks yet," Erza calmly replied. Half asleep or not, there was no denying how sweet he was, and how cute they were together. He was so in love, it made her fall for both of them all over again.

"But if she could," he said, still sort of whispering. Hissing was more like it, eagerness hardly contained in spite of his dry, reddening eyes. Erza pursed her lips in thought, leaning on him to join in regarding their daughter.

"Hmm..." she hummed, "perhaps she'd think that this is magic – this could very well be her understanding of magic," she speculated.

"What? No, Rosie, darling, it's physics," Jellal explained. She replied with a mild coo, the attention obviously to her liking. "Phy-sics," Jellal repeated. This time, Erza could not help but chuckle.

"She doesn't know what physics are," she mellowly said.

"That's why I'm telling her."

"Jellal," Erza exhaled strongly in silent laughter, flashing a fondly amused glance at him. "Sweetheart, you can't teach her physics yet, she won't understand," she reminded. He pouted. "This is just like when Meredy chided you for trying to teach her the word 'lunacy'."

"I just wanted to make sure she wouldn't misunderstand it like I did," he defended himself, his voice betraying puffed cheeks.

"I doubt she would confuse it – she doesn't know that the ancient word 'Luna' means 'moon'," she pointed out with a frown.

"She might..." he kept pouting. Her smile returned, and she let her head drop to his shoulder. It was useless to argue, so she might as well let her own mind wander.

"I think if we meet Ichiya and the Trimens before she learns a second, not to mention dead language, she'll know what it means," she said, receiving a hum of agreement. No one would be a better teacher of lunacy and irritation.

"She'd rather learn the word creep."

"That too," she shrugged. Her smile never left, torn between her baby and the way he watched it, dreamily, captivated.

"She doesn't know any of those people," his voice retreated to a whisper again. "She doesn't know our opinions and memories and insiders on them."

"She will," Erza assured. "And you know what else? We'll have our own insiders – with her," she stressed. His mouth formed a perfect O, a voiceless wooah passing between him and his daughter, her eyes widening slightly when his did. They were sparkling like the starry sky.

"Our own insiders," he kept whispering, urgently now. "Did you hear that? We'll have insiders with you," he told Rosemary. She took the finger he offered, aimlessly rocking it in her hand. "Insiders with my baby," Jellal muttered to himself. "My baby," he repeated under his breath.

She might have been close to two weeks old, but Erza got the feeling that she would always stay his baby.

The tiredness had not made itself scarce, but the need to drop back into bed was gone. Warmth streamed through her body, more than a blanket could have provided. A minute of silence passed. Perhaps another. She wondered whether he was still aware of her presence. He was helplessly enraptured by his daughter, but so was Erza – by the two of them together.

Another moment, then his voice returned, so soft it was nearly inaudible within the quiet of the night.

"Do you think she'll like the moon?" He asked almost shyly. Erza frowned.

"The moon?"

"And the stars," he added, the faintest fraction of insecurity rippling the wisp of his words. As if he had asked whether she would like him once she truly got to know him, Erza understood. Once Rosemary could judge, estimate and make up her own opinion about things and people. Once she could decide whether or not she liked the sky, the stars and the moon… her father and his magic.

"I'm sure she will," Erza took his arm, giving a squeeze. The magic type dawned on her only then. That if Rosemary inherited Heavenly Body Magic, she would still be free to decide if she wanted to learn it or not.

Giving a tighter squeeze, Erza rubbed her head to his arm once, kissing the spot. She was convinced that Rosemary would be overjoyed to learn Jellal's magic, at least be interested, even if she did not possess the same powers. There was no way she would not be – he was already such a role model and person of trust, his enthusiasm knowing now boundaries whether with toothpaste or magic.

"I can already picture her studying the sky at night, learning the constellations and planets," Erza reassured. She did not have to try; she really did believe it.

"Astrology is also physics," Jellal murmured to Rosemary, as if to reinforce where she might have already made the connection herself.

"Who knows, maybe she'll be interested in advanced physics too," Erza could not help but encourage. Sighing, she felt her lids fall shut of their own accord. So she tugged on him. He mirrored her sigh, though with longing content. Before giving in and following, he raised his daughter's face to his own, forehead to forehead.

"I can't wait to chat with you." His eyes closed, hers opening after almost having dozed off.

The blurry view must have confused her – startled her – because they had not yet turned to leave when her entire body jerked. Hic, she twitched, staring at both of them with huge, shocked eyes. Erza chuckled, relieved when Jellal joined instead of panicking. Hic, Rosemary hiccupped, looking from one to the other as if expecting coherent answers.

Erza switched the light on and off in quick succession, and Jellal rucked his daughter up unexpectedly, the combination effectively puzzling her enough to forget about the hiccup, helping it die down. She waited for another moment though, full of anticipation. There was a furrow between her brows as she did, and Erza could not help but find it resembled that of her father. Now where had that insolent hiccup gone?

"Why don't we write it down?" Erza proposed when he had snuggled Rosemary into her crib. Turning around, pulling the blanket up, he tilted his head at her in the darkness. "Her first hiccup – we can write down all her firsts, like her first word and first steps and the first time she'll beat up Natsu," Erza enumerated. Jellal had to laugh. His arm found her beneath the sheets, winding around her to secure her to his chest. She pecked his lips, feeling that his eyes were already closed.

"I like that," Jellal murmured. "Her first smile, her first laugh…" he yawned, muscles slackening already. "First strawberry cheesecake…" he faded. His chest inflated against hers in a deep sigh, and for once, he nodded off before her.

Erza turned off the water. She harked. A knock? Not on wood, that much was certain. Frowning as she listened, she spooked slightly when a head appeared at the window, a huge grin spreading above the flowerbox.

"Solano," Erza said with surprise. The name 'Angel' had been on the tip of her tongue. She had not really seen a lot of Jellal's guild in a long while, she realised. Former guild, that was. Solano was the exception, having been at Sting's party of course.

Taking the towel with her to dry her hands, Erza went to open the front door. Solano had already skipped along the house's exterior to meet up with her friends in the front. Three pairs of eyes shone excitedly at Erza.

"Hey, guys," she softly greeted.

"Oh, Erza!" Solano threw herself around Erza's neck. "Congratulations!" She detached herself, hopping on the spot. "Meredy told us, and we just had to come and see—"

"Shh!" Erza hissed. Macbeth and Sawyer pursed their lips alongside their noisy guildmate, stiffening. "Come in, but quietly," Erza stepped aside for them to enter. She heard them drop their shoes by the door as she snuck into the bedroom. The door creaked lowly, silently, and she tiptoed inside. She could not help the proud glow of her cheeks when hearing an enamoured gasp from behind.

Jellal was lying on his back, his head propped up on pillows and his neck craned the way she knew it would hurt him later. So she slid her hand beneath, gingerly pulling out the second pillow to allow him to rest more comfortably. His breathing kept its steady flow, his lids heavily cradling tired eyes.

Rosemary was sleeping just as soundly as her father. Her little back rose and fell, her entire body rocking with his where she was sprawled out on his chest – his partly bare chest, the first buttons open as usual. Anything to make his baby happy.

A file still hung from his hand. Erza turned the current page to an odd angle for him to find, then closed the file. She took it from his limp fingers, setting it aside on the nightstand. She could hear keen whispering from behind, the heads of Crime Sorcière and Solano stacked atop one another where they desperately tried to get a good look at the baby, all at the same time.

Carefully, Erza enclosed Rosemary's sides, lifting her up. Or so she had planned to do. Jellal's hand snapped up, grasping her wrist within the split of a second. His other arm was just as quick, bolting like lightning where it protectively held his daughter to him. All three of them froze. Tiny, very sleepy eyes stared at her, as puzzled as they were sharp.

It had not gone unnoticed by her how his light sleep had started to vanish with the constant waking due to their newborn, and as much as she was glad for him to sleep properly, the ease with which she had plucked the file from his hand had scared her. Any fears were allayed by the fierceness with which he guard his daughter.

Softening her gaze, Erza released an unwillingly rousing Rosemary. She patted her husband's hand, guiding it back down. His whole torso deflated in a groaning sigh, hand sinking. She wrapped both of hers around it. Raising it once more, she brushed a kiss to his knuckles. His eyes fell shut with another pressed breath, and she could feel the only gradually calming pulse with heel of her thumb.

"Sorry I woke you," Erza whispered. Two fingers wandered to stroke down Rosemary's back in an extended apology. With her other hand, she gave his a squeeze.

"Just a few more minutes…" Jellal muttered drowsily.

"Of course," she leant down, "there's nothing to worry about, you're perfectly on time," she assured. She could not break to him how he was being stalked with eyes that nearly grew all the way onto the bed. He would feel obliged to get up, and he had enough on his plate. At least enough he racked his brains about.

Caressing his hand one last time, Erza stood. Jellal gave another groan, and Rosemary answered meekly. Slinging both arms around her, he turned onto his side, hugging her close, pressing his face to the top of her head where he curled up.

Erza had to smile fondly. She shooed the three gaping mages out the door and into the kitchen as quietly as possible. The kettle was not yet full when Solano could not keep the luckily stifled squeal to herself.

"Good gods above, if that isn't the most cutest thing I've ever seen in all my life!" She raved, wobbling through the kitchen, reminding much of Juvia whenever Gray so much as blinked. "She is adorable, Erza! It's a she, right? I think Meredy mentioned it," Solano hardly noticed how much she was shaking Erza by her arm, unable to stop wiggling.

"She is," Erza smiled. Solano exploded anew. She scrambled past a chair to the window, sticking her head out to gasp for cool air. It was easy to see how she and Meredy had gotten along so well. "Sorry, I just can't force him to get up when he's this tired – he works so hard; he really needs his breaks," Erza apologised. Three heads shook negative without hesitation.

"Does he work even now?" Macbeth tilted his head. Erza nodded.

"From home," she affirmed. The three snickered, especially the boys.

"We used to tease him about 'quitting' his job right after getting it," Sawyer expounded. "I mean who's ever heard of home office?"

"He looked like a corpse there," Macbeth went on. Erza smiled pityingly, knowing it was true. She opened an overhead cupboard, retrieving four mugs and some tea leaves. "Come to think of it, so do you."

"No offence," Solano added, scoldingly ramming her elbow into her former guildmate's ribs.

"I hope Meredy was more revived today." Was all Erza replied. There was no use denying it. Meredy deserved her days off, and while Jellal did too, of course, he would never ask for it. Her smile returned, the same mixture of love and sympathy as before. "He's such a powerhouse," she said, almost more to herself. "We take turns with the baby, and he manages all the cooking, washing and his work for the Council – sometimes into the night," she retold.

Just then, the kettle whistled. Erza took it off the stove, the flames dying where she flicked the rotary knob into its off position.

"What's her name?" Solano eagerly enquired.

"Rosemary," Erza disclosed, her voice as warm as the steam that clouded her face as she poured the tea. With light thuds, she put the cups down on the table.

"Rosemary?" Solano received her beverage, choosing to stand by the window. "Wasn't that the name of the village you guys came from? I mean, not you guys, but, like, you and Simon and so on…" she pondered aloud. Sinking down in her chair, Erza nodded.

"I'm surprised you remember," she smiled.

"Of course that idiot chooses something so mushy and fitted to you," Sawyer grinned knowingly. Macbeth shared the expression. Unlike his guildmate, he politely took his tea, quite into it, seating himself opposite of Erza. He blew on it, inhaling its scent.

"Her second name is related to him," Erza declared, just when steps came down the hall.

With feet as heavy as his lids, Jellal trudged into the kitchen. He still looked almost half asleep, his shirt's buttons partly open while he raked a hand through his dishevelled hair. Unasked, Erza's heart made a tiny leap – she loved every aspect of him, his adorable yet pitiful sleepiness attracting her like a magnet.

He spooked when Solano's entire body did a not-so-tiny leap. She rushed him with a fierce hug – nearly overrunning Macbeth – yelling her congratulations into Jellal's ear. Wincing, he struggled to keep his balance, if only with the aid of the doorframe his back hit upon her assault. He was worlds apart from the fierce guardian of his daughter he had been minutes ago.

Sure enough, that last squeal had been too loud for a certain someone. Rosemary wailed her wee lungs out when waking and finding to be alone.

Rising from her seat, Erza ran her palm down her husband's arm.

"You're on time, don't worry," she repeated soothingly. He only nodded when she relieved him of his turn, following the sound of the siren in their bedroom.

Stunned when realising that three of his former guildmates were in the room instead of one, Jellal was met with broad smiles. A tired grunt was his retuning of their greetings. Dragging his feet to the table, he slumped down in Erza's chair, taking a big gulp of her tea.

Solano crept over to his side when his eyes fell closed for longer than what could still count as blinking. She crouched down.

"Is Erza feeding the baby?" She asked in a rather loud whisper. Jellal hummed positive, taking another, slower sip. Solano's legs began to wag again. "Ooh, can I watch?" She hissed. Biting her lip, she had to hold on to the table's leg as not to fall over in hyped anticipation. It made the tea rattle. Jellal extended his hand to gesture for her to go ahead.

He blankly stared at the empty kitchen when all three of his former guild members hastily shuffled out the door.

Erza's lips stretched into a smile when she heard them coming. She sat on the side of the mattress, Rosemary drinking hungrily where her mother's flexible top was pulled down on the left. The ajar door creaked, three heads stealing glances at the scene.

"You can come in," Erza invited. She did not have to say it again. She patted the mattress next to her when Solano skidded close on her knees. "Here," Erza tenderly said as soon as Solano had sat down next to her, eyes sparkling, almost tearing up, "hold out your finger," she demonstrated. Immediately, a willing wrist hovered at a safe distance. Guiding it close, Erza offered a single finger to Rosemary. The latter grabbed on, wee chubby fingers wrapping around their newest prey. Solano somewhat liquified with a high-pitched squeak, literally slipping off the bed, falling apart.

Erza laughed when the boys looked on with slight shock, then suddenly held out their own fingers.

Jellal smiled. Leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, he had a loving twinkle in his eyes. Erza met his gaze, so he followed the unspoken instruction and seated himself by her side. He overtook the guests – or rather their digits – granting each a turn of the softest of baby skins against their own. He cradled Rosemary to himself once she was satisfied, walking her to the bathroom to get her burping towel. Solano kept so close, she nearly made both of them trip.

With a smile, Erza watched the entourage cluster in the hallway. She had felt the men's gazes on her when tugging her shirt into place, but when looking up to catch them red-handed, they had long changed their aim. It was neither Erza not Rosemary whom they had intently stared at – it was Jellal. Jellal's lack of being hectic and flustered at how his wife had briefly been exposed to others. Her smile only widened. Her immunity was rubbing off, she speculated, or perhaps their daughter was simply too enthralling.

"You cut your hair short again," Jellal noted on his way to the kitchen. Three pairs of feet eagerly shuffled after him. Macbeth gave a short puff, glancing elsewhere in an attempt to nonchalantly wave the comment off.

"That was ages ago," he shrugged, but then self-consciously twirled his finger around a strand in the front. "And you don't cut yours," he quickly tried to overplay his blush despite hardly anyone noticing, "and could use a shave…" he muttered. Jellal only laughed. Rucking his daughter up further, he freed one hand to feel the stubbles on his jaw.

"I haven't found the time yet, I suppose," he said, glancing down at his charming little time drain. Erza smiled, and again when her husband's hand went through his hair. It was still a mess, but she was still just as besotted with it.

"I think it's very attractive," she said, running a hand up his nape, entangling in the lengthening strands. He returned a grin, more boyish that it was mischievous, softening her eyes all the same.

Solano brought them back to the present when her miniature communication lacrima noisily snapped several pictures. She squealed again, then more when Jellal actually smiled into the camera instead of looking away awkwardly. Erza would have joined her cheering instantly had they not had so many guests.

Guests that certainly became hard to get rid of, especially once allowed to hold the baby themselves. Sawyer was glued to the spot, fearing to be moving too quickly for her taste and hence hardly even breathing. Macbeth sat down for the entirety of his turn, afraid of dropping the precious bundle, yet keen on holding her and having his finger captured. Solano almost got herself banned from the house when trying to steal the baby.

Dear Rosemary,

Today, you met your aunt Solano and uncles Macbeth and Sawyer for the first time. Their faces never looked funnier than when you started crying in their arms. Nonetheless, I'm confident that either of them would have taken you if your Mama and I had not been there – whenever you are in need of help, they will gladly be there for you. Solano already signed up for babysitting (see below for the document she made; she tried hard to make it look official).

Erza read, holding her breath as she watched Jellal write, peeking over his shoulder. It was not what she had had in mind when suggesting noting down milestones, but secretly reading it now, she knew it was so much better than imagined. She should have expected that her tiny, messy notepad would not hold a candle to his, but he was once more exceeding expectations.

Deciding not to announce herself until he was done, she stole glances to where his quill glided over the parchment.

I've never considered them or anyone else my brother or sister (not even Meredy, our relationship merely resembling siblinghood more than anything else). With you, I never hesitate to call them uncles or aunts of yours. I'm starting to feel as if it were true. Even without being capable of speaking or even smiling, you bring us closer together. You enlarge my family without saying a single word.

I cannot wait to see what wonders you will do when you grow up…