The last light went out. He waited. Standing still, his only onlooker was the almost full moon. It was not hard to stay hidden, even if there were only a handful of trees to the side of Fairy Hills. No one looked out into the darkness, down the façade and into the shadowy corners.

Narrowing his eyes, Jellal gazed up at her window. It was open, something that made his stomach give a nervous twist. An invitation.

He closed his eyes for a moment. The air was fresh and cool, the chill it brought making it impossible for him to convince himself that Erza was merely aerating – in the middle of the night. He shivered, seeing his breath form clouds, more freely than it had for years. He was still getting used to not wearing a mask – not hiding his face. He was free. Free to do whatever he pleased and see whomever he wanted.

Then why did it still feel so… forbidden?

It was not as if people had not noticed his obvious affections towards the Queen of the Fairies. Or vice versa. Another shiver. She really did feel the same way about him, did she not? It had always been hard to grasp that someone like her – an angel walking in the light –, someone he had hurt beyond belief, would actually give him her time of day. Even return his infuriatingly confusing feelings.

He could not understand how she – how anyone – could see something in a scapegrace like him. But he was ready to find out. At least he hoped he was.

Jellal waited for another hour. Then another. He wanted to be sure. Not that whoever had almost spotted them the last night had not somehow forced him to stay; not that he was complaining. Yet it felt strange with people knowing. Most likely because he and Erza were the ones knowing the least how to act. It would be better to find out in private than in the light of the day.

Jellal kicked himself inwardly. Find out what? Do or be what in the light of the day?

He did not find any answers. He decided not to look for them for now, focusing on her still open window. That sacrifice of an icy cold night of hers. He could not stay hidden any longer, although his wandering thoughts brought a heat to his face that made him want to turn on the heel and disappear to where he had come from.

He crept around the entrance door without setting off the automatic lacrima lights. Jumping, he reached the windowsill without problems. The real trouble began now.

The room was almost lit with the moon shining brightly in a nearly cloudless night. He landed inside, noiselessly, not allowing his silhouette in front of the window to give himself away. That way, he could still leave if she was asleep.

And she was asleep.

Seemingly without his consent, Jellal's feet silently walked towards the bed. Erza was curled up tightly, the blanket not revealing anything but her head and long, flowing scarlet hair he adored so much. The vibrant colour, the sweet scent that had nearly intoxicated him into dreamy scenarios the last night, the memories it made him relive.

She opened one eye. Jellal froze, having lost himself in watching her peacefully sleeping face. He nearly stuttered something stupid, but luckily, the words got stuck in his throat. So he stared. Blushing, immobile. Saying nothing and not even averting his gaze like some kind of creep.

"Took you long enough." Erza's voice cut across the suffocating silence. He winced, praying for her not to have noticed. She sat up, never breaking eye contact. Then her features softened. A relieved smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Sorry…" was all he could muster for a moment, thanking the stars to have given his voice steadiness. She rose from the bed, wrapping her arms around herself as the cold breeze reached her exposed skin. She was not wearing the usual pyjama he had seen her sleep in before – the most adorable thing and so perfectly Erza; proper and buttoned to the top, yet adorned with patterns in shades of pink and purple.

Jellal found himself staring again. He swallowed, not only because of her still bandaged wounds. He had seen her in a top and shorts before but this time he noticed something he wished he would not. It was something he had involuntarily learnt during his traveling times with Crime Sorcière. Or rather his time spent with two women. It was a small detail but at this moment, it clouded his mind, even without thinking any further.

The utter content of a woman removing her bra at the end of the day.

Memories flowed through his head, evenings of pretending to be asleep, of not listening or not noticing. Playing inattentive or uninterested. Not that it had been very interesting to begin with, but the reality of it coming back now – the fact that he had not forgotten, no matter how much he had not even tried to remember in the first place – made the gears in his head get stuck.

Had this been the case for the past two nights, too…?

"Jellal…?" Erza tentatively raised her voice. He blinked himself out of his trance. He was never this distracted, not until he was with her. "Did something happen?" She asked in a hushed tone, halting in front of him. She glanced up at him, then at her feet upon meeting his eyes. His frown eased into a gentle smile. As fierce as she could be, there would always be this shy side of her, melting his heart in an instant.

"Nothing to worry about," he said. Guessing her reason to get up being the open window, he decided to close it for her. Her hand grabbed his sleeve, making him stop.

"I-" Erza's voice betrayed her, and she had to start again. She kept her gaze on her feet. "I thought… maybe you wouldn't come…" she whispered. It was almost as if she had not wanted to say it, hoping for him not to have heard but the words were echoing in his head over and over again. Gulping again, Jellal turned back to her.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, just as quietly, "you must have been cold," he said. Her head snapped up, eyes sparking at him, a hint of anger shocking him. He felt his mouth run dry. Trying to relax, to give a reassuring smile, Jellal found himself at a loss of options. She did not like him apologising; she never had.

With his heart drumming violently against his ribcage, he took the hand she clenched his sleeve with.

"Sorry," he said again, quieter. He was sorry. He felt he had to apologise. The look in her eyes told him otherwise. "I didn't mean to upset you." His thumb stroked over the back of her hand of its own accord.

Courage was making itself scarce, he noted, her gaze searching the room for something else to look at. She did not pull away, though. Or move. A slight shiver shook her, reminding him of the open window.

He let go but she immediately snatched his hand back, preventing his leave. He stared into huge eyes, seemingly trembling as they pleaded at him.

"Don't-"

"I'm not going anywhere," He soothed, allowing her hand to hold his again. He squeezed it once, smiling warmly, catching a hint of uneasiness, mixed with joy in her gaze. He lost himself in it. Like deep pools of black water, the moon reflecting on the outer, smoothly rippling surface, sparkling up at him. Mesmerising him.

Jellal noticed too late that he had leant forward. That he had drifted off into thoughts, that her spell had once again captivated him, reeling him into the void of no return. Erza's hand was trembling with anticipation in his. He felt it sweat the same way his own did, realising what she might have been thinking with his face closing in on hers.

He did not deserve it. He had no right to take this from her. But he recalled that night on the beach so vividly; her hands cupping his face, pulling him down, parted lips practically imploring him.

She deserved this. If anything, he would do it for her, seeing as she still wanted nothing more. Her eyes fluttered close. He could feel her shaky breath on his chin, hearts leaping in unison, seemingly at the speed of sound. His upper lips brushed hers.

"I knew it!" Both jumped at the sound of a voice. Wincing away from one another, the caught couple stared at the open window.

"Charle!" Erza stuttered. The flying Exceed had crossed her arms, eyes narrowed in strict disappointment, a light blush tinting her white cheeks. Meanwhile, Erza's and Jellal's faces burnt up until their ears.

"Breaking the rules so heedlessly… and coming from you; I cannot even imagine what might have happened to my poor Wendy," Charle went on, shaking her head. Erza was eyeing the floor, shamefully plucking at the carpet with her toes. "You know she has a very distinct sense of hearing," the Exceed continued, making the couple flame up even more, looking anywhere but at one another.

Charle kept going for a while and Jellal started to remember her, even though he had never gotten to know her personality. It amazed him how she made the great Titania shrink with her words, at the same time making him realise that he had gotten her into trouble.

That she had gone through trouble for him.

Erza stood still for a moment longer, even when Charle had flown off, and not without one last warning tsk. Jellal carefully neared his crush. She did not look up. Hugging herself closely, she waited, probably for him to leave. And he would. But his heart ached to see her this way, knowing that he was to blame for it. He could not just leave her like this.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you…" Erza muttered. She was visibly embarrassed, as well as unhappy with herself. Just like him, she also seemed to fear the return of the white cat.

He gave a sigh, shoulders sinking.

"Well, I guess I have no other choice then," he said, his voice plain. Erza's head whipped up, staring at him, eyes full of regret and… fear. She opened her mouth, but he was faster, silencing her by coming closer. Her breath hitched in her throat when he leant down. He passed her face, those eyes, wide with panic, lips accidentally brushing her ear. He lowered his voice to a whisper.

"But to tell you where I live…"

And with that, he was gone.