Thaaank you all so much for your reviews! And sorry for being late! And not having the time to properly thank you for taking the time to leave me a review...

In any case, hope you'll enjoy!

Erza's feet all but shuffled as she made her way to the kitchen. She yawned but stopped midway at the sweet smells that greeted her upon her arrival. For once, she did not know how she deserved him but she scratched the thought immediately.

By now, it was hard to imagine how she had ever been content with waking up to anything but Jellal or his meals. And his meals.

A little hesitantly, Erza neared him where he was occupied with a sizzling pan. He had never said to be angry, nor had he seemed upset in the morning, but she still felt sorry. She still felt sore with guilt, like a hole or a heavy stone at the bottom of her stomach. While still eyeing her bare feet, Erza carefully closed in.

Jellal did not wince, but halted his actions for the split of a second when her head pushed its way beneath his arm. He must have been lost in thoughts, momentarily surprised to see her. He smiled then but she did not see. She simply snuggled her head into his side while staring down.

He let go of the pan's handle to put his arm around her. Erza exhaled with slight relief, a small smile sneaking its way onto her lips. She leaned in more, closing her eyes. Occasionally, she would open them halfway to peek at her deliciously frying breakfast. It was like a dream – a haze of sugary taste in the air, her sleep-warm and having him right by her side. Had there not been the only slowly dissolving guilt, she could have fallen back asleep on the spot.

Jellal poked the French toast with a spatula, lifting its rim to scrutinise. She had to smile when the random circles he drew with his fingers above her hip stopped while he had to focus to flip it over.

"Jellal?" She asked in a voice small.

"Hm?"

"We're friends, right?" She asked, immediately feeling his eyes on her. He blinked in surprise but she did not yet dare to look up. His voice was soft when he spoke, his smile audible.

"Best friends," he said, tugging on her with his arm once. Erza smiled widely.

"And…" her hand came up to grasp his shirt on his back, "you love me, right?"

"More than you can imagine," Jellal answered without hesitation. Her smile grew even more and she kept her head lowered, nuzzling it further against him. The stove clicked and the fire's flickering died out when he turned it off, turning himself and his full attention to enclosing her in a loving hug.

Erza in- and exhaled deeply. She held on with both hands then, his wrapping around her so tightly that they already arrived at her front of the opposite side.

"We're good…?" She quietly asked into him. Jellal let out a breath above her head, pressing her to him.

"Never been better," he whispered. Erza gripped his shirt even more, crinkling it in her fists. Just like she could always see him believing her, she trusted in those words. Finally, her body felt lighter, free somehow.

"Jellal," she mumbled into his chest.

"Mhm,"

"Kiss me," she asked, rather demanded. He vibrated with a chuckle against her face, then detached it from him. With those caring, gentle eyes she adored so much, he smiled down at her, capturing her lips just as tenderly. She enclosed his shirt tighter, returning the gesture with a longing, relieved hunger.

She deeply kissed him back, never wanting it to end. Quite the opposite. But she restrained herself, knowing it would not be the time for more. He must have been just as sore as her with previously unresolved emotions; she would just have to wait and be patient and not rush for once.

Trying to forget that posed less difficult than she had assumed when the second he presented her breakfast to her, Erza's mind shoved the urge aside. Food brought pleasure, too, if a different kind. She would wait.

"Jellal?" She asked in the same voice as before, bringing a broad smile to his face. "I want to cook for you, too," she declared. He reacted far less enthusiastic than she had imagined. With his lips pressed together, Jellal put her glass down more prudently now, as if overthinking something. Then again, he was always overthinking. "Oh, I know," Erza cut her toast with vigour. "How about you teach me how to cook dessert and I'll teach you how to ride a horse?" She proposed with a smug expression, stuffing her mouth with half the slice on her plate. She always had such good ideas, she proudly thought to herself.

Jellal had turned back to the counter, the stove clicking until igniting the flame anew.

"What makes you think I can't ride a horse?" He said without turning.

"Can you?"

"… no,"

"So then we have a deal," she smiled through chewing. The pan sizzled and not a second too late as the second half of her toast disappeared between her lips.

"I'm having the vague feeling that we skipped the part where I said 'yes'," Jellal said, more to himself, amusement ringing in his tone. Erza pouted. Of course, she had gone and decided things on her own again, but… it really would to them both good – she could finally cook for him, too. And the idea did not even involve any engagement with human beings! It was too perfect to take back, so she stuck with it. And since she did, so did he.

As it turned out, Jellal had spoiled Erza so much that there had hardly been enough ingredients left for even two of the desserts from the recipe book. Not to mention the fresh components. So, on their way back home from shopping, Erza had had the splendid idea – she was full of them – to get the rest of her belongings and perhaps more furniture from her apartment. Since it was on the way, she had said, dragging him along on a tour to the other side of town for him to catch whatever she dropped out the window.

With a fully loaded cart and bags of groceries, Jellal had started on a few basics. They made muffins and chocolate pudding, brownies, cookies, sorbet and a tiny tart with thin slices of apple shaped to imitate roses. She only burnt her hand twice. And her lower arm once.

In contrary to that clumsiness, her cutting skills were top notch. She could handle anything that had a blade with unrivalled perfection, masterfully slicing and chopping, making his weeks of practise seem rather dull.

"Maybe tomorrow would be a good idea," Erza said. Her eyes trailed his movements as he bandaged her arm with exceeding care. He was so gentle, she could hardly feel his actions at all, even when he applied cooling cream to her burns. The tips of his fingers merely grazed the reddened skin, soothing the slight pain and distracting from it at the same time. It was mesmerising to watch.

"How long did she take with the samples from Magnolia?" Jellal asked. His voice was just as soft as his hands' touch. She could not help the occasional glance into his eyes that focused on their task. He was such a beautiful man – she should tell him more often. She doubted he knew.

"Not too long but I don't want to stress her," she replied, almost having forgotten to answer. "She's expecting," she disclosed. She kept her gaze on him, seeing how he tensed even though his forehead wrinkled in a failed attempt to keep from showing a reaction. It was certainly a topic she would have to postpone. Maybe, Erza thought, she could get Levy to chat with him sometime. Or she could organise Asuka again for a day or two.

"Which of your creations appeals to you most for dinner?" He asked in a poor attempt to hide how he was slightly flustered.

"I think…" Erza thought of the sorbet, remembering that it would not be ready yet. "I'm rather craving something savoury right now," she said. He blinked twice then collected himself.

"Alright," he said, refocusing on his task. She pondered on what in particular would strike her appetite. Something that did not take too long, she decided. Not that she still had the energy to keep on cooking. It was always a good thing that he was there – she was endlessly grateful to him, not only because it allowed her to be lazy from time to time. She felt sheltered. More special than even her incredible magical powers and deeds had achieved over the span of her life.

"All done," Jellal said when he fixated the end of the bandage.

"Thank you," Erza said. Her heart skipped more than one beat when he took her hand in his once again, bringing it to his face to press a loving kiss on her uninjured knuckles. It gave her stomach a flutter when his eyes met hers from below. He was making it very hard not to just jump on him but she had made herself a promise. She would wait. She would.

How he was a mess of nerves in one, and a bold seducer the next second, she could hardly grasp. It took her a moment to realise that he had gotten up.

Following his example, Erza brushed her teeth and changed her clothes after they had eaten. When ready for bed, she noticed too late not to have offered him the spot on top of her again. She tried to remember for the following night, finding it just too comfortable now when having snuggled in within his protective arms.

Walking back from the guild, Erza lost herself in thoughts. Levy had not been done with analysing every sample yet, Gajeel hovering over her like a lion protecting freshly caught prey from other predators. Or dragon. She worked as much as she could and even if one only saw the hint of a growing stomach, the Solid Script Mage was visibly changed. Serene somehow, in peace with herself and at the same time irritable and sometimes fussing over nothing.

They were a very sweet couple though, Erza thought to herself. She could not help but imagine how it would be if she herself was pregnant. Jellal was as overprotective as could be already, spoiling and serving her without any special privilege.

He had been a little strange, however. By far less clingy, careful even, not daring to go any further than hug her in a proper way or share a kiss or two. She wondered whether it was still the previous argument that lingered on. She was more than glad to have gone through with her plan of waiting, guessing him not to be ready for more intimacy.

Jellal sighed to himself. Staring at Erza's lacrima, he waited in vain for a reply from his guildmate. He told himself that it was not just distraction.

It was a lie.

Of course, he wanted her to come. They had lots of leftovers and Meredy could be a sweet tooth, too. She would have loved to help them eat everything.

Still, he had hoped for her to turn up with a mission. Some way to get out for just a bit. To clear his head. It really needed that. Erza in an apron always made his heart race, her new sleepwear and intimate cuddles making his head spin and stomach flounce.

He had tried to give hints but every time he dared to make a move like gaze at her while kissing her hand, he chickened back out. Not because he feared the outcome – he craved the outcome. Only, it seemed immodest to ask something like that of her. Especially since she never responded to his attempts.

Erza gave it her all, clucking like a chicken. Judging by his awkwardly amused expression, she was either doing a fabulous job or failing completely. It was the latter, but she did not need to know that. Either way, she had fulfilled her task. With a light tint on her cheeks, she avoided his twinkling eyes and refocused on the board in front of her. She rolled the dice.

"Nine," she moved her triangular piece along the winding path.

"It says two," Jellal frowned at the dice.

"I have a times three card and the monkey gave me a peach last turn so I get additional three squares since I passed the dead willow," she explained. He gave her a look, triggering a smirk. "It's the rules,"

"I don't believe this," Jellal sighed, though in defeat, having abandoned the explanatory folded paper that spanned nearly the size of their bed long ago.

"Your turn,"

"You have to draw a card,"

"No, I just used one so I cannot take another," Erza corrected. Nodding, Jellal simply complied. Mercilessly, the dice gave him another four. Literally any other number would have been better. By far.

"Draw three or go back three," Erza reminded.

"But I've fallen into the bridge three times already," he complained, reaching out for his own triangle. He hesitated as to which direction he should move it.

"Then take," she said, just as merciless. Jellal pulled a face, earning another playful smirk. He drew his crossed legs closer to him, placing his piece on the card square.

"Why do I always get the bad ones and you never do?" He reluctantly reached for the cards.

"That's because you still lack the spirit," Erza earnestly said, her face glowing with that adorably cute ambition.

"Isn't it sheer luck…?" Jellal muttered as he miserably peered at what the stack of cards offered him.

"So is Bingo, and yet I always win," she declared with pride in her voice.

"There's Bingo in this game?" He frowned, only now coming to the conclusion that she was talking about another game entirely.

"Only in the final round," she surprised him, "and only if you get a pot of gold – or someone loses their hat," she illuminated. Jellal blinked a few times, deciding not to question the second information. The last thing he wanted was to start another discussion whether 'hat' included a pirate bandana, hoping it would all be clearer towards the end. A relatively unrealistic expectation in regard to the rest of the game so far.

His eyes sparked up hopefully when finding at least one of his cards not to do him harm.

"Ten-ticket!" He yelled and Erza rolled her eyes. "Okay… uhm…" he pondered, trying to come up with something that was even better than animal noises. "Alright, change into your armour," he instructed and she furrowed her brows in puzzlement. Nonetheless, her top glowed and traded for the Heart Kreuz attire she usually wore outside. "And for the next ten seconds, take it off,"

"Oh, Jellal," Erza wiggled her brows and he twisted his lips in order not to blush. Which he did, anyway.

"I didn't mean it like that," he defended himself, "I'm just curious as to how long it would take you to remove it without magic,"

"Longer than ten seconds," she said, then proceeded to dig between the metal to detach the latches and buckles on her arms. He turned the hourglass around, watching intently. For scientific reasons only, he told himself.

As predicted, she had only finished with her breast plate and one gauntlet when the time had run out, sliding them back on to exchange them for more comfortable clothes. For a second, Jellal caught himself being disappointed that she had stopped. He forbade the thought, handing over the dice.

"Don't forget your pizza," Erza jerked her head at his cards and he searched a small bag of clinking items for another random topping, dropping it on his pizza board. She picked three cards, her face lighting up. "Angel's choir and- ha! A ten-ticket!"

"Oh, no,"

"And I get your cake,"

"The card or the real cake?" He asked, glancing down at his half-eaten slice next to him. Anything was possible in that strange game they had found in her apartment, as far as he knew.

"The card, unfortunately," Erza said, regarding his unfinished snack with envy. He smiled, giving her both and she immediately forgot about the card, carving out a big bite with a fork. "As for the ticket…" she muttered through a full mouth.

"I was very nice to you," Jellal tried to bargain but she had that same devilish look in her eyes as before.

"Push-ups," she ordered and he sighed in relief. Too soon. "While I sit on your back,"

"What?" He stared at her, bewildered.

"Without your shirt,"

"Erza,"

"I'm just curious," she winked and he growled with disbelief, poorly suppressing a chuckle at her eager wiggling when he reached for the hem of his shirt. He blushed while she scooted closer to be able to observe more carefully. Giving her another look, Jellal only received encouraging nodding. He crawled a little further away from the game board, getting on all fours.

Erza sat down with a content hum to herself when he stretched his legs, lowering himself for the first time. Crossing her legs, she seemed to be enjoying herself while he huffed and puffed, his arms shaking with every motion but not giving up for a heartbeat. After losing count while focusing on her flawlessly subtle thighs on his back, Jellal groaned, also to keep from letting his mind wander. He was not usually like this but she unknowingly teased him every day.

"How many seconds?" He asked, knowing he should have already completed the task.

"Oh, I forgot to turn the hourglass," Erza noted. He gasped breathlessly when she leaned backwards to fetch the object in question, just when he had bent his elbows to brush the floor with his chest again. Something along his spine popped but he held still, face flushed from the exercise.

"Okay, go," she said and he collapsed with a wheeze. "Jellal?" She rolled off, glancing into his face with concern.

"You can't just start over," he nagged, catching his breath.

"You didn't remind me," she argued, yelping when he turned to throw her off her arms and feet, wrapping his own limbs around her. "Hey," she laughed, squealing when his panting tickled her neck. "No, my piccolos!" She struggled against him when he tipped over the board, cards and chips flying everywhere.

"That's for stealing my flamingo farm," he retorted, one arm tightly around her waist for the other hand to run up and down her sides. Erza shrieked, nearly deafening him. She slapped as much as she could while being captured, protesting loudly.

She kicked to get out of his imprisoning legs, accidentally hitting the bed post where they had sat next to. Jellal relaxed slightly for a moment, peeking past her shoulder.

"Did you get hurt?" He asked, gasping when she used her chance to snatch his wrists. Squirming to face him, it only took her the split of a second to straddle his hips, pinning both of his hands down above his head. Erza panted and her hair fell messily around their faces like a curtain but she smiled with triumph. Staring up at her closed eyes, Jellal was too dazed to react for what felt like several minutes.

"I always forget that I could just try and tickle you, too," she said with a heaving chest. Jellal swallowed, feeling sweat pool at the back of his neck.

"But you know what?" He blurted as enthusiastically as he could without seeming too obviously panicked. "You could also not do that," was the only thing he came up with that quickly. Inwardly, he wanted to facepalm himself.

"Wouldn't that be something?" Erza leaned down further, a gleeful spark in her eyes. "I think I have another idea…" she lowered her voice, nearing his face. Jellal found his breath to speed up instead of calm when her lips hovered above his own. His heart was hammering in his ribcage, his entire body as if electrified. He would have done anything she would have told him to right that instant. Anything.

Agonisingly, she let her head sink even further, towards his ear. Jellal thought he saw stars dance before his eyes, praying for her to sit high enough on his abdomen to miss his embarrassingly easy excitement. He cursed at it, his lungs screaming with the shortness of breath she caused by brushing her lips along his temple and downwards, her hands sliding down his arms, giving him goose bumps where they trailed. He shivered once, thinking his head was going to explode, squeezing his eyes shut.

Her voice was but a whisper, the teasing smirk audible anyway.

"Let's have salad for dinner," she grinned, shooting an arrow straight through his heart. Jellal froze. He blinked his eyes open, confused, staring dumbfounded at her with laughter vibrating form.

"Your-" Erza laughed, holding her mouth when she grunted uncontrollably. "Your face," she giggled. She sat up, easing down on where he had hoped she would not sit but she was too overwhelmed by her own trick to notice, getting up not a second later.

"Well, the game's ruined," she put her hands on her hips, then merrily took the leftover of the cake with her to the kitchen. Jellal deflated against the ground. He brought a hand up to hide his deeply flushed face, taking more than a few in- and exhales to compose himself. So close… And yet, despite it having churned through his mind for days, he could not bring himself to ask. He could not demand such a thing. Or simply speak those words out loud.