Night had already fallen when they arrived in Magnolia. The rain throughout the train ride stopped just as they made their way through the dark streets of their hometown, and Erza could feel her stiff limbs revive more and more after hours of being seated. It felt amazing to be back, a fuzzy stir warming her chest.
Since they were not physically carrying any luggage, they hardly made a sound when unlocking the door – at least it seemed that way, judging by the way Meredy was perched on a counter in the kitchen, engrossed in her lacrima while stuffing her mouth with a cookie the size of her hand. Her eyes wandered up slowly upon registering the two pairs of eyes that stared right at her from the hall.
Gasping, she choked on her nightly snack. Jellal grimaced all the while relieving his wife of her coat. Coughing and brushing crumbs of one of the shirts Erza had gifted her, Meredy thundered out the kitchen to greet them. Jellal nearly lost his balance when she threw her arms around him.
"Welcome back," she grinned, hanging from his neck for another moment.
"Thanks," he returned a smile.
"Here," Erza summoned the bouquet they had bought at the train station. "Thank you for watching the house," she handed over the present in the place of a hug. It derived the attention off her now prominent belly, and Meredy was too busy beaming from one to the other to notice just yet.
"You guys don't have to bring me flowers every time; I don't mind watching the house," she took the flowers anyway, rather happy with them as predicted.
"You really didn't have to," Jellal said as they followed her into the kitchen. "There's nothing steal-worthy in here, really,"
"Excuse me," Meredy spun to point a finger at him, "we happen to have worked really hard on your wedding gifts,"
"Apart from those, of course," he sheepishly agreed, and she nodded firmly. "I hope you weren't too-"
"Oh my gosh!" Meredy spooked him with a shriek. "Aah!" Was all she managed, now pointing frantically at Erza's more-than-obviously pregnant belly. Spinning in circles, she hopped on the spot, slapped Jellal's arm, then went back to staring at her discovery, squeaking to herself. "It's so big already! Mira will go insane; I can't believe this, it's so cool, does it move? Can I touch?" She was already leaning down, trying to devour the in fabric covered stomach with her eyes.
"Of course," Jellal caught himself to have spoken at the exact same time as Erza. Backtracking, he lowered his head slightly, apologetically. She shook her head before he could start on saying sorry.
"It's alright," she soothed, her eyes warm with pride at how enthusiastically he had given his allowance. Then she glanced at Meredy, giving the same encouraging nod. With her own hand, she rubbed over her naval, knowing it almost always triggered a response that she could have Meredy feel.
Jellal's ears perked and Erza noted with content how he seemed just as excited as Meredy, going as far as rising to his toes, licking his lips unconsciously as he hoped for their child to give a reaction. Just when Meredy reached out, he could not help himself anymore, his voice but a whisper.
"My baby…" he breathed. Meredy froze mid-motion. Turning her head to the side to find his gaze, her eyes were so soft; so affectionate, Erza felt the gladness radiate back at her, not least because she felt it, too. He loved his unborn child – their unborn child – and neither of the women could keep from smiling when realising he had finally liberated himself enough to reach the stage he was in now.
Only then did Meredy palm the mound, her focus snapping back when the reliable kick came not a minute later.
"Incredible," she murmured, more to herself. "And up so late," she grinned at Erza who was perhaps acting a little more pregnant than she was, leaning her belly forward as if its weight was equal to that of a nine-month-old. She liked the feeling, and she finally enjoyed the way she looked when regarding herself in a mirror.
"I wonder if it'll be an early bird or a night owl," she exchanged a glance with her husband, knowing it was for once not a trait he disliked about himself.
They were interrupted by a ring, and Meredy got up to pick up her lacrima from the counter. Sighing, she did not answer the call, writing a message instead.
"Since you're back now, I guess I'll head on home to Fairy Hills," she announced. "Juvia needs a shoulder to cry on because Gray ignored her self-made Gray-buns and bentos all through the preparations of the Blossom-Viewing Festival – I don't know if I should be berating him or tell her to stop printing his face on everything," she rolled her eyes with amusement.
"Shoulder sounds good for now," Jellal offered, and they both shrugged in agreement.
"Thank you for taking care of her – of everyone," Erza said. Meredy answered with the almost-forgotten hug. "And Wendy; I'm glad I can count on you all to be there for her when she needs it,"
"Oh, she'll be so happy when I tell her you're back," Meredy cheered. "I'll see if I meet her on the way to Juvia's flat,"
"We'll be at the guild tomorrow, too," Erza promised.
With Meredy being such a frequent guest, rather having a semi-roommate state, she saw herself out while Erza and Jellal unpacked the leftovers they had brought from Era.
"We'll have to go shopping tomorrow," Jellal reminded, and she nodded. Leaning against the counter, she could not sit down again after the long ride home. She had to smile when taking in their own house again. She scanned the runs of paint above the stove, the scratches in the wood of the counters, and the circular stains of tea mugs on the cramped table beneath the window. It felt like eternity since they had been there, the lack of snow crunching underfoot and rapid progression of her pregnancy only adding to the illusion.
An inner peace settled within her, giving an anchored, secure feeling of home.
"I missed this," she said, pushing off the counter to where he was unpacking, "the creak-"
"Of the drawer next to the fridge?" He grinned at her from the side. She bit her lip, nudging his hip with hers. Opening said drawer, both sighed with satisfaction as it gave the anticipated creak.
"Yeah," Erza smiled. Dropping her head against his arm, she closed her eyes for a moment. "How about a walk before bed? My legs could certainly use it," she proposed, tensing the aching muscles. She knew he was still tired from work, the case and that sleepless-rescue-mission night, but she found the fresh air would do them both good.
Without disturbing her position, Jellal carefully closed the fridge.
"Then you can tell me what in the world a Bosom-Viewing Festival is," he consented, earning himself a chuckle.
"Blossom, dearest, blossom," Erza's chuckle never died down when the blush crept up his cheeks. "But we can make our own private bosom-appreciation festival some other time," she teased, luring the blush all the way up to his ears.
His wrinkled face glowed, thinning. Like a coating of dust, gently whirled up by the wind, carried away, straying from one another, losing the form of the old man she had known for the majority of her life. He was smiling.
"No!" Wendy cried, tears tumbling out of her eyes, burningly running down her sun-kissed cheeks. A horribly beautiful day for sorrow. "No, Master!" She yelled, and wept. Her knees shook, betraying her as they fell to the ground. She did not care. With her chin raised high, eyes squinting closed so she would not have to see that suddenly empty plaza – so she would not remember; only know what it had been like with all of her friends there, right there – she wailed after the dissolving traces of her family.
A hand softly cupped her shoulder. She had not heard her coming, nor felt her advance. Her breathing rasped, hitching. It hurt. It all hurt too much to bear, and yet…
Wendy turned to glance at Erza through watery eyes. A moment of silence passed. Erza's face was lowered, the pain Wendy had witnessed the day before not anywhere near gone yet – a pain so impossible to bear, she had seen the ever-stoic warrioress cry in desperation only hours prior. But she bore it. And though she did not share it, her gaze lifted, offering Wendy that open ear she would not burden anyone with.
"Bury the pain of losing your loved ones…" Erza spoke warmly despite the grief in her eyes, "into the arms of your friends." Wendy hiccupped. Turning, her lip quivered. She hardly noticed not to be crying anymore.
"Come," the low timbre resounded even now, even when she opened her eyes, shaking from her memory-infused dream, "to Fairy Tail."
Wendy shivered. She knocked again on the from the earlier rain slippery wood. Nothing. She turned away from it.
The night was broken, yet despite the late hour and day of working hard, her mind would not allow her to sleep. She had tried. And then she had not been able to stand it anymore. In boots and a not-padded-anymore coat, she had snuck out of Fairy Hills, down the hill and through the almost deserted streets. Meredy had said they were back; had arrived not an hour ago when she had returned to her own flat, and Wendy had been delighted upon seeing the lights turned on in the kitchen of the couple's house.
After ten minutes of no answer and no noise from inside, she wanted to give up. She wanted herself to give up, not succeeding. Her legs were shaking slightly in the cold, the puddle water that had splashed her tights as she had hasted through the darkness now trickling down her socks. The streetlamps gave off little light, and with the fog remains of the rain, she almost did not smell them coming.
Her fingers were stiffening, so she wrapped her arms around herself, stuffing her hands into the pits of her coat. Her heart accelerated when her ears were faster than her mind. Head snapping up, she stared ahead into the dim light where the finest of water molecules danced about steadily.
Her voice was warm, just as much as it had been back then.
Wendy's memory replayed it with lightning speed, as if wanting to fast-forward until the part where the invitation came. The voice became intelligible words, interlacing with another. Water splashed quietly beneath their steps where they neared.
Wendy pushed off the wall.
"Wendy," Erza spotted her first. Jellal – not yet having looked for a key when still two houses away – followed his wife's gaze. Had it not been for her size, it would have been a miracle to distinguish her identity with the lack of light. Erza knew though; she seemed to have a sense for it even stronger than that of perceiving magic.
Chilled hands detangled when Erza extended both of hers. Wendy retracted her own from their warming spots, knowing she would find a warmer, more comfortable, comforting one. She ran the last few metres, not caring for a second about the water she whirled up into her footwear and up her tights.
"Erza!" She threw herself into the offered hug. Arms enclosed her, and she pressed herself into Erza's chest, inhaling almost shakily. It was harder to hug her now, but she was too caught up in her reunion to notice the big stomach that was the hinderance of a tight hug.
Erza's eyes were sad for a moment – guilty for not having come sooner, pitiful because it was evident that she should h have come sooner. But then they softened, shoulders sinking while her smile grew.
"I'm back," Erza said tenderly. Wendy lifted her head after another needy moment, grinning up at the fond smile.
"Welcome home!"
Once inside, all three of them exhaled in relief at the lack of cold and wetness. Jellal took Erza's coat, and Wendy hardly noticed him to be then relieving her of hers. She was occupied elsewhere, her eyes having registered Erza's pregnant belly. The couple knew more of those unbelieving stares to be awaiting them the following day – they really did look as if he had remained frozen in time with his hair of the same length, and her to have travelled to the future with her stomach expanded like a medium-sized watermelon.
"Would you like a hot chocolate?" Jellal offered. They knew it was one of Jellal's hot chocolates, Erza's tastebuds feasting in advance while Wendy's eyes sparkled as if she had been offered world peace.
Mugs in hand – or hands, cupping them for warmth – they sat down on the bed, Erza being edged closer to from both sides. Jellal knew it was Wendy's turn, and he did not want to impose himself on their reunion, but at the same time, that single cuddle on the train after days of deprivation had simply not been enough. Erza quite obviously felt the same way, but Wendy's presence magnetised her motherly instincts and attention to where she was currently needed the most.
"So much happened at the guild – like the other day, where Lamia Scale visited, there was a huge brawl," Wendy was saying.
"Unusual," Erza twinkled with sarcasm and Jellal chuckled.
"Well, no, not that," Wendy giggled, "but Lyon asked Juvia out to dinner and she accepted," she said. That certainly made their brows rise in surprise. "Gray got really angry and started a fight so of course the others all joined," Wendy reported. She sipped her mug when it almost overflowed from gesturing for emphasis, and once she had tasted her beverage, it was gone by half within a single gulp.
"Of course," Erza said, actually serious. It was still the most normal thing in the world, at least to her, amusing Jellal time and again with her relaxed attitude towards her friends bandying blows on a regular basis.
"Meredy and Lucy discussed Juvia's decision, and we think she might be upset with Gray's ambiguous on-and-off all the time," Wendy speculated.
"Oh? And I thought he was only 'on' lately," Erza took a sip herself. It did not feel the least bit uncomfortable to girl-talk about relationships in front of Jellal. He was a part of Erza somehow, an extension of her and at the same time her more reasonable side when she lost track of her own. He supplied his own comments as any mature girl would, if scarcely, rather listening intently to what was waiting for them at the guild.
"He is now, though he's still mad at her for using jealousy," Wendy explained.
"You can't really blame her," Erza shrugged, nose within the steam of melted chocolate above the rim of her mug. "I had to resort to drastic measures and break the rules of Fairy Hills to get this coward anywhere near commitment," she motioned towards Jellal with her mug, then took a casual sip. Jellal pouted, and Wendy giggled when Erza placed a hand on his knee. She imitated his pout in a most loving mock. "Didn't Charle ever tell you that?" She then asked Wendy.
Wendy blinked, as if out of a different topic altogether. Erza had to smile to herself, hiding the bite on her lower lip behind her hot chocolate. Wendy was secretly, if fairly obviously, enjoying the way Jellal crawled up to his wife with his hand, grovelling slightly in an unspoken apology.
It did not take long for him to escape however, seeing as Erza was unpacking their first meetings that had led to where they were today – his breaking into her room at night. And her allowing it.
"You don't have to go; I can leave too. You must be tired," Wendy said when he announced to be going shopping. She faded out towards the end, tapping the tips of her index fingers together indecisively. She wanted him to stay as much as she wanted to spend time with Erza.
Shaking his head, Jellal gave a soft smile. He put his hand on her head, and she raised her eyes to meet his.
"I'd rather go now than tomorrow morning – we're going to need something for breakfast anyway," he announced.
"The night shop?" Erza blinked at him with amusement. He twisted his lips as not to give in and smile at the old insider of his inexperience. It worked as well as assumed.
"The night shop," he affirmed, "just around the corner, next to the bank," he elaborated when Wendy did not look any less guilty about him trudging back out into the cold and wet. He took their mugs to the kitchen, and Erza listened with content when hearing how he did not dutifully clean them right away, but returned to grab his coat. She kept smiling at him until the front door closed behind him.
With a sigh, she sank against the headboard. Noticing the eyes on her, she directed her smile at Wendy.
"You haven't told me yet how you've been faring over the past weeks," she asked. Wendy hesitated, embarrassed so it seemed. She averted her gaze to her knees.
"Fine," she finally said, "the girls were all so nice as always; they distracted me and had me sit with them when they gossiped, invited me on missions or insisted that I come to sleepovers," she retold, nodding along. Erza waited. She knew there was something else, something the young Dragon Slayer was not telling her. She suppressed a sigh, eyes softening alongside her voice.
"Did you meet with Sherria?" She remembered their talk via lacrima.
"Yes," Wendy's expression brightened, but the hint of trouble never made itself scarce, "she came here and I had to promise to visit her next time," she grinned. "We trained together since she is so proud of what little magic she has already learned again, and I was happy to help her," she said, then added, "it made me feel like the big sister for once," she lowered her gaze again.
Erza remained silent for a moment. Then she sat up more against the headboard. Extending her arms, she once again invited Wendy into a hug. One that was promptly taken. Holding her close, pressing her cheek to the blue crown, Erza looked on almost regretfully. She knew this position well, having learned through Jellal that the lack of prying eyes worked wonders.
"And when did you get to be a fourteen-year-old?" She asked mellowly. Wendy remained mute for another moment, going as far as holding her breath. She gulped. Skinny arms came up, needily returning the hug.
Erza sighed. She had guessed right – at least she was convinced she had. To some extent, her concern of Wendy being too grown-up for her age – as usual – and missing out on what little motherly care she could get from Erza, hit home. And it hit her just as much as the young Dragon Slayer.
"I just… I just really wanted this…" Wendy piped up, tightening her arms for emphasis. Erza heard herself hum in agreement. The hug, the hot chocolate, not having to be mature and responsible or reasonable at all times. Not to have duties for once and allow oneself to be dependant, at least helped and mothered.
Erza suspected the dawning of her menstruation to have scared Wendy more than previously assumed since it meant she was growing up quickly when she had hardly had the chance to be a child yet. Not that most of her guildmates did not share that fate, but it did not mean she did not deserve it – in a time of peace like now more than ever.
"What's so bad about that?" Erza gently asked. Feeling the quiver of a suppressed sob, Erza felt a sting in her chest. Detaching one arm from around her – the one that would still have to wind around to reach her face as not to let go completely – she wiped away the tumbling first tears. Wendy sniffled, looking away.
"I don't want to be a burden…" she mumbled. Erza shook her head, slowly, yet her abdomen cramped with urgence.
"It's not selfish to want a break every once in a while," she stroked Wendy's head. "It's not selfish to act your own age, and it's not being a burden to take what others gladly offer," she smiled warmly. Unclasping one clip after the other, she released Wendy's pigtails. "You know how I enjoy Jellal pampering me every day – it's neither something to feel bad about nor does he feel obliged. Though I am being rather demanding," she chuckled. "It's not selfish to take when you give," she raised Wendy's chin, meeting big, by tears crystalised eyes.
Tucking a strand of hair behind Wendy's ear, she suppressed another sigh.
"You're growing up so fast," bull's eye, Erza though when Wendy replied with another, heftier sniffle. "It's not always easy to remember that you still have a long way to go when everyone around you is older. But you know how they don't always behave like adults either," she rolled her eyes with fondness shimmering in them. It lured out a giggle, something she could not have been happier to hear right then and there. They both knew whom in particular she was talking about. Not that it meant the entire guild could not be just as impulsive and childish as their teammates.
Wendy relaxed more and more, as if the weight of holding adulthood on her shoulders gradually dispersed.
"You have to make use of your young age," Erza raised a single brow, "make it to your advantage and claim as many hugs and days doing nothing as you need," she tapped Wendy's nose, once again earning herself a giggle. Leaning down as far as possible with them sitting close as well as her belly in the way of most anything she used to take for granted, Erza pressed a firm kiss to Wendy's forehead. "Don't forget to claim some from me," she whispered.
Her hug was returned more tightly than ever, Wendy pressing her face into Erza's shoulder.
"I won't."
The front door opened not a minute later. Jellal shuffled in, a shiver travelling down his spine in the sudden, though very welcomed warmth. He brought his purchases into the kitchen, bespeaking how it was getting late when seeing just how tired both of the girls looked.
Wendy's head dropped in disappointment, but before she could say anything, not to mention retreat from within Erza's embrace, a dress hovered in front of her. Eyes going big with joy, Wendy accepted the make-shift nightgown, nearly hustling with it to the bathroom.
She stopped short in the doorway.
"Charle must be worried," she trailed, her feet beckoning her to go on while her mind reluctantly fought against them.
"Didn't you tell her where you went?" Erza asked.
"I left after I couldn't sleep anymore and I didn't want to wake her…"
"I can call Meredy," Jellal offered. Erza promptly handed over her lacrima, and he glanced up at Wendy in between scrolling through contacts. "She'll let Charle know," he said. Wendy did not hesitate for even a second to accept the offer.
Wendy found the small void in her heart vanishing. Lying in bed, she was surrounded by the most wonderful sound of peaceful breathing. It was something she always missed when a mission was over – something she had hardly ever been without since Charle was always by her side. She was glad to know that it was Erza who was by her side now; more than glad.
Through the darkness, she could see the joint hands above Erza's belly. Just then, Jellal's twitched, muscles jerking up until his shoulder as if having received a mild shock. A wide smile broke out across Erza's lips. She moved her thumb to stroke up and down his dorsum, and Wendy realised it must have been a kick from the baby they had felt.
With a smile of his own – one Wendy could not see – Jellal kissed his wife's nape in response. Then he pecked her shoulder, the side of her neck, and Erza's smile broadened and broadened. Falling towards her back, into him, she offered her jaw and cheek, both of which he adorned with kisses. Her eyes were mere slits, yet they shone with such love, it warmed Wendy by merely watching.
Erza shut her eyes, puckering her lips slightly where she was almost facing him now. He seemed to consider, hovering above her. Eventually, Jellal chose to kiss her nose, and she sighed, yet accepted his decision.
"Soon," he whispered while she smiled to herself. Getting comfortable again, her back expanded against his chest. His hand gave a squeeze to hers, and she returned it. Peace – though never disturbed for even a minute – returned in the form of regular breathing.
Nearly an hour had passed when Wendy was still not asleep.
Jellal had turned over by now, his back to his wife's, and Erza was collecting more and more of the blanket covering the two. With the sheets drawing off him, Wendy could see the way his flank rose and fell almost in unison with his wife's, hers always a tad faster.
Wendy stared at the expanded belly in the darkness. Her gaze wandered to Erza's face. Long lashes veiled her closed eyes, lips parted slightly where she in-and exhaled rhythmically. Her brow was eased, her hands slack with relaxation of sleep, the blanket momentarily released. No bizarre dreams or disturbing nightmares. As if their little family was already perfect.
Erza had spoken as maturely as she always did; always the leader, the signpost to everyone. She might have implied to be acting less her own age than she should have by demanding pampering from her husband, preached to have flaws and impulsive, imprudent surges they all knew too well. But all of this – moving out of the dorms and in with her beloved, getting married, starting a family… she might not have been aware of it yet, but she was growing up herself, too.
Wendy fought against the momentary quiver of her lower lip. Tightening it, she squeezed her eyes shut. She had missed her. She had missed her terribly, starting to feel bad for having done so. She knew she was not being selfish, but a stab of guilt for wanting things remained – something that was too mature for a fourteen-year-old, too.
She scooted closer. Erza had a deep slumber, so there was hardly any risk in waking her up. Wendy gazed up at serenely closed eyes, then down at the life-bearing belly. She set her mind then. She would be a good big sister. A mature, grown-up big sister the baby would be able to orient itself by and perhaps one day even look up to. But for now…
Wendy shuffled forward until she could rest her head below Erza's. The latter stirred, giving a faint moan in her sleep. Becoming her possessive self, she grabbed the young Dragon, winding her arms around her and pulling her close to herself, chin snugly atop Wendy's head. Champing complacently, Erza relaxed again, though her embrace never loosened.
Wendy smiled. Hugging Erza back as best as she could while being held captive, she closed her eyes, finally drifting off into hours of placid, content sleep.
For now, she would be a child. The child she still was. And she would enjoy the feeling of having someone closest to a mother right there, loving her back with all her heart.