Long time no see ':D
Glad I reached out - it's so lovely to hear from you guys!
Isanien, babysitting is a great idea. User312308102004 asked for Laxus to babysit, so that's the current plan ;) Would that be what you have in mind as well?
User312308102004, thanks for the review! Mira likes to see people suffer... Any specifics for the Laxus suggestion you'd like to read about?
Damnyousillygoose, I'm honoured that when you crave Lovey Dovey Jerza, you come to this story. Do these two still cause you caries? :D
Finally, ImUnknown321, thank you again so much for your message. I'm sorry it's taking so long (it's been a rough couple of weeks...). Unfortunately, I find the 100 YQ chapters little inspiring, but that's where you came in :)
Hope you'll enjoy!
Jellal tapped his pen on the page in the same rhythm of Erza's steps. She'd unequipped her shoes, put on fluffy socks, anything to muffle the constant noise and allow him to concentrate. Of course, with Rosemary refusing to be calmed by Erza's tired pacing, there was no way Jellal could remember a single word he'd read in the past half an hour.
"She wants us to switch."
"You have work to do, Jellal," Erza chided from behind the shelves in his back.
"She can sit on my lap."
"She'll want to talk to you."
"She—"
"You'll talk back, you won't work." She trudged over to his desk as if dragging her feet through metre-high snow. Titania could easily hike up a mountain or engage in battle with dozens of wizards at a time. Mental strain, the frustration of her baby refusing to be quiet after such a long time though gnawed on her. Her brow twitched with irritation when Rosemary nearly plummeted out of her arms, reaching for Jellal.
Bababa! She babbled, then whined pitifully.
Erza turned her towards her chest, away from Jellal. "See?"
"I can take a break."
Knock knock.
They turned to the door. "Or not…" Jellal covered the aimless dots on his sheet with his pen. Running a hand through his hair, tucking his tie into place, he bade in.
Ambrose's face was a mixture of amusement and understanding upon seeing Rosemary's theatrically snotty face peeling off Erza's sweater. "A lack of interest in her nap?"
"Oh, she napped." Erza shook her head helplessly. "Only one Baba isn't enough for her these days."
"Baba?" Ambrose pointed from her to Jellal.
"Both." Jellal shrugged. "We're a collective."
Ambrose's lips curled with amusement. "I see. In that case, I'm afraid I'm going to have to abduct one of the Babas to a meeting. Don't worry," he went on when Jellal's face scrunched up, "not to the conference. Merely between us and the Magic Council. We have postponed too many proceedings of our regular work since the… event. No trials yet – we can't have potentially dangerous criminals in the building with part of it being under construction."
"And important guests that need protection."
"Exactly. Simply reviewing but quickly, because I hear the conference might call us in again this afternoon."
"Right." Jellal's spirits died a silent death. Rising from his seat, he collected what he needed for taking notes.
Rosemary took a deep breath. Erza cringed in advance, tempted to just hand Rosemary over. Rosemary's big eyes met hers. Breaths held. Jellal looked up from his desk, puzzled. But when Erza's arms tightened, acting against her initial wish, Rosemary's cheeks became ruddy and she let out her breath in a hearty wail.
"Ba-Baaaa!" she cried most dramatically.
Jellal handed his notes to Ambrose. Before either Erza or Ambrose could protest, he plucked Rosemary from his wife's arms.
Rosemary took in a big wet sob. Her eyes swam with tears, but her cheeks glowed a happy pink. "Baba!" She threw her arms up.
Erza glowered at her.
"Get some rest." He kissed Erza's forehead. She tugged on his sleeve, but he gave an encouraging smile.
Erza wiped Rosemary's face clean. She stuffed a few more handkerchiefs into Jellal's pocket, poured herself a cup of cooled tea, and the moment the door fell shut behind the men, collapsed onto the couch, nodding off right away.
Researchers were bustling through the corridors. Jellal held Rosemary close to himself, his steps hurried. The robes of the Council were only just disappearing in the temporary meeting room. Two couches and two armchairs surrounded a coffee table. Tea had been served, but moved to the sideboard by the door to make space for all the paperwork they had to get through.
Jellal's jaw was set. He had been walking among grim countenances for weeks. The Council had every reason to be sour too, yet, when he entered the room and Rosemary twisted her neck to take in the new surroundings, it was as if a soft waft of smile passed from face to face.
"I'm terribly sorry." His hand twitched to scratch his neck. He caressed Rosemary's back instead.
"Nonsense," Wolfheim surprised him with a sliver of enthusiasm. It fell away when Jellal took the seat next to Ambrose. Jura seemed similarly disappointed, though less so, considering he had gotten the armchair near Jellal's side of the couch.
Jellal had to smile. A knot pulsed on his shoulders, something he could only now feel that he let them drop, relaxing into the cushions. He turned Rosemary to face the room.
Draculous picked up the first file. Ambrose readied his ink flask and clipboard.
Rosemary had other plans and no one foiled them.
She stared at Jura first. Her hand reached out, just a little, then went up to Jellal. He turned her to himself.
Uh, uh, she informed, touching his chin. Next, she waved her chubby fingers towards Wolfheim, and again touched Jellal's chin.
He had to smile. "That's right, I don't have facial hair."
"Ai-a, air," Rosemary babbled.
"Hair," he praised.
She slapped under his nose, then wagged her hand in Draculous' direction, at Ambrose, and back to Jellal.
"That's a moustache."
"Air?"
"Hair," he confirmed.
Draculous cleared his throat. Ambrose and Warrod chuckled, watching Jura stroke his beard self-consciously. He gave it a rest only when their subject had changed. Long hours of taking orders and feeling unwelcomed in their own building left behind, the six of them gladly discussed what seemed almost trivial now: criminal cases around Fiore.
"There has to be a mistake in the documentation then," Jellal was concluding. "We should check the police reports; see if they are the same. Or perhaps interview the witnesses again. There were traces of blood at the scene of the crime; someone said so – he was disturbed by the blood, that's what I remember."
"Bod."
Ambrose stilled his quill when Rosemary spoke up.
She was holding Jellal's tie in both hands. When she echoed him, the now soggy tip of his tie fell from her mouth. "Bood."
"Blood."
"Bood, bood."
"Plenty of it," Jellal sounded too encouraging for a brutal crime. "Blood was among the evidence. And the witness had a moustache – facial hair."
"Air, air!" Rosemary repeated. She squealed with delight when he placed her on his shoulders. Grabbing his hair with both hands for emphasis, she kept imitating him (something Ambrose immortalised in the meeting's protocol), playing with his hair, slobbering into it, finally falling asleep on it.
She woke up once the meeting ended, and when Jellal asked Ambrose to peek into his office to see if Erza was asleep, Rosemary became sulky.
"Baba's getting some sleep," Jellal told her quietly. "So we're going to…" He looked around. A few researchers were standing by another door, pretending to be working as they desperately, secretly sought Rosemary's big green eyes. Ambrose signalled that Erza was still sleeping. "Hmm… we have half an hour to kill before lunch break ends. Maybe a walk around the building?" Jellal hoisted Rosemary into place on his arm.
Uh, uh! Was her reply.
Ambrose left them, but they weren't alone for long. A small, grumpy figure blocked their path.
"Air," Rosemary noted. She touched Jellal's chin for emphasis.
"Wolfheim's his name," Jellal told her. He didn't know why he was lowering his voice. The intense gaze of the small man might have been the reason, or the brooding squint. Would he admonish Jellal for taking a stroll?
"Woo…" Rosemary confirmed.
"Looking for something?" He stood like a watchdog – a Doberman perhaps, or a Rottweiler, his lack of size not hindering intimidation. His gaze wandered to Rosemary who was still absently slapping Jellal's chin. "If this is to be private tour, I hope you're aware that we cannot have someone not employed by the Council laying her eyes on confidential information. Not without an authorised guide, that is."
Jellal blinked twice. "Authorised…?"
Wolfheim turned on the heel. He marched down the hall. Stopping only at the end, he peered over his shoulder, detached his hands from behind his back and uncurled a single finger, beckoning them to follow.
"Right." Jellal nearly snorted in his throat. "We're getting a tour," he told Rosemary. Then close to her ear, he whispered, "He likes you."
She giggled, his breath tickling her.
"Who wouldn't? No one can resist." Jellal smiled. And held her closer. For a second, he was loathe to return to his office, lest Rosemary request Erza's arm instead of his. Biting down his jealousy came easily for the remainder of the tour, seeing as he was the one holding Rosemary, inflicting envious longing from anyone whose path they crossed.
Almost anyone.
King Farhang stood in the doorway of the great conference hall. The door was shut behind him. His arms crossed, his shoulders looked like an extension of the wall, and impenetrable fortress, square and stout, his eyes hard as steel. Discomfort visibly overcame Wolfheim, who regretted having taken the way that led past their royal guests.
He wasn't graced with a single glance. Farhang seemed to have eyes only for Rosemary, for the beautiful red of her hair.
Unable to simply walk by, Jellal halted and bowed as was appropriate.
King Farhang unfolded his arms. He snapped his fingers with a whipping clack of polished leather gloves. Armoured gloves, Jellal surmised. The man was leaving nothing to chance.
An attendant appeared from behind the shut door. He bowed deeply. Seeing Jellal, he nodded, scurried inside, and reappeared with an envelope. It bore the seal of Queen Hisui.
Unsure whether he would want to thank Farhang for the letter, Jellal bowed again and followed Wolfheim who had used his chance to disappear around the corner. They stopped a good distance away from the conference hall.
"A letter?" Wolfheim tilted his head.
Jellal shrugged. He crouched down to balance Rosemary on his knee while he broke the seal. Wolfheim, now on the same height, peeked at the letter curiously. Jellal mumbled as he skimmed the lines.
"An invitation… No, a summons. An appeal to…" He paused. "Vigiles Patriae – the Sentinels of Ishgar."
"A new title?" Wolfheim hissed.
"'To protect Ishgar from outside threats and uphold peace within'," Jellal read, "'using our extraordinary strength in battle, our magic power'…" he faded, skimmed.
"To whom?" Wolfheim spied over Jellal's hand.
"Me," he breathed. Wolfheim returned his surprised expression with spite and irritation and confusion. "Let's go see if Erza got one too. They know she's here." Jellal got up. Rosemary bounced lightly on his arm, while Wolfheim's short legs had trouble keeping up.
They ran into Jura on the way. He and Wolfheim took a different route in search of the remaining Council members – and Ambrose, upon Jellal's insistence.
Erza awoke to overly-energetic squees and gurgling. She took a long inhale, peeling her eyes open as she turned onto her back where she laid on the couch, feet propped up. She was hardly allowed in the building of the Council, yet she had made a habit of taking off her boots to get comfy.
Jellal sat Rosemary down on Erza's stomach.
"Did you have a good nap?" He let go of Rosemary when Erza wrapped both hands around her baby.
She hugged her to herself, but Rosemary was surging with energy, wiggling to get out, already reaching for her father's slobbery tie again. Erza pouted. She turned on her side, Rosemary propped up against her to sit.
"Could have been longer," she yawned.
Jellal smiled. Crouching in front of the couch, holding out his hand, his fingers drew patterns in the air. Green eyes fixated the motions, tracked them like a predator stalking prey. Now and then, Rosemary would strike, grasping thin air, his hand already out of reach again. She gasped, panted and huffed.
"Maybe this'll tire her out…?"
"Once she's eaten perhaps," Erza sighed.
"She might bite you."
"She does," she said nonchalantly. "But less when she'd tired. How was your meet—"
Clap! They froze. Only just having taken their eyes off the baby, they now stared, unbelieving.
Rosemary snickered a dirty laugh. Between tiny chubby fingers, Jellal's hand was trapped.
"I didn't let her have it," he breathed.
Erza's surprise melted into pride. "She'll be beating up the boys at the guild in no time," she lovingly said.
Jellal grimaced. "And at the house." He pointed at himself with his free hand. It became a target immediately, tiny fingers flailing in its direction. "Are you sure you want another one?" He laughed, allowing himself to get caught this time.
He winced. Not because of sticky fingers clasping him into their trap, but because he was drilled with brown eyes shining like supernovas, sparkling, almost blinding him.
He blushed, but chuckled. "I distinctly remember how tired you were of being pregnant."
"Jellal," Erza whined. She'd taken his unoccupied wrist, squeezing it, wiggling on the spot. Her eyes were still spraying happy, hopeful sparks like a welding machine. "Another baby." She was losing her voice in an overjoyed squeak. "Also I remember how you were – are – glued to her."
A knock on the door saved him from replying. The door opened before he could bid in. Handle in hand, Draculous stood, turned to the hall, stuck in whatever heated debate they were having outside. Perhaps he had already forgotten that he was letting himself in.
Erza tilted her head questioningly.
Jellal held up the letter. "An appeal to defend the continent. I'm guessing you'll get one too."
Erza absently pulled Rosemary to herself, having to still her in order to scan the letter. "It's quite the honour." Her eyes were widening by the word as she flew across them.
"Yes, well." Jellal leaned out to glance around the shelves. Draculous had yet to let go of the doorhandle, but the whispering was too urgent to notice that Jellal hadn't come. "I have to go. But if I should hold her while she sleeps…"
"No, don't worry," Erza tore her eyes off the letter, "we're already keeping you enough." She offered a grateful smile.
Jellal hovered. A pout formed on his lower lip. "But I want to hold her."
Erza's smile grew. "Work, Jellal." She gently tipped him over by prodding his knee.
Scowling, he didn't make any attempts of getting up for another moment. Wistfully watching Rosemary slump more and more against her mother, he sent Erza an adoring, slightly pleading glance. She wouldn't be persuaded. Nodding in the direction of the door, she sent him out – knowing, at least more and more confident that once Rosemary was older, he wouldn't say no to a younger sibling for her.
The train's brakes grated against the rails. It rattled to a halt in Magnolia Station – the sight never failed to give Erza that fuzzy warm feeling of home. With a hiss, the train released steam, and the passengers began to stand, fetching their luggage.
Erza and Jellal waited until the worst of the crowd has dispersed, Rosemary strapped to his chest.
"I feel sorry for her," she said as they left the station.
"Hara? She's a criminal – she's one of those gangsters and wanted the Council's reward money."
"Oh, but they were to be married," Erza sighed.
"A criminal and a criminal. He's behind bars because we put him there – no need for remorse."
"Jellal, please, marriage is the purest, most honest, best thing there is. How can they be criminal if they are in love?"
"You're joking, right?" Jellal gave her a long look. Rosemary looked from him to Erza, confused why they had stopped. Him at least. Erza was walking on, inspecting shopwindows for a good deal. He hurried to catch up (and get her away from falling into a shopping spree). "Erza, Hara was going to marry the man for his money and his money only. Even he said so. It's on record."
Erza gasped dramatically. "She didn't!"
"How are you so surprised…?" he mumbled.
"Tarnishing the reputation of marriage!" Erza fumed, stomping her way to the guild. "How dare she? How dare she defile the purity of a bride!"
Jellal pinched the bridge of his nose. He grabbed her arm to stop her before she could storm the gates of the guild. "You were four months pregnant when we got married."
"That's—" She blushed. "Different…"
"Focus. We need to discuss the letter the Ishgar Grand Council gave me with Master. He sounded cautious when you called him."
Erza shook her head. "Nonsense." She reached for the heavy iron ring that served as door knocker and handle. "I'm sure Master will be just as thrilled about your new title as I am. Your second new title." She had a hunch that the guild would celebrate. Any reason to get the booze flowing.
They pulled open the gates. Fairy Tail stood assembled. Hushing their whispers, they all took a deep breath, ready to release congratulations, let confetti fly and drop the banner for the newly anointed Wizard Saint, when a man appeared next to Erza and Jellal. He held out a stack of letters.
"Fairy Tail?" he asked, scratching his chin. In his hands, the uppermost letter revealed the seal of Queen Hisui of Fiore.