Note: Thank you so much to anyone who took the time to reread this story! Thanks again to my beta readers JackieOkCorral and BellaFlan.

When the samurai returned to the countryside, his daimyo granted him leave to properly recover. A royal mission, such as protecting the body of the princess, earned Jellal a great deal of respect – despite his personal misgivings regarding what he saw as a failure at the safe house.

Once the brutality of winter eased away, he spent his mornings wandering the village on foot and tried to enjoy the quiet predictability of the day. His lady welcomed his return, and always sniffed out the apples in his satchel immediately. Though she'd been cared for in his absence, it was clear only the bare minimum had been allowed. Jellal fell back into a routine with her easily. The repetitive motions of running the brush over her coat helped him regain function of his shoulder. She had a strong sense of how he felt on any given day and only showed her stubbornness when she thought him capable of fielding it. Most of his afternoons and early evenings were spent in her company.

Jellal made a valiant effort not to fixate on the princess, but still hadn't removed her sash from the hilt of his katana. Instead, he considered simply acquiring a new blade. That would be easier than removing the silk. On the nights when he dreamed of her, he woke dazed and breathless. Even though he was tormented with memories he still could not regret falling in love with her – only after months had passed could he admit it was love he felt and not the simple lust he'd tried to convince himself of. She'd trusted him and proven herself trustworthy in return. Not only that, but she'd bared her heart to him, knowing what he had to give was bruised. He doubted he'd love again in this lifetime.

As spring coaxed blooms from the trees, Jellal could feel the gaze of his daimyo. Soon his peace would have to be set aside for duty. His lady sensed his unease and, without command, brought him to the blooming stretches of purple clover bushesthat lined the river. Soon the wild sakura trees would drip pink and white blooms. These trees were tended by no one and had been left to grow into enormous size. The river would eventually rise with melted snow from the mountains and sakura branches would reach for the rushing water, leaving the surface dotted with pink.

Rain came heavy in April and Jellal's shoulder ached. There was nothing for it but the motions of brushing his mare.

"You're not an easy man to find, Samurai."

Jellal didn't startle. He recognized the voice that spoke out of eyesight, disrupting the sound of rain pelting the roof of the barn.

"And that is exactly how I prefer it, Prince." He didn't spare Laxus a glance even when The Lightning Dragon Prince offered his horse a sugar cube. "You should know that treats won't earn you love from my lady. She'll take them from you and offer nothing in return."

"So she is not unlike most women I meet at court."

"I don't imagine she is much more of an agreeable companion than the ladies of your grandfather's court." The horse snorted and nudged Jellal with her flank. Laxus laughed and sat heavily on a tack trunk.

"I'd venture a guess that she isn't much of a gossip. We need more stoicism in the royal city."

Jellal continued to brush the mare without comment.

"I'm here to offer you a position in my Raijinshu, Samurai. Have you any thoughts?"

"No," he replied firmly. Such a rank would have him in the company of an unattainable desire far too often.

"And why not? Your daimyo would never oppose me. No thirst for action rests within you?"

"I've had enough action for a while. My daimyo grows restless, though. I'm sure my leave is nearing its end."

Laxus sighed dramatically and scraped his foot over the dirt on the ground. "I suppose this means my sister will marry General Justine." Jellal's hand froze. "It'll be an awkward affair, of course. He isn't what she wants at all and he's... well. She's not his type either." Laxus barked a laugh. "She lacks the proper equipment, I think."

Jellal stepped around the horse's side and stared at Laxus in shock. The mare nudged his shoulder – she, apparently, wasn't quite through being brushed.

"But –"

"Grandfather will be disappointed, of course. He has this ridiculous notion of babies toddling around the palace. The idea of Freed impregnating Erza..." Laxus laughed again and smiled up at him. "My own bride won't be delivered until next winter."

"What? Forgive me but... delivered?"

"Yes, we've secured a political treaty with a western country. I've been told she has hair the color of the moon. The wait will kill me, I think. Curiosity is a terrible demon."

"As lovely as all that sounds, you'll understand when I decline out of hand."

Laxus blinked and shook his head. "You have a terrible sense of humor, Samurai. For all your bravery and skill with a sword you truly cannot comprehend a joke."

"It wasn't part of my training," Jellal said dryly.

"Come back to the royal city with me. My sister pines for you and I cannot stand the chill of her silence."

Jellal shook his head and went back to brushing his horse. "Such a thing can't possibly be allowed. I am not even a lord here."

"The weight of the kingdom will never fall on Erza's shoulders, Samurai. She may have been adopted into my family and be treated as a royal, but she hasn't the blood to sit the throne. Her children will be allowed a spot in the line of succession once my grandfather passes, but she is free to marry whom she pleases."

"And what of my own desires?"

Laxus appeared beside him and pushed his katana to his chest. The sash fluttered in the breeze. "I think it's clear what you want. Will you come back to the city with me on your own, or shall I have you trussed up and brought in a cart as an unwilling bride?"

The sun slowly fell beneath the horizon as Jellal stalked through the palace grounds with his quintessential humorless expression. Passing attendants quickly bowed and stepped out of the way. A white ribbon of silk trailed behind him from the hilt of his blade – its presence easily identified him. The story surrounding the princess's marriage and their romance was a popular subject of gossip amongst citizens of the royal city. He'd arrived in mid-spring, and the sakura petals that fluttered from the trees like pink snow guaranteed spring would remain his favorite season even after witnessing a year's worth of changes.

He found the bedchamber empty and left his armor and weapons on the waiting racks. The hot water of the private bath soothed his aches, and Jellal recalled again why he hated breaking in a new horse. His position in the Raijinshu sometimes required travel and his lady was not capable of such rigorous mileage. She'd come with him to the palace and roamed the pastures at her leisure, but did not accompany him on official business. His new mount was a young stallion, and the two of them had differing opinions on who was in charge of whom.

After succumbing to the heat of the water and allowing every joint and muscle in his body to loosen, Jellal rested against the side of the bath. Pity Erza wasn't present but he didn't have the stamina to look for her currently. Bickslow exhausted him with his jokes and the General even more so with his rebukes. Evergreen simply ignored them both and the Prince did the same – even if he did keep a passive finger on the pulse of the back and forth. Between his obnoxiously spirited stallion and the Raijinshu dynamic, Jellal wanted nothing more than a quiet bath.

Despite his want for solitude, he smiled when Erza's fingers feathered through his wet hair. The air stirred with the swirl of silk robes as she knelt beside the edge of the bath.

"You've returned," she said softly.

"I have, and not soon enough. My patience for this trip wore down to threads long before we arrived at the palace."

"Which troubled you more? Bickslow or your horse?"

"Both in equal measure," Jellal said with a dramatic sigh. He rolled his shoulders and grimaced.

"You're in pain."

"Everything hurts when you've been on a horse for days." He smiled up at her and tugged on the ends of her hair that brushed his forehead. "I'll survive."

Erza leaned down kiss his forehead. "Come to bed soon, husband. I'll wait."

Jellal didn't leave her waiting for long. He found her peering through the gap in the window shades that over looked the city. She enjoyed the view at night more than any other time. The expanse of twinkling lights captured a romance invisible during the day. Jellal gathered the mass of her hair and swept it over her shoulder. He pulled back the loose collar of her robe and kissed the side of her neck.

"I hate being away for so long," he murmured into her skin.

"It is better this way. The alternative is not having you here with me at all." Erza turned to him and placed her hands on his chest. "A fortnight is nothing compared to forever."

"I would tolerate these frustrations one-hundred fold just to be with you, Princess."

Erza grinned and bit her lip. "Do you think it's still charming to be addressed that way, Samurai?" Jellal smiled, as well, and touched the pink apple of her cheek with his thumb.

"Perhaps I don't care." He ducked his head to kiss her and she leaned into him. Erza's fingers slid beneath the lapels of his robe and pushed it over his shoulders. Her own robe followed his to a heap on the floor. Jellal backed her up to the edge of their bed and Erza fell gracefully into the mattress. He crawled over her body and wove his fingers into her hair that spread over the white blanket.

"My dreams are red when I'm away from you," Jellal said absently. Erza pushed him onto his back and mounted his hips.

"Perhaps next year you'll be away less? I have an incentive."

"Do you?"

"The gossip mongers will have to stop questioning your virility once the word gets out." Erza pressed his hand to her stomach and the realization slowly dawned on him.

"Erza..."

"I wanted to tell you myself. The wait has been excruciating." Jellal sat up quickly and took her lips in a fierce kiss. "Are you pleased?"

"A child was never necessary for my happiness, Erza." His thumbs brushed her cheeks and he kissed her again softly. "But yes, I am pleased. I never thought –"

"Don't," she whispered. "The past cannot be changed. You once spoke of love and sharpened edges. I think maybe you weren't completely right." Jellal raised an eyebrow. "Love can be used as leverage. Press the edge against your darkness and cut it away."

Jellal wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her back into the mattress. Her hair tumbled over the edge of the bed and brushed the floor. He hovered over her, besieged with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. The universe hadn't always been kind, but he'd been granted possession of Erza's love and that meant everything.

Her legs encircled his waist, tightening as he lowered himself and pushed into her. She didn't speak except in gasps, and Jellal lost himself in her.