I know, I know! This took months to get out when I told you it was only going to be a week. I'm so sorry, but school just hit me like a freight train and writing just took a back seat. But I promise I will try really hard to go back to posting every week, maybe every two weeks- but on a regular basis. I promise. Again, so sorry for the long update period.

Past meets Present

"Deep breath. One. Two. Smile and breathe," Erza muttered to herself as she looked into the bathroom mirror for the fourth time in so many minutes. Pursing her lips, she took stock of her image.

"What did I say about that scowl of yours Erzie-Wurzie?" her secretary giggled, tugging and releasing one of the curls that surrounded her face, letting it spring back to its original shape.

"I wish that you could sit at my table Milliana," The redhead sighed.

"I don't. If I was I would have to sit all stiff next to so stuff shirted business man pretending to be interested in some ego infused stories he would tell me. Probably hit on me too because that is what old guys do," Milliana pouted.

Erza laughed. It always calmed her to have her friend around. "Is everyone there yet?"

Milliana narrowed her eyes as she peered at her. "You're just wanting your man to show up before you. If you would tell me who he is I could check for you."

Erza lifted her nose. "I just want to make sure that when I enter it makes an entrance. I want to make a good impression. This deal means a lot."

"You keep telling yourself it's not about this secret lover of yours as if sooner or later you will believe it yourself. If I were you, I would go out there looking hot as hell and make him want you back." Milliana was serious, which was a rare occurrence for her bubbly personality. "Because any man who would leave you, is insane. Make him see the errors of his ways, or forget him- but tearing yourself apart isn't the Erza I know."

"Milliana, I-" Erza started, but was shushed by her friends finger on her lips, shushing her.

"No, no, no. I don't want to hear what you have to say. Save it for the correct person."

Erza smiled. "Has anyone ever told you that you are smarter than you look?"

Linking their arms together she steered them towards the noise that signalled the starts of the dinner. "All the time. You just don't listen often enough to really absorb my great wisdom."

They were both smiling and laughing when they entered the room. A couple of people around them turned to face them with smiles and introductions, but Erza's mind was on other things. Like the man standing by the head table, listening to something that a shorter man was telling him. She exchanged names and handshakes with the couples around her, some congratulating her when they found out who she was, others staring at her in awe- or envy. But her feet carried her away from the crowd and towards the man who looked as if he had not aged a day since he left her alone in her bed.

When she made her way towards the talking men, people got out of her way. Something in her face must have given her away. The shorter man saw her first, smiling as she approached. He was an old acquaintance, more a family member than a business partner.

"Erza, child, you look beautiful tonight."

"Thanks Gramps. You look like you dressed up yourself." She returned his grin.

"You know how I hate these suits. But I wore one just so pretty ladies like you would compliment myself on them." He winked.

The other man took this moment to turn around. She thought she had prepared herself for his face. She thought she was ready to face him. But this moment showed her how weak she really was.

"You never change." Her voice wavered and her eyes never left Jellal's.

The shorter man looked between the couple, both with identical looks of disbelief on their faces. He just shook his head and found excused himself. Neither one of them noticed when he slipped away to find some other person to talk to.

Erza shook herself out of her trance first, extending her hand to shake. "Mr. Fernandes, it will be a pleasure working with you."

Jellal's face twisted with pain for a second before his mask fell into place alongside hers. "The pleasure will be all mine, Ms. Scarlett."

He encased her hand in both of his, warmth radiated up her arm. They felt just as she remembered. Soft and safe. He withdrew too fast and she felt herself craving his touch. Such a stupid girl she was.

The silence between them grew taught with things they both wanted to say. They both looked into each other's eyes waiting for the other to back down. "I want to say sorry. I should have told you years ago and I know an apology now won't fix things but maybe-"

He paused. "Very well." In that moment he looked vulnerable. He glanced over his shoulder back at the table behind him, when he looked back at her, he almost had her convinced she hadn't seen anything. "Ms. Scarlett, it looks as if the meal will be served soon. May I escort you to your seat?"

He offered his arm and she took it without a word. Her fingers barely touching the fabric of his jacket, fighting the urge to pull him closer.

They walked around the edge of the table, no words between them. When they got to their seats at the head of the table he held out her chair for her.

"Thank you," she whispered, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in her skirt.

"I didn't say before, but you look stunning like that. I don't remember you ever wearing anything like it before." His voice was a precious gift in the shell of her ear. Meant for no one else but her to hear. Her cheeks coloured. By the time she risked a glance at him, he was seated at her side speaking to the businesswoman who sat beside him.

No matter the amounts of time she told herself that it didn't matter, she still found herself wanting to find a way to remove the lady from the room. Even though his hands stayed in his lap as hers danced on his forearm. Even when his eyes didn't stray from her face when she leaned forward exposing a scandalous amount of her breasts. Even when his face remained expressionless as she wetted her lips and made them into a perfect pout. Erza found herself struggling to keep her hands off him and claim him as her own. Jealousy. People called the thing that she was feeling jealousy.

It didn't matter the speech she had given him about only looking towards the future starting tonight, her heart was making other decisions. Now if it could only convince her mind to make the same ones.