ROBYN

“I don’t think I want kids.”

Jellal pauses, caught mid page-turn. He tilts his head upwards to better look at Erza, her fingers still playing with his hair as she stares blankly ahead.

It’s a beautiful day, with clear skies and a wind just light enough to be comfortable. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, and Levy are all scattered around, but there’s still a good distance between them and Erza and Jellal.

Natsu’s holding Nashi by the hips, helping her climb the monkey bars with what Jellal assumes are encouraging words, while Lucy is comforting a teary-eyed Luke at the top of the slide. Gray and Juvia are on a swing bench, Greige sitting between them as he doodles and they talk. Gajeel has Julta on his shoulders while she picks flowers off of a tree, and Levy and Yajeh are doodling chalk drawings over on the pavement.

Technically, today is a playdate, but Erza and Jellal were still invited to join, despite not having kids of their own. Jellal is pretty sure they were invited for ulterior motives, that the others were trying to communicate a message neither he or Erza had yet to talk about.

“Okay,” Jellal finally says, flipping the page of his book.

“Okay? That’s it?”

Even if Jellal didn’t have his head in Erza’s lap, he would be able to tell how tense his response has made her. He looks up again, frowning when he sees Erza looking at him with a hurt expression.

“It’s more your choice than mine,” he explains. When Erza doesn’t look convinced, Jellal closes his book and properly sits up. “You’d be the one doing all the work, so of course it’s your choice.”

“We could adopt,” Erza mumbles. She looks down, avoiding Jellal’s stare in favor of tugging at the grass. “Or something.”

Jellal squints. “Do you want to adopt? I thought you just said you don’t want kids.”

Erza licks her lips. She opens her mouth to say something but no words come out; instead, she shakes her head.

“Erza,” Jellal reaches his hands out to hold Erza’s own, pulling them close to press their hands to his chest. He leans down to kiss his wife’s scarred knuckles, smiling softly when she gasps at the gesture. Three years of marriage and she still wasn’t used to Jellal showing her affection; it was cute. “I want whatever you want. If you want kids, we’ll have kids. If you don’t want kids…”

“I care about what you want, too,” Erza whispers, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. “We’re partners. My choice affects you, too.”

Jellal hums in agreement. “That’s true.” He places one last kiss on Erza’s hands before setting them down in his lap, rubbing her thumbs along her knuckles in a comforting manner. “In that case, I don’t want kids. There’s far too much danger in this world, even with Zeref and Acnologia gone. We’re by no means weak, but I don’t think I could ever be comfortable bringing something so defenseless into this world.”

Erza nods her head. “That’s what I was thinking.” She bites her lip, though, and Jellal knows there’s more coming. “And… I don’t think we’d be very good parents.”

“Agreed,” Jellal is swift is say, lest Erza feels like she’s said something wrong. “My past is too shameful.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” Jellal leans in and presses a kiss to Erza’s temple. “But it’s how I feel. Besides, as selfish as it is, I don’t want to have to share you.”

Erza laughs despite her intense blush. “So,” she mumbles, tucking her face into the crook of Jellal’s neck, “no kids?”

“No kids,” Jellal confirms.

“What if I change my mind?”

“Will you?”

Erza goes quiet for just a few seconds. “No, I don’t think so.”

Jellal nods. “Neither do I.”

"I love you, by the way," Erza mumbles, her ears red as she turns her head and noses against Jellal's neck.

Darry: What makes you say that?

if anyone is interested in a possible part two, please leave ship suggestions. As long as it's safe, sane, and consensual + there are no uncomfortable age gaps, I pretty much like any ship a person can think of :)