A/N : Hi, this is my very first fanfic, so since English is not my mother tongue and this story is not beta tested, please bear with the mistakes. Actually, no : tell me and I'll correct those awfull errors.

I read almost every complete Nanofate fanfic, so I began to create new ones... This one is going pretty far in the length, but I don't know if I'll be able to put all of it into words... Well, it'll take time, but I'll try anyway.

Some help to comprehend :

"Normal text between "" are out loud speeches"

'Italic text between ' ' are thoughts'

[Text between [] are unsaid words]

Italic text without anything are... comments ?

And italic between normal text are emphasized words...

So, please, bear with me (and my bad English :l ) and...enjoy ? :3

Disclaimer : I don't own anything here (too bad ;_;)

It's all Chrono's fault

How a few words can broke something deemed so strong nobody could remove it ?

Mid-Childa, 2 years after the JS incident

A restaurant near the TSAB facilities

Fate entered the restaurant, families eating happily together, unaware of their surrounding.

She quickly spotted the table where her brother seemed to be lost in thoughts, waiting for her, and approached, making her presence known by saluting him with a soft voice.

"Hey, onii-chan, it's been a long time no see, how are you ? And your family ?"

Startled, the man looked up, and recognizing the young woman facing him smiled warmly, forgetting to protest against the way she called him, and got up.

"Fate ! A long time indeed, your last mission lasted quite a time, like 6 months or so..." He then hugged her to show how glad he was to see her, broke the hug and his hands still on his sister shoulders, kept on.

"I'm fine, so are the others, they're great, though mom missed you these past few months... And how is my little sister ? You look kind of tired ?" He got off his hands, took his place showing the one facing him to Fate, still smiling. "We haven't got any news from you for quite a time, Fate... How've you been ? How was your last mission ? Everything got well ? Did you get injured ?"

Fate opened her mouth to stop his shower of questions, when he suspended his ramble. He said, more slowly this time.

"But let's order first, you must be hungry no...?" She was indeed, since she worked all day and barely snacked at noon to finish the paperwork faster. He knew her too well.

He made a sign to the waiter, they ordered, and started to share informations about their respective jobs and lives, and inevitably the conversation drew them to family. Chrono, married a few years ago, already got two kids and was not a little proud of it, rambling again (maybe it was the age, thought Fate) about how great they were and how they looked like their mother...He never got tired of it, but at a time had to slow down and talk about other matters. And he had one peculiar in mind, a not so pleasant one, besides he didn't know exactly how to get to it...so he tried to slowly lead the conversation to the subject, discreetly filling his sister's wine glass.

"...and that's when Vivio showed up, and Nanoha nearly tripped on the floor from surprise...!"

They both giggled at the end of the story, but Chrono quickly pulled himself together and looked seriously at the blonde facing him.

"About that..."

"Yes ?"

"Don't...you think you're..." Damn, that was hard...! "...a bit too close to those two...?"

Fate's expression changed immediately, full of apprehension and incomprehension.

"What...what do you mean by that ? They're my family..."She finally stammered.

"Here's the problem, Fate...They're not. I mean, you're Vivio's godmother, but...that's all. You're not her mother, Fate." He emphasized the word, and hurt appeared in her eyes. "And what she needs, at this age, is two parents... A father, who'd be there for her, not always away from home and returning from time to time to have fun with them..." At this point, Fate was only gazing at him, not saying a word, too stunned. "...who wouldn't die at any moment." Shock showed clearly on his sister's face, but he kept on. "I'm sorry, but that's an eventuality. Furthemore, you kind of...impede their chance to have a real family. Not only for Vivio, but for Nanoha too, they need it..."

Finally able to say something, Fate said "I would never..."

Cutting her, Chrono answered "You're just not aware of the fact. Maybe you don't want to see the issue..."

Fate started to fiddle with her fingers, staring at her knees, pain showing through her graceful features. 'Why does he talk like that ? Is this so wrong for me to be with the ones I love...? But what he says make sense...Maybe too much. Am I so self-centered that I kept them away from real happiness ? Am I...like my mother, hurting people ?' She was at the verge of tears, and he noticed it.

"I'm saying this for your happiness. Both of yours. I know you'll end up hurt if you keep on faking a family, because that's not what you need."

'Was I too focused on my craving for a happy family to see what we really needed ?'

"...And consider Yuuno, too..."

"Yuuno ? " She looked up. "What does he have to do here ?" she said, frowning slightly.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice ?" He stared at the look of disbelief on his sister's face. "You didn't. You should learn to read between the lines, it could even help you in your job as an enforcer... Or try to cope more with people."

"I..." She was starting to understand, but couldn't believe it. Not Yuuno, she always saw him beside Nanoha and he never showed any interest...Then she remembered the slight blush Nanoha had when she was next to him, and realization dawned upon her. 'No. That couldn't be...'

Her brother stopped her in her thoughts, continuing ahead.

"Let them be a family. A normal and healthy family, and you try to find your own happiness. You have no right to keep them from their own, nor from yours. Do something your mother didn't succeed to." The last sentence hit, and a silence ensued. Then...

"...Okay. If it's for them, I can do it." 'Even if my happiness is with them, I have to sacrifice it for theirs.' Tears were forming on the corner of her eyes.

Dinner ended up on this, leaving a guilty feeling Chrono and a quite desperate Fate.

That night, she didn't come back at the Takamachi's house.

Nor the following ones.

Actually, she did exactly what her brother said : she backed off.

About a year after,

Chrono's office.

Chrono and Yuuno were still chatting about Vivio when Acous arrived, so they stopped their conversation to head to a restaurant the latter knew for being very good. When they arrived, Yuuno, being the poor librarian he was, was a bit shocked to see such a luxurious place, but quickly accustomed to it, as hungry as he was.

They ordered their dishes, and Acous, his head resting on top of his hands, his elbows on the table, smiled and asked.

"So, what were you talking about when I arrived ? I want to know~" He trailed his voice, eyes sparkling with curiosity, and if you looked further, mischief.

Chrono stared at him with disbelief. 'Seriously, this man...' Looked at Yuuno, who didn't seem to understand what would be so interesting about their talk to repeat to him...Nevertheless, he complied and answered.

"This and that, you know..." Then thought that he could use this man at his advantage."Yuuno's love life, amongst other things."

At these words, interest glinted in the green haired man, and surprise was shown on the face of the poor bespectacled boy. They both opened their mouth at the same time, when the waiter came to serve their dishes, which closed them the time to start to eat... After a few minutes, Acous continued where they left.

"So...who might be the lucky one, if that's not too indiscreet ?"

'And when did you start to be ?' thought Chrono wryly, a small smile tugging on his lips. He made a good choice. He then answered at Yuuno's place, who didn't even know who he could be talking about, and said.

"The White Devil", he said jokingly, adding "the terror of the forwards, the infamous..."

And before he could finish, Yuuno cut him, a frown on his face.

"That's not a nice name here, you know she hates it..."

'I knew he would react to this name' grinned inwardly Chrono. He knew everything, apparently.

"...And besides, Nanoha would never..."

And the cutter got cut, this time by the third man on the table, grinning widely.

"So that's the Takamachi instructor ? The 'Aces of Aces' ? I thought I heard from Hayate she was living with your sister and that they had a child ?" He said, this time turning to the black haired man, who in response stared at him meaningful and stated.

"They're not living together, my sister just feel kind of lonely when she comes back so she often drops by them...And is Nanoha's best friend ", emphasizing the last words. "It's not like our little Yuuno-kun here, who would like to really live here, right ?" He added, staring at the blond boy, who really didn't understand why they were talking about their relationship like that, and what's more deciding for him what he felt for his childhood friend. What did he feel for her, exactly ? He was starting to question this. But there was Fate, his other childhood friend, who he didn't see often without Nanoha... And there Chrono was saying she was starting to free herself from them, for she had others aims to attain and wanted to be more independent too.

He knew man was lying, for Fate would never be away from Nanoha by her own will, if not for someone else's wish, or even more their 'happiness'. 'What is this guy thinking doing those kind of things...? He's making his sister suffer, and I'm sure Nanoha and Vivio don't like it either.' He looked at Chrono's eyes. 'Maybe he's just stupid and just don't understand other's feelings. Yeah, that must be that. But...' His train of thoughts were cut. He could never finish his sentences, even in his thoughts, hun...

"So, so when did you realize you loved her ?" The guy looked just like a schoolgirl, almost squealing with happiness.

'I understand now how he gets along so easily with Hayate...' Then replied, almost stammering.

"But I don't ever..."

"Oh come on, just spill it !"

They were getting on his nerves, pushing him and making him doubt about his own feelings.

Then, Acous pointed a finger upwards, and said, like a connoisseur.

"You don't know exactly what you're feeling, you hesitate, so here come the great Verossa Acous ! I'll ask you some questions, and we'll see !" Without obtaining an answer, her began "When you're close to her, do you want to...hug her ?"

"Well, yes, but that doesn't mean..." And he got cut again. 'That's becoming a habit here...'

"Do you..." Acous let his sentence in suspense "want to kiss her [on the lips] ?"

"Yes [on the cheek], sometimes she looks like she..."

"You don't need to go on, little librarian, I have your answer ! You love her. " He began to chuckle. "So sweet" before he got elbowed by the man next to him, shutting him down. Chrono relieved him and kept on.

"So, all I could say here 'Go for it, Yuuno ! ' Go get her !"

"But, I couldn't risk our friendship..."

"You don't want to stay like this for your entire life, 'the good friend at the library', right ? Nor want her to go with another creepy guy, do you ?"

"No, but... 'What about Fate ?' " His resolution was slowly crumbling, and was starting to believe what they were saying. So he did love Nanoha after all. And Fate...

"No more buts !" Chrono was almost shouting this time. "Just do it, damn it ! Are you such a coward, ferret-boy ?" He glared at the blonde, who returned his stare angrily, and said louder.

"I'm not ! A coward nor a ferret !" How long was he going to tease him about his pet form ?

"So go !" The black haired man showed dramatically the door. "Go, and I don't want to see you without a response !"

A bit scared, Yuuno got up swiftly, and after three steps, looked back and asked.

"What should I ask her...?"

Chrono stared at him like he said something stupid. Maybe it was, but the answer was ever worse.

"Her hand ! You've known each other for so long you don't even need to go through the first step !"

"Which is ?"

"Dating !" His patience was reaching it's limits. "Go, damn it, before everyone in this place get to know how scary I can get ! They're already staring, so..." The blond boy didn't more, her almost ran to the exit.

Once gone, Chrono flopped down on his chair and sighed.

"Geez, no wonder they're good friends, so thickheaded..."

Acous could only nod. 'But you're quite a case too...'

And that's how everything started.

A/N : Yaaaay, who hates Chrono now ? *raises her hand* *Looks around and sees nobody*. Shoot.

I just realized those two scenes happen at the restaurant... Well, let's say it's a good place to talk, no...?

Anyway~ I don't know when I'll be able to write next chapter, since I'm lazy... I'll try, I promise, but if you don't want me to continue you can say, I'll stop right there, I know what happens next. And I bet no-one can guess :p

I forgot : the second scene takes place right after the soundstage with Yuuno and Chrono talking about photos and all... Helps to situate more I hope...