Foreword:
Hello there, or 'Nice to meet you,' in case we haven't met before.

My name is Zarosguth and I welcome you to 'Broken'.

This first chapter is mainly an introduction. From chapter two and onwards things will be happening. Oh believe me, they will be happening.

I'm not entirely sure where I want to take this story yet but I suppose we'll figure that out as we get along. Should you at any one point see a direction you'd like me to take this story then do not be afraid to let me know through either a review or PM.

This story is not beta-read. I will try to catch as many mistakes as I can before uploading but if you ever see a mistake, please let me know so I can fix it.

With that, I will now leave you to the story. Enjoy.

Disclaimer:
I do not claim ownership of the Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha series or franchise. This is a non-profit fan-written story written exclusively for entertainment purposes.

{]-~*(X)*~-[}

I was awoken by a soft whimper coming from the person sleeping next to me. I was wide awake instantly. Looking over, I saw the blonde beauty besides me shaking uncontrollably. She was still sleeping but it was more than clear that her sleep was all but peaceful. The shaking, the sweating, the heart-breaking sobs, but worst of all was the sleep talking. A constant pleading for someone to 'Stop it!' accompanied by cries for 'Help!'.

I couldn't bear to see her in such pain. I couldn't bear seeing the woman I love whimpering and pleading.

"Fate-chan?" I whispered softly as I gently poked her shoulder. Her body tensed up for a moment before her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"N-Nanoha?" she choked out, trying to fight back her tears. I did my best to fight back my own tears; she looked so hurt, so vulnerable, so broken.

"I am here Fate-chan, everything is going to be alright." I soothed her as best I could, stretching my arms at her while being careful not to actually touch her; I didn't want to frighten her.

Fate moved in slowly, wrapping her arms around my waist and placing her head on my chest. "Nanoha." My name left her lips in a whisper before she started crying. I carefully closed my arms around her. I felt her body tense up before relaxing again. I felt the fabric of my nightgown getting wet as Fate cried her heart out while I whispered sweet nothings in an attempt to calm her down.

After a few minutes her crying slowly came to a halt and her breathing evened out. Despite her having calmed down I did not stop holding her. I just made soothing circles on her back until she finally spoke.

"I'm sorry Nanoha; I'm being selfish." She whispered in a raspy voice, her throat raw from her crying.

I shook my head. "No Fate-chan. It's okay to be selfish. Especially after what happened. I love you Fate-chan. I'm here for you. Nobody will ever hurt you again; I will protect you. That's a promise!"

*~-{ Broken }-~*
*~-{ Written by Zarosguth }-~*
*~-{ Chapter I }-~*

Fate T. Harlaown, a well-known name in the world of law was a hard-working attorney whom gave every case she took her fullest attention. She handled her clients with patience and respect. After all, Fate – in her mind – owed her current life to the woman in whose footsteps she followed. The footsteps of her adoptive mother, Lindy Harlaown.

Fate was a children's attorney, she handled the cases of children who had been victim of abusive parents or guardians. Children who were the same as she once was.

When Fate Testarossa was only nine years old she suffered abuse by her mother, Precia Testarossa. This abuse went from verbal abuse all the way down to physical. Precia would hang Fate by her wrists and beat her with a leather belt while calling her 'worthless trash' and saying Fate should never have been born.

It was not until one of her classmates – a certain brunette by the name of Nanoha Takamachi – saw Fate's injuries one day that things finally turned for the better in the life of young Fate.

With Nanoha's encouragement Fate stepped to the principal and admitted to being abused. The principal called in an old friend, a children's attorney by the name of Lindy Harlaown. Together, they managed to bring Fate's situation to light. Fate got removed from Precia's home and Precia herself was arrested. The following trials were more than a nine-year-old girl would ever have to experience, but eventually Precia was ruled guilty.

During the entire case Lindy Harlaown was there for young Fate and the two developed a bond. When it became clear that Fate had no other family left to care for her, Lindy didn't have to think twice about adopting the young Testarossa girl; she did so in a heartbeat.

In the Harlaown home, with adoptive mother Lindy and adoptive brother Chrono, Fate had a chance at a normal life. A chance she grabbed with both hands. She also became best friends with Nanoha, the two of them becoming almost inseparable.

When Fate turned eleven, she told Lindy she wanted to take on the Harlaown name. A few days later, Fate's name was officially changed to 'Fate Testarossa Harlaown'.

During high school Fate and Nanoha remained inseparable, even when Nanoha got a boyfriend by the name of Yuuno Scrya. Fate knew that by then she had developed feelings for the girl who'd helped save her life. But she kept this a secret, afraid of losing Nanoha's friendship should she ever find out Fate was gay.

It was not until high school graduation that Fate confessed to being gay, though she never explicitly mentioned her feelings for Nanoha herself. It was a very emotional event for the both of them but Nanoha, luckily, was a very open-minded person and the two stayed best friends.

After high school Fate took to studying law to follow in Lindy's footsteps while Nanoha studied to become an elementary school teacher. Yuuno meanwhile studied to become an archaeologist.

In college Fate – realizing she would never have Nanoha; she was straight after all – dated several women, but none of her relationships – if you could even call them that – lasted long. Something the blonde never lamented; she wasn't looking for a lifelong commitment. With Nanoha an unreachable goal, Fate put all her energy into her studies. Her 'relationships' serving purely as stress relief. Something she was respectful enough to make clear to her partners.

Despite their busy schedules Fate and Nanoha still managed to hang out together regularly. Often times, when Yuuno was on a trip with his professors as part of his studies, they would even do sleepovers at each other's apartments. During these times, Fate would allow herself the fantasy that she and Nanoha were a couple.

Even after they had finished their studies, Fate and Nanoha stayed best friends, LLBFF's.

{]-~*(X)*~-[}

Then came the 'Lu Rushe' case, Fate's first official case as an attorney.

Caro Lu Rushe was a young girl attending the school where Nanoha worked. Nanoha noticed how Caro acted whenever her mother was nearby. She recognized the signs almost instantly; Caro reminded her so much of Fate when they were that young.

Sadly, nothing could be done without proof. The only way anything could be done was if they got Caro to talk, so Nanoha staged a meeting between the little girl in her class and her best friend.

It took a lot of encouragement but eventually Fate managed to get Caro to admit to being abused. Fate was relieved to learn Caro never suffered physical abuse. But even then, she knew verbal abuse could be just as bad.

The case itself had been a tough one. Unlike Precia who was mentally disturbed and openly antagonistic towards her daughter, Caro's parents were well-respected political figures whom had extremely expensive lawyers to hide behind. But in the end, Fate managed to get Caro out of there. Caro was eventually placed in foster care and taken in by a loving foster family whom were more than happy to give this little girl a loving and safe home.

The evening right after Fate heard Caro ended up in a loving foster home, she visited Nanoha to tell her the great news. It was then, and only then that Fate finally allowed all of the emotions she felt during the case to run free. Nanoha had to soothe her, telling the blonde how proud she was of her best friend.

That pride was not reserved exclusively for Nanoha however, as Lindy was also extremely proud of her adopted daughter, as was the rest of the law firm Fate worked at. Being a case involving important political figures, the 'Lu Rushe' case even made the national newspapers, many of which were saying they expected great things from the young up-and-coming attorney that was Fate T. Harlaown.

When Caro came back to school a few days after the end of the case she sought out Nanoha and asked her to tell Fate thanks. A message the brunette was more than happy to deliver.

{]-~*(X)*~-[}

After her first case it wasn't long before Fate got her second case, the case of Erio Mondial.

Erio's case was especially taxing on the young attorney; while Erio was, in fact, very much loved by his mother, his father was abusive and hit the young boy a lot. Erio's mother was devastated when he was taken away from them. Fate had always wanted to save children from parents that knowingly hurt them. But during this case she learned that her job also meant taking children away from loving parents because the other parent was not so loving.

In the end Erio was placed in foster care as well. His mother had not been allowed custody of her son because – while she didn't actively partake in the abuse – she did allow for the abuse to happen.

Fate personally made sure Erio found a good foster home, which his mother thanked her for. Fate let her know he didn't do so for her, but purely for Erio's well-being.

Nanoha was Fate's rock to keep her steady during this case; the brunette didn't ask questions and just allowed Fate to vent her sadness. Fate had never had to explain anything that was happening with the case. Not that she was allowed to, but it was still nice. Nanoha understood, she didn't need any explanation; she had been with Fate every step of the way during Fate's own case when they were young.

It was during this period in their lives that Nanoha started to realize just how much she loved to hang out with Fate. She knew the golden blonde was a very strong person. Ever since they were children and the nine-year-old Fate Testarossa had to get through the whole trial that eventually freed her from Precia, Nanoha had only seen the blonde really break down once.

It was during the final trial, right after the jury found Precia guilty of abusing her daughter. While Precia struggled as the guards took her away, the elder Testarossa couldn't help but have her final say: "Let me tell you a little secret Fate, I have always hated you!"

This was the first and only time Nanoha had ever seen her friend broken. A sight she never forgot. A sight she vowed to prevent with all her might from ever happening again.

It wasn't until the 'Erio Mondial' case that Nanoha saw Fate break down a second time. But this time was different; Fate didn't break down in helplessness, she just needed an opportunity to vent. Right after, Fate got to work again, finding a suitable home for the young Mondial boy.

Nanoha had never felt as much admiration for a single person as she felt for Fate then.

Inadvertently, Nanoha started comparing Fate to her boyfriend. The thoughts wouldn't leave her mind. Eventually, she started to doubt her and Yuuno's relationship. It wasn't that she didn't love Yuuno, but she found she wasn't in love with him. Nevertheless, Nanoha stayed with Yuuno, thinking that she was just going through a phase or something and that her adoration for Fate simply stemmed from admiration.

A few years went by. During that time Yuuno was often away on archaeological digs while Nanoha stayed behind and spent most of her time outside of work with Fate. Slowly but surely, Nanoha started to realize her adoration and love for her best friend were real. When Yuuno returned from a dig shortly after Nanoha had come to this conclusion, she broke up with him. She told him he deserved someone who could properly love him. That, as much as she loved him, she was not in love with him. Yuuno seemed defeated but he gave in in the end.

Fate was secretly overjoyed when Nanoha came to her apartment and told her she left Yuuno, she did her best to hide it though. She never really disliked Yuuno; he was a good person and he from what the blonde could tell, he did make Nanoha happy.

When the brunette admitted she left Yuuno because she'd realized she had feelings for someone else – 'a close friend', is what Nanoha had said – Fate didn't even let the thought it could be her that Nanoha was talking about cross her mind. She started going over all male friends they had but quickly came up empty; they had barely any and she knew it couldn't be her adoptive brother Chrono; he was engaged himself.

When Fate finally dared to ask the question of whom Nanoha had realized she'd had feelings for, the brunette averted her gaze and softly whispered "You."

Fate felt like her life had just become absolutely perfect. She had worked her dream job and had booked multiple successes. Her first two cases had been two very high profile cases at that, which had already given her career a head start – one she made the most of. She had a bright future ahead of her and now she would face that future with the woman she'd been in love with since she was young, as her girlfriend.

Fate Testarossa Harlaown was a happy, successful and accomplished woman.

However, as the saying goes: 'All good things must come to an end.'

*~-{ End of Chapter I }-~*

Please leave me a review telling me what you think; I love getting feedback and I don't mind people being critical. In fact, I welcome it!

*~-{ May we meet again, fare thee well! }-~*