Declaimer: I do not anything of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha although I wished I did but lack of money keeps me from doing so. Which also means that suing me is also a wasted effort.
That Sweet Smile
She had a brilliant sweet smile. That had been the first thing anyone had noticed at the time. It was a smile that had only been reserved for family, one that had been absent for the last nine months, a smile of happiness and pride with just a hint of shyness as if she wondered how it was that she was allow to have that happiness and pride. Nine months ago she had lost most of that happiness.
Her children understood. It was to be expected of their kind and gentle mother, the mother who had understood and sympathized with their growing up selves often going up to their more strict and almost overprotective parent to make sure they had just enough room to make their own mistakes and hurts without getting into too much trouble. Of course their parents had been perfectly matched and gave them, by example, an understanding of a good relationship so that they were now all happily married but it had been her who had made each spouse feel truly welcomed into the family.
Her friends expected it. Her feelings were had always been both so awkward and yet so true. They recalled the beginning and how shy she continued to be no matter how much she had done. The relationship with her best friend that had turned to love right before their eyes seem to be a given thing and the large, beautiful family she had was the just rewards for the very healthy bedroom life she had. She had been there when things needed to be done, sometimes to the frustration of everyone when she would insist on it. She believed in doing her job right. She even tried to hide her injuries and make sure everyone was taken care of. It was too bad for her that her spouse always could read her and scold her. Still she would only say back that it was like the kettle calling the pot black sometimes with a wry smile.
Anyone who knew anything about her was not surprised either. They would only say that she worked, played and loved only her best. She was a person who overcame odds and gave so much back that she was pointed out as a role model. Even after retirement she had been active in the community and was only too happy to lend a helping hand when asked. Those who did not know her could see for themselves how she and her beloved partner had shown time and again this commitment to the ideals of society.
Still it had not taken anyone by surprise when Fate died nine months after Nanoha. Being the powerful active mages they had been for so long, it had taken a toll and shorten their lives. Nanoha had not even seen fifty-five years of age and they had always been so close. No one, not family, friends, nor anyone was surprised to find Fate following Nanoha. After nine months of a ghost of it, she was finally able to smile that way again. After all, Nanoha was waiting.