I moved to the side of a midrange blast and twirled in the air to avoid a few more coming my way. My students were doing better than I had expected it seems, as I avoided a delayed binding spell from my best pupil with pride. The mock battle was almost over now and I only had to knock down two more people before I was declared the victor. I pointed at my student and smiled at him, forming forty balls of energy around myself and sending them all at him in a bullet hell fashion. He fell to the blasts and smoke came out from the resulting explosion. Raising Heart counted him down and told me that there were two more enemies on the field. 'Two?' I wondered to myself, looking around and only seeing one student.

Of Mothers and Daughters II
By: Satashi

Nanoha barely had time to react as a blue and white magical road shot up behind her. Her body spun around quickly, feeling a drag on the back part of her clothing. Subaru let out a yell as she flew past Nanoha with a fistful of the White Devil's jacket. The older woman shed her outer jacket and moved away, taking a moment to catch her breath. Now in only her mini skirt and black underclothes for protection, she looked in shock at her ex-forward. "Subaru!"

"You're getting slow in your old age, Nanoha-san." Subaru told her cheerfully while dropping the jacket. "I was told you were giving a mock battle and thought I'd see how you were coming along after coming back to active duty!"

Nanoha smiled at her friend. "Thank you for coming, Subaru, but there's one problem."

"What's that?" Subaru cocked her head to the side.

Nanoha held up her staff and changed it to her shooting mode. "The goal of this operation was to take me down, not to just touch me." With that said, she fired a blast at Subaru, who leapt from her road in favor of skating down it to prepare herself for battle. 'Subaru is a threat by herself, I can't risk my other student catching me off guard.' Turning sharply, she pointed her staff at the man who was charging a shot. "Sorry," she called to him fondly. "I'll spar with you some other time!" With that, she fired her blast, overpowering his at once and sending him forcefully to the ground.

"Nanoha-san!" Subaru yelled at her in a battle cry, fist reared back to strike. Nanoha looked down briefly in shock, seeing the wing road running under her feet. With the magic road coming up behind her and looping so she couldn't fly away, she held up her hand and formed a barrier. "Diviiiiiiiiiine!"

Nanoha grimaced, not wanting to have to handle that attack, but still felt something in her chest yearn to take it full strength and try to overpower it. "Deflection!" Her word activated her magic spell, looping strands around Subaru's wrist. With a sharp tug, she jerked the attack off its course and to the side. Her barrier helped slide the blast away from her body and she formed a ball of energy into her free hand, turning as Subaru went beside her to slam it into her back.

The blue haired girl seemed ready for this, however, and let her body fall so it went above her. Turning, she grabbed both of Nanoha's boots and looked up, laughing. "Wow, Nanoha-san, I didn't know you owned black panties!"

Nanoha's face shot red at the comment and she thrust her hand in between her legs to make her skirt cover them. Several cheers from her students rang up and she glared down at Subaru's playful face, sending several blasts down at her. Subaru flipped around and formed her road again, both as a defensive barrier as well as a means to move away from her. "At least I wear panties!" Nanoha called back, shooting several blasts at the girl.

The ex-forward looped her road around and jumped from it to another portion of the several loops that had been circling since the start of their battle. "You're still getting old, though!"

Nanoha fumed at having her weak spot attacked by her friend and charged a large blast up while flying toward her. "I'm not old!" She insisted, words doubling as a war cry. The energy was released and Subaru's eyes went wide. The blast was larger than she had expected and her shield only blocked half of it before she was shot down, struggling to claim her footing on her wing road before she hit the ground.

Smoke coming from her burnt jacket, Subaru looked up and loaded a cartridge as Nanoha flew down at her. "I'm not out yet!"

Nanoha beamed at her. "Your tits are showing!"

Subaru yelped and looked down, seeing her tight black jacket torn in several places, revealing both her nipples and most of her cleavage. "Nanoha-san, you PERVERT!" Looking back up, she yelped as she saw Nanoha literally inches from her face, finger glowing bright pink as it was pointed at her nose.

"Got you," Nanoha cooed, thumping the girl's nose and making the pink energy shatter in playful sparks.

Subaru looked at her a moment before puffing out her cheeks and covering her exposed breasts. "Did you have to humiliate me?"

Nanoha grinned. "After telling my students what color panties I was wearing? Yes, yes I did." She allowed her jacket to fade away and back to her usual flight instructor outfit while Subaru did the same, revealing her search and rescue uniform that had Nanoha's custom Stars symbol on the left sleeve, along with "Stars 03" under it.

Walking to the gathered group of students together, Subaru waved at them. "Ya-ho!" She called in greeting, waving her hand up above her head cheerfully. "You are all standing; she must go easy on you."

"Don't tell them that," Nanoha scolded Subaru before raising her voice to address her students. "Everyone, this is Subaru Nakajima, one of the first forwards I ever trained." Her hand went to motion to Subaru and everyone saluted her at once. "She works for a special search and rescue team but still comes by every now and then to train. Will you be staying for a while, Subaru?"

"Yes, until the end of tournament coming up. I was selected to represent my squad." She smiled at Nanoha. "I was hoping to get in some last minute training with you?"

"Of course!" Nanoha turned back to her students. "She will be training with us for a while, so everyone please work hard together!"

"Ma'am!" The group called out together.

"Dismissed!" Nanoha released them. "Go eat heartily and get lots of rest because tomorrow I will show you how I used to train my forwards!"

"Score!" Subaru cheered, pumping her fist up in the air. "I was hoping for that!" At the same time, the students across from them seemed a little fearful of what was to come.

Once everyone had dispersed in their own direction, Nanoha began walking with Subaru to the cafeteria. "Are you staying with your family while here?"

"Mmn, but I would like to catch up with you a little bit. Ever since you went back to active duty, you haven't been around as much. Oh, speaking of, can we swing by my car before we go in? It's right over there." She pointed and Nanoha adjusted her path.

"Sure. Why don't you stay with me tonight? Our guest room is always open."

"I'd love to." Subaru took out her keys and unlocked her car. "I'd like to see Vivio as well, how is she doing?"

Nanoha sighed. "She's going through 'that phase' it seems. She got her first period and all of a sudden she's an adult who can make her own decisions."

Subaru laughed merrily at the thought. "Oh my, you're finally going to have the stress of a mother. She can't be a perfect little angel forever, huh?" She nudged her friend playfully before dipping her head into her car.

"Yeah, I knew the time would come when she started taking interest in other people, but... I'm just not ready to let someone else have her, you know? Even if it is just a girlfriend..."

"How do you feel about it being Einhart?" Subaru asked curiously while moving things around, looking for something.

"How did you know? She just told us last night!"

Subaru pulled out of the car and blinked at Nanoha. "Huh? They've been dating for almost two months haven't they?" The shocked look in Nanoha's eyes made Subaru try and wave it off. "N-Never mind, I just thought they were because they seem so close you know? I just assumed they were together!"

"O-oh!" Nanoha laughed nervously. "Oh, you scared me, don't do that!"

Subaru quickly handed Nanoha a large white box. "Here! I saw this and thought of you instantly!"

"A gift?" Nanoha felt her cheeks color. "Oh, thank you Subaru!" She accepted the box and gave the woman a hug. "Can I open it now?"

"Yes, please." Subaru hugged her back and smiled when Nanoha hastily opened the box.

"Subaru!" Nanoha gasped as she pulled out a long white trench coat. "Oh my... this must have cost a fortune!"

"I got it on sale," Subaru admitted easily. "I thought it would go perfect with your uniform, and when I noticed how mature Hayate-san looked with her new style jacket, I just knew you would be perfect in it."

"Thank you... really." She hugged her long time friend once more before putting it on, pleased at how easy it was to move in. "How do I look?"

Subaru adjusted the collar slightly before stepping back and crossing her arms. "Really mature and professional, I bet even the higher ups will salute you in this!"

"Nya haha, you're flattering me." Nanoha looked down at her jacket and twirled in place happily. "Thank you!"

Giggling, Subaru closed her car door and smiled. "You're welcome. Now! How about getting some food?"

"You never change," Nanoha laughed.

Subaru looked around Nanoha's house with interest when she came into it. "Did you redecorate a little bit?" She pondered aloud while observing a picture frame that was cycling images on it. "Last time I came over, your couch was facing a different way, I think?"

"Mmn," Nanoha confirmed pleasantly. "I had Fate-chan help me with it last week actually."

"How is Fate-san these days? I can never seem to see her in person anymore it seems." Accepting a glass of tea from Nanoha, she walked over to the earlier mentioned couch and sat down on it with her. "Work must be really busy lately?"

"She hasn't been home much at all the past two months or so. She calls me every night that she can, but t is still kind of lonely."

"Lonely? What about Vivio?"

Nanoha smiled without humor. "Lately she's been a little distant. Before, she would spend time with me watching TV or doing her homework while talking to me as I did the dishes… Now she even eats in her room sometimes instead of at the table; it seems like she has more important things to do than spend time with her mama."

"Aww, don't think like that. I'm sure she'll get over her independence phase soon. You know how kids are these days."

Leaning forward, Nanoha brought her glass to her lips to take a slow drink. "That is kind of what worries me; I want her to grow up slowly."

"Speaking of, what time does she normally get home?"

"She should be home by now… Excuse me a moment." Bringing up her hand, she formed a monitor. "Contact Vivio, please."

Vivio smiled contently as she helped Einhart carry the dishes from dinner to the small kitchen area of the loft style apartment. "That was really good, Einhart-san," she praised happily. "You are a really good cook."

"Thank you," Einhart felt a small bit of pride swell up in her chest at hearing that. "I tried hard." Setting the plate down, she took Vivio's now free hands before she could turn on the faucet. "I can load my dishwasher later to do them, for now let's just spend time together?"

"A little eager?" Vivio teased her girlfriend with a grin. "Einhart-san doesn't seem to be the type to put things off until later unless she really wants something?" Her words did as she had intended and her girlfriend flushed. "Tell me, what is it you want to do with me tonight?"

"I…" The pale green haired girl looked away a moment before turning around completely. Reaching back, she took each of Vivio's hands again and led her to the couch. "I just want to be with you, that's all."

Vivio stopped walking when Einhart did, standing at her back and smiling. "And what can we do here that we can't do while washing dishes?" To make it clear that she wasn't complaining about it, she wrapped her arms around the girl's waist. "Are you planning on seducing me?"

"N-No!" Einhart shivered as Vivio's breath went into her ear seductively. 'Well, I wasn't!' Her eyes closed and she almost whimpered at the intimate hug she was receiving. "Mou, why do you tease me so much?"

"Because it's fun." Vivio moved around the girl and sat on the couch, smiling innocently up at her. "Einhart-san is a perv but is too shy to do anything." She lifted both of her hands up to encourage Einhart to sit sideways on her lap. "There, we're together now."

"…Thank you." Einhart cuddled her girlfriend, trying to hide her embarrassment by putting her face in the mass of blonde hair and out of the red-green eyed girl's vision. "…You smell nice."

"I borrowed Fate-mama's perfume," Vivio revealed honestly. "Nanoha-mama won't let me have any of my own."

"Why?" Einhart moved back a little, curious. "You're old enough."

"I know, but… Mama is difficult sometimes." Vivio leaned back against the couch and let Einhart shift so she was up against the armrest, feet over her the blonde's lap while holding her. "She grew up on Earth for the most part, it's un-administered planet number 97, I think. There, people aren't really expected to be adults until they are about eighteen."

"Eighteen?" Einhart repeated, a little shocked. "By then they should have already been adults. What about afterschool jobs or training?"

Vivio shook her head. "No, they just simply go to school until then, then go off to college if they want to. If not, they either get a job or slack off… But the point is that Mama sometimes thinks that she lost her childhood because of the T.S.A.B. and all the training she did. Although to us it's nothing weird to have someone nine years old joining the military, to her it was unheard of… I think she's trying too hard to make sure I have a 'normal childhood' by her standards."

"So… Us being together…?"

"Is weird to her… but I don't think so." Vivio leaned toward her girlfriend more, getting hugged once again. "I may not be experienced or really understand everything… but I do know that I like you… a lot."

"I like you too," Einhart encouraged her softly, moving to kiss the girl's cheek. "Don't worry, she will get used to the idea."

"I hope so," the blonde leaned up against Einhart and smiled, "because I really don't like the idea of waiting five more years." Her smile made the other girl blush, and soon she found their lips together in a small kiss. "You…" Vivio spoke around Einhart's lips softly. "Taste like that ice cream we had for dessert."

"You do too," Einhart whispered as well, kissing her again. Slowly she eased herself back against the armrest and moved herself along with Vivio so that they slid down the couch enough that her head was propped up on it and they were lying. "I'd… like another taste?"

"Yes," Vivio kissed her again, sliding her hands around Einhart's body and pulling her close. Their lips met yet again and she licked hers to make them wet. Einhart's hands went around her back and rubbed gently, putting just enough pressure on it to try and make them closer. 'She's so eager,' Vivio realized as they continued to press their lips together. A flash of Einhart's tongue made her shiver and hold onto the girl's shirt tightly. 'I want to…' Their mouths met again, only this time Vivio opened hers up a little more, tongue darting into Einhart's mouth quickly. The girl under her tensed up, but replied at once, sliding hers up along Vivio's. Taking it as a good sign, Vivio pressed harder, smashing her lips against Einhart's and exploring the inside of her mouth. Her tongue looped around her girlfriend's before moving to lick the top of her mouth.

Einhart whimpered in the kiss, swallowing heavily as she tasted Vivio's saliva in her mouth. Her body shook slightly, small tears coming to her closed eyes. Taking a sharp breath when she could, Vivio attacked her once more. A full body shiver came and she felt the soft tongue moving to trace every bit of her mouth. Vivio's breasts were being pushed against her, and the girl's knee was pressing in just the right area between her legs, if the blonde knew it or not. Another pant came and Einhart gripped Vivio's shoulders firmly. Her mind was starting to go blank and a small shift above her made Vivio's knee rub against her. With a small moan, Einhart slowly pulled on her girlfriend's shoulders to make her stop. Vivio's eyes looked a little scared at being removed, so she spoke before the blonde could. "S-slower?"

Vivio softened. "I'm sorry, I'm moving too fast-"

"N-no!" Einhart quickly interrupted her. "I… I want it… just…" She averted her eyes. "…Be a little gentler, I mean…?" Her voice got softer. "I don't…want it to end so fast…"

The girl on top blushed darkly, but smiled down at her girlfriend lovingly. "I'm sorry," Leaning down again, she softly kissed her forehead. "I don't really know how to do this properly…" Moving down, she kissed the trails of saliva from Einhart's cheeks.

"Be gentler," Einhart requested, moving her hands to cup Vivio's cheeks. "Don't force your tongue in… play with mine? Please?"

"Yes," Vivio answered quietly. Their foreheads touched and they shared a long hug together. The girl on top slowly kissed Einhart's lips, carefully taking her time to taste them. When Einhart's hands moved from her cheeks and went to her back again, Vivio took it as a sign to deepen the kiss. Carefully, she touched Einhart's lips with her tongue and was rewarded with being able to feel Einhart's pleased gasp. Ever so slowly, she moved her tongue over the beckoning lips all the way around. The act encouraged Einhart to part her mouth and allow the girl access. Their tongues found each other and a more loving sensation flooded through Vivio as they very slowly touched them together.

This time, Einhart moved her tongue up into Vivio's mouth. She gently touched the girl's lips before moving in, sliding along Vivio's tongue gently. Their mouths came together as best they could while leaving room to breathe. Easy swallowing came from each girl, mixed with small moans and encouragement. The girl on bottom stroked Vivio's hair lovingly for several minutes before moving her hands to go down Vivio's back and play with the bottom of the girl's school uniform. The girl on top gave a pleased sound as the warm hands slid under her clothing and went up her back. Soft fingers pressed against her skin and rubbed, making Vivio relax noticeably. Her hands moved back down and around to Vivio's sides before going back up, pulling the shirt with it.

Vivio grinned in the kiss, sucking ever so slightly on Einhart's tongue before pulling back. "Do you want me to take off my shirt?" She asked playfully.

"I…" Einhart flushed. "D-don't say that…"

The blonde smiled, reaching down and gripping the hem of her shirt. "I don't mind… if you ask."

"I…" Closing her eyes in embarrassment, the girl nodded.

Vivio felt her heart skip a beat at the cute act and she slowly pulled it upwards and over her head. A light pink bra covered her small breasts, accented by little bunny faces around the straps. "There…" Her palms went to Einhart's stomach, rubbing over the cloth before raising it up questioningly. "… May I?"

"Y-yeah…" Einhart lifted up, allowing Vivio to pull the shirt off. Once it hit the floor as well, she covered her purple bra with one arm shyly. "It's… a little embarrassing…"

"I know…" Vivio leaned down and kissed Einhart again, their tongues going back to giving each over loving caresses. The younger girl's hands snaked under Einhart's body, pulling her closer so she could feel her warmth. Einhart shifted lightly, rubbing Vivio's back fondly as only the wet sounds of their kissing and their pounding hearts were heard. "Einhart-san…You can… if you want." The girl on bottom opened her eyes to look up at Vivio, asking once more silently before getting a small nod. Slowly she reached around the girl and pinched the snap-clasp of her bra. The material went slack as she undid it and moved the straps apart. Vivio pulled back, allowing Einhart to remove the bra and reveal the hardened pink nipples. "Can I?"

"Yes…" Einhart whispered, face red. Vivio's bra fell to the floor and Einhart felt her front clasp bra being snapped open. 'She's undoing my bra…' She thought embarrassedly while bringing her thumb to her mouth to bite the nail. Before she could recover, she felt Vivio slide along her and her warm, wet lips kissing her neck. "Ahn…" Her free hand went to Vivio's hair, caressing the strands as the gentle kisses trailed her collarbone. "Vivio…" Blushing more, Einhart felt the girl carefully take her time, moving down slowly. Palms looped over her stomach and sides while Vivio's tiny breasts lightly touched her stomach. 'She's… going too…' Her mind went blank a moment as warmth came over her left nipple. The wet hot feel of saliva came next, paired with such a gentle suction that she couldn't hold back the pleased moan that escaped her mouth. "Vivio…"

Vivio licked the hardened bud soothingly, taking her time to give it her full attention before she pulled back. A soft exhale over it made the nipple perk up noticeably, followed by a full body shudder from Einhart. Slowly Vivio moved to the other side, opening her mouth to kiss around the sensitive area. Just as she placed her lips around it and gave a small suckle, a loud beeping sound came from Kris, who had been sitting on the back of the couch. Startled, Vivio nipped the pink bud accidently, which caused Einhart to shriek rather loudly in shock. "S-sorry!" Vivio shot back, face dark and panting. "I-I didn't mean to!"

"Ow…" Einhart rubbed the area with her palm, wincing but not seeming upset over it. "Is that your mother?"

"Y-yeah…"

"Answer it, she may be upset…"

Vivio looked upset at the idea of talking to her mother at that moment but when Einhart didn't back down, she begrudgingly got her shirt and pulled it over her head. Bringing up a finger, she tapped the answer button. "Hey mama."

"Where are you?" Nanoha asked her worriedly. "You should have been home an hour ago!"

"Sorry, I was at Einhart's place."

Nanoha eyed her daughter, taking in the red face and puffy lips. "What were you doing?"

Vivio glared at the tone she was getting. "We were sparring! What do you mean by what were we doing!" She heard someone whisper to Nanoha not to jump to conclusions. "Who is there with you? Is Fate-mama back?" To her surprise, Subaru popped up on the monitor, grinning widely at her. "Subaru-san!"

"I'm staying the night, kiddo! Why don't you come home so we can catch up? You can spar with Einhart any time!"

"O-okay!" Vivio nodded.

Nanoha sighed. "I'll have dinner ready."

"I already ate," Vivio answered out of habit.

Nanoha cocked an eyebrow up at her but Einhart saved her by appearing from the side of the monitor, shirt now on. "I cooked for her as a thank you for taking time to answer my selfish request to spar on a school night."

"Oh," Nanoha nodded. "Thank you, Einhart."

"You are welcome, I enjoyed it." Einhart bowed lightly. "I'll see her off, I'm sorry I kept her without your knowledge."

Nanoha flushed. "A-ah, it's okay! It's not like you two… I'll see you when you get home!" With that, Nanoha cut off the conversation.

Vivio leaned back against the couch and crossed her arms in annoyance. "Mou… the mood was really nice too…"

Einhart smiled at her encouragingly. "We'll have plenty of time to explore our feelings." Moving forward, she hugged Vivio fondly. "Thank you for tonight… I enjoyed it."

"…Me too." Vivio hugged her back. When they pulled apart, they gave each other a slow kiss. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I'll consider it a hickey," Einhart playfully smiled.

"A hickey?" Vivio grinned. "Let's!" With a quick motion, she pinned Einhart on the couch and hovered over her. Her hands went to Einhart's shirt, pulling it up and above the now fastened bra.

"Vivio-san! We don't have time!"

"Won't take a second." She pulled the fabric up and leaned down, kissing Einhart's right breast and sucking on it hard near the nipple.

"Aahh!" Einhart wiggled, blushing and giving a small, shocked pant. 'She's… giving me a hickey! On my breast!' Her hand went to Vivio's hair, holding her close as the suction became a pleasant type of pain that she strangely wanted more of. "Vivio…" When the girl's head moved back, she pulled it close again, silently requesting just a little more. 'I don't want her to stop now…' She thought with heated cheeks. The suction came again, slightly above the first area. The light sting came and was shortly soothed by slow, gentle licking. After a few moments, Vivio placed a very soft kiss on the area and moved back. Einhart panted under her, blushing but smiling at her with a mix between embarrassment and happiness. Her chest now, very obviously, held a large hickey on it. The discolored bruised skin contrasted to the area around it harshly, making it clear what had happened.

"You're marked now," Vivio smiled.

"Mou…" Einhart half way complained, pouting cutely up at her girlfriend above her. "Pervert."

Vivio smiled at her lovingly.

Subaru followed Nanoha to the kitchen in order to help her prepare dinner for them. "I think Vivio is getting a little defensive?"

"Yeah," Nanoha sighed while pondering what to make. "I wish Fate-chan were here, she would know what to say to her. Vivio used to never break curfew, but lately she gets home a little later each time."

"What time is curfew?" Subaru took a knife from Nanoha when the woman began to peel potatoes so she could do it instead.

"Thank you," Nanoha smiled gratefully while going to do another job. "Seven at night, that is lenient, isn't it?"

Subaru looked at her hands while thinking. "I suppose… School ends about three in the afternoon but she goes to the library with her friends, right? Then she goes to Sis's place for a while… After that, I suppose she could take her time and get home right at seven. You get home around six, right?"

"Give or take. I just want to be here when she gets home… I feel a little lonely when she doesn't come home until eight. She used to practice in the yard or at the local gym but lately she always practices on her own with her friends… She doesn't even ask me to watch her anymore." Pausing her cooking for a moment, Nanoha heaved yet another sigh. "I don't mind if she wants to have an hour extension on her curfew but I would really prefer it if she asked me for it instead of just coming home so late, you know?"

The blue haired girl nodded in understanding. "I can see where you are coming from. You don't mind her growing up so much as long as she does it with you, huh?"

"…Yeah."

"But you know," Subaru went back to peeling while talking. "Sometimes in order to be closer, they have to go away a bit." She glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "How Tea and I got closer after we split up, how you and Fate-san got even closer after she started doing missions again… Maybe you need to let her out a bit, let her experience things?"

"She's too young."

The younger girl laughed without meaning to. "Too young? Are you the same Nanoha who wanted Vivio to stand on her own after falling down when she was only six years old?"

Nanoha flinched. "I was wrong… I learned that after she was taken from me… I thought that was what would make me the proudest… But in reality, I just want her to live a happy, healthy life."

"Isn't she?"

"Yes, but… I never wanted to have to take a back burner to someone-thing else."

Subaru caught the slip and turned to look at Nanoha fully. "You're jealous aren't you?"

"No!" Nanoha looked offended. "What in the world would I have to be jealous over!"

Not letting up, Subaru walked over to her friend and stood in front of her. "Fate-san isn't here and the other girl in your life suddenly took interest in someone besides you… You're lonely and want to put the blame on someone else for taking her."

Nanoha tried to deny the fact but ended up only opening her mouth with no words. After trying again, she turned away from her friend. "Is it so wrong to want to keep her a child forever? Fate-chan is away so much and now that I'm on full active duty again, I can't always be with Vivio… I don't want her to grow up and move away."

"She isn't going anywhere."

"I did," Nanoha replied back softly. "I may have lived on Earth, but my home was on the training centers and battleships… Erio and Caro were only nine when they lived on their own at the base and were barely teens before they got their own jobs and house… You and Teana as well, only a few years older than Vivio but were already well on your way to what you wanted to do. I just feel… Like this is the first step of her going away from me and I'm just not ready for that. I… don't want to be alone."

Subaru looked down a moment before putting away her knife in favor of hugging the older woman. "Hey, don't think like that… You won't be alone. Everyone loves you, even if they aren't with you right here and right now, it won't change the fact that you are friends. You of all people should understand how that works, right?"

"Yeah…" Nanoha sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry; I got all emotional on you…"

"Hey, I don't mind at all. It's not every day I get to comfort my old instructor."

Nanoha laughed at the joke just as Vivio opened the front door and came jogging into the house. "I'm home!" Her cheerful voice called out. As the teen came into the kitchen, she smiled widely at Subaru. "Subaru-san, hi!"

"Hey kiddo." Subaru allowed Vivio to hug her and patted the girl's head. "Did you have a nice spar?"

"Huh?" Vivio blinked. "Oh! Yeah, it was great; Einhart-san really works me out!" She nodded vigorously. "How about you, did you come for some off training?" Taking a battle stance, she playfully punched Subaru's hand, only to be taken off her feet and placed in a light hold.

"Yup! Nanoha-san is training me for the upcoming tournament. You're going to be in it too, right?" She released Vivio and beamed down at her. "Nove has told me a lot of good things about you lately. You're even going to take your AA mage ranking test soon aren't you?"

"Mmn!" Vivio nodded happily. "Next month, Nanoha-mama wants me to relax a few days before it so I'm waiting until after the tournament. Oh!" Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a notebook and then a sheet of paper from it. "I need you to sign this so I can miss school on that day, Nanoha-mama." She rooted through the smaller section for something to write with. "Pen, pen…"

"Here," Nanoha interrupted her, showing a form that was already filled out, minus Vivio's name. "I got it at work and filled it for you. I'm going to participate in a mock battle with the winner from the S-ranking bracket, so I was given a handful of forms to give to my friends."

"Mou, Mama, I could have filled it out on my own." Vivio pouted up at her, but took the form anyway to sign her name and stick it into her notebook.

"And who was it that had to ask me for their identification number last week?" Nanoha teased, but faltered when Subaru coughed and Vivio averted her eyes. "Just kidding honey, I had free time so I went ahead and did it for you in case I wasn't at home for some reason. I could have faxed it to your school if need be."

"Oh!" Vivio smiled at that. "Thank you."

"Welcome." Nanoha patted Vivio on the rear as she passed by. "Go get changed, are you sure you're not hungry?"

"I'm sure, but thank you. I need to call Corona so I'll be down in a bit." Waving over her shoulder, she trotted up the stairs.

Subaru knocked on Vivio's open door lightly, grinning as the teen looked up from a book written in some language that was probably not even used anymore. "Hey squirt, got a moment?"

"Sure?" Vivio marked her page and closed the tome softly. "What's up?"

The blue haired girl looked over her shoulder and into the hallway before walking in all the way. Kneeling down in front of the girl, she tried her best to give a casual smile. "Uhm, well, I know this isn't any of my business and I'll understand if you just tell me to drop it, but I wanted to give you some advice." Vivio cocked her head to the side curiously at the words. "You see, Nove talks in her sleep… A bit ago, I was trying to get some sleep when she was visiting and she was mumbling to herself just before she was out completely… And I sort of overheard that you and Einhart were a couple."

Vivio nodded, still unsure. "Yes?"

Subaru gave a lopsided grin. "This was over a month ago." The words finally made Vivio realize what she was getting at. "Nanoha-san just found out about it, and I almost let it slip because I didn't know you were keeping it a secret. I just wanted to tell you… Don't hide things like that from Nanoha-san. She will understand if you're just upfront with her, okay?"

"No she won't, she's too… clingy."

The older woman couldn't deny that but tried to make her point anyway. "Yes, I know that, but I'm not talking about just the dating thing. I mean if you want to visit Einhart, just tell Nanoha where you are going, don't cover it up."

"I'm not covering-"

"Vivio," Subaru interrupted her. "I've lied to people plenty of times when I was caught making out with Teana when we weren't supposed to be, and Nanoha-san was one of them, while I was at the base and supposed to be doing paperwork. She trusts people a whole lot, so don't abuse it okay?"

Vivio blushed at the words. "So… You're not going to tell me I'm too young or anything?"

"No, I'm not. I'm just telling you that you're lucky to have Nanoha-san as a mother… Don't lie to her; it will break her heart if she finds out… Okay?"

"…Okay." The blonde looked down a moment before glancing back up. "I'll be honest as long as she trusts me too."

"Can't ask for any more than that." Reaching out, she ruffled Vivio's hair and stood. "I'm going to turn in; Nanoha starts practice nice and early after all."

The teen nodded up at her and smiled. "Good luck out there, I can't wait to see how much you've improved lately at the tournament." Reaching up, she bumped Subaru's fist and grinned at her friend. "I'll show you that I haven't been slacking off either!"

Walking out of the room, Subaru passed her friend's door and chuckled when she noticed that the lights were already off under it. 'She must be getting tired in her old age,' she joked mentally.

Inside the room, Nanoha sat on her bed by herself, eyes staring at the monitor in front of herself while hugging a pillow. The word 'Unavailable' was on the screen under her wife's name, scrolling across it in a steady pace. "Fate-chan…" Nanoha said the name sadly, voice laced with loneliness. "I hope you come back soon… I really need your help with everything…"