Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN

A/N: I apologize for the long long delay but here it is in not 1 but 2 parts! Please enjoy and forgive this humble fanfic writer.

Magical Babysitter Lyrical Zafira

Chapter 3 Part 1

In which Ana catches a cold, everyone tries to help and Zafira goes grocery shopping

Had anyone who knew him chosen that day to pick up some things at the store they would have found their minds bombarded by questions such as: What exactly was Zafira doing? And: What possible could have happened to make him walk around in a grocery store in human form with Vivio strapped to his back? They would have found no answers because Zafira would have pretended not to know them, just as he was pretending not to know the two people behind him.

"Don't believe everything you read in tabloids Vice," Griffith's annoyed voice followed Zafira down the aisle.

"I don't know, they have pictures of Hayate and Yuuno's secret rendezvous," Vice's voice joined Griffith's.

"Look at the other stories. Second lieutenant Vita is apparently an madly in love with Captain Nanoha of all people and Captain Fate is a vampire, see utterly ridiculous," Grifith shook the magazine with a disgusted look.

"But it also has an—" the sound of Vice stealing said magazine—"article about Fate and Nanoha and," he paused, Zafira took this opportunity to get ahead, "How apparently how Nanoha has adopted Fate and Yuuno's love child. Well that's an unexpected twist."

"Because it's not true!" Zafira yelled back.

"Zaffy" Vivio tugged on Zafira's hair, "indoor voice please."

"Ah he lives," Vice laughed, "I made the last one up buddy."

"Just shut up and shop," Zafira sighed, this day couldn't get worse if it tried.


Several hours earlier

The door was open when Zafira got there. There being the home of Fate and Nanoha. He'd been working as a "guardian" for a little over a week but today was just a tad different, today Zafira wouldn't just be watching Vivio and acting as a furry bus when needed. Today the fighting forces of Riot 6 were heading off to save the world, meaning he'd be working much longer then he did usually. Luckily, Ana would be around to handle all the parental type tasks Zafira just wasn't up to. He poked his head inside, everything seemed peaceful enough… of course looks are deceiving.

"Nanoha do you know where my shoes are?" Fate's voice came from off to the side, somewhere out of Zafira's line of vision.

"They're wherever you left them Fate-chan!" Nanoha's voice came from above, accompanied by the sounds of drawers being rapidly opened and closed.

"Well I don't remember where that is!"

"Then you should have got up earlier!"

"I would have but someone kept me up all night." Surprisingly neither Fate nor Nanoha seemed to be morning people. This was all the more surprising considering they had both spent a good portion of their lives waking up before 6 AM.

"That's not my fault."

"Yes it is!"

Zafira decided to step in before this fight got any further or the… details of what exactly happened the previous night were revealed. "Excuse me Fate-san."

Fate was standing in the kitchen, looking pretty well put together, though she lacked shoes. She looked tired and frustrated though when she noticed the wolf entering the apartment she attempted to hide it. "Oh Zafira! Thanks for taking over today."

"It's nothing," Zafira looked around. A certain housekeeper seemed to be missing. "I don't see Ana-san though. It's not like her to be late."

Fate opened her mouth to answer but she was interrupted by Nanoha. "Who is it Fate-chan?" Nanoha called down followed by her footsteps as she thumped down the stairs. "Ah Zafira." Unlike Fate, who, apart from the bare feet, looked like she normally did, Nanoha looked like she had just staggered out of a tornado. Her hair was out of its ponytail and was frizzing out, her jacket was lopsided, her shoes were untied (at least she had them on), and her skirt was threatening to fall off (What was with the mini-skirts anyway? Apparently the TSAB was run by creepy old men.).

"Nanoha you can't go out like that," Fate grabbed a brush from the kitchen counter (it was easy for Zafira to see how Fate's shoes got lost, nothing seemed to be where it belonged) and pounced on her friend's messy head.

"It's fine, it's fine," Nanoha protested as Fate struggled to comb through it. "Your shoes are in the bathroom by the way."

Fate looked over her handiwork and seemingly deemed it presentable, "Why are they in there?"

"I have no idea," Nanoha shrugged and straightened her outfit. Zafira didn't either and was pretty sure he didn't want to know why.

Fate ran off to get her shoes and Nanoha turned her attention to Zafira, "Nya ha ha sorry you had to see all that."

Zafira shook his head, "That's nothing. You should see our house in the morning." Zafira had seen some pretty frightening things living with five women, most of them involving Shamal and a stove or Shamal and a microwave or Shamal and a toaster or Shamal attempting to boil water. "Now where is Ana-san?"

Nanoha blinked, "Didn't she call you? She's sick."

She's sick, she's sick, she's sick, Nanoha's words echoed through Zafira's head. Zafira's brain stopped working. If she wasn't there then he'd have to take care of Vivio… alone… as in by himself… without help.

"Vivio's asleep upstairs right now," Nanoha seemed not to notice Zafira had zoned out. It did cross through his mind that Vivio really was a special child due to her ability to sleep through that. "You know what to do right?" It seemed Nanoha had no idea how to take came of her own child. Poor Vivio she was lucky to have Fate, without Fate she'd still be stuck on the ground.

"I do." Not was the last word on that sentence but Zafira didn't have the heart to tell the truth to Nanoha.

"Good." She looked up the stairs. "Fate-chan did you find them!"

"Yes." Fate came down the stairs, now shoed, "Ready Nanoha?"

"Yeah! We should be back tomorrow-."

"I'll stay here tonight don't worry," Zafira was on auto pilot, saying what needed to be said even if he had no idea how it would work out.

"Thanks." Nanoha headed out the door.

"Thank you Zafira," Fate followed Nanoha out the door.

Zafira was left alone… alone… with Vivio. He looked up the staircase. It was going to be a long day.


Vivio was an impressive sleeper; that meant a lot coming from Zafira as he distinctly remembered Vita had once slept through a full scale invasion. Not only had Vivio slept through her mothers' argument she had also managed to sleep through Zafira fumbling up the stairs, tripping over a stuffed doggy (Vivio had somehow managed to accumulate several dozen of the stuffed things over the past week.) and knocking over a chair. Zafira rested his muzzle on the edge of the giant bed (honestly who needed that big of a bed?). It didn't matter how long she slept but something about her sleeping was making him tense, maybe it was the fact he didn't know when she would wake up and his work would begin.

She stirred; it seemed his work would begin right about now. With a sleepy little noise the girl sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked around, blinking. A happy little smile reached her face as she noticed Zafira. "Mornin' Zaffy," she yawned.

Zafira didn't bother to argue; he had decided it was futile to fight with a six-year-old. "Good morning Vivio," it was covenant that she was too young to find it odd that the giant wolf was next to her bed. He backed up when Vivio started to scoot out of bed. Teeth, Vivio should brush her teeth. "Vivio go brush your teeth."

To Zafira's surprise Vivio not only complied, she saluted him before walking off. Spending a week on a military base was very influential on a young child apparently. As he heard the sink turn on he turned to the bed. If he remembered correctly Ana made the monster everyday. A daunting task indeed, the very idea that Ana had made this bed everyday since the beginning of their unit boasted her indefinitely in his mind.

He examined his situation; true it was a giant bed but it wasn't unconquerable. He took one end of the sheet in his mouth, easily pulling it all the way over; this wasn't so hard, he could do this in his sleep! Then he moved over to the comforter. Why was the comforter so… heavy? Zafira struggled with the stuffed fabric. Fluffy things weren't supposed to be this heavy! He heaved and he hoed but he couldn't move the thing. With a final tug he managed to get half of it up and tucked in. The other half got one look before Zafira decided to tackle it later.

Vivio emerged from the bathroom, "hungry."

Zafira hesitated, he wasn't sure just how to address that problem.

"Yo Zafira!" Oh how… lucky it looked like he had a distraction.

"Upstairs!" Zafira yelled down, his voice was followed by the sound of climbing feet, two pairs if he wasn't mistaken.

Vivio apparently sensed who it was before he even finished climbing the stairs because she ran and tackled the new comer as soon as he reached the top. "Uncle Vice!"

Vice chuckled and caught Vivio with his trademark grin. "Hey kid."

Griffith slid around Vice, holding his large paper bag aloft, "We brought breakfast."

Zafira owed Griffith for that. Though he wasn't sure how the two of them knew he'd need it. He thanked Griffith silently and Griffith smiled back sympathetically.

Vice dumped Vivio on the bed before sitting down right on Zafira's hard work. "Hey guess what we have?" He took the bag from Griffith and rummaged around until he took out a small pastry.

"Muffin!" Vivio pounced on the food with nearly predatory excitement.

"There are donuts too." Vice tossed Zafira a smaller bag. Zafira reached in and took one out, using the magic of his muzzle to hook it.

After devouring the glazed circle Zafira looked to Vice, "Where'd you get these?"

"You should go to the offices more often bud. There's always a bunch there," Vice answered.

"You don't use the cafeteria?" Zafira's question was directed at Griffith.

"They're closed today for maintenance work." Griffith's words caused Zafira to realize something horrible.

"Besides they can't make good donuts to save their lives," Vice happily took another donut, completely oblivious to Zafira's distress. It was a good thing none of the kitchen's notorious cooking mages were around; they were known for being very very scary. He turned to Vivio, "Try the ones with cream," he pushed the bag towards her.

"When did you meet her?" Zafira eyed Vice suspiciously.

"I drove her and Nanoha back from the Saint Church." He turned to Griffith, "She's probably wondering who this strange guy is though."

Griffith made a motion that was half a wave and half a salute, "I'm Griffith."

Vivio screwed up her face in concentration, "Gri-Gri-Griffith." Zafira mentally sighed; she could say Griffith but she couldn't say Zafira.

Griffith looked pleased, "good job."

"So you're all alone today," Vice leaned back, leisurely eating a blueberry muffin as he did.

"What's Vivio then?"

Vice laughed, "Sorry sorry. It's true though right?"

"Yes I suppose but how did you know that?"

Vice shrugged, "News travels fast when there's nothing to do." He rubbed his chin in thought, "Well then I guess you two are free to come with me and Griffith."

Griffith choked on his coffee, "Excuse me! What exactly are we doing?" It looked like this was the first Griffith had heard of this; Vice needed to work on informing people before he made plans for them.

Vice just grinned wider, "We're going into the city." "Didn't you just go twice?" Zafira had no urge to go anywhere with Vice ever again or point out how irresponsible he was being.

"Well yeah but…" he scratched the side of his head, "It's not like I remember it."

You'd remember it if you didn't get drunk every time you went, Zafira wanted to respond with that but it wasn't exactly on the list of etiquette do's. "I don't think that's such a—"

"What do you think Vivio?" Stop interrupting people Vice, Zafira was more then a little annoyed.

Vivio looked up from her muffins; Zafira was amused to see a small pile of berries off on a napkin next to her. "Yes." Zafira would have rubbed his forehead if he could, Vivio don't answer if you don't' know what he's talking about.

"Don't you have work to do Vice?" There had to be something for him to do.

"Without anyone to move I'm free," Vice reached for another donut.

"Wait then who's transporting Nanoha and the others?"

"Alto's on it," Vice said in between bites. "She's in training and it's just ground transfer stuff, so I thought it'd be good practice," Zafira and Griffith both had expressions that clearly said "Go do your job."

Vivio looked from one man to the others, nodding her head at each one as if she had some idea what they were talking about.

"What about you Griffith?" Zafira looked at the glasses wearing man. "Don't you have work today?"

"Well Hayate is off commanding and you know what they say… when the boss is away her underlings will play. Though there is somewhere I need to be—"

Vice cut him off. "Forget your previous engagements buddy! We're making a little girl happy! You gotta come to the city with us."

"I never said we'd go." As far as Zafira was concerned there still was no "us". "Besides if we're going anywhere it's to the grocery store." He sighed, "it's really the only way I'll be able to feed her tonight." Nanoha never kept anything in the refrigerator.

"That's no fun Zaffy," Vice whined. Zafira scowled.

Vivio's eyes lit up, "I wanna go to the grocy store!"

"Do you even know what a grocery store is Vivio?" Vice asked.

"No but I wanna go!"

"You wouldn't want to let her down now would you Vice?" Zafira smirked slightly; his smirk disappeared when he realized he'd just told Vice to spend the day with him and Vivio.

"Of course not! It'll be a guy's plus Vivio's day out!" Vice jumped up pumping his fist in the air.

Griffith tried to reason with Vice, "Look I can't go I have to—" Of course Vice never listed to reason.

"Griffith if you don't come you'll be cursed never to fully enjoy Hayate's lesbian army."

Zafira stood up, "Don't start that up again!"


"Hey Zafira. How're you gonna keep Vivio from flying out of my motorcycle," their party of four had made it all the way to the garage before Vice brought up this crucial point.

"We're taking the motorcycle?" Oh… lovely.

"What'd you think we were going to take?" Vice grinned and shrugged, "I don't own a car."

"Wait… What do you mean keep Vivio from flying out of your motorcycle?"

"Well if you stay like that you can't hold on to her," Griffith explained, "And you can't expect her to hold on herself."

"Of course," Actually Zafira had thought she'd do just that. He thought for a moment. "I guess that means I have to do that." It was unavoidable.

The confusion on Griffith and Vice's faces was erased in a flash of light, along with Zafira's fur.

"Whoo! Zaffy got big!" Vivio pointed up and the now much taller Zafira.

Zafira held down a chuckle, he switches to human form and the only thing Vivio notices is that he got bigger. He straightened the sleeve of his uniform.

"Man you're tall," Vice looked up, "I mean I always figured you were but…"

Zafira shrugged. "Am I?" Zafira never really noticed how tall he was in human form. He used it so little that it never really mattered.

Vice happily slapped Zafira's shoulder, "And you're ripped, I bet we could get into a couple of brawls and be fine."

"Let's avoid those," Griffith sighed; Zafira agreed the last thing he needed was property damage on his head.

Vice disappeared into the dark abyss that was his garage; one day Zafira would have to see exactly what was in there. He returned a few minutes later, rolling out his motorcycle and the rickety sidecar.

"What's that?" On the deathtrap's seat was what appeared to be a backpack; Zafira was wary.

Vice picked it up, "Oh this," he unfolded it. It was a backpack, a very weird backpack, with holes on the bottom. It was also Vivio sized, but not for her to wear rather…

"I am not putting Vivio in that," Zafira crossed his arms with a scowl.

"Come on it works perfectly and this way you won't lose her."

Zafira looked to Griffith for help but Griffith shook his head, "I think it's a good idea too."

Zafira shook his head, "We'll talk about it when we get there."

"Awesome! Now you and Vivio get into the sidecar and put on these," He leaned into the sidecar and tossed Zafira two helmets, even Vice could be thoughtful.

Griffith suddenly realized something, "Then where am I sitting?" His voice was slightly panicked.

"With me of course," Vice grinned and sat on the seat. "Come on."

"You have to be kidding."

"Vivio still isn't getting on the—" as Zafira spoke Vivio grabbed a helmet from his hand and dove into the sidecar—"Vivio!"

"Zaffy" She whined. "Let's go!" Zafira sighed.


Two hours of deadly motorcycles, arguing, and child backpacks later Zafira found himself where we found him in the beginning of this chapter.

It was supposed to be simple, go in, get the groceries, get out but no. Nothing was ever that simple for our poor wolf/man/thing. With the two numbnuts behind him and Vivio squirming around on his back it was next to impossible to both shop and figure out what he was supposed to feed her.

"I'm telling you there's no way the commander would go out with Yuuno-san,"Griffith Zafira tried to will Griffith into just dropping the topic.

"Ouch," someone chuckled. "I'd like to think she would if I asked."

Zafira turned around quickly.

"Ugu… dizzy."

"Yuuno!" Zafira could have kissed him. Finally someone who could help him control Vice. (Not to say he didn't appreciate Griffith trying but he was more than likely to fail.)

"Ah picking up dinner for Vivio?" Yuuno smiled sympathetically.

"Yeah. You?"

"Arf was getting hungry and I thought I'd pick up some food."

"And I thought he was the boss," Vice nudged Griffith's side.

Griffith glared at him.

Yuuno and Zafira both chose to ignore them.

"Uncle Yuuno," Vivio whined and wiggled on Zafira's back trying to get Zafira to let her see Yuuno.

Luckily for Vivio Yuuno went to her. "Look how big you are."

She giggled. "Vivio grew."

"And in just half a week too."

Zafira wondered what exactly it was about Vivio that made grown men turn into something resembling cooing teenage girls. It didn't matter how big the man or how manly he thought himself to be, he would undoubtedly fall under her spell.

Yuuno straightened up and moved around to face Zafira once again. "Well I should get going."

Zafira internally panicked. Go?! Yuuno couldn't go! If he left then Zafira would be alone again and still have no idea what to do. "W-wait!"

Yuuno tilted his head to the side, "Do you need something Zafira?"

Zafira started to sweat. He had yelled out spontaneously, not thinking of what he was actually planning to say. "U-um… well… I'm sure what kind of food Vivio likes so…"

"Ah," Yuuno smiled kindly, "then please let me help you." Yuuno faced one of the shelves, staring at it with far too much intensity.

Zafira moved up behind the librarian "Yuuno? What are you do—"

Yuuno held up a hand. "Shh. I'm thinking." Yuuno reached out and picked up two boxes of pasta. One was green and the other was blue. "Testarossa brand or Barilla?" He spoke as if the fate of the world depended on what he chose.

"Barilla!" Vice answered randomly.

Yuuno nodded and threw the box labeled Testarossa into Zafira's cart. "Now you'll also want bread and a few vegetables." Yuuno took the cart from a bewildered Zafira and started to stroll down the aisle, grabbing this and that.

"Isn't that…" Zafira followed Yuuno. "A bit too much?"

Yuuno looked over his shoulder, "have you seen their refrigerator?"

In fact Zafira had seen the fungus farm that was the captains' fridge. "Please continue."


Yuuno was extremely skilled when it came to grocery shopping. (It probably came out from the endless bachelordom he seemed trapped in.) Yuuno had not only found the freshest heads of broccoli, the cleanest spinach leaves and the nicest can of peas Zafira had ever seen but Yuuno also managed to get Nanoha and Fate at least a week's worth of healthy meals, all at the cheapest prices possible.

Vice and Griffith had been in such awe that they hadn't argued the entire experience. Griffith even took notes.

When Yuuno had finally finished weighing the heads of lettuce with his hands he immediately headed to the checkout line, right past his companions and their wide open mouths. As he started to checkout he proceeded to pull out a good dozen coupons and a membership card.

The clerk gulped almost fearfully, obviously a tad afraid of Yuuno's shopping prowess. "S-sir if you buy another box of oatmeal you can get the milk half off."

Yuuno's eyes lit up at the prospect of a sale, his glasses took on what could only be called an evil glint. "Vice!"

Vice stiffened up with a seriousness Zafira only recalled him treating his way high up superiors with. "Yes!"

"Go grab some oatmeal!"

Zafira wondered what exactly Yuuno thought he, or Nanoha for that matter, was going to do with the extra oatmeal, oatmeal that did in fact cost more then what fifty percent of the milk did.

"I'll see you later then," Yuuno shuffled his grocery sacks to one hand and waved. In the end he had ended up taking half of the groceries with him, he deserved them after he offered to pay for all of the food.

Zafira turned around so Vivio could wave too.

"Bye by!"

"So," Vice's hands were the only ones not filled with groceries, even Vivio was holding a tiny bag. "How are we getting these back to the base?"

Griffith and Zafira gave Vice a dumb look. "We're not taking the motorcycle?"

"It barely fits us, it won't fit groceries too." Vice didn't seem to see how this was a problem.

Griffith and Zafira looked at each other then, simultaneously, yelled out, "YUUNO!"


A/N:
Please continue on to part three