Conniving Wife
A week passed since the doctor's visit. More than enough time for Fate to think, worry, and forget the whole thing. Now it was time to put operation love-me into action.
Day 1
Her nose sniffed once and then again. Bed sheets rustled as her body slid toward the delightful scent. A small smirk rested on her lips and she mmmed before her eye lids slowly fluttered open.
Chocolate… cake. She thought dreamily, but as she grew more awake she noticed there really was a chocolate cake in front of her.
Sitting up in bed, she saw Nanoha in her frilly white apron. She gave her a cheery smile while holding a tray that held a heart shaped chocolate cake fresh from the oven and a glass of warm milk. Just the way she liked it.
Discreetly, she glanced at their bedside clock that also held the date and quickly ran through a list of possible events. Not my birthday. Not our anniversary. Not valentine's day. Am I missing something? She thought on it, and didn't think so. So what could possibly prompt this delightful surprise?
"Morning Fate-chan!" Nanoha sang.
"Morning Nanoha" Fate said softly and gave her a small smile. She wouldn't ask. Nanoha could let slip the importance of the day, and she'd never know she forgot. Yes. Good plan. She patted herself on the back.
"Slept well?"
Fate nodded.
Nanoha beamed. "Great! Here" She placed the tray in front of Fate and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Enjoy!" Before turning around and leaving.
Fate blinked in confusion, now having to wonder what all the fuss was about. Then a sweet smell rose to her nose. Her eyes trained on the cake. It would be a shame to wait. Better eat it now while Nanoha's feelings are freshly baked. She picked up the fork. I thoroughly accept your feelings Nanoha. She thoughtfully saluted before she bit onto the small piece.
"Mmm!" Her eyes closed in delight at the delicate chocolate cream surrounded by warm dark chocolate flakes. Only her wife could make such a cake.
In no time the plate was licked clean, and Fate lay back satisfied. Life was good.
Nanoha poked her head in and smiled. She went to take the tray away when she giggled. Fate blinked her eyes open. "It was very good."
"I can tell" Nanoha said between giggles.
"hmm?"
"You have a milk mustache"
"Oh! Um…" she went for a napkin when Nanoha's hand stopped her. She raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Nanoha leaned in and licked away the remaining milk.
Fate felt her face warm.
Nanoha stood back. "All clean!" She said cheerily.
"Eh… um… thank you."
Blue eyes were laughing as Nanoha grasped the tray. She always loved when Fate got flustered. "Welcome."
Fate watched her go a small swagger to her step. When she heard the clanking of dishes, she reached for Bardiche.
"Sir?"
"Is today a special date?"
He glowed for a bit before answering, "No Sir."
"Oh." Fate looked thoughtful. "Can you ask Raising Heart? But tell her not to tell Nanoha." She hurriedly added.
"Yes Sir."
She waited a few moments.
"No event scheduled on Raising Heart. Sir."
"Oh." Guess she just felt like doing it. She shrugged, feeling better that she hadn't forgotten anything important.
She went to work and came home without any further surprises other than being asked to take a day off from work that week.
Day 2
Fate ran to a red sports car on display. Then to a black one across from it, and a yellow one in front of that, and so forth jumping from one car to the next.
Nanoha smiled as she watched her wife while Vivio gaped at her mother's childish enthusiasm. It was just weird to see her usually refined mother that way.
After touring through all sorts of cars, Fate turned and gave Nanoha a big hug. "Thank you" She whispered into her hair. She wanted to go to the auto-show for months, but never had the time.
Nanoha smirked. "It's not over yet." She then grabbed Fate's hand and dragged her with Vivio outside where a bunch of people stood around race cars lined up on the driving course.
Nanoha scanned through the cars before making a beeline to one of them. A mechanic, holding a sign with Takamachi written on it, stood in front of a black race car with aerodynamic cuts and angles. Fate eyed her wife than the car and back to her wife.
Nanoha let go of Fate's hand, who was overwhelmed by the prospects of what she thought was happening, and showed the man a ticket and her ID. He then gave her a set of keys and two suits.
Seeing Fate too shocked to move, she led her to a changing room. Struck one of the suits against her chest and told her to change. Then went with Vivio to the changing room beside Fate's.
""Here Vivio put this on." She held out the other suit.
Vivio took it, looking confused as she started to change. "What about you, mama?"
Nanoha zipped up the suit for her. "I don't need one."
"Why?"
"Because Nanoha-mama wants to take pictures of Fate-mama and Vivio." She stepped back and giggled. Sleeves hung down passed Vivio's hands and the pant legs were all bunched up at the bottom.
"Mama!" Vivio whined while crossing her arms, the suit hanging off her body making her look even cuter.
"mmm" Nanoha cleared her throat to stop giggling. "Let's see what we can do."
"There much better." With a little help from Raising Heart, Nanoha shrunk the suit to Vivio's size.
Vivio nodded.
They met up with Fate where Nanoha excitedly took a few pictures.
***********##########**************
Fate's hands gently went round the wheel, enjoying the sensation of soft leather. "Ready Vivio?"
The younger blond girl sitting beside her mother in the two seater car nodded. She waved to her Nanoha-mama who was standing on the side lines Raising Heart ready to take pictures. Nanoha had also told Bardiche, who was always with his master, to videotape the drive.
Fate grinned with anticipation, waiting for the go ahead. This would be the first time she could drive without restraint. They were on their own special track with winding curves, straight ways, and open spaces. No bystanders, other than the auto-show crew supervising and monitoring her driving and Nanoha. No cars, save for the one she was allowed to drive, or speed limits. It was safe to say she could drive the car to its limits without worrying about others and traffic tickets.
The light turned green and she floored it. She sunk into her seat as the car accelerated quickly to 100mph and climbing.
Vivio laughed with glee as she saw the world speed by her.
She drifted in and out of turns. Feeling a rush at the cars reactions as she constantly played with the wheel and gear shift.
"Vivio want to help me?" Fate briefly glanced at her.
Bright eyed, Vivio averted her gaze from the window to her mother. "Yes!"
Fate moved her hand from the gear stick to the handbrake. "When I tell you, press the button" Her thumb played with it so Vivio could see. "and pull it up. Okay?"
"Yes!"
She was coming to open space, the car speeding down the road. "Ready?"
"hmm!"
"Now!"
Vivio pulled the lever up and Fate expertly turned the wheel. The car shrieking as it performed a perfect 180 before coming to a stop.
Vivio stared out the window her heart beating fast. "Again! Again!"
Fate smiled. "You got it!" She had Vivio put down the hand break before going in reverse. Sensing she was at a good speed she had Vivio lift the hand break. Vivio squealed in delight as the car spun round and round while going forward before stopping in the exact spot they started (where the first trick ended in the center of the open-spaced circle).
They performed a few more tricks before Fate drove at a slower pace to the starting line where Nanoha was waving at them.
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"You're the best." Fate squeezed her tight. Her bear hug lifting Nanoha's feet right off the ground.
Nanoha giggled. "I'm glad you liked it." She knew she would. Cars were Fate's hobby since the first time she put the pedal to the metal and felt the power and speed of a car. It was magic. The closest she could get to the rush and adrenaline of her own on an unadminstered planet.
That night Fate couldn't help but wonder what was going on with Nanoha. She wasn't complaining. She really loved the auto-show, and it wasn't unusual for them to do something like that on their occasional dates. But, they hadn't planned a date this time. She had taken off work per Nanoha's request, and it wasn't even a holiday or something to celebrate. She had just indulged her since she never asked before, and she hadn't used any of her sick days so it worked out.
But then what was with cake for breakfast? Nanoha was against it and always urged her to eat healthy, except for special occasions when she permitted it.
She could understand why. Heck she'd witnessed Nanoha grow more health conscientious after her accident where she started taking better care of her body, and expected the same from her when they moved in together. But, that hadn't stopped her bad habits of eating sweets as a morning meal and had been the cause of many arguments between them. Eventually, Nanoha grew fed up and had taken it upon herself to prepare her a proper breakfast, and she ate it since she felt refusing would shame her efforts. After that it had just become habit and she grew to like Nanoha's health dishes.
Thus, it was very peculiar, Nanoha's behavior. The investigator in her could not understand the motive behind her actions. What was the reason? Should she ask? But then she could come across as ungrateful and she didn't want to be rude.
"Fate is something wrong?" She'd seen that concentrated look before when Fate was trying to figure out some puzzle on one of her cases.
Startled from her thoughts, Fate glanced at her. "Just wondering?" She gave her an offhanded smile.
"About what?" Nanoha drawled out curiously.
"You"
"Me?" She pointed to herself and smiled sweetly as she went to sit on Fate's lap. "What do you want to know that you already don't?" It was more of a statement than a question since Fate knew her better than anyone else. Blue looked into red, her hand playing in Fate's blond hair.
"I was just wondering why you've been…" She was searching for the right word and didn't really find one, so settled for "too sweet."
Nanoha raised an eyebrow. "You mean I'm usually not."
Fate shook her head. "No you're sweet. It's just you've been extra sweet lately."
"Hmm. Would you prefer I wasn't?" Her hand slid from Fate's hair to her white shirt collar. Her hand tightened on it and roughly yanked Fate toward her. "Like this." She whispered her lips curved in a sadistic smile, their noses an inch apart.
Fate pouted. "Stop teasing."
Nanoha chuckled and let her go. They gazed at each other in comfortable silence before Nanoha broke it. "Has it ever occurred to you that I do what I do because I love you?"
"Oh I know you love me. But, you wouldn't pamper me for no reason that would mean I couldn't look forward to cashing in my collection of Nanoha sweet points that I have painstakingly built up for one day of Nanoha's extra sugary sweet goodness."
Nanoha was speechless after that declaration as her heart pitter pattered in her chest. She buried her face in the crook of Fate's neck. A happy tear drop at the corner of her eye slid down her cheek to land on Fate's shirt.
Fate pat Nanoha's head and listened to her laugh.
"Fate-chan always liked sweets." Nanoha spoke in between her laughter.
"Yes, but I like to savor the special ones."
Nanoha leaned back to look at her gentle wife gazing at her lovingly. "I can't hide anything from you. And I don't want to."
They fell into silence. Blue eyes searched red, seeing patience and attentiveness.
"I want to have a baby with you." She paused taking a deep breath.
Fate didn't interrupt and allowed Nanoha to have a moment to steady herself. It was hard for her and she understood. Nanoha was putting her feelings out there, risking rejection a second time when her confusion and lack of compliance must have felt. No. She remembered sad blue eyes. Nanoha had felt rejection the first time during their disagreement at the doctor's office, and while she didn't like the direction the conversation was going she knew she'd put it off long enough. So, she set aside her feelings and listened with an open ear.
"With Dr. Aberstein's help. Using the third option." Nanoha glanced at Fate anxiously as she waited for her response.
"I see." She said thoughtfully, yet uncommitted.
Then Fate sent her a gentle smile, easing her heart a bit.
"Nanoha" She called her name softly and grasped her hand. "I promise I'll answer you tomorrow. Just give me till then. Okay?" She softly brushed her cheek, and Nanoha leaned into her touch.
"Okay." That was the best she could do now.
"Thank you" She uttered gratefully and kissed her forehead.
*********######*********
The following day at her work desk Fate searched the data base on Dr. Aberstein. She found no warrants or illegal research. In fact, people loved him and regarded him as a brilliant scientist. She even found an organization he founded that helped orphaned kids. His records were practically glowing, yet why did her instincts, and she always trusted them since they've never steered her wrong, warn against this doctor.
Then she came across his publication on a new method to create life for same sex couples. She read it and while she didn't understand the whole thing she got the gist of it, and was impressed. Only one thing disturbed her, the secret that the doctor hid. No human had under gone the procedure, which meant he wanted to experiment his new treatment on them.
Her warning bells had stopped ringing now that she knew what the doctor wanted. There was only one decision to make. Could she let Nanoha go through an untested procedure?
The procedure was highly magic based. Nanoha had injured her linker core. What were the side effects? She didn't know, but had a few guesses based on her knowledge of familiar magic. Could Nanoha handle it? Most likely. Would her linker core be further damaged? She didn't know. These were just some of things going through her mind.
She made up her mind.
"Bardiche call Dr. Aberstein."
"Yes. Sir."
Her holophone produced an image of the old doctor.
"Good day!"
"Hello doctor. I have one question for you."
The doctor looked attentive as he listened.
"How safe is your new procedure? And don't lie to me. I know no mage has done it before."
"Chm! So you found out. Vell, every prrrocedure needs a firrrst. I hoped you'd be it. As to yourrr question, boz of you are highly gifted in magik, and ze tests on animals hasn't shown any adverrrse effects. I zink you'll be safe."
"Even if one of us had their linker core damaged?"
"Chm! Rrreally?" The doctor scratched his bald head. He had no idea since it hadn't shown in his check up of them. "Vell, vhatever damage done has long healed. You'll be fine." He reassured her pleasantly.
Fate sat back and closed her eyes as she fought with herself one last time. Nodding to herself, she opened them determination shining in her eyes. "Okay. We'll do it with the new procedure."
The doctor clapped. "vonderful. Vhen can I see you?"
"Set a date for next Sunday."
"Verrry vell."
They said their goodbyes, and Fate called Nanoha to tell her the news.
Her bright blue eyes shining like the sun, made Fate smile. Then laugh as Nanoha told her if she wouldn't get in trouble she'd fly to her right then and shower her with hugs and kisses.
"Love you. Fate-chan!"
"Love you too Nanoha"
The light from the holophone faded and Fate returned to work.
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Omake 1
"Is today a special?"
"Only if you want it to be Sir."
Fate stared at him surprised. It was so uncharacteristic of her serious device.
"I think you spend too much time with the younger devices."
"Yes Sir."
Omake 2
Raising Heart and Bardiche glowed in the middle of night while their masters slept peacefully. They conspired on Nanoha's behalf. Both feeling sympathetic to her plight, and Bardiche already knew his master wasn't as quick on her feet when it came to Nanoha, unless she were in danger. So, they took it upon themselves to push her in the right direction.
By the time morning came round they were both satisfied with their plan.
****####*****
"Sir." Bardiche glowed. Time to set their plan in motion.
"Hmm" Fate answered distractedly while searching for information on Dr. Aberstein.
"Message from Big Mama"
Fate set aside her investigation. Big mama? Whose that? "Um. Put it through."
Bardiche droned the message in his monotone voice:
My Dearest Fate-papa,
If I don't have an answer from you today, I promise to Starlight Break you two times over for all the trouble you've put me through. Then while you're unconscious I will forcefully drag you to Dr. Aberstein and impregnate you myself!
Love you
Big mama
PS buy some milk on the way home.
Fate shook in her seat. Whether she was afraid or excited she didn't know. But, she immediately called Nanoha and told her they would have a baby her way.
*******#####*******
"Lady Heart."
"Alright. Sir Bardiche"
"You're brilliant"
Raising Heart glowed red at the compliment. "You weren't bad yourself."
Bardiche pulsed with pride before he rose to the air and pointed at the red ruby. "Shall we dance. Lady Heart."
"Alright. Sir Bardiche." Raising Heart rose to meet him and together they did a happy dance as their plan was a success.
Their masters never knew of the letter Raising Heart and Bardiche wrote on Nanoha's behalf or their victory celebration afterward.
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AN: Hope you enjoyed! And thank you for all the reviews I'm really glad you guys like this. And also for those silent readers thank you for taking the time to read this.
