Disclaimer: The author of the fanfiction (babbler) does not, in any way, profit from the story and that all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator.
Babbler: Sorry for the long wait! (Seems like I say that every chapter so sorry again).
Hayate's eyes fluttered open and she felt a cold tingle travel through her body at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. I still have my uniform on. She pushed back the covers and scowled at the crumpled clothes she was still wearing. It could be worse I suppose. She stood and adjusted the blankets so that Fate was fully covered. I don't exactly mind waking up with a hot blonde in my bed.
"CRAP!" She clapped her hands over her mouth and looked over her shoulder hesitantly hoping Fate was still soundly sleeping. She opened her calendar with a sigh. There was a pink glowing heart hovering over the previous day. How the heck did I miss our six month anniversary! She sat back down on the bed. That's why Maydne was like that.
She glanced at the room clocks glowing 8:30 and covered her face with her hands again. Signum didn't wake me up! She looked around the room but there was indeed no pink haired knight present.
Beep! Beep! The window opened without prompt. "I rescheduled your meetings today mistress." Rein smiled happily into the screen.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
Rein chuckled. "Signum said not to wake you and you didn't have anything important to do today anyway."
'Urk!" Hayate lurched. Rein was being blunt or perhaps she was parroting Signum...which was more likely.
"For tomorrow..."
"I cancelled everything for a week." Rein smiled brightly.
"...what?" I haven't missed a day in years.
"Shamal gave me a note saying..." Her eyes went blank. "Complicated things...but you're off for a week...Now I have work to do. Bye!"
"Rein!" It was too late the link was closed. Hayate smiled and stretched. Her knights were taking care of her in their own way...and for Fate too.
There was a small suitcase on the chair closest to the bed and a note on top. Hayate quietly tiptoed across the room...Why am I tiptoeing when I was yelling at Rein-chan a moment ago?... and picked up the note.
"I have brought you some clothes and a change of uniform if need be."
"Signum-chan you're a charmer," Hayate whispered unzipping the bag and pulling out her underwear, some pants, and a t-shirt.
There was an uncomfortable feeling of wetness against Fate's face and she rolled over to the other side of the pillow but cold dampness awaited her there as well. She opened her eyes and wiped her tear streaked face. Their was a uncomfortable hollow sensation in her chest. There was a longing feeling on the edge of her memory for something that would never be again...but longing for what? She couldn't remember. Her dream had been bitterly sweet, she remembered that much at least if nothing else.
"Good morning Fate-chan!" Hayate was seated to the table besides her bed with her knight across from her.
"Morning," Fate said, her voice like a whisper.
"Signum brought breakfast!" Hayate was just about bouncing in her chair.
Fate sat up and rubbed her eyes. She wasn't hungry. Never be hungry ever again. She laid back down on the bed and wrapped the blankets tightly around herself. Her stomach was...she couldn't describe what was happening but it did not feel good. Her joints hurt like she had just been training hard for days. Her head hurt...everything hurt.
Memories of her time with Nanoha were flashing through her mind now and as fast as they popped up she tried to sweep them aside but it was no use. The thoughts were of things that had come to pass and would never be again and even without dwelling on the memories...it hurt. Her tears ran freely now.
Hayate watched Fate curl ever deeper into her ball of blankets and sighed. Signum was watching her too with a frown on her face and a soft look about her eyes that could only be sympathy.
"Fate lets go for a run!" Hayate bounded out of her chair.
Signum cocked an eyebrow but remained quiet.
"Fateeeee." Hayate shook her shoulder. "I need you running alongside me to distract them from my pudgy ass! Come on Fate!"
Signum laid a hand on Hayate shoulder and gently pulled her away from the ever dampening mass on the bed. "Let her be for a while. Let her get it out of her system."
Hayate sighed. "I'm going to make you sweat later whether you like it or not...hehehe...that sentence came out so totally wrong in all the right ways." She smiled crookedly lost in her inner world that may or may not have currently housed a tall blonde enforcer.
Hayate walked across the room to the small window and looked out over the parking lot. Fate's car was there now in the parking lot, Hayate glanced sidelong back at Signum, one of the handful of people who Fate let touch her car. Signum must have gotten it when she picked up breakfast. A smirk crept across her lips...
"Mistress, it is not healthy to be constantly thinking of such things," Signum said, arms folded eyes closed.
"Thinking about what things?" Hayate batted her eyeglasses and skipped across the room.
Signum's brow scrunched slightly but she remained silent. She knew well enough to stay out of her Mistress' more than fertile imagination.
Hayate sat heavily in the chair at the small table and took another bite of her...cold-BLAH!-English muffin.
I wonder how Nanoha is...
Half across town a blonde haired man that some would say resembled a ferret- and some wished had remained a ferret- was speeding towards Nanoha.
"She wouldn't pick up last night...I wonder why Vivio wouldn't either?" They were still on good terms weren't they? I'm like a cool uncle to her. He sighed. The word "cool" did not sit well on his tongue. We used to always do things together when she was younger. We had lots of fun. Nanoha and Vivio have been having problems but she's always been cordial to me...I suppose I'll be her step-dad in the near future...maybe...
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
"Gah!" The car's side panels came within a hair's breadth of the front end of a large SUV type vehicle travelling at considerable speed. "Haha...that was close...No more blowing through intersections!" He gripped the wheel tighter, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I think that was fate's way of saying not to get ahead of yourself...fate's...Fate's...sigh."
I hope Nanoha's feeling a little better today. Yuuno turned onto Nanoha's street. I hope everyone's not here trying to comfort her and getting on her nerves...she'll be miserable for a month like that.
He brought the car to a stop in Nanoha's driveway and parked the car. Hmm...no one's here...I guess it's only 9:00 after all and everyone has work...you better not have gone to work Nanoha! Yuuno raced up the path and threw open the door.
The house was still dark. Yuuno felt his way along the wall for the light-switch. Fate's jacket was usually hung on the hook and covering it. He moved a couple of things aside reaching for the switch but not finding it. He reopened the door to let some light in.
I was right! It was hidden by a jacket. Yuuno pushed Vivio's studded leather jacket to one side and flipped the switch. Wrong jacket that's all. That's cute. Fate's hung her coat on that hook ever since they bought the house, and of all the other hooks, Vivio chose that one. Yuuno flicked on the hallway light.
Every curtain in the house was pulled through and every blind was lowered. Yuuno sighed. It's always so bright here in the mornings. I love having breakfast here with the sun streaming in through the patio doors...they were tinted black...Nanoha?
"What do you want?" Came a voice from the stairs.
"Good morning Vivio." He smiled at her. "Where's your mom?"
She narrowed her eyes. Descending the stairs slowly with eyes trained on him she trotted over to the sofa. There was some hair hanging over the arm of the chair and Vivio tugged it.
Come to think of it, Vivio has been avoiding me lately...I don't think we've really spoken more than a greeting in a while.
"Mama why didn't you wake me up for school?" Vivio leaned on her elbows on the back of the sofa.
"Wha..." Nanoha groggily sat up rubbing her eyes. "We...yawn...need to get you to school." She stretched out her arms and legs and finally got to her feet.
"How come you're wearing Fate-mama's pj's?" Vivio cocked a eyebrow.
"Go get dressed and get something to eat. Hurry now."
Vivio took a few steps back toward the stairs then swivelled around. "Where IS Fate-mama?" Vivio glared cancerously at Yuuno.
"Hurry!" Nanoha clapped her hands together. She took a few steps forward then leaned against the wall for support.
"Are you okay." Yuuno slid his arms around Nanoha's still slender waist. "I'll take Vivio to school."
Nanoha sighed. "I haven't told her we broke up yet so try not to make her explode before that."
"Haha..."
There was a thudding of footsteps on the stairs and Yuuno and Nanoha deftly slipped apart.
"Grab something to eat. Yuuno-chan is taking you to school.
Vivio slowly plodded down the stairs step by step. "Yay! My favourite person in the ENTIRE world is taking me to school." She jumped the final few steps.
"Behave yourself." Nanoha rolled her eyes. It was like telling a squirrel not to crap on the window sill. It'll just sit there crapping away with its beady little eyes burning into you while you eat your corn flakes.
Vivio grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl in the kitchen and walked towards the front entrance.
"More than that Vivio. Breakfast is brain food," Nanoha said halfheartedly, a shiver running through her body. The mornings were already getting colder. She wrapped her arms around herself, snuggling into the soft flannelette material- the pyjamas smelt good- and sighed. It was going to be a long day.
"It's all I want..." She shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her leather jacket.
"You can't wear that..."
Bang! Vivio opened the door and slammed it shut behind her before Yuuno could finish.
"I'll be back in a bit." Yuuno ran after managed to reach the drivers side at about the same time Vivio reached for her door handle. They both got into the car buckled their seat belts wordlessly.
"You have to be better to your mom." Yuuno started the car and quickly put it into drive.
Vivio turned toward the window, rested her head on her arm, and propped her elbow again the door handle. Her jaw clenched shut at a certain palindromic word but she remained silent.
There can be only one reason why she doesn't like me...she senses something already. I just have to talk like we always used to and try and ride it out and not ruin her day.
"What classes do you have today?" He smiled at her.
Still Stoney silence. She stared blankly at the buildings whizzing by and tried to find a comfortable position for her elbow.
"We're friends aren't we? How come you're not talking to me?"
"I don't want to talk to you," she sighed still gazing out the window.
How do I handle this? "Remember when we went to the park a few years ago and the circus was in the abandoned lot?" From her reflection in the window he could see her eyes watching him. "You won that that pink lion...do you still have it?"
"I burned it."
Gah! "Why?" She loved that lion...or she did...
"Because of you," she said in a singsong voice to the music on the radio.
"Vivio...I'm going to be your..."
"GOING TO BE MY WHAT?"
Yuuno jumped, the car swearing, he re-adjusted his glasses. Landmine. How the heck am I going to dig my way out of this? This must be fate. Things were going to well...Fate? There was a blonde woman running along the side of the road with a familiar brunette a few steps behind. On my journey to Vivio's school I met Fate speeding toward me...sounds like a metaphor for something.
"You're going to be my WHAT? I don't want you to be my anything!"
Yuuno jumped and turned his head slightly. She got her voice from Nanoha that was certain enough. Nanoha could definitely be loud when she wanted to be and even when she shouldn't....
"Calm down."
"No."
"I want you to calm down so we can talk about this sensibly." He tried in a more commanding tone. He crossed his toes.
"I want you to get hit by a truck." Vivio slammed her fist into the dash.
"I just meant that I...I'm going...to be spending more time with you now." That sounded convincing...to bad I rolled a 1 on my diplomacy check. "I miss spending time with you."
Back to silence once more. Vivio cracked her knuckles. It had been a while since she trained and her hands were so much softer than they used to be. There were even blisters from rock climbing and that would never have happened before.
Yuuno eyed her curiously. He didn't like her sudden interest in her knuckles. The girl had her mother's temper and Fate's affinity for close range...it wasn't a nice combination to think about for someone who's only recourse at close range was to curl in the fetal position and hope his shield held out.
"Do you need lunch money?" He slowed to a stop in front of the school. The short ride finally coming to a merciful end.
Vivio threw open the door and slammed it shut. The entire car shaking from the impact.
There was a new rattle in the engine compartment. He was surprised the body didn't shear of from the axles. He turned to wave at Vivio through the window. Vivio was waving too... her two middle fingers crossed in a two handed salute. Her lips forming syllables that were not "Goodbye uncle Yuuno!" The words were more likely a physically impossible proposition.
I'm sorry Nanoha I failed you. I've been rolling a lot of 1's lately.
A short distance away, Fate, dressed in borrowed shorts and tank top, stopped to wait for a very sweaty and red faced Hayate to catch up to her. "Was that just Vivio and Yuuno in that car that passed by"
"Didn't...notice...to busy...trying...not to die." Hayate leaned back and sucked air into furiously burning lungs. She staggered over to a grassy patch besides the sidewalk and toppled over.
"You started too fast..."
"I...feel...just like...when we... ran that marathon in... high school." She led back, using her arm to block the sun. "I...can't believe I'm so out of shape..."
Fate crouched besides her. "I feel better now at least. I'm glad you made me run."
"I...have...mixed feelings about that decision." I'm drenched and Fate looks like she just finished warmups!
"You have to exercise on your own since you don't get it on the job anymore." Fate patted her on the knee.
"...I don't want to hear it! Signum and Shamal are bad enough!"
Fate latched on to Hayate's hand and yanked her to her feet. "Come one. The motel is literally right around the corner."
"I was just waiting for the scythe to come and end it all." Hayate leaned against her friend. She wanted a small rest break before encountering Signum again. The woman would not be pleased with her conditioning.
"Death's or mine?" Fate smiled.
Hayate beamed and grabbed Fate's hand. "Yay! You're joking! You are feeling better." Not giving her time to dwell on things was the right decision!
"Do you think you can make it?" Fate smirked.
"I think so." If I just jog across the parking lot then it's home free.
I'm sorry body. Your time of decadence is over. No more ice cream and pizza as meals. No more potato chips and chocolate...She glared angrily at Fate perfectly proportioned backside. That butt is what we're aiming for or we die trying! She blushed. I did not mean it like that! Stupid perverted brain.
300 feet...200 feet...100 feet...HOME FREE!...F'ing stairs. Hayate put one foot in front of the other, pulling herself up the stairs. Why couldn't it be ground floor?
"It is good you survived the run Mistress or I would have had to consider drastic action." Signum leaned against the door sill with arms folded and narrowing her eyes at Hayate.
"You mean like...workouts all night long?" Hayate giggled.
Signum's eyes snapped shut. "I will be calling you secretary and ensuring the removable of that vending machine you are so fond of."
"Nooooooooooooooooo! Not Mr. Chips and Candy Bars! He-he's like an old friend! He's important to me."
Signum walked into the room.
Poop! My late nights at the office just got so much worse. Hayate sat heavily on the top step. The cool breeze whipping through her hair felt nice and the shade was even better. She leaned back and peaked in the open door. Fate was drinking some water and looking...not completely miserable...not having time to think about things yet.
She opened a computer screen. Nanoha was on the move she observed. Yuuno was too but in the opposite direction. I have a pretty good idea where Mrs. Takamachi is going. "Time for a shower!"
Twenty minutes and a quick bite to eat later, Hayate swung the door open to the bar and paused to let her eyes adjust to the light. Looks nicer than the outside. Hayate looked curiously around the place. She had been to numerous bars since she was became of legal age to drink, but not this one. There was a smiling bartender standing behind a well worn bar with equally well worn stools. The floor wasn't sticky though which was a plus in her book.
Nanoha was sitting at the far end of the bar and nursing a orange coloured drink. Her hair cascaded down her back and she looked like she just rolled out of bed. Hayate mouth twitched, then she turned on a smile and walked across the room. She sat on one of the stools and waited for the bartender to notice her. It was too early for a drink...Nanoha obviously didn't feel that way.
Nanoha had noticed her the moment she walked in though it wasn't hard since there were only a handful of people there and the huge bell clanging over the door was a huge give away. Her gaze had nearly burned through her skull before Hayate reached the stool.
"I hope that's not alcoholic." Hayate turned an eye toward her friend.
"No." She sloshed the liquid around her glass.
"I've heard strong magic has a strong toxic affect on a foetus. Interferes developmentally."
"Whaaa what!" Nanoha's eyes popped open. "There is no way that's true."
"No...but have you seen your health care provider to be sure."
Nanoha's teeth gritted. "No."
"Hehehe...probably best if you waited a bit before you see Shamal. She might stick you with something," Hayate giggled as thoughts of Nanoha running down the hall in her open backed hospital gown and Shamal racing after her, a huge hypodermic needle in her hands.
"...I'm not in the mood for this Hayate-chan." Nanoha rubbed her temples and swivelled on her seat to look out the window.
"Fa...," Hayate bit her tongue. "I'm just here to fulfil my best friend duties. You know how it is with the mocking and the cutting jokes." Hayate narrowed her eyes at the mess of brown hair across from her. "I've been trying to have a sensible discussion with you about this for months and you just keep blowing me off. When are you going to talk about it?"
Hayate motioned toward the bartender.
"What'll it be miss?"
"The strongest drink you can legally sell me...illegally if need be." In a flash, a glass full of clear brown liquid slid in front of her. I'll probably need a few of these.
"Talk about what? It's none of your business? I'm tired of you sticking your nose in it."
Hayate sighed. "So it's none of my business that my subordinate and best friend cheated on my subordinate and best friend with a subordinate and friend. All of whom who I've known since I was nine years old?" Hayate took a long drink. It burned perfectly. "I guess you're right. I'll let you get back to drinking with all your other friends who came to support you." She made a sweeping gesture to the empty bar.
It was Nanoha's turn to sigh this time. She buried her face in her arms. "...How many people know?"
"Besides me and Signum? Shamal does. I imagine Lindy will be finding out soon and Fate's Onii-chan probably already does...They'll all know soon enough."
"..."
"If you're ashamed...then there's a good reason for that Homewrecker-chan."
"Wouldn't...wouldn't Yuuno be the homewrecker?"
"Oh you're right." She put a finger to her pursed lips and stared at the ceiling. "I can think of better names that that. How about..."
"Stop! Can't you be...I don't know...be objective or something?"
"I suppose." Hayate pretended to pout.
"Objectively tell me why you are being such a bitch to me."
"Lets see...my person does not condone of you suckin...of your inappropriate actions with Yunno Scrya's genitalia and subsequent pregnancy."
"...That just sounded formal."
"Didn't you tell me that you'd talk to Fate first before anything happened between you two?"
"It was an accident."
"So you two just so happened to end up naked and rhythmically slapping your..."
"Stop!"
"I could go get some dolls if you need a..."
"STOP!"
Nanoha had her face buried in her arms again and odd murmuring sounds were emanating from her. Isn't that a weird reaction? Hayate quirked an eyebrow. "So you don't like thinking about seximus maximus with your new boy toy?"
"..."
"You liked it enough to get pregnant...and don't even try to tell me it was the first time. That only happens on televisions. Those liars."
"It was the first time..."
"Okay...right? So how did ya forget to wrap it?"
"I'm not use to...with guys."
Hayate downed the rest of her drink. "Lets talk about something else. The thought of you and Yuuno grunting together makes me sick." She raised a finger and the bartender slid another glass filled with a brown liquid in front of her.
"I imagine Vita is taking care of your duties today?"
"Yes."
"The kids you've gotten recently seem rather wilful."
"Yes."
"...and you keep getting worked up day after day."
"Yes."
"Almost as if someone were trying to tell you that you need a calm stabilizing figure in your life that just so happens to have blonde hair and a soothing voice...maybe a childhood friend..."
Nanoha shot up from her seat and walked quickly to the back of the bar. She slid into a booth as far away as she could get from the scattered other people in the building.
Hayate watched her without a word. She tipped the drink up to her lips and emptied half the glass. Am I trying to hurt her or help her? She grabbed her glass and followed her friend. For Vivio and Fate's sake I'll help...
"Go away!" Nanoha moved to the outside of the seat and latched onto the table.
Nanoha sucked air into her lungs sharply as Hayate sat on her outstretched arms and flattened them into her lap.
"Go...go away." She sniffed back tears.
"You're my best friend and I love you." Hayate wrapped her arms around Nanoha's neck. "...but I think you're making the worst mistake of your life."
"Sniffle..."
"I'm sorry if I was mean but I wish you would have told me so that Signum or Shamal or I could have helped with the fallout. What if...what if she...she did something..."
"She w-wouldn't d-do that." Nanoha was shaking now or eyes wide and watery.
"I know she's strong Nanoha but...she's been betrayed now by two of the most important women in her life..."
"T-that's why I-I'm the bad guy." Nanoha's jaw shook.
"The adulterer usually is and Fate is just so incredibly loveable. She's cute, has a painful past, and does her job for all the right reasons."
"I-I'm n-not loveable?"
"Sure you are...but right now it's very hard to love you."
Nanoha's arms crept around Hayate's waist. "I...if..." She nuzzled her face into her shoulder as tears streamed down her face.
"Would you like me to take Vivio out and break it to her?"
"Sniffle...we-well you be...be nice...not make me the devil?"
Hayate gently took Nanoha's face and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'll do my best." It's not like Vivio doesn't know anyway. "It's the least I could do."
Thank you for continuing to read! I appreciate it. : ) All constructive feedback is very appreciated.
