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: Rather than wait for who knows how long for the full 10,000 word chapter I've divided it into two. Enjoy.


The following is an announcement of the emergency broadcast system. Hurricane Yuunoha is scheduled to make landfall in the Cranagan area in the early morning hours. The storm , also going by the name of "Whatthefukareyoudoing" is classifed as a category 3 hurricane with moderate to strong wind speeds, high tides , and strong storm swells. Storm warning is in effect for the near future. The public is advised to limit any feelings of raging and hate while riding out the storm. Warm weather and clear skies are soon to follow.


Nanoha's eyes fluttered open and she stared at the far wall. There was a warmth in her bed she could somehow tell was a blonde but not correct sex as the one she hoped to wake up next to. Turning her head a little she could see him sleeping with his back to her. We're like two strangers. She couldn't say she'd ever woke up back to back with Fate; and with a full foot of bed space between them to boot. Back to back but pressed tightly together but not like this. Limbs intertwined, snuggled closely together, or just sleeping side by side they never had a chasm like was between her and Yuuno now.

We didn't even sleep like this the first night we shared a bed. Her cheeks darkened. The first night we didn't sleep at all.

She tossed the covers back and stretched. The morning sickness usually took her by the hand at that point and led her to the bathroom but alas today it was absent. There was a odd sickly taste in her mouth; maybe from the takeout they had just a few hours before or maybe another symptom of her pregnancy. She bounded out of bed and gurgled some mouthwash in the bathroom. I must remember not to mention this to Hayate or she'll have a field day....I don't even want to think about all the jabs about why I have a funny taste in my mouth.

Vivio's door was still open she noticed, coming out of the bathroom. She peaked inside but Vivio wasn't there. She descended the stairs and Vivio was in the exact same position and unmoved from the night before...and she was snoring even in the recovery position. Nanoha giggled and walked into the kitchen. It was still early but she'd have to wake Vivio for school soon...Yuuno too though his work hours were weird.

The porch stunk of alcohol from Vivio sweating the toxin from her body. Vivio is going to be too sick to send off to school. Probably be best if I keep her out anyway with everything that's happened.

"Good morning beautiful." Yuuno wrapped his arms around her from behind and smooched her on the cheek. A crisp refreshing smell wafting past her nose.

Nanoha leaned back into his hug. "It's nice you learned your lesson about morning breath kisses."

"Did you sleep well. It seems like you're in a good mood." Yuuno smiled and hugged her a little more tightly before finally letting go.

Nanoha walked to the fridge and opened the door. "Do you want some breakfast? I'm just going to have cereal." She felt Mr. Morning Sickness snicker. "Maybe just some toast." Nanoha grabbed the butter out of the fridge and pulled a loaf of bread from another cupboard. She dropped two pieces into the toaster and pushed down the switch.

"If you burn my toast like you usually do than you're going in the garbage." Nanoha glared at the appliance.

"Do you usually talk to the toaster?" Yuuno chuckled.

"Only when the television is mad at me. Nyahaha." Nanoha walked into the living room and pulled open the curtains. It was a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. Maybe I'll go for a run.

"Do...do we need to talk?" Yuuno fidgeted.

Nanoha stiffened. "No we don't. I've had enough talking the last few days." She moved to another window and opened the blinds.

"...but you haven't..."

"You might not have had enough talking but I have." She flung open the last set of curtains with curtain rod nearly crashing down on her in the process.

"Nanoha..."

"No stop. I need a mental health day! Do you know what I've been through in the last few days? Before Fate came home I didn't think I could ever feel worse about what I did to her and then she smiled at me with that brilliant breathtaking smile and I realized that YES, yes I could feel worse about myself than I already did. Then the other night..."

"So are we going to try to make this work."

Nanoha swivelled around on her heel and glared at Yuuno. "Do you think I would put myself and Fate through all this misery if I wasn't going to try to make this work? If I asked Fate to take me back she would...and then she'd suffer silently for the rest of her life wondering if I really loved her or if I'm still cheating on her. I want her to move on and be happy." She sighed. "I really am tired of talking about this."

"What if Signum or Hayate asks her hand in marriage?"

"Signum...Signum doesn't feel that way about her," I think anyway, "and Hayate is seeing someone."

"So do you love me," his voice broke, "or are you doing this to punish yourself or for the baby's sake or something like that?"

Nanoha reached out to take Yuuno's hands. "Of course I love you but Fate and I've been together for like twenty years so you're not going to get there in a few months."

"I've known you longer."

"Nyahahah...by what a week? Don't be jealous." She smiled at Yuuno, "...we've been friends for a long time but Fate and I..."

There was a groan and then shuffling in the porch area. After a few seconds Vivio appeared rubbing her hip with one hand and her shoulder with the other. She stretched out her arm and swivelled her leg, eyes tightly closed, and finally limped toward the refrigerator.

"Nanoha...don't be angry." Yuuno whispered. Nanoha watched her like a hawk. A scowl across her face and hands on her hips.

POP! Vivio jumped and she took a step back as the toaster ejected its contents. Breathing heavily, she opened the refrigerator door.

"Do you want me to make you some breakfast?" Nanoha said sweetly walking into the kitchen and placing her toast on a plate.

Vivio pulled the water jug from the fridge and poured herself a glass. She hesitated looking queasy then drank it in two long gulps.

"Where did you go last night?" Nanoha peaked back at her daughter over her shoulder has she buttered her toast.

Vivio pulled open the refrigerator door and placed the jug gently back on the rack and trudged out of the room, or rather she limped out of the room, grimacing as she walked.

Nanoha breathed in deeply and sighed. I didn't lose my head for once and she wouldn't even talk to me...or maybe that's why I didn't lose my head. Still doesn't make me feel any better. Nanoha carried her toast to the table and sat heavily in the chair. She stared out the window into the perfectly blue early morning sky.

"Are you staying home today." Yuuno sat to the table carrying a bowl of cereal.

"I might go. Get my brain off of things for a bit." And thank Vita profusely for subbing for me out of the blue. "Are you working nights now?"

"No...but I wanted to be there for you and that work still needs to be done."

"Awww." Nanoha couldn't help but smile.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Bang. Vivio dragged a large suitcase down the stairs. On her back was a pink book bag swollen to bursting with its contents. Draped over her shoulder was another large duffle bag that was itself quite full itself. She strolled to the porch pulling her suitcase behind her, hair untamed and greasy, and relying heavily on her right leg since the limp had not abated.

Nanoha's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly and she sat their frozen.

"Where are you going?" Yuuno jumped to his feet and jogged after her. "You have to get ready for school."

Vivio slid on her sneakers and glanced at her heels longingly before kicking them into the closet. She reached for her jacket and finding it absent, shrugged and reached a hand for the door handle. Yuuno reached her first, grabbing a hold of her shoulder, he spun her around. Her duffle bag was heavy and the sudden force on her shoulder caused a leg to shoot up in the air has she pivoted. Yuuno grabbed her and pulled her back to standing position.

"Where are you going?" He shook gently less she topple over again.

"Hmpf!" Vivio turned abruptly, suitcase tipping over, and swung open the door. Stopping briefly she set the suitcase upright again and hmpfed out the door.

"Vivio...Nanoha," he called into the house, "Vivio..." He stood there in the door sill watching Vivio trudge along with her suitcase, and its inadequate wheels, bouncing and swaying on every bump

He walked back to the kitchen. "You...you just let her go?"

Nanoha glared. "What do you wanted me to do? Scream at her on the lawn? I'm too tired to fight with her. I barely slept the last two nights...I just don't have the energy."

"But...she..."

"She's just going to Fate. It's not that big a deal."

Yuuno eyebrows raised and he slumped back in his chair. His mouth opened and he turned to Nanoha but the question on his lips remained there. He slumped further into his chair. Wow. Now there's a wall of familiarity to surmount.

"Mmm. It's nice having unburnt toast for once."

Meanwhile, across town Hayate was sharing her bed with a blonde companion.

Hayate had been awake for some time though she kept her eyes closed. Going to the office early to get some work done was a common thing for her and this was the reason she had a nagging feeling like she forgotten something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She passed it off as just being used to getting ready for work at that hour.

I wish Nanoha or Vivio had messaged me back or called me or something. Fate had called her daughters friends but none of them knew where she was, or at least if they did, they weren't telling. I hope she didn't do anything stupid.

She opened her eyes and two bright blue jewels were staring into her own.

"Good morning." Hayate nuzzled her girlfriend and in reply the other girl cuddled closer.

"You've been awake for awhile. What'cha thinkin about." Maydne opened her eyes to fight the sleepiness.

"I'm worried about Vivio and kind of thinking about relationships."

Maydne's head popped up and she looked into her lover's eyes. "Our relationship?"

"Relationships in general. What makes them last and what makes them fail. Why my girlfriends treat me like a stepladder."

Maydne's eyes widened. "I'm not...I don't think you're a stepladder."

"Haha...I wasn't thinking about you like that." Hayate kissed her on the forehead. "The stuff I told you last night about my friends...you know they've been together forever and then...POOF! Everything down the drain! No more relationship." Hayate sighed. "I think they're perfect for each other...the perfect relationship. They complement each other so well...and then POOF! I used to think that if kept trying maybe I'll find the right person for me, that complements me as well as Fate does Nanoha...and they're relationship blows up over a summer. I'm not getting any younger."

"I love you."

"I love you to. I've had so many crappy relationships so I'm glad I met you."

"Did that last girl really say she wanted a real relationship?"

Hayate's winced. "Yeah. That's what she said." That hurt. The words"real relationship" had branded themselves into her mind. To date someone for months and put their heart into a relationship and then they decide to have a "real relationship" which of course meant a heterosexual one.

"Guys are icky."

"Hahaha. Yep. Guys are very icky." Hayate gently disentangled herself from Maydne and sat up. "Now you've got to get your sexy little butt ready or you'll be late for work and I've got to go and make sure Fate is okay."

"Five more minutes."

"Get ready quickly and we might have some time for you know what."

Maydne sprang out of bed and raced for the bathroom.

"Haha. That's the spirit!"


Fate, unlike Nanoha or Hayate whom both had at least slept the previous night, did not sleep even a wink. Worry about Vivio and had kept her up late, and when that had finally eased thanks to Einhart, the grim specter of heart break ensured she still didn't get any rest.

She rolled over, for what seemed to her, the millionth time that night and drew the blankets up around her. She tucked her arm under the rock hard pillow and tried to find a spot to rest her throbbing head that was comfortable. She reached out for the remote on the nightstand and let her hand hover there for several seconds before taking it and turning the television on.

The weather channel filled the screen. It would be hot today based on the forecast with perhaps heavy showers during the afternoon. Nanoha pointed to a high pressure system that would be centred on Cranagan for the next couple of days. She changed the channel. WST, she wasn't familiar with the channel or any channels after being away so long. A commercial for a new fast acting detergent. Nanoha put the white sheet with the spaghetti stain in the new detergent and it went away right away but when Nanoha...she changed the channel. This channel had some talk show she forgot the name of and there was a caption at the bottom of the screen saying, "Who's my baby's daddy?" and Fate flicked to another channel immediately. The next show she was familiar with. It was called Companions and Fate had multiple seasons of it on her device she watched while she was away. She didn't remember this particular episode though. Joey was talking to Chandler about his date but Nanoha kept interrupting them so he...Nanoha was there smiling amicably...Fate turned off the television.

The book laying on the bed wasn't much better. Reading for an hour she managed to turn two pages. The words were simply not stringing themselves together into sentences. She tried to pull herself out of her own thoughts and focus on the words but they were just ink and fibre and nothing more. This was besides the fact that her eyes closed has she tried to read but sleep did not find her.

She sat up, pulled herself out of bed, and trudged the short distance to the bathroom. She shivered, the bathroom was cold as an icebox, so she turned on the shower to warm up the room a bit. She unwrapped one of the tiny soaps the motel provided and put it in the shower and then made sure there was enough shampoo to wash her hair; the tiny bottle didn't hold very much.

"There's not even anywhere to leave my toothbrush." She looked down at the sink an its narrow ledge with no vanity. There wasn't even anywhere to put the soap to wash your hands except for a very small space next to the tap.

The room was warm now so she undressed and folded her clothes and put them on the bed. Walking back into the bathroom she hesitated and then locked the door. Hayate might check up on me and she's stolen my towel before. Checking the doorknob to make sure it locked a last time, she hopped in the shower.

It was a nice shower stall at least. There was no mildew or mould she could see and it was put together well. It looked like it was renovated since the last time she was there. It was nice back then, she remembered that Nanoha...she rubbed her face to distract herself.

She let the water wash over her enjoying its warmth. A hot shower was a luxury after washing with a tub or the cold showers of the last mission. She reached for the soap but her hand grasped only air. There was no soap holder in the bathroom unlike at home. The little shampoo bottle looked lonely too there all by itself. Nanoha usually...

She picked up the tiny soap and lathered up her wash cloth.

I hope Vivio is okay. She thanked the heavens that Einhart had the decency to tell her where Vivio was and what she was doing...not that she enjoyed hearing "I think she is very drunk." So Hayate broke the news and Vivio was distraught and got drunk? It was so cliche and so sad. Did she do it to spite Nanoha...or just because she just wanted a fun night out?

My fingers are wrinkled already. She shampooed her hair.

Vivio better be behaving herself at school but Nanoha...Vivio will behave herself. She's been so confrontational and I imagine she knew about...poor girl.

Fate reached out clumsily to turn off the shower and grasped around for the...EEEK!...Cold water streamed down her front and she jumped back. Yesterday she had gotten water heated by the flames of hell itself and she swore she wouldn't make the mistake again. She glared at the tap. Her home shower was different and she could adjust it with her eyes closed. This one apparently hated her. Pushing back the curtains she stepped out onto the icy cold tiles and turned the shower off. The lever had to be pressed straight in and she made a careful note of it.

She picked up a towel and started drying off.

Maybe I should start looking for another place. She swallowed heavily. She wouldn't think about that right now.

She opened the door and stepped out in the room. It was getting humid already so she trotted over to the air conditioner and bent over to examine the buttons...she jabbed one...and then another...finally it droned to life.

"Good morning!"

Gripping her towel tightly to herself, Fate spun around. "You...you scared me." Her blush invisible after the hot shower.

"Sorry." Hayate lay on her stomach spread out on the bed with her head rested on her arms and eyes bright and sparkly. "I was just admiring the view."

Fate's blush was no longer invisible. She adjusted her towel and stooped carefully to take her clothes off the bed. She could feel Hayate's twinkling eyes watching her as she did so.

"I was hoping you run with me before it got too hot." Hayate sat up and swung her legs out over the side of the bed.

"I'm not in the mood this morning." She hadn't gotten any sleep and she had a headache.

"It'll make you feel better to get some fresh air." Hayate's hand shot out and snatched Fate's arm. "How about just a walk then? It's not like my tubby butt is cut out for running anyway."

"Hayate..." Fate sighed, readjusting the towel.

"Don't Hayate me! Come on! I need to get in shape and exercise is a cure for everything...except cancer...and HIV...and a whole bunch of other stuff...but..but you get the jest of it!"

"...but..."

"Well I need to burn some calories somehow so I guess I'm just going to have to tickle you until you submit to my will." A grin crept across her face.

Fate reared back and twirled her wrist which broke the hold. She was out of reach now and Hayate glared at her and looked placid.

"Remember the self-defence course we took in high school?" Hayate chuckled.

Fate nodded assent.

"You're going to need it." Hayate jumped to her feet and flung herself at Fate.

Fate's eyes widened and then she side-stepped, grabbed Hayate's arm and plied it behind her back. A light kick to the back of the knee and Hayate was on the ground with Fate astride her.

"F^ck..." She squirmed impotently. "Oh gross...the carpet smells like...oh yuck...Fate! Let me up!" She tried to push herself up with her free hand and kicked her feet.

"You promise no tickling?" Fate loosened her grip.

"I PROMISE NOTHING!"

Fate sat on Hayate's butt and re tightened the hold on her left hand. "This is a pet friendly motel."

"Ugh! Okay...I promise! I promise!"

Fate let go of the other girls arm and picked up the clothes she had dropped. Hayate flung herself from the floor and ran to the bathroom. Fate sat back on the bed and stirred uncomfortably in the towel waiting for the faucet to turn off and the sputtering noises wherein to stop.

Hayate finally emerged again with the front of her t-shirt speckled with water and her face still damp. "I still have the smell up my nose."

I'm missing a sock. Fate stood and looked around the floor and bed. I'll just get another pair...

Whump!

Hayate tackled Fate onto the bed. Fate didn't squirm and just lay there face down as Hayate mounted her in the same position as a few minutes before.

"Now who's on top?" Hayate smirked. She walked her fingers up Fate's back and relished as she felt a shudder go through the soft warm flesh at her fingertips. "Go for a run with me or this isn't going to be pleasant."

Fate made no response but to hug her sides tightly and clench her entire body.

"Is that's how it's going to be?" Hayate's nimble fingers found the sensitive skin of Fate's sides and she began to tickle, slowly at first, and then relentlessly. Fate's legs kicked out and flailed about and she shook and rolled about.

Knock. Knock.

"Mama?" A figure appeared at the door heavily laden with luggage and peered into the room. Her eyes widened has they met with Hayate's and her posture straightened. She bowed and closed the door behind her.

"Vivio!" Hayate tumbled off of Fate and ran for the door. Throwing it open she stuck her head outside and opened her mouth then thought better of it and ran to the little blonde head now seated on a bench. "Hey kiddo!"

"H...Hi." Wide open green and red eyes peered back at her. "I...um..."

"We weren't doing anything." Hayate tried her hardest not to yell. "Her towel just kind of fell off and...I was tickling her."

"Okay." Vivio breathed in deeply.

"Lets get your," Hayate picked up the duffle bag, "...bags...in...the...room."

"It's not that heavy." Vivio followed along with her suitcase and backpack.

The door had closed behind them and Hayate fumbled in her pocket for the key card.

"What's in here? Your collection of rocks?"

"Dildos."

"Urgk." The keycard fell to the ground followed by her keys and the bag with a thump. "Vivio..." I've created a monster.

Vivio slipped her own key card into the lock and pushed the door open. She squeezed by Hayate and went into the room. "You've heard me say worse...and it's pay back for making me walk in on that."

Hayate picked her things off the ground. "We...we weren't doing anything...and I have a girlfreind so that is completely off limits." Hayate slid the bag into the room and shut the door. "How did you get a key card."

"I just said my mom was staying her and they gave me one...said I looked just like her." She smiled brightly.

"Hmm."

Vivio looked cautiously around the room. There was no where for her mother to hide and the bathroom door was shut so that obviously was where she was. She flashed two thumbs up at Hayate and winked a most unsubtle wink. "Good job."

It was Hayate's turn for her eyes to widen and they did on cue. "We seriously weren't doing anything."

"You're seducing my mama and I think you'd be a great step-mama." Vivio shugged off her backpack and let it fall to the floor. She jumped at Hayate and hugged her tight.

Crap. Crap! Double crap! She really doesn't believe me...do I have this type of reputation? I have to try again. "Listen...I have a girlfriend and what you're talking about is cheating. I was only playing with your mom."

"You had lots of girlfriends and none of them last very long. I think mama is perfect for you." Vivio eyed her mother coming out of the bathroom and sprinted for her and engulfed her in a hug.

"Ugh." Fate reeled back at the force of the hug. If not for the wall at her back she would have fallen to the floor. "Good morning Vivio...why aren't you at..." Vivio looked pale and her hair was a mess. One day home won't hurt especially after everything that happened.

"Mama." Vivio's eyes were wide and watery and her lips were shaking.

"I'm okay sweetheart." I guess. "Have you had breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry." She sniffed and hugged her mother more tightly still.

"Why don't you have a shower? It'll make you feel better." I'll talk to her about her drinking later.

"Okay." She loosened her hug but stayed there for several moments. Finally letting go she walked towards her luggage.

Fate plopped down on the bed besides Hayate. "Hayate..." Her face was red and her eyes were wet. "Are you crying?"

Hayate swatted at her eyes and rubbed them with her sleeve. "I...am...not."

"Okay." Fate watched her swipe at a tear running down her cheek. "What's wrong/"

"Nothing...it's just...Vivio said something...something painful." She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve again. "It's nothing really."

"Do you still want to run? I'll go with you." I wish you'd tell me what she said.

"Okay."

Elsewhere in Cranagan...

Vita's office door was open and Nanoha peaked in. Morning instruction hadn't started yet so she was seated at her desk with a up of coffee in her hand and reading the display in front of her. Nanoha knocked lightly and Vita shifted her eyes to the doorway.

"Hi." Nanoha waved happily.

"Didn't I tell you to stay home and I'd cover for ya." She looked out at Nanoha with half-lidded eyes.

"I'm hoping work will get my mind off of things." She walked slowly towards Vita's desk with hands behind her back.

Vita looked at the time on the display. "Well it's about time I got started." She got out of her chair and downed the last of her coffee.

"What do you have planned for today?" Nanoha followed Vita to the door.

The pair walked down the hallway and several flights of stairs in silence. Nanoha watched Vita with the corner of her eyes. She looked tired and loose hair was poking out of her braids.

"I'm sorry for making you cover for me so suddenly." She have had to spend some extra hours preparing since I didn't exactly leave something for her to follow.

"You're welcome."

Once again there was silence has they walked across the base to the training facility and up the stairs of a tiny observation deck. Nanoha eyed the students below and sighed. They were wearing casual clothes and looked more fit for a night out than training. She grit her teeth and stepped to the front of the platform.

"We're..."

Vita pushed her way in front. "Listen up! We talked about this exercise yesterday..."

"We haven't warmed up yet!"

"Too bad! You should be ready when you get here." She glared at them. "There are twenty devices in the ruins. Some have AMF, some fire back, and some are cloaked. You got two hours to destroy them all or I run you into the ground."

"Do we use our pairs..."

"START!"

The five of them jumped and started running. Three of them going off to the right and the other two, to the left. It probably be better if they broke up again. Vince could work well on his own but they'll learn a lesson either way. Nanoha smiled down at Vita. "There's no way they'll finish in two hours...those cloak orbs are hard for me to find."

Vita nodded.

"Nyahaha...so you're just planning on disciplining them?"

"They gotta learn sometimes you can't always win. You just gotta suck it up." Vita watched one of the screen that had popped up in front of her.

"That wasn't about me and Fate was it?" Nanoha huffed crossing her arms. "I don't want to talk about it. Hayate's been on my back..."

"I don't want to hear it." Vita shifted her attention to Nanoha for a second.

"Oh...sorry. I just though that you...It's refreshing someone respects me enough not to grill me on my problems." Nanoha bent and hugged Vita, pressing her cheek to the other girls face.

"Go home."

"What?" Nanoha jumped.

"Go home and come back when yer ready to work."

"...but I can help you."

Vita tapped away at the screen and popped up another that she did likewise with.

"Okay...but you're not going to kill any of them right?"

"Too much paperwork."