Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha Series or its Characters.

A/N: Re-edited 10/22, please check out the sequel to this story if you haven't yet. Reviews are always appreciated.

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Chapter Eleven: The End of Pain?

Fate had just come back from the attorney's office, she had retained counsel for Carim to handle her divorce and was now talking with the state prosecutor regarding the criminal charges pending against Robert Ru Lushe. The man had gotten out on bail but was under a restraining order. Fate had seen from the corner of her eye a shadowy figure more than once since his release but hadn't caught him in the vicinity of her home yet. Her main concerned with Caro's welfare which made getting Carim back on her feet a suddenly a priority. She knew they both would need a lot of help rebuilding their lives and keeping Robert from disrupting it.

After two weeks of being housed within the gated Testarossa House Carim wanted to make a statement and start on her path to independence. Carim's version of independence meant finally giving Fate what she always wanted, herself, and acquiring someone new to take control of her life. While Fate was away handling some legal matters the older blonde called in the group of reporters to the stoop of the great house and made her first public announcement. She knew she needed Fate if she was going to get through this trying time. She also knew Fate had someone in her life which was causing her to be distracted whenever they were together which was something she wasn't use to. She'd always been at the center of Fate's attention when they were together and she needed that reassurance now. So during her announcement she decided to give Fate what she'd always wanted from her.

"Thank you for coming today, I have some important things to announce for myself and my daughter. There have been rumors that Fate Testarossa is somehow related to her and I want to clarify this. Fate donated her ovum to me almost thirteen years ago and with my husband Robert's sperm we were able to conceive our beautiful daughter. Fate did this out of her love for me, she knew how important it was to me at the time to have a child. Now that my eyes have been clearly opened to the type of man I have been married to for fifteen years I wish to announce I have filed for divorce. It is my hope that Fate will be my co-parent from now on. It's taken me years to realize she is the best thing that has ever come to me other than our daughter. I wish to take this moment to declare my love for Fate and my humble desire to make a life with her and our child. Thank you."

Fate was sitting in the law office of the assistant D.A. when she got a call from a frantic Arf. After being told to turn on a TV they turned to a news station and were aghast at the circus going on. Fate listened to Carim's announcement and felt as if she'd been slapped. 'How could she do this to me, she knows I have someone I'm in love with already, is she trying to ruin that?'

Fate didn't know what to do. She didn't have feelings for Carim anymore, hadn't for years. When she looked at the blonde she only felt pity. Right now she wanted Nanoha, needed her next to her, not hearing her voice for the past three weeks had her on edge. Now with this announcement what would she think? Did Nanoha think she would stay with Carim? Did she question Fate's feelings for her? When she got home that afternoon there was the usual gang of reporters sitting in front of the house. She didn't stop to give a statement instead pushed through to the house and walked inside as if it was just another day.

Carim was sitting on the couch reading a book while Caro was listening to her music on her IPod and working on homework. They both looked up when they felt the menacing aura fill the room. Carim flinched at the anger in Fate's eyes, shouldn't she be happy? Caro pulled her ear buds out and went to her godmother, "Um welcome back Fate, I'll go upstairs and finish my work."

"No, sit down, you need to hear this," pointing at the chair.

The girl meekly did as she was told, she knew Fate didn't have feelings for her mother, and the fact that her mother was trying to force Fate into a relationship when she already had someone made her feel disgusted at her behavior. She had vivid memories of Fate trying to convince her mother to leave her father and of her even declaring her love for her but that had changed after she came back from Japan all those years ago. She was still warm and friendly but no longer looked at her mother with longing or made any attempt to separate her parents other than a cursory you can do better than him.

"Carim, I don't know why you said those things to the press. But you must know I don't love you any longer, I haven't for a very long time. You are a friend, I can't even call you my best friend after everything that's happened in the last few years. I love Caro, and she is the only reason I'm helping you now. I will not shirk my responsibilities and leave her to the tender mercies of Robert. You will both have house room and any financial assistance I can give you but in two weeks I am leaving. I am only staying until the grand jury proceedings are completed. After that I'm going home, I have a family of my own, and a woman I love beyond reason, I will not let you ruin that."

Carim got up and tried to kiss her but Fate caught her by the arms and gently but firmly pushed the wounded woman away. "I may have wanted that when I was a child, but I don't want it now. You no longer attract me, I pity you. Don't you ever try that again, I'm not Robert but I will not hesitate to throw you out. There are plenty of other properties you can stay at, I don't need you here."

Then she released her and went upstairs to make some phone calls.

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Nanoha saw the news broadcast of Carim's public announcement of her love for Fate and felt a flash of déjà vu, damn it how many women were going to try to claim her Fate. She wanted to catch the next flight to California and lay claim to her blonde but she was also fearful that Fate wanted Carim and was now happy. She shared a child with Carim, she must have a strong bond to the woman also since they've known each other for years. Was it all over now? She wanted to speak to Fate but at the same time she didn't want to hear the words 'It's over, I'm staying here with my first love and child, Einhart will be sent for, sorry for the misunderstanding.'

Fate called her twice the first day then for each day after her calls came more often, voice messages were deleted without being listened to as Nanoha was afraid of what they might say. Finally Lindy came to her and asked her why she was avoiding Fate.

"I'm scared, I can't talk to her, what if she wants to break things off, if she's realized I was just a substitute for Carim?"

Lindy looked at her with a mix of exasperation and sadness, "You're hurting her Nanoha, she needs to hear your voice, to know you believe in her. She's coming home soon but she's starting to doubt your feelings, she was crying the last time I spoke to her. If it wasn't for Caro she'd have already come home but until the grand jury trial is over and Robert is back in custody she doesn't want to risk her being kidnapped or hurt. Robert is very unstable from what I've heard from both Fate and Arf. I wouldn't put it past him to do something stupid once he realizes things are starting to look bad for him."

Nanoha was conflicted, she wanted to hear Fate's voice, feel her arms wrap around her, taste her lips but then there was Carim. Fate hadn't made an official denial of Carim's declaration and everyday that went by the more people began to assume there was something going on between them. "If she really loves me then why hasn't she rejected Carim publicly? Why are they still living in the same house?"

"I don't know Nanoha, I asked her about that and she said soon, but I don't know what's going on over there."

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It had been a week since Carim's announcement and Fate knew she had to make a public statement, Lindy had told her of Nanoha's concerns and why she was avoiding her. It hurt her that Nanoha didn't trust her but then also understood it was her actions and inaction that had lead to her feeling that way. It had been her first instinct to go out to the pack of reporters on day one and deny Carim's words and kick the woman out. Then she let her head cool, and realized if she did that she would be leaving Caro exposed to harm. Right now the only reason Robert hadn't attacked Caro and Carim was his mistaken assumption that Fate had staked a claim on them. So she bided her time and hired bodyguards and upgraded the security on one of her other properties and now that everything was ready it was time to cut all public ties with Carim.

She went out to the gate and invited the reporters back to the stoop and made her own announcement, hoping it wasn't too little too late.

"Thank you for coming out again, I know you all have a lot of questions and I'll try to address them but first I have a statement. Carim Gracia and I do not, I repeat do not have a romantic relationship. I in the past did feel romantic feelings for her but that's changed. I have someone with whom I am in a relationship with and I will not be breaking off that relationship to start one with Ms. Gracia. I am providing Ms. Gracia with all the support and help I can as a friend. I plan to be a part of our daughter Caro Ru Lushe's life from now on but from a distance, my life is in Japan now. Once the grand jury make their decision on whether Robert Ru Lushe should be held in custody until his trial has been made I will be returning to Japan."

"Fate…Fate, who is your lover?"

Smiling she replied, "A wonderful woman by the name of Nanoha Takamachi, I've known and loved her for a number of years."

"Is that the woman with a child you have been seen with recently?"

"Yes, she and I both have adopted daughters. They are best of friends and are quite happy with our relationship."

"Fate, Japan doesn't allow same-sex marriage as of yet, will she be joining you here for a marriage ceremony?"

"I would like it very much for us to be married one day but I don't think we are at the stage of our relationship where we are ready to marry. I can say she is the only person I can see myself marrying."

"Fate, if Robert Ru Lushe is not remanded how will you and Carim handle her security, the man nearly beat her to death."

"I have recently hired a personal body guard for both Carim and Caro, they will also be moving into one of the gated Testarossa estates. I don't want them to have to live like prisoners but I also do not want them to be exposed to danger anymore than necessary."

"Fate how long have you known you are homosexual?"

"Since I was about thirteen, it's been a struggle to come to terms with that, especially since I was an actor playing romantic roles. I am not ashamed of my sexuality but I knew a lot of people would not like it and it would have an effect on my career. In the end it was the love and support of my family and Nanoha that finally allowed me to get past the… the sense that I would be failing my fans by not living up to my popular image, we only have one life and need to grasp happiness with both hands."

"Fate did you and Akko Sanders ever have a relationship?"

"Ha-ha, no! Akko has always been in love with one person, her wife. We were…are friends, she taught me a lot. She has always been a role model for me, seeing her and her wife together has always made me believe that happiness was attainable."

"Fate, what about that other girl in Japan, Ginga Nakajima?"

"NO! Ginga Nakajima is an employee of TCJ and that is all. I do not even consider her a friend."

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Fate still hadn't heard from Nanoha and she was feeling on edge. There was still three days until the grand jury trial was concluded and she felt like time had slowed, each minute feeling like an hour. She moved Carim and Caro to another house in the meantime and the signed on body guards and domestic staff for the new household were all in place. All that could be done had been done and she felt at loose ends. So she decided to go out for a drive down to Arf's home to eat a late dinner and perhaps spend the night.

The gates swung open to an empty street, the reporters having decamped after her announcement. She was just about to pull forward into the street when a figure loomed out of the dark. She at first couldn't tell who it was but then a glint of light off a metallic object sent a flash of foreboding through her and she shifted down and to the side in her seat before the shots began deafening her.

Five shots rang out shattering her front windshield, ripping through the interior and taking out the back glass, then a pause and a final shot. The silence following was terrifying, unsure if her assailant was still there she carefully reached for her cell phone, dialed 911 and in a clipped voice stated her address and her status before dropping the phone and clutching her wounds.

The police and EMS arrived within minutes and she was pulled from her vehicle. A steady drizzle of blood leaking around her fingers was immediately attended too. As she was helped to the ambulance she saw the dark figure on the ground, the shape familiar, Robert. Unable to reach his wife he had decided to enact his revenge on the woman who had always protected her and stood in his way before shooting himself in the head.

Fate was transported to the closest hospital and there they treated her arm, she was lucky having only been clipped by two of the shots, both wounds superficial though she had lost quite a bit of blood. One major blood vessel had been severed which had lead to heavy bleeding which the trauma doctors fairly easily controlled but she'd need to be kept overnight at least for observation. Too bad for all the nursing staff she was such a bad patient, she wanted out of the hospital and to catch the first flight home. Her family back in Japan had to be frantic, the media making it sound like she'd been wounded severely. After being sedated the doctors called her next of kin Precia and Arf. Precia immediate made her way to the hospital to check on her daughter while Arf called Lindy and the rest of the family to let them know what was going on.

Nanoha awoke groggily to the phone ringing and once she heard Lindy's voice she came instantly awake. The words spoken sending waves of terror through her, Lindy was to leave within hours to see to Fate taking Einhart with her. Nanoha immediately requested she book tickets for herself and Vivio, they would not stand by waiting for news, they had to go to her. Within minutes Nanoha had packed her bags and carried a sleeping Vivio to the waiting car. When the girl awoke they were already on the plane, seated next to a sleeping Einhart. Both children had been allowed to sleep until they awoke naturally before being told of what had happened to Fate.

Once Vivio awoke it wasn't long before Einhart was also, both girls confused about being on an airplane. Nanoha allowed Lindy to tell the girls what was happening, afraid her own voice would crack and she'd give into the tears threatening to overtake her. Fate, Fate, Fate, her name pounding in her head, how could she have been so cowardly as to avoid her. What ifs ran through her mind, the twelve odd hour flight leaving her to much time to envision the worst case scenarios.

They arrived and hurried to a taxi which would take them to the hospital directly. Dropping bags in the hallway outside the door they could hear Fate's voice arguing with her doctor and Precia. Einhart pushed her way in and began to scold her mother for her behavior. The doctor was shocked by this but at once recognized it was best to leave his wayward patient to her mother and family. Both children quickly descended onto the blonde and joining her on the bed and crying. Fate flabbergasted that her family had come to her so quickly couldn't help crying herself. With her one free hand she tried to calm the children petting their cheeks and in a hiccupping voice reassuring them she was okay.

Nanoha stood in the door watching the reunion, she wanted so desperately to go to her and wrap her in her arms but now all the insecurities came flooding back. Then she felt someone behind her and stepped aside to allow them to pass. The blonde woman was taller than Nanoha and her blue eyes took her in with a measure of resentment. She strode over to Fate and began to try to pet and coddle her. Fate growled at her, "Back off Carim."

"Fate please don't be like that, I'm worried about you. You were hurt because of me. Please let me take care of you."

"I don't need you to take care of me, my family is here," then she looked over to the woman at the door. "Nanoha-love please," she begged as she reached out her good hand to her.

Nanoha came over to her and took her hand, looked over her bandaged arm in a sling. She couldn't speak, the warm hand in hers squeezed hers and that made her tears begin to flow. Precia seeing this decided they needed time alone. She told the girls to come with her and Lindy for a bit as Fate and Nanoha needed some time alone. The girls nodded and scampered off the bed towards Lindy who was at the door. Precia then tried to push the other visitor out the door but Carim refused to leave, "No, I need to speak to her."

Fate looked at her at this, "We don't have anything to say to each other, you're free from Robert now, the attorneys will help you in settling his estate. Good bye Carim."

She pulled Nanoha closer to her as she spoke until she was seated on the bed and she could wrap her good arm around her waist. She needed Nanoha close, she didn't want there to be any question on who she wanted.

"Just like that? You don't have anything else to say to me?" her fearful tone expressing her feelings of abandonment better than words.

"Carim, go home, Caro needs you, tell her I'm fine. I'm not the person for you, I never was. Be smarter about love this time. Be with someone who loves you for who you are not what you can do. You'll always have my support but I can't give you anything else and if you were honest with yourself you'd know that you really don't want me either. You're straight, find yourself a good man this time, someone who can be a good father for Caro."

At that Precia pulled the woman out of the room and murmured they were taking the girls down to the cafeteria for some breakfast then would come back. Fate heard and thanked her mother and smiled at the children following after her. Once the door was closed Fate sighed and leaned back onto her bed pulling Nanoha down onto her. Nanoha squeaked her protest fearful of hurting her before Fate caught her lips in a kiss then nothing mattered.

They lost themselves in the kiss, Fate's one good hand rubbing up and down Nanoha's back before dipping under her shirt to touch the skin she had missed for so long. Nanoha pulled back and looked down at her lover, "Mou Fate-chan, you're hurt right now, this is no time for that."

Then she instantly softened her words by planting another kiss on her lips and snuggling into her side. Nanoha's hand went over her stomach and began to rub tiny circles with her thumb on the toned muscles. Fate sighed in content, pulling her tighter against her. "I love you Nanoha, I hope you believe me when I say that, I don't ever want to lose you."

Nanoha felt her tears spring up again, her guilt at ignoring Fate this whole time eating at her conscience. Pulling back so she could look into Fate's eyes, "I'm sorry Fate-chan, it was wrong of me to avoid you but I was scared. You left so suddenly and when Lindy told me about your past with Carim I felt really insecure about everything. I thought that you'd want to be with her if given a chance."

Sighing, "Silly Nanoha, I love you, after meeting you I couldn't even think of being with anyone else. What I felt for Carim as a teenager was little more than an infatuation. I admired her abilities and was grateful for all the attention she gave me. When I compare how I feel about you to what felt back then it's night and day, I literally cannot go a single day, ha truthfully an hour, without thinking about you. You make me feel complete, you just have to enter the room and I feel happy."

Running her hand through auburn locks before pulling her back down for a kiss, when they broke apart once more for air she smiled, "If it would make you feel more secure we can always get married?"

Nanoha stared at her in disbelief, "Fate-chan! You can't be serious?"

Laughing, "I have never been more serious in my life, I don't ever plan on leaving you Nanoha, and if you are willing then…"

She was cut off by another kiss, warm tears falling on her face and gentle hands cupping her face. "You really don't like wasting time do you?"

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Epilogue: Six Years Later

"Ugh! I don't know how you did this. I feel like a beached whale." The auburn haired woman complained.

Her blonde counterpoint laughed at this before leaning over to kiss her gently on the temple, "You're doing fine love, but I did warn you the last month was going to be uncomfortable."

"Mou Fate-chan, you're supposed to be supportive!" Nanoha pouted to her wife.

Sitting next to the heavily pregnant woman on the couch she took her feet onto her lap and began to massage them eliciting a moan of pleasure. "Does this count as supportive?"

"It's a start, keep going. Hmmm, that's nice." She replied as she snuggled deeper into the cushions.

"Fate-mama the rascal got into my room again! She's a menace!" An angry teenage blonde dropped the squirming offender into her mother's lap.

"Oh what did my Sweet Potato do this time?" She asked looking down at the auburn haired toddler who was looking back at her with innocent burgundy eyes.

"She pulled all my clothes out of the closet and was trying them on, she got juice all other them!"

A childish voice repeated happily, "Juice!"

Christmas colored heterochromatic eyes slit in irritation, "Oh I don't think so midget! You aren't going to get away with this by playing cute."

A softly mature voice called out, "Don't be so grumpy Vi-chan, Fia-chan didn't do it on purpose. She just likes your clothes because they're pink."

"Umhm! I can't believe it, she's gotten to you too. The little menace has turned everyone into her personal slaves! I can only image what the next one's going to be like," she groused pointing at her mother's swollen stomach.

Nanoha reached out to her annoyed daughter and was happy when the girl came over to and knelt next to her. "Sweetie you were just like Fia when I first found you, I swear I had to put locks on everything just to keep you safe from pulling things onto your head. I think she admires her big sister and wants to be just like you. But if it makes you feel any better we can put a lock on your door."

She was about to reply when a small body threw itself against her head, "Wiwi Fhaya luws ouu!"

"Ack!" she choked as little arms caught her around the neck.

Everyone laughed at the sight of the two sisters now tumbling on the carpet, Vivio had pulled the small girl forward and began to tickle her mercilessly. "You think being cute is going to save you, I don't think so!"

Then another set of hands joined the fray, Vivio falling back onto her other sister who had come to save the small victim. Soon both Einhart and Fia had the blonde pinned and were tickling her reminding Fate of the first time she met the little blonde. So many years had passed and everyday was a blessing. Sliding onto the floor herself she pulled the struggling blonde from her tormentors hugging the girl to herself, "No more, this is my Vivio-chan, no more picking on her you bullies."

The toddler made a face of outrage, "NO! My Wiwi!" and jumped into her sister's lap.

Vivio finally relinquishing her anger at the little girl hugged her tightly, "My Fia."

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"I HATE YOU! You lied, this hurts like hell!" The auburn haired woman was clutching her wife's hand in an iron grip making her grimace in pain.

"Nano-love, please you're going to break my hand!" she pleaded.

The gurney continued to wheel towards the delivery room, Fate jogging to keep up and prevent her arm from being yanked off by her enraged wife.

Four hours later a small infant girl was welcomed into the world and Nanoha was a sobbing mess. After being cleaned and swaddled she was brought to her mothers and Nanoha was in awe, "She's a mini Fate-chan," she whispered lightly brushing a finger through the blond tuff of hair then down a soft cheek.

The infant opened her eyes and bright sapphire eyes blinked before she yawned and a small fist clutched at the hand. Then she made little sucking sounds and tried to nuzzle into the breast she was held to. Nanoha laughed and shifted the child to lower her hospital gown so the babe could have her first meal. Fate let out a soft giggle when Nanoha winced at the small mouth clamping on like a barracuda.

"Yup, definitely a mini Fate-chan," she growled at her wife.

The blonde leaned in and kissed her with a beautiful smile, "You did great Nanoha, she's perfect."

"Hmm, yes she is, so what are we going to name her? We still haven't come to an agreement."

"Well considering how much trouble she gave you maybe you should make the final decision, anything but Destiny, that's a horrible name for a child."

"But it'd be so cute," Nanoha pouted.

"No! I let you have your way last time. Poor Fia and I get confused over who you're yelling at most of the time."

"Well if you and your little minion weren't always getting into trouble there wouldn't be any issues. I still can't believe she got into the pantry at the bakery and climbed into a barrel of sugar, she's menace all right, just like you."

"I believe your parents have already confirmed Fia is just like you, they even have photos of you doing something similar at the same age. Momoko even calls her by your name when she's acting up so I rest my case."

"Humph! Sure, sure, Lindy says she's like you, a little monkey always climbing on stuff and…mmff?!"

Deciding it would be better to cut off the argument before Nanoha began to tell tales she did what any wise wife would do and kissed her. Then breaking the kiss, but only after Nanoha stopped struggling and was beginning to take the initiative, she suggested, "How about Sora? You've always liked that name and she has your beautiful sapphire eyes so it's fitting."

"Sweet talker," then looking down at the child smiled, "Sora Takamachi-Testarossa, I like that."

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Midori-ya Café

The happy family came into the bustling café and made their way to an open booth near the back of the restaurant when they were hijacked by a squealing woman in glasses. "Nanoha-chan! Where's the baby, let me see her!"

Laughing, "Calm down Miyuki-onee she's right here."

The noise of her gushing over the child brought more people coming from the kitchen. A fit man with black hair peppered with grey came out followed by a woman who looked remarkably like her youngest daughter. Seeing the group standing in the center of the café they rushed over.

"Nanoha? Fate-chan what are you all doing here, shouldn't Nanoha be resting at home?" The stern man questioned.

The blonde seemed to flounder under the direct glare being directed at her, seeing this the younger blonde of the group jumped forward to hug the man, "Ojii-san! Please don't glare at Fate-mama she didn't have a choice, Nanoha-mama was going stir crazy at home and wanted to go out to eat. Now come see Sora-chan she's getting bigger every day, she's soo cute!"

Momoko was now holding her newest grandchild and came over to her husband, "Look at her Shiro, she's getting so big."

The man's frown melted at the sight and was soon cuddling the child in his arms. Momoko took the moment to herd everyone over to the empty booth and greet her daughter, Fate and other grandchildren. Once settled the two older children and couple ordered their lunch from the servitor called over by Miyuki so the family could stay together.

"So who is taking care of your café right now?" Miyuki asked.

Nanoha looked up and smiled, "We have Vita-chan watching it, she's quite the manager."

Fate laughed at the understatement, the fiery redhead had their staff hopping on their toes. The petite woman was the head engineer at a local automobile manufacturer but had taken to managing the restaurant during her "vacations," according to her it was restful as she could yell at people without having to worry about being reprimanded herself. The staff at Midori-ya II knew her well and didn't take her attitude personally. If anything they liked to tease her until she was yelling and chasing them around with a wooden spoon.

Fate shifted in her seat to make more room for her wife then added, "We'll both be going back to work next week. Lindy will be taking care of the little ones when we're at the café."

"I still can't believe you retired from acting, both of you were so popular then poof you're getting married and having babies." Miyuki declared.

Nanoha laughed as she settled against her wife's side, "It wasn't that sudden, we had to wait until Precia finished her research before we could have Fia, she worked like a mad woman when we told her we wanted to have a baby of our own. She'd given up her research to take care of Fate after her accident. She was so close to break through that I'm really surprised she never picked it up again after Fate got out of the hospital."

"Well it must be nice to have a genius for a mother-in-law, you didn't even have to wait for her to publish her findings or pay for all the technical work. I have a friend looking into the procedure and was shocked to find out how expensive and time consuming the process is."

"Hmm, well Fate-chan was the guinea pig for the first round, by the time I was ready to have Sora Precia had fine-tuned things, it really wasn't as onerous as that first time was. We both had to have ovum harvested and then everything else was tech work. The hardest part for us was having the fertilized egg implanted and hoping it would take. We had to try four times for Fia but I caught first time."

Fate had been stroking her wife's tummy throughout the conversation and was happily nuzzling her face into auburn hair. The blessing of both their children was still a shock to her, she wasn't sure she'd ever get over the blitzed out happiness that filled her every day when waking up with Nanoha and seeing her children's faces. The goofy grin she had on her face was making it hard for her in-laws not to laugh at her.

Shiro was watching the pair and decided to ask, "Will you two be having any more children after Sora?"

Nanoha looked at her father and smiled, "No, I think we're done, I know I don't want to go through that again and Fate had some complications during delivery due to the trauma she received to her hip from the car accident. I don't want her to risk herself in another pregnancy, we need her too much."

Then turning her head she kissed her wife before continuing, "Besides I think four children are quite enough, I'm having a hard enough time keeping up with this lot as it is. Ein-chan and Vi-chan are going to be starting their own acting and modeling careers soon so we want to be available to help them get through all the drama that's going to create."

The older girls looked up at their mother at this and smiled shyly, before going back to entertaining the little sister sitting between them.

Momoko was surprised by this, "Oh, I thought you didn't want them to join the entertainment industry? Especially after all that drama in getting your grandfather's will overturned so Arf could stay on as President."

"I really don't want them to but it's their decision, I realized keeping them from doing that was just as bad as trying to force them too. They'll have enough hardships in life as it is, so we're going to support them in whatever they want to do. Besides I have already threatened Arf and Linith that if either of them even think of overworking my babies I'll hang them by their toes from nearest tree, and then do a number of gruesome, improbable and unconscionable things to their bodies." Fate replied.

The group at the table laughed at this declaration, it was nearly verbatim what Shiro had told Fate he'd do to her if she ever hurt or allowed his daughter to be hurt. Nanoha leaned her head back and kissed her wife's chin before settling against her again. The girls rolled their eyes, their mothers were so mushy and lovey-dovey. Shiro gave Fate a humored nod and pushed on to discuss what the girls had planned. Miyuki and Momoko getting very excited and declaring they would tell all their customers to watch out for the projects when they came out.

It had been hard for Fate to accept her daughters' decision, but after talking it out and being reassured they weren't doing it because Fate had in any way, shape or form made them feel like it was an obligation due to their family name she finally relented. Now they were going to be represented by TCJ and their first projects were set to be released. Einhart was to be a model for fashionable clothing lines in a popular teen magazine and Vivio was playing in a school drama TV movie.

Throughout the process Fate had learned it was possible to support her children without setting up impossible expectations for them, if anything she had found herself trying to make them relax and not take the whole process so seriously. The memories of her own stressed out childhood had resurfaced but she hadn't felt any urges to chastise or intimidate her children like her grandparents, instead the smiling faces of her daughters succeeding by their own merit and hard work had loosen the final bonds on her heart. She was finally able to let go of her anger and resentment, realizing if she hadn't suffered in the past she wouldn't be the woman she is today and wouldn't be able to fully appreciate her current happiness. A happiness whose roots were in her own career that had brought her halfway around the world and to a woman she never dreamed of meeting. Now so many years later every one of her secret dreams had come true and life was perfect.