Extension Booster B: Revelations II
Vivio had taken the news surprisingly well and after falling asleep, Nanoha took her to her bedroom to sleep. When she returned, she found Fate sitting on the window corner watching the lights in the distance clearly absorbed in her own thoughts. Fate looked at her as soon as she felt her near and was pleasantly surprised as Nanoha placed herself behind her, to serve as Fate's body pillow now while hugging her from behind.
"Ok, we need to get serious, Fate-chan. We have to decide how we are going to break the news to all our family. We just had the reunion to announce our engagement, we are going to drop another bomb in less than a month."
"I guess that happens when you play around with delicate things," Fate half-joked.
It was something they had not talked about yet. The seemingly arbitrary coincidence that had them expecting an unplanned child.
"Do you regret it?" Nanoha asked, concerned.
Fate shifted a little to her side to be able to see Nanoha before answering.
"What? No, not at all. I mean, I never had really considered the possibility… not even when you mentioned wanting a baby in a more "traditional" method. I guess I just assumed you meant you. But... I wouldn't change a thing anyways."
Nanoha could see in Fate's expression she wasn't lying as the blonde leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips.
"Good, neither do I. But no more kisses, we get distracted and we need to figure this out."
Bossy Nanoha had taken over much to Fate's amusement.
"Ok, focusing," Fate tried her best to put a serious face.
They largely discussed what plausible explanations they could have for such intempestive news. So Nanoha's parents and Fate's mother would have to be the first ones to know. Hayate as well—they already were dreading that part. At the end they decided that less was better.
They would not delve into how or why and they were hoping no one would be brave enough to ask for the details. They would get married, they would have their baby. The goals were clear.
"Talking about traditional stuff...about us getting married, what would you like to do? Do you want like... the full on package, you know, ceremony, party and stuff or just get the paperwork and get it done?" Fate asked Nanoha.
"Oh, Fate-chan you are such a hopeless romantic," Nanoha responded snarkily linking her own fingers together, placing her chin over them with an exaggerated loving sigh. "You give me such difficult choices. Do I want the stuff or the paperwork, my heart can barely contain the emotion."
Fate looked at her unimpressed until Nanoha burst into laughter.
"Of course I want the full on wedding package and stuff, don't you?" she replied with her sweetest and cutest smile.
"It's just that… unless we do it within the next two weeks, I'm going to be showing, and I don't think I want that…"
"Fate-chan is worried she won't look superbly thin for our wedding?" Nanoha gaped, teasing her.
"Mou."
Nanoha was sure she hadn't seen such a cute expression coming from Fate, well maybe that one time, the first day she was presented at her school when they were third graders, could top it.
"How about this, we hold off the wedding after our baby is born? We have clearly proven the natural progression of events for a regular couple do not apply to us at all. What is one more change in the order of things? That will give us enough time to prepare now and focus only on the pregnancy and the birth and then for the wedding."
"That... actually sounds like a great plan. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"All I care about right now is making sure this baby gets here and getting married to you."
"Oh my goodness, what did you two do?" Hayate did not even say hello as soon as the couple joined her at the cafe's table, she knew there was something going on.
"Why would you assume there's any problem Hayate-chan?" Nanoha tried to respond as nonchalantly as possible.
"Because you two never ask me out for coffee. I am the one who is always chasing after you two. So let's have it."
Be fast. Be direct. Avoid questions. Fate repeated to herself.
"I need to take a leave of absence from the Bureau."
"Why?" Hayate made the word way longer than required.
Be fast. Be direct. Avoid questions.
"I.. well.. I am pregnant. I just found out."
"Sure and I keep a herd of pygmy unicorns back in my vacation manor, we can go and ride
them. Really. Spill it."
"We just did." Nanoha intervened.
Hayate took a good look at them. After all the years they had been best friends she was sure she was particularly efficient reading them. There was indeed unmistakable embarrassment in Fate's eyes, but not of being ashamed, more like a strange mixture of being guilty and proud. And Nanoha, was sharing her unmistakable I am her loyal accomplice look.
They were not lying.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Do you want the long version or the short version? Fate asked.
Great Fate. So much for 'Be fast. Be direct. Avoid questions.' Fate immediately scolded herself.
"Have you met me, guys? Oh no, we need to get out here. And I need booze, and for you too Nanoha. Sorry Fate. But you guys are telling me everything."
Turned into a whirlwind, Hayate paid and had them out of the cafe and in Fate's car within seconds.
"Where are we going?"
Fate realized by the indications Hayate gave her, she was driving to the Marina.
"Did you buy yourself a yacht Hayate?" Nanoha chuckled.
"No, but I might."
They arrived at a gigantic warehouse looking complex and after parking her car, Nanoha and Fate turned to Hayate unsure where to go.
"Follow me. They reached a secluded door. Welcome to the Admiral's Lounge", she mentioned casually as she keyed in a code and inserted a card in the opening that appeared.
A nice reception with an artificial intelligence screen welcomed them.
"Yagami Raven 1847 alpha."
"Passcode confirmed. Voice recognition confirmed. Access granted, how many guests?"
"Three."
"Entertainment?"
"Full bar, self service, lounge and privacy level 10."
"Request accepted. Maximum privacy ensured. Please enjoy, Raven."
"What is this place?" Nanoha whispered to Fate who only hushed her.
"A sliding door on what had originally seemed just a wall opened and still following Hayate's lead they stepped into an elevator. Or so they thought as the "elevator" moved backwards for a few seconds and then up until the finally reached the level marked PH6.
"The penthouse?" Nanoha asked.
"One of them, but these are not apartments, they are just meeting lounges. But yeah, it's the top floor."
They stepped in and indeed, a generously sized lounge with a magnificent full view of the coast opened for them.
"Here we have privacy, we have booze, we have food and now you can tell me how on earth you are pregnant, from whom, and why is Nanoha so calm with that. For starters I am having a double whisky, red wine for you, right Nanoha? Club soda & lemon for you, Fate?"
Both nodded still in awe at the place.
"How do you know this place Hayate? And why have you never brought us?" Nanoha inquired.
"We will get to that, it's irrelevant compared to what I need to know from you two."
Hayate must have taken some bartending classes because working at an impressive speed she had all their drinks in their appropriate glasses which were promptly handed to the two Aces. Fate's glass even topped off with a lemon slice.
"Am I going to ask the questions or are you going to tell me everything from the beginning? No, I am asking the questions. Who's the father? Did you go to an insemination clinic and did not tell me? When did you decide to get another child? When is the baby due?"
"Ok, slow down Hayate-chan."
"Do you want to tell her or should I tell her?" Fate asked Nanoha, who just gave her a slight nod indicating she should do it.
"Ok, no we didn't go to an insemination clinic. We had only briefly mentioned the possibility of having a sibling for Vivio a couple of months ago. One thing led to another, and I am in my fourth month now."
Hayate absorbed every answer in between kissing down her whiskey.
"Aha. You are purposefully avoiding the father's identity. Oh my god, who did you do?" Hayate glanced at Fate and then at Nanoha. "And why are you so undisturbed with that? Oh my god. You two are killing me. You actually starlightbreaker'd the hell out of a poor fella."
Nanoha was sure Hayate would just continue to elaborate conspiracy theories out of thin air if she didn't quiet her.
"Would you believe if we told you there's no poor fella?" Nanoha couldn't avoid mocking her tone.
"Of course not."
"Well, believe it."
"How? It's impossible. I wasn't paying much attention in our biology classes back then, but I am absolutely sure you need a guy to make a baby."
"We will tell you but you have to swear you will be Hayate-chan and not Colonel Yagami the one that knows this. You will be in our circle of trust for this. You cannot have any conflict from what you learn today with anything outside our friendship. And you cannot mention it ever. For all practical purposes, we got a donor or something. We haven't figured out that part of the plan yet."
Nanoha was extraordinarily serious and awaited for her friend's answer.
"Of course. You have my word."
So finally Fate told Hayate everything she had told Shamal at the time. She explained her finding the rings. What they meant and how they had seemed completely innocuous pieces of jewelry. Then what had happened when they had been missing for three weeks and finally how Shamal had been the one to identify Fate's pregnancy when she was hospitalized.
By the time Fate ended her story Hayate was easily at her fourth whisky and with no indication of getting drunk at all.
"Wow," was all Hayate could say.
They stayed silent letting Hayate be the first one to talk.
She was stuck at repeating wow at irregular intervals, accompanied with different expressions of her face and tones in her voice.
"With that said... I know we already asked you to be our maid of honor and it may seem a huge imposition...but would you be the baby's godmother too?" Nanoha asked timidly.
Hayate launched towards them into one of their tight hugs. "We have so much more planning to do!" the petite mage shrieked.
"So how are the preparations coming?" Lindy asked her daughter.
"Hayate and Nanoha are pretty much handling everything around the wedding," Fate confessed.
"Of course they would be," Lindy replied, although Fate didn't seem as amused as she did. "Is there something on your mind, Fate?"
"Well, they want me to go on and try dresses. White fluffy dresses. I don't think I can go with that. I would feel ridiculous with something like that. I escaped from them saying I had promised to visit you and that's why I came here all of a sudden..."
Fate looked visibly distressed and Lindy smiled at her lovingly. What a blissful moment, where the thing worrying her daughter was choosing a dress for her wedding.
"This is still and will always also be your home Fate. You don't need to announce yourself to come by. I am glad that you did. And about the dresses...You don't have to go for the fluffy pompous versions Fate. it's your wedding, you can choose a more modern long dress without the fluffiness."
"That actually doesn't sound half bad."
"You could choose a women's tuxedo if that would make you feel better…"
Fate twitched her nose and shook her head. No, definitely not. She enjoyed the occasional suit but definitely not an option for her wedding.
"Well," Lindy tapped her cheeks with her fingers. "You are active military personnel Fate. It is well within your choice if you want to opt for your ceremonial uniform. You both can, obviously.
When I married Clyde, he used his ceremonial uniform, he looked so handsome in it. Here let me show you some pictures," Lindy said as she hurried to her room bringing back a large photo album.
Sitting again right next to her, Lindy went through each page pointing and naming a lot of people Fate didn't know and some she actually knew. It was fun to watch them so young. Lindy looked so young and happy. And she wasn't lying, Lindy's husband looked handsome in his uniform. They were a beautiful couple.
"And for the reception, I can change into a nice party dress!" Fate exclaimed as she saw the pictures from the reception. "Thank you mom, I will suggest the idea to Nanoha. I can definitely picture her in the fluffy dress she wants, but I can use my ceremonial uniform."
Lindy smiled, pleased she was able to help her daughter even a little, and started to close the album when Fate, reaching for her hand, stopped her.
"Can you finish showing me the pictures mom? I had never seen them and... you look so happy."
Lindy beamed at the request and they kept flipping the pages, while telling her different anecdotes of relatives and old colleagues.
By the end of the album a single full body portrait of Lindy on her wedding day covered the last page. A sober yet feminine slender white strapless dress with a magnificent fall.
"Wow. Mom you looked amazing. That dress was really beautiful. If I could only look as good for my wedding..."
Lindy took a look at Fate and suddenly stood up.
"Wait here."
Fate patiently waited again as she heard doors opening and closing. She could hear her mother in the bedroom talking to herself, although she couldn't exactly make out what she was saying. Her mother finally came back holding a large striped blue box tied close with a matching ribbon and gave it to her.
"You don't have to feel obligated, but if you want to, it would make me very happy if you wanted to use my wedding dress for your reception, of course tailored for you".
Very carefully, Fate opened the box to find the dress she had just seen, carefully folded over the inside satin protection of the box. Fate took it out just as carefully and standing up, pressed the dress over her body for her mother to see.
Fate gaped at her mother teary eyed and launched into her to hug her.
"Thank you mom. That's the best wedding present. I love it."
Lindy patted her daughter's head lovingly.
"I know just the person we have to see to fit your dress."
"Mom?" I need to tell you something else…"
Sooner rather than later, all their family and close friends had received the second wave of news from either Nanoha or Fate or both. Just as Shamal had mentioned, it wasn't long before Fate could not have kept hidden the changes in her body, so they managed to time it right.
They had only gone through the more specific details with Hayate, who had been the only one shameless enough to inquire every detail. For the rest of their family and friends, each and everyone was happily surprised, opting to avoid inquiring details. It was a happy occasion and the details of the how and why, pertained to Nanoha and Fate only.
One day, Nanoha sensed something was wrong when she picked up Vivio at school. Vivio was less effusive than usual. She tried getting her to talk, nudging her with a question or two on the way home to no avail. She was unnaturally silent and would avert her gaze.
As soon as they got home, Vivio went immediately upstairs leaving Nanoha unsure whether to give her some space or go after her. Deciding for the first option, she tried to keep busy herself in her home office. It was until she heard a loud thump that had her running out looking for Vivio when she realized Vivio was not in her room but in the guest-room that she and Fate had slowly been turning into a nursery.
"Are you alright Vivio?" Nanoha asked, trying to sound as natural and calm as possible even if she was incredibly worried.
Her daughter had gotten out of the closets a small suitcase and ignoring her question and apparently her presence as well, carried it out and to her room shutting the door closed behind her.
Nanoha knocked twice, calling her but would not get an answer.
Vivio had never thrown a tantrum before and this was certainly looking like one.
"I just want to talk with you Vivio, please."
She heard the front door and knew Fate was home. Giving a defeated look to the closed door, she went down to meet Fate, who immediately noticed her expression.
"What's wrong?"
"I found Vivio in the nursery with a suitcase and she won't talk to me. She locked herself in her room," she told her as she met her sympathetic crimson eyes. "I don't know if something happened at school, she was very quiet on the way home. I have never seen her like this."
"Let me try, ok?" Fate kissed Nanoha's cheek and went upstairs.
Knocking softly she said: "It's Fate-mama, would you let me come in, Vivio?"
She waited for a few seconds when she finally heard the door unlocking.
As gently as possible she opened the door and entered her daughter's bedroom.
"Hey Vivio," Fate greeted her daughter as she sat down on the floor in front of her, crossing her legs, in one of the pregnancy poses she had been practicing. At seven months, it required practice to find her balance. She took Vivio's small hands on her own and looked at her.
The girl looked at her briefly and shrugged. She had been crying, her puffy eyes and nose were more than obvious indications. Fate extended her arms towards her hoping you would welcome her hug. Vivio eyed her briefly again but eventually budged, and let herself be hugged. Fate patiently cradled her in her arms waiting for her to open up, while softly brushing the locks of her hair.
"Fate-mama. When will I be leaving?"
"What do you mean Vivio?"
"When the baby comes, you and Nanoha-mama will have your baby. You don't need me here anymore."
It would be a blunt lie if Fate did not admit her heart broke hearing Vivio so sad and the implications of her question.
Holding her so that she could face her, she tried to explain: "Fate-mama and Nanoha-mama will always need you Vivio. Nothing will ever change that. I thought you said you wanted a baby sister?"
"I did," Vivio answered. "But it is different now, because she will be your real daughter and I am not."
Fate dreaded this day could arrive someday and she was glad she was here with her daughter to talk about it. She thought Vivio would be a bit older if and when it happened, but she also hoped she could make her see things differently.
Fate carefully stood up and walked to the bed and sat down, sitting Vivio on her legs facing her.
"Vivio, you are my daughter. You are our daughter. Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama will always be here. You are our first daughter and nothing will ever change that. Nothing." Fate said looking directly into her daughter's bicolored eyes.
"But I am different," Vivio sniffled.
Fate sighed deeply, she knew exactly how her daughter was feeling. The fear of being different. The pain of not being good enough. The constant reminders of being an experiment. Of not belonging. Perhaps this was the moment to tell her a bit more of her own story.
"Well, Vivio, I am also different, you know? I had a sister, Alicia. She was my older sister and I loved her very much. When the baby comes, she will love you very much because you are her older sister. It is a bond no one will ever take from you."
"Where is Alicia?"
If Fate knew something, it was that talking to an eight-year-old meant a lot of questions. And she was going to be as honest as she could.
"Alicia died when she was very young."
Fate's heart broke again, yet in a slightly different way as she saw Vivio's sad but empathetic expression looking at her.
"My mother and Alicia died, and I thought I had no one else in my life," she continued, deeply moved.
Vivio looked at her confused.
"Lindy-nana?"
Fate involuntarily chuckled softly.
"No honey, Lindy-nana is fine. I meant my other mother, Precia Testarossa." Fate was sure that even if she had already told Vivio before, it was quite possible she didn't remember.
"Pu-re-sia Te-su-ta-roo-sa?" The girl tried to repeat.
"Yes, that's right. I met Nanoha-mama just a little before my mother and my sister died. We were a little older than you are now, and well… we got in a little trouble together but then Lindy-mama took care of me. "
"Fate-mama had two mothers like I do?"
"I did, but not exactly like you Vivio. I love Nanoha and we both adopted you because we love you and we wanted to take care of you and live together. The three of us as a family. But you see, for me it was different. When I was born, I lived with Precia, but then she died and I met Lindy-mama, who became my mother when she adopted me and with that I also got a big brother, your Uncle Chrono."
"And Uncle Kyoya?"
"That's Nanoha-mama's big brother."
"Aha," Vivio answered as if trying to piece together a puzzle.
"Do you see what I am trying to explain to you, Vivio?"
Vivio tapped her fingers to her mouth thinking and shook her head.
"We are not different Vivio. We are special. Or maybe a bit different yes, but being different is not bad," Fate smiled and continued. "Just because Nanoha and I adopted you, and just because I was adopted as well, it does not mean you and I are loved any less by our mamas. I have never doubted how much Lindy-mama loves me, and I apologize if we made you feel like we don't love you as much as always, Vivio. We never meant to."
Fate waited a moment for her words to sink in before continuing.
"Your baby sister is the luckiest baby in the world because she has you as her big sister. If you want to, you will play with her, teach her everything you know, and protect her. And Nanoha-mama and I have been the luckiest, happiest people in the world since you called us Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama. We would be very sad if you left us. If you didn't want to be our daughter anymore."
Vivio's wide smile was all the answer Fate needed.
"What's going on here my loves?" Nanoha's sweet sounding voice had her both turning their heads to the door.
"Nanoha-mama! Fate-mama was telling me you got in a lot of trouble when you were my age!" Vivio exclaimed eagerly.
Great, all she got from this story was that we were troublemakers at her age, Fate thought amused.
"Fate-mama!" Nanoha looked at Fate's guilty grin and pinched her cheek playfully as Vivio watched delighted the childish interaction between her mothers.
"Mama! I am going to teach my baby sister everything I know when she comes," Vivio announced proudly.
"Thank you," Nanoha mentally talked to Fate.
"No, thank you."
"And I am sure you will do a great job, Vivio. Do you want to come down to dinner now?"
"Yes!" A Loud shriek had them both jumping and watching her daughter running down to the kitchen.
Nanoha approached Fate, offering her hand for Fate to stand up and embraced her lightly to quickly kiss her fully on the lips before both of them headed down to join Vivio.