It was dinner time at the Takamachi household, just the three of them, the perfect family.
Vivio was sitting on the table looking at her mothers.
"Will you get married now?" she asked.
Nanoha chocked on her food, while Fate just froze.
"We haven't talked about it yet. You will be the first to know okay?"
"Okay Fate-mama, but don't wait too long, okay."
Fate smiled and nodded, Nanoha was just relieved she didn't have to answer this question. She knew she loved the blonde, but she was still plagued by her previous actions. Fate waited for her patiently, and she just used other women to silence the pain she felt inside.
"When will Aunty Alicia come by over again?"
"I am not sure honey, she is working a lot and helping out at the TSAB." Fate answered, not willing to go into the subject. Honestly she didn't want Alicia around Vivio, or Nanoha.
After the dinner, Vivio went up to her room to play a few games. Nanoha and Fate were left alone in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes.
"Are you okay Fate? You have been acting different since Vivio mentioned your sister."
"I love my sister, I really do, but when I am around her I feel worthless."
Nanoha walked over to her and took her hands into her own.
"You aren't worthless Fate. You are mine. You are perfect..."
"I am far from perfect Nanoha."
"You didn't let me finish, you are perfect for me Fate Testarossa Harloawn."
Fate looked deep into Nanohas eyes, it's true, she wasn't just a Testarossa but also a Harloawn.
She kissed the brunette deeply. "Thank you Nanoha."
"Arf can you come here a sec?" Lindy asked the redhead.
Arf walked swiftly over to her, sat next to her. She knew something was going on. Since they decided to stay at Mid-Childa, with Alicia, things weren't the same. Lindy had been on guard whenever the blonde was around them. Something just didn't smell right.
"What is it Lindy?"
"It's Alicia, she went after Nanoha."
"I am going to rip that blonde head of her body."
"Don't. We still don't know everything. I hate lying to Fate, but there is more going on then we know. She is hiding something. I am just afraid I am putting Those three in danger."
"You know how I feel about this Lindy. Fate and Nanoha can handle themselves, Vivio is protected by them. No one can come between those three. Those two would die for her."
"True, but we don't know Alicias motive yet. I am using my daughter, to find out the truth at what happened at the Garden of Time."
"Fate and Nanoha have told you what happened. Alicia was in a pod. She wouldn't know anything."
"Maybe not from that time, but what if she wasn't actually alone all these years? Jail couldn't have helped her, but how is it possible that Alicia travelled from world to world, without being noticed?"
Arf sat there, she knew what Lindy implied, but it was not possible. It couldn't. If that woman was alive, or helped Alicia, this was worse then she imagined.
"I want to help."
"Don't Arf. I have spoken to Carim, she will take care of it. For now let's just be supportive."
The redhead got up, her eyes on fire.
"If you think I am going to stand by, watching Fate being in danger, Nanoha and Vivio being thrown into something they are not prepared for, you are dead wrong."
"Arf, calm down. Carim has a handle on it."
"Oh and just because Carim has a handle on it, it will be fine huh?"
She transformed into her wolf form and ran off. Lindy watched her friend and smiled.
Thank you Arf. I can't do anything, but you can. Protect them, warn them.
Hayate was sitting across Alicia, she really couldn't stand the woman in front of her. Everything seemed off about her.
"What can I do for you?"
"I want to see my sister's file."
"Fate's file? Why?"
"I don't know anything about her. I never did. I want to see what she has done the last few years."
"I can only give you access to the file with Fate's approval. You know this."
This is not what the blonde wanted to hear. She should be allowed to know about her sister, about the flawed version of herself. She got up and decided to take things in to her own hand.
Hayate was far some stupid, she knew something was going on. She called to the Human Resources department and told them to seal the file shut. What surprised her was to hear the file has been sealed for a few weeks now, ordered by Carim Gracia.
Alicia stood in front of Fate's house. She was dressed completely different, she wanted to feel what it felt like to be Fate.
After walking into the house, she saw the home Nanoha created for her sister and their daughter.
Pathetic, this should be all mine. She got my life.
Her hands lightly touched the couch, the pictures going up to the second floor. No one was home, the house was empty. It didn't take her long to be in Vivio's room.
The room of a child, of the child she wanted. The child that Jail wanted more than her.
She looked around, hoping to find anything, but all she saw was children toys. She sat on the bed and looked up to the ceiling. There Alicia saw the stars, but not just stars but planets. Her eyes tried to find the place her mother took her, but the Garden of Time was not shown.
The one room she was most interested in was Fate's room. She walked into the bedroom and the whole air of the house was different there. This is where her sister spent most of her time, with Nanoha.
The bed was made perfectly, the whole room was spotless, they even had an en-suite bathroom. They could nearly spend all their time in this room.
She wanted to destroy it all. She wanted to mess up the whole room, go through all their things, let them know someone was in here. Before she could do anything the door flew open.
"Don't you dare." Arf hissed at her.
Alicia jumped and looked at the redhead she hated.
"How dare you be here. In my sisters house."
"I have every right to be here. You don't." she growled, ready to attack within seconds.
"I just wanted to see how she lives, okay."
"I don't buy it."
"I don't need you to believe me. She is my sister."
"Yeah you keep saying that. We are leaving now." Arf grabbed Alicia and dragged her out of the house.
Nanoha was getting back from work with Fate, both women stood frozen at their front door seeing Arf dragging a kicking and screaming Alicia by the hair.
"Arf what are you doing let her go!" Fate commanded running towards them.
"Don't Fate, she is crossing a line. She was in your house, going through your stuff." Arf barked back.
Fate stopped in her tracks starring at her sister.
"Is that true? Why were you in the house? You knew we weren't..."
"So what, I wanted to be close to you. I need you, you are my sister."
Alicia said in tears. Every bone in Nanohas body told her this was wrong, but all she could watch was Fate going up to her sister and holding her, comforting her.
Nanoha and Arf looked at each other in disbelieve. Neither of them knew what to say, but both knew this was wrong.
Fate walked back inside with Alicia, leaving the other two women outside.
"What happened Arf?"
"She was in your bedroom. I think if I would have been any later, all hell would have broken out."
"Why what does she want?"
"Nanoha you need to know something. There is something going on and no one is telling us what it is. Lindy is still investigating what happened at the Garden of Time, she thinks Alicia knows more. I, I think she is looking for Precia."
"Precia? But she is dead, right? She has to be dead. We saw them go through the rift..."
"And we found Alicia, alive. Do you really believe she did it alone?"
"Why would she lie?"
"Because she is Precia's daughter through and through."
"I don't believe that. I do know something is going on. Carim talked to me, to uhm spy on both of them, but I won't."
"You should spy on them, something is going on. But Nanoha, be careful. I don't trust Alicia. Neither does Lindy, or Carim."
"I won't betray Fate's trust. Yes I don't like Alicia, but why have her running around if she is dangerous."
"Because they are all idiots. Thinking she will spill the beans if she is comfortable."
Nanoha looked at her, it did make sense, why have Lindy agree to take in Alicia if she didn't think it was safe. Was Lindy really that obsessed with what happened back then?