Ninth Session

I do not know if this little project gets me going all week, hoping it will be Friday evening and my two friends will come and we'll have a fun time together or for whatever reason it may be, it's Friday again and these two lovely dorks should be getting here any moment now.

A soft double knock on my door and Nanoha's unmistakable voice saying my name announced their arrival.

"Nanoha-chan, Fate-chan! You are right on time," I smile greeting them.

Nanoha is wearing her instructor uniform but it is unusual to see Fate in civilian attire. Dark blue jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and a mauve blazer she promptly hangs in the standing coat rack.

"Day off?"

"Finally a long weekend, since yesterday actually," Fate replies with a wide smile and evident sigh of relief.

I wonder if it had something to do with all we talked about last week.

"I have to ask then, what does Enforcer Fate T. Harlaown do on a long weekend these days?" I ask Fate, but keep an eye on Nanoha. Indeed, right there is that faint smile.

"Spend it with Nanoha and Vivio, of course. As much as I can. I got to take her to school and back home today before picking up Nanoha. It's nice."

Nanoha has already taken her usual seat but half turns with an arched brow on her face to reply to Fate who is just sitting down.

"That's because you are you. Vivio only lets me walk her half the way to school, and then she comes back by herself. But you take her in that shiny, loud car of yours," Nanoha finished her remark sticking out her tongue to Fate.

I've seen these two as we all grew up. Even before they consolidated their relationship as a romantic one, they have always been partners. Never have I seen them bring out their competitive nature against each other like this… but it seems when it comes to their daughter, they have their own kind of good-spirited competition.

"Are you saying she wouldn't let me take her if it's not in my car? You are so wrong," Fate replied with an offended expression.

Nanoha fakes an offended face before the smile on her lips betrays her.

"I'm sorry, Fate-chan, I'm just teasing you, of course, it's just that she is growing up so fast and that little things change. I kind of envy she still lets you take her."

"She only does that because I barely get to do it… I envy you get to do it even halfway every day."

I am not going to blame Vivio. Nanoha turned out to be some sort of helicopter mother that we have been able to tone down a bit. But she has been a handful. And Fate-chan, she used to worry so much about Nanoha, the poor blonde now worries about Nanoha and Vivio. She also required some help there. But since she spends so much time away it's harder with her.

"So what is it like? Two successful women, raising a daughter?" I ask to neither in particular, trying to see who wants to answer first.

And they both answer at the same time.

"Challenging," Nanoha responds in a heartbeat.

"Amazing," Fate replied at the same time.

"Okay, pretty much in line but then tell me, who does Vivio team up with to bully the other?"

They both turn to each other and point at the other with a wide, amicably-threatening smile.

"Me, bully you, Fate-chan? How dare you!" Nanoha laughs in between her sentences.

"Hey! I was the last to know Vivio's adult transformation when I brought Kris!"

"But that was an exception, I truly forgot! You are always sneaking with her to eat junk food, how is that not teaming up against me?"

Fate blushes guiltily.

It seems Vivio is the one that teams up with both of them for her own convenience. Smart little girl, that one is.

"I've been meaning to ask, now that we're talking about Vivio... has she ever… I don't know… made any reference about having two mothers?"

"Oh, there was this one time," Fate tilts her head back and rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "Nanoha should probably tell it as I was not present all through it…"

"But I already told you everything that happened, if you miss anything, I let Hayate-chan know, but you tell it," Nanoha has a funny smile while answering Fate.

I lean back in my chair comfortably. It's storytime and I am not going to lie. There's a nice flavor to it when Fate tells the story. It surely has to do with her permanent reluctance with our sessions, that I consider small victories. So I am all ears, while Nanoha gets up to prepare some coffee and tea.

A regular week-day late afternoon in the Takamachi household usually has Vivio working on her homework and Nanoha, either working planning the activities for her current training squad or preparing dinner.

As the bi-colored eyed girl closed her notebook and promptly picked up her pencils, she turned to watch her mother paying attention to some details on her screen.

"Nanoha-mama, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Vivio. What is on your mind?" Nanoha replied while closing down the screen and getting up from her place in the single recliner and walking up to sit next to Vivio at the dining table.

"Well… I don't want you to get mad…"

Nanoha could not help but think, "Great now I know how my parents felt when I started a phrase like this. Why do I always get these situations when Fate-chan is not here?"

It was at moments like that where Nanoha still felt clueless about raising a daughter, but trying to keep her cool facade from revealing her true feelings, she answered Vivio as cool as possible.

"Whatever is on your mind, Vivio, I'm sure we can talk about it."

"Well… why does everybody else at school have a mama and a papa, but I have two mamas?" Vivio asked, looking away from Nanoha's gaze.

Nanoha could tell that Vivio had spent a considerable time thinking about the question because she said it very quickly and without any hesitation. As if she had rehearsed it in her mind many times before finally finding its way out.

"You are special, honey," Nanoha petted her daughter's blonde hair, sighing somewhat relieved. She was truly expecting something more complicated by how Vivio had originally talked to her.

"Mama! I'm serious. I know you and Fate-mama adopted me... but does that mean I have another mama and another papa somewhere?"

"Well, you see, Vivio... You are special. How can I say it, you were born a bit different from the rest of us?"

"How am I different?" Vivio frowned.

"You are not different, you were born different, but that doesn't change who you are."

"But I am different. People will know I'm different."

"No, they won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Do you see anything different with Fate-mama?"

"No!"

"There you go. She was born very much like you were. That doesn't stop either of us from loving her. And it definitely doesn't stop her from loving us, and that's what matters the most."

"So I'm like Fate-mama?"

"Yes, Vivio," Nanoha sighed relieved that things were getting back to normal.

"Yay! But mama...?" Vivio pouts as if thinking very hard about something.

Nanoha looks at her patiently and smiles warmly at her.

"What is it, Vivio?"

"Why did you choose to be with Fate-mama and not with a papa like the other moms?"

Taking a moment to think about it, Nanoha smiled at Vivio trying to find the best way to explain something she truly had never needed to express out loud.

"Well Vivio, one day when you are a little older you will find out there are certain things you don't get to choose. You just find the right person for you and if you are lucky, the other person finds in you the right person for them. In my case, Fate-mama turned out to be my special person."

"And are you Fate-mama's special person?" Vivio asked with her eyes shining amused.

"Well, you'll have to ask that to Fate-mama when she comes home."

"Ask me what?" Fate's voice appeared from behind them. She reached down to kiss Vivio's head and then, locking eyes and receiving Nanoha's palms pressed on her cheeks, gives a quick kiss to Nanoha on the lips.

Fate has finally reached the moment where she does not blush that much when kissing Nanoha like that in front of Vivio.

"Fate-mama, is Nanoha mama your special person?"

Fate turned to look at Nanoha while undoing the tie from her uniform and shot Nanoha a playful questioning glance.

"Is that what you talk about behind my back?" Fate laughed and picked up Vivio and tickled her ribs. "Of course she is my special person. And you are my special little person."

"I'm not little! I'm tall and strong!" Vivio tried to reply while Fate kept ticking Vivio for a while until they both settled down and the little girl picked up her conversation with her auburn-haired mother.

"Do you think there will be someone special like you for me when I grow up, Nanoha-mama?"

Fate looked at Nanoha a little bewildered.

"What were you talking about before I arrived?" Fate asked Nanoha telepathically.

"I'm sure of it honey. Just don't grow up so fast will you?"

Nanoha hugged Vivio while responding to Fate in the same way the blonde had communicated with her. "Long story I'll tell you about it later... when we are in bed."

"But I want to grow up and be like you, Fate-mama. All powerful and important! Because mama said I am like you and it's okay you are my mama and not my papa."

"Papa?"

"I could call you Fate-papa," Vivio stated while placing her index finger on her lips as if she was considering other important ideas.

"Huh? Sure… Vivio… I guess…" Fate looked at Nanoha with pleading eyes. One thing was that Bardiche called her Sir, but Vivio calling her Fate-papa was really getting out of hand.

"Vivio, she is too gentle to say anything, don't tease Fate-chan like that," Nanoha said before deciding it was her Nanoha's turn to tickle Vivio while Fate scratched her head wondering how that conversation ended with Vivio considering calling her Fate-papa.

"Well, it seems you two have to team up so Vivio doesn't bully you two then…"

I can help but feel a little sorry for these two. It is clear Vivio has them eating from the palm of her hand and as she grows up… well… I can definitely see them both going to Momoko-san and Lindy-san for advice. It'd be fun to get them to talk to me about that.

"I guess then the obligatory question has to be… How has Vivio affected your relationship as a couple?"

"I ahh... Fate-chan, do you think you get less attention from me?" Nanoha asked sheepishly.

"Don't be silly. I think she actually strengthened us as a couple… no… not that… But maybe as a family? No, that's not that either… well, I don't know how to explain it. It's not like we were not solid before Vivio… but..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, since Vivio entered our lives, Nanoha has taken better care of herself. She doesn't push so hard or jeopardizes her health anymore. We had a lot of… differences of opinions... over that, so I'm glad Vivio tamed that part of her because I had almost given up on that."

"Fate-chan…" Nanoha looks timidly at Fate, it's impossible not to think about that accident s many years ago.

"I'm glad I don't have to worry about you so much Nanoha."

"Ne, Fate-chan, and what do you need for you to take care of yourself? You are always risking your lives for others, even up to this day!"

I have to say Nanoha does have a point. Fate is always on the frontline for everything and anything. But I shall remain an impartial observant on that note.

"I'm made of steel, nothing can touch me," Fate joked.

"Is that so?" Nanoha pinched Fate's cheek and almost immediately a tear surfaced.

Fate flapped her hands in the air, Nanoha made her point very clear.

"Ouch, Nanoha!"

Nanoha lets her go and smiles before getting serious again.

"I'm serious, Fate-chan. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before and you think I only changed for Vivio. She was part of it, but you were the other part. A big part too. I'm sorry I took so long, but you still haven't changed a bit. I know you are strong and more than capable, and I would never question your abilities, but I wish I didn't have that feeling here," Nanoha took Fate's hand to her stomach, "every time you accept those high-risk missions."

"I'm getting there, Nanoha, really… and you know I always take care of myself," Fate takes Nanoha's hand. "Anything and everything for my two special girls. I'll always come back home to you."

There is a special sweet way in how Fate refers to Nanoha and Vivio as her girls, her family. It must be something about the little story she told, but it is indeed curious how Nanoha ended up forming a family with the two blondes with peculiar birthing. Not that it's relevant, but I am glad they are the ones raising Vivio for sure.

"Nanoha-chan, you do seem to have a special thing for blondes." I know, I could have been more serious about the topic instead of blurting such a thing out loud, sometimes it just happens.

Nanoha slightly chortles and looks starry-eyed at Fate.

"It seems I do. My two girls. My two blondes. My daughter and my wife."

It may have been a figure of speech like we always tease them... but Fate is suddenly blushing so hard I can even feel the heat here.

And it's not like Nanoha shooting her hands to cover her mouth doesn't make her any less guilty. At all.

Everyone freeze now.

Cut.

Stop the action.

Hold the press.

"Your wha-what?" Yeah, that's how eloquent I can be.

"Oops!"

"Nanoha! I told you it would eventually slip with Hayate-chan!"

No, uh. These two are messing with me. They are right? I can't tell, they are giggling and Fate is so red. And they are looking at each other because they are."

"No. You're messing up with me. This is payback, you two are conspiring against me for every time I've teased Fate-chan. You want me to go all 'whaaaat' and then you're going to make a fool of me."

I stare at them and they look so, so guilty.

"..."

"..."

"No, no! No telepathic conversations between you two with me in front of you! That's plain rude!" I snap and jump out of my chair.

"Well… Hayate-chan… Truth is…" Nanoha says without being able to repress a gigantic smile on her lips every half a second.

They both again look at each other and giggle… What is going on here?

"Do you think it's fine to tell her, Fate-chan?" Nanoha looks at Fate.

"Tell me what?"

"I don't know, Nanoha, I mean, we all knew this would happen eventually but…"

"Tell me what?" Neither of these two is paying attention to me. "Tell me what?"

No, they're holding hands now. Nanoha does that every single time she was to somehow reassure Fate of everything when we are here and I'm digging in their love life.

"Tell me what?"

Fate takes a deep breath and looks at me.

"Well… remember that a few years ago… how many was it, Nanoha?"

"Almost three."

"Yeah, something like that…"

"Two years and eleven months."

I am looking at these two as if this was some tennis match, my eyes go from one to the other as they get into their details. "Yes, yes Nanoha-chan we know you keep track of the dates better than Fate-chan, no need to flaunt it." What in the name of the all-mighty tanuki's butt happened almost three years ago? I need them to not get distracted!

"Right… well we need to go a little before that… remember that when I shortened my name you started teasing us…?"

"Yeah…" I do remember. I teased Fate telling her that if she married Nanoha-chan then she could be Takamachi Harlaown and her name Fate T. Harlaown would work just the same.

"Well, it started to become our little inside joke..."

Nanoha then explains to me how their little inside joke worked. Fate being her wife. Every time there would be a reference of Fate's shortened name, Nanoha would turn to Fate and mind to mind saying things like 'Yeah T as in cough, cough Takamachi Harlaown' or 'my wife' or 'mine'.

"Ohhh but you never… No… you can't be… Wait, are you telling me what I think you are telling me? But I never saw any indication in Riot Force 6. And that little joke was way before that."

Nanoha ignores my questions and continues explaining how it was until after Vivio came into their lives and they both wanted to adopt her, Fate suggested they actually get married on paper to get all of Vivio's papers in order.

"So when we told you a few weeks ago that I was the one that would propose to Fate-chan it's because she already did and we already got married, kind of in a rush and for a very practical purpose… with everything going on in our lives at the time it was difficult to consider anything else, especially considering Fate-chan was getting very long missions…" Fate gives Nanoha an apologetic look while Nanoha continues. " ...because we really did not need anything else, and well, time has just flown by… but it's something we want to do… in a couple of years..."

Years? What… they… already…

"And it'd be a nice way to renew our vows… yes in a couple of years."

"No! Hell no! It's for me to be your bride of honor! I have dreamed all my life for that moment…"

Okay. that's a little exaggerated but I need to add drama to my drama because these two have kept this from me for two years and eleven months!

"...and to officiate! Did you know I had already got the permit to ordain?"

"Hayate-chan, if you want to ordain you can't be the maid of honor as well." Nanoha interrupts my moment.

"Damn right I can! I will officiate and be the maid of honor, the best man, the flower girl, the wedding planner, the wedding crasher…"

"We broke her, told you, Nanoha…"

"...and will plan your bachelorette party Nanoha, and your bachelor party, Fate-chan!"

"Huh?" Fate blinks and frowns at me. "What do you mean bachelor? Why can't I get a bachelorette party as well?"

"You want a party, Fate-chan?"

"Well.. no… but if I have one, it shouldn't be a bachelor party?"

"Aren't you the one wearing the pants in this relationship Fate-chan?" Nanoha arches a brow, tongue in cheek at me. "Nevermind, don't even answer that."

Fate-chan must be regretting telling that papa-story. Or that we tease her as Nanoha's prince. It's all her fault in any case.

"Actually why can't we get one for both?"

"No, no, bachelorette party for Nanoha. Bachelor party for you and maybe if I decide to forgive your massive offense I can consider a dual bachelorette party for you two…"

"Nanoha… I told you, we should have told her from the beginning…"

"And miss this meltdown?"

It's true, Nanoha looks quite pleased with herself and her mischievousness

"Okay, I need Shamal for this. Suzuka as well… Oh and your sister Miyuki… oh and both of your mothers…"

"Na...no...ha?" Fate's face has quickly changed from total amusement perpetually terrified.

"We knew this time would come, ne Fate-chan?"

"Rein!"

My always diligent Rein Zwei appears in front of me and greets Nanoha and Fate. Too much chit-chat. This is a critical situation and I need all my weapons. No distractions.

"Take note Rein, we need to find two dates, Friday or Saturday. Book them, the first for Nanoha's bachelorette party… the second for Fate's bachelor party."

"Hayate-chan… we said it'd be in a couple of years…"

"Hey! Ta ta… you're messing with my inspiration. These are your belated parties!"

"Okay let's see, for Nanoha's bachelorette party, it'd have to be Nanoha of course, me, you Rein…"

"Me…."

Fate, bless her soul, hasn't understood a thing.

"No, Fate-chan, you of course not." I have to set her straight.

"Shamal, Vita, Suzuka, Arisa, and Miyuki. We'll have to set the transport for them to come from Uminari and to stay the night, Rein. Who else, let's see. Oh of course Amy, Shari, Subaru, Caro, Arf, and Lutecia. Vivio, we can't invite her, she's too young to be in a bachelorette party and Fate-chan will take care of her."

Nanoha laughs and Fate complains and pouts. I ignore them. Rein is paying attention to me and that's all I need right now.

"Now for Fate's. Probably less crowded, and I'll have to think of a good place for them. For Nanoha's, I already have the perfect spot. So yeah, Chrono, obviously, Signum, Agito, Zafira, Vice, Teana…"

"Yuuno-kun?" Nanoha asks.

"Yuuno?" Oh, somehow he had slipped my mind. "Nah, that party is not something for Yuuno, we'll bring him to the girl's party. Yuuno's more like an honorary girl…"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing, don't distract me. Where were we, Rein?"

"The guests for Fate-san's... bachelor party?" Rein glances at Fate apologetically and accompanies the look with a gesture with her hands and a shrug.

Fate sighs and shakes her head.

"Oh.. yeah obviously Erio too, and also add me to that party. We also need to set the transport for Nanoha's brother.

"Hayate-chan… you are nuts… and the sexist role you're assigning to me is not funny anymore. It never has."

"I think it's very funny."

"Fate-chan, you always make it so easy for Hayate-chan to tease you. And you are the prettiest, most handsome, and dashing bachelor ever. But she's obviously doing it like that because that way she's having two parties. She made it obvious when she included herself in yours too. ."

"My dear White Devil, would you believe me capable of something like that?"

"Of that and more, Hayate-chan."

I smirk. Maybe my intentions cannot be truly hidden.

"Mark my words... It's going to be out of this world! Not that you deserve it for keeping that from me for so long… keep taking note Rein. We will need to set the theme, buy the props… actually I don't need either of you for this. I will notify you of the details... off you go… see you next week you sneaky little..."

Nanoha understands the cue and quickly stands up, pulling a very confused Fate out of her seat.

Yeah, they're my friends. I can't call them names. I can't be mad at them of course, but it's fun teasing them. And planning parties. Nanoha drapes herself over Fate's arm as they leave. Those two will never stop surprising me… oh, but I will surprise them