Special thanks to Tania Hylian for beta-reading.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

Six months later...

The beeping of the alarm clock echoed through the bedroom. Croix lazily moved her hand over to the snooze button. She moved her hand all around it until she finally hit it and the alarm went silent.

Croix tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't. Her side of the bed was closest to the window, the sun shone right over her face.

"Bonjour, mon Coeur."

Croix moved her head over to the rest of the bed and saw her Scarlett haired wife giving a warm smile. Croix let out a cranky grumble and turned back around.

"Ah ah ah," said Chariot. "No falling back asleep, Croix. Time to seize the day, and put some pep in your step!"

"It should be illegal for someone to be so peppy this early…" muttered Croix with a smirk. "Besides, it's one of my only days off."

"That doesn't mean you get to sleep all day, Silly!" Laughed Chariot. "Someone's gotta watch Akko!"

"Speaking of which, where is our Tiny Mouse?"

Chariot pointed down the bed, where a little brunette in red pajamas rested her noggin on the redhead's stomach, snoring quietly. Croix looked towards her with a somber smile.

"Another nightmare?" She asked.

"Yep," sighed Chariot. "But she wasn't too sad, just scared. I sang her lullaby, and she was out cold."

"I don't know why we even bothered investing in that other bed." Said Croix. "All three of us fit just fine in here."

"Well, we won't once she starts to grow up." Replied Chariot. "Imagine all three of us in here when she's sixteen!"

"Don't remind me." Mumbled Croix, she poked Akko with her finger lightly, as not to disturb her. Akko muttered in her sleep.

"Tiny Mouse, never grow up." Stated Croix groggily, "It's a trap."

Akko mumbled some more.

Croix smiled to herself. Akko had been living with them for about six months now, but no one would know it by just looking at them. Akko never had any problem calling Chariot "Mama" or Croix "Mommy", and each time she did, Chariot would smile brightly, while Croix's cheeks would go bright red. Simply put, the three loved each other.

With Akko in their lives, they would find themselves doing many more activities than before. Sometimes they would go to the park, sometimes the movies, the pool, or just play around in the yard. Whatever it was, Akko would always end up with a smile on her face.

However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. While Akko didn't misbehave (well not on purpose anyway), she could be fussy. Oh, could she be fussy; whether it be having to eat her vegetables, doing her homework, not getting her favorite cereal at the store, or having to wear training pants at night for wetting the bed one time too many. No matter the situation, Akko would at the least, not say a word to either Chariot or Croix with a pout on her face, and at the worst, throw a temper tantrum over the matter, whatever it was at the moment. Thankfully, the former was the outcome of 85% of the time.

Of the two, Chariot got to spend the most time with Akko; as Croix would often have to go to her job. While at their house, Chariot would make Akko lunch, go through Akko's schooling, (Akko was homeschooled), or just veg out on the couch covered with a blanket and a book in Chariot's hand or something on the television.

Croix would usually get home around five o'clock, and by then Chariot would have dinner ready. After dinner, the three would then go back to the couch, and either chat about their day or play together with Akko. But they made sure to be in bed by nine, the only exception being Fridays, which was movie night, although Akko would often end up falling asleep halfway through the movie anyway.

Weekends were when Croix got to spend more time with her adoptive daughter, and also the days when Chariot would go into town to perform her magic shows. They were only small shows, but Chariot enjoyed seeing the smiles of all the children she watched that she didn't care for their size. While Croix and Akko would watch after spending time with one another. And while Chariot loved making all the children happy, there was nothing that could top the joy she felt when she saw Akko smile in awe and giggle happily at her show.

Akko meanwhile kept mumbling in her sleep, a little drool dripping from her mouth. Croix looked to her scarlet-haired wife with mischief, before turning back to the tiny brunette.

"Alright, Tiny Mouse," she said as she began moving her hands to the small child, curled up like a hawk about to catch a mouse. Chariot tried to contain her giggles. She knew what was coming next.

"You better watch out," went on Croix, "Because Mommy Cat is awake," Akko looked up in confusion, her eyelids barely open.

"...And she's always ready to tickle little mice, just, like, THIS!"

Croix then put her fingers to work as the drummed underneath Akko's arms, causing Akko to keep and break into a fit of laughter.

"S-Stop it!" Akko giggled she flailed her arms around. " Heh Hahaha! Stop it Mommy! Please!"

But Akko's begging fell on dead ears, as Croix continued to tickle her while Chariot began to giggle herself.

"Don't worry, Akko," said Chariot, turning to Croix. "Mama Pup is here, and she's ready to start a DOG PILE!"

"G'ah!" Croix eeped as Chariot suddenly rolled over on top of her.

"Tiny Mouse, help me!" shouted Croix, "I'm being drowned by gorgeousness!"

Akko laughed as she jumped on top of her mothers. By now everyone was in a fit of giggles as they rolled around the bed. Thankfully no one rolled off the bed, and they eventually stopped, with Akko in the middle of her two mothers as the morning ritual had come to an end. Chariot looked at her daughter with happy eyes.

"Good morning, sweetness." she greeted warmly.

"Hi!" replied Akko with a goofy smile.

"So, you ready for an awesome day, Squirt?"

Akko turned to face her other mother with a smile. Akko loved being with her Mama, but she never got to be with Mommy very often, and now the two had the whole day to spend together! Akko couldn't ask for more! She nodded her head eagerly. Croix leaned her head in to Akko's ear.

"Don't tell Mama, but we're gonna bake her a cake for her big break today…"

"I heard that!" said Chariot playfully. "You guys don't need to do that for me!"

"But you've never gotten a gig like this before!" said Croix, "It's only fitting that we celebrate!"

Other than performing on the street, Chariot would also do various gigs to anyone who was hiring. Graduations, Birthday Parties, etc. She went under the stage name "Shiny Chariot", and would always put on great shows for her audience. She would only do weekends, due to having to take care of her daughter on weekdays, but since this day, Friday, was one of Croix's few days off, Chariot could make the gig, knowing that her Akko was in good hands.

"Mama,"

Chariot looked down to the little brunette.

"What's up Akko?"

"Why is this show so special?"

"Well," said Chariot, "Today, my audience is going to be very important clan of witches, one that is rather rich, and honorable I might add."

"Well honorable or not, you gotta be there on time!" Said Croix as she picked up little Akko who giggled. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, so that Mama has time to get changed!"

…

After giving Akko a bath, Croix dressed her up in a small pair of jeans, and an orange shirt. Croix had to keep herself from crushing Akko in a hug, she was so cute! Now the two were sitting at their circular kitchen table. Akko was happily munching on some chocolate cereal, while Croix had settled for a small bowl of oatmeal. She looked at her daughter from behind her glasses and smiled.

"So, what should we do first today, Tiny Mouse?" She asked.

"Let's go to the park!" Said Akko suddenly, "I wanna do the swings!, And then we should do the big slide! And, and then we can we get some blue cotton candy? I love blue cotton candy! We should-!"

"Okay, okay, take a chill pill, Akko!" Interrupted Croix. "You're getting cereal on your face!"

Akko stopped and took notice of the small bits of cereal on her face.

"Sorry," she said meekly. Croix signed with a smile.

"No worries," she replied grabbing a rag. "Let me get that for you."

Akko whined as Croix wiped her face.

"Quit it!" She fussed, "You got it already!"

"Stop squirming!" chuckled Croix, "I can't wipe your face if you can't keep still!"

"Croix, you aren't spoiling Akko, are you? That's my job!"

Akko and Croix stopped their squirming and looked to the kitchen entrance. Chariot had just entered the kitchen in her stage outfit, minus the hat. And just like her reaction to Akko, Croix had to control herself upon seeing her wife in that outfit. Especially with her slightly exposed chest.

"Akko," she muttered quietly, "be a dear and get me a tissue, I think I'm getting a nosebleed."

But Akko ignored her Mommy as she ran up to her Mama and squeezed her legs in a hug.

"You're so pretty!" Akko told her second mother, making Chariot blush.

"Aww, Akko that's so sweet!" replied Chariot, patting the little girl's head. "Now you behave for Mommy, okay?"

"Yep!"

"Don't worry, Cheríe." Stepped in Croix, scooping up Akko. "I'll take care of Tiny Mouse, won't I?"

"Squeak Squeak!" went Akko cheekily. Croix poked her cheek and they laughed. Today was gonna be a great day for all three of them. Chariot had her first big break, Croix got a break from her job, and Akko would get to spend more time than usual with Mommy! There was nothing that could dampen the joy that came with this day!

Just then the landline phone rang, Chariot was closer to it so she picked it up.

"Hello, Merides Du Nord residents this is Chariot." She listened for a moment.

"Yes, she's here; I'll put her on." She turned to her wife. "It's for you."

Croix set down her daughter, and took the phone from Chariot.

"Croix here, what's up? David, hey, what can I do ya for?"

Akko and Chariot watched Croix curiously. David was one of her co-workers, and usually only called when there was a problem.

"There's a bug in the system?" went on Croix, "Did you check the source codes? What about the HTML files? There may be something in there that's amiss… What do you mean? You need me? Oh no no no, it's my day off, get someone else to do it; I already made plans. Well I'm sorry, David but I already made plans! What about the boss? Wait, he said what?! But I specifically requested this day for myself! He can't fire me for using a vacation day!"

Akko and Chariot tensed up as Croix's voice began to get louder. Croix thankfully took notice and eased down before sighing.

"... How long will it take? And you're sure I'm the only one who can fix it? Uggh, fine. But tell the boss that he better make it up to me! Alright, I'll be there in thirty." And with that Croix hung up the phone with a sigh.

"Is everything okay?" Asked Chariot, but she felt she already knew the answer.

"*Sigh* There's a bug in the system at work, and they need me to come in and fix it; otherwise I'll be laid off."

Akko and Chariot's eyes widened in realization.

"...Maybe," began Chariot, "Can you take Akko with you?"

"Fat chance," answered Croix, "I'll be too busy to keep an eye on her, and there's no telling how long it'll take to fix, plus the boss doesn't really like people who bring in their kids."

Akko began to look anxious.

"C-Can we still go to the park?" She asked hopefully.

Croix looked to her daughter with sad eyes. The two witches didn't completely spoil Akko, but they always tried to make her happy, and they hated letting her down. Croix knelt down and put a hand on Akko's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Akko." replied Croix, "but I don't think we'll have time to make it."

Akko looked down and let out a sad mumble, one that made Croix cringe with guilt.

"Hey, don't be upset!" said Croix with a reassuring smile, "I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow, I"ll let you get a triple scoop at the ice cream shop, sound good?"

"Mmm, Kay." Muttered the little girl, still a little upset over the matter.

Croix then stood back up and looked to her wife. Akko wasn't the only one who deserved an apology.

"I…"

"No, it's alright Croix." reassured Chariot quietly. "As much as I love doing these shows, that job is our best source of income, and besides, someone's gotta keep an eye on Tiny Mouse." Chariot then showed her wife a sad smile. "I'll call the client and let them know I can't make it. You get to work."

Chariot then kissed Croix's lips, before the lilac-haired witch went to change into something more presentable than sweatpants and a t shirt. Once she had she gave her wife and daughter one final hug and kiss each, before grabbing her broom, and heading for the office; leaving Akko and Chariot with each other.

Chariot looked to her daughter, and grimaced. While Chariot was a little down about losing her gig, she knew that Akko probably felt more sad that she had been robbed of play time with her mommy. Chariot patted her head once more.

"Why don't you go watch some cartoons, Sweetie?" She suggested, "We'll start lessons a little later than usual." It was the least Chariot could do.

"Okay," replied Akko, slowly making her way to the living room. Chariot sighed sadly as she reached for the phone. She then dialed the number of her client.

"Hello? Could I speak to-? Oh hi Miss C! This is Chariot, Shiny Chariot, you hired me for your daughter's birthday party? Yeah, I hate to say it, but I'm afraid I'll have to cancel. Yes, I'm very sorry Ma'am, you'll get a full refund and everything! Yeah, there was something that came up suddenly and my wife had to go to the office, so I'll need to stay home to take care of my daughter. Again I'm very sorry for this- wait what?"

Chariot almost dropped the phone in surprise.

"Pardon me, but could you say that again? You're serious? No, I wouldn't mind but, are you sure? I mean I don't want to intrude on your party or anything, you're sure it's alright? Well, okay then! We're back on! Same time we agreed on? Good! And she'll be on her best behavior, I promise! Right then, see you then! Goodbye!"

Chariot hung up the phone and almost squealed in excitement. Looks like she wouldn't have to cancel her gig after all! There was just one thing that needed to be done first! She ran to the living room to find Akko sitting on the sofa as a Bugs Bunny cartoon played on the television.

"Akko, change of plans!" Said Chariot eagerly, "No lessons today!" Akko tilted her head in confusion.

"Why not Mama?" She asked, not that she was complaining. Chariot leaned in excitedly.

"You and me?" whispered Chariot, "We're going on a field trip!"

Akko let out an exiced gasp, as she looked up to her Mama.

"You mean it?" She asked eagerly.

"Is my hair red?!" Replied Chariot as she picked up Akko in a hug and twirled her around. The two laughing joyously as they spun. Soon they stopped spinning, Chariot looked more serious, but she still kept her smile and looked down at her daughter.

"But first, let's get you changed into something more presentable!"