Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN but my girlfriend reckons she should! Nor do I own El Cazador de la Bruja.

Author's Notes: Thank you SapphoSensei for your review. Chapter 12 was quite a challenge to write but I wanted to add an entirely different dimension to the cruelty that Fate could have experienced. It will certainly have psychological repercussions for Fate which will be expressed throughout the story. I also plan to explore the healing process, in which Nanoha will be essential.

I hope I didn't lose anyone because of the previous chapter. In sharp contrast here is a lighter chapter.


Chapter 13

Trust

Nanoha's POV.

I am walking back from a shift at our family owned café/bakery. It is a beautiful early afternoon. I am humming the taco song from the El Cazador de la Bruja anime. It is such a catchy tune plus it always makes me smile. In my hand is a paper bag full of cavity inducing goodies from the bakery. They are for Fate and Linith. Fate…

I stop by a traffic light and wait for the green man to say it is alright to cross.

Fate… I am looking forward to seeing her. I can't let Hayate know that nyahaha or I will never hear the end of it. Mind you she is already teasing me and we only met Fate yesterday. She is definitely not like anyone I have ever met. What is it about her? Why am I thinking about her so much?

Last night was so magical. I never knew watching someone laugh and joining in on the laughing could bring about such a euphoric feeling. It felt so special.

The green man flashes. I move with the crowd of people across the street and see the park on the other side.

It is such a beautiful day that I think I will walk through the park even though it is a bit of a detour. I make my way on the little winding path leading into the park. Couples are littered everywhere on picnic blankets enjoying the weather. I momentarily get off the path to let kids on their scooters pass me when I notice familiar looking golden hair. What a coincidence.

There is only one person with long flowing hair like that. I walk towards the woman sitting with her back to me on a park bench. Her hair is gently swaying in the wind as it hangs in a loose pony tail off the back of the bench. She looks still as a statue as I get closer and closer. I walk around the bench without a word. I want to make sure it is her before I say anything.

It is indeed her but she hasn't noticed me yet.

Her hands are flat against each of her thighs. She is wearing black jeans and a black hoody. Her and Hayate seem to have similar tastes in colour and clothing. I look at her face. She seems to be watching something straight in front of her. I turn my head to see what it could be and notice two small children playing with their dog. The kids are throwing what seems to be a frisbee for the dog to catch in midair.

I turn back to look at Fate. She is looking at them but her mind seems to be somewhere else. Her eyes seem to contain a great deal of sadness in them. I don't want her to be sad. I want to see her smile again. I want to hear her laugh.

"Fate?" I ask. At that she almost jumps out of her skin but composes herself in a heart beat again.

"Sorry I hadn't seen you there." She responds in an almost whisper.

"No I should be the one apologising for interrupting your thoughts and startling you." I sheepishly smile at her.

"Not at all. Would you like to sit?" She offers and scoots to the side of the bench to allow me to sit.

"Thank you. Actually it's funny that I meet you as I was just on my way to see you and Linith."

"Really?" She asks. I notice her eyes seem vacant now. All hints of sadness I had been privy to see without consent gone, probably locked in her heart.

"Yes. I just finished work and brought back some of my favourite pastries for you and Linith to try."

"Thank you, you are very kind." Always so formal Fate. I smile.

"Would you like one?" I offer and open the paper bag for her to see. The smell wafts out of the bag. It feels like you can almost see it as it encircles the two of us, enticing us. Fate seems about to decline when I hear a low grumble.

"Nyahaha, I think your stomach has decided to choose for you."

"That was un-expected." Fate seems a little surprised by her stomach's betrayal. I extend the paper bag towards her.

"I have an assortment. There are custard puffs, cinnamon buns, red bean buns and taro balls."

"Do these come from your bakery/café your family owns that you were telling us about last night?"

"Yes they do, freshly made this morning, we make all sorts of things there. You and Linith must definitely come around for coffee and cake." I would love you to come.

"We'd be more than happy to, thank you for the invitation." Fate politely adds. She extends her unbandaged left hand and picks one out randomly from the paper bag.

"Ah you got a cinnamon bun. They are dangerously addictive. I have always been fond of eating them a special way. I feel that it intensifies the flavours. Would you like to give it a go?"

"Um…okay." She answers hesitantly.

"Hahaha Fate it's nothing bad, don't worry. It won't hurt you. Okay so close your eyes." She gives me a suspicious look. "Trust me, close your eyes." She finally does as I ask. I don't know why but at this moment she seems so vulnerable, I guess it's probably because she always seems so guarded. I wonder if she looks like this when she sleeps. Huh? What am I thinking? "Now place the bun near your nose and inhale its sweet fragrance." Fate brings the cinnamon bun close to her face and inhales a long deep breath. Her tongue unconsciously slowly licks her top lip in an erotic yet paradoxically innocent manner.

"Still keeping your eyes closed take a bite of the bun, chew it slowly and swallow." Again she does as I instruct. Her mouth opens and her lips tentatively close around the bun as she bites down. I can see she is savouring the moment as slowly as she possibly can. I can't stop staring at her delicate lips. I watch mesmerised as she seems to be in a few moments of bliss. I catch the tiniest smile. If I had blinked at the time I would have missed it. She opens those haunting eyes and looks at me.

"I have never experienced anything like that before. That was truly wonderful. Thank you!" I feel my face go hot at the compliment.

"You must have had a deprived childhood." As soon as those words left my mouth I regretted them. In an instance an emotion that I can't quite catch flashes across her eyes. "I'm sorry..." I quickly counter but was cut off by Fate.

"No, don't apologise. I know you meant it in jest. It's just I haven't spoken to someone like this for a long time and am unfortunately a little rusty in basic conversation skills." For some reason I want to hug her at this exact moment. Something in the way she said this made me a little sad. Had she no friends?

"Ne, Fate?"

"Yes."

"I know we do not know each other for very long but you know that you can tell me anything. I will always be there to listen and help as much as I can."

"Why?"

The answer was as clear as day. "Because we are friends!" She seems to be surprised by this as she shifts a little.

"Friends?...But you do not know me."

"My gut tells me you are a good person and strangely I feel like I have known you forever." She looks into my eyes as if searching for proof of what I had just said. She opens her mouth to say something when the dog playing with the two kids barks loudly. Suddenly she averts her eyes and looks into the distance. She was again in that far away place of memories.

"Fate?" I want to reach you.

"I am going to end up hurting you." She emotionlessly says as she maintains her gaze on the children and dog playing.

"Why?"

"Because that is what I am good at." She is trying to push me away. I wonder if it has worked in the past. Hayate once told me people do this to protect themselves and others. They find excuses as to why they are not good enough and push you away. Maybe Fate doesn't believe she deserves a friend. Why? Who or what would have made her believe that?

I will have to work my magic.

A small smile appears on my lips as I scoot closer to Fate and wrap my arms around her. She instantly stiffens obviously unfamiliar with this closeness. Her fists clench. I can feel her heart beat quicken, it's working on overdrive.

"Thank you for the warning but I don't believe that you want to hurt me. All your actions now tell me otherwise. Do you know what the Takamachi's are famous for?" I hear her gulp.

"The Takamachi's?" She asks.

"Nyahaha I forgot to tell you. That is my family name."

"Oh." She is still as stiff as an ironing board.

"Well, we are famous for our stubbornness. It's true. Hayate can vouch for it. We don't give up on people so easily. Fate?"

"Y-yes."

"If you ever need to talk or just a hug come to me okay?" I tighten my embrace around her so that she can feel my sincerity. I hear her exhale and feel her ever so slightly relax in my hug.

It's a start. I want you to trust me. I do not know what it is about you. In less than twenty four hours I feel like I have an affinity towards you.

"You are too kind, thank you." I still feel the reservation in your voice. I will have to gain your trust slowly.

"Nyahaha I better release you or you are going to have a heart attack." I slowly release my hold on her. Her ears take on an impressive shade of red and her cheeks seem to tint slightly. She is too cute! "If you have nothing planned for the afternoon why don't we bring some of these treats to Linith?" At this Fate nods and stands up. She extends her uninjured hand for me to take. I smile and reach for her hand. It's still so cold. She helps me up and releases my hand. There's a tingling feeling in my finger tips. She starts to walk along the path, I follow suit and we head back to our apartment complex in comfortable silence.

I ended up staying for coffee at Fate's and Linith's apartment. It was amazing to see how much work Linith has put into the place. It looks much cosier. She gave me a tour of the place. I noticed that they had almost no personal belonging. They really owned the bare minimum to get by. I wonder what their life must have been like before.

Fate and Linith escort me to the door. I slip my shoes back on.

"Thank you so very much for having me over for coffee."

"No we should be thanking you for sharing some of your family's pastries with us. They were delicious. Nanoha, you and your pastries are most welcome whenever you like. I and I know Fate really enjoy your company." Linith adds.

"Next time you must both come to our café/bakery."

"We certainly will."

"Well then I shall take my leave, have a lovely evening." I turn to take my leave when I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I was half expecting it to be Linith but am pleasantly surprised to see it is Fate.

"Um… I want to say thank you for this afternoon in the park. It was strangely comforting." At this Linith's mouth drops open just as it did last night but she quickly regains control of it and closes it.

"What are friends for." I smile at her. Linith looks between Fate and myself almost in disbelief and then as if she is having an internal monologue nods her head and grins. Clearly whatever she was talking about with herself she approved. A small giggle escapes my lips at this.

"Bye-bye." I wave and make the three steps to my apartment.

"We will probably see you tomorrow." Linith says as she waves back.

I hope so. I insert my key into the lock and open the door only to be greeted by a very hungry looking Yuuno.

To be continued…