That took quite some time, sorry for that. Somehow it was hard to write Vivio's motivations in this chapter - I must be getting old, can't think like a child anymore.
Many thanks to all reviewers, so here is the second chapter for Nanoha and Fate to explain Precia's absence in their and Vivio's lives.
I think I'm doing something wrong... MGLN still isn't mine!
Well-behaved daughter, soothing mothers
When Fate woke up, the first thing she realized was that she was in bed, stark naked and definitely not alone. A smile crept on her face. She opened her eyes and turned around, looking at the sleeping beauty next to her. Nearly all the time she had known her Nanoha had had a certain aura of innocence around her. No matter that she had been a battle mage since the age of nine, no matter that Fate knew from pleasurable experience that the other girl wasn't innocent in the traditional sense anymore, Nanoha's positive outlook and her fierce determination to save her loved ones despite all dangers to herself were somewhat naïve and romantic, but they had managed to instill hope even into Fate, when her own mother had nearly managed to destroy her will to live. A part of her had always viewed Nanoha as some kind of guardian angel, pure, beautiful and full of love.
But the other girl never looked more beautiful then when she was asleep. Maybe it was the expression of peace on her face, which was hardly ever there when she was awake. Sure, she was optimistic and calm most of the time, but she was also a military officer – before Vivio moved in with them, Fate had hardly ever seen the girl lowering all her defenses, like she did when she was around their little girl. In that fateful night, when she had asked herself if Vivio's arrival would change more than just them becoming the little girl's mothers, she had been right. Vivio hadn't really done anything, but her presence had brought forth a side of Nanoha Fate hadn't known before... not the caring and kind friend, not the passionate lover, not the stubborn and loyal battle companion, but a serene, yet responsible adult. A mother. The kind of mother Fate had found so very late in Lindy... the kind of mother she wished Precia had been.
When Nanoha had asked her if she wanted to be Vivio's godmother, it had taken her less than a second to accept. It had just... felt right. Nanoha was Vivio's perfect mother – she had proven on the Cradle that she would do everything to protect their daughter. Which was exactly what Vivio needed, because Vivio was like Fate. Both of them had had a traumatic childhood and what they needed was a mother who protected them from their inner demons by caring for them and not leaving them. Lindy had been an experienced mother when she had taken in Fate, and because of her career the military she had also been familiar with psychic scars. But Nanoha was young and inexperienced, and despite being exactly the pillar of strength Vivio needed as a mother, she couldn't see how vulnerable Vivio still was, how certain words and actions would, with no ill intent, scare and hurt the little girl. She had known instantly that Nanoha and Vivio needed her as some kind of mediator... and that she needed them. If their life had been a play, Vivio would have been a deus – or rather dea – ex machina, ending the long nearly-more-than-a-friendship-phase in her's and Nanoha's life and making all of their lives complete by creating a happy family.
Fate smiled and caressed Nanoha's hair. She could definitely live with Happily Ever After. Especially if... certain things, which were usually not included in fairy tales, were allowed to happen. Like last night.
Which reminded her. She slid out of the bed and quickly dressed, trying not to wake her sleeping angel. Maybe it was because her desires had been satisfied the night before, but it still was pretty amazing that it just took one thought of how their daughter was doing to take her mind off the young woman who had occupied her thoughts for so long. A grin crept on her face. Better not to let Nanoha know, or she might become jealous of her own daughter. Although, to tease her a bit... Nanoha was pretty straightforward with her feelings, a quality Fate admired, but no relationship was complete without a little teasing now and then. Maybe she should also ask the Ace of Aces how hot Vivio looked in Sankt Kaiser Mode. That might even make her blush... right before she'd give Fate a head slap. Okay, maybe she shouldn't ask.
Fate left the room and went to Vivio's. She quietly opened the door. If there was one thing that rivaled the sight of a peacefully sleeping Nanoha, it was a peacefully sleeping Vivio. It awakened feelings inside of her that she had thought she'd never experience... not even for Caro and Erio, she added a little guiltily. Although those too were very important to her, her love for them was more encouraging, urging them to become powerful enough to protect themselves. Maybe it was that. Erio and Caro had already possessed a certain amount of power when she had met them, but Vivio was helpless without her artificial Sankt Kaiser powers. She needed protection and reassurance that she was being loved by Fate – and Nanoha – much more then Erio and Caro did. And after her life with Precia Fate probably enjoyed the feeling of being needed more than other people.
She wasn't there. Fate frowned. It was quite early. And quite unlikely for Vivio to be up so soon. Nevertheless right then she heard some noise in the kitchen. Was the kid so hungry that she couldn't even wait for breakfast? Fate went to the entry of the kitchen.
Indeed, Vivio was there. The little girl was still in her adorable nightgown and actually looked a bit drowsy. Nevertheless, a determined expression on her face, the child brought forth a cup from the cupboard and put it on the kitchen counter. Then she climbed down from the stair she had been standing on, took the cup – she had to raise herself on tiptoes since she was so small – and finally went over to the table, where she – again on tiptoes – placed the cup in front of Nanoha's seat. Although it looked like the cup would end his existence in broken fragments on the floor not just once, it was a quite touching scene, the little girl trying to make breakfast for her new mothers.
"Good morning, Vivio," Fate announced her presence.
Vivio flinched and turned around. "Fate-mama!" she cried. "You scared me!"
Fate snickered and prostrated in front of her daughter, smiling at the girl. "Were you trying to make breakfast all alone, Vivio?" she asked gently.
Vivio looked down as if she had done something wrong. "Un," she muttered.
Fate ruffled Vivio's unkempt hair. "That's very sweet of you," she reassured the little girl. "But it's difficult when you are so small. Do you want Fate-mama to help you out?"
Vivio looked up, looking hopeful. "Vivio can help Fate-mama?" she asked as if she had expected to be sent to her room.
Fate grinned reassuringly. "Of course," she said and pointed to the table with two cups and one plate on it. "You already did half of the work. But it will be faster if we work together, don't you think? Then breakfast will be ready when Nanoha-mama wakes up."
Vivio practically beamed. It was remarkable how quick her moods could change. "Un," she affirmed. "Will Nanoha-mama be happy?"
"Are you kidding? She will be overjoyed!" Fate exclaimed, overacting a bit. "She'll be delighted to have someone helping her in the kitchen when I'm not here." Although not ALL things we did in the kitchen were about cooking...
Now Vivio was looking at her serious again. "Vivio wants to help Fate-mama too!" she announced.
Fate shook her head. "I'm sorry, Vivio, but my work is a little too dangerous for a child like you," she explained. Since Vivio didn't seem to be happy with that answer, Fate quickly added: "But you know what's dangerous too? You didn't make your bed. If Nanoha-mama sees that she'll not be happy."
"No!" Vivio nearly shouted. "Vivio will make her bed!"
Then she turned around and practically ran to her room. Fate blinked. Had the kid turned pale when she had told her Nanoha would be angry? It was supposed to be a joke. But Vivio's life hadn't been very funny until now, she would have to tell her that she hadn't been really serious. It had taken Fate quite a while too to develop a sense of humor after her life with Precia.
Well, that was all past. Fate stood up and turned around to the kitchen counter. She didn't doubt Vivio would come back after she had made her bed, so she'd prepare a few non-fragile objects for the little girl to carry to the table. Because one thing was true: Nanoha would be delighted to hear Vivio wanted to help her mothers with their tasks. They were lucky to have a daughter who wanted to be part of their lives just as much as they wanted to be a part of hers.
It was a few days later and Vivio was restless. In the last days she had done many things to show her mamas she could help them. Like Fate-mama had said, Nanoha-mama had appreciated Vivio's help in the kitchen. She had told Vivio stories of how she had helped her mama Momoko in the family cafe too when she was little. She had asked Nanoha-mama, why she wasn't with her family now, and Nanoha-mama had said that someday children grew up and left their parents to start own families – like Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama and Vivio. Vivio was happy that she had her mamas, and she knew that if her mama hadn't left her family, she wouldn't have been there to save Vivio from the Cradle people, but she herself didn't want to leave them one day. She would do everything she could to be useful to her mamas, so they would not want her to go away.
Like she had done in the last days. Aside from helping Nanoha-mama in the kitchen, she was always making her bed, she was careful outside so that she wouldn't dirty her clothes – Nanoha-mama had praised her for that – and she was always there when her mamas came home from work or shopping to greet them and divest them of things they carried. Fate-mama had looked at her strangely one or two times, but overall her mamas seemed to be grateful for Vivio's help. Vivio was quite certain that if she kept up being good, her mamas wouldn't want to go away anymore.
She was just worried because of Fate-mama. Nanoha-mama didn't go to work so often anymore. She had told Vivio, that she wanted to be there for Vivio more often, so she decided to work less for some time. That had made Vivio happy. But Fate-mama still went to work very often... and sometimes, when something her mamas called "mission" came up, she would be gone for a long time. Nanoha-mama had told her that there was nothing to worry about, that Fate-mama always would come back, but after she had overheard their talk about Precia-baasan... Vivio had been anxious. She just wished she could make Fate-mama stay here more often.
Suddenly a holographic monitor appeared next to her. Vivio jumped. Her mothers got calls like these all the times, but she didn't and she wasn't used to these things just yet. But Nanoha-mama was at work and Fate-mama had said that she needed to get a few things from the store. She would be back soon, but the call was now. Vivio looked closer tentatively. She knew the caller. It was a friend of her mamas, Hayate. Maybe it was an important call? And her mamas might be proud of her if she told them she could take their calls. She clicked to accept the call.
"Hello," she greeted the young, brown-haired woman on the monitor. "This is Vivio."
"Oh, hello Vivio." Hayate smiled at her fondly. "My, you are getting bigger every time I see you. And now you are even big enough to take your mama's calls, don't you want to start working for me?"
Vivio shook her head. "Vivio doesn't want to grow up. I want to stay with my mamas forever," she told Hayate honestly. She wasn't sure, but she thought she had seen a shadow of pain on the woman's face for a moment, but then Hayate smiled at her again, although not as brightly.
"Yes, I understand that," the young woman told her. "Who wouldn't want to spend as much time as possible with their parents? Anyway, is Fate-san at home? I need to talk to her."
Vivio shook her head again. "Fate-mama is buying things now," she told Hayate. "She said she would be back soon."
Hayate looked a bit disappointed. "Oh, too bad. I had hoped I could talk to her immediately." She paused for a moment. "Vivio, since you are big enough to take Fate-san's call, can you do me a favor? Can you tell her that I called and that I need to speak with her about a mission?"
Vivio stiffened, but Hayate didn't see it. A mission? Did that mean Fate-mama would have to go away for many days again? Vivio didn't want that!
"Vivio? Are you alright, kid?" Hayate asked worriedly.
Vivio nodded. "Un," she said.
"Alright. Please tell Fate-san that I called, okay? Can you do that for me?"
Vivio mumbled something and produced a small nod. Hayate looked at her thoughtfully, but then she just shrugged. "Well, thanks then. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Vivio. Maybe we'll talk again soon if you are taking your mother's calls from now on. Bye."
"Bye," Vivio said and then the monitor vanished.
What should she do now? Vivio wanted Fate-mama to stay with her and Nanoha-mama. And if she went away, Fate-mama might start searching for Precia-baasan. But if Vivio didn't tell her about the call, she might get angry at Vivio and leave too. The little girl frowned. This was so complicated! But wait, Nanoha-mama had recently said that she enjoyed it very much, when all three of them were together. And Fate-mama had said that she felt so too. That meant that Fate-mama really wanted to stay here with them. Hayate telling her she had to go on a mission would make her sad, like it would make Vivio and Nanoha-mama sad. Vivio decided. No, Fate-mama going away would make all of them sad. So she would not tell her about Hayate's call. Even if she became angry, Vivio would tell her that she didn't want Fate-mama to be sad. Since Fate-mama liked being with her and Nanoha-mama, she would understand. She felt a little bad for Hayate, but that was how it should be.
Nanoha was standing in front of Vivio's room. When she had adopted Vivio, she had known that there would be times when she had to discipline the little girl. As lovable and well-behaved the girl usually was, there was no childhood without a few misbehaviours. But she would have never thought that this would start so soon. She sighed. It had been quite a surprise when Hayate had called them and asked them if Vivio hadn't told Fate that they had talked and that Fate should call back. It had been about some details of Fate's last mission and Fate was at the bureau right now sorting this out. Probably Vivio had just forgotten to mention it, but it HAD been awkward nonetheless. As much as Nanoha hated the thought of scolding her daughter, Vivio couldn't just promise people things and then forget about them. Well, no reason to delay it any further. She opened the door.
"Vivio?" she asked.
The girl had spent most of the day in her room. Which was kinda unusual, in the last few days especially she had taken great interest in her mothers' work around the house. Fate had actually told Nanoha that she suspected Vivio was hiding something from them, but Nanoha had dismissed it – until Hayate called them today. Vivio was lying on her bed and looked up.
"Mama?" she asked.
Now not even Nanoha could ignore the kid's meek voice and the guilty eyes. Nanoha sat down, patting on the space next to her. Vivio understood and sat down next to her mother. A moment of uncomfortable silence made Nanoha's heart even heavier. She decided that she absolutely hated this part of motherhood.
"Vivio, Hayate-chan called today," she told her daughter, who was staring at her legs. "She said that she talked to you before. Did you really take our call?"
For a long moment Vivio didn't say anything. Then a slow nod and a quiet "Un." As if she awaited harsh punishment. Was Nanoha really such a strict mother? Suddenly she was flooded with guilt. She thought that she had heeded Fate's advice and shown Vivio whenever she could how much she loved her, to weaken her moments of strictness. But it was quite obvious that Vivio was afraid of her right now. How had it come to this? What could she have done to avert this?
"She said that she was surprised that you can already do such things," she continued cautiously. "But Hayate-chan also said that she asked you to tell Fate-mama to call her back. Vivio, did you forget to tell us?"
Vivio's lips were quivering. She didn't say anything, but she nodded. Slowly.
Nanoha took a deep breath. "Vivio, that was just a few hours ago," she stated. "Did you really forget? That wouldn't be so bad. Or is there something you are not telling me? Fate-mama said you acted a bit… strange lately." She paused. "Mama would be very sad if you were keeping secrets from her."
That was too much. Vivio started to cry. Nanoha had known it was harsh to accuse her daughter of lying, without real proof no less. She hated herself for doing it. But if something was bothering the little girl so much that she was willing to withhold information from her parents, at her young age… then Nanoha needed to know. They HAD to sort this out.
"I'm sorry," Vivio wailed and buried her face in Nanoha's shirt. The young mother instinctively wrapped her arms around her daughter. "Don't go, mama!"
Nanoha blinked. Hadn't she already gone through this some time ago? "Go?" she asked, confused. "Why would I go, Vivio?"
"If… if Vivio does something bad, Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama will go away," Vivio cried and grabbed Nanoha's shirt even firmer. "Don't go!"
She was REALLY having a déjà vu. And this time Fate wasn't here to save her. Fortunately this time she was more used to her daughter's antics. Nanoha softly stroked Vivio's back. "Shhhh," she made. "Haven't we told you time and time again that we won't just leave you? We are a family now, Vivio."
Finally Vivio looked up again. Her different-colored eyes were full of insecurity again. How long... how long would it take for Vivio not becoming scared of being left alone anymore? "But," she whimpered, "but Precia-baasan left Fate-mama alone."
"Pre..." It clicked in Nanoha's head. "You eavesdropped on Fate on me, when we spoke about Precia some days ago, didn't you?"
Vivio buried her face in Nanoha's slightly rumpled shirt again. "I'm sorry..."
Nanoha sighed and squeezed Vivio a little tighter. "Vivio, eavesdropping is not good," she softly chided the child. "Not only because it is impolite, but also because sometimes you don't hear everything, like you would if you had asked me or Fate." She paused and let Vivio sniff a little bit longer. "Vivio, you will stay in your room, until Fate-mama comes home. Then we will talk about everything."
"No!" Vivio exclaimed. "Don't leave me alone, mama!"
"Vivio, you broke your promise to Hayate-chan," Nanoha said sternly, yet still with a soft voice. "I cannot let you do that or you will become a bad girl. You will stay here and think about how you could have done better." She touched Vivio's cheek and made the girl look into her eyes, smiling encouragingly. "Don't cry," she whispered with the most loving voice she could muster. "I promise, when you, Fate and me have spoken about what has happened, everything will be alright again."
"Really?" Vivio asked with a timid voice, but her eyes were full of hope.
"I promised to save you on the Cradle too... and I did, didn't I?" Nanoha reminded Vivio and kissed her forehead. "I have to be strict with you sometimes, Vivio, but you are my daughter and I will always love you. Now, will you be a good girl and wait here until Fate-mama comes home?"
Vivio nodded, still looking sad, but she let go of her mother's shirt. "Mama will be back soon?" she inquired.
"As soon as Fate-chan is here," Nanoha confirmed and stood up. "Now rest a bit, okay? Soon everything will be okay again, I promise."
Vivio lay down on her bed again. "Un," she murmured, watching her mother leaving her room and hoping that she was right.
It hadn't been very long until Fate-mama came back – Vivio had looked at the clock afterwards. But in her state it had felt like ages. She had thought about what Nanoha-mama had said about bad things, eavesdropping – well, she hadn't known that this was a bad thing! – and breaking promises – well... that she had known. And she had constantly tried to reassure herself that Nanoha-mama had promised her to return with Fate-mama... and that she wouldn't break the promise. But it was so hard, being in this empty room and knowing that Nanoha-mama was sad because of her. She hadn't wanted her to become sad! Vivio promised herself that she would be the best daughter in the whole world from now on if only Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama came here very soon. Then the door opened.
"Vivio, we are here," she heard Nanoha-mama's voice and sat up. And was immediately caught in a fierce embrace.
"How could you do that, Vivio?" Fate-mama asked her with a pressed voice. "How could you be sad about something and not tell me or Nanoha?"
Vivio's eyes watered. She didn't want to cry now! Nanoha-mama had said they needed to talk! "Ma... mama... Vivio wanted to be good and not bother mamas..."
"Not bother?" Fate-mama released her and looked surprised at her. "You are our daughter, Vivio, if you have a problem, we WANT to know that." Her stare became thoughtful. "Did you not tell me about Hayate's call because you didn't want to bother me?"
Vivio shifted uncomfortably. "Vivio... didn't want Fate-mama to be sad."
"Sad?" Now she had confused Fate-mama. "Why would I be sad?"
"Fate-mama said she is happy when she is with Vivio and Nanoha-mama," Vivio explained, avoiding her mama's gaze. "If Fate-mama went on a mission, Fate-mama, Nanoha-mama and I would have been sad."
"Oh Vivio," Fate-mama sighed and put her hand beneath Vivio's chin to lift it up and make their eyes meet. She looked a bit sad, but also... relieved? That was good, right? "Of course I like being with you. But my work is also important to me. It's not like we won't see each other anymore."
Vivio bit her lip. "But... Vivio doesn't want Fate-mama to go," she confessed. "What if Fate-mama goes searching for Precia-baasan and doesn't come back?" She sniffed, but then she felt Nanoha-mama's hand touching her shoulder and gently squeezing it.
"That's what we need to talk about, Vivio," she said. "You shouldn't have broken your promise to Hayate-chan, but at least you meant well. But when you eavesdropped on Fate-mama and me, you only got half of the story and that made you scared in the first place. You should have talked with us sooner."
"I'm sorry," Vivio mumbled, but she kept looking at her mama. This was very important, she could feel it.
"Vivio, when Precia left with Fate-mama's sister Alicia, she did it because both of them were sick, not just Alicia."
Vivio felt Fate-mama stiffen. Well, she was surprised too. They had never told her that Precia-baasan had been sick.
"She was?"
"Yes," Nanoha-mama confirmed. "It was a different sickness than Alicia's though... when Alicia became sick, Precia suddenly couldn't be nice anymore. She was sad and angry because of Alicia's sickness all the time and no one could make her feel better... not even Fate-mama." Her mamas exchanged a strange glance. Nanoha-mama smiled at Fate-mama reassuringly, but the latter still seemed to be baffled. Maybe she had wanted to tell this story? "That's why Precia took Alicia and left, Vivio. Nothing could heal them here and if she had stayed, she would have made everyone around her sad too. It's like that with sadness. Isn't that right, Fate-chan?"
Fate-mama blinked, still looking quite astonished. It would have been quite funny, hadn't all of this been so serious. Vivio put her hand on Fate-mama's cheek. "But why didn't Precia-baasan take you with her, Fate-mama?" she asked the blonde woman with concern.
"Because she would have made Fate-mama sad, Vivio," Nanoha-mama told her. "And Fate had a new family here too. If she had gone with Precia, she would have made them sad."
"That's right," Fate-mama said, finally tearing her gaze away from Nanoha-mama and looking at Vivio, smiling faintly. "Lindy-kaasan and Chrono-niichan and Nanoha too would have been very sad if I had gone with Precia-kaasan. So I decided to stay with them and hope that Precia-kaasan would find a cure for her and Alicia-neesan."
"And when they have found it, they will come back?" Vivio asked. Would she be able to meet Fate-mama's mama and sister one day?
"I hope so," Fate-mama told her, smiling brighter this time.
"And Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama won't get sick and leave?" Vivio questioned, looking back and forth between her mothers.
"We will be careful that this doesn't happen," Nanoha-mama assured her. "But Vivio, you have to tell us too if something makes you sad. Otherwise we can't help you and all of us will be sad... like in the last few days. Okay?"
"We won't just leave you like that, Vivio," Fate-mama added and caressed Vivio's hair. "We love you. But when we have to go to work, you will have to understand that too."
"Un," Vivio confirmed both statements. She had been silly. She was just glad that her mamas understood that. "I'm sorry, Nanoha-mama, Fate-mama. Vivio will try being a better girl."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with that," Fate-mama agreed, grinning.
"I really liked when Vivio helped me in the kitchen though," Nanoha-mama threw in and took Vivio's hand. "I was proud of you. But you should only help us if you want to do it, Vivio... not because you are afraid we won't like you anymore. We will always like you." She put her finger on Vivio's nose, gently rubbing it. "Now, is everything good again, Vivio?"
Vivio giggled and moved away her face, nodding. "Un," she said. She felt much better than in the last few days... it was like she had carried something heavy and then her mamas had taken that weight off her shoulders. From now on she would tell her mamas immediately when bad things happened. She was happy that they still wanted her.
"Good, now that that's done..." Nanoha-mama suddenly grinned. "How about we have some medicine for our stretched nerves? I'm sure Vivio will appreciate some delicious caramel milk after these stressful days."
"Mou, Nanoha," Fate-mama complained, her lips curled. "That stuff is so sweet!"
"Oh, but Vivio likes her warm, sweet caramel milk, don't you, Vivio?" Nanoha-mama asked, looking triumphantly at Fate-mama.
Vivio nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!" she announced, too exited for her signature-"Un". On the first time she had woken up from a nightmare, her mamas had calmed her down with a glass of warm caramel milk. For Vivio, who loved sweet things, it had tasted heavenly.
Fate-mama pouted. Sometimes her mamas acted really childish, when they talked to each other. "Alright," she gave in. "But after that we go to bed. We've had enough drama for today. And today Vivio sleeps with us." She heaved her hand, stopping Nanoha-mama's protest. "Vivio has learned some important things today, Nanoha. I think she has earned the right to sleep in our bed." She looked at Vivio. "If she wants to."
"I do!" Vivio agreed, blushing. She knew that especially Nanoha-mama wanted her to become a big, strong girl and she had her own room now... but whenever she was allowed to sleep with her mamas, she felt save, like no one could ever hurt her again. It was a wonderful way to fall asleep.
"Hmm... ah well. It has really been an important day," Nanoha-mama agreed, much to Vivio's delight. She smiled at her. "But tomorrow you will sleep in your own room again, Vivio. Big girls, who can take calls already, aren't supposed to sleep with their mommies everyday."
Vivio's smile lessened a bit, but the thoughts of sleeping with her mamas tonight and warm caramel milk kept her in good spirits. "But then today Vivio wants a big glass of caramel milk!" she demanded.
Nanoha-mama looked at Fate-mama reproachfully. "See, Fate-chan? Such things happen when you spoil a child too much."
"Me? YOU were the one who offered her that sweet stuff!"
Vivio slid off the bed and walked towards the kitchen, followed by her arguing mothers. Everything was alright again.
That was actually mushy and actually a little depressing to write. The next chapter will be a funnier one, I think.