I really need more time to write. I'm glad you liked the last chapter. The next one will be a funny one too (with Hayate in it), but this one is serious fluff again.

It's about the time after Nanoha rescued Vivio from the Cradle and they are being patched up in the infirmary. This time (unlike in the first chapter) Nanoha is really at the edge of collapse because she slowly realizes how easily five Starlight Breakers could have killed Vivio - ultimate armor or not. I think such guilt is realistic, but read the story and correct me if you don't think so.

Have fun.

Saved daughter, relieved mothers

Motionless.

That was the worst thing. Vivio being hurt... not good. Vivio having been in the Riot Force 6 infirmary for hours... worse. But the little girl, the girl Nanoha had learnt to care for so much, lying there unconscious, with no one knowing if there would be any consequential damage from being hit by five earth-shattering energy blasts at once... that was unbearable. Shamal – no other doctor had dared even coming close to Nanoha, fearing her reaction – had told her that Vivio had slipped into some form of unconsciousness. They didn't believe that her daughter was in a coma state, as her stable life signs and brain waves stated, but she wouldn't wake up. Shamal thought that her brain might have taken some damage due to Nanoha's attack, but they didn't know how much. Shamal had tried to calm Nanoha down, telling her that if Vivio's brain had taken severe damage, she would have been unconscious right after the attack, that it was probably just a concussion, but she hadn't been able to ease the young mother's worries. Not at all.

Since then Nanoha had been standing in front of the window that showed Vivio's room, with the little girl lying on her bed, motionless and fragile. She ignored anyone who tried to tell her to get some rest, that she was injured too because of the fight on the Cradle, that they would tell her immediately when Vivio awoke. And after this guy who had touched her shoulder and tried to pull her away from the window, after the glare that had frightened him away, no one had tried doing more than pleading. She would stay exactly here until her daughter woke up or until she collapsed, even if her battered body was protesting. Once she had left Vivio out of her sight and Scaglietti had used that to kidnap the girl. A tear made its way down her left cheek. She would not leave Vivio ever again. Especially since she was responsible for the girl's condition.

"Nanoha."

For the first time in... at least one hour, she guessed, Nanoha turned her head to look at the one who was talking to her. Fate hadn't come out of this fight unscathed either, but she hadn't taken as much damage as Nanoha and Vivio. At the time Nanoha was being patched up and Vivio was examined, Fate was still on duty – Scaglietti and his Numbers were being transported to temporary holding facilities, and no one wanted them to break free and cause havoc again. They had talked to each other via their devices, and Fate had become pale when Nanoha had told her about Vivio's state. But she hadn't been allowed to see them until now.

Fate wasted no time, went over to her friend and pulled Nanoha into a fierce hug. Nanoha groaned, her aching body protesting even more, but still she returned the hug. It had been a long time since she had felt so vulnerable... not able to do anything to make things better. All this time Fate had been there, she realized, providing Nanoha with strength and confidence, in battle as in parenting. She had never thought about how much she was depending on the blonde girl... how much she needed her. It felt really good being so close to Fate, feeling her comfortable warmth, smelling her familiar scent... it felt like nothing bad could happen, as long as they were together...

But of course that wasn't the case. Fate pulled away from her, looking through the window at Vivio. Their daughter. Who was still unconscious.

"How's Vivio?"

Nanoha swallowed and fought back the tears. Again. "She won't wake up, Fate-chan," she whispered, balling her fists. "She just won't... wake up."

Fate noticed the vulnerable undertone in her voice. Of course. Fate knew her well... better than she knew herself at times. Now these big, burgundy eyes were staring at her.

"Nanoha, this wasn't your fault." Fate's voice sounded convinced and sincere... but Nanoha knew better. She pushed Fate's hands away and leaned against the window, staring at Vivio's sleeping form.

"Yes, it was," she disagreed. "It was me who attacked her, Fate-chan. Me! Her MOTHER!"

Fate put her hand on Nanoha's shoulder again, but she didn't try to pull her away. "You did it to save her, Nanoha. You would never hurt her."

"Five Starlight Breakers, Fate-chan!" Nanoha retorted and banged on the window. She bit on her lip before continuing, calmer: "Five simultaneous blasts! You know what one of them can do! I could have KILLED her!"

Suddenly she was hugged from behind. She exhaled with surprise as Fate put her head on her shoulder. Fate's words, so closely spoken to her ear, made her shiver involuntarily. "Nanoha, you told me that she had no control over her body! If you hadn't attacked her with all you've got and freed her, than you probably would both have died when the Cradle was destroyed."

Nanoha whimpered. It felt so good to hear that... to hear that she had done the right thing, especially coming from Fate, whom she was so close to. It just wasn't the truth.

"But I didn't KNOW, Fate-chan," she confessed, tears of guilt forming in her eyes. "When she begged me to save her, I just acted by instinct. I attacked her with all my power, because I felt I would need it... but if it had been too much, I would have vaporized her!"

Fate hugged her a little tighter. And her voice became strict. "You were going up against the ultimate shield," she said. "No one could have told you what power you would need to break it. If Vivio didn't WANT you to defeat her, maybe even five Starlight Breakers would not have been enough. And who knows, if it hadn't been enough, she might have lost control and attacked you again. We simply don't KNOW, Nanoha! And you DID save her! Otherwise you would be dead right now."

This last sentence sounded strange... strangely vulnerable, as if Fate hadn't really realized this fact until now. But only a small part of Nanoha's conscience noticed this, since the main part was distracted by guilt and shame while watching Vivio and Fate's body pressed against her's on the other hand.

"You didn't see her, Fate-chan," she whispered, two more tears gracing her skin. "When she was lying there in the crater that I caused, motionless just like now. For a moment I really thought that she was dead... that I killed her." She paused. "For a moment I wanted to kill myself."

She could feel the other woman tense up. Then she was turned around and Fate gripped her shoulders, looking into Nanoha's eyes with an adamant expression. "You saved her," the blonde woman declared. "You exposed yourself to mortal danger to free her from being a puppet, and I know you would do it again. And you feel responsible for all the pain she has gone through." The stern expression vanished and Fate started to smile. "And that makes you the best mother Vivio could wish for."

"I... I can't do this, Fate-chan," Nanoha sobbed and threw herself into the other woman's arms, burying her face in Fate's neck. "It is too much, I can't be Vivio's mother!"

"Shh," Fate made, caressing Nanoha's back. "You're not alone, Nanoha, remember? Vivio chose to accept both of us as her moms. Together we can do this."

Together... it sounded so... right. Nanoha was astonished how happy the thought of her, Fate and Vivio living together made her. And not only because of the little girl in the room behind them. Had she always felt this way? No, Fate was her best friend... someone who understood her better than anyone, whom she could always count on, that was all... or...?

"Vivio!" Fate suddenly gasped.

In a moment all confusing thoughts were pushed aside, to be considered another time. Nanoha turned around and stared into the room. Vivio was waking up! The little girl's eyelids were fluttering and she was groaning, slightly moving beneath the bedcover. Nanoha and Fate nearly collided while trying to enter the room at the same time, but they hardly noticed. In a flash the two young women were kneeling next to their daughter's bed, both gently touching Vivio's hand. Slowly, so slowly Vivio opened her eyes and looked at them. For a terrible moment she didn't seem to recognize them, but then the ghost of a smile brightened her small, tired face.

"Mama..." she mumbled. Then she looked at Fate. "Fate-mama too."

The lump in Nanoha's throat grew in size, but fortunately Fate could still speak. She stroked the little girl's hair and asked: "Sure, I was worried about you too. How are you feeling, Vivio?"

Vivio pouted. "Vivio feels fuzzy," she complained, her voice still very quiet. Then she noticed some scratches on Nanoha's face. "Nanoha-mama, you are hurt."

Nanoha blinked, but then she started to smile, almost unwillingly. She squeezed Vivio's hand tenderly. "That's nothing, Vivio," she reassured her daughter. "Do you remember what happened?"

Vivio knit her brow. "Fuzzy," she repeated. Then she grinned. "But Nanoha-mama somehow made a big, magic light and saved Vivio."

"Yes, that she did," Fate agreed and put her arm around Nanoha's trembling shoulders. "It's what she does best."

Nanoha managed to produce a weak laugh before the urge became too strong. She began to weep.

"Nanoha-mama?" Vivio asked worriedly. "Why are you sad?"

"She isn't, Vivio," Fate soothed her while pulling Nanoha closer to her. "You know, when Nanoha-mama made this big light you remember, she was really worried. It's very difficult to make this light, and you are very, very important to her, that made her nervous. So when you two came here and you fell asleep, so deep that no one could wake you, Nanoha-mama became scared that she hadn't made the right light – she thought it was her fault that you were sleeping."

Nanoha wished she could help Fate telling the story. She was doing it pretty well, leaving out the traumatic parts, but she really wished that she could stop crying and show her daughter that she was alright. But Fate was right – there was so much guilt and worry inside of her that needed to be cried out. So she just surrendered to Fate's soft embrace and let her take care of their daughter for now.

"And now that we've seen that you are alright, she needs to get rid of all this worry," Fate continued. "Tears aren't always bad, you know? Sometimes you really feel better after you cried a bit. Nanoha will feel much better soon."

Vivio seemed to understand. She patted Nanoha's hand encouragingly. "Don't worry, Nanoha-mama," she told the young woman. "Vivio will feel good again soon too. And then Vivio will stand up on her own again, so that Nanoha-mama can be proud."

That was too much. Although she didn't remember right now, this child had gone through a nightmarish past, culminating in a death struggle against the woman she felt closest to. And now, lying in the infirmary with a concussion, all Vivio could think of was how she could please Nanoha – as if the girl owed her anything!

"I don't care," Nanoha brought out, escaped Fate's embrace and put both her hands around Vivio's, staring at the little girl intensively, tears still leaving her eyes. "I don't care if you can stand up on your own or not, Vivio. I don't care if you are strong or weak, if you eat up or not or if you are too clingy sometimes." She touched Vivio's cheek. Her hand was slightly trembling because of the emotional maelstrom inside of her. "All I really want is you to be happy, Vivio. That's all that matters to me."

Vivio seemed to be a little dizzy because of the force behind Nanoha's words, but after a second she smiled again. "Vivio is happy because Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama keep all bad things away," she told the two women. "Vivio is not alone and scared anymore."

"Oh, Vivio..." Fate mumbled behind her.

"From now on we will be a real family, Vivio," Nanoha promised the little girl. She had no idea if that was even possible after the Scaglietti-case, but everyone who tried to take her little angel away from her, would have to face her wrath. "Fate-mama and I will take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again."

"Un," Vivio murmured, her eyelids fluttering again.

"Nanoha, that's enough," Fate's gentle voice reminded her. "Vivio still needs some rest. And you too. We can talk further once both of you feel better."

"But..." Nanoha was a bit surprised herself because of the raw emotion behind the words she had said to Vivio. She had meant every one of them. She wanted, NEEDED to be Vivio's mother, with all consequences. She didn't want to leave her now.

"No buts!" There was steel in Fate's voice now. The blonde woman's hand gripped Nanoha's shoulder and urged her to stand up. "I'll stay here while you get some rest. Once she wakes up, I'll call you. Come now." The Enforcer leaned forward, patted Vivio's cheek and smiled at their daughter, who was forcing herself to stay awake. "Sleep now, Vivio. I'll be back soon."

"Un," Vivio sighed and fell asleep a moment later. The two young women kept staring at her.

"They can't take her away from us, Fate-chan," Nanoha clarified softly. "It would destroy her."

"Who would dare to try?" Fate asked, grinning wryly. "I doubt anyone would be brave enough to risk the wrath of the White Devil."

"Fate-chan..." Nanoha turned around, took Fate's hands and stared at the young woman. "I want to be Vivio's mother, I really do. But if you still want to be an Enforcer..."

"That doesn't matter," Fate interrupted her, smiling encouragingly. "Even if I can't be at home very often, that doesn't mean I don't want to be Vivio's mother. You can call me anytime when you need help, Nanoha, anytime, I mean it. And we both know that you WILL need my help."

"I..." Nanoha bit her lip. "I don't want to force you into this, Fate-chan."

"Nanoha..." Fate put her hands on Nanoha's shoulders and positioned her face very close to Nanoha's, VERY close. Her beautiful eyes were full of warmth and sincerity. If Nanoha hadn't been so drained of emotion, it might have made her blush. "Being with you... and Vivio... isn't a burden. It is a gift. I WANT us to be together... as a family."

"Fate-chan..." She suddenly felt her fatigue catching up. Why else would her knees become weak?

"But right now you need some rest," Fate declared and pushed the two of them apart. When Nanoha instinctively opened her mouth to protest – against the rest or the sudden distance? – Fate looked at her sternly. "You can hardly stand upright anymore, Nanoha. This fight with Vivio and all the time you spent in front of her room staring at her completely exhausted you. I KNOW you, so don't try to hide it."

Nanoha looked down and mumbled something incoherent. Fate was right, she didn't even have the strength to protest anymore. Now that she knew that Vivio would be alright, she started to feel the exhaustion. She didn't struggle when Fate put her hand around her shoulders and steered her out of the room. And really, why would she? It felt really nice, having someone who was so worried about your well-being. She liked this idea of a real family more every minute.

"Fate-chan," she mumbled while she lay down in her own bed and the blonde woman tucked her in. "I'm really glad you are here."

"Sleep now, Nanoha," she heard Fate's gentle voice and felt Fate's hand on her hair. "I'll wake you when Vivio wakes up."

It had been a while since Nanoha had felt that way... loved, cared for, all worries taken from her. It was like when she was a little girl and her mother embraced her. "Hmm," she purred half-asleep, with a babyish voice. "Love you." Did she? Maybe. She was so tired, really, really tired. She hoped that Fate wasn't offended. Because she needed Fate... she didn't want to lose her... she... she...

That's when she finally fell asleep.

It took a while until Fate's heartbeat slowed down to its normal rate again. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Sure, Nanoha had been more asleep than awake, and her voice had sounded really childish, but still... the words had been sincere, or so she wanted to believe. Since that time when they had talked at night about Vivio fearing she would disappoint her mothers, Fate had thought a lot about Nanoha's and her relationship... and what would become of it if they really adopted Vivio. She didn't want to press Nanoha, but it had become harder and harder to conceal these feelings around the auburn-haired girl. And now, after this confession...

Fate softly caressed her best friend's hair. "I love you too, Nanoha," she breathed. A part of her wished that Nanoha could hear her words. "And I hope we can talk about it soon." She kissed the sleeping young woman on the forehead and stood up, slowly leaving the room. This day had certainly complicated her life even further. But when she entered Vivio's room again and looked at her sleeping daughter, she couldn't help but smile. At least a complicated life was an exciting life.

She kissed the sleeping little girl on the forehead too and sat down in the visitor's chair. Suddenly she felt tired too. Nanoha and Vivio weren't the only ones who had been pushed to their limits today. She yawned and closed her eyes. She wondered how this family stuff would work out. She should talk with Lindy about it soon, since she definitely didn't want to disappoint Vivio or Nanoha. Because she lov... lo...

That's when she fell asleep.

And they slept happily ever after. What do you think?