Chapter 1-b: Yearning Heart Nanoha Side

It had been a year since Nanoha and Fate confessed their feeling for each other. In the past if Nanoha was separated from Fate it didn't worry her too much, Yes she did yearn to have Fate back but she knew that Fate would return as she always had, so long as she kept thinking that there was never a problem. However, a year thinking that would take its toll sooner or later.

"Why don't you go to the TSAB Headquarters where Fate would be stationed while waiting for resupply" Hayate asked
"Cause every time I and Vivio went we would find out that Fate had been assigned to a ship which was just leaving"
Hayate giggled "maybe before she left the two of you should have set up something for a long distance relationship"
"True but nothing beats having the one you love in your arms"

Hayate had been visiting Nanoha quite a lot recently keeping her company. She had grown concerned that the year long separation with absolutely no contact between them was bad for her friend; however she knew Fate just as well and knew that Fate must have tried to visit any moment she got.

"Still, I can't believe that you was the one who confessed first"
"It was your idea for me to kiss her"
"Yeh but I figured that Fate would confess first"

Nanoha put down her can of soft drink "wait, you knew about Fate's feelings"
"Not 100% but there were signs. the obvious one was how she comfort you when Vivio was kidnapped when we saw that horrifying video of her in pain" Hayate shuttered thinking back to the JS Incident, when Scaglietti broadcast that video of Vivio connected to the Saint Cradle, screaming out in pain for her mamas'
"I just wish I could have saved Vivio and dealt with Scaglietti myself. He could've seen why some refer to me as the white devil"

Hayate leaned away as she saw the darkness fill Nanoha eyes. She knew full well if Nanoha had gone with Fate to deal with Scaglietti, she would have gone off on a psychotic rampage and slaughtered him. Hayate's alarm on her phone began to off. "Looks like it's time" she reminded Nanoha, turning off the alarm. The 2 women got up and finished their drinks before tossing the cans and jumping into Hayate's car. Hayate had set the alarm on her phone to give them plenty of time to drive to Vivio's school and have time to wait around before she came out.

"So I take it Vivio is fine having 2 mothers" Hayate asked
"Yes of cause, in fact she said we were a normal family"
"No offence or anything but a normal family has a mother and a father. Not only are the 2 of you girls but if we ignore that Fate is an artificial mage, created solely to be a slave and abused by her creator, you bring a resident of earth and being a mage is not a part of a normal family"
"Yeh but since when is any family truly normal"
"Good point, take a look at mine"
"Speaking of your family, which of your knights have you decided to be your wife?"
"Nanoha!" Hayate yelled losing her focus on the road causing the car to sway.

As she regained control Nanoha was laughing "I'm sorry but you have to admit you deserved that"
"well it has been something that's come across my mind before" Hayate blushed
"Well, you have a lot of choices, just that if you choose Signum you might end up being the wife" Nanoha laughed

As the two arrived at St. Hilde Academy 10 minutes before school had ended. Both Nanoha and Hayate leaned against the car as they waited for Vivio to come out. As the two waiting Hayate noticed the pre-occupied look on Nanoha's face

"What's on your mind" she asked
"I'm just wondering what I should do when Fate gets back. Given I would kiss her but then what? I've never been in a relationship before"
"Why not ask Kyouya or Miyuki for relationship advice, that's what older siblings are for?"
"I don't think they can help"
"Why?"
"If I asked Miyuki then it would be about dating boys. If I asked Kyouya it would be about dating girls from a boy's perspective"
"Yeh, I can see how that is a problem. Well when she gets back play it by ear and know that the two of you always have me around"

As the two talked the bells rang across the school singling the end of the school day. As the 2 women watched the children pour out of the front door Nanoha's eyes instantly locked onto the heterochromia eyes of one girl who, upon seeing Nanoha began to run to her. "Mama!"

Nanoha couched down with her arms open as Vivio ran into them and hugged her "how was school"
"It was good, nothing all that exciting however"

Hayate noticed a piece of paper crumbled up in the front pocket of Vivio's bag, she snuck around Vivio and pulled it out,
"What's this Vivio?"
"Ahhh! That's nothing important"
"Oh really, well I'll be the judge of that"

Hayate assumed that it was maybe a love letter however as she opened the paper up she notice a huge red F in the corner "an F on a test?"
"It wasn't my fault"
Nanoha patted Vivio's head "as long as you did your best that's good enough"
"No actually it says in the comment she was caught cheating"

Vivio jumped up and snatched the paper out of Hayate's hands "I wasn't cheating, the stupid teacher was just outsmarted by the 2 of us"
"2 of you?" Hayate asked. Nanoha noticed Einhart slowly walking up to them; she noticed that Vivio was holding the grading paper "did you tell them"
"No, Aunty Hayate stole it"

Nanoha put out her hand requesting the paper before Vivio handed it to her. It was a grading paper for a Magical Skills test to which stated that Vivio failed because she cheated. Given what Einhart said it must mean they both failed.

"What happened" she asked handing the paper back to Vivio
"Well, it was a mock battle however in terms of spells restrictions we were only allowed certain ones which could be registered by teacher's equipment. Me and Ein focused our mana together to make out attacks stronger causing them to score more points, but then the teacher told us off for using illegal spells"
"I even tried explaining to the teacher that how what we did was not a spell but a method for better mana control. The teacher however would not listen to reason" Einhart continued.
"I take it that the test was about scoring points and you are graded by your score?" Hayate asked, Vivio and Einhart nodded

Nanoha began to storm off "I'll show that teacher what for! Who does this idiot think they are, failing my Vivio for that"

Hayate quickly wrapped her arms around Nanoha trying to stop her "let it go Nanoha, it's not like this test reflects anything"
Nanoha relaxed "that's right and if Vivio joins the TSAB then I'd be training her better that that idiot"
"Oh man, I would pity her if that happened" Hayate sighed remembering Caro's and Erio's training routines.

The 4 of them climbed into the car and headed back to the Section 6 H.Q. with Einhart returning with them to have a sleep over with Vivio.

"Hay Nanoha, you don't mind if I stay the night too" Hayate asked.
"Sure, there are plenty of rooms free and the upper command floors are off limits to the trainees since that's where our rooms are"

Nanoha knew very well why Hayate would ask. She had been staying over a lot recently and knew it was because Hayate was growing concerned about how Nanoha was handling not being able to see Fate. She couldn't refuse because it would make Hayate worry that she was trying to handle itself. She couldn't let Hayate know that she knew the reason either as If she accepted it then would be like admitting to Hayate that she needed the company, refusing on the other hand would make Hayate just as worried.

Later that night Nanoha was lying in bed, everyone had gone to sleep and the entire building was dark. She rolled over to face a framed photo on the bed side cabinet, staring at a photo of her and Fate 1 year ago before Fate left. She wasn't truly alone because she had Vivio but she did miss Fate. Her eyes began to well up as she began to think of how Fate was coping if she was on a ship without anyone she knew.

"Sometimes I wish I never said that" Nanoha said to herself almost sobbing, remembering that she told Fate to accept her promotion. Had she known that the 2 wouldn't have any contact over the year she would have been selfish for a second time that night and told Fate to stay.

The frame was sitting onto of a letter which she received in the morning about her vacation leave she had requested being approved. Since Vivio would be coming off school for the Christmas holidays Nanoha got 1 and 1/2 month vacation starting at the end of the week. Her hope was that when Vivio came off the 2 of them would go to TSAB H.Q and see Fate. It wasn't that Nanoha hadn't tried seeing Fate there before however every attempt was the same; Fate had just been sent out. this time however if Fate was out on duty her and Vivio could come back when she had returned without Nanoha's work and Vivio's schooling getting in the way.

Nanoha felt something enter her bed and start crawling up the front of her body. A head suddenly popped out from in front of Nanoha.
"Vivio?"
"I heard you crying as I was getting a drink for Ein" Vivio said staring into Nanoha's teary eyes
Nanoha hugged Vivio tightly "I'm ok, I'm not a good mother if my daughter has to worry about me. You go back to your room now"

After kissing Vivio on the forehead and letting go Vivio climbed out of the bed and went to leave the room but stopped at the door "I wish Feito-mama would come back soon"
"So do I. but all we can do is wait"

After Vivio left Nanoha looked through the window into the night sky "I'll always be waiting for you, my Feito"

Next Chapter - Chapter 2: Mechinations of Fate