Chapter 3: Reunion of the Lighting Star

Nanoha sighed as Hayate drove her from Ground Forces H.Q. today was the day her vacation started and she was hoping to see Fate at TSAB H.Q; she had went to Ground Forces H.Q to see Hayate about being able to check when Fate would return, however it seemed Fate had been assigned to the Ashinra and left just yesterday so it would be a couple of weeks before she got back. Nanoha had hoped that she would only be waiting a couple of days.

Hayate found it strange; the duty roster for the Ashinra she found was classed as outdated yet no new one had been posted. This did happen on occasion to which Hayate had explained when a single person was added or removed, but the chance it was Fate who had been removed would mean that she's on another ship without any idea when she would return, this part Hayate left out.

"I have to be honest with you Hayate; I'm not coping well with this anymore"
"I know, I know"
"Sometimes I think someone out there is just being an ass"
"If it's just a single person changed on the roster then probably tomorrow the updated duty roster will be available. I'll call in and check it out"

The main thing was that Fate of all people wouldn't miss out on Christmas with Nanoha so she wouldn't allow a transfer onto a ship which would be out for more than 2 weeks, or one that couldn't be near Earth in 3 and a half weeks for Fate to just drop in just before. The Ashinra was going to go in for a full maintenance when it got back that would make it out of action for a few couple of week, so unless Fate got injured Nanoha and Fate would see each other again at Christmas, but deep down inside Hayate wanted the 2 of them to be reunited as soon as possible.

"Hay, how about we grab a bite to eat"
"Sure" Nanoha replied, her voice almost devoid of emotion as she stared out the window.

The 2 arrived at a restaurant that Hayate and her knights would visit to give Shamal a break from cooking one in a while. as they ate Hayate could recognize the look of loneliness on Nanoha's face despite the fact she was with her, of cause anyone would get like this if they confessed their love to someone, had it reciprocated and couldn't get into contact with them for almost a year. Apart from a confession and a moonlight kiss Fate and Nanoha had spent no time together as a couple.

Hayate heard the sound of cutlery bring dropped onto a plate and looked at Nanoha, her head was drooping down and Hayate could see something small splashing onto Nanoha plate.

"Why did I let her go" Nanoha sobbed.
Hayate got out of her seat and held Nanoha, "it's ok, you're feeling like this just shows how much you love her"

Hayate signalled to pay for the meal and have the leftovers collected into containers. Figuring that quite possibly the sight of the couples in the restaurant set Nanoha off, Hayate decided they would continue their meal in Sakura Park.

As they arrived there was quite a breeze blowing the Sakura petals around. Hayate took out a couple of containers and lead Nanoha into the park and to a spot that was just out of range of the Sakura Petals.

"Sorry, for how I acted" Nanoha sniffed
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who's supposed to apologise, not a good idea to have a love sick girl dine in a restaurant like that surrounded by loving couples".

Hayate stared at the Sakura trees "it's weird. back home right now it would still be 6 more months before we can see this" she commented. Nanoha nodded as she continued to eat, now a lot calmer than before. As Hayate ate she saw a faint glimmer of gold under one of the trees which was raining down with petals. As she looked into the sakura storm she saw something that shocked her

"Nanoha, you might want to get up" Hayate said pointing into the direction she was looking at. Nanoha looked over to the tree, as the storm began to die down she could see someone was standing there. Gold plates at the end of a black cape, Gold Shoulder pads which the cape was hanging off from joined with a silver chain, a dark blue barrier jacket.

It wasn't until Nanoha began to see the figure's long golden hair styled in 2 tails, held in place by a ribbon Nanoha remembered giving to someone dear to her, did her heart rate began to elevate as she slowly got up.
as the storm died off with only the gentle breeze blowing the stray sakura Nanoha brought her hands to her face covering her mouth "Fei...to" she muttered is a soft whisper.

Nanoha ran into Fate's open arms wrapping her arms around Fate's neck while Fate wrapped hers around Nanoha's back. They gazed into the eyes they both missed for almost a year. Nanoha kissed Fate to make sure this wasn't a dream. The memory from their first kiss rushed back to her as she remembered the feel of Fate's own lips against her, the smell coming off Fate's hair, the touch of Fate's hands on her back.

As their kiss concluded they rested their foreheads against each other and their noses brushing together
"You will not believe how much I missed you Nanoha"
"You being here means..."
"Yeh, from now on, I won't ever leave you side"

Fate kissed Nanoha again but this time Nanoha felt something push her lips open and slide into her mouth, when she realized it was Fate's tongue she open her mouth more sealing Fate's and met Fate's tongue with her own, closing her eyes. As the two kissed Fate pulled Nanoha closer to her causing Nanoha to let out a moan. Just like last time Fate and Nanoha had escaped into their own world

"Ahh, sort to interrupt but the food will get cold". And just like last time someone broken into their world, this time it was Hayate
"Actuality I ate before I got here"
"Yeh but Nanoha didn't eat too much before we left the restaurant"

Fate looked at Nanoha "you haven't been eating well"
"It's not that, I just had a bit of a breakdown".

Fate and Nanoha sat down where they stood while Hayate brought over the containers from where she and Nanoha had been previously sitting.

"So Fate, when did you get back?" Hayate asked
"Not long ago. I came here to think of weather I would see Nanoha at Section 6 or at Vivio's school. I took a little nap back there and Nanoha's voice woke me up"
"So you weren't on board the Ashinra?"
"No, I got my promotion just before it set off so I was pulled from the roster. I then hitched a ride on the Claudia which its patrol included here"
"I'm just glad you came back" Nanoha sighed with relief as she snuggled up to Fate's arm.
"Me too, I don't know how long this would have lasted" Fate said pulling out her photo from her breast pocket

Nanoha sat back up and took the photo to examine it. It was obvious that it wouldn't last much longer given the way it was now but she could feel just how much Fate missed her
"Ahhh, Feito, way is my face the only part in the photo with water damage"
Fate scratched her head "well when I felt really lonely I would kiss you" she chuckled embarrassingly

Fate stared at the opened containers of food taking in their aroma. "Well, even though I ate before I am getting kinda hungry", Nanoha took this que and took some of the food onto her fork and held it in front of Fate

"Wait, Nanoha, do we have to do this in front of Hayate?"
"Ahhhhhh"
"Don't mind me, I think it's cute"

Fate sighed as she opened her mouth. Nanoha gently moved the fork into Fate's mouth before Fate closed it. Fate began to pull back allowing Nanoha to slowly pull the fork out.
"Is it good?" Nanoha asked, Fate just nodded blushing as she chewed. She didn't mind it but it was embarrassing for her to have done that in front of Hayate.

The alarm on Hayate's phone began to go off singling that they needed to leave if they wanted to be able to arrive at St. Hilde Academy early enough. Nanoha helped Hayate pack things up and headed back to Hayate's car, hand-in-hand with Fate.

In the car Nanoha took her usual front passenger seat while Fate sat in the middle on the back seat. Nanoha reclined the chair back as she closed her eyes. she let her arm dangle down the seat and held her palm open towards Fate, seeing this Fate moved forward slightly on her seat and held Nanoha's hand, she could see Nanoha smile the moment their hands touched.

"So Fate, is that the standard Mobile Enforcer Uniform" Hayate asked looking at Fate though her rear mirror
"Kind of, the gold and silver plate design is, I just adapted it to my own style. The normal uniform is like a normal Enforcer's uniform except we have a cape and these shoulder pads. We also have a badge connected to a gold chain which most store in their breast pocket. I just chose to look like this cause I thought Nanoha liked me better looking like this"
"I don't care really. I love you no matter how you looked, but like that you look like my prince"
Fate held Nanoha's hand tighter "no Nanoha, you're my prince. It's the prince who saves the princess and you saved me, not the other way around"

Hayate drove into her usual spot outside the front gates of the school. As Nanoha went to get up Fate held her shoulder down and got out first to open Nanoha's door, lending Nanoha her hand. As she took it Fate pulled Nanoha into her and kissed her.

"Ok, I don't mean to sound as if I don't like seeing this but don't you two think you're getting carried away?" Hayate asked.
"I spent a year thinking of all the things I wanted to do with Nanoha and now I want to do them cause I don't know when I'll be called. Mobile Enforces have the freedom to move but in a sense we're on standby 24-7"
"Well in that case" Nanoha started to say, she slipped around Fate and wrapped her arms around Fate's chest just under the breasts "I think I'll do the same" she whispered in Fate's ear. With her head resting on Fate's shoulder Nanoha proceeded to kiss Fate's neck
"Waaa! Nanoha! Stop!" Fate protested
"How come you get all embarrassed when I'm being dominate Feito" Nanoha replied. Despite Fate's protests she wasn't seriously trying to stop Nanoha. With every kiss Nanoha moaned causing Fate to squirm in her arms all the while Hayate watched, her imagination imposing different figures on Fate and Nanoha with herself in Fate however Nanoha was darkened as the mental image of who Hayate wanted was jumbled.

Nanoha only stopped tormenting Fate when the school bells rang out across the school, letting go of Fate in the process. Vivio appeared in the crowd of children and looked towards where Hayate would normally park her car. "Ma...mas'?" Vivio yelled with a slight hesitation. she was about to call out Mama to just Nanoha but release there was another woman standing with Nanoha and Hayate, the woman she hadn't seen in almost a year. As Vivio ran to Fate, Fate lowered herself down and opened her armed, Vivio ran into them allowing Fate to pick her up

"Feito-mama!" Vivio said rubbing her cheek against Fate's
"Ahh my little Vivio, I missed you just as much"
"What do you mean 'you're' little Vivio"
Fate chuckled as she remembered Nanoha would get annoyed when she smothers Vivio with attention. But at this point in time she didn't really care as it had been so long since she saw Vivio.

Hayate looked up into the sky and watching an orb of light float around, "Rein!" she yelled waving her arm to single the light. The light circled a few times before flying to the car, as the light stopped on the roof the orb disappeared revealing Reinforce Zwei
"So did the invitations get sent out?"
"Not all. Some can be sent by a third party like with Erio or Ginga. N2R are currently engaged so I spoke to Cinque and informed her of your plan. Currently I am unable to get in contact with Teana"
"What's going on?" Fate asked
"well, while you and Nanoha was kissing when we was at Sakura Park I had asked Rein to get in contact with a group of people on a list to organize a welcome home party, however the 4 girls in N2R can't make it and we can't get in contact with Teana"

Fate pulled out her phone and tossed it to Hayate "she's on-board the Claudia on official assignment but I think she'll make it"
As Hayate went to call Teana Nanoha approached Vivio "hay Vivio, why do you invite your friends as well"

Vivio nodded and Fate put her down before she ran off to her friends Rio, Corona and Einhart.
"It's too bad Ixpellia is still asleep" Nanoha commented as she watched Vivio.
"I remember her saying she would sleep for 1 to 1000 years, any idea if we have an exact time frame?"
"Not yet but Vivio visits her every fortnight and talks to her as if to keep her informed of what's happening"

Just as Hayate finished talking to Teana, Vivio returned to ask her mamas if her friends could sleep over. After confirming it with her friends Vivio returned and Hayate drove them home

Next Chapter - Chapter 4: Return of Riot Force 6