Chapter 4: Return of Riot Force 6
As it would take some time before everyone started to arrive Nanoha though about fixing up some food for everyone and asked Vivio to help. While Fate offered to help, Nanoha refused as the party was in Fate's honour so she should be relaxing. Nanoha went to move off a set of chocolate cakes from a tray to a plate when Vivio went to grab one, only to have Nanoha scold her by slapping her hand.
Just as Nanoha finished moving the cakes across she was notified about a delivery of items in the loading bays and left the kitchen. After making sure that Nanoha had left Fate got up and headed over to where the cakes were and took two
"Vivio" Fate called out hold out one of the cakes. Vivio approached Fate slowly and took it
"But Nanoha-mama will know..."
"That I got hungry and took two but I got full from just one and instead of putting it back I gave it to you?" Fate interrupted winking to Vivio. Vivio quickly ate her cake before going back to her task in setting out the food on plates.
Vivio finished just as Nanoha returned. Vivio left to change out of her school uniform but just as she passed Nanoha grabbed Vivio's shoulder
"Where are you going" Nanoha asked
"You said for me to have a shower and change clothes after I was finished here"
"True, but why are 2 cakes missing"
"Actually I got hungry and couldn't finish the second so I gave it to Vivio" Fate said putting her hand up. Nanoha let go of Vivio's shoulder allowing her to leave.
After Vivio left the kitchen Nanoha looked at Fate and sighed, "Please don't spoil her like that"
"I don't, you are just cruel" Fate replied jokily
"I'm never cruel to Vivio but she needs some sort of discipline"
"She'll learn self-discipline by watching her mamas"
Nanoha looked away from Fate dejected "lets not talk about this anymore" she said before continuing what she was doing.
"Nanoha, what's wrong"
"It's nothing; I just don't want to comment on what you said because I don't want to say it"
"Say it now. It's better than holding it in and saying it during an argument"
Nanoha took a tray out of the oven and place it on the bench before replying to Fate "you're not one to talk about discipline, after how you were treated"
"Nanoha" Fate noticed that Nanoha had formed a fist and it was shaking
"Your mother's discipline involved using a Bind on you and whipping you, and in the end she didn't even care about you, you were just a tool for her to use a discard. I SHOULD HAVE KILLED HER!" Nanoha yelled while slamming her fist onto the hot tray.
In the past Fate had always wondered as to why Nanoha would get so worked up about when it came to Presea Testarossa but the truth became obvious when the 2 confessed their feelings for each other. Nanoha began to fall for Fate as a child and as her feeling grew so did her regret of not having helped Fate sooner. Yet Fate never thought ill of it since Nanoha didn't even know where the Garden of Time was.
Nanoha lifted her fist off the tray after having gotten burned. Fate went to get the burn ointment before gently applying it on Nanoha's hand
"It's ok, Nanoha, she was like that because she was..."
Before Fate finished Nanoha pulled her hand away and slapped Fate "please, don't defend her!" Nanoha said look as if she was about to cry. Fate wiped off some of the ointment that had came off Nanoha's hand. After seeing Fate's cheek becoming red from her slap Nanoha went to place her hand on it. Fate took her hand and finished applying the ointment making sure it was an even application
"Feito, I'm sorry"
"Turn around"
Nanoha slowly turned around facing her back towards Fate. Fate turned away and reached into her pocket of her Uniform, when she pulled her hand out it she was wearing a Glove with a Purple Gem in the palm.
"Dimension Galaxy" Fate whispered to the gem
"ja mein Meister [yes my master]"
"I request DG1"
"ja, den Erhalt Wunsch [affirmative, obtaining request]"
just as the female voice finished light began to gather above the gem before a stylized box appeared within it
"thank you Dimension Galaxy"
"Sie durchaus herzlich willkommen Meister, viel Glück sind [you are quite welcome master, good luck]"
Fate took hold of the box and put her hand back into her pocket to remove the glove before opening the box. inside was a beautiful pendent with a small notch in the centre for something round.
"Nanoha, without turning around take off Raising Heart and hand her to me"
Nanoha obediently did as she was told because she felt guilty slapping Fate. Fate took Raising Heart and removed the string Nanoha wore her on before placing her into the notch in the pendent. Fate reached around Nanoha from behind, putting the pendent on.
"I wanted to wait until our first date to give you this"
"but why now?"
"I didn't have a normal childhood, but you always tried to help me and you've been by my side all this time. When you've given me one of your ribbons I've always felt a part of your was with me so I want to give you a part of me"
"Feito, thank you" Nanoha smiled before pressing her lips to Fate's. Fate put the box down on the bench and held Nanoha
"Nanoha-mama, the drinks just got dropped off"
"oh, I best get them in the cool storage" Nanoha said moving away from Fate. just before she left the kitchen she turned around "it's lovely Feito, thank you"
Fate just smiled in reply. after Nanoha left Fate's sighed as her shoulders slumped down "can we not be given some time to at least finish".
As the day drew to a close everyone from Riot Force 6 began to converge at Section 6, all having changed out of their uniforms and into something a bit more casual. While most brought a single plate of food Shamal had the rest of the Wolkenritter help her carry a ton of food Shamal had prepared.
Nanoha had everything set up out on the training platform having set it up to have a park setting, as the party continued Hayate drew everyone's attention to her
"Today we celebrate not only Fate's promotion to Mobile Enforcer but her return to Nanoha arms so the 2 can finally be all lovey dovey. just be sure that when you keep Nanoha awake all night that you don't keep Vivio awake as well"
"Hayate!" Fate yelled out embarrassed, everyone laughed at Fate's quick response.
"However there is another reason I wanted to gather everyone together, I want Riot Force 6 to come together again"
"what's happened Hayate?" Nanoha asked
"nothing, nothing, it's just that over the year I had seen you get depressed more and more because Fate wasn't around" Hayate turned to face everyone "how many here return from work and wish that they were back here in Section 6 with everyone else"
after a small silence everyone slowly put up their hands
"we became a family 5 years ago yet we each went our separate ways to follow our dreams after the JS Incident. But what's point are those dreams if we can't share our happiness in achieving them with the people we care about? This is why I suggest that we all move in together"
"yay, the return of the HAYATE LESBIAN RIOT!" Subaru yelled before falling backwards. Teana smacked her face with her plan while Ginga just shook her head "we seriously need to figure out why you can't hold your alcohol anymore"
Nanoha glared at Hayate "you better not have mixed our drinks with the kids. I won't have you getting my Vivio drunk at her age"
"our Vivio" Fate corrected
"don't worry, I made sure the kid's drinks were separate and even so, Nove told me that once Einhart took a drink of hers by mistake and spat it out right away. after doing some "tests" Nove can conclude that Einhart dislikes any alcohol. so if the kids did get any Einhart would be a clear sign of it" Hayate laughed
"will it just be Riot Force 6 or will the Long Arch crew be moving in as well" Caro asked
"just us for now, I was also thinking of N2R as well since they are a part of the Nakajima family"
"Do we have to move in" Erio asked
There was a long uncomfortable pause following Erio's question which was only broken when Hayate put her drink down "well no you don't, I don't want to force anyone"
After a short while the party resumed however Fate kept thinking on Erio's question and felt a bit lonely, as she was thinking Erio approached her.
"Fate, I just want you to know the reason why I asked was because I feel that I would be out of place being the only guy if I did stay here"
"what about Zafira" Caro asked as she approached the two
"I would still feel out of place, it was fine when Long Arch was here because the ratio was roughly 1:1. but its ok, I'll just find a place nearby"
"You don't have to do that" Fate responded
"well, I'll at least have Caro inform me on what's going on at least and I'll drop by now and again"
After Erio and Caro left Nanoha and Hayate approached Fate
"you ok Feito?" Nanoha asked
"I'm fine, it's not like I didn't expect this. Erio and Caro are growing up so they are bound to leave"
"but" Hayate urged Fate to continue
"maybe the last year was the last I could be Erio's mother"
Nanoha held Fate in her arm and rested her head on Fate's shoulder "well, we have Vivio, and Caro is coming back as well"
As the party came to an end everyone decided to stay the night rather than return to their homes. it was also a good time for everyone to pick out the room they would be moving into. Because Fate just slept in her underwear she didn't need to change into anything however because of how much she was wearing it took her a while to remove everything. By the time she finished Nanoha had already changed. The two went to climb into bed but Fate stopped when she noticed Nanoha climbing in.
"Oh, I'm sorry, ahhh, where do I sleep"
Nanoha chuckled "with me"
"but Nanoha"
"what's wrong, we used to share the bed before"
"that was before I left, before we, well" Fate struggled to explain while blushing. seeing this Nanoha smiled and grabbed Fate's arm pulling her onto the bed before climbing onto of her
"but when 2 people are in a relationship they can of cause share a bed so it's no different" Nanoha leaned down and kissed Fate on the lips before pulling back with a devilish smile "and tonight I want to start making up for the year we were separated"
Next Chapter - Intermission: Golden Flare