Mom
"So you're not going to make it home until late?"
Fate's voice came through the phone's speaker as Nanoha and Vivio listened. "I'm sorry guys. They dropped this report on me at the last minute and it has to be done tomorrow. If I don't finish it it'll be my ass. So don't wait up for me."
Vivio lowered her head with a sad expression. "B-but you promised to help me with my homework tonight Fate mama."
"I know sweetie I'm sorry. But Nanoha is there with you. She can help you."
Nanoha smiled at her daughter. "Come on Vivio I'll give you a hand. Fate we'll talk to you later ok?"
"Ok," Fate answered. "Again I'm sorry guys. I'll see you later. I love you both!"
"Love you too!" Nanoha and Vivio both said. Nanoha hit the receiver button then turned to Vivio. "Let's get started shall we? It's just us tonight."
Vivio nodded. "I've got fractions tonight. I can't quite do it all myself."
"Well let's tackle them together! Show me what you've got!"
The little girl nodded and ran off to her room to grab her backpack. She came back with her textbook and put it on the kitchen table. Nanoha pulled up a chair next to her as she flipped through the pages to the appropriate one.
"Multiplying fractions huh?"
Vivio nodded. "We have a math test next week mama."
"Ok so what are we looking at?"
"I have to do these problems; every other odd one," said Vivio pointing them out.
"That's 8 problems. We can do this Vivio come on!" Nanoha said trying to urge Vivio on.
"Fate mama is good at math…," said Vivio taking out the sheet of paper and her pencil.
"I know she is but I can still help you with this. This is easy once you know the basics."
"Basics?"
Nanoha nodded. "Look at the first one. It's ½ x ¾. You know your multiplication tables right?"
"Yep."
"Ok now watch mama and do what I do." Nanoha took the pencil from Vivio's hand and started working the problem step by step so she could see. "First you take the two top numbers 1 and 3. Do you know what 1 times 3 is?"
"3!" Vivio said enthusiastically. "Any number times 1 is the same number."
"That's right! So you do 1 times 3 and you get 3. Then you take the bottom numbers 2 and 4. What is 2 times 4 Vivio?"
"That's 8 mama," she answered.
"Excellent. So after doing that you end up with 3 over 8. That's it."
"That's it?"
Nanoha nodded. "That's the answer. Now sometimes you may have to reduce the fraction but only if you can. Now you try one. I'll watch."
"Ok I'll try the next one." She took the pencil back and started working the problem. Nanoha watched Vivio write it out on the paper occasionally looking back at the example she had done to make sure she was doing it right. She multiplied the top numbers just the way she was supposed to and then the bottom numbers. The resulting answer was 4 over 6.
Nanoha grinned as she watched Vivio work. She was pleased to see her catching on so quickly especially since she wasn't very confident in her math skill.
"Um…mama is this right?" she asked sliding the paper over in front of Nanoha.
"Almost. You forgot one little thing. Do you know what it is?"
Vivio tapped her pencil on the table. "Um…uh…I'm not sure."
Nanoha held her hands out and started bring them closer together.
"R-reduce!" Vivio shouted.
"You got it! And 4 over 6 reduces to what?" asked Nanoha.
Vivio quickly divided both numbers. "2 over 3!"
"Correct! Good job sweetie!" Nanoha hugged the little girl feeling extremely proud.
"Thank you mama!"
"You're welcome sweetie. Now let's finish them."
"Um…mama? Can we bake some cookies?" Vivio asked sheepishly.
"You want cookies now huh?" Nanoha said smiling. "Tell you what if you work on the next problem and I'll get some started ok?"
"Ok!" Vivio quickly got started on the next problem as Nanoha took the package of cookie dough from the refrigerator and the package of tinfoil from the cabinet. She spread a piece of tinfoil over an oven safe pan and started taking pieces of the dough and putting them on the pan. She occasionally turned her head to make sure that Vivio was still working. Leaning over to the right she hit the start button on the oven and turned the temperature setting to the appropriate level. As it was heating up she walked back over to Vivio who had finished 3 problems while she was gone.
"Are these right mama?"
Nanoha picked up Vivio's paper and checked her answers. "You're doing really good Vivio! These are all right!"
The little girl smiled brightly. "Can I help with the cookies now?"
"Come on down partner," said Nanoha bringing her into the kitchen. "The oven is going and I have the dough all ready so what you can do is put them in. Do you remember how?"
She nodded. "I remember mama."
"Ok so what is the number 1 rule about the oven?"
"Never use the oven without oven mits," she said grabbing them from the counter.
Nanoha smiled. "Good." She watched Vivio pick up the pan with the cookie dough on it and try to open the oven. Nanoha stopped her and opened it herself. "Always ask for help if you have your hands full."
"Ok mama." She put the pan inside and Nanoha closed it. "Now it'll take them a few minutes to cook so let's finish your homework ok?"
"Alright!" Vivio followed Nanoha back to the table and sat down. She only had two problems left but they were a little tougher than the others so Nanoha talked her through them. They finished them and Nanoha took her back through them to make sure that she understood how to do them on her own. Then while Vivio was finishing up and putting her school stuff away, Nanoha took the finished cookies out of the oven and put them on a plate. When Vivio came back from her room she joined Nanoha on the couch and grabbed a cookie before snuggling up with her.
"Is everything done?" Nanoha asked.
Vivio nodded with her mouth full of cookie.
"Good girl."
Vivio gulped down her big bite of cookie. "Thank you mama!"
Nanoha pulled Vivio close and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You're welcome sweetheart. You sure you wouldn't have preferred to work with Fate?"
Vivio shook her head. "I don't like Fate more than you mama. And I don't like you more than Fate mama. You're the same. Fate mama is really fun and cool and you're super nice and good at cooking. I have two really awesome mamas!"
Nanoha felt slightly touched by Vivio's words. She hugged her again squeezing tightly. "Thank you honey. It's really nice to hear you say that. I love you so much."
"I love you too mama," Vivio said before yawning a bit.
"Uh-oh somebody is sleepy aren't they?"
Vivio shook her head but yawned again.
"Nice try pipsqueak. Off to bed with you come on."
"Can I sleep with you mama?"
"You don't want to sleep alone?" Nanoha asked curiously.
"I thought you might be lonely without Fate mama here."
"Aww…aren't you sweet?" Nanoha scooped Vivio up in her arms. "Let's go off to bed then shall we?"
Vivio snuggled herself against Nanoha's shoulder clutching tightly to her shirt as they headed into the bedroom.
It was close to midnight when Fate finally made it home. Exhausted and running on the fumes of the 3 cups of coffee she had gulped down at work, she made it inside and was headed straight for the bedroom when she noticed a plate with 3 cookies left on it sitting on the kitchen counter. She grabbed one and took a bite before continuing on to the bedroom. She opened the door slowly trying to be quiet so she wouldn't wake Nanoha if she was asleep. She put her bag down by the desk and hung her jacket on the back of the chair. She then sat on the edge of the bed and kicked her heels off after spending all day walking in them. She then looked behind her to the head of the bed and smiled. Nanoha and Vivio were fast asleep wrapped in each other's arms. "How precious," Fate whispered. She was too tired to bother changing into pajamas so she simply took her uniform off and climbed into bed next to Nanoha and Vivio. She gave them both a quick good night kiss on the cheek before lying down. As soon as her head touched the pillow she quickly fell asleep.
Yes I know it's been a while since my last update but I'm done with school for a while so expect more to come. This was an idea that came to me while I was studying these past few weeks.
Anways enjoy and please comment!