DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING

Chapter 6

Hayate was knocking obnoxiously on a door that one of the maids pointed her to. She's been knocking for about a minute before the door opened hard, catching her off guard and making her stumble into the room's owner.

"Hayate? What are you doing here?" A sleepy blonde came into Hayate's view as the brunette looked up.

Hayate took a good look at the blonde, chuckling awkwardly, she straightened up, "I thought this was Fate-chan's room…" She explained sheepishly.

Alicia examined her for a moment before motioning her inside, "Fate's room is next door, but she's probably not home from her morning run yet,"

"I see…" Hayate said to fill the awkward silence as she followed Alicia inside the room.

"My room's a bit emptier than Fate's since I hang out there most of the time, anyway," Alicia explained as she sat down on the sofa, encouraging Hayate to do the same. Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number and began to ask for tea to be brought to her room.

Hayate took a seat at the farthest corner and simply examined Alicia's room. "It's more regular than I thought…" Hayate whispered to herself, taking a good look at a bookshelf filled with various novels, from what she could see in the distance.

"Did you say something?" Alicia asked as she ended the call.

"Your room seems awfully messy." Hayate remarked, automatically going back to insulting the blonde.

A vein popped up on Alicia's forehead, "And what is that supposed to mean?!"

"Fate-chan!" Hayate exclaimed when the younger Testarossa came in from some door in Alicia's room.

"Hayate? Hello," Fate greeted politely as she moved inside the room.

"You took longer than usual, I know because she's been here for a while," Alicia said with a pout, stressing the word 'she'.

"Well, you guys seem to be getting along well." Fate said with a smile, sitting in one of the lone sofas and grabbing a cookie from the plate on the table.

"If by well you mean that this girl has been insulting everything inside my room, then yeah, we're doing great," Alicia said sarcastically, "And it would be great if you can get her out of my hair now since she came for you,"

Hayate pouted and crossed her arms, "Well, fine, if that's how you feel!" the brunette exclaimed, before digging into her bag, looking for something, "Here, Fate-chan," She said, her voice softer but still upset, giving a small package to Fate, "Just a thank you for going along with whatever I've been up to this week. Signum said you like these things, so, there,"

"Um, thanks…" Fate whispered, examining the expensive looking box pensively. Their first week in the new school hasn't exactly been easy or anything like that. Her and Nanoha weren't exactly ignoring each other; they would still sit close together and share their food and cuddle sometimes, but there's awkwardness around them, because of the… incident… on the rooftop… Fate's face burned when the memory was brought back to her mind. And it certainly didn't help that Hayate seems to have developed a hobby of teasing her. At least Hayate and Nanoha's friendship seems intact.

"I'll be going now, since someone clearly doesn't want me here," The brunette said with attitude, before storming out of the room.

Alicia "hmphed" in her place before turning her gaze to Fate, her expression guilty from what just happened.

"Maybe you've been a little too hard on her?" Fate asked softly, turning her gaze away from the box to face her sister.

"Whatever, just open the thing already, for all we know, it could be a bomb,"

Fate sighed, flipping the top of the box open, finding a note inside, she read it with her eyes first before smiling nervously at her sister, "Umm…"

"What?" Alicia asked, standing up to sit on the armrest of where Fate was sitting to read the note herself.

To Fate-chan and her annoying sister,

I know this isn't much but,
thank you for sticking with me
this week

I made them myself so, see! I'm
not totally helpless! Hehe.

-Hayate

Inside the box were two small figurines, one shaped like a grand piano while the other one was shaped like a bookshelf; both objects fit perfectly in the palm of Fate's hand. They didn't look perfect but, the person who made them sure seemed to put in the effort with the details.

Alicia's guilt returned ten-fold once she saw the contents. She scratched her cheek in embarrassment and pouted at Fate, silently asking for advice.

"Maybe you should go apologize on Monday?" Fate suggested, handing over the bookshelf figurine to Hayate.

"Yeah…" Alicia said softly, gazing at the item longingly.

Just when Alicia was about to say something more, the door to the room opened.

"Hello, dear children," Precia greeted with a smile, sauntering near the girls and gracefully sitting down on the couch in front of Fate.

Alicia narrowed her eyes at her mother while Fate just looked confused. Precia hasn't been bothering them all week ever since Alicia's outburst, which Fate is still clueless about.

"Good morning, okaa-san," Alicia greeted cautiously, and Fate followed with her own.

"Wonderful morning, indeed, girls," Precia said, smiling widely, "I saw Hayate-chan on her way out as I was coming home. We're you good to her, Fate?" She asked mischievously. Fate stiffened in her seat at the insinuation.

Alicia sighed and began to feel irritated with her mother, "Okaa-san, Hayate just visited to give us something for being good friends," Alicia replied, stressing on the last word for emphasis, putting a hand on her sister's shoulder for support.

"But, this is a good opportunity, Fate!" Precia exclaimed in excitement, "Can't you see this wonderful opportunity for our company?" She clasped her hands together, "You should ask her out on a date, Fate," the mother suggested, but the look in her eyes clearly said that Fate should obey her or face the consequences.

"But, okaa-san…" Fate tried to say her piece but, Precia abruptly stood up.

"You will do as I say, Fate, unless you want something happening to the Takamachi's business…" Precia said without looking at either girls' face before walking out of the room.

Alicia's jaw dropped at her mother's words and Fate's eyes widened as she helplessly watched Precia walk out. Alicia clenched her jaw and stood up to go follow her but Fate's hand on her wrist stopped her.

"It'll be useless and you know it," Fate said with a sigh, sagging back in her seat.

Alicia looked at her open door then at Fate in defeat.

Precia speed walked to her room, feeling her heartbeat speed up since she left her daughter's room. She fumbled with the doorknob of her room as she thought back to the events in her office the previous night and the reason she spent the whole night in an exclusive bar.

"Threaten the thing that keeps her standing…"

She finally got the door open and she stumbled to her bed.

"You want her to do as you say, right? Hit her where it will hurt the most."

She looked at her bedside table with the picture of the twins during their 5th Birthday.

"Her weakness? That Takamachi Nanoha"

She clenched her jaw and hardened her resolve. I don't know what you have planned, Scaglietti, but if it will keep my Fate from that girl, then, fine.

Once Alicia was sure that the whole household was asleep, she stood up and turned on her computer. She paced the room as she waited for the computer to boot. Once that was done, she opened Skype and sent a thank you above when the person she wanted to talk to was online.

Her mouse hovered over the name, hesitating a bit. But, then she remembered Fate's face earlier that morning and finally clicked the name. Alicia held her breath as she listened to the generic ringtone, praying that someone would answer. And her heart stopped and she let out a tearful smile when the call connected.

"Aunty Lindy…"

The next day, Fate rang the door nervously. She was wearing a plain blue shirt with a cute jacket over it and pants with her favorite Converse shoes. She was hoping Hayate was free for the day just to get her mother's ridiculous suggestion over with. When the door opened, Fate let out a relieved breath when Signum answered it. The pink-haired woman simply opened the door wider to let the teenager in. She navigated Fate towards the living room and let her sit down.

"Do you need anything?" Signum finally asked, moving towards where Fate would assume the kitchen is.

"Water would be fine," Fate answered, looking around. The house was huge but it had a more homey feel than theirs did.

"The master is out buying groceries, she'll be back soon, so, if you're willing to wait, feel free," Signum said before going to fetch Fate's water.

Fate sighed out, glad to have a few more minutes to compose herself before asking Hayate out. She looked around at all the pictures that she could see from her position, smiling at all the pictures of Hayate with her guardians and grandfather. She frowned, however, when she saw a picture of a young Hayate, she assumed the girl was around 8 or 9 when the photo was taken. The girl was in a wheelchair, but, her smile is still as bright as the others.

"Didn't I tell you that she was sick as a child," Signum made her presence known as she placed a glass in front of Fate then sat down beside the girl.

Fate was startled out of her musings and blushed at what she was just caught doing. "I… didn't think it was that bad…" She returned her gaze to the photograph.

"Why are you here, Testarossa?"

"I just…" The blonde blushed as she remembered the reason she was at the Yagami's in the first place, "My mom…" She took the glass of water, spilling some of the contents and drank half of it in one gulp, "My mother asked me to take Hayate out?" She squeaked out the sentence and was met with silence from the other girl. "Say something?" She added softly after about a minute of silence.

"Master Hayate likes movies," was Signum's simple response, just as the door opened to reveal Hayate, along with Shamal, Vita and a blue dog?

Kinda looks like a wolf. Fate thought.

"I thought that was your car," Hayate said in lieu of a greeting when she spotted the blonde with Signum in the living room.

"You two seem to be spending an awful lot of time together, should I be jealous?" Shamal said jokingly, carrying a bunch of groceries. Fate blushed at the older blonde's words while Signum simply stood up to lighten her wife's load.

Hayate sat down beside Fate with the dog following her and nuzzling her legs.

"That dog looks awesome, what breed is it?" Fate asked as she watched Hayate pet the dog lovingly.

"I don't really know," Hayate answered with a laugh, "His name's Zafira, he's been with us for a while now," she added fondly.

"I've always wanted a pet, I just have no idea what I should get," Fate confessed, her gaze locked onto the enchanting animal.

"Well, you should, they certainly help remove some of the loneliness sometimes," Hayate said sadly, then she ushered Zafira up and the dog walked away to the other room, "Not to be rude Fate-chan, but why are you here?"

Fate smiled lopsidedly at Hayate, her nerves once again getting the best of her, "Would you like to watch a movie with me?"

Alicia and Nanoha bought tickets to the movie Fate and Hayate were watching once they were sure that the two of them were inside the theater. Right after Fate asked Hayate, the brunette went up to her room to change and sent a text to Alicia, asking why Fate was taking her out on a date. So, the older Testarossa decided to take Nanoha and spy on the two of them. And quite frankly, Alicia was sure they look suspicious with the bright wigs and large jackets that Nanoha insisted they wear. Once they were inside the theater, they tried to locate the two and luckily, there was a seat right behind them.

"I didn't think you were into these kind of movies," Fate said as she Googled the film they were about to watch.

"Well, there are a lot of things you don't know about me," Hayate answered playfully.

Nanoha glared at the back of their heads as she listened to their conversation as they were sneaking behind the two. Then an idea struck her. She 'accidentally' tripped and spilled her popcorn on the two girls. Alicia gasped and took a few steps, two steps away from their original intended seat.

"Hey!" Hayate exclaimed and stood up to face the perpetrator.

"Oops" Nanoha answered, her voice not sounding apologetic at all. When they locked eyes, Hayate froze then turned her gaze to the right, recognizing the girls right away. It took all her power not to break down and laugh.

"Hayate, it's just popcorn, it's okay," Fate said, not even bothering to turn fully to see the girl who spilled their food on them, as she pulled Hayate into the seat on her other side.

Hayate winked at Nanoha and let Fate lead her to the clean chair. And Nanoha almost threw her bucket at the other brunette until Alicia pulled her back.

Once the movie was over, Alicia and Nanoha sneakily followed Fate and Hayate once again and right as they got out of the doors, they were greeted with the sight of Hayate kissing Fate's cheek. Alicia quickly took hold of Nanoha's hand before the brunette could do anything that she would regret. And Nanoha tightened her hold on the hand holding hers, not enough to cause pain but enough to be uncomfortable.

"Can you take me home now, Alicia-chan?" Nanoha asked softly just as Hayate pulled away from Fate.

"Yeah, of course," Alicia answered and lead Nanoha to the parking lot before Fate could notice them since she was quite sure that Hayate planned that.

Once Fate parked in front of the Yagami house for the second time that day, she turned to face Hayate and sighed, "That was fun,"

"Yeah," Hayate answered and turned to face Fate, knowing what would come out next.

"Hayate, I need to tell you something," Fate sighed out, "You're a great friend and all that-"

"But you like someone else," Hayate interrupted, smiling at Fate, "I know, Fate-chan." And Hayate didn't feel as rejected as she thought she would be.

Fate's eyes widened as she fumbled for an excuse, failing miserably.

"It's Nanoha-chan, right?"

"Let's just exterminate her already," A girl, not more than 18years old, says boredly, lying down on a couch.

"Patience, my dear," A man replied, grinning impishly while polishing a dart.

"I would have to agree with her, though, sir. This mission is taking too long." Another voice chimed in the conversation, flipping through her phone mindlessly.

"Good things come to those who wait," And he shot the dart in the wall in front of him, hitting a photograph dead center. A name on the bottom of the picture identifies the girl on the photo. Fate Testarossa.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favorites! I'm sorry, I know I said 2 months but life caught up to me. Ehehe. Right after thesis, I had to finish my college requirements, and guess what? I just graduated last month! Yay! But, I didn't think it would be so hard to try and get a job. :( Would anyone offer? I'm trying to get into the game industry. Ehehe. Just kidding. ;) Anyway, I hope you guys would still read this even after all this time. And please tell me what you think! Was this chapter good? Bad? Something? Oh, and would anyone be willing to help me on this? I have the story outlined for a few chapters now but, I feel like it's still missing something. If someone would like to help, just shoot me a PM. Thanks! :D