AN: Sometimes I wonder how I'm able to have so many ideas at once...then I stop questioning it and just go with the flow.

As I said at the end of Remorse, it was quite likely I'd have a pure- as in not a crossover -Madoka story up at some point or another. This particular idea bit me hard, and thus, we are here with my first multi-chapter foray into this fandom that isn't a crossover. I hope the readers enjoy it!

Warning: Homura/Madoka are going to be a little OOC here. See bottom AN.

I have to do this. I don't like it, but I must.

Walking towards the open window in front of her, Homura Akemi attempted to swallow her nerves. Clutched in her hands was a corpse of Kyubey, the monster that was responsible for what she was doing. She wished she could say it was the corpse, but after killing it she had caught a glimpse of another white ball of fluff. She had no idea how it was possible, but the monster had more than one body. And the idea of having to kill more of them made her sick in a way that the young girl didn't like thinking about. But she couldn't let that get to her...she had to be strong. Because the window in front of her belonged to the reason she held the white corpse.

Madoka Kaname...she had promised her dear friend that she would protect her. Prevent her from contracting with Kyubey and becoming a Magical Girl. And holding to that promise was something that Homura was going to do, no matter what it required of her. She may hate what it required, and may know that it would hurt her chances of ever being that close to her friend again. But if it was what she had to do...she would do it in a heartbeat.

I must...I must do this...

It didn't quite help that she was looking in on Madoka's room, something she had never done. She sincerely wished the reason had been different. But she had to warn her friend to never trust Kyubey. Even if it required doing something like this. As such, she walked towards the bright light, face schooled into a stoic expression that felt wrong but was necessary. Even if the mask felt like it was going to fall...when she hesitated slightly, upon seeing the pink-clad figure sitting at her computer. Madoka had no idea that Homura was here...blissfully unaware of everything related to Magical Girls. And the time-traveler was here to make sure it stayed that way. Even if it hurt to see her friend again, knowing this was going to be their first meeting.

"Who's there?" Madoka spun around all of a sudden, forcing her friend to focus on her mask once more.

"Madoka...if someone comes to you..." Homura began, the practiced line rolling easily off her tongue in a toneless voice that she never would have thought herself capable of. Except, as she was saying that, the pinkette's eyes widened joyfully. Not fear, uncertainty, shock or anything else that Homura Akemi would have expected at this moment. After all, she was a total stranger dressed in odd clothing...Madoka should have been scared at the least.

Instead...she looked happy.

"Homura-chan!" Madoka shouted, jumping from her chair onto her bed, wide pink eyes shining brightly as she leaned out the window.

She...what...how...I...

The taller girl's brain short-circuited, as she stared in shock at her friend. The body in her hand fell to the ground, forgotten as Madoka pulled her into her room. And into a crushing hug, that had Homura instinctively wrapping her arms around her friend. This...this was familiar. Exactly as the other hugs her friend had given her, before she had reset the timeline once again. But...how? This shouldn't have been possible. Unless...

Did it...work?

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Laying in the rain, Homura looked through tear-stained glasses at her dearest friend. Madoka looked back, a weak smile on her face as she held a Grief Seed against the violet Soul Gem in her hand.

"No! Kaname-san, you should..." the girl protested, forcing her injured body to move. To stop her friend from sacrificing herself...again.

"Homura-chan...you...can go back in time, right?" Madoka asked back, voice weak and full of pain, "Make it so that none of this ever happened? Don't...don't let this happen again. Don't let Kyubey trick me again...please, keep me from being stupid."

All she could do was nod, tears falling once more, "I'll do it! I'll do whatever it takes, I'll go back again and again and again! I'll save you, I swear!"

"Thank you..." the pinkette replied, before she pulled away, scream of pain ripped from her lips, "Ahhh!"

Homura was immediately on her knees, eyes inexorably drawn to the last thing she wanted to see...Madoka's Soul Gem, fading even further to black. She had only seen this once before...but it was forever ingrained in her memory. The sight of her best friend, her Soul turning into a Grief Seed. That sight had scarred Homura deeply, and it was happening again. She...she...it couldn't happen! It couldn't end this way, not again! She wouldn't...even as the thought entered her head, it faded. There was nothing she could do to stop this. There were no Grief Seeds she could use. Even if she would sooner die than see Madoka in pain, she couldn't do a thing to help her friend!

Why? Why was fate so cruel! Madoka didn't deserve this!

"Can...can I ask, one more favor?" her friend looked up, tears falling from dull pink eyes, "Please...don't let me turn into a Witch. There are awful...terrible things in this world. I know that now. But there are things worth protect..."

Pain filled shouting cut Madoka off, the pain clearly visible in her face.

"Madoka!" Homura shouted herself, the harsh sting of tears running down her face, even as her dear friend smiled up at her.

"You...finally called me by my first name," she smiled through the pain, "I'm...so happy."

But even as she said that, Madoka was lifting her hand. The Soul Gem in it glinted dully, only a tiny hint of pink in a sea of black. Homura knew...she knew exactly what her friend was asking her to do. A flash of purple light concealed her, before the Magical Girl was once more in her combat outfit. The familiar weight of her shield felt much more like a curse than a blessing now...the knowledge that even if she could go back, she would have to leave behind her closest friend once again. And on top of that...it would require doing something that she was going to always hate herself for. Even if it was by Madoka's own request...the idea had Homura shaking in place, even as she reached into her shield and pulled out a pistol...the same pistol she had used to protect her friend from Sayaka Miki's Witch form. And now, it was aiming at Madoka's soul...

Hand shaking, pain stabbing through her heart, Homura aimed the weapon at her...at the one person who mattered to her, more than her own life. She would do anything and everything for Madoka Kaname. She would sacrifice her own life to save Madoka's in a heartbeat if it came down to it. Homura would always cherish what Madoka had given her, and she wouldn't ever allow herself to forget that. So why...why was it so hard to honor this last request? Why wouldn't her finger pull the trigger? It was the last thing she had asked of her...but she...

She...she...couldn't do this! The pistol fell from her hands, the Magical Girl falling onto her friend, sobs wracking her body as she clutched desperately at Madoka's uniform. It couldn't possibly work...

But Homura Akemi twisted her shield, holding onto her friend and her Soul Gem tightly.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Madoka...you..." back in the present, Homura clutched tightly to her friend.

It had hurt her deeply to refuse her friend's final request. It was why she had still come here...still killed Kyubey, even if killing anything but a Witch made Homura sick to her stomach. She hadn't believed her desperate action had actually worked. Surely, her power couldn't bring Madoka back with her. That had been the action of someone who couldn't take leaving her friend behind...not a logical action. But...

"It worked Homura-chan!" Madoka continued clutching just as tightly, tears falling now, "I don't know what you did, but it worked! I...I...thought I was going to die. I thought I was never going to see you again. I...even thought I just dreamed everything!"

"I'm sorry," the time-traveler felt her own tears, not able to summon the energy to wipe them, "Madoka...I...didn't do what you wanted. I'm selfish...I couldn't..."

"That isn't your fault Homura-chan," her friend pulled away slightly, hand reaching up to rub away Homura's tears, "I shouldn't have asked you to do that. I know how much that must have hurt."

It hurt so much. I thought...no, don't think about that.

But somehow, the other girl always knew exactly what to say, to keep her friend happy. Madoka was innocent and kind, but she wasn't a fool. If there was anything true about her, it was that. Her empathy for others truly knew no bounds.

Even so, "But that was the last thing you asked me! I thought it would be the last! And I was too weak to do it."

"No, not weak," Madoka shook her head, "You're strong Homura-chan. You pulled me with you after all! We have a second chance now, and I could never ask for something more than that!"

"A second..." to be totally fair, it was Homura's fourth time, but the point remained. This was the first time she had someone who knew her from the start, someone who could understand what she was going through. And it was perfect that it was Madoka. She wouldn't be alone...like she had been determined to be. After all, no one ever believed her about the future. But now...she had someone who trusted her, and who believed her. Someone who had gone through...

Oh no...

"Madoka," dread settled in the pit of her stomach, "you must hate me."

Her friend tilted her head in confusion, "I could never hate you Homura-chan."

"But...I brought you back! You've got all those horrible memories, when you shouldn't."

Realization dawned on Madoka's face, before said face was once more buried in Homura's long hair. Tears wet it, but they weren't tears born of anger. Homura could understand that much, since her friend was clutching her body close to her own. The two were locked in a tight embrace, holding together. Tears fell from both their eyes, if for different reasons.

"That isn't your fault either Homura-chan," Madoka managed to squeak out, "I...I don't like remembering those. But it's okay, because I remember you too! I have you here with me!"

"Madoka..."

The pinkette squeezed her friend again, "I don't blame you for anything Homura-chan. I might not like remembering what happened, but having you here is worth it! You're one of my best friends, and I'd never want to lose that. No matter what else I remember."

Those words were all that needed to be said. Homura melted into the embrace, feeling the tension slowly leaving her body. Madoka didn't blame her for anything. She was happy to remember, no matter the bad memories. That...that was enough for the time-traveler.

"At least you don't have to fight anymore Madoka," she whispered, "I'll protect you from now on, I promise!"

It had been what she wished for after all. Being strong enough to protect Madoka. Hardly anything else really mattered in the end...just as long as Madoka was alive and safe, Homura could be happy. Having her friend by her side just made her even happier.

"No."

Wh...why? Did I say something wrong?

Homura's answer came in the form of pink light, shining from their joined hands. The Magical Girl knew exactly what that was...and felt her heart sink. Madoka...she hadn't...she couldn't...

"We're going to protect each other Homura-chan," she smiled sadly, holding up the familiar pink Soul Gem.

"But Madoka! You said you..."

"I know," the pinkette's smile turned even sadder, "but I had to Homura-chan. I hate this...I hate the idea of what we are and what Kyubey did to us. But I couldn't just sit back and watch you fight alone! I didn't know if everything was a dream, but if it wasn't...I couldn't stand the idea of you out there alone without me to help. We've always been a team, haven't we?"

A team...

"Yes, we were," Homura nodded weakly, "But Madoka...I..."

Her friend just shook her head, returning her Gem to its ring form before pulling Homura to where they could sit, backs against the wall, "Homura-chan. Do you want to know what I wished for this time?"

Most of the time-traveler didn't want to know. If not for the fact that it was this Madoka who had made the request in the first place, she would have seen the other girl contracting with that monster as a failure. The only reason she didn't, was because if the Madoka that had asked her not to let her contract did it anyway, it was outside her ability to change. That, and she still had the warm feeling in her chest as the pinkette leaned against her. That feeling was enough to push away the cold and sadness at the idea of her friend being in the same danger she was. And the fear as well. The fear of seeing Madoka turn into a Witch or die again.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say there was no greater fear for Homura Akemi than the idea that her friend could die again. She broke out into a cold sweat whenever she thought about it, the familiar heart pain returning despite her magic.

"I wished that we would always be together," Madoka's voice turned wistful, pink eyes looking Homura directly in her own violet orbs, "I never want to lose you Homura-chan. No matter what happens, I don't want that. I..."

She didn't need to say anymore. Homura felt her heart breaking...but the pain wasn't there. Because Madoka wanted the exact same thing she herself did. To always be together, no matter what was thrown at them. It may not have been in the way she would have otherwise wanted, but that didn't matter in the end. Because so long as they were together, she was happy.

The specter of Walpurgisnacht lurked in the distance as it always had since Homura first learned of Magical Girls. But that didn't matter. Because here and now, she was safe. Madoka was safe.

The future could wait, for a little while at least.

"Hey, Homura-chan?"

"Yes Madoka?"

"What happened to your glasses? And your braids?"

Sitting in the floor of Madoka's room- the pinkette had told her in no uncertain terms not to leave -Homura blinked. She had almost forgotten her impulsive decision at the start of this timeline. Discarding what she had seen as signs of weakness...of her failures. Her glasses and braids had been the hallmark of a weaker girl who couldn't save her one true friend. So she had gotten rid of them, in favor of working alone and without any ties to her past failures. Though to be fair, she did have her glasses and ribbons at her apartment still...not quite able to bring herself to completely get rid of them.

Realizing her friend still wanted an answer though, Homura looked up, biting her lip slightly. Only Madoka could still make her nervous like this, after her newfound determination took hold.

"I healed my eyes," she answered, "and my braids only got in the way."

"But they were so pretty Homura-chan!" Madoka's voice held more than a little disbelief, "Not that your eyes aren't still pretty though."

"Thank you Madoka," the time-traveler smiled at her friend, "But I feel...better this way. Like I'm not weighed down anymore. I...don't really know how to describe it."

Madoka still looked unconvinced, "But isn't it hard to heal your eyes?"

"Not really. It was a lot more difficult to heal my heart."

"Okay..."

Homura knew why her friend had a difficult time with the changes. She herself still felt distinctly...off...when thinking about her lack of braids. And missing the familiar weight of her glasses over her eyes. But it had to be done, and Homura didn't really regret doing so. If something had to be done, she would do it. Especially if it was something to help protect Madoka.

"Is it okay if I braid your hair then?"

That question threw her off. The Magical Girl looked at her friend, gobsmacked look on her face. Even the mask she had tried to develop failed totally in the face of such an innocent request. How could she say no to her dearest friend?

"If you wan...want to..." the old Homura was out in full force, her face flushing as Madoka grinned at her.

"Thank you Homura-chan!"

And before she really knew what was happening, Homura was sitting, face towards the wall as Madoka sat behind her. The long black tresses of her hair were in her friend's hands, as Madoka softly braided them. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, the time-traveler relaxed into the feeling, the familiarity of it serving to sooth her nervousness. Not that she had any real reason to be nervous to begin with. This was Madoka. If she wanted to braid her hair, the least she could do was allow the girl to do so. Especially as the reasoning behind the seemingly random request finally 'clicked' so to speak. Homura smiled sadly at that realization.

She wants familiarity. Just as I want her friendship, she wants to see something familiar.

Madoka was familiar with Homura's braids and glasses, not her free hair and magically perfect eyesight. She couldn't begrudge her friend that...not when she could easily understand why that was so important to her.

"This is nice," Madoka whispered, happiness clear in her voice, "Just...I like spending time with you like this Homura-chan. No Witches, just the two of us."

"I do too," Homura replied, hand reaching out to hold Madoka's own that had dropped from the braid, giving it a small squeeze.

The two girls lapsed back into silence after that, as the pink-haired one continued to braid her friend's hair. Homura felt her eyes drifting shut at the motions, the soothing atmosphere doing more to relax her than anything had done since Sayaka had fallen. It reminded her of the days before she had revealed what Kyubey was doing...when they were all happy and relaxed with each other. All the Magical Girls- aside from Kyoko -working together as friends. That had been nice.

Though, this was nicer.

"I'll have to use my own ribbons," the pinkette said apologetically.

"I...I'm fine with that..."

Her ribbons? Isn't that too...

Even as that thought went through her head, Homura shook it away with a small smile. Madoka would never view something like this as 'too familiar'. If anything, she might view it as not familiar enough, knowing her.

"There, all done!"

Homura blinked, as her friend suddenly spun her around, a mirror in hand. That had been...quick. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight that greeted her. Because Madoka had managed to almost perfectly replicate her braids, despite never doing it before. Raising a hand to her hair, Homura gently grabbed one of the braids, showing off the yellow ribbon tying it together. She wasn't sure how she felt having the braids back though. The familiarity was soothing for her in a way, as it was for her friend. But on the other hand she had undone her original braids with good reason as well.

Regardless though, she would settle for happiness right now. No matter her own feelings, Madoka looked happy as she smiled widely at her handiwork. And if Madoka was happy, then Homura was happy as well.

"Madoka, who are you talking to?"

And just like that, the moment was shattered.

"Mama!" the pinkette gasped, "Homura-chan, give me your phone number, quick!"

"Wha..." shaking her head, the time-traveler pulled out her cell phone and gave Madoka the required number. Even if she didn't understand why.

Her confusion grew further when Madoka called said phone, and practically pushed her out the window to her room. Moving to a safe distance, Homura put the phone to her ear. Not that she needed it to hear the conversation in the room...she had better hearing than most, both because of her- formerly -bad eyesight and her magic.

"I'm sorry Mama," Madoka was saying, "I was just on the phone!"

"Uh huh," Mrs. Kaname sounded unconvinced, "With who? Sayaka-chan?"

"No...actually, I have a new friend!"

There was an overly dramatic gasp in response to that, "Oh? I didn't know you had a new friend!"

"Yeah! We met when Sayaka-chan was visiting Kyouske-kun at the hospital."

"At the hospital?"

Madoka's voice grew softer at that question, "Yeah...her name is Homura Akemi. Homura-chan has a heart condition, so she had to stay at the hospital for awhile. She's supposed to transfer into our class tomorrow though!"

"Ahh..." Mrs. Kaname sounded thoughtful, "Is that why you were calling Akemi-san?"

"Um..." Madoka trailed off, "Actually, she called me Mama. Homura-chan lives alone, but she got locked out by accident. She asked if she could stay here for tonight, since she doesn't really have any other friends..."

After that statement, Homura tuned out anything else. Understandably so, with her mind going into overdrive to say the least. Staying with Madoka in her room was one thing. Talking to her parents was another thing entirely. Why was her friend trying this? She could get home easily enough, it really wasn't a problem. Especially not with her magic. She didn't need to stay with Madoka, not really. She wouldn't necessarily complain about doing so, but that was without having to interact with the other members of her family.

Homura had only even seen her parents once. She had never actually met them, and that sent a spike of worry into her heart.

"Well, if she really doesn't have anywhere else to stay I guess that's okay," Mrs. Kaname caught her attention once more, "Just give me a bit more warning next time, okay Madoka?"

"Thank you Mama!"

"Hey, it's no problem for my little girl."

The sound of a high five echoed over the phone, before Madoka whispered, "Come to the front door Homura-chan!"

And promptly hung up. Leaving a very confused and anxious Homura Akemi to dully do as told. She wanted to, and indeed if the situation were any different would have, gone back to her own apartment. But this was Madoka asking her. And the last thing she wanted to do was upset her dearest friend. Or her parents for that matter, as it was likely that she would have to spend a lot of time here to go over plans to deal with Walpurgisnacht. Best to make a good first impression.

Or as good as one could be, with Madoka throwing her into the fray like this.

Forcing her emotions under the mask that she had only recently developed, Homura walked as calmly as she could towards the entrance of the Kaname household. Reaching a hand out, more hesitantly than her calm exterior would indicate, the girl knocked on the door. Not even a minute later, the door was pulled open by a smiling Mrs. Kaname.

"Akemi-san I presume?" she asked, hands on her hips as she looked down on the younger girl.

"Yes," Homura managed to avoid her voice shaking, "Madoka told me it was okay to stay here?"

"Certainly," the older woman nodded, "though I'm a bit curious how a girl your age lives alone."

"I...um..."

Leave it to any member of this family to fluster her.

Mrs. Kaname just smiled again, waving a hand easily, "You don't need to tell me right now. Any friend of Madoka's is welcome here...though I appreciate more warning next time. Got it?"

While it was phrased as a question, Homura Akemi knew an order when she heard one, "Yes!"

"Good. Now, I'm sure Madoka has some pajamas you can borrow. You two should get to bed, especially if tomorrow is your first day of school. Don't let me catch you two staying up late!"

All Homura could do was nod slowly, as she walked through unfamiliar halls to the much more familiar room of her best friend. Madoka grinned at her as the door shut behind her, rushing over to the taller girl. The time-traveler knew the look on her face all too well...she was going to ask a bunch of questions about how the introduction to her mother had gone.

But she had no desire to incur the wrath of Mrs. Kaname.

"Your mother said we had to go to bed," Homura cut her friend off, "I...I'll sleep on the floor, if that's okay?"

"Mama set up a futon actually," Madoka gestured to the other side of her room, "and I got out some pajamas! I know it's not much but..."

"It's more than enough. Thank you Madoka."

Her friend grinned at her, "No problem Homura-chan! Good night."

With that said, the pinkette turned around to give her friend the privacy to change. Even so, Homura changed as fast as she could, doing her best not to think about the fact she was wearing Madoka's clothing. In an effort to get her mind off that, she turned to her friend as she dimmed the lights.

"Madoka?"

"Yes Homura-chan?" the other girl asked, a sleepy tone to her voice now that the lights were off and the excitement was wearing off.

"Thank you."

Not that it stopped that blinding grin, "You're welcome!"

Both girls would fall asleep with a smile that night. Because they weren't alone. No matter the trials coming in the future...they would face them together.

AN: Keeping both of the girls in character was...interesting. If only because their characters are in fact going to end up OOC. At least compared to how their counterparts in the main series were. Because these are not the same Madoka Kaname or Homura Akemi. The former has the memories of Timeline 3, and that Madoka is going to be more jaded than usual even if not to the same extent as Homura. Who, on that subject, is something of a mix of Moemura and regular Homura. She hasn't broken the former yet, and hasn't had the time to fully develop her mask.

It's a balancing act, I'll admit. I hope it worked out!

Also, I'm fully aware this breaks the rules of Madoka. But hey, fanfic is fanfic and if an idea is interesting enough I think it can justify things like this.

Now, I don't know what the update rate here'll be. That'll depend entirely on interest. The more reviews I get, the more inclined I'll be to push out a new chapter. I'm not holding it hostage or anything- authors that do so bug me -but I'm being honest. I've got several ongoing fics, and the more interest this gets...the more motivated I am.

So let's see how many people liked it! I hope a lot to be honest.