Due to unforeseen uh… stuff, I was forced to post chapter 4 of this story along with the latest chapter of ULS at an even later time. I'm truly sorry for that but it really couldn't be helped. I just regret the fact that I made the readers wait even though chapter 4 of this story was already finished last… last… month? Idk? I can't remember anymore.

Again, I apologize for the wait.

Review replies:

TsurugiNoMiko: thank you! *blushes* I think I was really aiming for the anime episode effect. I'm glad I got it right I guess :)

darkvalk: déjà vu? Which part? *afraid to know the answer* hehe

lihber: they do in this ending chapter :)

Yuki-Kamishiro: I'm speechless *red as a tomato*

Syaoran Li Clow: it's always a pleasure to read your long-ish reviews. I've kinda missed them actually. Why his mom? So are you guys friends now? (it's fine if you don't tell me though. I get that it's personal) Oh, and yes… this will be the last chapter.

Mikoto: haha I'm evil? Anyway, yeah next month became NEXT NEXT month. :( sorry for the wait. I hope this chapter would make up for the wait...?

Honulicious: the deep voice was… haha read the chapter to know the answer. And about Fate walking out the door… it's also in this chapter. But I guess it's kind of because she thought Nanoha wasn't at the party… partly :D

Fate Trulygood, Lance58 & Kirstie Anne: thanks you guys :))

Quote from a friend: "I've learned that sometimes I just need to be held."

-jace-san

p.s.

Team GEMINI, miss you guys :)) oh and xYuki? My life has officially become a teenage drama series O_O and not in a good way.

--

Of Broken Bones and Promises

A fiction by Jace-san

Chapter 4

--

"Nanoha," a deep voice greeted behind her.

She turned around and fell into those protective arms.

"Signum! She's gone. I was too late. She… she left." She sobbed against the pink-haired girl.

Signum hushed her and rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Sshh… she isn't gone." She took Nanoha's face in her hands and wiped the girl's tears with her thumbs. "She couldn't leave you even if she wanted to. Now come with me."

Nanoha was puzzled but followed her friend anyway. Signum led her to an empty table in the corner.

"What are we—"

"Turn the chair around," Signum said.

"What?"

"The chair in front of you; turn it around," she repeated.

Nanoha took a step forward and did as she was told.

What lay on top of the chair made Nanoha's heart melt: a lone blue teddy bear with the cutest heart-shaped nose and a large white bow for a tie, a white rose nestled in its fuzzy arms and a note tied to its stem.

"Oh my god…" Nanoha said, her voice breaking.

Signum handed her the rose along with the sheet of paper attached to it.

'No thorns,' Nanoha though as she gingerly untied the ribbon and read the note.

I never meant to lie to you, especially about the reunion. But I know how much you love
your parents. At the time, I thought if they didn't like me, you'd leave and find someone
else.

I should've known better than to doubt you, to lie to you. I know that now.

I'm sorry.

Nanoha, if you could find it in your heart to forgive me, I'd like to make it up to you… even
if it is just as a friend.

Yours forever,
Fate

A single tear rolled down Nanoha's cheek and onto the sheet of paper.

"You know, Nanoha, she quit the team the other day."

Nanoha looked at the older girl, stunned.

"It's funny really. She marched up to the athletics office and told Ginga that she didn't want to be in the team anymore. Ginga asked her why and all she said was, 'There are more important things in my life.' She looked pretty cool marching out of the office too," Signum let out a chuckled before continuing. "She may have been calm and collected for the past few days, but I'd go to your dorm room a few times and find her staring at a picture of you."

Nanoha eyes went back to the direction of the front door.

Signum followed Nanoha's eye and smirked. "Here," she said, handing the teddy bear to the brunette. "…wouldn't want to leave this behind." Nanoha nodded, took the adorable stuffed toy and walked past Signum.

Signum felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind.

"You're amazing."

Turning around to face her girlfriend, Signum placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. "I try," she said smugly, resting her hands on Shamal's hips. "Guess what."

"What?"

"We have the dorm room all to ourselves now," she said, a loving smile on her lips.

Shamal smiled and nuzzled her head on the crook of her girlfriend's neck.

--

Bang!

"Chrono, is she here?" Nanoha asked, breathless.

"What?" Chrono replied, not tearing his eyes off the TV screen.

"Fate… where is she?" Nanoha asked, walking toward the stairs.

"I thought she was at your house?"

"What?" Nanoha stopped mid-step.

"Yeah, she said she was waiting for you to get back from Hayate's party." He finally looked at her. "Why do you have a teddy be—"

"'Kay thanks!" Nanoha took off her heels, grabbed a pair of flip-flops from the shoe rack by the front door and bolted for her house. She took out her phone from the pocket of her dress and dialed a familiar number.

"Hello Ginga-san…?"

--

Fate was sitting in the hallway outside Nanoha's room, her arms wrapped around her legs. She heard loud thuds coming from the foot of the stairs. It sounded like Big Foot coming up the steps wearing wooden clogs.

"Fate," Nanoha said, panting.

The blonde instantly got up on her feet.

"Nanoha," she began, noticing the blue bear and white rose Nanoha held against her chest. "You got my present," she smiled warily. "Okay look, I'm sorry for yelling at you, for making you mad, for lying to you, for hurting you… I'm sorry for everything! I know what I did was wrong. I was being stupid, insensitive, irresponsible, deceitful, and thoughtless—feel free to stop me—idiotic, reckless and… and that's all I can think of."

"Don't forget 'selfish'."

"Okay. I was stupid, insensitive, irresponsible, deceitful, thoughtless, idiotic, reckless and selfish."

Nanoha took a step forward. "You're also adorable, loving," another step. "…caring, funny," then a third, "…gorgeous, a closet romantic…" She stopped a few inches from Fate, a bright smile gracing her lips. Nanoha trailed a finger along Fate's jaw before cupping her cheek, its warmth making the blonde sigh. "I don't know how I survived a week without seeing you."

Fate pressed her lips against Nanoha's palm. "I missed you too. I'm sorry," she said, taking Nanoha's hand in hers.

"What happened to your hand?" Nanoha exclaimed, grabbing Fate's hand and carefully examining it. Each finger had at least two band-aids wrapped around it.

"Nothing," Fate replied, pulling her hand back as if it had been electrocuted.

Nanoha refused to let go. "Fate-chan."

"Well," she took the white rose from the teddy bear. "I had to, um… Okay fine. I forgot to tell the florist to cut off all the thorns so," she closed her eyes. "Ipulledthemalloutbyhand."

Silence.

"Nanoha…? Nano—"

Nanoha's lips claimed hers in a passionate kiss.

"What… was that… for?" Fate asked when Nanoha pulled away, her eyes still seeing stars.

Nanoha beamed at her.

"For being you."

As if on impulse, Fate wrapped her arms around the shorter girl's waist. "I should be myself more often, then."

"I told Ginga-san to take you back… to the team, I mean."

Fate's arms tensed at the statement.

"What? But how—?"

Nanoha nuzzled her nose against Fate's cheek as she said, "I can be very persuasive."

"But… but I… I thought you—" She stuttered adorably.

"Fate-chan, repeat after me: Thank you Nanoha."

Fate grinned. "Thank you Nanoha."

"But…" Nanoha said pulling away slightly.

"There's a 'but'?" Fate asked dolefully.

"Yes. If you get a serious injury again, you're off the team. 'Kay?" She said cheerfully. "Nyahaha."

Fate shook her head in disbelief and pulled the Nanoha closer, burying her face into the girl's hair. "You're impossible!"

"And you love me for it," she countered, placing a chaste kiss on the hollow of Fate's neck sending jolts of electricity down the blonde's spine.

"Yeah. Hey, Nanoha?"

"Hmm?"

"I forgot to tell you something."

"Oka~y what?"

Fate took a step back. "You look beautiful in that dress," she complimented.

"Nyahaha. I know I do," Nanoha said in a matter-of-factly tone.

"There's something else I wanted to tell you. But first, you need to close your eyes."

Nanoha raised her brow and eyed the blonde skeptically. But after receiving a shrug, she complied.

Fate pressed a light kiss on Nanoha's temple, "I…"

Her eyelids, "love…"

Her lips, "you."

…and rested her forehead against Nanoha's.

"Mmm… I love you too Fate-chan."

--

A week later, Nanoha fractured her ankle.

She fell from the second step of the bleachers…

…

…

…while watching Fate's first volleyball game.

The end.

--

ANY ERRORS? Tell me if you guys spot any. Imma correct 'em right away.

So… penny for your thoughts? Read and review please. Oh and check out the POLE on my PROFILE. VOTE!!

See you guys soon… I hope?

-jace-san