I didn't want to produce more projects. But, here it is.

A Surprised or Not so Surprised Visit

"I'm home" Nanoha closed the door and slipped off her shoes. Exhausted from today's training, she just wanted to hit the sack.

"I'm in here mama." The voice drifted from the living room.

"So how was…" her mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Close your mouth Nanoha or you'll catch flies." A Nanoha look alike with gray streaked hair quickly engulfed the surprised woman standing stock still at the room's entrance.

Nanoha slowly returned hugged, the shock fading. She pulled back some and stared into smiliar blue eyes, "what are you doing here?"

Her mother sighed "Nanoha dear. Do you know what day it is?"

Nanoha thought about it and realization dawned. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot." She bowed her head in shame.

"That's alright Nanoha." A male voice said.

Nanoha glanced up seeing a tall well-built man with gray hair at his temples, standing beside his wife. She went to hug him, his strong loving arms wrapping around her gently. When she pulled back the old couple saw confusion on her face. "how'd you get here?" She didn't pick them up from the transport docks, and Fate was busy working so she couldn't have picked them up either.

"Lindy dropped us off on her way to her son." Her mother replied.

"Oh." Nanoha snapped out of her daze "are you hungry?"

They shook their heads "No. We ate before we came dear." Her mother then pushed her from behind, leading her to the stairs. "Go have a bath. We'll catch up when you're done."

Nanoha stopped on the first step of the stairs, her hand resting on the rail as she looked at her mother "are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure. Besides my cute granddaughter has been keeping us busy." Momoko gave her a motherly smile.

Nanoha nodded. "okay. I'll be back soon." She started going up stairs.

"take your time dear." She heard her mother call.

Her motherly duty completed, Momoko went to reclaim her seat beside her Vivio and husband, who wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Can you continue the story?" Vivio eagerly waited to hear the rest of Nanoha-mama's childhood story that was unfortunately interrupted.

Momoko nodded and looked out in to space as she thought. "where were we?"

Vivio swung her feet in excitement as she reminded her where she left off. "Nanoha-mama was climbing up a tree to save a hurt kitten."

"Oh yes! My five year-old little girl climbed the tall tree, and ended up close to the top of its branches. She did manage to get to the kitten, but then she couldn't climb her way back down. I at the time was cooking when I heard her call for help. So, I immediately dropped everything and ran out to see what was wrong. When I saw her way up high with no way down, I was so scared my heart almost jumped out of me. I told her to stay put while called her father." She stopped talking.

Shiro continued, "I was in the family dojo training Kyoya and Miyuki in sword fighting when Momoko came running to me in tears. She told me about Nanoha and I rushed over. When I saw her so high up, I think I gained a few gray hairs. But when I reached the top, to my surprise, my brave little girl just smiled at me, holding the kitten closely to her chest. "

Vivio giggled she could easily see that happening.

"I extended my arm toward her, and told her to very carefully make her way toward me. When she was finally safe in my arms, I felt so relieved all the tension just drained out of me. I slowly made my way down with one arm holding onto my baby girl until we safely reached the ground."

Momoko picked up the last part of the story, "I ran to her and held her in my arms, crying the whole time and telling her how scared I was. She hugged me back and apologized to the both of us, saying how she only wanted to save the kitty. After that day Nanoha wasn't allowed to play alone outside until she was around nine."

Vivio smiled through the whole story amused that even her strict mother got in trouble when she was young. She wanted to hear another story, but before she could ask. She heard the soft clicks of an opening door and a cheerful whistling.

Fate slipped off her shoes while spinning her car keys around her finger. She briefly stopped whistling to announce "I'm home!" and restarted her tune.

The occupants on the couch turned their heads to see a merrily whistling Fate with a bouquet of colorful flowers in her hand. She stopped whistling and greeted her love's parents not at all surprised to see them. "Hello, Momoko, Shiro. How was the transport over? Good?"

"Yes it was." Shiro smiled while watching her look through the kitchen for something to place the flowers in.

Momoko puffed her cheeks in annoyance and walked over to Fate, who was kneeling on the floor, her head concealed by the cabinet she was currently digging through, "why don't you call us mom and dad?"

A loud thwack came from the cabinet.

"Are you okay?" Momoko bent down in concern while Fate slowly made her way out of the cabinet.

She smiled, happily holding a vase while her hand rubbed her sore head.

Seeing she had gotten hurt, Momoko moved Fate's hand away trying to see her head. Fate tried to reassure her, "I'm okay." She smiled "Really."

Momoko gazed sternly at her. "Bend over."

Fate didn't dare refuse. She'd been on the receiving end of that look countless of times before when Nanoha wanted her way. Heh. So she gets it from her mother.

With the tall girl bent over, it was much easier for the shorter woman to see and run her hand over Fate's head looking for any swellings. Pleased to find nothing she removed her hands, signaling she was done. Fate stood back up, and went over to the sink to fill the vase with water. She placed it on the countertop and grabbed a knife, cutting off the ends of the flower stems.

Momoko restated her earlier comment. "So call us mom and dad."

The knife slipped, barely missing a finger. Fewh that was close.

Momoko noticed the awkward movement and remembered Fate's jerk. She connected the dots. "Are you uncomfortable with calling us mom and dad?"

Fate glanced at her safe from possibly harmful objects.

Momoko continued, "I don't know why you don't? You practically grew up with Nanoha, and Shiro and I regard you as our daughter. You even married into the family, which makes me your mother-in-law…"

Fate placed her hands on Momoko's shoulders snapping her out of her rant, blue eyes similar to her daughter only lighter looked into sincere red.

"I'll try… mom" She said awkwardly, but Momoko beamed and hugged her.

They broke apart when they heard someone clear their throat. Fate saw Shiro near the counter arms out stretched "I want one too." Fate nodded and went into his arms, hugging the warm accepting arms of her love's father.

"Fate-chan your home!" the beautiful voice of her love made Fate smile.

Fate let go of Shiro and looked to Nanoha, who was wearing a pink robe, her hair loose and wet from the shower. She went over and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Had a good shower?"

"Yeah." Nanoha hugged Fate around the waist.

"Good. Now go back up stairs and take a nap."

Nanoha looked up, "but."

Fate had none of it. She saw how tired Nanoha looked. "No buts. Up." She pointed to the stairs.

Momoko and Shiro watched from the sidelines interested and pleased with the way Fate was handling their daughter.

Seeing she was going to protest again, Fate leaned close and whispered in her ear. "don't worry about your parents. I'm here with Vivio. You can go up and rest. You really need it." Fate pulled back, and waited for Nanoha to go.

She really was tired, and Fate was going to be with her parents "okay." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Fate's cheek. She then looked into warm red eyes "I'll come down later."

"Only after you've rested." Fate informed her as she escorted her to the stairs, and then stood there watching Nanoha walk up the steps until she was out of sight.

Fate turned back to two pleased looking parents. They always knew Fate adored their daughter, but it was still nice to know she took good care of her.

Fate clapped her hands. "So. What do you want to do?"

Hoped you like it!