"Caro! Erio!" Teana waved as Nove and Subaru stood behind her, the latter was looking somewhat upset about something. "How are you?" She smiled as they walked up to her.
"Pretty good," Erio nodded and looked at Subaru, "what's wrong?"
Nove rolled her eyes as Subaru pouted more. "She's just being a baby."
"The ice cream was gone." Subaru sniffled and slumped, causing everyone to sweat-drop heavily as Subaru had a blue glow of depression around her. "I just wanted some ice cream, and it was gone."
Nove slapped her forehead with her open palm. "Just because Slyph ate the last of the ice cream doesn't mean you should be so upset. Sheesh, we're going to go get some later."
"But my name was on the container." Subaru whimpered, causing both Nove and Teana to sigh.
"She's been like this for a few hours now." Teana rolled her eyes and looked at them. "...Erio, have you gotten taller?"
"Yes." Caro glowered at Erio, who rubbed the back of his head nervously. "He keeps stealing all my height! I want it back!"
Erio sweat-dropped and shook his head. "No I'm not. I swear." He sighed as Caro continued to glower at him. "I thought Fate and the others were going to meet us here."
Teana nodded at the change of subjects. "They had a mission that they were called out on. They'll be back in a week."
"Oh," Erio scratched the back of his head. "Well, let's go. I got nothing else to do today."
"We're getting this big baby some ice cream." Nove jabbed Subaru in the ribs and sighed as Subaru perked up instantly. "How the hell am I related to you?" Her eyebrow twitched as Subaru grinned at her. "And if you say that it's just luck, I'm going to kick you through a tree the next time we spar."
Subaru just smiled at Nove as the group walked out of the airport. "You're more like mom every day, Nove."
"HUH!?" Nove stared at Subaru, her eyes wide. "Wh...What the hell does THAT mean?!"
Teana sighed heavily, as far as she was concerned, it was probably a good thing that Nove was more serious than either Subaru or Ginga were. Sure, Ginga wasn't as bad as Subaru could get some days, but there were times that Teana could swear that the older girl was a total ditz.
Especially when she saw Ginga trip over a rough spot of grass that one time. Though, considering that Ginga had apparently been trying to get the image of Quint and Genya in the bathroom out of her head, Teana didn't blame her too much.
Still, despite how crazy things were at the Nakajima house, Teana really didn't want it any other way. As much as she didn't want to admit it, being around the normal craziness that was Subaru's family had become a comfort for her.
Then again, if she wasn't able to handle a little craziness, she doubted that she would have survived joining the Riot Force.
(---)
Elsewhere...
"Hey, mom..." A young boy with green hair suddenly shivered. "Is it normal to feel like something bad's about to happen?"
"Val," Filia looked at him seriously, "what do you mean?"
Val's eyes went to the floor as he focused on that feeling. "I'm not sure, but I feel like something really bad is about to happen. Like a big disaster hitting us all at once."
Filia nodded slowly. "I see," Val getting some form of precognition wasn't too unusual. While it was a fairly rare skill, even among Dragons, it wasn't surprising that Val would develop some skill.
"Well, either a disaster or Shari made something crazy again."
Filia sweat-dropped but didn't try to refute what Val said. Every time she was around Shari when the girl was in a mood to create science, she felt that the world was in danger of exploding somehow. "Let's just hope it's not that."
Val nodded and bit his lip lightly. "Hey, mom... I've been having these really weird dreams lately." Filia just looked at him silently, waiting for him to continue. "In them, I... I'm angry... And you're there, and I got this weird spear in my hands, you're looking at me, all scared... Then sometimes I have this dream that I'm fighting against Nanoha, but she's a lot smaller and has this weird cannon on her arms... Last night..." Val screwed his eyes shut and shuddered heavily, missing how Filia was completely pale as he spoke. "I dreamed about this big guy, he had red hair and..." Val stopped as Filia knelt and hugged him tightly. "Mom?"
"I had hoped that you wouldn't ever find out..." Filia sighed heavily and pulled away from him, sadness written all over her face. "Val, I... I know why you've been having those dreams," Filia hugged him again. "I'll tell you, later, but not right now."
"Mom?" Val blinked in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"I just want your father and your other mother here too, okay?" Filia rocked him softly. "Promise me one thing, Val, when you find out the truth, please don't hate me."
"Mom?" Val was confused, why would she think that he would hate her? "What..."
"Please, Val, promise me." There was something in the way his mom was trembling that stopped all of his questions cold and just had him nodding while he held onto his mother. He had never seen her like this, and it scared him deeply. "I'm sorry, Val." Filia pulled back and smiled at him lightly. "It wasn't a fun time in my life back then, so remembering it isn't easy. Your other parents were there too."
Val nodded. "Okay, but when is dad going to be home?" He knew that Chrono was busy a lot, being in the military tended to eat up a lot of his time.
Filia blinked and tapped her chin. "You know what? We should give him a call."
"Okay!" Val smiled, part of him was still worried about what got his mom so worked up, but being able to talk to his dad again would make up for it.
At least for now.
(---)
How much longer would this need to continue? How long until things were finally settled?
"Not much longer..." A soft voice whispered in the darkness before chuckling darkly.
(---)
"Hey, Mr. Nakajima!" Genya turned to see Wendi and Dieci walking towards him and waving, the redhead was rather chipper and grinning. "Is Nove here?"
Genya shook his head. "No. I was just heading out for the day myself, but Nove's with Subaru and Teana. They went to pick up Erio and Caro from the port."
"Drat." Wendi pouted and kicked the sidewalk lightly. "Cinque wanted to meet up with all of us about something. Can you give her a call for us?"
Genya nodded to them. "Not a problem." He smiled lightly as he looked at them. "Are you two doing well in your lives right now?"
Dieci scratched the back of her head. "Well, living with grandmother is nice, and Cinque was able to get the two of us off for the week because Cinque wanted to spend some time with the rest of our sisters..."
"Not to mention that we were asked to help with city security while the heavy hitters of the Riot Force were out on a mission." Wendi grinned as Dieci sighed heavily.
"Just tell everyone while you're at it. Should I get you a loud speaker so all of Mid-Childa can hear you?" Dieci gave Wendi a flat look and the redhead giggled at her.
"Oh, come on, don't be like that." Wendi pouted as Dieci rolled her eyes. "Anyway, yeah, just give her a call for us, okay?"
Genya nodded and watched them walk off, talking about various things. Part of him was a little sad that they were adopted so fast, but he wasn't unhappy with how things turned out. Especially since he still got a daughter out of it.
Idly, Genya wondered if his desire to have a large family was a hold over from when Quint was unable to have children of her own, before shaking that off. He wouldn't trade any of his children for anything in the world.
And, as long as all of those girls were happy, he could be glad for them.