[Tormenk]

*pops in*

Quick present then.

Spoiler:

"Hayate? You still up?" Grandis popped his head from behind the door.

Hayate looked up from her desk towards her visitor."Yeah I am."Taking her eyes off from Grandis to steal a sideway glance at her desk cluttered full of forms and reports, she gave a quick sigh. "And looks to be up to the next morning at this rate."She said matter-of-factly.

"Take a break then. You won't make it through half of them if you don't."

"I can't," Hayate protested. "I have got two reports due for the Investigation Branch tomorrow and a case I promised Acous to look over. If I do-"

"No." Grandis said, quieting the shorter girl with a finger over her lips."And no buts either," cutting off a come-back before she had the chance.

"Mou. You're always like that. What would I say when they ask for it?"

"I'm sure they won't mind if the great Yagami Hayate slacked off on a report or two. Especially from Acous, who would agree his little sister deserves the rest." Grandis said as he finished off the conversation, tapping Hayate's button nose lightly.

The brunette relented and sighed. "Alright then." Turning her mind onto other things immediately, Hayate pulled Grandis by the arm.

"I'll have you compensate me then." Playfully leading the young man towards the balcony of her office, the doors were previously closed to avoid any distractions.

The two was silent as they stood within the balcony area, basking within the brilliance of the night sky. Hayate broke the silence first.

"The sky's beautiful tonight. Neh, Grandis?"The shorter girl asked, resting her head into the broad shoulders of the young man beside her.

"Yes, yes it is. Do you know why?"

Hayate's face was one of curiosity as she leveled her blue eyes into Grandis' own.

Grandis gave a exasperated sigh."You're really hopeless Hayate." Bringing up his free arm to stall her outburst he gave his answer. "It's your birthday tonight."

Hayate was silent for a few awkward heartbeats. "I..forgot."She admitted meekly.

"Baka."Grandis reprimanded as he ruffled Hayate's hair.

"Gomen." Hayate apologized, sticking out her tongue lightly and putting on her best raccoon eyes.

The lovers returned to their peaceful observation of tonight's starry sky before Hayate broke the silence again.

"Grandis.Remember the first time we met?"

"Year of '77. On Duraxyll."Grandis said.

"I was on a special mission with Oji-chan. I met you there, along with Lyriel-chan and Luozorl-san."She recounted.

"Yeah. I sure made a impression on you didn't I?"Grandis said with a wolfish grin.

"You kidnapped me! And made Oji-chan, Signum and all the rest worried to no end as well."

"That sure was a long time ago wasn't it?" Grandis said ruefully, recalling events that had transpired long ago.

"It was. We've come a long way since then didn't we?" Hayate closed her eyes and snuggled herself deeper into Grandis, tightening her grip on his arm.

"Yes we have. And you achieved a great many things since then, and your work has helped many many more people. So don't go doubting yourself again."

"You played a great part as well. You were there by my side when I did those things Grandis."Hayate paused slightly before continuing. "How did you know?"

"I know you too well by now Hayate. And I picked up a few tricks along the way." Withdrawing the fact he learned those from Aurion Dauer, Grandis' former arch-nemesis. "So tell me what's on your mind now," soothing her by placing his hand on top of hers.

"I just can't help but wonder if I have spent my life properly, if I had done right and done good. If I was worthy of the people who gave me their strength and their sacrifices."


Reinforce, who gave her life so Hayate could continue hers.

Rein, tireless assistant who spent many an hour at her side.

Gil Graham, who watched over her to his dying day.

The Wolkenritter, who dedicated each of their lives towards hers.

Nanoha, Fate, Yuuno, Chrono and the rest, who also ceaselessly gave her their support to all this years.


"And inevitably, I wonder about the people who I scarred, despite not knowing their names. The people I hurt when I helped others." Hayate finished as she faced Grandis, her eyes glistening like the stars now high in the sky.

Grandis gently wiped the tears from the corners of Hayate's saddened eyes before turning around to face her squarely. He placed both hands on her small shoulders.

"Yagami Hayate." Grandis said. "I need not remind you that all the things you did were done in the best interest of the people you were helping, to the best of your knowledge. It would have been easier for you to just watch and leave the work to others. But you didn't. You stood out and rallied other people to your cause, doing what you believed that need to be done."

"People followed you, not because it was orders from a superior or your rank. They did so because they believed in you. That you, among the others out there, was worthy of their single dedication and loyal belief. Otherwise, nothing else could have convinced them. "

"I'm being selfish when I say this but I will say it regardless."Grandis hardened himself for his following words. "Hayate, you cannot accomplish anything without sacrifices, be it big or small. Sometimes the cost is small, perhaps your own time and effort. Other times it will require a greater cost. Injuries. Scars. Even the lives of others."

"But that is the cost. The greater your hopes, the higher it will be. That the price be paid in exchange for a small piece of goodness to be done in this world. As long as you do it with the best of interests in mind, then I can safely say it will be a cost well paid."

"There is nothing you can do about that, and you have to learn to carry that burden with you. The weight of your decisions and consequences will forever be with you. As well as the faith and worry of those who believe in you.That is the cost you will carry, as long as you walk this path, Hayate." Finishing off, Grandis place his hand against Hayate's cheek.

"Thank you, Grandis." Hayate thanked, even as she broke out in light sobs.

Wiping away her tears Grandis thought up a method to placate her. "Now no more crying. Every tear you shed means a star in the sky disappears." He teased lightly with a smile.

"That's horrible Grandis! You meanie, take that back!" Hayate protested even as her voice cracked .

"Well at least that stopped you from being a crybaby." Grandis laughed as he drew Hayate into his arms, crossing them together while she rested against his taller frame. Grandis' chin sat on top of Hayate's head, as the two became comfortably aware of their bodies being in close contact.

"Hayate." Grandis said simply as he turned her around to face him. A hand brushed a stray lock of hair of her cheek while another tilted her chin slightly towards Grandis' face.

"Let us go. Together."

"Um." His breath left a cool touch over where her tears had dried, soothing her. Hayate slowly closed her eyes as she waited to accept his lips.

Grandis inched ever closer to the waiting girl, as he gradually closed his eyes too.


The sudden knocking sound of the office doors rang long in their silent surroundings.


Groaning mentally, the two reluctantly separated before Hayate answered the door.

She would find the distraction well-worth it as a small girl with short light-brown stood framed within the doorway. In her hands she hugged a stuffed bunny while the yellow and red hairclips on her left side could be clearly seen.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes with one hand she made her request.


"Mommy. I'm thirsty."

"Um. How about a glass of milk?" Hayate smiled as she looked over her daughter.

"Daddy will get that for you. Alright Lily?" Grandis knelt down to one knee to pat her head.

"It's fine. You said I need the rest anyway." Hayate knelt down as she carried Lily into her arms.

"And who was the one who said she had reports to do? Leave it to me Hayate. Surely I can handle something like getting our daughter her glass of milk."

Before the couple could start a standing debate over who should get the glass of milk for their daughter, little Lily solved the case.

"Both Mommy and Daddy can come together." The child smiled sleepily.

A quick exchange of eyes, followed by rueful shakes of their heads.

"Let us go Grandis."

"Together."

Wordier than I expected but I felt like it so what the heck.


*pops out*