"...nine?" She repeated, hesitantly. Nanoha's eyes went up to meet Fate's, and she was sure the two were thinking the same thing.

"Vivio, the... the last Fate-mama and I remember, you were only five..." Something wrenched inside her stomach. Had she really missed four entire years of her daughter's life?

For a moment, panic welled up inside her at the thought that she and Fate hadn't been there for Vivio for four years, but she managed to repress it - if they truly hadn't been there, then Vivio wouldn't be so surprised, right? "It's... you're really nine, aren't you," she whispered, a lump in her throat, and the mage managed a tearful smile. "Vivio, you've gotten so big."