Yeah I also really loved the story. It's like they are living in a twilight world where everything goes on almost like normal, but there is a vague sense of sadness lurking somewhere... But that sadness and unease doesn't stop Homura and Madoka appreciating the beauty of their daily life.
These kind of fics really make you realize the fact that the characters are really still just teenage girls despite the huge burden placed on them... cry
I wonder if magical girls age biologically, or do they all die so soon after their transformation that this question is irrelevant?