A/N: Don'ts= I DON'T own FMA. I DON'T know when Edward Elric's birthday is. And I DON'T know why I'm doing this… there are only two seasons in my country (we're tropical) but there is winter and autumn in my head! *cackles madly in a corner*

The flowers of autumn days

Are sweeter than the firsts of plains.

For they awaken sleeping memories,

That's strong, although it may be sad,

Just as the pain of separation

Is stronger than the sweet of date.

A small blow from the autumn wind has made a brown leaf fall from its branch and glide in the open window of Colonel Roy Mustang's office. It lands gracefully very close to the working hand of Roy and catches his attention. He picks it up just in time his lieutenant walks in. He plays the leaf in his hand and looks up at the sound of the opening door.

"You left the window open, sir?" she said, quickly spotting it from his back as the wind blew again. "You'll get cold."

Roy shivered and clutched his coat tighter dropping the leaf on the table. "Thanks for your concern, lt." he grinned at her. Oh, his ever caring guardian angel.

Before he could even move to close it himself, the woman was already behind him, closing it for him.

"Thanks again." He said before shivering again. Then he saw the dried leaf and remembered what was up with the cold breeze. "Winter is coming…" he muttered, uncertain about what he should feel about the weather.

Riza smiled. "Yes… but brown comes first before white."

"Autumn, eh?" he said, also smiling. "The fall…"

"I hate to change the subject, sir, but tomorrow is a special day of a certain someone."

"Yes." He smirked at the thought of that certain someone. "And what should we give this someone?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm sure there's an idea in your head."

"Oh I think I know what." His smirk grew. "And you know what it is."

"Am I thinking what you're thinking?" she asked, trying to figure him out as he looked outside with a dreamy look.

"If it's got something to do with falling leaves then yeah."

Riza thought for a moment, the smile growing on her face, before saying, "Hmm… it's not bad since he's still a kid."

The colonel stood up from his chair and proceeded to organize his finished work in a somewhat happy mood. "Well, lieutenant. Would you care to join me walk back home?"

She looked at him in the eye and found it difficult to refuse that blissful grin and his pleading, outstretched hand. "Of course,… sir."

~The next morning~

"Everything's in place, sir." said Fuery, eyeing the changed office with excitement. "The only one missing is the most important piece."

Mustang also looked happy, judging from the inane grin on his face. I'm looking forward to seeing his shocked face. "Good."

"I'll wait outside and signal when he's here." Havoc's voice said from behind the door, also sounding excited.

Riza watched them in silent buoyancy, feeling slightly surprised at the same time happy that the men were acting like enthusiastic children over a simple birthday party as if it were their own. It was rare to see them like this since all of them there were soldiers trained to be serious all the time. But she knows all of them are just normal people who wanted to just enjoy life. It was really nice to see them having fun even for once as if they seldom experienced the hardships of life even though they actually do as soldiers that had once killed.

She glanced by the table to see an equally cheerful Winry checking the double layered cake that both of them made together. A very close friend of the birthday boy, they were certain that the party wouldn't be complete without her. When they had contacted her, she was more than willing to come knowing it was his birthday. And when Riza suggested that she make a cake for them since they will be very pleased it came from her, the girl pleaded Riza to help her. Surprised and a little flattered, she gazed at the five feet tall chocolate cake that they had made. She was taken aback, hardly able to believe that both of them had managed to make such thing when both never cooked much.

A synchronized knock on the door took her and the attention of the other people in the room as silence immediately ensued. It was Havoc's signal.

"Happy birthday, brother!" Al told him happily on their way to HQ.

The surprised older brother looked at him. "It is my birthday? Whoa… I forgot it's today."

Alphonse laughed. "You never forget mine or Winry's but you forgot your own?"

Ed shrugged with a grin. "I suppose. But thanks."

They walked until they neared the Colonel's office to see lt. Havoc standing by the door. The blondes smiled when both saw each other.

"ohayoo, lt.!" Ed greeted him.

"ohayoo. Now what are you two up to today?"

Ed was sure that he and the others doesn't know it was his birthday. But it didn't matter to him. It'll be just the same day as usual.

"Nothing much."

Havoc grinned again. "Then get inside. They're waiting for you."

Maybe not…, Ed thought.

When they were already before the wooden door, he pushed it open and…

"Happy birthday, Ed!"

Confetti fell around him as he stood stunned on the spot. Alphonse also first seemed unaware of the surprise but pushed his brother inside.

"Wow! They prepared all this?" he mused with awe.

His older brother opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out. Suddenly, someone came rushing towards him and the next thing he knew, he was on the floor with Winry squeezing him.

"W-Winry?" he managed to blurt out. The girl grinned at him but seemed close to tears.

"Happy birthday, idiot!"

Ed blinked… then smiled widely, showing his perfect set of white teeth. Winry moved aside as he sat on his butt. He looked up to see the raven haired man before him, hand outstretched to help him. He sneered at him before taking it as Roy pulled him up.

"You responsible for this, colonel?" he asked, a thank you in disguise.

The man slowly shook his head with a mischievous smile. "Nah, I'm innocent."

His golden eyes looked at the people around him. The people who evidently cares for him. Havoc and Fuery were smiling like kids in the playground, Falman and Breda also looked happy but in a quiet way. The same goes to the two adults before him. Mustang was smiling, not smirking, and the lieutenant who is beside him also has a kind smile on her lips. Winry and Alphonse stood beside him, waiting. Then his eye caught the cake on a table in the center of the room. When he approached it with curiosity, lt. Hawkeye spoke.

"Winry-chan made-" she was cut off by the said girl.

"Miss Riza and I made that!" she pointed out. "It's for you."

Ed laughs, appreciating their thoughtfulness. "Thank you." He said with a rather charming smile that made Winry blush.

"N-No! It's nothing!" she replied squeamishly, frantically waving her hands.

"Presents!" Alphonse squealed suddenly, looking at a small pile on the corner. "Brother, look!"

Riza chuckled inwardly at the surprised look on the boys' faces. When Ed was able to shut his mouth, he turned to them still looking shocked.

"Don't worry. It won't explode." Breda joked, seeing Ed look so pale.

"You guys…" he whispered. "You shouldn't have… I mean it's just my birthday."

Although he remained a little in denial about it all, Ed and the others started to have fun soon enough and after eating the cake ("you should make this more often." Breda said and the others agreed), Ed wouldn't open his gifts yet since he claimed he can't carry all of them ("Then leave it here and take it home one by one." Havoc had suggested but Ed has the feeling that all of it would disappear if left alone with Havoc).

It was around noon time when he noticed Mustang whispering to Hawkeye and after he left to check up on something, the woman gazed to the window with reminiscing eyes. It seems that Mustang was up to something and his suspicion is confirmed when the man himself returns with a sheet of paper in his hand and a small, mischievous grin on his face, announcing a little game for the Elric brothers.

"All you have to do is follow this…" he handed them the paper. The confusion had already shown on the brothers' faces and the others went to them in curiosity.

"How are we supposed to follow this?" Ed asked a little impatiently, "It's not even a map."

"You search for the answer, alchemist." Roy replied as if expecting the question. "That is just a clue and enough to tell you the way."

All the others, out of curiosity, also joined in except for him and Hawkeye who would be staying to watch.

"And your starting point is… here!" he announced confidently, pointing his gloved hand to the door. All of them still looked lost but immediately switched to panic when he added, "Oh, and the time starts now."

There are struggles and in a matter of seconds, they were already alone in the room. A whole minute of deafening silence… then Roy cracks up.

"Ha!ha!ha! That was quick. They don't even know that there's no time limit!" He said between laughs, clutching his stomach. "I can see they barely understood the clue."

Riza only sighed.

"Darn that man…" Ed murmured darkly when they reach the end of the hallway from Colonel Mustang's office, just realizing that they were already starting to search for the unknown. "It's not like arrow stickers with the word alchemy will be posted on a wall indicating where to go."

He read the note again.

May alchemy guide you on your rewarding quest.

"Maybe you should transmute something." Havoc suggested.

"Yeah? Like what?" retorted the boy. "There are lots of things that can be transmuted and what to turn it into."

"Maybe the paper?" Al said hopefully. "Turn it into a map?"

"No. He'd said that it was enough to show us the way. Or tell us the way so I think there is no need to transmute anything." Then his face scrunched up just thinking how pathetic they must look standing there in the hallway along with a bunch of clueless men. Frustrated, he rakes his hands on his hair in annoyance while cursing out loud, "WHY CAN'T THAT MAN JUST TELL US WHAT HE WANTS INSTEAD OF MAKING US RUN AROUND LIKE IDIOTS?"

"Then that wouldn't be fun, fullmetal. Besides, aren't you priding yourself as a genius alchemist? This is just piece of cake if you think about it."

Ed could almost imagine Mustang mockingly saying it if he had just shouted it at his face. He shuddered, annoyed that the man managed to make him like his puppet, dancing like a fool in his hands. The girl beside him glared at him for his outburst and has effectively made him shut up.

"What do you think, Ed?" Winry asked

"I think…" he glanced to the stairs that lead upstairs and downstairs before him. Which should we take? Alphonse walked down the stairs to investigate for clues when a lizard fell from the ceiling, falling directly on his head. He squealed in a not-so-manly way and the others looked at him startled. Ed ignored his brother but the lizard caught his attention while the rest of them laughed at the embarrassed boy. Something snapped in his head; An idea of some sort. On cue, he jumped down the stairs as the rest of the confused people followed him.

"Did'ya solve it?" he heard Havoc ask. Ed didn't bother to answer since he wasn't sure of his theory yet. But somehow, he has a poking feeling that the trail he was following was the right one. If they go on and he finds the right elements that he has to see then it'll confirm his theory and eventually, lead them to whatever/wherever Mustang wants them to be.

When they were on the end of the staircase, Ed stopped to search for the next mark as they find themselves in a three-way hallway. Before them leads ahead (just somewhere ahead), to their right leads to the mess hall, to the left was another staircase that will take them on the ground floor. He eyed each direction carefully then frowned. What he was looking for was not there. He looked again. On the right was desolate, straight ahead was also desolate. There was just one huge man by the left.

"Oh!" Armstrong's deep voice called out once he caught sight of them.

"Major!" they came to him, probably to ask. Ed stared at the alchemist from head to foot and apparently pleased, had set off at once. They had no time to open their mouth to ask since they quickly followed him down the staircase.

"Hey Ed!" a puffing Winry cried, "How do you know where to go?"

He grinned. "Just following my instincts."

Winry threw him a dumbfounded look, annoyed at his answer. "No, really!"

He huffed before responding, "Just my theory, I'm following anything related to alchemy that I see."

"Oh… WHAT?" She halted suddenly, causing those behind her to tumble and bump into each other. "It was that simple??"

Ed and Al stopped running too, Ed still wearing his lopsided grin. "Well, at least that's what I think."

The four men behind her went back on their feet with a startled Fuery saying "What? Where? Huh? Wait… what? They know how to reach the end?"

"Too many question marks there, my friend. To answer them all, I suppose YES, they know how." said Havoc, brushing his own uniform.

"So how?" Breda asked.

"You know anything about alchemy?" Ed probed them neutrally as the men looked at each other before answering in unison "NONE."

The blonde boy simply rolled his eyes and began to make his way again.

"It seems they are close to finding it." said Hawkeye, gazing out the window then at her superior.

Mustang put down the pen that he had been fiddling with in his fingers and gazed at her as the sun began to set, the cold autumn wind blowing outside. Its colors fell upon her in such a way it was difficult not to stare. He nodded in an attempt to conceal the heat that was making its way to his face.

"Yes, they should. I'm not surprised it didn't take them long since it was so easy to start with."

"I think you could have thought better than that." She remarked, raising an eyebrow. He shrugged before standing up from his chair to join her by the window.

"I don't know… I didn't think about it much because…"

"Because you were thinking about his party."

Because I was thinking about you, he thought, averting his eyes away from her, certain that if she looked at him, she'd be able to read through him. So he'll lie.

"Yeah…"

"Don't tell me he wants us to search a certain leaf in the middle of the fall." Breda muttered with an exhausted sneer after they went all the way out and beside the building.

"Now what?" the Fullmetal alchemist scoffed loudly, his shoulders dropping.

"Ed, look!" he turned to see Winry squinting at something by the woods among the brown carpeted thicket floor. She was pointing at something by a tree five feet away. He approached her, hearing the dry leaves scrunch under his foot as he went. Narrowing his eyes to make out what she was pointing at, something glimmered among the pile of dead leaves. He gasped making the others look at him.

"Stop it with the suspense, dammit. What do you see?" exclaimed Havoc impatiently.

Ed raised his hand to silence him as he crept closer to the tree. A leaf had fallen from the said tree and brushed off some other leaves that were cloaking the peculiar thing to show something that seemed big. It was something gray among the sea of brown. As he went a foot nearer, he saw what it was.

A metal!

He brushed off the rest of the leaves and from underneath the autumn emerged a simple bicycle. He pulled it out and brought it to the awaiting men.

"A bike!" Falman said with a smile.

"Wow! You know how to ride that, Ed?" asked a curious Kain.

The boy wasn't listening. He was looking at a tag tied by its handle.

To: Edward,

Happy birthday!

From team Mustang

"It's from you guys…" he whispered, unable to hide the growing smile from his face.

"Oh…." Said Havoc with a crooked smirk, "I didn't know we bought this."

Al, Winry, and Ed looked at each other before laughing.

"It's probably from the lieutenant and the colonel." Al said.

Ed continued to look at it in admiration until Havoc suddenly lifted him up and he found himself sitting on it.

"Well, what're you waiting for?"

"C'mon, brother! Bike!"

"But I…" he mumbled uneasily, "I'm not sure about this."

"Stupid." Winry giggled and to his horror, she pushed the bike forward and sent him clutching on the steer like his life depended on it as it rolled rapidly across HQ. Is she crazy? I've never even ridden something like this before!

He didn't know how to ride it at first. But he was a genius after all. Soon he was laughing like the child that he had never been as he rode in the grounds of HQ, the leaves flying behind him as he left a trail.

"I've never seen him look so happy." Havoc commented with a hand on his hip as they watch Winry plead Ed to ride her with him.

"That's because you never gave him something like that."

Mustang went to them with Hawkeye a step behind.

"Where did you get the idea to give him a bike?"

He froze from his steps but recovered quick enough that they almost didn't notice. He simply shrugged as his answer and Hawkeye smiled.

Eyes followed her as she went walking down the school yard. Her auburn eyes burned at the sight of the boy with the bike awaiting her by the gate. She could see him looking out for her and when he caught sight of her, waved happily.

It was autumn and the brown leaves had carpeted the earth, rustling and scrunching rhythmically every step that you take. Just that season only adds to the melancholy that she feels in her household with her father locking himself up in his room leaving her all alone in their gloomy and isolated household. But she couldn't explain it every time when the young Roy Mustang walks in with that childish smile that the next thing she knew, she was also smiling. When she sees him, warm lightness would flood her senses washing away the coldness of her surroundings. She just could not explain it. How she was able to smile again when he is around.

"What are you doing here, Mr Mustang?" she asked, trying to sound angry when deep inside she was very glad to see him. But she had to be angry. He was not supposed to be there.

The boy pouted at her remark but replied with pride, "Don't worry. Sensei gave me permission to pick you up."

"That's not what I mean." She scoffed, "I appreciate the effort, Mr Mustang, but I can walk home by myself."

"You can't wade through all those leaves!"

The young Riza eyed him, apparently annoyed. Poor excuse.

"No-oo. You're coming with me." whined Roy, patting his bike. She raised an eyebrow.

Really, she thought, how did I end up here?

She clutched Roy's shirt as they drove across the sea of dry leaves hoping she wouldn't fall. Well, she knew it was okay. He was with her after all. Everything would be perfect and she was safe with him.

It was a long time until she noticed how beautiful autumn could be. One would think it can be sad, yes, but being with the right person can change that. She didn't know how she could be happy when just those lonely years ago, she was just in her bedroom watching the dead leaves fall hazily down with the rest of its like.

She must have been very lost in thought that she did not notice Roy giving her a sideway glance. He didn't know but he just felt so… good to see that relaxed smile. After all, he was more than happy to take her on his bike since he knew she was feeling so lonely being all by herself in their house and he was glad he was able to bring up that rare smile on her face. It wasn't that lonely back in their house with his aunt and all, but somehow he couldn't explain why he wasn't feeling very complete unlike those times he was with Riza.

Wisps of leaves flew behind and the scent of woods was nearing them. He wanted to take her there to show her how beautiful nature could be even at autumn. Well, that may just be one of the reasons.

In the pine forest, the trees grew so thick at the top that sunshine was veiled. No low bush or grass could grow in that dim light, so the ground was carpeted with golden needles. He pulled his bike to a halt which brought Riza back from her trance and looked up with astonishment.

"Where are we?" she asked, eyes filled with wonder and awe.

"The pine forest by the woods." He answered as he parked his bicycle by the nearby tree. "It's close to your house."

They looked around and saw that the Hawkeye estate could be seen from there in a very good view. "I bet sensei would let you go here."

He kicked a few leaves before calling her to sit. She gracefully sat while he joined her looking out the towering trees and the falling leaves, feeling very relaxed being under its golden spell.

"How did you find this?" asked Riza, picking out the dry leaves by her feet.

Roy just shrugged. He couldn't tell her he was out looking for a place to take her so all he said was, "Just passing by."

She seemed sceptical about his reason but decided to let it slide. "It's wonderful here."

When he saw her looking tranquil, he did not doubt her words.

"I'm glad."

She was blushing and he knew he wasn't hallucinating. Seeing those shades by her cheeks wasn't caused by the woods' smell getting the better of him. He just couldn't believe she was there blushing and squinting nervously as he scooped down to get his bike, preparing to take her home after a good 30 minutes of loving peace with each other.

She wanted to say something so he waited for her to gather her bearings.

"T-thank you for the ride, Mr Mustang." She whispered, eyes on the leaves by her feet.

He laughed, scratching his hair. "My pleasure."

"Umm…"

"What is it?"

She looked at him and signalled him to come closer. He did and to his surprise, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He clutched said cheek not in a way like he was slapped but more like preventing an enchantment from losing its magic. It was his turn to blush a bright red.

"What was that for?" he grinned like a fool but felt uneasy.

The girl shrugged, turning away from him as her blush grew darker.

"Just wanted to say thanks."

"May I walk you home, lt.?"

"Why?"

A shrug, "Can't I?"

She smiled, "Well… if you really want to."

A huge grin. "Of course!"

They were standing by her door, awaiting words of farewell. It was at this time that Roy knew he had to speak.

"So… uh…"

"Thank you for accompanying me home, sir."

"My pleasure."

She eyed him and knew all along he wanted something. But for her fun, she waited with an amused smile. Roy knew she was aware of it by now and she was waiting. Why couldn't she just give it? She had to challenge him?

He inhaled. It's now or never. Before he could say anything, she already leaned to him and pecked him by the cheek. She pulled back, he, flushing bright red, she, smiling bashfully at her action.

He looked down, up, behind her, to his left, right. Anywhere but that beautiful face! He was aware he was blushing judging from that successful smirk on her face and he couldn't believe it.

"What was that for?" he asked innocently.

"Just wanted to say thanks." She said simply, her eyes saying "you asked for it."

It should be on the lips next time, he thought, unable to hide a grin.

Her hazel eyes are the autumn. Its sad hue almost comparable with her melancholic auburn orbs. The dead colors of the leaves are almost similar to the colors of her eyes. But to him, hers are colors of a different meaning.

They signify the strong, undying flame that he loves. But if uncared for, will wither away…

Like the leaves at autumn.

A/N: the way his birthday was celebrated is sooo common. And this chapter's surprisingly long. Haha! ... Yeah, yeah, I know. Two words to describe this? Lame and Long. That last part? I think it has nothing to do with the story. I mean, compare her eyes with dead leaves?

Tell me what you think. But hey, I think my grammars still suck, don't you think? Feedbacks and I'll give you a not-so-cliché winter like- oops! No spoiler...

Reviews are my after autumn first winter snow. (just please be nice)

~TaisaXChui