A/N: Grah. I really didn't mean to start this fanfic. But since I have, I might as well see it to the finish. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist, its franchise, or any related things. It belongs to Hiromu Arakawa and its other respective owners.

Summary: Maes Hughes and Gracia Severn learn to be partners through life.

Chapter 1: My Eye


"I need a wife..." Roy snorrts at this. "And you need to stop drinking. No way to make it to the top asa drunk."

Maes wasn't really sure he meant the first part. But considering his lack of identifiable organization, he was willing to give it a try. He was serious about the drinking, though.'I support ambitions, not hangovers.'

"I'm in no way near drunk. I am... am... Ah. I am lightly buzzed." Liar. Mustang never forgets a word until he's drunk. Maes snorts. Lightweight. They sleep on the couch that night, each hoping the other has the worse hangover in the morning.

It comes as no surprise that the next morning they're glaring at their Red Eyes, trying to gather gather up the courage to down the fatal concoctions. 'I'll be damned if I drink first. Whoever thought of this should be shot. Funny how I can face a massacre but not this damn-.' In the end, Maes drinks first.


"Thanks for being a good drinking buddy. But now I've gotta run."

"S'alright. I gotta get groceries anyway." In all truth, Maes can't cook. But it's still better than the military's idea of food. That's just not decent for anything.

He can't be sure what did it – the words from last night or the unpleasant morning – but he can't be seeing right. If he's dreaming or hallucinating, he doesn't want to stop. The perfect beauty and "You're staring."

"Oh. I am. I hadn't noticed."

"I wonder if I should feel flattered or..." He fumbles, trying to say that Yes, you should be. And "I guess I do feel flattered."

"Oh. Good. A lovely lady should always feel good." She chuckles and he's on Cloud Nine. If this is what chuckling sounded like, he couldn't wait to hear her laugh.

"Um... I'm Maes. Maes Hughes."

"Well, Maes Hughes, I'm Gracia. Gracia Severn."


Sumi: Well, now that it's been written, it might as well be polite and say hello.
Aerin: This is just our way of testing this out.
Sumi: Yeah. I always did like the Maes/Gracia relationship. We do plan on continuing.
Aerin: Don't worry. It's a semi-normal chapterfic. Enjoy.