A/N: I own nothing; I've just been bitten by the anime bug. I'd blame it completely on Boz4PM if I hadn't found Wolf's Rain on my own first, but that's another story... Well, NaNo, actually. But while working on the main plot lines, this little FMA manga/anime crossover bit and refused to let go. Filmamir? Filmamir's got nothing on this gang. Er, speaking of changing characteristics, I noticed that the category and the translation I've been reading use different first names for the general... Mini-Hayate, anyone? (Much as I love Lt. Hawkeye's character, the Bleach Exile translation is going to make writing Liza/Riza a pain...)

"And now that you're stationed so close to home, too, we can finally do our first real family dinner together in years!"

Major General Olivia Milla Armstrong pulled the receiver a hand's length from her ear with a frown. It was difficult enough to watch her back around the Fuhrer without her men nearby. She knew the other high ranking officers in Central considered her competition in the cutthroat game of command and would not hesitate to eliminate her if she should show weakness. She knew that she would more than likely have to eliminate some of them herself, when the opportunity arose.

She wasn't worried about that. She was not even worried about her men. Olivia Armstrong had fought her way up through blood and treachery, and she had trained the soldiers of Briggs to be as hard as she was. What worried the general was the green eyed blonde on the other end of the line, whose squeals of joy were loud enough to be heard with the telephone held like a poisonous serpent at arm's length, if not all the way across the hall.

"Have you caught up with Alex yet? He's missed you so much, you know… Well, we all have, but you know how Alex looks up to you…" That was another issue that the Major General was not ready to deal with yet. There had been a bone-crushing hug as soon as she had settled into her new office, but even here, she was fortunate to have enough useful subordinates about as to bring certain soft-hearted fools to heel.

General Armstrong risked bringing the telephone back to her ear. "We've talked some," she allowed. "But I don't have much time for chitchat." Here, she reflected, she was lucky. Very, very lucky.

"I suppose that's a hint for me, as well. They don't waste any words up in the north, do they? I guess I shouldn't have expected them to warm up your manner at all." There was a tinkling giggle. "Oh, Livvy, you know I'm just teasing you. Do you think that you and Alex can make it next Saturday? We'd love to have you over for supper, and then perhaps you can see what Daddy's done with his yacht! Oh, and we've just reworked the garden; you'll love what they did with the maze…"

"I cannot speak for Alex, but I'll see what I can do," the major general cut the speaker off, lowering her eyes to her sword handle.

"Fantabulous. Oh, and feel free if you want to bring a companion. I'm sure you met all sorts of interesting men up there at Briggs." General Armstrong could practically hear the smile she knew the younger blonde was wearing. Oh yes, the girl would have loved it if she could have transferred Miles or Buccaneer… So would the general, honestly, but she needed them more at Briggs. She could watch her own back. "Kisses!"

"Goodbye, Kate. Love you," she added automatically. Olivia was as surprised as ever to find that she meant it.

"Love you too, sis."