Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist. I own the rights to Olivia Marx, Colonel Mason, and Zumi.

I'm back with another chapter. I can't get enough of this story. It's a little slow paced at the moment but it'll pick up soon. I want to make sure everyone knows my character well enough to relate to her.

I want to thank the people who are actually reading this story. Even though you aren't reviewing it I am happy enough knowing that someone is actually looking at the words I've written.

Well, as always, happy reading!

Olivia walked away from her former office that day with many thoughts running through her head. Though it wasn't an ideal meeting she met her new commanding officer and his first lieutenant and was relieved to have accomplished that goal. She wasn't overly fond of meeting new people and was glad to have "bitten the bullet" on that matter. Though her former commanding officer still had quite a bit of documents to collect for her transfer to Mustang's unit, she still had to carry on her life outside her military duties at Central and had no desire to walk in to work the next day with bags under her eyes from all overtime she'd have if she stayed.

Walking down a flight of stairs nearby she noticed the slew of officers scurrying about the hallway in a mad attempt to retreat for the day. Laughing, she brushed away a stray hair from her face and made her way towards the madness. This, to her, was quite possibly the most exciting part of her day. She would always make her way to the front desk to clock out and would, on most days, attempt to have conversations with the officers walking by. Though some of them would shrug her off and, more times than none, make a bee line for the exit, she'd have a few that would stay and indulge in a little small talk. Luckily, for her, the clerk at the desk was a close friend of hers so she at least knew that the conversation today would be decent.

"Olivia," the brown-haired clerk replied as her eyes darted towards a male officer who'd given her a playful wink. "Are there any decent men here at central?" With a defeated look on her face, she waved a fellow female officer goodbye and turned to face her friend leaning against the counter. "All these losers ever want is what's under these stuffy uniforms."

"Well," Olivia replied, her eyes somewhat lost in her thoughts about the matter. "I wouldn't say they aren't decent men, just misguided." She looked at the clerk and noticed that, while she had been speaking, her friends' eyes had darted towards an officer walking out of a nearby restroom. In a matter of moments, the defeat in her eyes had been replaced with one of sheer adoration. He had this cover boy look about him as he chatted away with some of the female attendants nearby and was certain her mother, god rest her soul, could smell his cologne from her grave. She sighed. "Besides," she continued, almost of disgusted with how obvious her friend was when the officer walked by and gave them a nod. "You fall for it hook, line, and sinker every time Zumi."

"I do not!" she exclaimed as her eyes focused back on Olivia's. "You have to give me more credit than that."

"Please," Olivia retorted as she filed away at a loose nail on her finger. She could almost sense the anger that was rising in her friend as she stared in to her eyes but didn't really care too much about it. They'd been having conversations like this for years now so it wasn't unusual for either one of them to do a little teasing. "You always tell me that the men around here are pigs but are just as bad as they are."

"I am…." Before she could finish her words, Olivia interrupted her.

"Don't try tell me I'm wrong. I've known you long enough to know that you have unrealistic ideals when it comes to finding a perfect man." Smirking, she tilted her hand and drew a sour face in front of her friend before resting her elbows on top of the counter. "Just face it Zumi, the perfect man doesn't exist and probably never will. If you spend your whole life waiting for Mr. Right to come along then you'll miss out on all the other possibilities in front of you." Sighing, Zumi plopped her head against the desk in defeat and faintly began to whimper.

"I guess you're right Olivia," she began as she stood up from her chair and grabbed the coat that was resting on top of it. "But," she continued as she drew her arms around Olivia and sniggered. "That still doesn't explain why you haven't found a man. When was the last time you went on a date?" Blushing, Olivia froze for a moment before pushing her friend away.

"It's been a while."

"Define a while," Zumi asked as the two of them made their way to the exit. They walked in silence for a moment or two before Olivia replied.

"Honestly, I can't even remember," she replied, slightly irritated with her friends nagging behavior at the moment. She didn't like talking about her personal life and, even though she could normally tell her friend everything, was always uncomfortable talking about her love life. "I work too much to have a love life." Her friend looked a little agitated with her response but knew that getting at least that much out her was a feat in itself.

"It's always work with you Olivia," she said as they walked outside. They stood outside for a moment before walking toward the path that led to the gated exit nearby. "To me, it sounds like you need to take some of your own advice and use it on yourself." Olivia didn't want this conversation to linger so, in defeat, she nodded her head.

"Perhaps you're right." She replied. Once they reached the gate they parted ways leaving Olivia slightly flustered as she walked home. There were so many things in her life that she'd kept hidden from everyone, things that she could never explain and, honestly, didn't need to talk about. She'd lied earlier when she'd said she didn't remember her last date. She could remember it like the palm of her hand and each time she recalled that memory it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She'd loved once before, before joining the military, and it was her decision to enlist that drove her lover away. She could've had a normal life but now all those memories were too far from her reach to even care about.

Before she could resign herself to the thoughts that kept her up most nights, she noticed a certain blonde-haired lieutenant sitting down on a nearby bench with a dog sitting idly underneath her legs. She appeared to be reading a newspaper but had taken a break from the pages for a moment so she could pat her dog on the head.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye," Olivia replied as she stopped in front of her. "How are you doing today?"

Without warning, the dog pushed through Riza's legs and jumped on top of Olivia. Slightly surprised by the events that had unfolded, Olivia awkwardly patted the dog on the back while Riza reprimanded him for his insubordination. "Well," she continued as she took a seat next to her. "That was a little unexpected."

"He gets that way around strangers," she replied as she tied his leash to the arm rest. "I'm doing fine by the way."

"That's good to know," she said, attempting to joke with her as she looked at the headline of the paper she'd been reading. She could vaguely make out a few of the words in it like "Rebel forces" and "Uprising in the North" before losing the sight all together when Riza folded it and packed it away in to her handbag.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye," she began, her eyes piercing the ground below.

"Yes Lieutenant Marx."

"I'd like to apologize for earlier. It was embarrassing for you and the Colonel to have to see the office like that."

She was indeed saddened by the fact that the first impression Mustang had of her wasn't a very good one. She didn't want him to see her as lazy and incompetent, a quality she actually despised among all others. In all honesty, she didn't want to have had to deal with the meeting in the first place but, per Grumman's request, was forced in to it. She was content with the ways things were but knew in her heart that the peace she'd had in that small unit couldn't last forever; there it was again, losing herself to the thoughts that consumed her mind each and every day as if she couldn't escape the unyielding uncertainty inside herself. She hadn't planned on displaying herself in such a manner in front of Riza but almost couldn't help herself as the nervousness inside her body started to swell.

As if she could sense her nerves, Riza patted her on the arm and shook her head. It was more than enough to snap her back to the reality that was placed before her and almost let out a nervous giggle as she playfully swatted her dog on the ear.

"You have nothing to apologize for. You can't blame yourself for your Colonels lack of organization." Olivia nodded her head and stifled a laugh as she recalled how aggravated Mason was upon learning he'd have to transfer all of his documents to Mustangs unit.

"I think his age is finally catching up to him," Olivia replied. He was pushing seventy and, according to some, would soon have to retire. He'd long since given up on traveling to the countries that bordered Amestris and would, on occasion, send her in his stead.

"I've heard rumors that they might disband your unit altogether." She replied as her eyes drifting towards the falling sun. "By the looks of things it won't take much. If it was just you and the Colonel near the end, how many did you have before?"

"There were seven of us," she replied, her thoughts focused on the people she used to work with. "Three months ago the Fuhrer decided to transfer most of our men to the north to train under General Armstrong. A few stayed here in central but were moved to a different unit but I never had a note until just recently."

"Why general Armstrong," she asked with a curious look in her eyes.

"The Fuhrer said the men of central needed to learn how to act like men, so he decided to transfer the men who needed the training the most which, apparently included most of Masons brigade." Sighing, Riza nodded her head in agreement that the statement that had been made. Her own mind wandered towards the men the two of the would have to work with in the morning.

"I can't say ours are any better. Do you think Armstrong has room for a few more recruits?"

"That bad, huh?"

"I think I'm the only one capable of getting any work done in the office." A faint tone of aggravation slipped in to her tone as she spoke and Olivia couldn't help but laugh in to herself.

"Well," she began as a yawn escaped her lips. "I'll at least be there to lighten the load. I don't slack off like most of the men around here."

"I swear, if the women of central had their own team, we'd certainly give these men a run for the money."

"I'd pay money to see that."

"So tell me Lieutenant, what do I need to know about the Colonel? Is there anything you should warn me about? Olivia turned to look at the watch on her wrist and realized she'd soon have to leave. It was nearing six o'clock and she'd promised herself she'd go on a jog before dark.

"The colonel isn't as strict as he makes himself out to be," she replied, her eyes drawing in some humor as she untied the leash and wrapped it around her hand. "I've known the colonel for a long time and have been under his command ever since the Ishvallan War. He's probably just as bad as your former commander, if now worse, so be prepared for extra piles of paperwork every day. Also, if you ever see me with my gun raised in the air, cover your ears. I have to threaten them with it every now and then."

Rising from the bench, she patted her dog on the head once more before saying her goodbyes and continuing down the road. Olivia sat there a moment thinking about how interesting tomorrow would be. She was slightly nervous but honestly was also excited about meeting these new people and hopefully making some new friends. She doubted that would be the case but, for some reason, felt as though something good was about to happen.

Little did she know, everything would soon change. Her life was hanging in the balance, a thread so thin it could snap at any given moment.