Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, nor the characters within.

I once was lost

Another month passed uneventfully except for the increase in Ross's skill as a street urchin. She had a wealth of knowledge in pick pocketing, escape routes and climbing walls; which she was currently making use of.

She smiled as she hefted herself over the final fence of her 6 block dash and landed gracefully between two bushes. She sat and caught her breath as she listened to her pursuers rush past, assuming she would stick to the main path. Ha! She wasn't born yesterday.

Ross pulled out her first steal from her secret pouch and smiled. She always felt more accomplished when she looked at the gleaming pocket watch. She ran her delicate fingers over the snarling dragon and felt the same tingle she did every time. It was as if the watch was pulling something out of her through the finger tips in small amounts.

"That doesn't belong to you," someone said casually from above her.

Ross's eyes grew wide at the blue uniformed individual in front of her. She quickly assessed her surroundings and decided her best bet would be to jump back over the fence into the alley way. Half way up the wall, a firm hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her down into a crouch. The military man held up a figure to quiet her, much like a child would play hide and seek.

Obliging the man in such a bizarre situation, Ross ducted and backed away from him. She just had to wait until he looked away and she could vault over the wall fence to freedom.

"Sir? Sir! This isn't funny anymore. You are supposed to have tea with General Winston in... five minutes ago! I know you think he's a pompous ass but it's you duty to keep him happy while he's visiting. Colonel!"

Ross smiled behind her hand and relaxed a bit. He companion looked highly amused as well. She took that moment to study his features. His uniform had the four stripes and three stars, just like a colonel would. He was no peeping over the bushes carefully and his moustache wiggled back and forth comically. He knew she was watching him.

"You know who that is out there?" He said with a smile.

"No," she replied.

"That's my babysitter. Olivier is a nice girl but she has quite a temper. I suppose if she doesn't find me soon she'll start swinging that sword of hers at my dear bushes to find me. I best be going to meet that pompous ass." He stood up slowly but stopped before his head cleared the bushes. "You best be going too. I had fun today young lady. Keep out of trouble and beware of that watch. Being seen with one of those is dangerous. I suggest you sell it before you get caught."

He left the bushes, somehow looking very dignified with his leaf riddled uniform. The girl from before started yelling again and the colonel was right; she really was waving a slim sword around. "Colonel Grumman! What do you think you're doing? General Winston is considering you for posting out east and you choose now to hide?"

He didn't seem fazed by her flailing limbs. "Calm down Second Lieutenant. I was just admiring the gardens, something you should consider with that fiery temper of yours dear Olivier."

Ross ducted back down behind the bushes when the blonde girl started screaming again. "Don't speak so informally to me Sir! You'll be a general in only a matter of weeks and posted to the Eastern Headquarters to RUN IT! It's about time you learned the mannerisms. You know it's you soft heartedness that's kept you a colonel all this time."

Colonel Grumman only smiled and twitched his moustache. "That's something you must learn too Olivier Armstrong. I know you are fresh out of the academy but really, you should have at least learned manners there."

Ross took advantage of their loud banter to escape back over into the alleyway. Somehow the calm and quiet around her left her feel empty. She looked back behind her and wonder about what it would be like to live in their blue world instead of her own shabby one.

A/N: Another day, another chapter, another act of necromancy. I'm cold outside so I'm going in. Enjoy the Maria Ross chronicles. I did a lot of name dropping so have fun knowing the people. :D

-rix