This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reads this story because reviews motivate me to write this chapter during school. Thank you for your nice reviews.
Disclaimer: As usual. But I would rent Charlotte and her dad. Anyone interested?
And yes: It's still just something I came up with after thinking about Hawkeye's family on her mother's side.


Olivier envied Kay as she saw the slightly younger woman in the mall. Red hair flooded over pale shoulders which were exposed while the back was covered. An ugly red scar on Kay's left shoulder marred the otherwise perfect appearance of the red-haired woman. Her movements were full of elegance and grace. She was the embodiment of perfection, gentleness and beauty. Olivier hated her with passion. How could a lowly Hamilton-girl dare to be that beautiful? And how could she dare to be that friendly to everyone? Olivier never understood her Southern equal. Hamilton and Armstrong had been rivals for decades. Only Olivier's grandfather Royce had been friends with a Hamilton. Olivier loved her grandfather but she asked herself if he had felt the same way she felt now. Kay Hamilton was the embodiment of everything Olivier wanted to be so badly. She was strong but still feminine and loved by everyone.

"She had a good teacher," Charlotte said while she looked at her former pupil. "Don't envy her. She paid a high price for everything she has right now. Come on, Liv. It's time for my magic." She took Olivier's upper arm and dragged the younger woman away. "You could be so beautiful if you would stop to wear these ugly clothes, Liv!" she scolded.

"It's my uniform, Jewel," the blonde replied.

"I know – but there is no reason to look that pale in it!" Charlotte sighed. "Did you ever see my aide? Lieutenant Colonel Tempest is always beautiful – even when she wears her uniform. It's because of her inner flame. This woman should be your idol, Liv. Jade is the embodiment of subtle beauty and she will always being more beautiful than Kay in my eyes because she's stronger and more … how can I say it? … serene."

"And since when am I known for my serenity, Charlotte? You have known me since I was a little girl. You know how I am. You know me better than most people. I will never pass as a perfect wife or as a perfect daughter," Olivier said. "I will always be plain and everyone will make fun of me behind my back. You know that my self-confidence is really low, Jewel…"

"That's why I will help you," the old lady said as she dragged her into a beautiful boutique. "Well, I am sure that you will be beautiful as soon as I am done. We should try a red dress made of silk. It would be interesting to see the contrast between your dress and your skin…"

Olivier felt like a little girl again but she didn't care. Charlotte was her godmother after all and she never doubted the old woman. She knew how much her former superior suffered from the loss of her daughter Elizabeth but she also knew how much Charlotte loved her granddaughter. And there was no way in hell that the Tigress of the West would ever lose her cool when it came to dresses. She was well-known for having the most beautiful dress during every event. Even the First Lady hadn't a dress as beautiful as the female general's. And since Olivier would trust her godmother with everything she had (even her life), she also trusted her when it came to dresses.

"Red?" the younger woman asked interested while she took the dress Charlotte held out to her. The silk was smooth and Olivier asked herself when she had worn a dress for the last time.

"At your grandfather's funeral," Charlotte said and looked away. "I helped you to choose it because you weren't sure about it at all. It was beautiful … maybe my best work so far… Royce would have been so proud to see you in that dress … you looked so beautiful…"

Olivier smiled a little bit. Her grandfather had been Charlotte's godfather and as far as she knew, they had been very close. Close enough to make it natural for Charlotte to take Olivier as her very own subordinate as soon as the heir of the Armstrong-family had left the academy. "I can remember how much you cried when he died," she said and looked at her godmother. Auntie Charlotte had been the only one who really understood Little-Liv – despite Royce.

"I didn't cry," Charlotte said. "I had something in my eyes during the funeral."

Olivier raised an eyebrow. "Of course," she said amused before she went to change into the dress. As soon as she looked into the mirror, she was amazed. The woman in the mirror was a true lady. She was beautiful and really perfect. Charlotte looked at her and smiled before she took a brush from her bag and started to change Olivier's hairstyle. As soon as she was finished, the Northern Wall of Briggs looked like a very beautiful woman with amazing golden hair and gorgeous blue eyes.

Charlotte was content and grinned at her former protégé. "What do you think, Liv?" she asked. "Am I forgiven for all my comments during the time you worked for me since I put you into such a beautiful dress? I think that you look like you are supposed to look."

"No need to be that smug, dearest godmother!" Olivier said amused. "You worked well but I am used to it since you were always good in making me look beautiful. And I feel … comfortable in this dress. I don't feel like I am your doll…"

"And you never were my doll, Liv," Charlotte said amused. "C'mon, I am hungry and I have another meeting with General Hamilton later this evening."


General Peter Hamilton was well-known as a calm and relaxed man who loved dogs and kids. And since his wife died in Ishbal, many women would kill to be the new Mrs Hamilton. But Peter never had had the intention to marry again. He preferred to take care of his little family and he also liked to read books about alchemy and to drink tea, Earl Grey to be exact. He also loved to visit his niece and he liked the idea of her marriage with a good-looking man. In the South, Peter was infamous for plotting marriages and weddings but no one knew that better than his youngest daughter Serena who worked at Briggs. She knew her father and she knew how much he loved to mess around in Riza's life. So she always tried to hold him back. It was hopeless.

So Serena was helpless when she joined her father and his old friend Charlotte for dinner and they started to extend their "Greatest Plan in History".

"Olivier and Miles aren't married by now?" Peter frowned slightly as he stared at his soup. "She filed in an exemption from the fraternisation laws half a year ago," he continued. "I had no trouble to put them on the list but I was sure that they would already be married by now…"

"Peter, Olivier isn't sure if he loves her too. You are a man, you should try to get this information," Charlotte looked at him.

"And get killed?" Peter smirked at her. "Sorry, Jewel, but I don't have a death wish."

Charlotte frowned slightly at him. "Especially you shouldn't worry about dying," she said sharply.

"You always survive. I can't remember a year without a nearly-lethal wound for you."

"Well, I am not as weak as I sometimes seem … but I became old," Peter sighed, "and there will be a time without me soon … but Victoria will be even more of a genius when I used to be when I was young. Did you ever read my book?"

"I read it when I was a child," Charlotte said. "It was still allowed back then…"

"Bradley always used to fear the power of the ones with a sharp sense of right and wrong," Peter said and frowned slightly. "And that will be his downfall one day … because he cannot suppress us any longer. He tries and he tries but he will fail eventually."


I thank everyone who reviewed and all the people who put this story as a favourite. You are wonderful people and I hope that you still like the story.
I am really grateful for this great feedback.

AvaEobane