Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Author's Note: Not the best, I know, but it's still pretty cute. Continued from previous themes 'Why?' 'O Child-sama' and 'Cold Hands'. Christmas fic. Based loosely on something Christine Persephone and I RP'd in the BloodRayne universe. Uh . . . yeah. Enjoy.


Theme 38 :: Mischief

It was Christmas Eve and time for the Hughes' annual Christmas party. It was a small affair, hardly large enough to even consider it an actual party, consisting of Maes, Gracia, Roy, Riza, Jean Havoc, Alex Louis Armstrong and now the young Elrics. Good friends, good food and, for the adults, good drink.

Gracia put Ed and Al in charge of stringing popcorn to decorate the tree, and they did so happily, with only minor finger pricks to show for it.

Riza and Gracia, being the women of the group, and thus the most artistically apt (or so Gracia argued), helped the Elrics put their proudly made popcorn chains on the tree and together hung ornaments while the men were ordered to rearrange the furniture so as to give them more room for the festivities.

"Can I put the star on top?" Al implored. "Please?"

"You're too small," Ed reminded him.

"Hey, you're short, too," his brother replied with a pout.

"Who are you calling so short he can't see the star on a Christmas tree without a telescope?!" he protested, stomped and crossed his arms angrily over his chest.

"Edward!" was Riza's stern reprimand. "You know you're not supposed to talk to your brother like that. Go up to the attic and bring down the rest of the decorations, and think about what you've done."

"But-!" Ed protested, before Roy cut in.

"You heard your aunt; now go before I think of something worse."

Ed grumbled and trudged upstairs in search of decorations. Roy sighed. "I'm trying," he shrugged.

"You're doing a fine job, sir," Riza assured him. "Ed's just a little more . . . difficult than his brother."

"I suppose you're right," he agreed.

"Auntie Riza?" Al was looking up at her with big pleading eyes, sweet-talking her. "Could I please put the star on the tree? I promise I'll be really careful."

"Well . . ."

"Here, Al, I'll help you," Roy said, lifting the boy into his arms with a grunt. Riza smiled at them before handing Al the porcelain star. The child beamed and, with great pride, fixed the star to the top of the tree. Nearby, Alex applauded and proceeded to tell the rest of the guests about how expert Christmas tree-decorating techniques have been passed down the Armstrong line for generations; everyone groaned.

Meanwhile, Ed was in the attic, shuffling through boxes to find the right one, when he came across a familiar looking plant, signifying that this must be the Christmas decorations. He almost put the plant back. Almost. But instead grinned mischievously and pocketed it. Whistling to himself, he dragged the box downstairs to meet everyone else.

The adults all joined for a glass of wine or two in the dining room while the children were to decorate as they pleased. Little did they know the young Elrics were really conspiring, making the preparations they'd need for Ed's plan to work.

Later, the adults, a little tipsy, returned to a beautifully decorated living room and two beaming boys. Armstrong congratulated them on a job well done and Jean ruffled their hair.

Tearing away from the conversation, Al ran to the center of the room and called out, "Aunt Riza? Uncle Roy? Come here, I have something to show you."

The two in question looked at one another and shrugged before doing as the boy had requested. Quietly, Ed snuck up behind them, and, once they were in place, flipped up the rug to reveal a transmutation circle drawn in chalk on the ground. He transmuted the floor into a ladder and climbed upward, fastening a sprig of the mysterious plant – mistletoe – to the ceiling above the two stunned officers.

The other guests stopped what they were doing and stared, gaping at the boys' ability to do something they'd all been thinking for years. Ed climbed back down, transmuted the floor back to normal, and joined Al in waiting expectantly for the reaction.

They were both blushing, avoiding eye contact, when Maes called out, "Oh, come on, Roy, just kiss the girl! You know you want to."

Roy raised his eyebrows questioningly at the woman before him and she smiled back a little nervously. "Merry Christmas, Riza," he whispered, tilting her chin up with his fingertips. With that, he leaned forward and lightly pressed his lips to hers.


731 words. Tell me what you think!