Thatch's POV
"Where are we going?" I asked Griffon.

Griffon didn't answer, but made a sharp turn down a dirt road barely visible through the trees. I hit my head on the window.

"Before I crack my skull on your shatter-proof windows." I told her, rubbing my head.

Griffon smirked. In a few minutes, we pulled up to a small cottage in the woods. "Hang back for a minute." She told me, opening the door & getting out.

"Wait. Where are we?" I asked. She closed the door. "Good to know! Thanks for telling me!"

(Translations at end)
I opened the door & heard a woman yell, "Micul meu fata."

Griffon was standing on the porch with an old woman. "Oh, mi-ai lipsit, bunica." She replied.

"Cum ai fost, dragă fata?" The woman asked, holding Griffon's hands.

Griffon smiled. "Fine, bunica. Vreau sa-l cunosti prietenul meu." She motioned for me to join them.

I climbed out of the car & went over to the porch.

"Cine este acest bărbat frumos?" The woman wondered. She put a hand on my shoulder. "Esti foarte norocos pentru a avea un om ca asta."

Griffon smiled again & held my hand. "Mulţumesc. Bunica, acest lucru este prietenul meu, Thatch Lesser."

"What are you saying?" I asked her.

"Thatch, this is my grandmother. She can't speak English very well, but she can read it excellently." Griffon explained. "Someone sent her a copy of Megan's book & she was determined to contact us after that."

"Er…hello there, Thatch?" She said nervously. "It's very nice to meet you."

Griffon gave her a hug. "Excelent. Esti de învatare."

"Thank you." She replied slowly.

"She doesn't have to try & speak English because I'm here." I told Griffon.

Griffon nodded & replied, "I know that & she knows that. This is her first chance to try speaking English. No one visits because she lives so far out in the woods."

"So, how do you know how to speak the same language she does?" I didn't really know a lot, other than how to speak Latin. And only because it was required.

Griffon's grandmother smiled at this & answered, "She is her father's daughter."

"Romanian is the language I spoke originally." Griffon began, "I learned English so that I could join public school when I was four."

"Please, come on?" the woman motioned inside.

"Close." Griffon corrected. "It's come in."

"I'm sorry. Still learning." She replied.

"What do I call her?" I asked Griffon as we sat down on the couch across from a rocking chair.

"Call her…Mrs. Antanasia." Griffon said as her grandmother seated herself in the rocking chair.

"Alright." I answered.

After a while of Griffon & Antanasia continuing a discussion in Romanian, Mrs. Antanasia stood up & left the room. "Which grandmother is she?"

"My dad's mother." Griffon replied. "I love her to death. She's so sweet & caring. I thought she was dead for a long time because we stopped visiting her."

Mrs. Antanasia came back with a thick folder. "Aici sunt acele imagini aţi cerut." She told Griffon, handing her the folder. "Try & come visit for the holidays. And bring your siblings." she said, unsure of whether or not she was saying it right.

"Of course, bunica." Griffon smiled & gave her a hug before we left.

I shook my head & got back in the car. "Why do you hate your other grandmother so much?"

"Are you having second thoughts about me leaving Limerick?" Griffon asked.

"She's just a crotchety old woman." I said.

Griffon slammed the breaks right before we turned off onto the main road. "She would've refused to let me see you."

"She's senile & crazy." I tried.

Griffon turned & started down the road again. "She made fun of your hair."

"Sympathy for crotchety, senile old woman over." I stated.

Griffon chuckled & held out the folder. "Put these under your seat."

"Okay." I answered, doing what she said. "How long until we have to meet up with everyone?"

"We're gonna be a few minutes late." Griffon informed, looking down at her watch.

"Of course we are." I mumbled. I had this thing about being on time. It comes with working at a hospital.

When we got where we were supposed to be, Griffon got a little lecture about being on time from the colonel.

"Muşcă-mi capul, de ce nu?" She replied, crossing her arms over her chest.

Megan & Rayne giggled. "You're grouchy." Megan accused.

"I am not." Griffon called back. "I just don't need someone giving me a lecture when I'm…" She looked at her watch. "five minutes late. Yeah, like it's gonna kill someone that I'm five minutes late."

"You have a headache, don't you?" Flannery asked.

Griffon nodded. "A very large one, at that."

Flannery smiled. "Knew it. You always get really cranky & irritable whenever you get a headache."

"Can we just get the stupid tree & go home?" Griffon snapped.

Aqua hit Griffon in the shoulder. "Christmas trees aren't stupid."

Griffon shrugged it off. "Says you. But, remember, I don't usually celebrate Christmas, so I don't get the point."

"Oh, be quiet." Aqua huffed & started looking around at the trees.

Griffon walked off to find a place to sit down. Rayne asked Megan, "How come you don't celebrate Christmas?"

"Well, papa was Romanian & mama was Jewish. As a compromise, we would celebrate Christmas one year & Hanukah the next. After dad died, we stopped celebrating Christmas & only spoke to each other in Romanian. As a way honour him & mama at the same time." Megan explained quietly.

I got a weird feeling. "Hey guys, if Griffon's head hurts that much, maybe I should take her back to your house."

Mrs. Mustang nodded in agreement. "Please do that. She's been feeling a little sick lately."

"Of course, ma'am." I answered. I walked out to Griffon's car, sat down in the driver's seat, & looked over at the passenger seat, where Griffon had reclined it & was laying down. "Griffon, I'm gonna take you home, okay?"

"Please do." She replied, holding out the keys. "I want to lay down."

I nodded & started the car. When I got her home, she was asleep. I got out, unlocked their house door, picked her up, & carried her up to her room.

An hour later, the Mustangs walked up to her room. "Thatch, why are you still here?" the Colonel asked.

"I stayed in case she woke up & needed something." I told him, standing up from her desk. "I gave her some headache medicine & took her temperature. She'll be fine."

"Good to know." The Colonel nodded.

I left & headed out the doors. I looked back when I noticed the huge tree in the room & shook my head. "That tree screams Aquanette." I said to myself."

Griffon's POV
I woke about an hour later with the pressure on my head released. I walked downstairs and saw Thatch sitting on the bottom step.

"Thatch what're you still doing here?" I asked sitting down next to him.

"A little ice blonde girl who will go unmentioned made all us stay to help decorate that giant tree of hers" Thatch said point to the tree.

"Aquanette why the heck did you get such a big tree?" I asked.

"Oh c'mon don't even look at me like that Griff the bigger the tree the more of these pretty ornaments we get to put on them" Aqua said holding up a blue ornament. "Some of them are from Barcelona, some of them my biological mother made, some Flannery and I made and the rest are from Meg" Aqua said

"Oh they are, are they?" I said looking at my sister.

"I'm sorry Griffon but I got these from the old house I thought they'd look great on the tree" Megan said.

"Now c'mon get off your butt and help us decorate" Aqua said.

"You know I don't celebrate Christmas" I said.

"You celebrated Christmas at one point why can't you do it now?" Aqua asked.

"Well…I" I started. Dang it! When did Aquanette start being right? Wasn't that Flannery's job?"C'mon Griff it can't hurt" Thatch said standing up and extending his hand to me

"Okay I guess" I said taking his hand. He led me over to the tree and Aqua put an ornament in my hand."Aqua who made this one?" I said looking at the blue ornament

"My mom made it. It's suppose to look like a moonstone" Aqua said.

"What's a moonstone?" I asked

"It's key to all Lunar and Darkness alchemy even someone who can't do alchemy can perform it if they have a moonstone. When I get a little older I'm going to try and look for one" Aqua said.

"So if there's a moonstone there's a sunstone too?" I asked.

"Yep only difference is it gives one the power Solar and Light alchemy" Flannery we got all of the ornaments on there was only one thing left.

"All we need is the star" Aqua said reaching into one of the boxes. "Hey where's the star? Daddy was the star in here when you bought these boxes down from the attic?" Aqua asked looking at Uncle Roy.

"Yea it was on top the box" Uncle Roy said with a shrug.

"I hope we find it that star was Tusinko family heirloom" Flannery said.

"You guys have a lot of heirlooms in your family don't you" I said.

"Yea the Tusinko family was very wealthy in the 1800s. My great-great-great grandfather gave to his wife the star as a present in 1913" Flannery said.

"I know where the star is" Aqua said standing up and putting her hand on her hips.

"Where is it?" Flannery asked.

"Goliath!" Aqua called out to her dog. Goliath walked downstairs with the star in his mouth. "Now come on Goliath you know better than to steal stuff that's not yours" Aqua said taking the star from him. "Now go outside and play" Aqua said opening door to let him out. "Crazy little pup"

"Goliath isn't much of a pup anymore" Flannery said.

"Well he's my pup so he's still a pup" Aqua said. "Flannery who's going to the put it up this year?"

"I did it last year unless someone else wants to do it" Flannery said.

"No it's your family heirloom one of you guys do it" I said.

"Okay Aqua then it's all you" Flannery said.

"Sweetness" Aqua said. Flannery lifted Aqua on to her shoulders so she could put the star on top.

"Oh it looks so beautiful you kids did a great job" Aunt Riza said.

"Thank you" Aqua said jumping to ground. I looked around the room maybe celebrating Christmas wouldn't be too bad.

Flannery's POV
It was a snow day today so we didn't have to go to school. So Alex and I took some more time to do some Christmas shopping. We walked out of the shop when we saw a poster for an alchemy contest.

"Alchemy contest?" Alex said confused.

"Yea it's this thing that started in the south people use their alchemy to paint pictures and tell stories it's always a great show" I explained "My Dad use to win them all of the time"

"Why don't you enter? You always write great stories and you win 1000 dollars" Alex said.

"This perfect I can donate some of it to charity for Christmas" I said. I had the perfect story to tell I just needed I came home and walked into Megan's room where she was trying to make a friendship bracelet for Rayne.

"Meg can I talk to you right quick?" I asked sitting down next to her.

"Sure just give me a minute I'm trying to make this stupid friendship bracelet but it's so hard!" Megan said.

"I can help you if you want" I said.

"Really?" Megan said.

"Yea Summer and I make friendship bracelets all the time" I said.

"Thanks!" Megan said. "So what did you need?"

"Well there's an alchemy contest coming up in a couple of days and I was wondering if I could use your story in it?"

"The infinity sisters?" Megan said.

"Yea if I win I get a thousand dollars and I want to donate 750 of it to charity so what do you say?" I asked.

"Okay" Megan said. "It sounds cool"

"Thanks do you think I can borrow your book for references" I asked.

"Sure just please take care of it" Megan said handing me the book.

"Don't worry I'll take great care of it" I said.

"Thanks" Megan said. "Now can you please help me with this thing?" Megan said holding up the string.

"It's easy Meg you just have to weave it" I said.

"Oh! That's it! Thank you!" Megan said.

"No problem I'm going to get started so I can get a routine started" I said walking out. I was going to need an artistic view on this so who else did I go too? I walked into Aqua's room and she was working hard on a silver ring.

"Hey Aq what're you working on?" I asked.

"Marth's Christmas present he told me he likes dragons so I'm engraving one into this ring because we both like silver. I'm almost finished. What do you need?" Aqua asked turning around in seat.

"I'm going to enter this alchemy contest and give the money to charity and I need some help coming up with a routine. I'm basing it after Megan's book" I said holding up Meg's book.

"Oh yea I read that" Aqua said.

"You read a book?" I asked.

"Yea I know it sounds weird but I just found it lying around her room and I picked it up it's a pretty good read" Aqua said.

"Then you can help me what's it about?" I asked.

"Well in the first chapter it's more like a prologue type thing anyway these two lovers named Zeus and Juliet they have a pair of twins named Emmy and Mary. Emmy was born first without pain and Mary was born with much pain. The in the next chapter, after both of their parents die the twins some how get separated and end up in the magical land of Soratone ruled by king Ronald and his beautiful wife queen Ramona and then Mary meets the wonderful, enchanting, handsome, strong, ocean-blue eyed guardian to the king and queen River" Aqua said twirling a strand of hair on her finger. She was thinking about Marth.

"Aquanette" I said looking up from my notes.

"Oh sorry and then Emmy meets some guy named Urion" Aqua said with a shrug.

"And that's some reference off of Alexander? Urion is strong, handsome, a mystery, with the cutest spiky red hair" I said thinking about Alexander.

"Okay you're acting stupid" Aqua said.

"I'm sorry but we should start some sketches" I said.

"Okay and don't worry I have lots of Marth stretches" Aqua said pulling out a sketchbook that said 'Marth' on it.

"Okay why do you have a sketchbook dedicated to your boyfriend?" I asked.

"Because his strong features and profile are an artist's dream I can't help but draw him and if you ever tell him I will kill you"

"Fine" I said. I was so going to use this against her one day.

It took us about a week to get the whole story going so I could use it in my alchemy the story was really good and I had to commend Megan for writing it. It could possible be a best seller one day if she played her cards right. I found Megan reading her new book today I was going to show it to her.

"Hey Meg can I show you something?" I said sitting down in front of her.

"Sure what is it?" Megan said.

"I want to show me routine for the alchemy contest. Now mind you it will become bigger but this is just a mini version" I said holding out my hand.

"Okay show me" Megan said.

I took a deep breath. "In a land far, far home to two star crossed lovers Zeus and Juliet" I said as two figures appeared in my hand

Megan let out a gasp. "Keep going"

As I told the story it told kept Megan at the edge of her seat. She kept her eyes glued to the figures like it was a T.V. I could tell this was going to be good.

"And then the battle ended" I said closing my hand to make the figures disappears.

"What happens next?" Megan asked.

"That depends on you remember you were the one who only made one book" I said.

"Oh right I'll have to do something about that later but it was very good Flannery I'm glad I let you use the story" Megan said.

"Yea thanks" I said giving her a hug.

Later that weekend I won the alchemy contest except my family couldn't make it but they all had very good reasons. Since mom's due date was coming up soon the doctor put her on bed rest and Daddy wanted to stay with her. Aqua was finishing the touches on the mural and with the help of Megan they finished up the baby room it had an elephant theme because according to Aquanette what baby doesn't love an elephant? And Griffon had to work.

I had a meeting with the a professor at Central City College about maybe taking some college courses but I didn't have to worry about leaving Aqua and Griffon because they were going to be right there with me except their meetings were a little later. Instead of taking a car I walked around a little bit when I came into the Brier Rose. I walked inside and Alex and Thatch behind the counter.

"Hey beautiful" Alex said before pressing his lips to mine.

"Hey now" Thatch said making us pull apart. "We've got customers"

"Don't act like you wouldn't do it if Griffon were here" Alex said before giving me a small kiss.

"Well we don't know that unless Griffon were here" Thatch said.

"So what're you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh Ms. Brier is preparing some big charity fashion show and she's trying to get it all together so I've been helping out" Alex said.

"Aww that's so sweet" I said pinching his cheek.

"Boys I'm back" Ms. Brier said walking through door but stopping dead in her tracks when she saw me. "Flannery…"

"Yes Ms. Brier?" I said turning to face her.

"Your outfit" Ms. Brier said slowly walking in a circle around me. "The pure white cloth, the combination of red and white, the lines, and that form fitting shape how on earth did you put whole think together?" Ms. Brier said.

"Well I made this I had a meeting today so I just threw something together" I said with a shrug.

"I see how would you like to work with me?" Ms. Brier asked.

"Don't you mean for you?" I asked.

"No, no. For me by my side with craft like this you cannot simply be an intern it would be such a waste. After Christmas I want you to come work with me a designer. You will take the orders and then you will make them." Ms. Brier.

"It would be an honor Ms. Brier" I said shaking his hand. I had finally gotten a job! Yes!

Griffon's POV
We were sitting in the living room just doing nothing. Today was December 9th and Aunt Riza was a day overdue and Uncle Roy and the twins were freaking out. I looked over at them and they were glaring at Aunt Riza's tummy.

"Girls please stop glaring at my stomach it's making me uncomfortable" Aunt Riza said.

"No mom Aqua and I have a theory since Daddy doesn't like people staring at him then little Daddy won't like and he'll want to come out" Flannery said.

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard" I said.

"Says you" Aqua said.

"Griffon call your Uncle" Aunt Riza said standing up.

"Okay why?" I asked.

"Because my water just broke" Aunt Riza said slipping into her jacket.

"And you're not in any pain?" Flannery asked.

"No not really but we better get over to the hospital" Aunt Riza said before walking out.

"Dude your grandmother is amazing!" I said standing up and helping Megan into her coat.

"I know!" The twins said slipping into their trench drove us to the hospital while I dialed Uncle Roy's desk number.

"Hello?" Havoc said.

"Havoc? Where's Uncle Roy?" I said.

"He's in a meeting what do you want Griffon? Bail money?" Havoc said.

"You're so freaking funny. You need to get him pull him from that meeting" I said.

"I can't it's a very important meeting. They're discussing the plans for the future leader of Amestris" Havoc said.

"Okay normally Havoc I would hang up right now but I can't do that because Aunt Riza's water broke!" I said.

"What? Okay I'll see what you can do" Havoc said before hanging up.

"Aunt Riza are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes my breathing is helping through the slight pain I'm okay" Aunt Riza said rubbing her stomach.

Roy's POV
I was in a meeting when I was suddenly pulled out by Havoc.

"Havoc what the hell is it? They were just getting to my part" I said.

"I'm sorry about that Roy but Griffon just called Riza's water just broke she's going into labor" Havoc said.

"What?" I said in shock

"I think she and the other girls are on their way to the hospital" Havoc said with a shrug.

"Havoc I need you to cover for me I need to get to the hospital" I said

"I can try chief but do you really want to leave?" Havoc asked.

"I have to. I have to get to Riza" I said before running out.

I arrived at the hospital just as Riza and the girls got there.

"Riza are you okay?" I asked taking her hands.

"I'm fine Roy I'm just glad you're here" Riza said

"Of course I'm here. C'mon let's go inside" I said helping her into the hospital. We walked inside and Ms. Emelina was standing there with a gallon of a white liquid.

"Grandmami what're you doing here?" Flannery asked.

"Oh I can tell when a baby is about to be born from miles away. I bought Riza some last minute tea before she gives birth" Ms. Emelina said pouring a cup of tea and handing it to her.

"Thank you" Riza said taking the tea and drinking walked up to the front desk and the secretary turned around.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Mustang" Ms. Michaels.

"Hey my wife's water broke" I said.

"Oh yes please come this way your daughters set up a very special room for you" Ms. Michaels.

"They did?" I asked.

"Yes they came in yesterday right this way" Ms. Michaels said leading us into a room. There was a homemade quilt and a vase of flowers.

"Aww look Roy it's my favorite quilt" Riza said lying down on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I'm fine just waiting for the baby" Riza said rubbing her stomach.

"How are we?" The doctor said as she and Thatch walked in.

"Thatch what're you doing here?" I asked.

"Mr. Lesser is the nurse for this floor and he will be helping out" The doctor said. Oh great.

Griffon's POV
It was about 6 hours after we had gotten to the hospital and Megan was asleep and the twins and I were close to it.

"Man why do babies take so long?" Aqua said with a yawn.

"Because they just do" I said.

"I'd wish they'd hurry up" Flannery said.

"Why don't we just take a quick nap and someone will wake us up" I said.

"Good idea" The twins said. We slept for about an hour before Uncle Roy came out and shook us all awake.

"Girls wake up and come meet your new brother" Uncle Roy said.

"Huh?" Flannery said.

"Five more minutes" Aqua said.

"C'mon girls let's go see your mother" Uncle Roy said pulling Aqua up.

"Okay fine" Aqua said as the rest of us stood us. Megan was still asleep so I just carried her. We walked into Aunt Riza's room where she was holding a blue bundle.

"Girls come say hi to Roy Mustang Jr." Riza said. We walked over to Aunt Riza and saw a little sleeping face with blonde hair.

"Oh my gosh" Flannery said.

"He's blonde" I said.

"Yes! You guys so owe me" Aqua said.

"Darn it" I said as Flannery and I reached into our wallets and gave Aqua a twenty. Little Roy started to stir a little bit he opened his eyes and they were just as black as Uncle Roy's.

"Daddy he has your eyes" Flannery said.

"Yep but he has your mother's hair." Uncle Roy said.

"I know I have 40 dollars to prove it" Aqua said holding the money.

"You girls bet on what color the baby's hair was going to be?" Uncle Roy asked.

"Yep I said it was going to be blonde because truth be told us blondes have to stick together. And those two losers his hair was going to be black"

"Shut up Aqua" Flannery and I said.

Thatch's POV
I was really proud of Mrs. Mustang after her baby was born. Everything went smoothly & perfectly. Roy Jr. is going to be very healthy when he grows up.

Only one thing could break me from my thoughts of the near Christmas baby.

Where has Griffon been going? Every day for months, she has been skipping all her classes other than mechanics & music & none of the teachers seemed to care.

"Bye Thatch." Griffon called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I walked after her for a little while, until Mr. Julian grabbed the back of my shirt, lifting me of the ground. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Uh, following Griffon?" I chuckled nervously.

Mr. Julian let go & pushed my toward the main hallway. "Get to class, Thatcher."

"Yes, sir." I answered.

I grumbled & walked off to my first period class. In second period, Aqua poked me in the side with her pencil. "What?!" I hissed.

"Where's Griffon?" Aqua replied.

I shrugged & tried to focus on the lesson, but Aqua poked me again. "What now?"

"How come you don't know?" She asked.

"Look, I tried to follow her, but a teacher stopped me." I told her. "Stab me with that pencil again, & you'll loose an eye."

Aqua huffed & crossed her arms over her chest, but stayed quiet.

When third period came around, Griffon was about to explode with joy. "What's got you so perky?" I asked.

"I'm almost finished with-" She began, but slapped a hand over her mouth & shook her head. "I can't tell you." She said, her voice muffled.

Mr. Lincoln opened the doors to the band room. "Thatch, this young girl will be your partner for the concert." Dailey Andrews stepped up to the door & waved.

I swear, I would've ran as far away from that class as I could, but that would be rude. I can't run away from her, no matter how clingy & desperate she was. I was creeped out even more by the fact that she had me, Marth & Alex as the top three hottest guys in the school. I shuddered inwardly & smiled.

"Pleasure to work with you." I said between clenched teeth, shaking her hand.

Rayne's POV
Megan & I were sitting at a lunch table by ourselves, talking about her baby brother. "He's so cute. You should see him." She said, coughing a little at the end.

"I'll come over to your house later this week, okay?" I answered.

Megan nodded & started wheezing.

I stood up & walked around the table to her. "Are you okay?"

Megan shook her head & started coughing violently. I patted her back & looked around for a lunch monitor. "Mr. Redman!" I yelled. "Megan needs help!"

Mr. Redman rushed over, along with a few eighth-graders. "What's going on?"

"I think she's having an asthma attack." One kid called. "The same thing happened to my brother."

Mr. Redman pulled out a cell phone & dialed 9-1-1. "Hello, one of my students is having an asthma attack." He continued giving the operator information until he had said all he could.

"Mr. Redman?" I wondered. "Could I please call her big sisters?"

Mr. Redman handed me the phone & I left to get the number from my notebook. All the way giving a silent prayer for my friend's safety.

Key:
Micul meu fata.=My little girl.
Oh, mi-ai lipsit, bunica=Oh, I missed you, grandmother.
Cum ai fost, dragă fata?=How have you been, dear girl?
Fine, bunica. Vreau sa-l cunosti prietenul meu.=Fine, Grandmother. I want you to meet my friend.
Cine este acest bărbat frumos? Who is this handsome man?
Esti foarte norocos pentru a avea un om ca asta.=You are very lucky to have a man like this.
Mulţumesc. Bunica, acest lucru este prietenul meu, Thatch Lesser.=Thank you. Grandmother, this is my friend, Thatch Lesser.
Excelent. Esti de învăţare.=Excellent. You're learning.
Aici sunt acele imagini aţi cerut.=Here are those pictures you asked for.
Muşcă-mi capul, de ce nu?=Bite my head off, why don't you?