**Yay! updates~~! So. TIME SKIPS YAY**

2 Years Later

Nika's POV

"What's going on at work today father?", I ask looking towards the building we were approaching.

"The State Alchemist exams. You can watch some of them if you want, just don't get in the way okay?" he says sternly, I nod enthusiastically as I walk beside him, holding his hand.

"Okay father! I wanna watch!" I smile, my eyes lighting up with curiosity.

My adoptive father, Roy Mustang, had started to teach me some basic alchemy. Since I already technically new the basics, I was picking it up pretty easily. I'd not tried how Ed does his alchemy yet, frankly, I don't want to. It'd give away my cover as an orphan and I'd have the attention of the Fuhrer which is something I already have, being the adoptive child of a military officer and I visit the offices pretty often. People were very surprised when Roy told them that I had been adopted by him. It surprised me that it didn't take too long for HIM to get used to having an adopted child. I'm 16 now so I basically do most things by myself but I do like tagging along with him to work still, even though I'm legally allowed to work now for myself.

We arrive at the Central offices, I wave kindly to all the military personel we come across, giving everyone kind smiles as they pass. A few stop to have a short chat to see how I was but Roy and I carry on towards the arena at the back of the establishment. We arrive to see lines of candidates, I already knew one certain boy who would be here. I acted surprised though just for my pretence of ignorance sake.

"Hey, father... Isn't that boy around my age?" I ask him, pointing over at Ed in his black and red outfit.

"Yes... He's the youngest candidate here." Father says back to me as we go to great the Fuhrer, "Hello sir. It's a pleasure to be here and I hope it's fine if my daughter watches also."

"Of course Lieutenant Colonel, just make sure she doesn't get in the way of the other state alchemist candidates." Fuhrer Bradley softly smiles, turning to face the crowd of alchemists. He gives a small speech, briefing them of the criteria of the exam and starts the exam.

A man makes a tall column of stone, it's very impressive. There is a lot of detail and it's also very tall, although it seems to have worn him out. He's heaving heavily on the ground as another man steps up and pulls down trees and throws a bucket of water onto the pile.

A bright light shines and a large paper hydrogen ballon appears, floating up into the sky. The side bursts and the ballon starts to falls down and flies onto the top of the tall spike made previously.

Ed runs forwards, clapping his hands together and slamming them down on the stone wall just in time and a bright white light flares, momentarily blinding me. Once my vision cleared I smile brightly and hold up my hands to catch some of the flower petals that were drifting through the air.

"Alchemy without a circle..." Roy mutters, a grin forming on his face.

"Well, I guess we have our State Alchemist." Fuhrer Bradley says, a slight smirk on his face. After a few more alchemist's attempts, he wraps up the exam and dismisses everyone for the time being.

Father and I go to his office and I slide into a chair in the office, hopping round to see the rest of the guys working diligently as their commanding officer slacks off. Riza walks in and Roy freezes up and starts to furiously write on some of the papers on his desk, making himself seem busy.

"Roy. We both know you're not actually doing work. Now stop pretending and actually do some." She says as she walks up behind him, death-gripping his shoulder.

"I don't know what you mean Riza... I am working...!" Roy says, his forehead beading with sweat.

"Sure sure." She says deadpan, standing right behind him to watch him work.

A few of the others in the office start to giggle and I say quite menacingly, "No giggling in the depravity ocean." and they all start full on laughing. I scowl at them angrily and cross my arms, sitting down in my chair properly. I slide my phone out from my small bag I carry around with me. After these two years, the battery has been at 100% some how. It's confused me so much, I use it constantly during the night; playing games and writing a small diary to keep myself grounded.

I slide it back into my bag and look over to Roy and Riza, they've started talking now. Possibly Roy's attempt to distract her from his work. I smile at them, I know there's more to their relationship but they aren't letting it get in the way of their jobs. I sometimes think they're doing it for me when we're all at home. All the other times, I know it's how they naturally act around each other though. This love-hate-love relationship is wonderful.

I swing my legs and hop off the chair, I skip around the office for a minute; asking people what they were doing and if I could help. Then I went up to my father and lean over his desk, whistling annoyingly.

"What do you want now Nika?" Roy asks, looking up from his work. His voice showing me he's annoyed but his face shows that he's being genuinely concerned, putting me off slightly.

"Can I go around to Mr. Slicer's office father?" I ask politely, fluttering my eyelashes a little.

"Um... Sure. I guess. Just be back by my lunch break okay?" He says, a little puzzled as to why I want to go to Slicer's office.

"Thanks father!" I say, pushing back off the desk and I run out the office and down the hall to my friend the Slicing Alchemist. He's also a state alchemist, like Roy and Ed by now. He's really funny and around my age, he's a year or two older than me and became an alchemist a year ago. I call him Slicer just as a nickname. His real name is Sai Roderickson. It's kind of a weird name so that why I call him Slicer.

I enter Slicer's office and shout, "Hey Slicer!" I get weird looks off the other officers in the room and I grin, hopping over to Slicer's desk. He's just a major technically but doesn't like going out into the field much, that's why he sits behind this desk all day. I really just come to work with Roy to keep him company, well also to spend time around Roy and Riza but. Mainly for Slicer.

He grins as he hears my voice, "Hey Newt!"

"Stop calling me that...!" I say, pouting as I lean on the edge of his desk.

"Well. You remind me of a newt so... How can I stop? Plus I like calling you newt Newt!" I pout at his answer, presumably referring to my personality and the colour of my hair currently, as it is a lighter reddish brown colour.

"Pssh. Whatever. What're you up to anyways?" I ask, leaning over a little more to see what he was writing.

"Just a think for the commander. Nothing big." He replies, giving me a small smile.

"Cool! I was just wondering, if you wanted to take a break and walk around the market with me today! I have my allowance and I wanted to spend some with you." I smile widely and flutter my eyelashes, trying to persuade him to leave his work to hang out with me for an hour before lunch.

"Eh… I don't know Newt… I have some work… I'd have to ask my commander…! Hmm…" He ponders.

"Aw just go little Slicer, I'll cover for you." The officer in the desk next to us says, I grin and look to Slicer.

"Aw alright… I guess I could! As long as I don't get in trouble…" He says, standing up and grabbing his jacket from the coat rack in the room.

I wave to everyone, saying goodbye for a little while, "Thanks!" I say to the guy who's covering for Slicer as we leave the room.

We head off towards the Market place; leaving the building quickly and entering the busy streets of Central.