Ah, this chapter was certainly fun to write. I decided I can't wait any longer to post the chapter.

I do not own FMA brotherhood.

Scar looked around himself cautiously. He had brought Lydia with himself to get the supplies, but not because he didn't trust her. He was fully certain that if he would leave Lydia and her children to get what they needed, they would still be there when he came back. However, with Lydia being so obviously Amestian, she brought less attention to herself than Scar did.

Lydia hurried back to him with a relieved expression on her face as she said, "I got everything." Scar nodded as they began to walk away. They had gotten a ways away from the main street when a loud voice called from behind them, "That's far enough Scar! I demand you you hand over Miss Addams or face the wrath of Alex Louis Armstrong!"

Scar could see the color drain from Lydia's face as she trembled lightly. He could only guess that she was thinking of what could happen if she was separated from her children again.

Scar made a slight gesture with his head and Lydia nodded as she hurried a safe distance away, and Scar placed himself directly between the Strong Arm alchemist and Lydia. Without warning, Scar knelt and destroyed the ground under the alchemists feet. Well, where he had been standing before the man leaped out of the way and retaliated with spikes which Scar swiftly destroyed. As they fought, Scar noted that the Alchemist was restraining his powers undoubtedly due to Lydia's presence. He had also come alone likely to avoid 'friendly fire' which could injure Lydia.

Both factors slanted the fight in Scar's favor as long as he kept himself between the Strong Arm Alchemist and Lydia. The alchemist's eye narrowed as he looked over Scar's shoulder slightly and yelled, "Desist, Scar! This conflict has gone on long enough." Scar glanced back quickly and bit back a curse. Lydia stood some distance back facing a wall with her side to them, her arms covering her head and neck. A thin red line severed the back of her dress.

Scar turned back and saw the Strong Arm alchemist about to attack. Scar lunged quickly to the side, and destroyed a portion of the wall next to the alchemist. a second later, Scar rushed to Lydia and pulled her into his arms before he raced away and followed Lydia's directions to the cellar from before where they hid.

Scar watched through a small knothole in door as the alchemist walked into the area and looked around. His arms tightened around Lydia who he had placed absentmindedly in front of him. Neither of them said a word as the Strong Arm Alchemist continued to on his path before leaving some time later with a frustrated expression on his face. A minute later, Scar opened the door to the cellar and they left.

It was late at night by the time they got back to the derelict house they had been using as a hiding spot. Scar was relieved to see that all three of the children had fallen asleep while the had waited for him and Lydia to return. He hadn't enjoyed the thought of telling a grumpy, half-awake Aaron why his mother had been injured. The preteen was always more testy when he tired, and seemed to be feel rather protective of his family.

Scar grabbed Lydia arm and lead her to the bathroom as he said, "We need to take care of your injury." Lydia nodded as she began, "I can ..." "No.", Scar interrupted her. Lydia looked like she wanted to refused, but thought better of it and nodded in agreement. She turned her back to him as she removed her dress. Scar took in a deep breath at sight of her bare back. The faint moonlight which entered from the high window and highlighted the gentle curvature of her spine as well enhancing her figure.

Scar was broken from his reverie when he heard a female voice ask, "Is it that bad?" Scar blinked rapidly before he focused on the cut. It curved upwards slightly across her back. Scar gritted his teeth as he said, "It bled more than I thought." It wasn't a lie. The cut was deeper than he had originally thought, although not dangerously so.

Scar swiftly set to cleaning the cut, and absently noted to himself that her pale skin was just as soft as he thought it looked. He distracted himself by stating aloud, "The Strong Arm Alchemist, he recognized you. Why?" Lydia sat calmly as she replied, "The Armstrong family hired me as their cook. He visited the kitchen once to praise my chicken potpie. Apparently he thought it was 'positively delightful.' I think that was the only time we talked though."

Scar grunted lightly as he bandaged the cut. He must have pulled too tightly, because he heard Lydia hiss slightly from pain. For the first time in a while, Scar felt guilt well up in himself. If he had chosen to let the alchemist go instead of trying to use his 'advantage' to the fullest, Lydia wouldn't have been injured. But his ambition had clouded his judgment to everything but his desired outcome.

He rested his hand over the bandage as he uttered the word, "Sorry." Lydia turned sightly to see his face as she whispered, "Don't be." Scar opened his mouth to object and Lydia turned fully around to cover his mouth as she said, "Enough. Even if we had chosen to run immediately, there's no guarantee that we would have gotten away unharmed. We're alive, and the military didn't catch us. That must count for something!"

Scar remained silent as his head turned away. The small had which lay on his mouth drifted upwards to rest on the side of his face as she turned it so he was looking directly at her as she said, "I don't blame you. So please, don't blame yourself." Scar looked down at her her beseeching expression before he nodded.

Lydia smiled in relief and Scar found himself enchanted once again. He caught her retreating hand in his own and brushed his lips against it. Her cheeks flushed with color, and he used her hand to draw her closer to himself. Lydia made no attempt to resist him as his other arm slipped around her shoulders and pulled her close. He took a moment to watch her expression for any signs of resistance before he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers ...

Ah ha! I love that ending! You'll find out about what exactly happened in the next chapter When Lydia will - - - - - - - - - - ... Sorry, I cant give too much way, but I can say people might find themselves feeling conflicted.

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