"You better hope to God your mother doesn't walk in," a familiar voice thundered over us.

"Which one of us are you talking to?" Maes groaned in my neck.

"Which one do you think?"

Snap.

"Ouch!" Maes squeaked, "What the hell, Dad…?"

"What's that smell?" I rubbed my eyes, cuddling into Maes.

"My right ass cheek," he told, "Which was completely unnecessary, if you ask me."

"That's nice, Maes," I rolled back over, almost completely immune to Maes and Uncle Roy's shenanigans.

"What is she doing in here?" Uncle Roy asked, "And all snuggled up with you."

"Just following orders, sir," Maes smirked, "I'm keeping her safe. Not leaving her side."

"Looks like you're enjoying it a little more than you should be," Uncle Roy pointed out.

"No sense in being miserable," he shrugged, "Since when is it a crime to like what I do?"

"It's not…"

"We should get going, though, Tricia," Maes poked at me.

"I don't want to," I murmured into his shoulder, "Do we have to be functioning members of society?"

"Unfortunately."

"Where are you two off to now?" Uncle Roy wondered.

"Rush Valley," I didn't budge, "Mom told me I needed to see Garfiel again."

"Send my regards," he requested, "Be careful. Please."

"Don't worry, Uncle Roy," I brushed him off, "I'll keep an eye on Maes. I'm the best security detail of the new generation of State Alchemists you could ever ask for."

"That's true," he agreed, "If you can take down someone like Armstrong, you're golden."

"Come on, Halfmetal," Maes pulled me out of bed, "I know it's comfortable as hell, but we need to get going. The next train for Rush Valley leaves in half an hour and we need to be on it."

"Fine," I grumbled. I wanted to leave Maes' bed as much as I wanted to be impaled, but we did need to get going. I missed Garfiel. I haven't been to Rush Valley since Mom and I went on a parts run when I was thirteen.

I threw my shoes and my coat on and the two of us jumped on the train. I did all I could to keep myself awake. Uncle Roy coming in was kind of unexpected. And unappreciated. The entire train ride to Rush Valley, I had my head on my security detail's shoulder, occasionally catching myself as I nodded off.

"Wow, Tricia," Maes nudged me, "Do I need to put you on a coffee drip?"

"Yes, please," I sighed out.

"Excuse me," Maes stopped the cart lady, "Could I get some coffee please?"

"Sure," she handed him a Styrofoam cup full off coffee, "Fifty cens."

Maes pulled some money out of his coat pocket, "Thank you."

"Is she ok?" the cart lady worried.

"She's underslept," Maes put his arm around me, "She'll be alright."

"If you need anything else," she offered, "Let me know."

"Thank you," Maes smiled as she walked away, "Are you alright, Tricia?"

"I will be," I took the cup from him, "Thank you."

"You owe me, Halfmetal," he teased.

"Shut up, Phoenix," I kicked him a little, "Half asleep or not. Your girlfriend or not. I'm still your superior."

"Can I ask you something, Colonel?" Maes pushed my hair out of my face and pulled me to his chest.

"Sure," I could never get used to him calling me Colonel, "What's up?"

"You think Dad'll say anything?" he wondered, "About us? To anyone?"

"I doubt it," I hoped, "You were just doing your job. I don't see how he can fault you for following his orders in the first place."

"It's kind of nice, you know," he chirped, "I get paid to cuddle my girl. See the country. Can't really complain."

"I won't say no," I nuzzled my face into him, "I like to travel. I like my company."

"That's my girl," Maes kissed my forehead, "You're coming around to the whole relationship thing, aren't you, Tricia?"

"Shut up, Maes," I rolled my eyes, "Remember? Don't ruin the moment?"

"Sorry," he giggled a little, "So, what are we going to Rush Valley for again?"

"Mom's always talked up Rush Valley," I told, "When she was younger, she did an internship there. Needless to say, Dad's not the only one that's made a name for himself."

"So, we don't have to go to Rush Valley…"

I gave Maes a look, "What do you mean?"

"We could bypass Rush Valley," Maes suggested.

"What are you thinking?" I wondered, "We go back to Resembool?"

"No," he stole a drink from my coffee, "I was thinking a little further east from Resembool."

"There's nothing east of Resembool," I thought, "Not until you get to the desert. And once we cross the desert, we're in Xing."

"Not quite to Xing," he explained, "How would you feel about going to, say, Ishval?"

"Ishval?" I got nervous, "Are you sure?"

"Elicia just came back," he remembered, "She's unscathed. I'm sure it's fine."

Ishval? Two members of the Amestrian military in Ishval. One of them being the Fuhrer's son. Something about it didn't sit right in my stomach. We should be ok. I mean, I have Maes. Maes has me. If worst comes to worst, we'd whip out the flame alchemy and call it a day, "Alright, Maes. Let's go to Ishval."

"Awesome!" he beamed, "And, uh…No offense, Tricia, but if we're going to Ishval, you may want to, uh…cover yourself a little better."

"What do you mean?"

"Respect for the culture," Maes spelled it out for me, "You're practically naked in comparison."

"You're right," I agreed. Ishvalan women tended to be pretty covered and I had the top of my chest exposed on a regular basis and I usually showed skin from at least my knees down, "We have to stop in Rush Valley anyway to jump a train to Ishval. Might as well do some shopping."

"Sounds good to me."

The train pulled into the station and the smell of machine oil hung in the air. The automail capital of Amestris. If my mother were here, she'd be swooning. And I completely understood where she was coming from. There really was nothing quite like automail. The smell of the oil, the whirr of the bearings. It was enough to make my blood rush.

Unfortunately, we had a different task at hand. I had to go shopping. And not for automail parts. Or that beautiful set of wrenches in the window. Mom would be drooling. I'd get daughter of the year if I brought those back to Resembool for her. Hell, I was drooling over them!

I had Maes dragging me away from the machinery shops and into clothing shops. As a girl, I couldn't clothes shop to save my life. Books? Sure. Automail parts? Yes. Tools? Absolutely. Clothing? I'd rather not. The thought of trying things on made me cringe. Not to mention, it brings back the memory of the miniskirt incident back in Central. Thanks, Uncle Roy.

Fortunately for me, Maes was a pal and grabbed things for me. All I had to do was try them on. he sat me down in a dressing room, pulled the curtain, and started throwing long, flowing dresses over the curtain rod. I had to give Maes a little credit. He had an eye. One of them was a gorgeous shade of dark pink. I wasn't normally the type for pink, but this was beautiful. It covered me in just the right way where I was being respectful, but one could still tell I was a girl.

"Damn, Halfmetal," Maes gasped, "You're kind of cute."

"Maes," I rolled my eyes, "I swear to God, I will stab you."

"Wow," he scoffed, "You can't take a half assed compliment, can you?"

"Sorry," I apologized, "It's a curse. I got catcalled in Resembool a lot."

"You poor baby," he empathized.

"I developed early," I grumbled, "And I got Mom's genetics. Of course, I'd end up getting catcalled."

"Well," Maes wrapped his arms around me, "I promise you that every compliment I give you is not a catcall and it's genuine."

"Thank you, Maes," I put my head on his shoulder.

"Now," he stood his ground, "I want you to get dressed, so we can get going, ok?"

"Ok," I lowered my gaze as I felt the corners of my mouth twitch.

"What's this?" Maes picked my chin up, "You hiding a smile from me, Tricia? That adorableness that graces your face once in a blue moon?"

"I might be," I blushed, "Now, let me go. We need to go see Garfiel or he'll kill me."

"Fine," Maes took his arms off me and let me go change. I almost cringed at the thought of seeing Garfiel again. It had been a while. And for whatever reason, he adored me.

"I'll be right with you!" he sang out as soon as Maes and I stepped foot in the shop.

"Hey, Halfmetal," Maes nudged me, "I'm getting Resembool flashbacks."

"And Garfiel can be as spastic as Mom," I warned, "Be careful."

"Welcome!" Garfiel joined us, "How can I help you?"

"Really, Garfiel?" I beamed, "Do you not remember me? I mean, I know I was younger the last time I was here, but honestly, I'm almost a little insulted."

"Tricia!" he charged me in the biggest bear hug I've had since Dublith, "It's been far too long! And look at the arm candy you brought along with you…Good for you!"

"Good to see you, too," I choked out, "I'd rather not have any spine disfiguration when I leave here."

"Sorry," Garfiel put me down, "So, what brings you here, sweetie? I don't remember Winry ordering any parts."

"First of all," I started, "The arm candy's off limits."

"And doesn't appreciate being referred to as arm candy," Maes stepped in, "I'm a person, too."

"Shut up, Maes," I ordered, "I can call you whatever I damn well please."

"Yes, ma'am," he gave me a half salute, followed by a little wink that made my heart go all pitter patter.

"He's cute, Tricia," Garfiel complimented, "Is he yours?"

"He's my security detail," I explained, pulling on the silver chain in my pocket, "I'm guessing you haven't talked to Mom in a while."

"I didn't think she ordered anything," he popped me in the shoulder, "You had me nervous! I thought I screwed up my books!"

"Your books are fine," I settled him, "No. I got certified. And promoted. In the same night."

"Look at you!" Garfiel praised, "You little overachiever! That would make you a Lieutenant Colonel, right?"

"Yes, sir," I nodded, "Even though he's my security detail, I'm expected to be his even more."

"Maes, right?" Garfiel took his attention off me.

"That's right," Maes confirmed.

Once Garfiel got all the tumblers to fall into place, he let out an over exaggerated gasp, "You're the Fuhrer's baby, aren't you?"

"Nope," Maes got nervous, "Just a friendly stranger walking by."

"Good for you, Tricia!" Garfiel gave me a high five, "You really are a little over achiever."

"No," I shook my head, trying to play modest.

"So, if you're not picking up parts," Garfiel asked, "What brings you into my shop?"

"It's a strictly social visit," I assured, "We can't stay long, though. We're kind of on duty."

"We also need to get going," Maes checked his watch, "Our train leaves in a few minutes."

"Come back when you have more time to kill," Garfiel begged, "I miss seeing your adorable little face! It looks just like your mother!"

"Really?" I gave Garfiel a look, "I think you're getting on in years, Garfiel. I look more like my dad. The Xerxean traits are stronger than the Amestrian ones."

"You're Xerxean?" Maes gasped.

"On my dad's side," I nodded, "His father was full blooded Xerxean. His mother was full blooded Amestrian. Therefore, I'm a quarter Xerxean."

"That explains the gold eyes," Maes cradled my face in his hand, "Come on. We have to go."

"Ok," I wiggled out of him, "It was good seeing you again, Garfiel."

"Be careful out there, Tricia!" Garfiel waved the two of us off and we started heading for the train station.

"Maes," I shook as we took our seats.

"Yeah?"

"I got a bad feeling about us going to Ishval," I worried.

"We'll be ok," he promised, "Don't you worry your beautiful little head about it."

"I've never been to Ishval before," I admitted, "Something tells me that at least your dad would probably be killing us if he knew where we were going."

"Probably," Maes chuckled, "But I can practically get away with murder with him. It's all about how I talk him out of it."

"And you say Elicia's the Fuhrer's little princess," I teased.

"Shut up," Maes shoved me.

"Come on," I pulled his arm around me, "You know you love me. I'm me."

"Easy, Tricia," Maes joked, "Your dad's coming out in you."

"Me and my damn ego," I giggled.

Before we knew it, our train pulled into the Ishval station. There was a time when the trains wouldn't have dared come all the way out to Ishval. Now that we were on better terms, courtesy of Uncle Roy's excellent delegation skills, the trains went all over the place. Ishval had such an eerie feeling over it, but managed to maintain an old world charm.

"Excuse me," an older gentleman approached us, "You two wouldn't happen to be alchemists, would you? I have some broken pipes that need to be taken care of and I can't get a plumber."

"We are, actually," I chimed, "Sure. We can fix your pipes. That's no problem."

"Bless you," he thanked, "I never caught your name."

"It's Tricia," I introduced myself, "Tricia Elric."

"Tricia Elric," the man pulled us over into the alley where his front door was, "Welcome to Ishval."

SMACK!

And my vision went completely black…

When I finally woke up again, I had the most massive headache. And I could feel my heart ready to jump out of my chest. Come on, Tricia. Ground yourself. Check the surroundings. Well, first of all, I was shackled. Fun. The room was dimly lit. Cliché. Maes…Where the hell was Maes?

"Maes," I whispered, "Maes, are you in here?"

"Ten more minutes, Dad," a familiar voice groaned, "I don't think I could handle another burn scar on my ass."

"Thank God, you're there…" I heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

"Tricia?" Maes came to, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," my heart started to slow down, "I'm ok. How are you? Doing alright?"

"I could use some more comfortable accommodations," he snarked, "But other than that, I'm golden. Any idea where we are?"

"Ishval," I remembered, "Last I checked."

"Shh…" Maes hushed me, "I hear footsteps. Someone's coming."

"Why is it," a deep, husky voice broke the calm atmosphere, "we're told to never forget the Promised Day, the darkest day in Amestrian history, but everyone seems to forget about the Ishvalan War of Extermination?"

A/N: Ehehehehehe…I do love a good cliffhanger. I really do. Now, let's address some guest comments, shall we? There was one last week that said something along the lines of it being ok for me to post before Thursday. Well, keep in mind, my dear child, that I'm also updating four other stories. That's why I don't update any of them more often. And I'm sure the argument can be made for the surprise post of "The Spark and the Sparrow" last Saturday, but that was something I had sort of written before and thought I should post it here. But I do need the occasional day off. I'm a human, not a machine. So, your patience is appreciated (especially with the way I ended this chapter) and I'll see you next chapter. xx