Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fullmetal Alchemist.

Authors Note: This story is Alternate Universe meaning it is going by the series or the manga with a new twist.

Chapter 1

They were caring to the point of stupidity. Under the guidance of Jean Havoc; Breda, Fuery and Brosh had cooked up a plot to cheer up their friend. However, according to Havoc happiness consisted of never-ending cigarettes and at least one date. Today, they all sat upon the lawn as they basked in the sunlight. They were loving every minute of their break until Jean Havoc looked up and noticed Roy looking down at them from his office. Normally, Roy Mustang was their ring leader. However, his absence had created tension between these comrades as they began to worry.

The Flame Alchemist watched from his office window and though he could not hear them; he knew by their actions that they were discussing him. They had been after him for three years. Roy sighed, "The Getting-Roy-to-Get-Out-More Campaign is getting pretty tiresome." Roy paused and thought that if it were three years ago; he would be down there sitting on the lawn with them. He would also be laughing along with them. Roy noticed Havoc looking up at him and turned away as he focused on his paperwork.

"Celine," Roy called out to his secretary. Celine walked into the office, "Yes sir?"

"All the paperwork is done," Roy motioned towards the stack of papers upon his desk. "Sort them by department." Roy raised his one eyebrow up, "I don't want the paperwork getting lost again."

Celine shook her head, "That was not my doing, sir."

Roy looked up and shrugged, "I expected that it was not. If you can, keep track of who handles the paperwork after you and report back to me."

Celine nodded, "Yes sir."

Roy leaned back in his chair and his eyes turned towards a picture of Maes Hughes and him. The picture seemed to scream at him to get married. Roy looked away from the picture and shouted, "Celine?"

Celine frantically ran back into the office, "Yes sir? Is something wrong?"

"Do you have any more paperwork?"

"Sir?" Celine looked at Roy in shock.

"What's wrong?"

"You've finished all the paperwork for the month," Celine shrugged. "My suggestion is to go home and rest -"

Roy looked at Celine in amusement. Celine looked down, "I mean, not that I'm supposed to tell you what to do."

Celine looked down at Havoc and replied, "Why don't you join them?"

Roy did not respond to Celine's comment. Celine turned to look at Roy and replied, "I'm going to see who has been losing the paperwork."

Roy stood up again and looked out his window. He noticed that all four of his comrades were looking up at his window as though they had a plot in mind.

Breda followed Havoc's eyes and shook his head, "He isn't ever going to be the same."

Fuery turned towards Breda, "Could you be the same after losing nearly everyone in your care?"

"Well," Breda backed off, "not exactly. I didn't mean it that way. He just needs to get out more." Breda lowered his voice to a whisper, "Word around the base is that he actually enjoys doing his paperwork now."

Brosh gasped, "He needs help."

Havoc sighed and lowered his head, "He does need to get out of that office." Havoc looked up at Roy's office window, "I know this girl that's perfect for him. He needs a date."

"Yeah, we all think that he does," Brosh lazily commented. "But, erm, who's going to be the person to tell him that?"

Brosh, Fuery and Breda all looked at each other and slowly turned their eyes towards Havoc. Havoc uncomfortably looked away, "You're asking me to do this great feat?"

Brosh, Fuery and Breda nodded in unison.

"You need to get out more."

Hearing this news, Roy Mustang's nostrils flared, "I am not interested."

Roy cleared his throat and pointed at the convenient ashtray that was next to Jean. However, Jean did not notice this polite subtlety as ashes fell from his cigarette and onto the carpet. Roy's eyes followed the ashes and twitched as they fell, for, his office had just been renovated. The scent of fresh paint was burning through his lungs as he stood up from his swiveling chair and pushed the window open.

Unconsciously, Roy touched his eye patch and took in a deep breath of fresh air. A sympathetic look overcame Havoc's jovial features. "Come on," Jean pleaded as though he was a child at the candy store and the last gumdrop were up for grabs.

"I am not interested," Roy repeated pausing for at least two seconds between each word.

"You should be. A girl like her is hard to find," Havoc lazily leaned against the doorframe with his cigarette hanging from his lips. "She's just like you only she's better looking."

"Don't you have somewhere to be," Roy unconsciously touched his eye patch.

"Not until you give me an answer."

Roy clenched his fists, "I said that I was not interested."

"Yes or no," Havoc continued.

"Not inter-"

"That's a maybe, right?"

"Yes," Roy snapped at an unopened letter and watched it burn in an unused ashtray. "Does she even know who I am?"

Havoc paused, "Not exactly. It's a blind date."

"Blind?" Roy motioned towards his eye patch, "Did you tell her about this?"

"Well," Havoc shrugged, "I think I have to go to that somewhere that you told me to go to."

Roy stood up from his desk. It was clear that he was very angry, for, his muscles had become tense. "Why didn't you tell her?"

"It-it didn't come up." Jean cringed, "Put those gloves away."

Roy shrugged, "It's going to be a very short date then."

Jean Havoc looked at his friend in sympathy. Roy had not been himself ever since the incident. It did not help that every time Roy walked through the office; people stared and whispered.

This had been going on for three years. He had grown accustomed to people looking the other way. However, he had not grown accustomed to those that had told him that he had not changed one bit. No, he had changed. No longer was he the ambitious man that wished to climb his way up to a lofty position.

As he walked out the office that day, he looked back and noticed that his secretary was placing new flowers upon his desk and wondered, "Why do they act as though I am still sick?"

Jean Havoc followed behind him and replied, "Wait, don't you want to know when and where?"

Roy stopped in his tracks, "Not particularly."

Jean paused, "How will you find the girl then? Once you see her you'll feel as though she was someone you lost once and now you have found her."

Roy's one eye widened as he looked at Jean in shock, "How did you know?"

Jean sent Roy a look of confusion, "Know what?"

Roy looked away; a look of relief had appeared upon his features, "Nothing."

Roy walked through the corridor; leaving Jean in a state of confusion. Roy did not turn around and as he neared the corner; he took in a deep breath of relief. He had shielded the darkness away by his ambition. When the Elric brothers had been his charges, he had put them high on his priority list. He felt a kinship towards them. He had felt almost as though the three of them had become brothers. Yes, he missed the Elric brothers as much as he missed his own family. However, the person he missed the most was not to be found.

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