It was a sunny day in Central. Warm, bright. I batted my eyes against the rays that shown through the curtain. A yawn escaped my mouth, and I rubbed my eyes. I sat up and grabbed for my glasses, shuffling over to the closet to grab today's clothes. It was a black dress, my usual, one that didn't really have sleeves. I slipped it on and headed to the kitchen.

"Lainey!" Maes greeted me, his face pulled into a grin. He pulled me into his chest, and I wrapped my arms around him. I breathed in his familiar smell of sandalwood.

"Good morning, Maes." I pulled away, looking at the lean figure of my brother. We looked like twins, the black hair and hazel eyes and poor vision. I had been told that all my life. Course I also lived in his shadow, too.

"Sleep well?" He asked.

I shrugged. "I guess."

I reached for some waffles, having sat down at the table by my niece. Gracia, my sister in law, had prepared breakfast as usual. The table was filled with her cooking, an array of delicious spread across. Elicia looked at me and smiled a smile that was familiar to me. She had syrup on her mouth, and her blond hair that she definitely inherited from her mother hadn't yet been fixed this morning.

"Guess who's in town."

I shrugged once again instead of speaking. Maes tilted his head a me, a smirk on his face. "Mustang."

I blushed red and gulped hard. Roy Mustang. A thorn in my side. I could see his black eyes now... among other things. I shook the memories away. "What's he doing here? I thought he was transferred to East City."

Now Maes shrugged. "Guess it's the McDougal case."

I nodded, understanding that Maes hardly liked to bring work home. He was mainly protecting his wife and daughter, but I knew he tried his hardest to keep me in the dark too. But, like brother like sister.

"Funny how State Alchemists change."

He looked at me, a questioning look on his face.

I smiled. "Wasn't he the Freezing Alchemist?" Once he nodded, I continued, "Well, he changed. You guys went to kill innocent people and now look. He's gone completely insane."

Maes sighed, pushing away from the table and standing up. I took that as his cue of leaving, so I pushed away as well. He swung his arms wide and pulled me in for another hug. "Maybe I can convince Roy to stop by."

A chill ran down my spine. I hated how his name made me feel. Undead feelings and half buried memories followed whenever I heard the Flame Alchemist's name. I can still remember the day I met him...

"I'll see you guys later!" Maes' voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see my brother's family standing at the door in parting. I smiled. They were the best things ever. I hoped that nothing would ever break them up.

/—/

The farmer's market was packed per usual, and the basket I had full of the ingredients for tonight's dinner was weighing heavy on my arm. I struggled to walk through the throng of people without bumping into anyone. Figures in black uniforms walked passed, and I caught a murmur of something about McDougal. Though I couldn't quite make it out, it had sounded like they were expecting him to be caught any day now.I made a mental note for a later conversation with my brother and continued to mind my business.

I didn't really have any knowledge of the man in question. As a matter of fact, I tried to ignore the ever heavy presence of the military, having never approved of them anyway. But my brother had felt it was his duty to protect those around him, so I had no choice. He had missed a lot due to that stupid war.

I had been so consumed in my thoughts that I had almost walked right into a suit of armor. Wait... suit of armor? I cocked an eyebrow. Didn't that young State Alchemist get a weird name? Something about metal...

"Can you watch where you're going?!" A voice demanded.

I turned my head, looking for the voice, and finally finding it further down than I expected. A young boy, probably around 15, glared up at me with golden eyes. Golden eyes... how strange. I smirked, looking at him and firing back, "Sorry I couldn't see someone not in my line of sight!"

He growled, but the suit of armor shot a hand out and told him to wait a second. "You look familiar!"

I rolled my eyes, ready to be told about how I just looked like someone they know so much. "Yeah yeah, will you excuse me?" Too bad I didn't have the time to listen.

They shared a look, but parted to allow me through. Geez, I thought to myself. Sure hope Maes doesn't hear about that. I just shook my head and hurried home.

/—/

Elicia's squeals of joy rang in my ears from the living room as she played with the dolls I had bought her. She was making them dance around and around the toy rings. I laughed at her, completely amazed how something so simple can cause so much happiness. I sat for a few moments more before standing up to go help Gracia in the kitchen.

"Your brother should be home any minute now." She said, stirring the pot on the stove. There was a smile on her face, a typical accessory for her. No wonder Maes fell for her.

"Yeah, and I hope it's just him." Okay, maybe that statement was half true. I did wish to see Roy, as it had been a long time since the wedding. Oh boy, the wedding...

Man, Roy had looked so handsome in his suit. The way his black hair had been slicked back, and how his black eyes had a smile in them. How his gaze barely left me. Or how those light eyes went dark with lust in the back room of the reception hall... I swallowed hard, trying to push the memory away. My hand gripped the counter hard.

"Something wrong?" Gracia questioned.

I nodded, unsure of my ability to speak for the moment. But I didn't need to. There was a knock on the door.

"Daddy!" Elicia squealed. Gracia and I follow her to the door. She reached up, barely getting the door to open before Gracia pushed it open.

"Elicia!" Maes cried, pulling his daughter into his arms.

I smiled and leaned against the door frame. And then metal caught my eye. It was them. But I guess I wasn't the only one who recognized the other.

"Hey you!" The short one exclaimed. "You're from the market!"

I smirked. "Oh hey there buddy."

Maes glanced at the two of us. "So you've already met Fullmetal?"

I held back an gasp. A State Alchemist.

"Yeah, we ran into her at the farmer's market earlier today."

"Quite literally." I stated, looking at my hand nonchalantly.

Maes turned his attention to me, but I motioned to drop it. He shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention back to Elicia, who at this point was furthering the alchemist's frustration. Clearly someone had a height issue.

Gracia ushered us inside, saying that dinner was ready and we best not let it get cold. But just as I was heading in, Maes looked at me. "I have a surprise for you."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Really." Came a deep voice from behind me. My entire body froze. I knew that voice. I shot around, my eyes landing on the tall black haired man. "Hello, Elaina."

Roy.