As one of your company is a wanted fugitive, and the other an escapee, Scar had decided that it wouldn't be safe to travel as one big group. Dr Marcoh had suggested that he travel with Scar, putting both wanted men together and completely drawing attention away from the rest of the group. However, give how vital Dr Marcoh's alchemical knowledge is, Scar didn't want to risk him being recaptured, should anything go wrong with Scar's plan. He'd suggested passing Yoki off as Dr Marcoh, while the real Dr Marcoh travels with you and Mei to the North. After your group had agreed to the plan (which involved a lot of coercion insofar as Yoki was concerned), Scar had drawn your party a map, and your group had separated, Scar promising to catch up to you as soon as possible.

You'd hated having to separate from Scar again, but ultimately figured it was for the best. After all, Scar may be an exceptional fighter, but you can't expect him to fight off soldiers and protect your entire group. Besides, if Scar goes through with his plan to act as a decoy (which he obviously will) then your presence would have only slowed down proceedings. It's far better for you to travel with Mei and Marcoh, who are less likely to be pursued.

That's how you've found yourself in your current position, huddled beside a small campfire in the middle of the northern tundra. You'd managed to follow Scar's map perfectly, locating the notes with relative ease (and a lot of digging). However, you'd discovered that in order to translate the notes (which seem to include a lot of ancient Ishvalan), you're going to need Scar's help.

The revelation had initially disheartened you. It seemed as if fate was against you, deliberately putting obstetrical in your way. That is, until you'd remembered the words you spoke to Scar before you separated. 'Deus Vult'… if that holds true, then God must want Scar to meet you all in that cabin. Perhaps this is all part of his plan…

Perhaps you're just wishful thinking.

You've been debating it with yourself ever since you discovered the notes. It's been days now, and there's still no sign of Scar. Panic and doubt have already begun to plague your mind, corrupting any ideas about faith or fate. The longer Scar is delayed, the more your worries grow, and the more you begin to think that something dreadful has happened to him.

Mei seems to share in your worries, as she has spent most of her time staring out of the widow, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she assumes to be your husband. You've joined her on more than one occasion, silently hoping that you get the chance to see him again. You have already broken a vow to yourself, missing out on yet another chance to kiss him. What if that was your last chance? You've missed out on so many chances, one of these days it really will be the last! You just hope that today is not one of those days, and that fate or God gives you the opportunity to fulfil your silent oath.

You move away from the window when you hear a coughing sound. The cold has been affecting Dr Marcoh ever since you arrived up north. At first you'd felt a perverse sense of glee. 'Let the man suffer,' you'd thought 'as he let my people suffer.' But over time, you'd softened to him considerably. After all, mistakes or no (and he has made some terrible ones), he's human. You don't wish any ill on Scar for killing other humans, so why should you wish any on Marcoh? Just because he killed your own people, doesn't mean he should be treated differently. Then again, you're not in love with Marcoh…

You approach the man slowly, a concerned look on your face. 'Are you alright, Doctor? You've been coughing quite a lot lately. Shall I find more logs for the fire?' You've appointed yourself keeper of the fire, making sure that it never burns out. As there's little dry wood in such a snowy area, you've been forced to burn the few finishings you'd found when you got here. You have enough wood left for a few more hours; you'll have to find more before the fire burns out.

Dr Marcoh coughs, looking at you with guilt in his eyes. 'No, it's alright. I'm fine. If anything, I should be the one fetching the logs. Men who have done the things that I have done don't deserve any kind of sympathy or care. You should be making me do all the hard work, to compensate for all of the bad I have done.' You'd initially assumed that Scar was the champion of self-pity, but Marcoh seems to have taken that title from him.

Without thinking, you put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and give him a small smile. 'Helping us decipher these notes will be compensation enough. If we succeed, you could save millions of lives. That more than makes up for one mistake. Please, try not to dwell on the past. If Scar can look past his hatred of alchemy and alchemists, then you can overcome your guilt. The fact that you feel guilty at all shows that you are a good man, despite the actions of your past. Do not let the past consume you. Learn to move on.' You can see tears forming around his sunken eyes, and worry that the tears will cause his newly-formed skin to sting.

He gives you a smile of his own. 'Thank you for your kind words. I can see why Scar cares for you so much; you act as a balm for his wounded soul. It takes a remarkable person to see the good in people like me, and in people like Scar. You are clearly a very special woman. I only hope that your kindness is not your undoing.' What does he mean by that? Why will showing him and Scar kindness be your undoing? Perhaps he is talking about the authorities catching up to you, and you being arrested as an accessory to Scar's many murders?

Your smile widens. 'If kindness ends up being my undoing, then I have lived a wonderful life. So many people become undone by hate or by anger, and end up living out their days regretting every move they ever made. Even if it kills me, I shall never regret being kind. Even if my kindness seems insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and only affects a few people, it is still better than adding to the cruelty in the world. Besides, a man like Scar needs kindness in his life. He has seen so much death, and so much destruction that he has become undone. If my kindness helps him put himself back together even a little, then I would gladly accept death, knowing that I gave my life in exchange for a chance for him to regain his.' Your voice breaks at the end of your sentence, crushed by the weight of your own sentiment yet again. Does Scar truly mean that much to you? You may only have known him for a few months, but in that time, he has come to mean so much to you. You'd even go so far as to say that you're in love with him. Then again, you've been in love with him ever since you told him you could give him love…

Mei, who has been listening in on your conversation, suddenly bursts into tears. 'M-Mrs Scar, I had no idea you loved him so mu-uch.' She rushes over to you, Xiao-Mei on her shoulder as always, and wraps her arms around you, hugging you with all her might. Even Xiao-Mei tries to hug you, stretching her tiny arms across your cheek. It's clear that they both care for Scar also, which brings joy to your heart. To think that a man who started out with no one now has what you'd call a makeshift family. It reminds you of what Yoki said ages ago, about Scar putting a child in you. It seems that you've missed out that step, and just accepted the elder child as your own; it'll break your heart when she returns home.

Before you can say anything, the door behind you creaks open, and your heart fills with relief; it's Scar!

You detach yourself from Mei with such haste that poor Xiao-Mei tumbles straight onto the floor. You barely register that though, as you're too busy flinging yourself at Scar, wrapping your arms around him tightly. To your surprise, he returns the embrace just as enthusiastically, hugging you even closer to him. Then, your heart seems to skip a beat, as you feel a warm pressure on your forehead; Scar kissed it. He actually kissed your forehead! If it weren't for his hold on you, you'd probably swoon dramatically onto the floor, like someone out of a romance novel. You're really thankful that you can't, as you're certain Mei and Yoki would taunt you until your dying day (well, Yoki would taunt you; Mei would squeal about how cute you and Scar are together).

Eventually, Scar softens his embrace, but he still keeps you close as he speaks. 'We can't stay here. The army know where we are. We need to move.' You've been discovered? So soon? Oh, dear. Panic begins to set in, as your fears of Scar's capture flair up again. What if they find him? What if they hurt him? You can't let that happen, you won't let that happen, you won't…

Scar seems to sense your panic, and leans down to whisper in your ear. 'It will be okay. My freedom is worth nothing without you. I will keep you safe from them, no matter what. This I swear to you.' He's mistaken your concern for him as concern for yourself? Does he really not understand?

You lean up to whisper something yourself. Instead of correcting him however, you end up saying something else entirely.

'I love you, Scar. I know you'll do everything you can to keep us all safe.' Scar gasps, and you're worried that you've said too much.

Instead of answering you, Scar puts on his harsh visage, and addresses the whole room. 'We've wasted enough time here. We need to get moving. Did you find my brother's research notes?' Scar lets go of you, and seems to be addressing Doctor Marcoh directly. You feel as if someone has thrown a bucket of cold water over you. Does he truly feel so little for you that he won't even acknowledge your words? You're not expecting reciprocation, but any kind of reaction would be better than nothing. You can feel your heart beginning to break, and you wonder if that kiss on your forehead was just for show, and if his words were little more that courtesy. Has everything he's ever said to you been a lie?

You don't listen to Marcoh's reply, as you begin to pack your meagre belongings. Although you can feel them prickling at the corners of your eyes, you refuse to let your tears fall.

-POV Switch-

Scar does his best to listen to Marcoh. Truly, he does. Alas, it's hard to hear anything over the hammering of his heart. She loves him. She truly loves him. He has yet to redeem himself, yet she has already given him love? He is blessed, to have his love reciprocated by such a woman. He only wishes that they were alone, so that he could reciprocate her confession with the level of passion and joy that it deserves. He silently vows that the next time he has her alone, he's going to do it. He's going to tell her that he loves her, and have his first taste of her lips. Even though his task has barely begun, he knows that he will see it through now, especially with her by his side. Why deny his feelings any longer? If this is something that they both want (and he's certain that it is) then why waste time? Scar doesn't know how much time he has until God calls him to his side, so why wait? He should cherish every moment with her, enjoy their fleeting time together as much as he can.

That's settled, then. As soon as he gets her alone, he's going to tell her how he feels.