Hi everyone! Alright, so school started and I'm back on "no-nonsense school mode" where I burn myself out until I get good marks that satisfy me...yeah, that's usually accompanied by a (un-)healthy dose of stress coupled with irritation and topped with a bit of time pressure...yeah. Ahem, also for the fact that I'm not able to write as much as I really want to, so I hope I can at least update on every weekend. :) I hope everyone's doing fine on their own studies and best of luck to everyone!

ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:

Kayla Ackerman-Smith: Aw thank you a lot! :) I'm glad you like it!

Pfeh: (blushes) Thank you! It makes me happy to know the chapter wasn't a drag! (laughs) Oh tell me about it, I've read countless of them too and yeah normally they are a bit...meh, I don't want to belittle anyone's writing, especially since my own isn't good, but I wouldn't simply read anymore AU's after so many turning out...not really ok-ish. ^^" haha Thanks for the compliments really! :3 Ninth grade huh? That takes me back...(lol I'm 18 and talking like a 60-year old) Ahem...right XD It's ok to ramble, I do that too often ^^ Nah, I have normal tests though most of them last 2 hours or even 3, depends on the subject really.

INFO ON THE CHAPTER: Let's see, in this chapter, I promised that I'll introduce Gracia (with Elicia) and Mrs. Bradley (which means Selim will also make an appearance!)! I've decided to leave the whole "family being secret Homunculi scheme" in this story, however because Homunculi don't exist in my story in the same way they do in the FMA universe, there will be minor changes. Like: The Philosopher's Stone 'exists' but isn't made of souls from humans, rather it leans toward RL (real life). Alchemists from old and historians as well as scientists have researched the mere existence of the Stone but it has never been confirmed, which is why there will be certain plots and twists in the story accordingly as it goes.

And the days go by

Form No. 175

Subject: CLASSIFIED

Sender: Main Base, Amestris Border, Lieut. Gen. Edward Elric

To: Second Base, Amestris Border, Gen. Roy Mustang,

Gen. Mustang,

Fort Briggs needs backup. STOP. Drachma ambushed them at night. STOP. Armstrong is keeping them at bay but more are coming. STOP. Send Kimblee out. STOP. ASAP. STOP. Armstrong is injured. STOP. Send for a medic there. STOP. NOT Alphonse. STOP.

Lieutenant General Edward Elric

Gloved fingers tightened on the telegram in his hands, the paper contorting its shape and previous smoothness to the General's irritation.

"Kimblee," he growled, fists at his side, "Head out for Fort Briggs as soon as you can, preferably right away. Take a medic with you, General Armstrong is injured, I don't know how severe but if they informed Edward then it must be something to worry about," Kimblee looked at his superior, his eyes moving toward the telegram.

"I see, so Drachma decided to attack at Fort Briggs as well? Perhaps their ambush a few days ago had been meant as a diversion, directing some of our soldiers here instead of Fort Briggs." Kimblee narrowed his eyes, the blue in them turning icy cold.

Roy frowned, "Even if that may be so, General Armstrong is a force to be reckoned with and her men on the battlefield. Just who did they send out to possibly injure and overwhelm them?" a growing unease settled into the pit of his stomach and he quickly decided to send out a telegram.

Form No. 176

Subject: CLASSIFIED

Sender: Second Base, Amestris Border, Gen. Roy Mustang

To: Main Base, Amestris Border, Lieut. Gen. Edward Elric

Edward,

Understood. STOP. Kimblee is on his way. STOP. He will collect Ling as medical assistance. STOP. If Gen. Armstrong is severely injured we have no choice but to send out Alphonse as well. STOP. He is your brother but he is also a medic to the team. STOP. His job is to heal our people. STOP. I understand your viewpoint, but he chose his job. STOP. If he is smarter than his brother, he will return unscathed. STOP. Stay alert, Drachma may be plotting something. STOP.

General Mustang

Ed grit his teeth, but took a calming breath, eyebrows furrowed, "Damn it Mustang..." he placed the telegram on his desk and walked toward the large table in the middle of the tent, his eyes focusing on the large map spread out on it.

Red and blue pins marked their territories, Drachma and Amestris respectively, pinpointing each location where a confrontation between the two opposing countries came to be. Ed's gold eyed gaze swept across the territory as a whole, trying to make out a pattern.

With another pin, a red one, Ed marked the location they've attacked them recently, at Fort Briggs. It hadn't been the first time, no, but it had been the first time since four months ago where they have established a shaky Non-Aggression pact with Drachma in order to resupply themselves and send the injured to the lazarettos (A/N: infirmary for soldiers). The pact was planned to last six months and only four of them passed. Ed grit his teeth in anger, slamming his fist down on the map, the sturdy wooden table vibrating with the force.

"Damn them..." he growled under his breath, eyes blazing angrily at the thought of one of their strongest forces, General Olivier Armstrong, to be injured, on the battlefront at that.

Contrary to their bases here, an arctic climate ruled over Fort Briggs, as it was the border to Drachma directly, a land infamous for its arctic weather. However, that made imports of medical supplies far more difficult than usually. Not to mention sending out soldiers, since Amestrian soldiers aren't accustomed to the icy cold of the North, their forces weren't as strong battling against Drachma soldiers, where the freezing temperatures were second nature to them.

Except Fort Briggs.

The soldiers at Fort Briggs, under the direct command of General Olivier Armstrong, were as battle hardened and ferocious in battle as they came. Rumors told already of their battle prowess and their unbreakable teamwork as well as their leader, depicted to be a formidable woman in and outside of the battlefield not to be trifled with if one valued their life.

With her trusty saber at her side, one that had been passed down her family line for generations, she wielded it like it was an extension of her arm, with lightning speed and deadly precision she was capable of disarming even the best soldiers with a mere flick of her wrist. Not to mention of her physical strength, many believed as a woman she wouldn't pose much of a threat in terms of physical strength.

The soldiers that had thought so had reality biting them in the ass after an encounter with the fierce woman. The Armstrong family had been a wealthy one, but the peculiar thing about them was not only their wealth and their long line of generations, but the immense physical strength and pride of their offspring. Olivier and her younger brother Alex were forces to be reckoned with, one doubts that and they come back hanging on by a thin thread to life.

But those weren't the only things that made Fort Briggs so terrifying, it was also their unwavering loyalty and trust in their commander and vice versa. While Olivier seemed a cold, heartless woman even ruthless at times, nobody who knew her well enough could deny the deep care she showed toward her soldiers. She had a notorious reputation of never leaving the battlefield without every one of her men secured to safety and she never left any behind. If any were presented with the possibility of staying behind and dying, she personally made sure that illusion only stayed what it was in her mind – an illusion.

And that was what made Mustang worry the most.

He knew Olivier well enough to be highly suspicious if not downright worried, when hearing news such as her being so severely injured on the battlefield for them to send out a telegram and call for medical assistance. The woman was known to be extremely stubborn, if she had allowed one of her men to send that telegram, then it must be something big.

Mustang wasn't willing to wait in order to find out.

Kimblee had headed out only two hours after Mustang received the telegram.

"Greed," Ed called, spotting the man leaning against a wooden support beam inside the tent, partly hidden by the shadows with his arms crossed and one leg crossed over the other.

"Captain?" the response was slightly playfully but Ed had no doubt Greed was focused on the task at hand.

"I want you to go with Ling and Kimblee over to Fort Briggs. Armstrong is injured and we don't know what their exact status is, there isn't much we can go by on the telegram. I suspect Alex will go once he hears word about his sister being injured so you won't be alone there," Ed looked over the map again.

Greed rolled his eyes and moved off the beam, toward the table in the light, "Ugh, that sparkling gorilla with the baby hair again. I swear if he hugs me one more time..." a shiver ran down Greed's spine and he rubbed his arm uncomfortably.

Violet eyes narrowed at the map, "You noticed something?"

Ed's gaze narrowed and he looked at the map again, the attacks were irregular, not following a certain pattern or time span and they all happened at largely different locations for them to pose a great threat to them.

What did Greed see that he didn't?

Greed pointed a dark gloved hand in the middle, Central, "They all circle Central," Ed's eyes widened, Greed scoffed, "And they're coming closer,"

Ed locked gazes with Greed, "Damn it..."

Greed rose an eyebrow, "You in this Captain? I thought someone like you would have noticed that right away, what's wrong? Getting distracted by a certain blonde girl are we?" Greed smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Ed couldn't prevent the blush from spreading on his cheeks as he tried to keep his temper down, "T-that's not it! Shut up and do your work!" Ed growled.

Greed grinned, "I am doing my work," he chuckled when Ed shot him a dark, warning look.

The blonde smirked, "So, I heard Lena's growing bored of you and searching for some other guy-"

"SHUT UP YA MDIGET!" Greed barked into his face.

Ed barked back comically, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LITTLE BEANSPROUT MID-"

Greed laughed shortly, but it was anything but happy, "I haven't seen her in a long time, did I?" a serious, bitter look shadowed Greed's eyes, the frown on his face indicating just how much in a bad mood he was.

Ed stopped his ranting, a look of realization and sympathy crossing his features, he didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. He didn't have a girlfriend waiting for him home, he had his friends, but it wasn't the same. No matter how dense Edward seemed at some situations, he did understand a few things.

Greed ran a hand over his mouth, caressing his slight stubble, "Heh, when was the last time I even shaved? Lena usually told me when my stubble become too sharp...she usually said I looked better off without a stubble..." his eyes held a look of longing and sadness, "I can still remember how she kicks me off the bed sometimes when she's sleeping...and when I try to get back on she usually grabs me like a stuffed toy and nearly suffocates me...strange woman," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I miss those things..."

Ed felt awkward, like a third wheel, he didn't know what those things felt like, since he never had a girlfriend before. He hadn't had much time imagining or pursuing it either, with what their mother died early of an illness and their father fallen in the war...as an older brother, it had been his task to partly raise Al and protect and care for him. Whenever his friends would try to get him with some girl, he had been so awkward that the girl usually left him after half an hour.

Before enrolling in the military and becoming a soldier, he had passionately studied alchemy and had a knack for it. However, apparently whenever he had brought it up on several occasions on his few dates, it seemed girls hadn't taken a liking to it, dubbing it as "boring" and "if he had other hobbies".

Greed looked at Ed, "Hm, sorry, got lost in thoughts," Greed spread his hands out on the map, gaze focused and sharp, yet the lingering feelings of loneliness were still present.

Edward cleared his throat, "Uh...do you want to-"

Greed's voice was sharp, "No," he lifted his violet gaze to his friend, "Don't take it personally, but there's nothing you can do about it. I'm only waiting for this whole damn war to be over with so I can go back home," while his tone had a certain sharpness to it, it had by no means any hostile feelings directed toward him, rather at the situation they were in.

There was a suffocating silence between the two men before Ed found the courage to speak, "Greed," the soldier in question looked at him, "I may not know what it feels like to have someone waiting back home like that...but I know the feeling of wanting to go back." His golden eyes were filled with a newfound determination, "But I'll do anything I can to get us all back home," he nodded toward Greed.

He remained silent for a while, studying Ed's determined gaze, before he shook his head, "For a kid, you got some balls," Ed grinned.

"Well? Let's make up our own strategy anew, call for Hughes and let's make a phone call to Hawkeye," Greed rose an eyebrow

"So, we are already taking out the big guns by informing Hawkeye too huh?" he smirked, walking away to do as he was told.

Ed sighed, going over the strategy in his head, "We need more independent bases to form a circle around Central. Buccaneer will watch over the South, General Grumman the North, Hawkeye will be in Central...there's only East and West...Alex could go to East." Ed bit his lip, "Is it a good idea to split up the Armstrong siblings? They're more powerful when they're together...Should I go toward the East or West?" hope briefly filled his heart, but he quickly pushed it down, "No, I have to stay here, keep a watch on everyone. Yeah...I need to stay and make sure everyone gets out alive, I can't leave Al."

He looked at that gloved hand, an unreadable expression on his face as he closed his hand into a fist and heard the slight squeaking and working of the hydraulics inside. He sighed before greeting his team and explaining the plan.

Lena drove in the direction to Winry's shop, glancing at the photo of a smirking Greed next to the gearshift she had stored. She shook her head and smiled, smirking slightly when she imagined her dear boyfriend driving everyone at the base up the walls.

Her eyes were focused on the shop that was coming into view, waiting with a irritated sigh at a chance to finally cross the road and enter the parking space before Winry's shop. She tapped her fingers rhythmically against the leathery surface of the steering wheel, glaring at each and every one of the speeding cars that whipped past her. After what seemed like forever to her, a kind driver finally stopped to let her drive past. Lena gratefully saluted at the driver and quickly zipped past, finally entering the small parking space and with no small amount of smugness, drifted the car into a strong drift straight into a available parking space, perfectly might she add.

She grinned, tapping the steering wheel and turning off the engine, taking her phone, keys and purse with her out.

Winry was already standing there, right outside of her garage, shaking her head. Lena grinned innocently as she approached her friend, "What?"

Winry scoffed playfully, "You drive like a car racer," her eyes pointedly looked at her parked car, referring to the unnecessary strong drift she had created with the right momentum and a experienced tug to the steering wheel.

Lena shrugged, "You know I like car races," she beamed innocently.

Winry rolled her eyes, "Watching movies with car races isn't the same thing like driving in a car race," Lena pointedly ignored the remark and whistled when she saw two cars stationary in the garage, as well as what appeared to be a automail arm prosthesis idly resting on a workbench.

"I see you've got your hands full," Lena leaned against what she deemed to be a safe place, against a workbench which didn't have sharp looking tools that might kill her if she moved standing around. Winry sighed heavily.

"You can say that again, I've been busy all morning and an hour ago I've gotten two new customers saying they needed their cars fixed," she threw the semi dirty rag into a corner, undoing her green bandanna from her head.

Lena motioned toward the still unfinished automail arm, "And what's this?" she poked it lightly, "Who's arm did you broke and why?" she grinned wickedly at the blonde mechanic, who huffed in annoyance.

"You know I did not break Robert's arm that time! It had only been in a cast for a week or two!" she released a large, drawn out sigh at her friend's mischievous smile before her attention shifted to her little project, "It's a unfinished project you could say, Granny's been helping me in the medical field and I've made a few blueprints for it,"

Lena rose an eyebrow, "You won't show it off at the competition?" she titled her head, blinking in confusion.

Winry smiled, "No... the competition is in a few weeks and I don't think I will compete this time. I can't afford to travel that far anyway," she crossed her arms.

Lena's face turned sympathetic, "Ugh, how many times did I tell you already?! You have friends miss mechanic! We work too and get paid! We can lend you some money no problem!" Lena grinned reassuringly but Winry firmly shook her head.

"Oh no! No lending money! You know how I go about this!" she glared at her friend, who crossed her arms and pouted like a displeased child.

"You can be so stubborn..." Lena stuck her tongue out at her childishly and Winry laughed.

"Are you sure you're supposed to be saying that?" she lifted a fair eyebrow up in amusement, laughing at Lena's displeased face.

"Anyway, what's brought your visit on? You usually still have training classes at this time," Winry glanced at the clock then back at Lena.

The brunette scratched her neck bashfully, "Uh, I just decided to take some time off. You know, vent...get some more sleep to remove these eye bags that reach the floor...the usual," Lena giggled.

Winry seemed suspicious of something, but whatever it was she thankfully let it slide and instead asked another question, "Alright...Riza just called me a few minutes ago, she said she will finally bring me Ed's letter!" Winry smiled brightly, unaware of the knowing, smug look on her friend's face.

"Oh really? So, soldier boy wrote you huh?" Lena smirked, crossing her arms.

Winry chose to ignore the mild embarrassment creeping up on her, "Uh, y-yeah he did. Though he needed a bit longer than usual, I sure hope everything was fine back there," a certain looked passed Lena's face but it was as quickly gone as it came.

"Don't worry, everything's fine," she nodded, both to reassure herself and Winry. Winry looked at her for a moment but smiled back, nodding.

"...You up for food?" Winry quirked an eyebrow, "I've got a fridge..."

Lena wrapped an arm around the woman, grinning and squealing like a girl, "Aw you know exactly how to brighten the mood! I love you! I'll leave Greed for you!" Lena laughed and started dragging the poor woman alongside her.

Winry sighed, shaking her head in exasperation, "You said you would leave Greed for food...multiple times...I think he knows by know how much of a glutton you are,"

Lena frowned playfully, "I'm not a glutton! It's called common sense!" she huffed.

"Yeah, yeah, come on you bottomless pit," Lena stuck her tongue out at her.

Clad in full regalia Bradley tapped his fingers against the soft texture of his sofa, counting down the hours, the minutes, the seconds...

"Oh this won't do!" he was pulled out of his thoughts by a all too familiar voice and he looked up to look at the formidable sight before him.

"Pardon me my dear?" his eye comically widened.

Mrs. Bradley huffed, "You've been home for no more than an hour and here you are sitting and brooding! We can't have that now can we? At least try to relax once you're at home dearest," she sighed and kissed her husband's forehead, who looked at her in mild surprise.

It wasn't often she snapped at him like that, in their younger days, this would be a common occurrence, just because both used to have a short temper, but nowadays as they've grown older and more knowledgeable, such feats seemed unnecessary...well, at least he thought that.

With rapt attention, he owlishly watched as she set a metal tray full of food, a cup of tea and...

He rose an eyebrow, "Chess?" he looked at the age old board game, looking at his smiling wife.

"Well, since you said you didn't have any urgent matters to attend to for the afternoon, I thought a quick warm meal and a mentally challenging game will surely bring you in a better mood," she smiled gently.

Bradley straightened up in his seat, for the first time actually noticing how hungry he was, he hadn't eaten anything since the early morning hours and now it was already a quarter to three. He contemplated the notion of finally relaxing with his wife at home and surrendered, "...I suppose it couldn't hurt," he smiled warmly at the smile that seemed to brighten more at his statement.

He rose an eyebrow before reaching for the fork and knife, "You won't be eating with me?" he looked quizzically at his wife.

She smiled bashfully, her eyes apologetic, "I'm sorry my dear but Selim and I have already eaten dinner," Bradley sighed and nodded. Well, it wasn't exactly a surprising occurrence. Quite contrary actually, he would rarely ever eat with his family because he simply didn't have the time to.

"It's alright, don't worry about it," Bradley reached across the table and grasped her hand, gently running his calloused thumb over the expense of her smooth skin.

She blushed and laughed, "Even after so many years, you can still make me bashful by just being so caring,"

Bradley chuckled and shook his head, "And I do my best at being caring," she giggled and he finally let himself have his warm meal, his wife watching with a fond look.

"...Do you still remember how we met?" she suddenly asked after her husband had finished with the main course and had the pudding in his hands as dessert.

The visible eye not hidden by the eye patch shot to her and twinkled in amusement and a hint of smugness, "How could I forget..."

He grinned, "...the day you have nearly slapped me senseless," boisterous laughter escaped him and his wife laughed as well.

"Well...I hadn't meant to specifically recall that part," she smiled despite herself.

"Oh but what could you possibly mean? That had been the first part after all, even before a polite 'hello'," her husband smiled.

"Actually, I've meant the moment I've seen the real you...how soft spoken and caring you were beneath your façade of a ruthless, trained soldier," she met his steady gaze, "I've known there was more to you than meets the eye, you were quite the impulsive, short tempered young man when I met you but I suppose I hadn't been much better then," she giggled, placing a hand bashfully against her mouth.

Bradley smiled, holding his warm tea in his hands, "You were quite free spirited, you hadn't but a care for my harsh approach, in fact you've met it with your own comebacks, which had been quite amusing to experience," he chuckled, "You were the single woman who hadn't been intimidated by my upbringing and appearance, rather you've been exasperated with my short fuse if I remember correctly," he smirked.

She shook her head, her eyes warm and kind, "Ah, yes and you still seem to posses some of it to this day." The surprise that quickly flickered in his gaze made her giggle, "Don't think you can hide things from me, we've known each-other for too long for that to happen. I can tell when you're angered or troubled every time, no matter how well you try to conceal it. After all, I've chosen you to spend the rest of my days with," the smile she bestowed upon him made him love this woman all the more.

Bradley smirked, "That you did..."

"And you..." his hard gaze softened at her smile, "...were the only thing I freely chose," his closed his eye and sipped from his tea, the warm liquid filling his mouth and leaving a faint smell of cinnamon and mint in his mouth.

His afternoon had been a enjoyable one, spent with his wife, a cup of tea and a game of chess he knew he was going to lose.

Phew...done! :) Any complains? Wishes? Good? Bad? Let me hear it! ;) Gracia will be introduced in the next chapter!