I wasn't in the chair I had sat down in earlier, after I had brought Denika some soup. I knew that much…but where I was now…that was an entirely different matter. I could hear someone approaching, and shortly after, a door opening…wait…door?

I opened my eyes and sat up, only to see Denika entering the room, a tray in her hands. She seemed somewhat surprised to see that I was awake, but her surprise faded as she smiled a little. I noticed that she didn't have her glasses on, but I put that observation to the back of my mind for the time being.

"I made soup…is not borscht, I apologize…" I sat up straighter and regarded Denika carefully.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" She shook her head.

"Is fine…Zahkar stopped by while you slept…I do not have fever anymore." She carefully set the tray down on my lap, and made a little bit of fuss about me.

"Denika…why am I in bed?" Denika smiled apologetically.

"You had fever…I was worried..."

"Denika…You didn't have to…" Denika raised a hand to silence me.

"Vato…try not to get sick again…you are difficult to carry up stairs."

After Denika and I had finally stopped chuckling, she decided I was well enough to eat down in the kitchen. While we were eating a light breakfast, the phone rang. Denika got up to answer it, and waved me over, a confused look on her face.

"Is someone calling himself Breda…" I quickly took the phone from her.

"Falman…" Breda began immediately, "here's the deal. Fuery and I can get out to Central about a day before Havoc's birthday…we're thinking about throwing him a surprise party at one of his old haunts…Since you've got friends who know a bit about booze, we were wondering if you would mind taking care of that area?"

"I'll see what I can do…but I'm not sure I could pick out something suitable…" Denika smiled a little.

"Why not vodka? I know good place to buy." I could hear Breda chuckling on the other end of the line.

"So Falman…who's the hot chick? Did you get some last night?" I could feel my cheeks starting to burn. Thankfully, Denika had not heard that comment. Unfortunately for me, however, she could see my discomfort. She grabbed the phone away from me, and to my amazement, began asking for details about the surprise party.

"Tell me, how strong of vodka do you think your friend could handle? Vodka should be savored…not used as a tool to become shit-faced." I couldn't hide my shock at that comment, "…Alright…I know just the type…"

Denika searched with her free hand for a pad of paper and something to write with. "And how many people do you think will be there? Okay….Of course…here he is…" with that, Denika handed the phone back to me. I mouthed 'thank you' to her and Breda began to tell me the exact plan, and how it would be executed.

Denika took notes on the specifics of the plan, and handed me the notepad and her pencil so I could write down what would be needed on my part. Shortly thereafter, Breda had to end the call, so we made plans to rendezvous near Central HQ the day before the party to finish arranging everything.

I had noticed earlier that today was Saturday, which meant that neither Denika, nor myself, had to be in the office. Denika went to her bedroom, and emerged a few minutes later, fully dressed. I nodded at her. She and I were on the same page then. I went upstairs to change clothes, so that we could go shopping.

"Welcome!" The shopkeeper's deep voice boomed in Drachmaen. Denika made small talk with him. She then went to inspect the various vodkas, and the shopkeeper came over to assist me. "You are looking for a gift for your friend, correct?" I nodded, and the shopkeeper said something that I didn't quite understand, save for a few words.

"Could you repeat that in Amestrian please?" The shopkeeper smiled a little and shrugged.

"I am sorry…I am not very fluent in Amestrian…" The bell over the door to the shop jingled, signaling another customer. The shopkeeper's face brightened a little bit when he saw who it was. "Vladimir!" I turned, and nodded my greetings to Vladimir. He joined us, frowning a little at the shopkeeper.

"Matvei, why are you just standing around?" The shopkeeper, Matvei, frowned at Vladimir.

"I am trying to help him…wait, I've got an idea…" With that, Matvei started talking rapidly with Vladimir, who nodded.

"I see…I will try..." Vladimir turned to me. "What he asked you earlier was whether you'd also like some wine to surprise Denika with on her birthday…" Glancing around to make sure Denika wasn't nearby, I nodded.

"That would be nice…I really should do something nice for her, since she does have to put up with my oddities…" Vladmir quickly translated what I had said to Matvei, who nodded, and then went to the back of the shop. He emerged carrying two bottles of wine, both of them a very good merlot, one of which he handed to Vladimir. I noticed then how similar the two looked in appearance, despite Matvei's shorter stature.

"For Mother and Father's anniversary. As an apology for me not being able to attend." Vladimir nodded, and paid for the wine, before heading for the door.

"Vato, sometime, bring Denika by the 'Red Lion'…Is a nice place to eat…especially the noodles and meat sauce…Is Denika's favorite." With that, Vladimir left.

I paid for the wine, after arranging to have it delivered at a later date, and the vodka that Matvei had helped me select, and Denika paid for some cooking wine she had been looking for, and we left to finish some of our other shopping for the day.

As Denika and I walked along Main Street, I spotted the restaurant that Vladimir had mentioned. I made a note of the address, and that the main entrée of the day was spaghetti and marinara sauce with meatballs. Denika went to the produce vendor, giving me a chance to slip inside the Red Lion and make reservations for later in the evening.

After I had the reservations made, I waited outside for Denika, who emerged from the vendor's store with a few bags of produce. She had a wistful look on her face as she glanced back at the vendor's front stoop.

"Denika? Is something wrong?" She shook her head.

"No…he mentioned that the store would be getting a shipment of oranges and lemons from Xenotime in a few days…unfortunately, they are too expensive for me…" She sighed and handed me a couple of the bags. "I haven't had an orange in years…they're too expensive for my budget…oh well…" With that, she began to lead the way home.

"Beautiful Mother!
Soft and sweet,

once you were gone,

we were not complete…

Back through the years
we reached for you,

Alas, 'twas not meant to be" Denika sang as she put away groceries. I had picked up on some of the meanings of the song, and for some reason, every time she sang that particular verse, I would be reminded of Fullmetal and his brother Alphonse.

"Denika?" Denika glanced at me, halfway through the last bag of groceries.

"Yes, Vato?" I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and looked her in the eye.

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?" Denika's expression was one of pleasant surprise.

"Vato…Yes… I would like that very much…"