I love little Kaieri...Heh.
Disclaimer: Again, I do not, will not, never will own FMA.
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A six year old Kaieri stood at the front gate of a large and imposing mansion.
The building looked to be very old, and it gave off an air of superiority.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, her sobs from earlier that day having dissipated to squeaky hiccups.
The gate slowly swung open as she approached, revealing a sloping lush green lawn.
Aged willow trees swayed with the light breeze that floated on the air.
Lush , fertile gardens surrounded the lawns , immensely large boughs of colorful flowers filling them, they're colors vibrant and bright.
Kaieri rubbed at her eyes with the back of her small hand.
Her mother had died a mere week before, resulting in her being sent to live with the father she'd never met.
Kaieri walked up the cobblestone path that led to the front door of the mansion.
An elderly woman was standing in front of the door, smiling at her.
Kaieri quickened her pace, walking as fast as her small legs would carry her.
The woman kneeled down to Kaieri's height just as Kaieri arrived.
"You must be Miss Kaieri," the woman said kindly.
Kaieri nodded timidly, hiding behind a small stuffed kitten that she always kept with her.
The woman held out a hand to Kaieri, smiling once more.
Kaieri placed her small hand into the older woman's wrinkled one.
The woman straightened, still holding Kaieri's hand.
"Would you like to see your father?" The woman asked gently.
Kaieri looked up at the woman, her blue eyes reflecting worry and doubt.
"B-but…what if he doesn't want me? What if he doesn't love me? What if he didn't like my mommy? W-what if…" Kaieri faltered, more tears rolling down her cheeks.
The woman frowned with concern. It was a shame the girl's mother had died. Her father wouldn't fit the role of consoling parent that well…
"No , no , dear. Your father loves you very much, I promise." She said with a soft smile, praying that her hopes would prove true.
Kaieri sniffled a bit, the tears stopping.
"Really?"
"Yes. My name is Martha. I'm here to help make sure that you get settled down properly, as well as to take care of your father and keep this house running," The woman explained.
Another servant passed by, eyeing Kaieri warily. The man was an elderly man, his gaze dismissing Kaieri as another charity case of Eli's.
Kaieri bit her lip then moved behind Martha's leg.
Martha shot the man a glare, and whispered something to him. He quickly bowed to Kaieri in apology, his face stricken from what Martha had said.
"Sorry, Miss. Very sorry ," he said as he walked away as quickly as he could.
Martha looked down at Kaieri the placed her hand on top of Kaieri's head, patting her in reassurance.
"Let me go fetch your father. You stay right here, alright?"
Kaieri nodded once, watching as Martha disappeared around the corner.
Kaieri stared down at the glossy hardwood floors as she tried to recall everything her mother had told her about Eli Rommel.
Her mother had said that Eli was a strong , handsome, and intelligent man.
Kaieri could tell that her mother had missed her father very much.
Maya Rommel had described her husband as loyal and loving among many other things.
But his greatest and most annoying trait was that he was a complete bookworm.
Her father loved books and knowledge with a passion, which led Maya to leaving him.
She refused to come second in her husband's life to a book.
Kaieri had always hated her father for what he did to her her mother. But now she was going to have to live with him….
Martha returned, an exasperated look on her face.
Kaieri's heart jumped into her throat with worry and fear.
Martha noticed Kaieri's panicked expression and hurried to soothe the child's nerves.
"Don't worry, Kaieri. Your father wasn't alerted to the fact that you were coming here or why."
Kaieri nodded slightly. "Okay…"
"Follow me. I'll take you to your father."
"Uh-huh…"
Martha took Kaieri's hand once more , leading her into a large library.
Hundreds of thousands of books lined the shelves that were from wall to wall. But the majestic study wasn't what Kaieri was looking at.
A tall man was pacing back and forth in front of a cluttered desk.
Thin rectangular glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, slightly askew.
Chocolate colored hair fell in loose strands around his face, copper colored streaks running through them.
His hair went on to be left a little above his shoulders, mussed and unkempt.
The man's blue grey gaze caught sight of Kaieri and Martha .
The man's face lit up with relief when he caught site of the little girl.
A few steps later the man was picking Kaieri up and hugging her tightly to him.
Kaieri sniffled, hugging him tightly around the neck.
He was her father….