Author's Note: Nov 24th, 2011. Happy Thanksgiving! I am embarrassed that it's been so long since I tossed up another one of the Specials. So here, for everyone's enjoyment, is a little holiday treat.

This scene takes place right between stories 11 (Holding Out) and 12 (Unexpected). While the Elrics were enjoying their expanding family, and Jean Havoc and Heymans Breda were still very much single bachelor military officers... one rainy evening, Heymans Breda met a woman. For those of you who have read past that point, you will recognize her I expect. For those who have not... I won't say anything else. :) Enjoy!

October 12th, 1936

"See you tomorrow, Jean," Breda waved as he left the bar and headed back towards HQ and the NCO Quarters. He and Havoc had spent the last three hours just hanging out and killing time over dinner, beers, and a few rounds of pool. It wasn't glamorous, but it was enjoyable. Who ever thought Generals – or any military officers – lived stylish or high-class lives really didn't spend much time around Central Headquarters.

The night was damp and chilly and it was raining lightly. Breda was glad he'd brought his umbrella and thought to wear a coat over his sweater. Though with a warm meal inside him he didn't really care much about the chill. It took a lot for him to feel cold weather anyway.

He was about half way back to HQ when Breda saw someone standing on the sidewalk a little ahead of him. As he got a little closer he realized it was a woman who appeared to be waiting for a ride. Or so he assumed from the way she was searching the road. The coat she was wearing was obviously not meant to keep off the rain though, and she was quickly getting soaked.

Breda walked up and, without thinking to ask, held his umbrella over her. She was only about an inch shorter than he was, so it took little effort.

Startled, she looked up, and Breda couldn't help but notice that she wasn't just a woman waiting for a ride; she was a very beautiful woman waiting for a ride; dark brown hair, and similarly brown eyes, mid-thirties maybe early forties? Nice curves… Breda couldn't help a quick glance at her hands – no rings. "Thank you," she smiled after a moment. "My ride is late."

"So I gathered," Breda cleared his throat and tried to seem a little less abrupt. "I hope I'm not, you know, intruding or anything."

She smiled and shook her head. She had really nice teeth too. "No. I appreciate the gesture. But I should call. Do you know where there's a phone I could use?"

"There's not a public phone for blocks," Breda admitted, thinking for a moment. "Tony's got one he'll probably let you use though," he said, remembering his friend who owned a pasta restaurant less than a block away.

"A friend of yours?" The woman asked.

"We go back a ways," Breda smiled, trying to sound casual. He made a valiant attempt to suck in his gut, but three helpings of cheese-smothered fries betrayed him. Still, he tried. "It's just down the block. If you like I'll show you where it is."

"I'd like that," she smiled. "I'm Nancy," she added as she turned in the direction he gestured.

"Heymans," he replied.

Together they walked down the block to Tony's restaurant. It was late in the evening and it looked like the place was just getting ready to close. But Tony – a large black-haired man Breda's age – grinned when he spotted them. "Good evening! You don't usually come in so late."

Breda smiled apologetically. "Not here for dinner tonight, Tony. The lady needs to use a phone. Her ride's left her standing in the rain."

Tony tsked loudly. "Well we can't have that now. I have a phone in the back you are welcome to use, Madame."

"Thank you," Nancy said, and then vanished into the back with Tony, who came back out by himself a moment later, grinning.

"Nice girl, Breda. Yours or are you just playing the gallant stranger?"

"The latter for now I'm afraid," Breda shrugged. "I happened to run into her on the street, standing in the rain."

"But many good love stories start just like that," Tony grinned. "It's been a while since you've had a date my friend."

Breda sighed. "You don't need to tell me twice. You lucked out you know." Tony had been married for fifteen years to a lovely woman and had two sons.

Nancy returned a moment later, looking resigned. "The car is having problems. He'll be at least an hour."

"Who are you waiting for, Madame?" Tony asked politely.

"My son," she replied. "He and his wife are visiting in town."

Son…Breda felt his chance flapping its way out the window. At least until Tony spoke up. "And your husband cannot come get you?"

Nancy shook her head. "I'm not married," she explained simply, then shook her head. "I just don't know what I'm going to do for an hour."

"Tell you what," Tony grinned. "I won't lock the doors just yet. Why don't you sit down and wait where you can see?"

Nancy's face lit up. "Thank you. That's very kind."

"Not a problem at all," Tony said as he turned and went into the back. "I have a little more work to do this evening anyway."

When he was gone, Breda wasn't entirely sure what to do. Technically he was no longer needed. The phone had been found, call made, arrangements determined. She had a son, but she wasn't married; good information to have even if it made things more complicated than he'd hoped. Not that he thought he had a shot. Still, he hated to miss so blatant an opportunity! "Well I'm glad you were able to get things worked out." Did that sound as lame as he thought it did? He desperately hoped not.

"Thank you for the help tonight," Nancy was still smiling. "Without you I'd still be standing out in the rain."

"It was nothing," Breda smiled, abashed. "I couldn't just leave you like that. Hey, you want a cup of coffee or something? My treat."

He was braced for a polite refusal, but she surprised him. "I'd like that."

"Two coffees coming up!" Tony's voice came from the back.

Nancy's face flushed pink, and Breda wondered why as he bellowed back, "Whatever happened to customer privacy, Tony?"

"It's supplanted by quick service," the man countered.

"He's got me there," Breda chuckled, turning back to Nancy. "Please don't mind him, he's always like that." He turned and pulled out a chair at the nearest table that had a view of the street.

Nancy sat down then grinned coyly up at him as he stood there. "At ease, General."

What? "How'd you know?" Breda asked as he took the seat across from her.

Nancy chuckled. "You'll forgive me I hope, but you're rather distinctive. There just aren't that many men matching your description with the name Heymans; especially not in Central."

Now he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. It was a logical conclusion. "Please, just call me Heymans. Or Breda; everyone else does."

"All right," she smiled. "I hope it doesn't bother you that I recognized you."

"Nah," he shook his head. "It probably worked in my favor anyway. If you hadn't known who I was, would you have let me walk you anywhere or even stood under my umbrella?"

"Not likely," Nancy agreed as Tony brought out two cups of coffee, as well as sugar and cream. As used to the sludge of HQ as Breda was, he really preferred his coffee sweeter given the option. While he used copious amounts of both, he noticed that Nancy used only a little cream, no sugar, and sipped slowly. "I'm not used to getting picked up on the street by handsome men."

Breda felt his neck flush at the unexpected compliment. It had only gotten harder to get dates lately. About all he had going for him were brains and rank, and being a General seemed to bring out either the girls hunting status or scare them off completely. Either way it made for a lot of dateless nights. But here was a woman who didn't appear to be of either ilk. He smiled. "Thanks. Though I'm surprised it doesn't happen to you more often, a pretty girl like you."

It was Nancy's turn to blush, and she definitely looked beautiful doing it. "No one's called me a girl in years," she admitted. "I have a full grown son and I'm thirty-nine… for another month."

"No one's called me handsome in years," Breda countered, feeling on slightly surer footing. "I'm fifty, I can beat anyone in Central at any strategy game there is, but I'm about as athletic as a hibernating bear."

"If it makes you feel better, I'm known for having horrendously poor taste," Nancy replied, but she was obviously teasing. "My late husband had a crooked nose from a fight he got in years back. I thought it gave him character. I've always found men with minds extremely attractive." She actually winked at him.

"Lucky me." Breda was beginning to think he had to be hallucinating this. The woman was almost too good to be true! Still, there was one thing that bothered him, and he might be killing his chances with the question but… "What happened to him? Your husband I mean."

Nancy didn't look hurt or stung. "Johann Richards was a soldier, a Lieutenant, in the Drachman dispute. He was stationed at Briggs when we were married. Mitchell, my son, was ten at the time."

"I'm sorry to hear it," Breda replied. That had to have been hard. "So you moved to Central then?"

Nancy nodded and sipped her coffee. "I grew up in Central, so we came home. Mitchell and his wife live up in North City now. He's in real estate."

The conversation drifted. They talked about themselves a little more, but then the topic changes to other things; film, art, chess… food. They agreed on some things, not on others, but overall Breda was surprised at just how much they had in common. He was truly sorry when she looked up and spotted someone outside the window.

"That's Mitchell," she smiled, writing something quickly then standing to put her coat back on. Breda stood and held it for her. "Thanks again for the help, Heymans, and the coffee," she smiled.

"Anytime," he smiled. The hour had gone by far too quickly.

"That a promise?" she asked playfully as she reached out towards him.

Breda looked down, briefly confused as she slipped a piece of paper into his hand. "What's this?"

Nancy laughed; a bright, beautiful sound. "My phone number. How else are you ever going to ask me out on another date? Dinner next time? I get off work at five."

"Uhh…yeah," Breda grinned at the open invitation as he watched her head out the door. He stood there for several seconds, watching her hug the younger man who was obviously her son then get in the car. The car pulled away into the rainy fall night.

"Smooth moves, old dog," Tony chuckled. Breda hadn't even heard him walk up.

Breda chuckled, looking down at the note with the phone number on it. "I'm not sure who just got picked up tonight, man, her or me!"

Tony smiled. "Does it matter?"

"No, no it doesn't." Breda folded the slip of paper and stuck it carefully in his wallet. It was a safe bet that he'd be calling it tomorrow!