Author's Note: I'm not going to lie...this chapter is so cute and I love it. I makes up for the sorrow before and it really helps to give Maes some true personality other than his little boy cuteness. Anyways...this is a HUGE time jump and this will remain as the general time period for the rest of the story. There probably won't be anymore time skips that won't be more than a few months or so. Also...I swear if anyone draws fanart of the pairing below I would love them forever for it...just saying.

A sun filled morning blessed the Mustang household. A boy, well, now a man smiled as the sun hit his face, covering his eyes as he sat up in bed before he proceeded to brush back his black hair with his fingers. The man hopped out of bed and stretched, turning to face his window and glance at all of Amestris.

"Maes?" he heard a woman call out, "Are you up?"

"Coming, mom!" the man replied with a smile, walking out of his bedroom while following the sweet sent to the kitchen where he was greeted by his parents as well as a large breakfast.

Riza smiled at his son. "Oh how you have grown." she commented as she walked over to hug her tall child, "Happy eighteenth birthday, Maes."

He hugged his mother back, placing his hand atop his mother's blonde head, "Thanks, mom." he said with a smile, realizing then just how tall he had gotten.

He looked down on his mother, all he saw was her blonde hair that he had always loved. It had gotten long over the years. He observed her face as she looked up at her grown child, it had clearly seen many years of different experiences and was beginning to slowly age. This was the woman who granted him life eighteen years ago, this was the woman who gave him his eyes.

Maes directed his attention over to his father, or should he rather say, the Fuhrer. Even though he too was beginning to age, he couldn't help but admire the strength and power that he saw in this man. Here was the man that taught him to be who he was, and he couldn't appreciate it any more.

"Come now," Roy spoke, motioning his son to sit at the table, "Your mother and I made all this food. We shouldn't put it to waste!"

The two smiled at Roy making their way over to the table. Maes sat down across from his parents and began piling food onto his plate. "Thanks for all the food!"

"You need it to grow up strong." Riza commented, resting her hands underneath her chin.

Maes laughed, "I'm eighteen now, mom. I am pretty sure I am grown up now…but I'll accept the food anytime you want to make me some!"

His father chuckled along with the boy. "Anytime food is offered you take it. You have been raised well, my boy."

There was suddenly a knock on the door. Riza arose and walked over to answer it.

She was greeted by a young woman who was smiling and holding a basket. "Hello Aunt Riza." the girl said with a smile.

The woman was probably in her mid twenties by this point and was absolutely beautiful. Her hair was a dirty blonde and fell around her pretty face and down to her shoulders. Her eyes were large and a bright green and looked at though they were filled with joy and innocence.

"I'm amazed as to how much you look like your mother, Elicia." Riza commented with a smile.

Elicia giggled and held up the basket, "Is Maes still at home? My mother wanted me to drop off this gift for him."

"Is that Elicia?" Maes suddenly commented, his eyes sparkling.

Ever since he was in grade school, Maes had this undying crush on this girl. He didn't care that she was several years older than him, he knew that she was the one he was destined to end up with. The fact that the families were already close was simply an added bonus to him since it meant that he got more opportunities to visit her and get chances to talk to her.

He had spent his awkward teenage years trying to attempt at swooning the girl, and he was never sure if his efforts were futile. However, he was far from giving up, even though she kept telling him how she was too old for him. Fortunately for him, he was eighteen, which meant to him that he was finally old enough to be with this older woman.

Maes stumbled over to the door, his mother stepping out of the way to let her son by. She smiled at him as she walked back over to sit with her husband.

"H-Hey Elicia!" Maes said, trying to act cool as he leaned against the door frame.

"Hey, Maes." the young woman replied with a smile, her cheeks blushing a light pink as she looked to the ground.

He couldn't take how cute she was. It made him bubble with joy inside to see her become all bashful.

"Uh…um…" she fidgeted a bit before stiffly handing him the basket, "My mom and I baked some things for you!" she exclaimed, "I…I hope you like them!"

Maes smiled, his cheeks flushing as he took the basket. He appreciated the gesture, even though he knew Elicia couldn't bake to save her life and it was probably all her mother's doing, "Thanks!" he replied, pulling out a cookie and eating it. He then realized….Elicia was in fact the one to make it. He choked it down and smiled, "It's really good!"

She looked up, her eyes sparkling, "R-Really?" she asked, joy rising in her tone, "I'm glad you like them!"

"Yeah! They are great!" he lied. But anything that brought joy to her face, right? "Oh…we are having breakfast. Would you like to join us? There is plenty of food."

"Oh I would hate to impose…"

"No!" Maes stated, "You wouldn't be imposing at all! We would love to have you over for breakfast!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her inside of the house, smiling as she sat down at the table.

"Thank you for letting me join you." She said with a smile.

Roy smiled back at her. He was amazed as to how much she had grown as well. Now that he thought of it, had it really been so many years since the passing of his dear friend? He almost couldn't believe it.

Maes sat down next to Elicia, "Help yourself to anything!" he stated, as he put some food onto his plate.

She giggled at him as she took a piece of toast for herself, "So how does it feel to be eighteen, Maes?"

"It's great!" he said with a smile, looking at her.

Elicia giggled again, "I'm glad to hear that." she took a bite of the toast, "Oh…I was wondering…"

He looked at her, eggs handing out of his mouth, "Huh?"

"Do you by chance…" she fidgeted in her seat, her cheeks turning pink, "Want to spend the day with me? You know…hang out?"

Maes' eyes widened with joy as a smile crossed his face.

"A-As friends of course!" she added, waving her hands as her face flushed a brighter shade of pink.

He nodded as he swallowed the food in his mouth, "Y-Yeah! I would love to!"

Riza and Roy smiled at each other. Ah, to see young love. It reminded them a bit of everyone in their past, as to how the relationships that now existed this day had once formed all those years ago.

She leaned against her husbands shoulder. It was nice to see Maes this happy, it was comforting even. Her son had grown and was one day going to leave her, it was nice to know that he at least was leaving to be a part of a world where he found joy.