Meetings Bring Changes

Friday was usually Lucy's sleep in day. Her work was a ten minute walk away if she walked slowly, and it didn't start till one. But that morning, the day after her fight with Ace and her first meeting with the Tringham brothers, Edward was hammering at her door at eight in the morning.

"Lucy! C'mon Lucy! Wake up!"

He pressed his ear to the door. Nothing.

"LUCY!" he shouted, "open the damn door before I bust it open!"

Still nothing.

"You asked for it."

Clapping his hands together, he pressed them against the lock. There was a small popping sound and the door swung open. Clapping his hands together again, he fixed the lock, stormed into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. He walked straight over to the window and pushed the curtains open and turned to look for Lucy.

She was still in bed, curled up underneath her sheets, looking very small. He frowned. Edward knew that Lucy had a small slim build, but he had never thought that she was that small or skinny.

He grumbled to himself. "Come on!" he snapped at her, pulling her sheets back, only to have her curl up, on her left side he noted, even more, now shivering. It wasn't even that cold. "Look I don't have the time for this! You can get rid of me faster if you just get up."

There was a sort of inhuman groan, and Lucy sat up. Her normally straight hair was all over the place, sticking up at odd angles, most of it falling in her face, which he could not see properly.

"Wha' ya doin' aah s'rly," she mumbled, irritably.

"What?"

"Wha ya doin ahh s'rly!" she repeated, "no good in mornin's…" she added.

"I can see that," he sighed and walked over to the counter, "go wash your face, I'll make you a coffee-"

There was a sound of her slumping back to bed again. He turned around. She had literally just fallen back against her pillows, her coal black hair fanning out against the white pillow, her shock of silver standing out against the black of her hair more than ever. What was strangest of all was the fact that he could see her face, her entire face without her glasses.

He turned his attention back to her coffee, determined not to let curiosity get the better of him. It was unfair to take advantage of her when she was in such a state. He glanced back at her, then shook his head as he ducked to grab a carton of milk to add the the caffeinated beverage.

Adding the milk he then picked up the steaming mug and made his way over to her bed, setting the mug down on her bed side table.

It was strange seeing such a guarded girl so vulnerable all of a sudden. She didn't look innocent in her sleep. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Her mouth was set into a stubborn line and there was a small crease in her brow. But she did look softer, more gentle. The stubborn expression looked far more endearing than threatening. Without her glasses, Lucy looked a lot… younger, almost more approachable. Less threatening, less dangerous. The glasses were a symbol of her hiding something, without them, she was no longer hiding something.

It did help that she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt to bed, so the scar on her palm and her automail was no longer hidden as well. She was exposed. And probably to the one person she never wanted to be exposed to.

He frowned to himself. He wandered if she'd notice if he took a peek at her eyes. She'd never know… would she? She was dead asleep. Her breathing and slight snoring confirmed that. The question was… was it morally right.

Then again… it was all apart of her hiding something. He's trust her better if he could see what she was hiding.

Carefully, he sat beside her, leaning over to get a better look. Then-

"Move any closer and die," she said carefully.

Edward practically jumped off the bed, finding himself on the floor. "You were awake?!"

"On'y when yer sa' on tha' bed," she grumbled, her speech evidently still quite confused, "yer too cur-us."

"You mean curious."

"'at's wha' sed…"

"I give up," Edward got off the floor rolling his eyes as Lucy sat up reaching for her glasses. He sighed and handed them to her off the floor, "just drink your coffee and talk to me."

"Why a' this time? I's like s'v'n am!"

"Eight actually, and ten past now. I've got work today, a mission actually."

"Which's?"

"Just have to help transport something to the museum, important artefact or something. That's besides the point, I need to be there at the office at nine at the latest, and you've got work till late- it's the only time I've got to question you."

The girl growled as she sipped at the coffee. Then looked surprised. "You make g'd coffee… kinda makes up for being woken up so'rly…" Her speech had finally come back.

"Well… if it makes the situation any sweeter I guess it can't be a bad thing."

"Go on," she yawned, "fire away."

"I'm… kinda curious as to how you got the scar on you right palm."

Lucy looked at it, flexing her hand a little. "Really?"

"Yeah… Kimblee had tattoos on his palms… but a scar?"

She put her mug down and put both her hands out, showing him the engraving on her automail. "Both," she said tiredly, "scars on both."

"H… how?"

She sighed. "All right… I'm not refusing this question out right? I just think it's too early in the morning for me to tell you- for now," she interrupted him as he opened his mouth to complain, "so ask me on Sunday or something, when we've both got more time, and I'm fully conscious…"

Edward looked at her, and sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "All right… you win…" he rolled his eyes, as she picked up her coffee again, sipping it, "then tell me this… what were you doing in Lior, before you came here I mean. Lior's closest to Ishbal, I would have thought you went there first."

"Oh I did," she replied, patting the bed in front of her indicating that he should sit down, he did, hesitantly, "when I was eight. I figured it was about time to go back… eleven years is a long time… places change… and Lior went through a lot."

'Yeah…' thought Edward irritably, 'and I sparked it…'

"So I figured it was time to go back, for a little anyway. It was there I made up my mind that it was time that I found a place to call home. I just felt… a bit lost. I had met up with a few… a few friends, and they had settled down most of them, at least had a proper job and everything. So I decided it was time I faced my demons and make a home here. I still want to travel, don't get me wrong. But I want to be able to say 'Hummm… I've been here long enough… time for me to go home.' You know?"

Edward hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah I guess I do…"

"Answer your question?"

"Yeah… and this time I got a little more than what I asked for."

"Well I guess you have been patient, " she smiled at him, drinking more, "oh I meant to ask, hows your investigations going?"

"Not badly actually," he shrugged, then chuckled to himself, "weird isn't it?"

"What is?"

"I'm interrogating you on your terms and we discuss my investigation of you… it's the weirdest investigation of a person I've ever done."

Lucy laughed, "yes well, most investigations don't happen when a person is still in their pyjamas and she's involved with the investigators family."

"That's true," Edward couldn't help but smile, "weirder still… I don't really mind."

"So… you trust me?"

"I don't think you're a threat…"

"But you think I might be dangerous."

Edward just looked at her. "You were ready to take on six guys all of whom were twice your height and weight yesterday… I think I can safely say you are dangerous."

She paused. "Might be a complement…"

Edward just laughed. "I meant to tell you by the way," he realised he hadn't told her about her father. She was probably just as curious about her parentage as he was. "Your father's alchemist name? It wasn't the Chemical Alchemist, it was the Azure Alchemist, specialising in chemical alchemy. It was a joke name he gave himself… probably what he called himself at home… but with the military it was associated with more leisurely times with him and died with him."

"Oh…" Lucy looked thoughtful, "does explain a lot…"

"He was more famous than you give him credit for," he added, almost comfortingly, without quite knowing why, "he was good at what he did and he was well liked. Well… according to Mustang anyway."

"You found out from Mustang?"

"Yeah," Edward frowned a little bit, suddenly becoming suspicious himself. "It's odd, he seems to have taken your case rather personally. He claims he has a lead on you as well…" He looked at Lucy. She had suddenly sat straighter, her coffee was finished, she looked more awake. "Lucy?"

"I want to see him. Mustang. I want to see him."

"Why?"

"I just have to."

"But-"

"Edward," she looked at him, "please… don't ask… I just… I have to see him…"

"I…" he paused then sighed hanging his head. He got up, and took the mug off her. "I have to be at the office at nine, so we need to leave in at least half an hour-"

"I just need fifteen minutes," she told him. Almost without meaning to she jumped up and hugged him, "thank you," she said, then let him go.

Edward blinked in surprise. "I'll… uh… wait outside," he said quietly, putting the cup down on the counter before walking out, utterly bemused. Now Lucy had confused him.

*

Half an hour later, Lucy and Edward were standing outside Mustangs's office. Lucy looked paler than usual, her hands were shaking, that included her automail hand.

"Look," Edward said suddenly, "I don't know why you're doing this, but you don't have to if you don't want to. You might not be-"

But she had already reached out and knocked on the door.

Inside they heard a muffled talking.

"Who the hell knocks?"

"Someone polite."

"Just answer the door."

"Can't they open it-"

"YES!" a voice boomed over the top of all the voices.

Lucy seemed to freeze. Edward sighed, and pushed the door open for her, placing a hand firmly on her back and pushing her in gently.

"Yes mi- Ed!" Falman greeted the youngest member of their team happily, "why'd you knock?"

"I didn't, she did," Edward replied dryly, "she was too stubborn to let me help her."

At this, Mustang looked up. His black eyes immediately fixed on the dark girl standing beside the Fullmetal Alchemist. Behind her dark glasses, it seemed she had not even looked at him yet. Instead, she was looking around the room, assessing the people within the room. It seemed Falman had passed, as had Hawkeye and Fuery. Havoc on the other hand was under scrutiny.

"So who is this?" asked Breda, leaning back in his chair.

"Lucy," she said simply, looking over at the scruffy man, "I'm sure Edward's told you about me."

Breda's eyes opened wide, as did Falman and Fuery. It was Hawkeye that spoke for them.

"He has," she said gently, "it's good to finally meet you."

Lucy grinned lopsidedly, and bowed at the waist respectfully. "Same here, Lieutenant Colonel." She stood. "I've heard a lot about all of you… though I don't see Sheska here."

"She's doing some… research," said Falman tentatively.

"On the Azure Alchemist?" Lucy asked innocently, "I must say I'm interested as well. I'm looking forward to what she has to say about my father."

The room went quiet for a moment, Edward felt like hitting his head on the nearest wall. This woman was utterly incorrigible and completely impossible to predict. Outside, Edward had been certain she'd have been quiet. Now she was freaking the team out quite effectively.

"As am I," Mustang said, sullenly, "hello miss Lucy."

She snapped her attention to the Brigadier General. "Second Lieutenant Mustang," she said, smirking, "well… not any more… not for a long time I guess, Brigadier General now isn't it?"

"Yes."

"I wander what dad would have to say about it," she chuckled, "kept calling you a reckless rookie with too many ideals from what I remember."

"He shared many of them," Mustang shrugged.

"I know… I'm a product of that aren't I?"

Mustang frowned. "It's strange… you are very similar to your father… and your uncle, but at the same time very different."

"I had my mother to thank for that… you never met her though I suppose."

"No… I did… once… while she was pregnant with you…"

There was a moment's quiet as Mustang and Lucy practically glared at each other from across the room. The tension in the room was almost solid.

"Hawkeye," Mustang said suddenly, "might I have a private word with miss Lucy."

"Uh…" for a moment the normally very sure woman looked surprised, then she nodded. "of coarse sir. Come on men," she added to the rest of the team.

One by one the five males in the room and Riza Hawkeye left, closing the door very solidly behind them.

Lucy and Mustang had not moved a muscle.

"I had been wandered when you would come to see me," Mustang said gently, it was out of character for him to talk in such a way… but faced with the embodiment of his past, it was understandable.

"Really? I would have thought you were dreading it. Wouldn't it be understandable that I would want my revenge on the military?"

"Yes…" nodded Mustang, he leaned forwards, his fingers locked together his elbows on the table, "yes very. But as I said… you are like your father and uncle… you are not so irrational."

She smirked. "That's true… so why not throw Edward off my scent."

"Impossible," dismissed Mustang, "the boy is like a dog with a bone, he will not let it go until he's gotten to the bottom of the mystery. Here… you are the mystery." Mustang frowned. "You are nothing how I imagined you…"

"Neither were you."

"Were?"

"I saw you at…" she paused, and suddenly looked away. Mustang was surprised, it was clear that it was emotion taking over, he never had her down as someone who would succumb to emotion easily. She took a shaky breath and spoke again. "I saw you at uncle Maes funeral."

"You were there?"

"I was hiding… I've gotten used to that."

"Why didn't you come forwards? Gracia needed you-"

"I couldn't… I couldn't bring myself to face her."

"Why not me? I'm sure you heard of me from Maes."

"Often," she smiled bitterly, "he told me of your reasons for climbing to the top, of how he'd support you, of how dad would have too." She sighed. "I didn't know who you were… until only you and miss Riza were the only ones left did I figure it out. But I was just your friend's niece."

"You're wrong."

Lucy frowned taking a step forwards. She wasn't used to people telling her she was wrong. "I am?"

"Maes Hughes was my best friend, I almost gave up my goal to avenge his death… Gracia told me that was not the way to go. Besides that… you were his first daughter. Whether he told you or not, to him you were his first daughter, and to Elysia you were an absent big sister. You might not know it, but Maes made me promise a long time ago, before Elysia, when you were born, to help look after his children and he would help look after mine. You count as one of those in the promise."

"Why?"

"I told you… Maes saw you as his daughter, not just as a niece…"

In the morning light Mustang could make out a single glittering tear on Lucy's cheek that she moved to wipe away immediately. She murmured something to herself, that he couldn't hear. He didn't want to.

"Why did you come and see me Lucy? It wasn't just for a morning chat."

She shook her head, it seemed she was unable to talk. She took a deep breath and walked forwards to stand before his desk.

"Edward told me of a lead you had, to make sure of my identity."

"That was before you came to see me."

"It was auntie Gracia wasn't it?"

Mustang hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. She kept all of your old pictures."

"Why?"

"Why? What do you mean why? You may never have met her, but she wanted you to be apart of her life, and Elysia's, she knew how Maes saw you, and wanted to make it official. She wanted to find you and adopt you as her own, even before Maes death, but even more afterwards."

Lucy looked shocked. "You… you can't tell her I'm here," she stated, "you can't."

"Why not?"

"I want to see her… myself, on my own terms."

Mustang stared at her. Then understood. She wasn't ready to see her family yet. She had been a lone for so long she was used to being on her own and relying on herself. Making herself known to her family… that would mean she had well and truly made her roots in Central, Mustang wasn't sure she was ready for it, whether she knew it or not.

"All right," nodded Mustang, "I owe your family a lot… I guess I can pay them back at least a little this way."

There was a moment's quiet, then suddenly Lucy grinned. It was a proper, friendly, humorous grin. It was quite strange… her father and uncle had never really looked all that similar but for their eyes, but when they grinned they looked positively identical. While Lucy looked like a combination between her father and mother, when she grinned, she looked just like her father and Maes. It was incredible. Mustang felt his mind racing through all his memories with Maes and his cousin… no… his brother when they had grinned in such a manner. He had never thought for a moment that a girl like Lucy would have been able to do that.

"Lucy," he said suddenly, "what is your real name? I only remember your nick name, and even that wasn't Lucy. What was your real name?"

"You really want to know?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes."

His onyx eyes watched those dark glasses steadily.

"Let me ask you something," Lucy said slowly, removing her glasses slowly, her eyelids lowered so her irises couldn't be seen, "you saw all the pictures of when I was little right?"

"Of coarse… this is Maes we're talking about, he had a new picture of you every few weeks."

"So… you know my biggest secret."

Mustang paused, then understood and nodded. "Yes."

She looked up at him. Eyes unadorned by the dark glasses. "Am I that same little girl in those pictures?"

"You know… in some ways you are- but you've definitely grown up a lot since the last pictures I saw. It's unmistakable."

"And you want to know my name?" she watched him steadily, adjusting to the fact that he hadn't reacted badly to her face without glasses.

He nodded curtly. She leaned forwards over the desk and whispered in his ear.

*

Outside the others has dispersed. Edward on the other hand had stayed outside pacing back and forth. He was agitated and could not stop moving. He wasn't even sure what he was nervous about, but he sure as hell was nervous.

"Edward?" came a gentle voice.

Edward jumped and spun round his golden eyes as wide as dinner plates. "Gracia! I thought you were out of town!"

Gracia laughed. "Thank you Edward, I missed you too."

"Oh I'm sorry," he blushed, "I'm just a little on edge… and surprised to see you actually. Why are you back so early."

"Well…" Gracia looked a little exasperated, looking up at Edward, finding it a little strange that she had to, she still remembered him as a short sixteen year old boy, "Elysia likes my sister about as much as I do," she sighed, "and her cousins are… somewhat… uh… spoiled. So… the visit was cut short… rather dramatically."

Edward couldn't help it, he started laughing. "How rude was she?" he asked.

"I'll put it this way… I blame you for some of the language she's picked up," Gracia made a face as Edward flushed red.

"Yeah…" he stuck his hand behind his head in embarrassment, "short remarks still get to me…"

"Well you're hardly short now… my neck hurts when ever I look up at you."

Edward laughed nervously. The frowned. "Uh… Gracia, not to be rude but what are you doing here?"

"Oh, Roy asked me to come and see him when I got back. He wanted to see these," she held up her hand. It was a large envelope, filled with papers or something.

"What is it?"

"Just pictures of my niece," she smiled,but the smile was bitter sweet, as though the memories of this niece were still somewhat painful. "Well… Maes' niece anyway. No…" she trailed off, "that's not right either. She was his cousin's daughter, his cousin was more like his brother. But he died fourteen years ago… I think the girl was about five at the time. Afterwards Maes sort of took over being her father. Especially after her mother died. But she never came to Central, he always wanted her to come and live with us, but she was a stubborn girl. Like her father- her fathers."

Gracia sighed. "I'm hoping Mustang's got a lead on her, I've wanted her to come and live with us since her mother died, even before then if I'm being really honest. She lived in Ishbal, her mother was an Ishballan, and it was no place for a young girl. Then after Maes died, I was even more adamant. I couldn't go visit her like Maes could, I didn't have government funding for those trips and with Elysia being so young… so I wanted her to be here." She frowned at Edward's expression. "Edward? Are you all right?"

He looked a combination between confusion, understanding and unbelieving. The story sounded oddly familiar. A little too familiar if he was being honest.

"Uh… May I have a look at the pictures?" he asked, "Mustang did say something about a private mission he had."

"Sure," Gracia beamed, "she looks like a perfect combination between both her parents, apart from her skin tone of coarse. But when she grins, she looks just like Maes."

Edward's hand was shaking a little as he took out the pictures. Immediately he almost dropped them.

The first was of a baby girl. She was fast asleep in her father's arms. The man was solidly built, like Maes had been, with pitch black hair and a clean shaven face. But the family similarity between the men was unmistakable. But the baby girl… even as a baby she had a shock of silver running through her hair. Her skin was much dark than her father's fair skin. But the man looked so proud the father daughter relationship was unmistakable.

"That's Blake," said Gracia suddenly, "the Azure Alchemist. Bit odd isn't it? Having both Alchemy and Ishballan as her heritage."

"Yeah…" he said distractedly, "odd…"

As the pictures progressed he saw the girl growing up from being a toddler to being about three. So far there had not been a picture of her with her mother, but there had been several with Maes and her father. In one picture, when the girl was about three, the three of them were grinning at the camera with identical grins.

One thing he did notice as he went through the pictures, there was not one picture where he could see her eyes properly. She was either covering them or smiling too boardly.

Then he came across when, from when she was about five where she was sticking her tongue out at the camera, her finger at her right eye. It was bright red, like any Ishballan's. He paused, frowning at the picture, but moved on.

Later, when she had clearly turned about six or seven, she looked a little more sullen and she had taken to wearing dark glasses, at all times it seemed, and her father had disappeared from the pictures. Clearly taken after her father's death.

He came across one photo where the girl was asleep, on a woman's lap, the woman had her hand stroking the girl's dark thick hair, reading a book. The woman was slimly built like her daughter, with finely drawn features for an Ishballan, her red eyes as bright as the red eye he had seen on the younger girl. And like her daughter, she had a shock of silver running through her hair, on the right side. Her face was clearly concentrating hard on the book in hand.

Later the woman was in more and more of the pictures, she never seemed to be smiling properly unless she wasn't aware that the camera was there.

But when the girl looked about eight, even she disappeared. And now the girl had an automail arm and only wore long jeans or dungarees. But Maes still appeared in many of the pictures. The girl would sometimes appear to be angry or sullen, but when she was with Maes she still looked happy.

The very last picture was of when she was about ten or eleven. She was with Maes again, Maes was holding her, the two were grinning at the camera again, her temple was against his head. Her auotmail arm was on show and wrapped around her uncle's neck, her shock of silver falling in her face.

"Is that all?" he asked, jokingly, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Goodness me no," laughed Gracia, "Maes loved taking pictures, these are just a few I picked out. I liked the ones of her smiling so I brought them. Her more recent pictures are back home, Elysia refused to give them up." She sighed. "Elysia sees her cousin as her big sister that she's never met. Her father talked about her all the time, telling her that she couldn't wait for the two to meet. After Maes… died, I carried it on, I couldn't help it. I know all the stories about her off by heart." She made a face. "But I lost track of her after she turned fifteen. Maes last visit was when she turned fifteen."

"Th- that's a shame," Edward said simply, "it would be nice for an orphan to have a family."

"Yeah… you obviously know from experience."

"Yeah…" he trailed off, "I have a big family now…"

Gracia nodded, and went up on tip toe to kiss his forehead. "And I'm glad to be apart of it."

"I'm glad too…" he shook his head, "listen, Mustang is going to be a while, he threw us out of his office to have this meeting. If you want I can tell him you visited and give him the photos."

"Would you? That would be fantastic. I've left Elysia with Rose, but I know what happens when you put her with Leo."

Edward paled. "Poor Rose…"

Laughing Gracia nodded. "Very true, I'll just swing by later and find out what he wanted."

"I'll tell him."

"And Edward, you bring Winry and Al over tonight, you haven't visited us for ages."

"Yeah I know. I will I promise," he grinned, bending to kiss Gracia's cheek.

The older woman waved good bye as she left. Edward watched her leave then practically stormed into the office again just as Lucy retreated away from Mustang, her glasses back on over her eyes.

"Fullmetal, did I say you could come back in."

"No, sir," he replied stonily, "but it's almost half nine and I need to be briefed on my next mission, and Lucy has sleep to catch up on."

"I do?" she asked dryly.

"You were complaining enough this morning," he snapped.

"I always complain one someone barges into my room," she sighed, "jeez what crawled up your ass and died…"

His eyes were on fire when he looked at her.

She held her hands up in surrender. "I get it I get it, get out Lucy, I'm off." She muttered darkly under her breath. "See you later Elric," she grumbled, "bye Mustang."

"Good bye Lucy," he stated, stoically.

Lucy waved over her shoulder as she walked out the door, pulling out her packet of cigarettes again taking one out.

As the door closed behind her, Edward stormed over to Mustang's desk and slammed the pictures on down.

"Explain," he snarled.

"Explain what?"

Edward picked up the last picture of Maes and Lucy. "This!" he picked up another when the girl was about eight or nine, her face screwed up in anger as she crossed her arms, "and this," and finally the one of Maes, Blake and Lucy, "and this!"

"Ah…" he said dryly, "you met Gracia…"

"Yeah, she came back early. Are you going to explain or not?"

"What's there to explain?"

"Lucy is Gracia and Maes' niece! He was practically her father! They wanted to adopt her! And you're telling me you know nothing about her!"

"I wasn't sure it was her."

"And now you are?"

"Yes…" Edward looked at him expectantly. "What? You don't expect me to give up that girl's secrets without her consent? I wasn't even sure it was her! Mixes are more common than you think!"

"You lied," he hissed, "you knew exactly who she was."

Mustang shook his head. "Not exactly…"

"What do you mean?"

"Maes was my best friend, yes, of that much I am guilty… but I never met her. I met her mother only once. And her father was my superior. I only knew him through hearsay and Maes. I'm not even sure if he liked me that much. So I can't remember much about her… I can't even remember her real name. And the last picture I saw of her was when she was fifteen. I don't know everything, I still don't."

Edward frowned, having calmed down. "So now what? Is she in the clear?"

"More or less yes… she is no threat. She's too much like her uncle and father… too rational… too much love for human life. But I know you as well… you won't stop till you get to the bottom of it."

Edward grinned wickedly. "Yeah, you got that much right. So she's no longer under surveillance."

"Not in so many words, no. But…" he paused. "Apart from your transportation mission today, you don't have any other missions do you?"

"No… I don't like where this is going."

"Believe me neither do I," sighed Mustang, "Lucy doesn't want to meet Gracia yet, between you and me, I think she's too scared to. You're mission is to make sure they don't bump into each other."

"Easier said than done, Gracia's practically adopted me and Al, and Elysia half sees Winry as a big sister!"

"I know it's going to be a problem, but you've been in more dangerous situations, you'll sort it out."

Edward made a face. "I wouldn't be so sure…" sighed the young man. A thought struck him. "Hang on… if he was mr Hughes cousin… then isn't Lucy's father's name Blake Hughes?"

Mustang shook his head. "Blake and Maes were cousins on their mother's side, their mothers were twins. Hence why those two look more similar than cousins."

"Hummm… but it does give me a route to find out more," murmured Edward, then shook his head. "That aside, this new mission."

"Ah, right."

*

That evening, Lucy seemed to be in a better mood. No one was complaining of coarse, but they were confused. She smiled more at the customers, she took the nasty or uncalled for remarks and ignored them, she was generally just nicer to people she wouldn't necessarily have been nice to.

"Lucy, sweetheart, what happened to you?" asked Marie grinning as Lucy came back with almost a swing in her hips.

"I don't know what you're talking about," shrugged Lucy almost giggling.

"You're in a good mood!"

"Is that illegal?"

"No… you're just being nice to the assholes."

"What can I say?" she shrugged, "it's a friday night, they're allowed." She smirked. "Though they might have to look out when they seem me and they're sober."

Marie stopped. "I guess some things are too good to ask for… you're a nice girl, but you're damn harsh."

Lucy laughed, "get used to Marie baby."

"Excuse me!" called a male voice, "we're ready to order here."

"Coming sweetie," Lucy called over her shoulder winking at Marie. Marie just laughed shaking her head.

As the night progressed, Lucy's mood did not waver. Even the regular's commented on it, she just laughed it off and asked them what they wanted. More than once she had been asked to join a party of some kind, she just laughed and told them some other time.

At one point her friend Harry commented her boyfriend would be jealous if he knew what was happening.

"It's a damn good thing I don't have one," she beamed, leaning on the counter having been put on cashier duty for the remainder of her shift.

"You sure? Coz there's someone over there that I recognise."

"Where?" she looked up.

"Over there."

She frowned. Edward sat with Winry looked a little dishevelled. "Yeah… yeah that's my boyfriend with a girl with him…"

"Wha'… oh… right…" Harry looked sheepish, "hey I'm allowed to try and annoy you aren't I?"

"Ain't gonna work when I'm a good mood," she stuck her tongue out at him, "besides, Edward's in love with her, it's cute but I'd wish he'd admit it already. Do me a favour and go ask them if they want food? And give 'em a good deal for yeah? Win's an automail mechanic, but she's a little too generous when it comes to her prices. And Ed gets paid by the state… it's a little pathetic pay if I'm being honest."

"All right, you look after your friends don't you."

The word friends seemed to strike her. She hesitated then smiled softly. "Yeah… I guess I do…"

She watched as Harry walked over to the pair, then nodded over at Lucy. As Winry looked over to her and Edward turned in his seat, Lucy raised a hand in greeting. Winry tried to call her over, but Lucy shook her head pointing to the cashier. Winry rolled her eyes, but nodded. Edward frowned at her, but turned away as Winry turned her attention to Harry, handing him a note.

The pair ordered, and Harry walked back dropping the note next to Lucy's elbow.

"You're right about those two," he added as he walked passed, "it's a shame that the girl is totally oblivious."

"What?" Lucy looked round in surprise, "what's that mean?"

"You haven't noticed?" Harry shrugged, "you'll see."

Lucy frowned, but turned her attention to the note Winry had sent her.

'I'd forgotten you work late on a friday! We'll wait for your shift to finish all right?'

Lucy looked up to where Winry was watching her, she grinned at her friend and nodded, then snapped her attention to the customer standing in front of her.

"Hi, how may I help?" she asked brightly.

Meanwhile, Winry turned her attention back to Edward.

"What did you want?" he asked.

"You've been acting strange since you got back from your mission today."

"I have? The mission went smoothly."

"And you haven't been able to look Gracia in the face."

Edward stared at her, trying to feign innocence. It clearly wasn't working.

"Ed… you've been investigating Lucy haven't you?"

He blinked. "Where'd that come from?"

"You think I haven't noticed the time you've spent with her? Normally I'd suspect something romantic, but the way you treat her or talk to her is nothing like how you've tried to cover your past relationships."

Edward muttered darkly about how Winry knew too much.

"Why?"

"Why what?" he asked.

"Investigate her."

"Because… I… she…" he sighed, "not everything about her adds up you know. So I wanted to get to the bottom of it."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Not the alchemist though."

"Don't get smart."

"What's brought this on anyway," grumbled Edward, privately he'd been hoping for a nice quiet evening with Winry. Though he refused to acknowledge why.

"Just the way you've been. It's like you've been on edge! It's not like you Ed, I haven't seen you like this since your search for the philosophers stone."

"Shhht!" hissed Edward.

"Yes yes I know I know. But it's true. You pounce on information you can. And… besides…"

"What?"

"I saw you staring at the picture as well."

He hesitated. "What?"

"That one of that little girl grinning, showing off her lost tooth… with dark skin, black hair with a lock of silver running through it… the one next to mr Hughes, Gracia and Elysia on the mantle piece."

Cursing inwardly, Edward had forgotten how observant Winry could be.

"What's that got to do-"

"Lucy you moron, you know more than I do, and I'm starting to catch on."

He paused again, then looked away. He glanced over at Lucy who had been sent to a table to collect an order. She laughed a little, laying a small hand on the man's shoulder causing him to flush red. He was drunk, and she was taking advantage of it. Edward wasn't sure if he wanted to involve Winry… it could ruin her friendship with Lucy… even if she was aware of the fact that Lucy was hiding things from her.

"Winry…" he said slowly, "do me a favour."

"What?" she snapped.

He looked at her, her blue eyes were on fire as she stared at him. "Could… could you just drop it?"

"No."

"What!" He had expected resistance, but not out right refusal. Not from Winry! She was more reasonable that that.

"I said no. I know you're just trying to protect me or what ever, but it's not going to work. I want to know now as well. Lucy's my friend," she paused "at least I think she is… and I want to know about her too. And not because I want to investigate her. I don't care what I find out, it'll just mean I understand more. I don't think there is anyway I can hate her."

Edward sighed. The stubbornness had kicked in. "But Wi-"

"No buts. I'm doing this because I want to. And there's nothing you or anyone can do about it."

And Edward snapped. He didn't understand why Winry was being so unreasonable. "Fine," he snarled, "just fine! Do what you want, I don't care. Just do me one favour, I promised Mustang I would not let Gracia see, meet or even hear of Lucy until Lucy was ready, so in all your curiosity, you keep that promise to. Not for my sake, for your so-called friend over there."

With that he stood up and stormed out. Leaving Winry looking utterly lost. She had expected annoyance. Not anger. But then again, that aspect of Edward never changed. He reacted quite violently to almost everything.

"Hey," Lucy had walked over, "what was that about?"

"You know what? I have no idea," sighed Winry, "he'll come around though, he's just more emotional than most guys."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Really? I haven't noticed."

Winry laughed. "Yeah but that's Ed, it takes him a while to really be comfortable around people." She sighed and shook her head. "I think I'd better make that meal one to go."

"Yeah sure hun, I'll get onto it," she paused and glanced at the clock in the corner, "look I get off in about an hour, but I can get Marie to cover for me all right? I'll take you home."

"I'll be fine-"

"No, I'll take you home, we can have a bit of a girl night."

"But work-"

"I don't start till one."

"You're worse than me."

"I know," she smiled at the blonde, "give me five minutes."

"All right," Winry sighed.

Lucy grinned and got up to leave for the back, explaining what had happened to Marie quickly. Winry caught sight of Marie nodding, glancing at her. She raised a hand in acknowledgement.

As she thought about it, Winry made her decision. She would look into Lucy's past. But just because she wanted to know. She knew Lucy wasn't her real name, or that she hadn't been straight about everything in her past. She didn't hold it against her though. She obviously wanted to leave her past behind. Winry had decided… what ever she found out, would do nothing to effect her relationship with the girl. What ever that was… three weeks wasn't long enough to decide… but it was long enough for her to know she didn't want Lucy to leave any time soon.

She just hoped Lucy felt the same.

Just as she had promised, Lucy was out in five minutes, hold a bag of her and Ed's meal, smiling at her.

"C'mon girly," she beamed, "if Edward's not going to appreciate it, then I will."

Winry laughed. She hadn't known Lucy long, but at least she could make her laugh.