Author's note: Thanks to Turtlequeen2 for all of her help with this chapter. Enjoy the read everyone!

The next morning Rosette was ready to do battle. Her short red hair looked neatly brushed back and her uniform freshly pressed. Her grey eyes burned with the light of battle, and she didn't acknowledge any of the officers she passed in the hallway. If she was worried about her punishment or lost any sleep over Roy's lecturing the night before, Rosette didn't show it. As a small act of defiance, she purposely knocked on the Fuhrer's door five minutes before the time he had ordered her to be there by, greeting the secretary with the barest of nods.

The beautiful brown-haired secretary looked slightly bemused at Rosette's timing, not sure if the Fuhrer was finished with his conversation with the other man inside of the office. When the younger woman's eyes weren't on hers, the secretary smirked. 'If Pride thinks that this girl will apologize for what she did, he better think again...'

Envy, who was currently engaged in a conversation with Pride, stiffened immediately upon hearing the knock on the door. 'Of course she would come early!' he mentally growled, knowing very well who it was. Using his agile speed, he quickly transformed from his original homunculus form into his most frequently used human disguise.

The aging homunculus merely raised his eyebrow, already sitting behind his desk and prepared for whatever the human had to throw at him. "You may come in," he remarked.

Rosette opened the door and rolled into the room, saluting sharply, battle light making her gray eyes blaze.

Envy mentally cringed upon seeing the look on the woman's face. '...I need to remember not to piss her off while I'm in this form...' he remarked to himself while silently standing beside the Fuhrer's desk.

"You requested to see me sir?" Her voice was mild.

King Bradley gave no reaction to her simmering fury, but rose from his chair. "Yes," he answered. "As you already know from yesterday, I plan to not let your actions go unpunished."

"As I said, I accept full responsibility."

The Fuhrer nodded his head. "And as much as I dislike doing this, I must ensure that the public takes notice of this as well," he remarked in a stern tone. "I do not want anyone to think that such behavior is tolerable in this military or country."

"I understand, Sir. However, if I hadn't acted, the party would have become a bloodbath."

"I am also aware of this," King Bradley replied, "Which is why I didn't have you arrested for outright treason." Narrowing his visible eye, he added, " I have made multiple decisions. The first of which is that you will be moved to a place of residence I choose for you for a period of time."

Rosette narrowed her eyes. "Roy won't like that at all."

"The Colonel doesn't have to like my decision to abide by my orders," the Fuhrer said in a serious tone, implying that when it came down to it, Roy had to follow his commands.

"That's true," The redhead replied, though her tone said she didn't quite believe him.

"You are also not allowed to travel unless under my direct orders," the Fuhrer continued. "Until you pass the State Alchemist exam, I will not authorize you permission to use alchemy in public or allow you move from that place I picked out for you."

"State Alchemist Exam?!" Rosette all but yelled. "Why am I taking that?"

Mark also narrowed his eyes out of impulse. 'What the hell is he thinking?!' he mentally growled. 'How would making her a 'dog of the military' help with our plans?!'

"I don't need to take an exam to use alchemy. If that were the case, you would have to round up every other alchemist and make the exam a requirement for using alchemy, not just for entry in the military," The redhead continued, thinking fast.

The aging homunculus's eye narrowed even more. "You need to be trained properly before you end up hurting yourself!" he snapped. Moving out from behind his desk, he walked towards her and reached a hand down to cup under her chin. "I do not wish to see you put yourself into such danger again unless I'm certain that you're able to control such abilities."

Rosette looked surprised that the Fuhrer had her chin in his hand. "The amount of blood I give as an offering is controlled, only a little is needed depending on what I'm doing. My alchemy is much more personal than the type you are taught." She shrugged. "Think of it as equivalent exchange taken to the next level."

Kind Bradley slow drew his hand away from her chin as he absorbed her words. "Regardless, I am not changing my decision."

"There are exceptions to any rule. Sometimes it is better to figure things out on your own before you decide to see the rulebook. I can think for myself and I don't worry about what 'everyone' else says."

"Admirable traits," the aging leader remarked. Looking over at Mark who surprisingly had chosen to remain silent for the entire duration, he explained, "As for your housing arrangements, I have chosen your bodyguard to live with you for security purposes."

Now she suddenly noticed 'Mark' standing there for the first time. However, she was eyeing him as though her bodyguard and the Fuhrer had each spouted second heads. "Duel houses?" She asked.

"Of course not," the Fuhrer replied, trying not to show his amusement to her reaction. "However, you two will each get your own room."

"Locks on the bedroom doors?"

"Yes," King Bradley answered with a nod.

She ran her head though her hair. "Maybe I won't die after all..." Rosette muttered.

Envy looked incredulously at his superior, only acting the part since he'd already been told of this before Rosette even walked through the door. "Me living with her?" he murmured in shock. "Isn't this a bit unorthodox?"

"I'd understand if we were living in the same house on separate floors, but the way you've appeared to arrange things, people are going to talk and think that something's going on."

The stern look returned to the Fuhrer's face multifold. "Unless you want to actually wed Lieutenant Stone, there should be no problem. Colonel Mustang can't keep a watch over you for the rest of your life nor are you technically in the military so such conduct would be acceptable."

Rosette's answer was to raise her eyes to the sky and murmur something in Ishballan. From the tone of it, it was a plea for understanding and patience. Turning her attention back to the Fuhrer she merely said: "Yes Sir."

Envy was immediately able to pick up on Rosette's words and withheld the urge to laugh. Since she wasn't to know that he could understand Ishballan as a "human," he kept his silence.

King Bradley shook his head slightly, his sternness beginning to evaporate. "You will move within a few days," he stated. "Unless you have any questions, you two are dismissed."

"Are you informing Roy of this or am I?" The redhead asked.

"I'll give you the courtesy of doing that," the Fuhrer answered, patting the girl's head as if she were his own daughter. "If he has any problems, he can take it up with me."

"I think you'd better count on that," Rosette answered, saluting again before leaving.

Mark gave a salute of his own before exiting the room beside the young woman. As soon as they were out of the Fuhrer's hearing distance, he let out a sigh. "...I never thought this would happen..." he murmured.

"Neither did I. Damnit! Roy is not going to like this..." Clearly, Rosette was not at all pleased about this.

The older man inwardly cringed. "...I have a feeling someone's going to go deaf tonight..." he remarked.

"I don't know what's going to be worse, telling him I have to become a State Alchemist or telling him I have to live in an unknown place with you under house arrest."

Mark shook his head. "...I don't know what the Fuhrer's thinking..." he remarked. "It's like he wants the Colonel to burn down Central."

"I think he might be trying to discredit him." The redhead muttered darkly, coming to Roy's office, she sighed and squared her shoulders. "Wait here, Mark." Then she knocked on the door.

"Right..." Mark murmured, already bracing for the yelling he'd hear from the outside.

Roy, completely unaware of these developments, sounded as if he was in good spirits when he called for his sister to open the door.

His sister rolled into the room then shut the door firmly behind her.

The colonel looked up from his paperwork when heard the harm slamming of the door. A small frown marred his face, knowing that something wrong. "What's bothering you?"

You want the bad news or the really bad news? And take off those gloves." Rosette's temper was sharp.

Roy's eyes already narrowed, knowing that his sister's request about his gloves were not good. "Okay..." he trailed off, taking off the gloves and putting them on the end of his desk. "...What is the bad news?"

The bad news is that I'm going to be placed under house arrest in a place of the Fuhrer's choosing with Mark," Rose said quietly.

Eerie silence settled over the siblings like a black blanket. A minute passed with the colonel just staring back at the woman as he tried to process her words. The tense atmosphere spiked when he finally yelled, "WHAT?!"

"It gets worse." She told her brother. "Apparently I will remain under house arrest until I take and pass the State Alchemist exam."

Roy's right eye twitched repeatedly, finding himself disliking his leader more and more. "...What the hell is that supposed to accomplish?!" he demanded, standing up in his chair and slamming his fists down onto his desk.

"He says it's for my protection to learn alchemy properly," Rosette replied, fingering the hole in her left palm.

The colonel felt the rising temptation to assassinate the Fuhrer as he brooded over this news. "The hell it is!" he snapped. "He probably thinks he can use you for the military!"

"I highly doubt that, my brother," Rosette said quietly. "The way it sounded, I think it was the fact that I had to use my own blood that scared him."

Roy let out a shaky breath, attempting to calm himself and think rationally. "...What's the point of making you move into a house with your bodyguard?" he demanded. "It's almost like the Fuhrer's trying to play matchmaker with you two..."

"I couldn't tell you that, except that the Fuhrer wants to make sure I stay where he puts me." She shrugged. "There will be locks on the bedroom doors though, I already asked."

The colonel felt part of him relax at the mention of locks. "I still don't like this one bit, Rosette..." Roy growled, no longer shouting.

"You think I like it?" Rosette snapped, still angry. "It's not right!"

Roy brought a hand up to his forehead, seeming to steady himself for the oncoming migraine he was going to soon receive. "It's not like I can make him change his mind because of what happened yesterday..." he groaned out.

"I know that, I'm not stupid, but that doesn't mean I like this any more than you do! Less actually. It's indecent for a woman to live with a man she is not married or related to!"

The older man slowly found himself nodding his head, not knowing that her culture believed in something like that when it came to marriage.

She balled her hands into fists. "I only hope I am forgiven for this..." Rosette muttered, forgetting Roy was there.

Roy frowned. "...It's not like this place is known for religious freedom..." he remarked aloud.

"I know that, remember," She rubbed her unfeeling legs in an uneasy gesture, as though making sure they were still there.

The older man realized what he said and felt his fists tighten out of impulse. "Sorry," he remarked softly.

"It's okay." she said softly, looking away from him.

Letting out a deep, calming breath, Roy sat back down. "...I don't think it will do me any good to talk to him..." he murmured. "I would probably risk getting thrown into prison..."

"I understand, but I wanted to let you know what was decided, I'm not sure if I'm allowed visitors."

The colonel slowly moved out from behind his desk and stepped in front of his sister before bending out and hugging her. "I'm sorry," he repeated in her ear.

Slowly, she hugged back, shaking slightly since she was trying not to cry.

Roy's eyes widened out of realization as his embrace tightened around his sister. The real reason she let Scar go free was because she felt lonely and seeing him made her feel less suffocated as an Ishballan practitioner.

A few minutes later, Rosette drew away, blinking back the tears she would not shed. "I move in a few days."

The colonel let out a heavy sigh. "...Is there anyone that will help you move your things?" he asked.

"I don't have that much but knowing the Fuhrer, I think he'll use my house arrest as an excuse to give me things to keep me comfortable." She sighed. "Mark was right... I think he sees me as his honorary daughter."

Roy frowned at the thought. "...I find that suspicious..." he admitted.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," His sister advised

The older man fell silent again before murmuring, "I hope your bodyguard knows that if he does anything to upset you, I'm not going to hold back on him."

"I think he's more afraid of what I'll do then of you." She smiled.

Roy found himself smirking at her words. "...He should be," he remarked.

She held up her palm, showing him the hole in her hand. "I know."

---------------

Three days after Fuhrer King Bradley sentenced Rosette to live with Mark, the couple stood outside of the small house, watching as various personnel moved their things into the rooms. Though neither person had much, the Fuhrer had insisted on at least Rosette not having to lift a finger during this process.

"At least he didn't go overboard..." The redhead said, eyeing the house carefully, but staying out of the way. "I was half afraid the house would be way too big..." They had walked around the perimeter and, after entering the home though the back door, were currently inspecting the kitchen. It was actually a cozy one with a breakfast nook made for two, and for once, Rosette could get to almost everything. Still, she frowned at the upper cupboards. "A few minor tweaks and it should be fine." Brushing her hair out of her eyes, she looked at Mark. "What do you think?"

Mark looked around the kitchen, noticing the dark green painted walls. "I think it's nice," he admitted. "What do you think?"

"I like it, green is a restful color, not an overly cheerful one that will blind you in the morning when you enter the room." She smiled. "It goes well with the wood floors and table too."

"It's good that we both agree," the soldier commented, returning his own smile. "I would probably dislike repainting the walls..."

"I'd help you if you really wanted to repaint a room."

"Hmm..." Mark trailed off, trying to remember the wall colors in the other rooms of the house. "I think the overall design is satisfactory enough for now."

The redhead nodded as they moved into the living room. Rosette flinched when she saw the unlit fireplace. "It is just me, or do you get the feeling the Fuhrer's trying to play house?" She asked to cover her unease.

Mark followed the woman into the room and raised his eyebrow at the fireplace. "...It sure seems like it..." he murmured.

"I think he has way too much time on his hands," Rosette said, rolling though the room and opening the door. Seeing that it was a study/personal library, she grinned. "I claim this one." Her eyes lit up as she rolled to one of the shelves, caressing the books with her left hand as though greeting old friends. "I think I'll be right at home in here..."

The older man's eyes momentarily narrowed for a few seconds as if he were growing jealous of the books Rosette caressed. How was it that such items could evoke such passionate emotions from her while he had to work so hard just to get her to notice him?

The redhead was still smiling when she turned back to him. "Would you like to go to your room and make sure everything is all right there?" She asked politely.

Mark immediately brought his smile back into place before she faced him. "That'd be great, actually," he replied, leading the way down a hall and into a small bedroom. A bed was already set up and in place by an antique, brown dresser. A small bookshelf was set behind a pile of boxes. "...This is simple enough," he commented.

Rosette stayed in the doorway. "It looks like a good, clean place to relax at the end of the day." She agreed. "I wish my brother would take notes on that." Approval warmed her voice. "My room is just down the hall, I'll let you unpack and get settled in Mark."

The soldier let out a small laugh at her words about Roy. Nodding his head at her suggestion, he replied, "Once you get done, we could probably go out to eat somewhere."

"I'm housebound remember? We'll have to eat in."

Mark let out a sigh, just now realizing the entirety of what the Fuhrer meant. "Fine, then..." he trailed off. "One of us can cook for tonight."

"I'm not a bad cook, but I cook mostly simple stuff," The redhead said humbly.

"I can make a few things..." the older man explained. "As long as you're not going to ask me to bake anytime soon…"

"I've yet to master that art I'm afraid." Then she smiled. "However, we have time to learn."

"I guess so," Mark admitted in agreement. "Until then, that would mean that a lot of bread will be store-bought."

"You can still go out." Rosette pointed out. "I promise to behave and stay here."

The lieutenant nodded his head even though he was inwardly amused by her words. "Alright, then," he remarked. "If you did manage to get out, I think my head would be on the chopping block, too."

Nodding in agreement, she grinned. "If they could catch me." Still smiling, she backed out of the room and left him in peace.

Once the woman left the room, Envy sat down on his head and frowned, knowing that he would not be able to be in his original form in the house. He had gotten used to the human form he lived under, but still preferred his homunculus form the best. Aside from that issue... 'How the hell am I supposed to get closer to Rosette?' he asked himself. Now that the two lived together, there was bound to be times where they could be by themselves.

---------------

A few hours later, when everyone had cleared out except for the two of them, Rosette escaped to the garden for a few minutes in the fresh air. Mark was brooding in his room and she didn't want to disturb him as she watched the sunset and sang softly in Ishballan. As she allowed her thoughts to drift, she wondered about Scar and how he was doing, sending a prayer that he was all right wherever he was.

Envy, who by this time had formulated a satisfactory plan, got up from his bed and went out into the yard to check on Rosette. He could tell that she was deep in thought based on how she didn't even turn to acknowledge him for the first few moments he stood in the door way.

Finishing the evening prayer, Rosette bowed her head in a silent salute to her God before turning back towards the house. "Feel better now that you are settled?" She asked quietly as she rolled towards him.

"Much better, actually." The homunculus in disguise confirmed with a nod as he watched her approach him. "How about you?"

"Yes, I'm glad everything is quiet now. Are you growing hungry?"

"I could eat now if you're hungry," Mark answered with a smile.

"A snack will do nicely; it's been a long day."

"It has been..." the man trailed off with a sigh. He moved out of the way of the door in order to let her inside before he led the way into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this," She said, reaching for an apple and offering it to him.

Mark took the apple and wiped it clean with his shirt, trying not to show how astounded he was at her words. Despite how much they had been through together, she still was humble enough to apologize to him. "...Well, I'd rather spend all of this time with you rather than anyone else," he admitted with a smirk. "And if this is under executive order, it's not like I can refuse anyways."

"But this is not your punishment, you weren't even involved." Rosette chose another apple for herself before taking a knife and small cutting board to the table so that she could slice up her snack. "He could have at least asked you instead of making it an order and making it sound like he was blaming you too."

"He probably figured that since I was your bodyguard, I was the only one who would be able to properly protect you in this environment," Mark said with a shrug before taking a bite into his apple. "I think, either way, he was planning to move you from Colonel Mustang's watch."

"You make it sound like they hate each other," She said, not looking up from her apple.

The soldier shrugged. "I know that Colonel Mustang never enjoyed serving under the Fuhrer," he admitted. "It wasn't like he kept that completely hidden. I'm pretty sure that the Fuhrer knows that as well."

"Even so, Roy is my family. Why would the Fuhrer remove me from his watch?" The redhead cut the core from the slices.

"To assert his authority over Colonel Mustang?" Mark guessed. Inwardly, however, Envy scowled. 'Why does she always have to be so damn sharp?'

"You are forgetting that I am not, strictly speaking, a member of the military." Rosette pointed out.

Not wanting her to continue to pry into certain plans, Mark offered her a plate from the cupboard before making to steal a piece she had cut. Flashing a mischievous smirk at the young lady, he remarked, "There's no reason to keep dwelling upon it, though. We're stuck here so we might as well make the best of it for now." Going to make up for the piece he stole, he handed her his apple.

Instead of biting into it, she simply took the knife and took out a slice before putting the rest of her apple on the offered place and cleaning up her mess. "Thank you."

"No problem," he smirked, taking back his share and taking another bite into it.

Only after she scraped the remains of her apple core into the trashcan and cleaned the items she had used did she start eating her apple, the edges were slightly brown and soft, but Rosette didn't seem to mind considering she appeared to be enjoying her treat.

Mark watched her tidy habits, inwardly admitting that he didn't seem to mind them. After watching Gluttony tear humans apart on a nightly basis, Envy didn't mind staying with a clean person.

Rosette looked much happier after she finished her apple and licked her slender fingers clean of apple juice before taking her dish to the sink to wash it and her hands. "That was very good."

The older man watched her silently as he finished eating his own apple. He threw the remaining core into the trashcan before going to wash his own hands. Turning back towards her, he remarked, "It doesn't take much to make you happy, does it?"

"I live by the motto 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die'. The simplest things in life are often better than piles of money and fancy things. Why break your back working to get rich when you can't take it with you in the end?" Rosette shrugged. "We only live so long, why not be rich with happiness?"

"That's a good motto..." Mark replied, thinking about how wise the young woman could be.

"I love life much than most people. It's only when you loose something that you come to value it." Her voice was quiet as she rubbed her unfeeling legs before backing away from the sink.

"I guess that's why they say 'You never know what you have until it's gone,' " the soldier murmured.

"You'd be surprised that most people won't or can't learn from it." Rosette sighed and turned to face Mark.

The older man nodded his head. "It often happens when humans are consumed by greed," he murmured, knowing from first-hand experience how the lowest of humans behaved.

" 'Humans'?" She repeated, cocking her head to the side.

Envy inwardly growled at his wording, quickly realizing that living with Rosette would have even more disadvantages. He would always have to be on alert with whatever he said. Thinking fast, he remarked, "I meant, us, as a species."

"Ah." Rosette answered.

Relieved that she bought his lie, Envy moved forward to grab a hold of the woman's hands, wanting to wipe the incident completely from her mind. "Rosette..." he trailed off.

Looking surprised, she thumped back to the here-and-now, jarred out of her thoughts as she reflexively returned his hold. "What?"

"I was thinking about the kiss we shared the other night..." Mark murmured softly. "Did you like it as much as I did?"

"I would have slapped you if I didn't." She looked confused.

"Good reply," the soldier chuckled. "So if I asked you if we could do it again, would you object to it?"

"No but... aren't we putting the cart before the horse Mark?"

Realizing what she meant, he let go of her hands and let out a sigh. "...The more I think about this situation, the more unorthodox it seems..." he grumbled.

"I know. I just don't want us to get caught up in whatever romantic notions the Fuhrer is trying to put us up to before we are really ready for them." She looked away. "It should be done when we are ready, not because people are hinting and pushing us into it."

Mark's eyes widened in surprise. He was touched at how much she truly cared about their relationship. He nodded his head slowly, finding that he didn't want to lose her trust by continuing to be so forward with her. "I understand..." he murmured. "It would be best if we waited a bit longer..."

"I think the problem with more people is that they jump into things without thinking first. They are too willing to go with the dreams of the crowd instead of following their own paths," Rosette said, leading Mark into the living from but parking next to the couch as far from the fireplace as she could.

The soldier sat down beside her on a couch, trying his best not to outwardly frown as he thought through her words. As much as he hated to admit it, Envy didn't feel as confident lying to her as he used to.

Rosette sighed. "There are things about me that you don't know yet, and you know more about me then I do of you."

Envy felt himself succumbing to temptation again when he reached out to hold her hand once more. With a new mindset, he vowed that he would court her until she told him everything he wanted to know.

---------------

A few days later, an elderly woman looked up from her gardening and smirked. "I was wondering if you were coming to visit your mother," She remarked in an amused tone as she tended another plant.

Envy bit the inside of his mouth to prevent himself from scowling as he stood before the woman in his original form. "I want to know my next set of orders," he stated, his tone as sharp as a razor blade. He wanted to get in and out of the place as soon as he could.

"First, I want your report to know what your assessment of her is. Pride isn't around her as much as you've been," Dante answered. "Do you think she could be useful, or is she more of a danger to us?"

The young homunculus resisted the urge to turn around and walk off. He should have expected such a thing from her. "I think she's very useful," Envy admitted slowly.

"How so? Coming from you, that is quite a statement."

"Well, for one... she's a direct pathway to one of our planned sacrifices," the homunculus explained.

Dante's head snapped up. "Would it throw him off the scent?" She was unnerved enough that she slowly got to her feet. "Pride told me that one of his Colonel's was starting to nose around more then he should."

Envy nodded his head, knowing that the colonel was an irritating human. "I think he's close to finding out the truth because he's been snooping around even before his sister was brought to Central," he admitted in an annoyed voice. "He's been trying to figure out who really killed his fallen comrade and all of that meaningless nonsense."

"Would she help him if he asked her?" Her old eyes narrowed. "Could she ruin everything we are working for?"

The homunculus frowned, knowing how intelligent Rosette was. "...Yes, there is that chance..." he growled.

"Is there any chance she could gain power in her own right?"

"If Pride allows her to become a State Alchemist like he plans to, then yes," Envy murmured, the scowl now showing on his features.

"Pride told me that this was the only way to keep an eye on her." The elderly woman frowned. "I take it that you don't agree with that?"

"I don't know what he's planning to do if more war breaks out," the homunculus replied. "Is he willing to sacrifice our pawn?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Dante asked her son and raised her eyebrow. "She doesn't seem like the type that gets distracted or put off from what Pride said."

Envy fell silent for a few moments before murmuring, "I think we should distract her observant eyes with frayed emotions."

"Arrange a romance, you mean? Yes... that could work. But... you have been known to loose interest in things, unless you are having fun?" She looked at her son. "Is she that interesting to you that you would keep her as a toy?"

The homunculus resisted the urge to sigh. Why did everyone question his motives specifically when it came to Rosette? "I'll promise to behave for once and not kill her if she becomes boring," he grumbled.

Dante chuckled. "Pride also expressed an interest in the girl."

"I've noticed that," Envy replied bluntly.

"How far are you planning to go with the girl?" His mother was amused by this.

"As far as I need to go," the homunculus answered.

"How intelligent is she? I'm curious."

"I suppose I could say it this way..." Envy trailed off. "Even though Pride said he'd give her as many chances as it took to pass the State Alchemist exam, he told me that he believes she would pass it the first time around."

"You think that is what she wants?"

Her son gave a snort. "Of course not," he replied. "But it's not like she can do anything to protest it. She committed a public crime by letting Scar go free."

Dante frowned. "That worries me. Why did she do that...?" She sat at the table next to Envy. "Court her, do whatever you have to, even marry her if it comes to that. She's someone we can't afford to leave at loose ends. If you can't handle it, give her to Pride."

Envy shook her head. "I'm trying to figure that out for myself," he admitted. "I'm sure Colonel Mustang knows perfectly well why she let Scar go, but it's not as if he would tell anyone." Upon hearing her commands, he then nodded his head in understanding.

"If she is distracted, so will her brother."

"I'd only assume so," Envy replied. "He's so protective of her..."

"Do you think that they are hiding something?"

Remembering the past conversation he had with Rosette, the homunculus nodded. "I think they're both hiding something very big..." he admitted in a serious tone.

"Will she tell you what it is?"

Envy nodded again. "She told me that depending how long our relationship will last, she'll eventually tell me things about her past because she believes that we can't go beyond friends unless I know more about her."

"Is she interested in you beyond friends or do you think she's stalling for time?"

The homunculus blinked. "Stalling for what?"

Dante smiled. "She might be waiting to see who will rule in your relationship."

Her son's eyes darkened slightly. The thought of a human ruling over him sent chills up his spine.

Seeing his discomfort, Dante chuckled again.

Envy's eyes narrowed back at his mother, deciding to ask, "How do you suppose I can ensure that I keep the upper hand in the relationship?"

"Act first. Don't let her call all the shots. Snatch every opportunity to show affection and don't be coy in letting other men know that she is yours," His mother said after absorbing the surprise. "Show an interest in what she does and thinks."

He sat in silence, taking in all of what she said. He was already doing half of those things. "I suppose it won't kill me to try..."

Dante smirked. "Surprises are going to be your best weapon."

Envy let out a snort. "I knew that already," he remarked. The kiss was proof enough.

She smiled at her son. "Come back if you need more advice." The elderly woman seemed vastly amused that her seemingly immortal son had only now seemed to have his first crush.

The young homunculus stood up from his seat and tried not to get an even more annoyed look on his countenance. "Sure," he commented, not sure if he even meant his words. After giving his "mother" one last look, he shifted back into Mark's human form and glanced down at the watch on his wrist. "If there's nothing else you need to tell me, I'm leaving," he announced.

"Yes Envy, you'd better hurry and make sure the pet is behaving and not sneaking out." Dante laughed.

Envy almost frowned at her words. He didn't know if he was more annoyed at how Dante referred to Rosette or if he was worried about the fact that Rosette would try to sneak out while he was away. "I'm on it," he assured the woman before exiting the room.

---------------

Hearing the door shut about a half an hour later, Rosette looked towards the doorway. "Mark? Is that you?"

"Yeah," Mark responded as he walked towards Rosette. "Have you been worried about me or something?"

"You have good timing, I was just finishing my snack and I made you a plate too in case you were hungry." She gestured to the plate of cheese and crackers. When she smiled at him, you could almost see the lady adding a point to her side of the board.

The older man gave her a smile of gratitude. "Thank you," he remarked, reaching towards the plate and picking it up into his hands.

"You are very welcome." Looking pleased, the redhead finished cleaning up the kitchen, humming quietly as she worked.

Envy idly watched her work, frowning as he stood in deep thought. 'Who's really winning the mental battle here?' he pondered to himself. 'I need to make my next move soon... Winning her complete trust and love is top priority now.' Putting the plate down on a nearby table, he continued to watch over Rosette. 'I'm going to have to make the best of this situation Pride has provided me...' he thought to himself with an inward smirk.