A/N: Enjoy ^_^


Elicia walked back into the room she had left her Uncle and father in. They were right where she left them. They both stood up expectantly, her father shifting nervously as Mustang settled on a stern gaze. "I have to report in five days from now." Her father collapsed in his seat again staring wide-eyed at her fear practically seeping out of his pores. "How did this happen, Elicia?" Her father's voice was hushed and she felt guilty but she knew in the end it was for the better. She just had to keep that in mind when she looked at her father who's eyes looked like they had just received a death sentence for his only daughter. She ignored the question and turned to her Uncle. "You promised, Uncle. I want to be assigned to you. I'm not a field alchemist; I'm just a research alchemist so I can stay where it's safe anyways. I'll be submitting my reports to you." Mustang's eyes narrowed as he nodded. "I'm a man of my word Elicia. I'll see what I can do to get you assigned under me." Roy began to lead Hughes with him as he nodded his head for her to follow behind them. A car waited in front of the now deserted examination building that revved to life when they appeared. Hawkeye got out of the car and opened the back door for them.

The car ride was silent and when they arrived home and her mother had invited them all for dinner that was silent as well. She felt bad for her mother who tried to figure out what had happened to put everyone, especially her beloved husband in such a state of distress. She gave up her inquiries half way through though when she realized she wasn't going to be answered so she turned to her daughter and smiled. "Elicia dear how was the ice cream? I heard daddy was going to take you." Elicia fidgeted a little in her seat darting her eyes to her father and Roy trying to get them to answer for her. Unfortunately her father wasn't receptive to much of anything and Roy shot her a glare that screamed 'clean up your own mess'. Elicia sighed, better to treat it like a band-aid and rip it right off then. "I passed the alchemy exam, I never went to get ice cream. I start as an official state alchemist in five days." Gracia laughed at this, mistaking it for a joke then put her hand on her husband's. "You know dear you didn't have to put her up to this, I was ok with you two getting ice cream." She flashed a warm smile to her husband who continued to sit there unresponsive to the world around him. "Dear?" Elicia pushed her plate away from her rather noisily catching her mother's attention again. "I'm going to be a state alchemist, mommy. That's why daddy's so quiet. He hasn't accepted it yet." Her mother had stopped smiling now and shook her husband's arm lightly to get his attention unsuccessfully. "Dear, you're scaring me. What's happened?" Her eyes darted between her husband and Roy, looking for answers. Roy shifted uncomfortably, "she's telling the truth. When she said she wanted to apply for the exam we didn't take her seriously and let her take it to make her feel like she was…I don't know. Accomplished?" His voice broke a little at the end; he was still in a state of disbelief as well. "According to Amestrian Law once the testing has begun the applicant is required to finish it. Elicia not only passed the written exam, but passed the interview as well, and passed the practical. She'll be a state alchemist in five days…" His voice trailed off but life had returned to his face a little. Saying it aloud probably helped his acceptance of the situation. The fact he was going to be in charge of his best friend's toddler as her boss. Suddenly any remaining hunger he felt disappeared and he pushed the last of his meal away from him. He got up and started pacing back and forth in the kitchen while Gracia continued to stare at him like he had two heads. "Oh, come on now Roy. She's a toddler for fuck's sake. Don't you think your taking this a tad far?" Her voice had risen slightly in pitch and taken on a demanding tone. "It's the truth. I mean fuck look at Maes! You think he'd get that way any other way than to learn his infant child was enrolling in the god damned fucking military!" Gracia sat back at this. The thought was creeping into her head that maybe this wasn't a joke. What…if this were...real? She turned to her daughter slowly, "Elicia honey, would you go get yourself ready for bed and I'll read you a story in a few minutes while I talk to your Uncle Roy?" Elicia nodded and slid off the chair and made her way quietly to her room.

Elicia sat against the door of her closet playing with the sealed clasp of her pocket watch, watching the moonlight glint off its shiny surface. They had been yelling at each other for the last hour. At least that's what her watch said. At some point during the argument she heard her father finally come back to life and join in. Slowly at first but now his voice dominated over the rest of them. She tried her best to block it out but part of her wanted her to listen. This was part of the equivalent exchange if she wanted to save everyone. It was something she was responsible for and something she had to accept. She clapped her hands and unsealed the watch for a third time. The stars fell out onto the floor but she ignored them and just stared at the picture inside the watch. A few tears fell down her face as she looked at the picture of her father embracing her. She knew especially now after everything that he wasn't her real father but he raised her since she was a child and she missed him desperately. He always knew what to do in any situation and right now she really needed his perspective. She heard the arguing starting to die down and cursed quietly to herself. She grabbed the stars off the ground and shoved them hastily in her pocket watch. With a quick slap she sealed it and shoved it back in her sock and tossed it behind her into the back corner of the closet right before the door clicked open.

All three of them stepped into the room, looking unsure of what to do but feeling that they all had some responsibility to address it. Elicia sighed and climbed onto her bed and sat patiently as her parents and her Uncle fidgeted before her. Her father spoke first. "Elicia, I need to know everything that happened. We need to know. If we know what happened maybe we can reverse the decision." Elicia gave him a sad look that he mistook for regret. "Don't worry sweetie everything will be ok. Now just tell daddy how this happened." He had sat down on the bed next to her and began petting her hair gently trying to relax her. "I can't." Maes stopped petting her head but didn't remove his hand trying to think of a better way to approach the situation. Gracia stepped in to try to save the day sitting on her opposite side. "Elicia, baby, what your father is trying to ask is why did you join the military? How did you learn alchemy?" Her mother gave her a reassuring smile. Elicia shook her head causing Maes to have to move his hand. "I can't tell you." She set her face into the most stubborn expression she could muster trying to convey the message the only way she knew how. She could see her father's angry expression out of the corner of her eye and her mother's exasperated one. Now it was her Uncle's turn but thankfully he took a more indirect approach. "Gracia, Maes, why don't you let me talk to Elicia alone for a few minutes. If all goes as we think it is she'll be my subordinate in a few days and she'll be obligated to listen to me. Maybe I can get something more out of her?" They both looked at him unhappily but got off the bed and made to leave the room. "Come and get us when you're done Roy." He nodded at Gracia's request and shut the door behind them.

"Ok, look Elicia. I'm going to be as blunt as possible here. In five days time you will be a state alchemist and if my request goes through I'll be your superior officer. Can you tell me what that means?" Elicia nodded. "I follow your orders without question." Roy nodded at this. "Good now I'm going to ask you a question, and as your superior officer I expect a reply and not just 'I can't', OK?" Elicia nodded and let out a huff. This was going to be tricky. "Now how did you learn alchemy?" She remembered once when talking to a childhood friend that the best way to lie was to tell as much of the truth as possible. She didn't know if she could hide the truth but she'd be damned if she didn't try. "Big Brother Edward." Roy raised his eyebrow at this. "Fullmetal taught you alchemy?" Elicia nodded. Roy filed this away in the back of his head. To the best of his knowledge they barely spent any time together but he could look into that at a later time. Fullmetal was due back in central tomorrow anyways; if he wasn't already back from his latest adventure. "What made you want to become a state alchemist?" Elicia thought about this for a minute frowning. "I wanted to help daddy." It was the truth, albeit only part of it. Roy nodded again. "Elicia, you could have helped your daddy in any way you wanted. I need you to tell me all of it. Why did you become a state alchemist specifically." Elicia frowned and turned to stare at the wall. "I wanted to become a state alchemist to protect daddy. If I'm there I can watch him. The military is dangerous and if I'm there I know I can protect him." Roy frowned at this. "What makes you think your father needs to be protected." Elicia winced at this. She said too much; she didn't have a choice, she had to lie now. She just hoped he couldn't see through it. "Mommy always says how dangerous it is. I figured I could be like Ed. He joined the military when he was eleven so I figured if I learned alchemy and was good enough the state would have to take me too." She shifted nervously next to Roy. She could tell he didn't buy everything but he believed enough of it to leave it alone for now. "Alright Elicia. I'll stop asking about it, for now. I'll go get your parents so they can put you to bed, alright?" She nodded as he left the room. She could hear her parents questioning him before the door fully closed behind him.


A/N: This chapter was really difficult to right. For parents as loving as Elicia's it was difficult to convey the emotion behind their actions and decisions. I don't know if I fully expressed it as I should but I wanted the story to keep moving. I may come back and edit this chapter at a later time. Please R&R if you have time ^_^