Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist and all that.
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Now that everything was back to normal for Lily and her friends, after dragging poor Mary out of the library after hearing her read from the book (it is currently publish and selling like hot cakes), zero sign of Adrian since Roy gave him something to remember him by, and Leo striking gold in a mine and losing it in a strip poker game(It's better that you don't know), all Lily wanted to do was to relax and enjoy her birthday, thankfully it fell on a weekend, meaning no work to go to. And that day was today.
Lily was taking a quick shower, washing up for the big party later this evening. She stopped washing her hair when she heard the doorbell ring several times. Getting out and poking her head out of the shower, she called to her friends.
"Is someone going to get that!"
No one answered.
Sighing, Lily turn off the water, putting on a robe, she walked towards the door. She was going to murder the person who interrupted her peaceful shower. Seeing no Mary and Leo in the living room, she knew that it was them at the door, probably holding arm fulls of snacks and soda. Lily smirk as she thought of new ways of making them do household work for getting her out of the shower just to open the door. Turning the knob, swinging the door open, her mouth literally drop at who she saw in front of her.
"V-Viktor?"
It was really him! Standing in front of her. He still had the brownish gray hair she remember him have when she left. He was like a foot taller then her still, and wore a brown trench coat. His hand still looking tough but soft all the same. A smile turn on her face, almost touching her ears. She jumped and launched onto Viktor, her arms around his neck and her head in his chest.
"Viktor! I missed you so much!"she cried, tears of happiness rolling down her face.
Viktor was nearly knocked down by Lily's attack, he chuckled and pulled Lily off of him, his coat damped from her still wet hair. He used his thumbs to get rid of any evidence of her tears.
"Not the welcome I was expecting,"he said through a smile
"Well, you didn't call ahead to tell me you were coming. You can't blame a girl for being happy to see her teacher,"
"I hope I'm your favorite teacher,"
Lily smiled and moved out of the way from the door,"Please do come in, Viktor."
Walking past her, Lily shut the door with a click. Turning on a heel, she saw him looking around the living room.
"So, what brings you by?"she asked
"Why, your birthday of course. It's not everyday a girl turns twenty-one."he pointed out
"Right..."she suddenly felt stupid
"Well, make yourself at home, I'm going to get dressed if you don't mind."Lily said
"None at all,"
Lily smiled at Viktor before dashing to her room. When she return, Lily was dressed in a short sleeve dark red shirt and pair of blue jeans. She found Viktor still where she left him, only this time, he was cleaning up.
"Sorry, if you would've called, I would have get Mary and Leo to clean up."she said, helping him out.
"It's better that you didn't know."she quickly added
"Let me get you some tea, Viktor. Oh, please make yourself comfortable."Lily said, going into the kitchen.
"How are Mary and Leo by the way?"he asked, sitting himself at the table.
Lily began to boil the water on the stove,"You know, crazy about Roy and anything he walks on. Hey, even earlier this week, Mary published a children's book about Roy, The Flamely Knight or whatever. Sadly, I was put as the maiden that needed to be rescue. I even fell in love with him, can't you believe it?"
Viktor laughed,"Actually, I can. Was I in it?"
"Yep, as the king and my father. You didn't get a speaking role, she didn't even mention what happen to you."
Lily sighed when the water wasn't boiling quick enough. She clapped her hands, placing them on the pot, the water turned steaming hot. Pouring both herself and Viktor a cup, she set in front of him and sat across of him on the table.
"Where are they anyway?"
"I don't know, they probably left for some party supplies while I was taking my shower, that explains the wet hair,"Lily said, sipping her tea.
The sound of the door being open, making the turn take their attention to the people in the room. Mary was walking in, carrying one bag and Leo behind her, carrying a stack of bags. They seem to have their own conversation.
"I told you, Lily looks better in blue then purple! The blue brings out her eyes,"Mary said
"It's not like anyone but Rick is going to see them! Unless Lily is hiding something from us..."huffed Leo
"It would explain her late nights-"
"Ahem."
Mary and Leo turn their heads, the friend in question clearing her throat. She stood up from her spot and walk towards them.
"I am not hiding anything what you are thinking about from you guys,"she said in her defense
"Oh! I didn't think you would be out of the shower so soon, Lily. Sorry, must've have forgot,"Mary said, scratching the back of her neck.
After Leo put down the heavy bags on the floor, he peered over Lily's shoulder, his eyes went wide at who he saw. He hit Mary in the arm getting her attention.
"Ow! Why did you hit me? I should hit you right back!"she yelled, hitting him on the head.
"Ok, ow, I was only to do that to point that--"
"Hello, Mary and Leo."Viktor said, now standing next to Lily.
Mary had a huge grin on her face,"Yay! Vicky McTrickey is here!"she yelled hugging him.
"Vickey...McTrickey...? My Lord, where do you come up with these names, Mary?"he asked
"It popped up!"she said, letting go of him.
"Did you know, Viktor was coming today, Lily?"
"No, I didn't. I thought at first that he called you first and told you to keep it as a surprise for me."
"I wouldn't do that to you,"Mary looked up at her with shinning eyes.
"Gah, I hate it when you do that,"Lily complained before glancing at the bags,"What's in the bag?"
"Oh, these? These are nothing. Nothing to look at, you only see air!...Ok, they are gifts for you! And now me and Leo are going to wrap them!"
Mary grabbed the bags in one hand and Leo in the other. They ran to Lily's room, shutting and locking the door shut, and what Lily could guess by several locks.
"Would you like to return back to our tea before it turns cold?"suggested Viktor a few minutes later.
"Please..."
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Lily watched patiently as Viktor read a book from across from her, reading page by page, not missing a word. They had moved from the kitchen to the livening room, each on different couches. Lily had her hands in her lap, trying not to go crazy with waiting for so long. A flash of gold from the book almost made her blind as Viktor shifted in his seat. After reading the last page, he closed the leather book and set it on the coffee table before him. Turning towards Lily, he address her.
"You have many a weird dream, Lillian. Some even made me shiver to the very bone! And some...well, they could make the wisest man confused and almost frighten."he said
"Getting junk food is mostly the cause of that."she said in her defense.
"Like when you dreamt that you held your own boss in your arms and annoying your love for him?"
"Ok, that was Mary's doing! I would never, ever do that!"
"But it did happen, right?"
"What?"
"Your boss, the one that goes by Roy Mustang and the source of your friends club, you did have him dying in your arms a few weeks back, am I right?"Viktor asked
"Yes..."she said softly, her head facing downwards,"and I rather not hear anymore of it. I mean that night, it still haunts me."
He nodded,"I understand. I have seen rather nasty things in the military as well but never what you have experience."
A silence fell between the two for several minutes. Both drawn to different thoughts and memories. It was soon ended when the door to Lily's room finally open after a few selected hours, Mary looking please and Leo rubbing his hands.
"Everything is done! Hey..."noticing the two sad looks on the alchemist and former one,"What happen? Did you guys fight?"
"No, Mary,"started Lily,"We just had a rough...conversation, that's all."
"Riiight..."drawled out Mary before peeping up again,"Me and Leo-"
"You mean just Leo, right? I did most the work."interrupted Leo
"Whatever. But we have finished up wrapping up your presents! Now, all we need to do is get the snacks, cake, and decorations ready! Although the decorations might take awhile."
"I will help you get it done quicker,"suggested Viktor
"Yay for Viktor!"she smiled
"Let's get this part started!"
---
After an hour of getting everything ready, the cake was done by Leo himself, the small birthday party was starting. What made Lily's feeling of happiness go down a few notches that her own boyfriend couldn't make it, he was too tied up with an important family business to get out of. But, Lily made him promise to get her a huge, expensive, awesome gift for her birthday when he was finished. Luckily, Sheska was able to make it, she even asked for Viktor's autograph for a book he wrote when he was younger. Viktor was pleased at her request and made sure to point out things in the book the girl couldn't get.
Now, everyone sat in the living room, plates of half-eaten cake on the table in front of them, it was time for gifts! Mary and Leo got a lot of gifts for their friend, they even had enough to make a small fort with them, a colorful and slightly to the side fort. Lily finished her last bite of birthday cake when Mary shoved a gift in her face.
"Open this one first!"she said, smiling very oddly.
Lily put down her plate and took the box. Unwrapping the colorful paper, she was surprised at what she saw. It was...it was...Hell, she didn't know. It looked to be a mini version of herself but made of cloth and felt soft.
"What is it?"
"It is a little stuff toy to hug when you fell scared. I even got one of Roy as a prince, in a skirt, as a cat, as-"
"Ok, ok, I get it. You can have the skirt one, that's...that's too freaky to imagine."
"Whatever, Miss Party Pooper,"grumbled Mary
"Let's open the rest!"
After a few hundred gifts (some were extremely small), Lily was tired. Sheska had given her a first edition copy book on ancient alchemy ways. Leo had given her some cloths, shoes, jewelry, and even some books on cooking. Mary's were the same but most of them had Roy themes to them. But Viktor...he hardly even spoke during the unwrapping of presents, and Lily never got anything from him. It was strange of Viktor to do something like this.
Lily looked at him as he held his eyes shut,"Viktor?"
"Hmm?"
"Not to be rude or anything but...Where is your gift?"
"Oh, I must have left it at the hotel, I knew I had forgotten something. Shall I fetch it for you?"he asked
"No, no, it's too late now. I think we are all tired,"Lily said, pointing to Sheska who was sleeping soundly and resting herself against Leo.
"I agree,"yawned Mary
"Leo and I will take the book girl back to her house and get going..."
"Where?"
"Oh, I forgot that I planned a Roy Mustang Fan Club meeting today and now I can't cancel it. Hope you don't mind."Mary said, getting up
"Nah, you go on ahead. Where are you going to this time?"Lily asked
"Someone volunteered to have us at their house."
"Take care!"
Lily smiled as Leo woke Sheska up, helping her up, her and the two girls walk out of the house. She could hear Leo struggling with the half-awake and half-asleep girl at his side. She turn her attention back to Viktor who remained where he was.
"Are you heading back to your hotel?"she asked
"I will after I clean up the place,"he said
"But..."
"I can do it. You can say this is my punishment for not getting your gift on time, alright? You go on to bed, now."Viktor said
Lily smiled again, standing up, she kissed Viktor on the cheek.
"Thanks for being here, Viktor. I don't...I don't know what I will do without you,"she said softly.
"Sweet dreams!"she exclaimed before disappearing into her room.
Viktor sat there for a few more minutes in silence and looked up at Lily's closed bedroom door.
"Sweet...dreams...Lily."he spoke with sadness.
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Lily was having a dream of Mary marrying Roy then having a child that looked strangely like Adrian when she felt someone shaking her awake. Opening up her eyes, she saw Viktor sitting in the empty space next to her, turning on her side she looked up at him.
"What is it, Viktor? What time is it?"she asked, half asleep
"Nearly two in the morning, I have just finished cleaning up the house, just informing you that I'm leaving..."
"And never coming back? That's funny,"Lily joked
Viktor fell silent before changing the subject,"I was thinking tomorrow night, we got out to a restaurant. Me, you, and Roy."
"Sure, sure,"Lily agreed before noticing something wrong in his statement,"Did you say Roy! My boss, Roy!"she exclaimed.
"Yes,"he nodded,"I want to talk to the man that is keeping my daug-...student employed. I have already made an appointment with the restaurant for three."Viktor said
Lily sighed,"Sure, whatever. I will speak to Roy about it at work tomorrow. Good-night, Viktor."
"Good night, Lillian."he said, with a smile. He kissed her head before exiting the room.
Once the door was shut, Viktor rested his back against the wooden door. After hearing Lily going back to sleep, he ran a hand through his hair, a sad look on his face as his smile disappeared.
"I'm sorry Lily...I'm so very sorry..."he spoke softly.
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Author Notes: Hmm, what is Viktor sorry about? Its for me to know and you to find out! Ha! Anyway, this chapter was going to be a lot later but I'm going to put it into two parts. You wonder how Viktor and Roy are going to treat each other? Roy with respect and Viktor with kindness or both of them arguing like children? Also, if you notice Viktor almost called Lily his daughter.
And Note: I notice no one reviewed the last chapter, either because of the site was down or you just didn't like it. Well, the more reviews I get the quicker new chapters are finished and ready to go! I will even take a flame! Anyway, just making a note of it! See you next time!
Please review!