The chapters are getting longer... o,O

Trisha-Melissa Elric: 9
Jonathan Mustang: 6
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"Okay, class." a young female teacher spoke in front of a bunch of first graders. "You remember which day it is on next Monday?" she asked with a big smile. 'Valentine's day!' came an answer from dozens of little mouths, more or less simultaneously. Of course they knew that. Everyone was talking about it, and for them it was even more exiting, since they had developed many new friendships during their half a year at school.

"That's right." the teacher spoke up again. "So for the Valentine's day I thought that we would make cards for you to give to your friends." The whole class started chatting, some of them shouted which colour they wanted their cardboard to be, some kids we're already trying to count how many cards they were going to make.

And among the others, so did Jonathan think who he wanted to make a card for. The colour would be bright green, that was sure. Philip would get one, then Mike, and Nigel, and Lee… and apparently he would have to make cards for Michelle and Amy as Jonathan heard over that they were planning to give him big, heart shaped cards. Daddy had always said that Jonathan should be friends with both genders.

And… Jonathan should get something special for Trisha.

---

How could this be so hard? Seriously, it was just one Valentine's day card, it should be easy. Jonathan already had six cards done. They were all made of green cardboard and had a big yellow smiling sun on them. Even the two girls were going to have their own from him.

But Trisha's card was still up in the air. Jonathan didn't even have any idea what he should do. Sure he could give her the same kind of green card, but that wouldn't be special. After all, Trisha was his best friend, had always been. So she should get something more.

Yet again Jonathan made a ball from his sketch paper where he had designed a card form on. How could his daddy be so good with these kind of-

That's it!

"Daddy!" Jonathan left his room and went to the living room where Roy and Riza were pulling sheets after laundering. Roy turned his head and looked how Jonathan got greeted by Black Hayate.

"Daddy, are you busy?"

"Not right now." Roy said as they folded the last sheet with Riza and the woman went to put it into the closet.

"I need your help in one thing…"

Well finally, Roy thought and smiled. Since Jonathan started school Roy had waited for the boy to ask him for help in math or something, so they could have nice time together even when Jonathan had now something else in his life than his parents. Though till now, Jonathan didn't seem to have any kind of problem with math, English or any other subjects. The boy clearly came after his father…

"Okay, what do you need help with?"

"What should I give a girl for Valentine's day?"

Maybe even too much.

Roy was shocked. Did his 6-year-old son just ask what girls would like to have for Valentine's day? Did he even have any girls as a real friend? Or even worse-

"Do you have a crush on some girl from your class?"

It was Jonathan's turn to be shocked; he grimaced and shook frantically his head. "No! It's just that Valentine's day is just few day's away and I have yet to figure out what I should give for Trisha." the boy explained. "I need your help, daddy."

Feeling a considerable relief Roy started to think about Jonathan's problem and how he could help. Sure it was a bit different to give a gift for woman than for 9 year-old girl, but…

"How about chocolate?" Roy offered. All the girls loved chocolate, at least all the ones Roy had dated.

"Trisha doesn't eat chocolate." Jonathan informed his father, having him now confused again. "She says it's too sugared. But she likes liqueur toffee, if that helps…"

Roy thought. Liqueur toffee wasn't the first thing he would give for a girl, so he shook his head. "Maybe something else then." he said. "Flowers, maybe?"

Now Jonathan looked confused. He frowned and looked at Roy as if he had said something weird. "Dad," the boy started to speak like he'd talk to child. "You know, there's snow out there. No flowers, right?"

"That's right," Roy humoured Jonathan. "No flowers." That was it. Those two things were the only ones that came into Roy's mind at the moment. Was it really that he had been so lame than he never gave girls anything else..? Sure he often took girls out for dinner or movie or something, but since it was 6 and 9 year-olds they we're talking about…

"Then you could-" Roy started, though he didn't have any idea what he would say, but fortunately he didn't have t say anything as Riza came back and cut him short.

"Jonathan," Riza said. "Sometimes the small things are all you have to do in order to make girl happy." Riza meant these words not only for her son, but for her husband (1) too. She wasn't sure if neither of them understood her point, but at least Jonathan seemed to think about it.

"Small things…" Jonathan repeated. "…Like what?"

Riza smiled warmly. "You will figure that out. Just wait and see."

---

The whole Monday morning was spent for giving and getting cards and other gifts from classmates. The teacher gave everyone a piece of chocolate as her own surprise.

Jonathan was happy to see that not only had he got close with new people, but he also had made an effect on others. He had whole eight cards. From those boys Jonathan himself had given one plus he got those two hearts from Michelle and Amy. The red cards read Happy Valentine's Day on them and instead of dot there was a little heart above the letter i.

But Jonathan had still one card left in his bag.

---

"Trisha!"

The blonde girl turned around to see who had called for her. The school had only just ended and she had started to walk home when she heard Jonathan yelling her name.

The boy ran to Trisha, holding in his hand something Trisha could not yet recognise. She smiled and waved to her best friend as he caught her up.

"Are you going home?" Jonathan asked, keeping his hands behind his back. Stupid question. Where else could she be going?

Trisha too seemed to wonder the question, but answered, "Yeah, the school is over, you know."

Then Jonathan was quiet. He looked down at his feet and quickly threw his hands forward and shoved them to Trisha, whose eyes widened from surprise.

"Happyvalentine'sday!" Jonathan blurted out in one row, thrusting the card in his hand for Trisha to take it. The girl took the card in her own hand, looking at the yellow sun on red cardboard. Inside the card there read 'Happy Valentine's day for my best friend' and Jonathan's name under it.

"Aaw, thank you, Jon." Trisha said somehow touched. "And I don't even have anything for you…"

"It's okay." Jonathan said, still keeping his face down and having a slight blush on his cheeks. "I don't need anything."

"No, wait." Trisha hurried to say and reached into her pocket, searching something. "Here. You take this." she said as she pulled her had out from the pocket and took Jonathan's hand, placing something in his palm. Jonathan looked at his hand, seeing a chocolate candy, wrapped in red paper. The same kind he had gotten from teacher. Jonathan looked at Trisha, who smiled down at him warmly. "I'm not gonna eat that, anyway.

Bemused, Jonathan shoved the chocolate into his own pocket and then looked at Trisha again.

"Um… can I walk you home?" he asked, knowing that this was something his daddy would do.

Trisha shrugged. "Okay, if you want to."

So the two headed for their homes, and Jonathan really did walk Trisha all the way to Elrics' house.

Despite the fact that actually he was the one who lived closer the school.

1. Yes, they are finally married. Not gonna elaborate that.

Anyway, I've gotten some suggestions for this series in the reviews. Altogether, feel free to give me further suggestions if there's something you'd like to see ;D