Maes' eyes flew open and he was staring into kind brown eyes. Shock took hold and he shot up. "What?"

She smiled and put her hand on his arm. "Calm down." She got to her feet, pushing the chair to the wall. "You're still in shock."

Maes scratched his neck. "I'm uncomfortable."

The woman smiled and started to dip a white towel into steaming water. "You're sure unsure of things, aren't you, Maes?"

He blinked. "How-?"

She let the towel fall over his head. The steam felt good against the slight chill he felt. "I'll explain in a moment. Firstly, you need to change."

He smiled wearily.

Moments later, he was standing in a small dinning area littered with papers from the military. At the center was a square table with five chairs and a stool. His eyes wandered over stacks of books up to the window.

"Oh, good." The woman came into the room and set down a bowl of hot soup and orange juice. "I see you found the shirt and pants we left you. But no shoes."

He looked down and curled his toes. "Where am I?"

Suddenly, he heard a mumble and spun about. His eyes wide, he stared at a face he thought he'd never see again. "Cisily..."

She was in disarray. Her hair was tangled and she was still wearing a set of dark yellow sleeping pajamas. Her dark brown hair stuck to her face and she was rubbing sleep out of her hazel-gold eyes. She had a slight tan and a bandage over her left pinky.

"What is it, little one?"

She yawned and walked passed Maes, keeping her hand on the wall. "'M hungry... I smell..." She stumbled.

Maes dashed over and felt her light weight fall into his arms. "Cisily?"

She looked up, blinking sleepily until she closed her eyes for more than a second. "HOLY-!" She had jumped up and a hand covered her mouth. "Mhnn mim mm gmm hmere?"

Lucy looked down. "Last night. While your fever was breaking. Ask Humility if we should do anything about him."

Maes looked up at the woman. Although in the moonlight she looked different, now in the sunlight of Amestris, her hair was a dark auburn, nearly black, and her eyes were milk chocolate. The way she styled her hair almost looked like the picture of Trisha Elric. But she was a bit thinner and a smidge shorter. She also had a scar from the cheek bone to the collar bone on the left side.

"Who are you?"

She smiled and touched her chest. "My name is Christy Joe. I'm the vessel that carries the partial Homunculus Charity. My husband is Mark Joe and is the vessel of Humility. This is Cisily Hughs, the vessel of Chastity." Christy touched Lucy's arm. "And this is Major Lucy Drake, the vessel of the partial Homunculus Diligence."

Lucy let go of Cisily. She looked away. "I've got to go soon. The Briggs doesn't wait for anybody. I need to leave and be sure the crest isn't carved in the snow." She waved over her shoulder as she slipped her white glove on. "Take care, Mr. Hughs."

He watched her leave and then turned on the two females. He pointed at Christy. "YOU! Explain it to me! I was dead yesterday when-!"

Christy smiled suddenly. "When you got a visit from a girl named Aleyshiea. I can explain while you eat."

-Lucy-

She saluted Olivier. "I'll see you in the graves, sir." She smiled. "Should I relay a message when I arrive?"

Olivier just smiled. "Let Miles know I expect a friendly slap."

Lucy saluted again. "Understood." She turned away and slid into the military car. She rolled down the window. "Olivier?"

She leaned down. "What is it?"

Lucy slowly turned to her. "Don't be so stingy." She rested her elbow on the side of the door and set her knuckles under her chin. "Don't miss me. I'll survive until you get back, I promise you that. Be safe, old friend."

Olivier kicked the car and walked away. "Whatever."

Lucy smiled as she rolled the window back up. When it was closed, the car rolled away from Central Command. "To the train station, if you please."

There was no answer from the driver and Lucy leaned forward.

Envy turned his head and smiled at her. "Too bad. Father wants to meet you, little girly. We've got many questions about the transmutation of a physical being for your new essence."

Lucy gritted her teeth. "You're not getting dirt from me, Envy."

Envy stepped on the gas and Lucy hit the back pretty hard. She growled as she sat up again. 'Kindness, you better hurry up and come around. You've got work to do.'