Maes was sipping on some tea as Cisily changed.

He reached over his shoulder and knocked on the door. "You ready yet? I still need more info from your momma downstairs."

Cisily opened the door and stepped out. She was wearing a dark blue suit with a long skirt that was mid-calf. Her shoes were military issue and her blouse was silken white. She sighed, rubbing her elbows. "Let's go. Shopping and then going to a cafe. You should put on Humility's coat so you blend in."

Maes held up the coat and hat he'd been offered. "I'm good. I don't need my glasses anymore, so, I'm good."

Cisily nodded and held out her hand. "It's been too long, Maes. I missed you a lot."

Suddenly, a door at the end of the hall opened and Maes reached for the blade in his pocket. He gasped. "Aley!"

She blinked and smiled. "Close. How are you holding up?"

He just smiled and got to his feet. He hadn't seen her in real life until just a week before his death. "I'm still getting used to eating just for show. I don't feel hunger or need for sleep or anything like that."

She sighed and dusted off his shoulder. "All the Homunculus don't sleep. There's no need." She walked passed him. "We're both off today, so, Christy and Mark are taking us out for the day. We invited you so I can explain what she didn't get a chance to."

Ten minutes later Maes was walking down the street with one bag in his hand. Cisily was holding three. Aley wasn't holding anything yet. She was looking around. "Let's grab that and go sit by the fountain."

They sat down with some warm drinks. Aley was in the middle.

"So, she left off with how you died, right?" Aley got her answer and smiled, looking up at the clear blue skies. "For now, I'll leave that to her. Let me explain how you're 'alive' right now, Maes Hughs." She turned to him as Cisily took out some bread to feed the birds. "You and I are what they call 'leather bags', Maes Hughs. We're no longer living. Our souls are what bind the Homunculus to the physical plane."

Maes shook his head. "I know all that. Alchemy proclaims that what's taken must be exchanged."

Aley smiled and put her elbow on her crossed knees. She propped her chin on her palm and smiled much more warmly to Maes. "The law of exchange works only on living, breathing bodies. Our bodies need neither air nor water nor nutrients. Our bodies are made of energy."

Maes looked at his hand. His palm was bandaged. "What about the blood from the broken glass this morning?"

"We bleed because Truth wants us to be close to humans." Aley put her hand on Maes', lowering it. "We are strong and unique. Alchemy isn't what we have. We've got Alkahestry of the old Amestrian land of Ishval." She opened her own palm over his. "Because of that, we can teleport or move without people noticing. However, we are also weak and falling apart as we stand."

As if to prove her point, a flake of her skin peeled away.

Beneath was electrifying energy. It was as if she was holding a powerful force of nature just under her skin. It pulsed and flashed and began to mend the hole in her body with purple lightning. It was almost surreal.

"Now, do you have anything to ask?"

"How am I alive?" Maes looked at his shoes.

Aley leaned on his shoulder and watched Cisily dancing with a group of little girls. "You're alive because we gave up some of our energy for your life."

"Why?"

Aley sighed and closed her eyes, inhaling the smells around them. "There are eight of us. Truth, Patience, Diligence, Temperance, Kindness, Humility, Chastity, and Charity. We are the positive. We bring the good to the people around us. We counter-out the Homunculus you encountered." She reached across and gave Maes a gentle squeeze. "You were Kindness long before Envy killed you. You can counter out Envy."

"Who's who, then?"

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure that one out on your own. For now, ask me something else."

Maes looked up at the sky. "How long can we live?"

"We need to stifle Father's actions. We're all spread out to keep the circle in check. Von Hoenheim has been allowing us to find his bits of stones. We can use them to stop Amestris to die like Xerxes."

Maes suddenly looked down. His eyes widened and his heart constricted.

"Sorry, mister." Alicia picked up her ball. "I didn't mean to hit you."

He just smiled and patted her head. "It's fine."

"I'm so sorry!" Gracia put her hand on Alicia's head. "She was playing."

Aley shook her head and knelt down. "Did you want us to play with you, little girl?"

Maes opened his mouth.

Aley shook her head. "I'll tell you more later. For now, this cute little girl wants us to play ball with her. Isn't that right?"

Alicia giggled. "Mommy?"

"Yes, you can. I'll come back after I finish doing a bit of shopping." Gracia thanked Aley and then touched Maes' elbow. "Thank you so much. She needs this."

"Why?" Maes asked. He had hoped they would have moved on by now.

Gracia looked sad. "She misses her father. She still cries when she sees his friend, Colonel Mustang. I'm sure this would be refreshing. You and your friend are such a refreshing thing. I trust you not to steal my daughter."

He nodded and watched her go. "Why doesn't she see me?"

Aley turned Maes away from her. "Last question." She was holding the ball. She looked sad as she knelt down. "Because her eyes see someone else. That's how we are. We look similar in some way, but our bodies are much different. We survive because we have unfinished business. You and I have someone to speak to. But Lucy has a message that can change the way the plan goes down."

Maes shook his head. "Ow, brain turned to mush. I'll ask later. For now." He spun about and made a "scary" face at Alicia. "I wanna play tag!"

Aley smiled and got to her feet. 'Wonder how you're doing, Lucy? You're the oldest of us. What're we going to do with you, Kindness? Maybe we should have you use that already.'