A/N: Hola! Haven't seen you guys in a while! Sorry it's been so long, things got busy with the play and school and Spell Bowl (of which we got dragged into. Our team sucked. .) I realize that these aren't fantastic excuses. But they are real and obnoxious and make me want to kill small junior high schoolers who think they're cool and can goof off in practice... I digress. At any rate, we made this chapter especially long and rather fluffy to make up for the delay. On a sad/happy, (or bittersweet rather,) note, Lex and I figure that this series will be completed within the next 2 to 4 chapters. It was supposed to be 2 to 3, but it would make me mad to end it at chapter 24... So we may add another filler, just for your enjoyment. :D Lex knows nothing of this. SURPRISE! So, um, what kind of things do you want to happen before this ends? Because we actually only have like two more plot points left, but we'd like to drag it out because we don't want it to end all that much. :'( So! What do you want to see? What do you want to hear? Let us know! Because we can't exactly read your minds... Yes, well, yeah.
Special thanks to all those who reviewed: xXSweetestXAngelXNightmareXx (I personally think that under the word suave in the dictionary, there should be only: Roy Mustang, and a picture. :D), Evalyd Yamazaki (Due to my and Lex's obvious inexperience, we aren't writing a lemon, but alluding to the idea of it. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. It's all up to you! ;]), Lady Skorpio (I do find this chapter mighty great. It may not have come as soon as you hoped, but it's still here!), Cecile (It's okay! It didn't really end there! You may fangirl squee to your heart's content! There is much mention of fornication everywhere in this story. It's among our favorite words, along with coitus and Czechoslovakia. ^^)
I have reason to believe that some of our reviewers have perished during the grueling battle of waiting for our next chapter. Or at least went missing. So I salute you, both those who have fallen and those MIAs. We hope for your safe return. ;)
Also, everyone should wear purple on Wednesday, that's the 20th, for gay rights. Because everyone deserves the love that Roy and Alice have. I think that should totally be the tag line for gay rights. Only you guys would get it, but still... ^^
Okay, last one. Do we have any guys reading this? I'm just really curious... I'd really like to see more guys get into fanfiction.
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. We just don't. I wish we did. But unfortunately, I can't draw that well and we couldn't come up with that idea in a million years. Yeah. So, read on!
Roy walked into his office a bit later than usual the following morning. He sat down at his desk and immediately began signing the pile of papers there. His team refrained from gasping in surprise.
"Say, Colonel, you seem to be in a good mood," Jean began, taking a drag from his cigarette. Roy only smirked in response. "Is there any particular reason, Chief?"
"I don't believe that's any of your business, Havoc." The soldiers' eyebrows all rose in unison.
A sort of silence fell over the office, with Fuery shooting the occasional awkward glance in the direction of the colonel. Finally, after an especially long drag on his cigarette, Havoc said, "So, Colonel...How was your night with Alice?"
The air went cold, until a smirk from Roy lightened it.
"Well, Havoc, though you should really keep your nose out of my affairs, I suppose I can tell you; we had a meaningful and transcendental conversation...and then we made out." The black-haired man winked, as if to say, 'Among other things...'
Jean smiled knowingly before dropping his cigarette. "What? Did you deflower my dear sister! What is wrong with you? My poor, poor Alice..."
"It's none of your business, anyway. And I hate to break it to you, Havoc, but Alice isn't your sister."
"Lies!" Havoc blubbered. Roy hadn't seen him this upset since he had stolen the lieutenant's last girlfriend...
Riza sighed and glared up at the two men arguing. "With all due respect, Sir, perhaps you two should take this argument outside?"
The men obliged, bickering all the way out the door.
Once they were out of the confined space, Fuery walked over to Riza's desk. "Lieutenant Hawkeye, sir?"
The woman replied without even looking up, "What is it, Fuery?"
"Sir, what does 'deflowered' mean?" Breda and Falman chuckled in the background.
"...Fuery," the woman sighed deeply, "get a girlfriend."
Benji Jeck was wandering around, doing some shopping before heading home. It was through him that Roy and Jean found safety in their choices.
"Hey, that's Alice's piano kid." As the colonel spoke, Havoc looked in the direction that he was pointing.
"So, like...he knows shit?" Havoc asked bluntly, and Roy nodded in silent agreement before shouting out in the boy's general direction.
"Hey! Kid! Jeck, right?" Benji's head whipped around at the use of his surname, eyes lighting on the two men in military blue.
He cocked an eyebrow as the men laid out their plan before smiling slightly.
Before he could protest, Benji became apart of the military men's quest. They went store to store until Benji affirmed that Roy's choice was, indeed, perfect. "Colonel? Can I go home now?" the boy asked somewhat nervously.
"Huh? Yeah, sure." The boy rose before Roy placed a hand on his shoulder, making him turn. "Thanks, kid. I owe you one." Benji smiled slightly as he left the shop.
"Well, Havoc?" the colonel nudged his underling. "Aren't you going to pay the man?"
"What? Me? No way!"
"We had a bet, didn't we?" Roy smirked evilly.
"But, Colonel!"
The colonel's expression grew dark. "Havoc, if you don't pay, I will be forced to demote you. Then I'll burn you, cut out your entrails, and burn them, too. Do I make myself clear, Havoc?"
Havoc's cigarette drooped, and with a terrible sigh, he handed over all money on his person, barely having enough to even the exchange. At the very least, though, his debt to the man was settled; not to mention, Jean Havoc was certain that Alice would like what was bought. Or at least, that's what Benji had said.
"So what are you going to get her, Havoc?" Roy asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets lazily.
"WHAT? I just bought her that thing!" he yelled, pointing back at the store they had just exited, indicating the newly-purchased merchandise inside.
"I believe that you used my money for that."
"But, Colonel! Can't we say it's from both of us?" The lieutenant's eyes lit up with hope.
The man stopped and turned to face his underling; a thoughtful glint in his eyes raised Jean's hope further. "Don't be ridiculous, Havoc."
"I'm not being ridiculous, I'm being reasonable, " Havoc muttered under his breath before deciding that a few cheap pieces of sheet music would have to suffice. Surely Alice would understand when he explained what a tyrant her boyfriend was-
"And don't think of breathing a word of this to my dearest Alice, Havoc; or your entrails will burn."
Havoc's face fell and he grumbled, stuffing his hands in his pockets as the tow returned to headquarters.
It was around 4:30 in the afternoon when the telephone rang. Alice looked up abruptly from her book and stared at the telephone. This had never happened before. Was Alice allowed to answer the phone? She didn't know. No one had ever called during the day before. Everyone knew that Roy was at work. She bit her lip, pondering this as it rang again.
Maybe they'll hang up.
Ring!
It's probably just a wrong number...
Ring!
What if it's Roy?
Ring!
What if there's something wrong? What if he's hurt? Or dead?
Ri-- Alice dove for the telephone before it could finish its chime.
"Is Roy okay? Where is he? What's his condition? Please tell me he's not dead!" Alice practically yelled into the mouthpiece.
There was a pause on the other ended of the line. "Hello to you, too."
Alice's cheeks turned red. "S-sorry."
Roy chuckled lightly. "Hey, could you go to the market? We're out of bread, cheese and all things edible. Just have them put it on my tab."
"Uh, of course. I can do that now."
"Good. Thanks, Alice." Roy put down the receiver and turned to Major Armstrong, the Strongarm Alchemist, with a glint in his eye. "Let's move."
Alice, feeling strange going to the market without money, set off with a mission. Not really knowing what to buy, Alice decided the best course of action would probably be to just browse. Suddenly, Alice realized, she didn't even know what Roy liked to eat. She was living with him, and it was utterly incomprehensible that she didn't know what her boyfriend's favorite food was. Alice almost sighed at her own incompetence, resigning herself to buy bread, cheese, and other things that nearly everyone liked to partake in.
The Flame and Strongarm Alchemists stealthily approached the former's home. Roy quickly unlocked the door and motioned for the major to stand down. He responded by attempting to hide his cargo and his own bulky frame behind a hedge. Roy swung the door open and looked around shiftily. "Alice? You here?" Silence. "Major! Bring it in! Move! Move! Move!"
As large a man as Alex Louis Armstrong was, he was still quite deft; he moved quickly and quietly into his superior's house, placing his cargo in the place he had been instructed to do so. Setting the thing down gently, Armstrong turned to his superior, giving a crisp salute. "That's all, Major. Thank you for your cooperation."
With a nod, and a slight bow, Armstrong left the house, and Roy Mustang gave a small smirk, staring at that which the Strongarm Alchemist had delivered into his home.
Alice's shopping duties had come to a close, and although her purchases had been few, she was altogether happy with the spoils of her labors. If Roy wanted anything more, she decided, that he should have been more precise when telling her to go out to the market.
Roy quickly showered and changed into a crisp white shirt and black pants. Now, all he had to do was wait... But Roy hated waiting. He decided that a quick walk around the block would waste some time, while still leaving him plenty left before Alice returned. Little did he know that he would not be returning empty-handed.
Alice walked slowly up to the door of Roy's home. Only one light was on in the whole house. Roy was home. Alice turned the handle and walked inside. "Roy, I'm back," she called out into the darkness. When there was no response she called out, "Roy? Roy, are you here?" She set her bags down in the kitchen before walking into the only lit room in the house. Alice's jaw dropped as soon as her eyes lit upon the contents of the den.
Roy smiled, holding up two glasses of red wine. "Happy birthday, my dear Alice."
"H-how did you know?"
"I have my sources."
"Roy, why? Why did you spend so much money? On me? You bought me the most beautiful piano I've ever seen! Why did you do that?"
Roy frowned slightly. "You don't like it."
"No, no, it's the best gift I've been given. I just don't understand why you'd spend all that money on me," she explained, eyes starting to get moist from the dark-haired man's gesture.
"Why? Because it's not every day that my Alice turns twenty-four. And this is the only gift that I knew you would love."
Alice smiled, blushing slightly. She walked up to the alchemist and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Roy. So much."
Roy smiled as he kissed her on the lips. "That's not all I have for you." He picked up a small box that was sitting on the piano bench.
The box meowed at the sudden movement.
"Roy, I don't want a new cat..." Alice said sadly, remembering Staccato.
The man just pushed the box into the pianist's hands and winked. Alice sighed as she opened the box's lid. "Staccato!" The once orange and fluffy cat was now merely a few tufts of grey-orange fur sticking out from pinked skin. "He's alive! Where did you find him?"
"Once again, I have my sources." Actually, it was pure coincidence that he found the cat on his walk around the block. The pathetic thing was sleeping in a vegetable crate next to a pigeon. The cat had grown thin on its own, spoiled by Alice's care. Regardless, at the sight of Roy, the kitten's ears had perked up and he had jumped to his paws, tail waving weakly but clearly. A joyful mew was heard as Roy picked Staccato up, bringing him home to his owner.
The cat continued purring, and Alice squealed in delight. Setting Staccato down on the ground, Alice threw her arms around Roy's neck, just in time for his front door to come bursting open, a blonde woman with a gun at the ready heading the charge.
"What the HELL?" Alice let out a scream that was muffled by Roy's shoulder. The blonde woman stood agape, never lowering her pistol.
"Lt. Havoc told me you were in danger, Sir," she said, eying Alice. Riza couldn't believe that the tiny woman encased in her superior's arms was a threat.
Suddenly a group of people burst through the door. "ALICE!"
Havoc and Ivy wrenched the pianist out of Roy's arms and proceeded to practically suffocate her with their embrace.
"Hawkeye, at ease, dammit! And you two unhand her immediately!" All obeyed, and Alice was repositioned back at Roy's side in a matter of seconds. "Now, why the hell are you here?"
It was then that Maes Hughes made his entrance, carrying a large be-candled cake. "Happy birthday, Mrs. Mustang-to-be!" he sang out. Alice's eyes widened and she gripped the back of Roy's shirt tightly. Roy didn't notice until he took a second look at the cake. Candles. Fire. Alice.
Before he could think about it, Roy pulled on his ignition cloth glove. "If you don't blow out those candles, I'll burn yo -" he felt the grip on his back disappear. "But... that would be counter productive."
As Roy's tense body relaxed, Alice took a soft step forward, only to be met by Havoc sweeping her up in a hug. "Happy birthday, sis." As Alice's feet returned to the ground, she waved shyly at the men and women who'd come to wish her well. With Maes blowing out the candles, Alice relaxed, and Jean said, "And here they are. Amestris's finest."
Alice smiled slightly wider before dipping her head and quietly saying, "Lovely to meet you. I'm Alice Ackerman."
"What the hell are you merry band of idiots doing in my house?" Roy reiterated.
"Why, wishing my darling sister a happy birthday of course, Chief."
Jean smirked. "Well, why don't I introduce everyone? Alice, this is Lt. Hawkeye, Fuery, Falman, Breda, Major Armstrong, Ed, Al, and you've met Lt. Col. Hughes," Havoc smiled, pulling out a cigarette.
Roy whispered menacingly in his ear, "Don't you dare," before giving Alice a comforting wink.
"Alice Ackerman! How good it is to finally meet you!" Alice looked up to find a massive man lumbering towards her. She didn't have time to scream before the man full-out glomped her.
A terrified squeal that was muffled by the muscle she was encased in escaped from Alice's lips. He pulled away, a radiant smile coming from him and releasing Alice, saying, "I'm Major Alex Louis Armstrong. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, the beautiful significant other of a superior officer." Alice blushed bright red as Roy smirked at Armstrong's words.
"That's enough, Major. Don't frighten her off. God knows if she wasn't here we wouldn't have a reason to have a party anyway. Whose bright idea was it to have this party anyhow, Havoc?" Roy sent a slightly accusing look the lieutenant's way, and the blonde shrugged as if to say, 'Who, me?'
"Thank you all for this, but... you really didn't have to." Alice had reverted back to the shy girl of a few weeks ago, a side effect from having such a large amount of unknown people in her presence. "I mean, it's not that big a deal or anything..."
"I really don't see why I have to come visit Colonel Jackass's lady friend anyway," the blonde boy, Ed, if Alice remembered correctly. She flushed brightly.
"S-sorry for the inconvenience..." she barely managed to whisper."I mean, I don't want to be a bother or anything."
"Brother! That was mean!" The taller, armor-encased one said. "I apologize for my brother's behavior. He never learned his manners."
"Shut up, Al! It's your fault we're here anyway! You got kidnapped by the Major and I had to save you!"
"Edward, keep your voice down," Hawkeye warned, softly smiling at Alice. Riza would be very overwhelmed if it was she in Alice's position.
"Yes, sir..." the boy replied, pouting.
The night wore on. Wine and cake was distributed to the guests. And, much to Roy's amusement, Alice was latched onto the colonel's arm all night for fear that Armstrong would try to attack her again. Ivy, being Jean's date to begin with, slowly drifted towards Breda. And it seemed that the more intoxicated she became the more she openly flirted with the only redhead in the room. "Heymans, you know what? Redheads are hot." Breda merely smiled and thanked every higher power created for his odd hair color. As for the rest of the group, Havoc sulked and everyone else was socializing and having a good time.
There was a knock on the door, and in walked a certain black-haired boy. "Happy birthday, Miss A. My mom baked another pie for you..." he paused, "Why are you here?" Edward tensed.
"I could ask you the same thing, Jerk, right?"
"Actually, it's Jeck. I suggest you remember it for the next time we meet, Elric. Hey, Alphonse."
Benji sent a smirk Al's way before presenting Alice with his mother's baked good. Alice smiled brightly in response before giving the boy a kiss on the cheek. "You're far too kind, Benji. Send your mother my regards. I wish she would have come."
Benji shrugged in response. "She's not really one for this kind of event. Nonetheless, she sends her love."
With the pie cut, and a piece had by all, Alice settled into a seat comfortably, nearly ready to fall asleep. The most of the party was still very much alive, and Ivy leaned down to whisper in the auburn-haired woman's ears, "Better stay awake, honey. I'm sure you'll have a nice surprise, later, if you catch my drift."
Alice's eyes, which had been drooping, shot open, and she scrambled to her feet with a small squeal before absolutely hissing, "Ivy!"
With a wink and a slightly provocative hand gesture, Ivy flitted off, successfully making Jean even more jealous than he had been moments before as she said hello to Falman. With a sigh, Jean slunk over to Alice, saying, "Does she even like me?"
In a sudden display of compassion, Alice sighed. "It's just the way she is, Jean. She liked you as much as she said she did, because she's not a liar." And with a second thought she added, "It would also probably help if you had red hair..."
"That's what this is all about? My hair?"
"N-not completely, but Ivy's a bit...shallow when it comes to that kind of thing..." she said quietly.
"So you're saying that if I dye my hair, Ivy will like me again?"
"N-not really..."
Havoc paid her no mind. "Thanks, Alice! You're the best sister I've ever had!" And with that, he got up and got himself another piece of cake.
Alice shook her head and sighed as she leaned back into the comfy upholstery of the couch. It was only a few moments later that she drifted off... Alice awoke to warmth on her lips. Her eyes fluttered open to find Roy looking at her, a light smirk planted on his face. "Tired, my Alice?"
She nodded silently before quietly asking, "How long was I asleep?"
Roy sat down and put an arm around the woman. "You passed out about an hour ago. It took everything I had to keep Armstrong from attacking you."
Alice gave a sleepy, yet grateful smile. "Where is everyone?"
"I got rid of them. With Ivy all the while screaming about how we needed privacy to fornicate," the man replied with a slight chuckle. Alice sighed and turned pink. "So, my Alice, how was your birthday?"
Alice smiled slightly as Staccato jumped on her lap and purred. The pianist missed this after the fire claimed her house; just the simple act of relaxing on a couch with Staccato on her lap, Roy by her side, and a piano watching the scene unfold.
"It was certainly in the top twenty-four that I've had." A light chuckle fell from the pianist's lips before saying, "It was great, Roy. Really. I can't thank you enough." She leaned up to kiss him, and he gladly returned the favor.
"Don't thank me, my dear. Your brother was the one who planned all of this."
Alice blinked. "You didn't know?"
"Hadn't the foggiest." The man picked up the small woman, sitting down where Alice had been, with her still in his arms.
Alice blushed at the proximity, as she always did. A few select months prior, the pianist never would have imagined being in a situation such as this one. And with a gasp, Alice clenched her eyes shut, and said, with great fear, "...I love you."
She felt Roy inhale deeply, her back resting against his chest, and with a lingering kiss on her cheek he replied, "I love you, too, my Alice." He paused for a moment and smirked. "That being said..." He pulled the woman even closer, and almost to the point of being aggressive he kissed her feverishly. "We have privacy, a bed, and sisterly consent." He winked. Alice smiled slightly at the man's reasoning.
It really didn't make sense; their relationship. But the couple had other things in mind for the moment...