*...We're disappointed in you all. I mean, yes, we've updated ungodly slow. But... was that worthy of no reviews? None? WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO UPSET YOU? WHAT IS IT? -flails- As a "punishment," (sort of) this chapter's ungodly short. And we should have Bittersweet wrapped up here in the next couple of chapters. I pray that, although it's not nearly as fun as last chapter, we get some feedback on this one. .
**We don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. Nope. Nada. Though Roy Mustang's waiting for me upstairs, so I should probably go, but not before I mention -

Random Bittersweet Fact: This chapter? We didn't want to write it. We thought about just skipping to the last chapter (or at least I, Lex, did). Meh. Enjoy.

This, to say the least, felt very odd to Alice. The floor-length dress was hindering her ability to walk, not to mention the heels that made her feel like her height was skyrocketing. Thankfully, Roy had a steady arm, and his presence made her capable of walking without too much difficulty.

The military ball was an annual affair, one that was memorable for many a woman and man. Alice was just nervous, despite the abundance of people she knew. Fuery, Breda, Falman, Hawkeye, not to mention her darling brother Jean Havoc, and her boyfriend Roy Mustang.

"R-Roy..." Alice stuttered nervously, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

The black-haired man's eyebrows rose, and he sent a grin her way. "Of course. And I would be thoroughly delighted if I could have this dance." He didn't wait for her response, only grabbing her hand and pulling her to the floor. Tighter to his body than she'd ever been in public, Alice blushed bright red, and Roy smirked. "All this time, and I still make you nervous?"

"O-only a little..." Alice mumbled quietly, and Roy laughed but didn't respond, moving his lover with the music as she was certainly not going to be the one doing the leading.

Alice had never really danced before, nor had she been to such a formal affair. Luckily for her, Roy was good on his feet. Luckily for Roy, Alice was able to fall in with the tempo before his toes were trodden upon. Once the song ended and the couple were on the way to their seats, Alice was attacked from behind.

"Alice! You were so cute out there with your sexy colonel! I didn't know you could dance! And that dress! So expensive-looking! Did Colonel Sexy buy that for you? I'm surprised you let him buy you something that cost so much!"

"Ivy, what are you doing here?" Alice asked patiently, peeling her neighbor off of her.

"Oh, Lieutenant Carrot-Head brought me here."

Before Alice could ask who Lieutenant Carrot-Head was, she was distracted by a rumbling chuckle from Roy. "Havoc, what the hell happened to your head? Did an army of oranges attack you in your sleep?"

Alice looked up to see 2nd Lieutenant Jean Havoc in a nicely tailored black tux, shiny black shoes, and with hair dyed the color of baby carrots. "Oh my god, Jean. What happened?" she gasped, mentally suppressing a giggle. He looked ridiculous.

"I was just following your advice, Sis," he replied with obvious shame.

"What advice? I don't recall telling you to stick your head in a pumpkin." Jean hung his head in shame.

In the hustle and bustle that ensued, Jean whispered, "You said she liked redheads..." And at the defeated tone his voice took on, Alice's heart almost broke.

"Oh, Jean..." The girl, green dress shimmering, wrapped her arms around her 'brother,' trying her hardest not to laugh. "I didn't mean..."

"Yeah, I know," Jean cut in, interrupting her in the middle of a sentence. "I just, I like her a lot. And I wanted to have all the advantages I could..." He, in turn, was interrupted by Ivy pulling at his arm, trying to get his attention.

"Jean, come on! I want to dance!"

Roy and Alice watched the retreating backs of the couple, the latter sighing sadly, and the former barely able to control his laughter. "I don't know what he was thinking, honestly, my Alice. Do you think I'd look better as a redhead?"

Alice shot him a glare. "Hell no. Don't even think about it."

"No, no, my dear, I wouldn't dare." It always gave Roy great amusement to get a rise out of Alice; hearing her swear was just a bonus. The sweet woman rarely did so, and it gave him joy every time, for the fact that she was so difficult to frustrate. "So, my darling Alice, would you care to dance with me?" He didn't even wait for her response pulling her closer and dragging her to the dance floor. Alice again blushed at their close proximity. "No matter what, we have to outdo Lieutenant Carrot-Head and Ivy." Alice was under the impression that he was only talking about the dancing. But she found that she was mistaken when Roy leaned down and attacked her lips in a heated kiss that really shouldn't have taken place at such a public event. "In every aspect of the night." He winked and his lover turned crimson once again.

Despite Jean Havoc's outrageous hair, he had still managed to get somewhat close with Alice's slightly slutty, neighboring counterpart.