Chapter nine, sorry for the wait, I haven't had much time to type lately, but I have been writing in my spare time, so I've actually got up to chapter eleven hand written.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist

Spoilers: 102

"Thank you again, Ms. Hawkeye." Said RanFan as she unrolled a new blanket onto her bed. Colonel Mustang and Ms. Hawkeye had allowed her and the young Prince to stay in their new (and small) apartment.

"RanFan, I've told you to call me Riza, I can't stand so much formality." She glanced over at RanFan "and ask if you need help with that."

She looked down at the bed she was trying to tend. Having been trained in combat all her life, house chores had never really been her forte, having only one arm didn't really help.

The apartment they were staying in was small, only two rooms, Ling had offered to sleep on the couch (once they managed to get one) but Riza insisted he stay with the Colonel in case he needed help. The alchemist was adapting to his lack of sight with amazing ease, already he had begun learning brail and his other senses had heightened.

"So RanFan." Said Riza as she took over RanFans futile attempts to fold the blanket. "Why did you come to a clinic so close to a military base if you where trying to avoid them?"

"Actually we came here be complete accident."

"How so?"

"Well, when we came north we were actually heading to Drachma, but before we even made it to the mountain range, my shoulder started to seize up, after awhile I started getting headaches and I guess at one point I fainted. All I remember is seeing the sign in front of the North City and then collapsing, the next thing I know Ms. Sandra's yelling at me for letting my shoulder get infected, and then she offers to make my arm for me."

"I knew it, underneath that attitude she really a kind person." Said Riza.

"Yeah, but her therapy methods are brutal, I hope the Mr. Mustang's prepared."

Mr. Mustang was currently hanging outside the window, held only by his shirt collar. Ling who was currently holding that collar yanked him back inside, both men ended up falling to the floor, gasping for breath.

"What… the hell… where you doing?" Ling breathed, getting up and latching the window closed.

"Sorry I-I thought it was the bathroom door." He responded lamely

The door… to the bathroom. Ms. Riza was right; the Colonel did need help if a simple trip to the bathroom could turn into a five-story plummet.

"Don't worry about it." He said and then laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing I was just thinking, back when I was twelve I was chasing a bird and almost ran off a cliff, actually I did fall off, RanFan grabbed me by my hair braid after I fell off."

"You wore it in a braid?" asked Roy, remembering the messy ponytail the boy had worn.

"Yeah, I actually started wearing it like this once I got to Amestris."

"Is that some sort of royalty custom." He asked

"Yeah, heirs are supposed to be educated, prideful and well groomed."

"Really."
"Yeah, I never paid attention in classes, my experience with pride wasn't the good and as for "well groomed" well I don't really see how that affects leadership."

"Heh, you're going to make a hell of an emperor kid."