A/N: Okay, it has been forever since I last posted so here you go. With Drill Team, parades, and homework I barely have time. I'm thinking of putting out the 6th chapter as well but… I'm sleepy, I have the Veterans Day parade in the morning, and even my family and bf are telling me I should go to sleep. (He cares so much 3)

Chapter 5

"Did you know about this?"

"Wh-what are talking about, Colonel Mustang, uh sir?" Taylor was scared. And as a weird moment for her, she was afraid of Roy.

He had a seriously upset look on his face. "Did you know about the true reason why Rin was to come here?" He saw her flinch and continued to question her. Ever since earlier that day in the Fuhrer's office Roy has been a little on edge.

-Flashback-

"What?" Mustang said in a whisper but the other two heard him. He was too shocked to notice that they were both staring at him and continued. "She is going to take exams privately? But the real thing isn't but for a few months."

"We know that the exams are coming soon." Bradley spoke. "But I have put together for she'll be able to take them privately while still having it be like the regular exam."

"What about her exam date?"

"It'll more likely be the in two days since she has taken it once before she doesn't need too much more time to study. You need not to worry about it Colonel. We've told Tarin about all of this beforehand in the letter sent to her. She's already agreed to the circumstances of the exam and is hopefully ready for it."

Roy looked over to Rin. She was still sitting up straight in her chair with her head up. He saw her glance at him from the corner of her eye and she gave him a confident smirk. Roy could tell that that smirk was as real as they come. He believed that she was confident enough to go through with it. But the main question was: did she still have what it takes to pass it again.

"So I see that you are indeed ready. Well, I guess that ends our meeting for today. I will see you two back here in two days for the exam." He then stood up from his desk. "You're dismissed."

-End flashback-

Roy was in the chair across from Taylor. He had original asked Rin all about this on the way to Hughes's house but she didn't speak a word to him about it and changed the subject instantly. Once they had gotten in the house Rin was off the hook when Elicia ran in to see Roy. After she introduced herself to the little girl Rin ran off to the bathroom before Roy could question her more.

And having to not see her in the almost an hour since they've arrived back, Roy decided on another tactic. "I'm going to ask to again calmly. Did you know that your sister was going to take the State Alchemist exams when she got here?" He continued to look the poor scared girl over. Taylor made hardly any movements as she stared at him with a scared face. Roy sighed and switched his seating over to sit next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Why won't you just give me a yes or no answer?"

Taylor looked down at her lap. "Yes." She said quietly. She then began twiddling her two index fingers together in a nervous way. "I knew it, but she told me not to tell anybody about. I promised to keep it a secret and… um." Taylor shook her head in frustration, she felt like she's said too much as it is.

"Taylor, is there anything else she's hiding from us?"

"I, I can't-"

"Taylor, is this guy harassing you?" Roy and Taylor both look up to see Rin standing in the walkway of the living room. She stared at the two nonchalantly. "Roy why are you- You know what, just drop the question. Taylor."

"Uh, yes?"

"Gracia says she needs you to help her in the kitchen. Something about cooking a chicken?"

"Oh, okay." Taylor stood from her seat and walked passed her sister.

Tarin took a seat next to Roy. "First you try to get information out of someone like Maes. Now you are going to after my own flesh and blood. You really are a simple, simple man. And I thought you were different then other men. Guess I was wrong."

"Why didn't you tell earlier that you were coming here to take the State Alchemist exams? It didn't take a genius to know you would re-enlist."

"It's just like I told you earlier on the train, people find out things in others after time and getting to know them. We only talked for a little bit so you were nowhere close in knowing." Rin leaned back in the couch and relaxed herself.

Roy was hunched over with his elbows on his knees. He had token off his jacket once he had gotten there and changed from his uniform pants to a pant of more casual ones. Looking over to Rin he saw her outfit didn't change much of how it was earlier. Still wore a similar like shirt but it wasn't a turtleneck and was a cream color. Wore a similar pair of cargo pants and had slip-on shoes instead of boots. And lastly her hair was pulled back into a neat high ponytail. Roy looked closely to her face and saw she was looking blankly at the ceiling; he guessed she was zoned out.

In the sometime they have spent together Mustang has noticed some things about who Tarin Silvers is. Rin mostly takes to be a carefree nonchalant person. Can be sarcastic one minute and then serious if you push a button the next. Nothing much may not be known about her history in the military or as an Alchemist, but you can tell that she had learned a lot and taken it seriously. At least that what Roy has gotten out this entire time.

"Colonel Roy. Hey, what's going on here?"

Roy was snapped out of his thoughts and looked over to see Lynn standing walkway with Elicia behind her. "Oh nothing it's just…" He'd look back to Rin and saw she had actually fallen asleep. How long have they been like this?

"Well, Elicia wanted to come and tell you dinner was almost ready."

"I was supposed to tell him." Elicia told the girl. "Uncle Roy, dinner's almost ready and Mommy says we have to wash our hands."

"All right I'll be there. But should I wake Rin up?"

"Nah, I'll do it." Lynn offered. "You and Elicia go ahead on."

Roy got up and walked to the doorway. Picking up Elicia, he walked to the washroom where they washed their hands. Then a loud scream was heard throughout the house. "I think that was Aunt Rin." Elicia told him.

'Aunt…?' "I think so too." He said looking a little confused. After they finished they made way to the kitchen. Elicia had run to her seat where her mother helped her into so she sat properly at the table.

Riza already had a seat at the table and Taylor was helping Gracia set out the food. Not long after Rin and Lynn walked into the kitchen becoming overwhelmed by the smell of cooked food and Jean and Maes walked in behind them laughing, all seating at the table. "It's surely have been a while since we've had company like this." Maes announced. "Let's eat."

"Comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction; these are the three basic parts of alchemy. In order to understand the way of alchemy these basic needs are to be understood…" Rin was sitting at a desk reading in the guest room Gracia and Maes let them use during their stay. Taylor, Cathelynn, Riza, and she were sharing the room while the guys stayed in the living room. There were only two beds but they could coop. "When using alchemy one draws a matrix along with symbolic runes inside of the matrix known as a transmutation circle."

Taylor was looking in her own alchemy book, lying on bed, close to being annoyed. "Tarin, do you have to read aloud? You're going over the basics of alchemy while I'm reading something past that is messing with my reading. I know you are studying but I wanna study as well. Are you even listening to me?"

"No I am not. I'm studying for my written test right now."

The younger sister closed her book and jumped off the bed. "Well I'm going to see what Lynn and Elicia are doing. I promised Elicia I'd read her a bedtime story." She then headed towards the door but stops. "I don't know why you are studying anyway. You've taught me all I know about alchemy and you still know years more. Just make sure you don't study too much."

"I won't." When the door had closed Rin let her head fall on the desk. 'Why in the hell am I studying? I know all of this material and haven't forgotten any of it. I'm practically wasting my time sitting here ready this crap.' She sighed loudly. 'But I need to make sure I know this stuff and… because that jerk says I may need it.'

Right after dinner Rin had asked Hughes if he had a few books on alchemy so she could review a little for the exam. Sadly he had none at all but apparently Roy did. He had a few couple in his suitcase encase he felt the need to do a little studying while he was on the trip, claimed that you can never know enough even if you are a State Alchemist: which would explain why Rin was reading a book on the basics of alchemy. Roy also said it be best if she looked and reviewed the entire book; all three and those were not skinny books.

She felt that she should have declined his offer or just cursed at him for wanting to make her read them all. Then again these were books she's never seen. Who could've known what different information could have been found in this book than the ones she read back at home. After flipping through one of them earlier Rin swore she hadn't read couple of things anywhere else before. Her interest was sparked.

But one thing picked at her: why was Roy doing this? Why'd he give her information instead of making her go look for some in the Central Library? He'd been for generous with it too. She thought he'd still be upset over the water thing for early in the day. Or maybe by the accidental goose chase him, Riza, and Jean had to go on to look for them. Even maybe the fact that she doesn't trust him enough to tell her own escort why he's even taking her half way around the country. After all she seems to have done, Roy still gives more patience then she would have. Nobody does things for free, unless they benefit in some way. Maybe but then… But how can Roy benefit for Rin, she wasn't special nor a prize.

Rin shook her head and tried to rid of the thoughts. She doesn't believe Roy would use her like that. Not after just meeting her. Roy doesn't seem like that type of person to her. Even if they just met. She was told by Maes that Roy was a great guy and trustworthy friend. They had met years ago before she and he even knew one another. He would always do whatever it took to make it to the top and didn't quit after starting. They've made promises and have continued to keep everyone of them. Maes described themselves as having what sounded like a brother-brother relationship.

Tarin began to hum as she closed her book. She stood from the desk and made way to her bed she'll be sharing with her sister. Getting comfortable she began to drift off into her sleep. "Tomorrow, I do training."