Chapter 17

Rin's P.O.V.

I walk through the East City Park and you know what I see? No Taylor or Lynn. I just hate how they make me wait like this. I even asked could they wait for me here.

Okay, I didn't say it directly, but they knew.

"Guess I'll just sit and wait." I walked over to a bench and made myself comfort. This may not have felt as good as a chair back home but I felt like dozing off. That train ride was long and I didn't get the chance to get a wink of sleep. "Maybe for just a- Oww!" Something hit me in the face. Looking down to see what it was I noticed it being a ball.

"Sorry lady!" A little girl ran up and picked up the ball I guessed was hers. She looks like she was seven or eight years old. Looking at me she smiled. "I hope you're okay? My big brother kicked the ball to high and I couldn't catch it."

I smiled back. "It's okay sweetie. Just tell him to be more careful is all, alright?" The girl nodded.

"Hey Izzy!" A boy came over to us. He seemed to be at least twelve years of age and guessed to be 'Izzy's' brother. "What's taking you so long?" He snatched the ball from her.

"I was just telling the lady sorry. It was your fault the ball hit her in the head." She retorted.

Her brother huffed before turning to me and… well that's about it. The kid didn't say a word. He just looked at me; more like stare.

"Um… Are you okay?" I had to ask him.

"No, no! I'm fine. It's just um…" He was looking down at his feet. I then noticed his face get a little pink. I did my best not to chuckle. "Sorry for hitting you with the ball lady."

"That's okay, I've had worst injuries. And you guys can call me Tarin or Rin for short. So, what're your names?"

"My name's James." He was looking back up and had both his hands behind his head.

"I'm Elizabeth! But I like people to call me Izzy!" Izzy had the brightest smile on her face. "Do you want to play with us?"

"Izzy, you can't just ask her to play with us! She's an older person. She doesn't have time to play with us."

'Wait a sec. Did he just indirectly call me old?' I thought and my eye twitched a little. "Do, you two think, I'm old?"

They both just looked between each and back at me. Izzy answered. "You don't look that old. You look way younger than my mommy and you are really pretty." I smiled at that; I'm really pretty. "Don't you think so James?"

"Yeah, I guess I agree with you." He said rather slowly and was once again pink in the face.

These two were so cute I just wanted to hug them. And how they said I seemed young earned them some extra brownie points. I then agreed to play with them. They both were ecstatic and guided me to a more open area. James had the ball and was either bouncing on his knee or kicking it in the air. His sister would call him a show off and he'd get mad. Passing it over to Izzy, she wouldn't really do as much as her brother did. She would kick it up in air a couple times and occasionally miss. James would laugh and she in turn would be upset. Soon it had become my turn to play with the ball; something I really have not done in a while. Couldn't think of what I could do some I just mimicked Izzy and James. I obviously failed the first few times but started to get the hang of it. I went from bouncing the ball on my knee to bouncing it on my head and to my feet. The children were cheering me on and it made me feel more confident in what I was doing. But I accidently kicked the ball up to high to a point where we were basically staring to the Sun. James walked up to me, his eyes still towards where the ball had gone.

"Wow! You kicked it pretty hard."

"I think it went into outer space." Izzy exclaimed. Sadly I almost wanted to agree with her until we saw the sphere slow appear again. "There it is!" She pointed. The ball had fallen not far but at least over some trees from where we stood.

"Sorry you guys." I laughed nervously. "Guess I don't know my own strength."

"But that was awesome." They both said and looked at me with big glittery eyes. James continued, "I've never seen a ball go up that high before. I can't even do that and I'm awesome."

"It's true. I bet it even went over the clouds and to the Moon." Izzy jumped.

"Yeah… I guess it could have. But I'll go get you guys ball so just stay here okay?" They nodded at the deal I made and went on to fetch the ball. I searched and searched for the ball and it was nowhere in sight. I decided to look in a bush not far from where I think it may have landed. 'This is so embarrassing.' I crouch it the shrub and begin looking throughout it. "Where the hell is this thing?"

"Are you looking for something Miss?" A voice came from behind me.

"Yeah, I'm looking for some kids' red ball." I stayed looking in the bush.

"You mean this ball?"

Moment I heard that I tried to scramble out of the bush hoping to see if it what I was looking for. I really hoped. But when I got up I paused in my movement as the breath stuck in my throat. "R… Roy?" It was no other than the Colonel himself, standing right before me. To make it worse I believe my hair was a complete mess.

"Tarin? What are you doing here?" He looked at me with shock. I could not tell if it was because we haven't seen each other in a week or because of the little episode we had. I looked at him as he helped me from off of the ground and I brushed any dirt off my clothing.

"I was supposed to be meeting up with Taylor and Lynn here. I should be asking you the same. What's the Flame Alchemist doing in the park?"

"I decided since it was a nice day I should try spending it outdoors in the fresh air."

We just stood there in silence. It wasn't one of those awkward silences, just silent. He was definitely the last person I'd think to see out in the park. Hell, I didn't think he even came here but that wasn't the point. After an entire week I haven't lay my eyes on him or even heard from him. He may have crossed my thought every now and then but only because of what happened last we saw the other. The grim, angry look he gave me was still etched in my head. I wonder was he still made at me.

"Well uh…" He scratched the back of head. "How was your week with Fullmetal?"

"Oh, it was fine. I got to meet the Rockbell's; they were really nice to us, especially Winry." I smiled. I didn't need him to know I was feeling regret from the other day. That would have been embarrassing. "And apparently her grandmother, Pinako, knew my parents."

"Really, I bet you were happy to hear that."

"Yeah, it was a bit-"

"Roy." A woman approached from behind Roy. She then grabbed on his forearm. "What was taking you so long? It's getting hot out here and I don't like being in the heat for too long." The woman whined like a little girl. Even her voice was pitched.

"I'm sorry. I was in the middle of a conversation and sort of forgot." Roy said in a gentleman's manner.

"Oh?" The woman looked up at me; she had to be at least a couple inches shorter than Taylor by just looking. Noticing the look she gave me it's like she's… glaring. "Hello and who might you be?" She sounded like she had an attitude with me.

"Claudia, this is Tarin Silvers. She works under me as a Lieutenant Colonel and as a State Alchemist like myself. And Tarin," his attention went to me "this is Claudia Crows." After he introduced us we just looked at the other. She still seemed to be glaring at me but all that went through my mind was the relations between the two of them.

"It's nice to have the pleasure in meeting you, Claudia." I said and extended my hand out to her. She reluctantly took my hand.

"Charmed." Then let go of my hand as if I was sick. "Roy, can we go now? It's hot!"

"Okay, we're going. It was nice talking with Tarin." He then handed the ball to me. "I'll see you first thing in the morning."

"Yeah…" I grabbed the ball. "See you tomorrow." I watched as the two trotted way. Standing in the same spot things tried to register.

'Was… Was he on a date? On a date with that? She's… She's…'

As I felt myself become more irritated I heard Taylor and Lynn's voices coming into my sound barrier. I wouldn't have realized them if it wasn't for them yelling out to me though it sounded like gibberish since I wasn't paying attention to whatever they were saying. All I felt was my body tensing up some. I didn't know if it was from anger or frustration but I knew this feeling wasn't good.

"Taylor… I need to get home."

"Huh? But I thought-"

"Taylor." I firmly grabbed onto her arm. "Let's just… go home, alright." After a few seconds I realized she understood my request from her holding onto my hand. As we began to walk I felt footsteps coming our way and turned around.

"Tarin!" Izzy cried as she and James came over to us. "You were gone for a really long time and we were worried about you!" She had a sad look on her face.

"I'm sorry Izzy, here." I handed her the ball and started to walk away before her small voice stopped me.

"Where are you going? You aren't playing with us anymore?"

"Yeah. I'm feeling a little under the weather, but don't worry, I'll come back later in the week to play with you two alright?"

"All right!" They both said simultaneously. We then watched them run back playing with their ball.

Lynn looked over at me. "Friends of yours?" She asked. I mumbled a quick 'sort of'. "Cute, but I bet you want your own right?" All she got in response were chuckles from me and Taylor before we headed.

-x-

No P.O.V.

Later that night the three girls were in the kitchen. Cathelynn was washing plates and silverware from the previously eaten dinner. Tarin was cleaning off the kitchen table and counters. Taylor was over placing left over goods into the refrigerator that can be eaten later. The atmosphere in the residence had been a bit dim since earlier. After the three had returned home Tarin immediately walked into their living room with nothing more than an utterly 'I'm tired'.

Taylor had seen her older sister in different moods but she didn't know what to do with Rin in that condition. When Rin's shaky hand grabbed onto her she initially expected that she was on the verge of breaking down into one of her attacks. When they had arrived back, she seems more distance than Taylor had seen her in many years. She almost felt… as though she were worthless in the situation.

Still new to the family yet use to knowing enough to comprehend, Lynn just watched as everything happened. She had been one to brighten up some situations, but this one she knew was way deeper then to her understanding. She knows of the Silver sister's background and history and she has accepted whatever skeletons they had been hiding. She sees either Tarin or Taylor in some emotional distress and she cannot do anything about it she feels as though she can't measure up to her self-proclaimed debt from them taking her in.

The petite blonde rubbed the part of her arm that wasn't dripping of soap and water over her eyes.

"Cathelynn…" The young girl turned around and looked up at the elder sister. "Everything all right?"

She frantically nodded. "Yeah, I'm just fine. Yep!" Lynn put up a big smile that went ear to ear. She almost jumped when she felt a pair of arms pulled her into a gentle embrace and a hair run through her hair. "T-Tarin?"

"It's alright Lynn; I know exactly what you are feeling. Just let it all out." Once she said that sobs were heard from the young girl that increased to bawling. Tarin looked over to her teary eyed sister and held out her hand. "There's room for one more." After a moment of hesitation, Taylor joined in on the embrace and rivers of tears flowed. Placing a hand on both their heads, silent tears ran down her cheeks. 'I have to be strong. I'm going to be strong… For them.'

-x-