Daniel found a spot on the dance floor for the two of them. Micha thought it wasn't a very good idea to do this. It was like reliving something wonderful that would lead to something terrible in the end. But she forgot all of that when he looked at her. He bowed before offering his hand to her. She stood there for a while, just staring at his open palm.

Daniel stood there for a while too, and watched her as she stood there, staring at his hand. He cleared his throat and said jokingly, "I promise I won't step on your foot." Just to kill the awkwardness.

She laughed (and feeling a little bit nervous) but that relieved him. She took his hand and he pulled her closer. Their bodies fit so well together, and danced quietly for a while. It's been a long time since they've been this close to each other. But even if it did feel nice, Micha refused to let her head lean on his chest, or for her to feel too comfortable. She didn't know which one was harder, the former or latter. She was feeling tense from being so close to him. Her face was right in front of his boutonnière, and she could smell the sweet scent of the white rose that was pinned to his lapel. That mixed with his scent was intoxicating.

He leaned in to her, "you can relax, you know. It's just me."

That is the very reason why I can't relax. But she lied, "I'm totally relaxed."

He laughed and put both of his hands at the small of her back and pulled her even closer. He fixed her arms around his neck so she could lean into him. Now her cheek was resting right next to his boutonnière and it was feeling hot.

Daniel was happy Micha was letting him do this. She would usually make a fuss and refuse to even if she really did want it. So, he relished the moment. He took in her scent, the feel of her warmth and how she felt with his arms around her. He wished it could be like this again. The song was about to change, and a boy in a shiny silver suit approached them. It was Angelo.

When Micha saw him, she immediately pulled away from Daniel. This made Daniel want to punch him.

"Seniorita, I must apologize," Angelo said, taking her hand. He completely ignored Daniel. "I'm sorry about the news. I promise you, I am doing everything I can to fix it. You have to believe me." His blue eyes were pleading, and searching her dark eyes for something.

"It's okay," Micha pulled her hand away and hid it behind her back. "My dad's staff is already taking care of it as well." She felt so exposed for some reason. She couldn't even look at him. It just felt so weird.

Daniel knew Micha was feeling uncomfortable; Angelo kept trying to take her hand, or touch her shoulder. He didn't even bother trying to hide it. When the song changed and Angelo asked if she would dance with him, Micha tensed. She didn't know what to say. Daniel didn't even think, "sorry, she's my date tonight," he said coolly, and offered him a charming grin.

Both Micha and Angelo looked at him as if he said the sky was green. Daniel put a protective arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his side. Daniel smiled at him smugly.

Angelo was at a loss of words, "si." He finally said. "Lo siento, senor." He bowed at them before leaving.

"You didn't have to do that," Micha said, quietly. She was staring at the wooden floor.

"He was annoying," Daniel replied, hastily.

"Still." He didn't seem so shy anymore. Was that all an act? Or was Angelo just really worried? She shook it off wiped him out of her thoughts.

Daniel took a deep breath and made her look at him. He still had his arm around her waist. "Do you want to get a drink?"

She looked at him with her dark, small eyes. She nodded in reply. They made their way to the bar, but Daniel still didn't let go of her waist. She appreciated that.

(((-)))

Maes took his wife to the dance floor, but stayed where they can see Roy and Riza. He held her close to him and Gracia leaned her head on her husband's chest. They were both facing Roy and Riza's table.

"Isn't it great, honey?" Gracia sighed. "They're perfect for each other," Gracia continued watching her two friends while swaying to the music with her husband. Maes kissed her forehead and rested his cheek at the top of her head.

"Yeah, it would be great to see him settle down," Maes replied.

Roy and Riza were talking to each other, and it looks like Roy was undeniably charming her. Riza was laughing and Roy just watched her with such tenderness in his eyes. "The way he looks at her," Gracia couldn't help but smile, "it reminds me of how you used to look at me." She turned to face Maes to find him looking at her like he did when they first started dating.

Maes smiled at her and held her face, "I'll never stop looking at you like that. A day doesn't go by where I don't think I'm luckiest man alive to have you as my wife."

(((-)))

Edward and Winry were dancing awkwardly with each other. They kept looking at Alphonse, who seemed to have been having a good time, dancing with a little girl who looked Xingese. Winry and Edward tried so hard not to look at each other while they were dancing. There was so much space between them. Winry's eye caught a sight of her parents, kissing. She stared at them and a little smile formed on her lips. Edward saw this and followed her gaze. Once he saw his uncle and aunt kissing, he looked away immediately.

Edward let go of Winry. He looked over the opposite direction of his Aunt and Uncle, tightly closed his eyes, and stuck his tongue out. "Eeeeewww. Gross!" Edward made puking sounds and looked like he ate something sour.

Winry looked at him, she couldn't help but feel insulted. "Hey, that is not gross!" she put her tiny fists on her hips and frowned at him.

"Yes it is! You don't do that in public!" Edward argued.

"So would it be gross if your dad and Miss Riza kissed?" Winry challenged.

Edward stopped to imagine it in his head. His face contorted as if he smelled something bad but he stopped and looked at her, "THAT'S DIFFERENT IF THEY DID!"

"YOU JUST WANT THEM TO KISS," Winry bit back.

Their claws were out and it looked like they were ready to pounce. But just before they did, Alphonse broke it up and pointed to the dance floor, "look!"

The two kids stopped their fighting and looked at the dance floor for a moment. Roy and Riza were slow dancing.

(((-)))

Leila, Jadine and Johnny were at the buffet table. Leila was having fun tasting all the wines and comparing it, while Jadine enjoyed the chocolate cakes and trying out all the flavors of the macaroons. Johnny was satisfied just people watching, while listening to the two girls gush on about the food and drinks. Something caught his eye, which made him pull the two girls by their arms.

"Hey, hey look!" Johnny didn't take his eyes off the two figures he saw on the dance floor as he pulled the two girls to change their attention to what he was looking at.

"Oh my god!" Jadine squealed. They're so adorable. Look at them!" She pointed.

Riza was leaning on Roy's shoulder, as they danced a slow waltz. Her face looked so at ease, and Roy's face was so calm and serene. He took in the smell of her hair and the feel of her hands, in his. Riza closed her eyes and also took in his intoxicating smell. Her face was next to his boutonnière. His scent, mixed with that of a red rose filled her mind and exhaled with bliss.

"Well, well. The infamous Roy Mustang and ex-Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye." She smirked. "I can see the headlines now."

Johnny elbowed her and chuckled. "They look great together." He smiled at the couple's direction. The other dancers were closing in and they could barely see them behind the crowd of old and young lovebirds, flocking into the dance floor.

"I can't see them anymore!" Jadine tried tiptoeing, despite her four-inch heels.

Leila craned her neck just a little bit. "The crowd is closing in on them."

Johnny could still see the top of their heads but his eyebrows furrowed when he thought he saw a dash of gold locks approach them. His lips parted in concentration, trying to see who that was. He wanted to know if the person was just passing by or not. But the shade of gold hair seemed too familiar for him to get so optimistic.

"Johnny, I can't see them!" Jadine complained. Johnny looked at her momentarily and brought his attention back to the dance floor. He could no longer see the gold haired person, but he could see Riza now. She was standing alone.

(((-)))

Daniel brought Micha to the wine tasting station with all the small pastries and cheeses to accompany them. Micha was never one to enjoy alcohol and wine, but these were sweet dessert wines, and she was a sucker for those. He knew it would cheer her up since Leila always dragged her to wine tasting parties, just so Micha would loosen up a bit. It didn't take long for it to happen, anyway.

True enough, Micha was enjoying herself and the wine. So much that her cheeks were already flushed and she had a glazed look in her eyes. Her smile was so subtle, but you could feel her enjoyment.

"This is SO GOOD." Micha was talking a little too loud, and emphasized each syllable in her last few words. She had a light smile on her face as she held up a glass with a dark red substance in it.

"Oh, yeah?" Daniel laughed at her a bit and took the glass from her hand. He smelled it first and drank the rest of it. "Yeah, that is. It's sweet."

"It's SO GOOD." Micha said slowly and her facial expression changed. She giggled and took some cheese from the buffet table.

Daniel chuckled and held her by the waist. Micha was about to take another glass, but he took it from her hands and set it down again.

"I think we should go get some fresh air," he laughed lightly.

"NOOO. I'm OKaaaayy," she giggled again. "You know, I love these wine tasting things. They're so fun. Leila always drags me with her. I pretend to dread it, but I love it. The cheese and cakes are always SO GOOD." She took a small pastry and put it in her mouth while looking at Daniel.

There was a foolish grin plastered on Daniel's face. He knew Micha was still aware of everything, and still had her sanity in tact. Micha had such low tolerance that Leila and her friends never leave her alone when she feels like drinking. But this was the fun Micha. She was in the stage wherein she would just act funny and keep giggling.

She put both hands on her cheek and smiled. "Oh, my cheeks feel so warm." She giggled and laughed.

Daniel laughed at her. She looked adorable and silly and everything he ever wanted. His smile faded down to a sincere one and looked at her dark little eyes. She looked back at his green ones and smiled too. She took another glass and took a small sip.

"This one's better," the softness in her voice surprised him. Her smile was so genuine. She looked at the glass and placed her finger on the rim of the crystal glass. Micha was appreciating the rich color and scent.

"How come?" Daniel asked her.

"It tastes like life," she answered, still looking at the wine. "At first, it tastes really sweet and then it turns sour but then when you soak it in, you'll realize it was just sweet and tangy all along. You'll eventually forget there was any hint of sour. You just have to let it stay a little bit longer." She took another sip and gave it to Daniel. He took it from her hand and took a sip as well. He smiled at her. She smiled back. Her eyes looked cloudy but still, there was some thing.

"Does it taste like your life?" He asked her.

She smiled and giggled. "I guess so. First look, my life is perfect! Perfect brothers. Perfect friends. But then, it's not." She became quiet and looked at the other wine glasses but eventually returned to the glass in her hand. "But dad's happy with Riza. And I know she is too. She loves us."

A smile slowly formed on Daniel's lips. He couldn't stop looking at her. "I thought you didn't like Riza."

"Oh no. I used to hate her." Micha admitted and then giggled. "I was silly. I knew dad would fall in love with her. I didn't want that. But then… she's perfect for him. For us." She smiled so softly and her eyes cleared. "I always just wanted us to be happy. And she did that for us."

He took a deep breath and observed how the colors on her cheek were so pink. It made her look so young and innocent. The gravity of her words and feelings weighed down his heart but warmed it all the more. "Maybe you should go get some fresh air."

"Yeaaaah." She agreed and giggled. "And some water, please." She smiled.

"Okay," Daniel turned to go but came swiftly back to her. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

"Okay." She smiled.

Micha watched Daniel as he disappeared to the next buffet table to go get some water for her. She took the wine glass Daniel set down and took another sip. Her face contorted a bit at the initial sour taste but slowly turned into a smile when she tasted the sweetness of the drink.

Micha was about to take another sip when she heard a familiar voice and laughter behind her. It made her furrow her brows to the center. She looked back and saw a dash of gold hair. She recognized her father's suit. The two figures exited the ballroom and disappeared behind a door. A look of confusion filled her face. She looked back, and there was no sign of Daniel close by. Micha looked back at the door. She slowly walked towards it.

Daniel had two glasses of water in his hands, and made his way back to the wine tasting table. He expected to see Micha in her red dress, waiting for him. But there was no one at the table. He hurried to get to the table, spilling some of the water and bumping into people at the process. He saw her standing by the door, holding the wine glass he sipped from.

"It tastes like life."

He heard her say in his head. But something felt awfully wrong. He put the glasses down on the wine tasting table and walked towards her.

"At first, it tastes really sweet and then it turns sour but then when you soak it in,"

He couldn't explain why, but the words were ringing louder and louder in his head, his heartbeat was racing. His footsteps got faster too.

"you'll realize it was just sweet and tangy all along."

Micha dropped her wine glass and it shattered on the carpeted floor. It might have muffled the sound, but it sent shockwaves through Daniel's body. He was running towards her now.

"You'll eventually forget there was any hint of sour."

He could see her falling, losing her balance. He caught her at the right moment before she hit the floor.

"Hey. What happened?" Alarm was ringing in his voice, his arms wrapping around her small frame. But she was staring straight ahead. She covered her mouth and tears were streaming. Daniel felt the panic rise.

And he looked forward, where Micha was looking. And he gasped.

Roy had his arms wrapped around a beautiful girl's body. It was then; Daniel realized that he was kissing his Rachel, his ex-wife.

"You just have to let it stay a little bit longer."