Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

I was supposed to post this chapter before Christmas as a gift (since it's significantly longer than my recent chapters) but I wasn't able to edit it enough and Safari kept messing up. I've been trying to upload it since the 26th. So, I'm sorry about that but here you go! I hope you enjoy.

Just a quick thing, I read a lot of you have been confused about the time skip. I'm sorry about that. But in the previous chapter, when Rachel moved back to the mansion, it was after 2 weeks Riza and the kids got sent home from the lodge. This chapter takes place 3 months AFTER Rachel has moved back into the mansion and things have changed. The kids are back in school.

I don't own FMA or its characters. I only own the OCs and the plot.


In a large park, filled with grass and trees, there was a girl jogging by the pathways. She would occasionally stop at a grassy plane and do a rigorous exercise routine before jogging the same path again. She did this four times. But on the last round, she lied down on the lush grass and looked at the sky. It was a clear day. She fell asleep when she felt someone approaching. She opened her eyes to find that an old man, presumably around his late fifties, was shading her face from the sun with his head.

"Yes?" She sits up and stretches.

"I wanted to check if you we're still alive. Did you fall alseep?"

She looked around for a bit and then at the sun. It was higher than expected. She should be home, having breakfast and getting ready for a study session by now. "I guess I did," she finally replied.

She looked at the person talking to her. He had gray-almost white-hair. His curly hair reached down to his sideburns and to a short beard that was more gray than white. Upon looking deeper, he could have easily been attractive in his youth. He looked to his side and gestured for someone to approach.

She looked in the direction to see who it was. There was a little boy with messy brown hair and green eyes running towards them. He was wearing those sneakers that had cartoon characters on them, and something that looked like his school PE shirt.

"See, Lorenz. I told you, she isn't dead," the old man said gently. "She just fell asleep." His smile hid his own blue-green eyes in perfect crescents. It confirmed Micha's thoughts. This man was very attractive in his youth.

The little boy hid behind the man. "But grandpa, I poked her and he didn't move." He shied away further behind his grandfather, hiding everything except his green, right eye.

His grandfather looked at him, and then back at the girl. She was quiet the whole time, still quite hung over from her short nap and exhausted from sleeping under the sun.

"You look familiar," she suddenly spoke up. "You're that guy who goes walking here everyday. The one who walks while reading the paper." It didn't sound like she was talking to him anymore. Her gaze fell on the little boy, who was peeping behind his grandfather's hip.

The old man smiled, making his eyes disappear again. "I'm afraid I'm guilty." He took his grandson from behind him and messed up his brown hair. "This is Lorenz, my grandson," he introduced. "Say hello."

Lorenz looked at his cartoon character sneakers, hiding a smile. "Hi," he said shyly.

This made Micha grin, flashing a perfect set of white teeth. Those braces in grade school and high school did a painfully wonderful job. "Hi there. You're so cute!"

This remark flustered the little boy. He couldn't hide that smile anymore. His grandfather laughed heartily and messed his hair further.

Micha stood up and brushed the stray grass blades and dirt off her shorts and shirt. She took the time to get the earth out of her hands as well.

The old man extended his hand to her for a handshake. "I'm Alexander Fritzer."

At that moment, that's the only time she realized who this man really was. He's a five star general in their country's army. She stared at his hand, upon realizing his true identity. She felt bad for those times where she made fun of him, almost getting run over by the bikers or bumping into other joggers because he was too engrossed with the articles he was reading.

She snapped out of it, straightened up and took his hand.

"Sorry. I'm Micha. Micha Mustang."

The general's eyes sparked in recognition at her own name. But didn't seem so surprised. "I'm very well aware, miss Mustang. The army thanks your father for his continuing support."

Micha smiled but felt embarrassed that she didn't recognize him out of uniform. She'd been jogging in their village's park for about a month now but never really recognized Alexander. "You're new here. I've only been seeing you recently."

Micha felt watched and flustered again. But this time, she remembered to answer. "Yeah. We moved from the East just a month ago."

The general nodded and looked at his grandson. "We're down on 26th. That's just a few blocks from yours. I'll have my grandson tour you around the city when you're free."

Micha got confused and stared for a while. She didn't have a chance to accept or refuse. The general smiles at her again, ushering his grandson out of the field and into the driveway of the park. There was a tall boy, leaning on the hood of a black, shiny car.

(((-)))

Micha was greeted by her butler. He handed her a clean, white towel and a glass of water. She took them gratefully and made her way to the kitchen. While walking, she drank the water and wiped her face with the towel. She set them down on the bar and sat on the stool. The smell of bacon and waffles was making her mouth water.

The cook, daisy, set a plate with two waffles, five strips of bacon and two sunny side up eggs in front of the young girl. She eagerly dug in.

Her father came down the stairs and messed her hair up. As if on cue, the cook set down his coffee and he took it as soon as the mug set on the bar. He took a sip and looked at his daughter.

He could never figure out who her mother was. She had nothing that could have resembled her. Her dark hair, fair skin, and sharp eyes all mirrored his features. She looked very much Xingese, like him. Only, Roy was blessed enough to grow taller than most Xingese men.

His daughter ignored him and continued shoving morsels of bacon in her mouth. For a girl, she could eat. A lot.

"I met the general today," she said. "He thanks you for your support."

Roy's eyes grew wide in surprise momentarily. His thin lips slowly formed a smirk. "Oh?" He set his mug down, and asked, "How did you meet?"

"He's been watching me, as I have been of him. Without even knowing it." She replied. "His grandson thought I was dead since I fell asleep on the grass."

Roy smirked again, "I don't believe that for a second."

"I didn't know it was him until today," Micha said as she took a sip of her hot chocolate. "I was being too careless. He looks so different in sweats."

Roy snickered and took a sip of his coffee. He looked over to the counter and took a slice of buttered toast. "What did he want?"

"He offered his grandsons to give me a tour of the city. He knows where we live." She answered as she finished up her waffles.

"Ha! Who doesn't?" Roy replied. "We've moved here for a month. He should've known that we would already know our way around. Besides, it's not like it's our first time living here."

"I think he was trying to be polite," Micha looked at her father.

"He's trying to keep us close. He can't win the war unless I supply him with weapons." Roy remarked arrogantly.

"You'll go out of business if you don't. Imprisoned too." Micha bit back.

"What's good for business is not always good for everyone else!" Roy's voice modulation got louder. It shocked the staff, and Micha jumped on her stool.

Roy sighed and calmed himself. He stroked Micha's hair and apologized. "I'm sorry, princess. I'm trying. It's just hard to be back here in the city. Too much memories."

Micha took her father's hand in both of hers and smiled at him. "It's okay, dad. I know it's hard. And we're thankful you took the risk." Micha grinned. "Though you got to admit, being in the East was boring. Nothing like the hustle of the city. And the schools are the best!"

Roy laughed and messed her hair up. "Yeah. It's great to be back to our roots. Edward and Alphonse seem to enjoy it."

"And it was great of uncle Maes to decide to move here too! It's time Winry and the boys enrolled in a big school."

"Yeah," Roy mused. "Those three will kill every single star student in Sterling Academy." He smirked.

Micha laughed. "Yeah! And to think, I'm going to an exclusive school for girls." She wrinkles her nose and finished her drink.

Roy grinned and pulled her in for a hug and kissed her head. "No boys until you graduate from your Ph.D."

"DAAAAAD!" Micha complained.

(((-)))

Micha opened her dark eyes and stared at the ceiling. She soaked in every moment and detail of her dream. She turned her head to look at the time. It was already 6:09. She slept through her alarm. Micha pulled herself up and swung her feet to touch the wooden floor. Her phone was blinking. She read the messages. They were from Daniel.

"Good morning! I'll be there in 50 minutes." Sent at 5:50

"Leaving now." Sent at 6:00 AM.

"Hey, you still asleep?" Sent at 6:07 AM.

Micha hit reply. "Sorry. I slept through my alarm. I got caught up remembering."

Send.

After a few seconds, her phone started blinking again.

"Remembering? Don't you mean dreaming?" There was a smiley with its tongue sticking out. Daniel seems to be in a good mood. She thought.

"No. I was remembering." Micha replied with no smiley faces whatsoever. She tossed her phone on her bed and got ready for school.

(((-)))

"I remember the first time I saw you," Micha said quietly.

Daniel smirked, "is that supposed to sound romantic?"

"I don't know," she was gazing out the window. The city was gloomy and wet. She leaned her head on car's window. It was colder today than yesterday.

"You sure it wasn't a dream?" Daniel asked, a sudden seriousness in his tone. He took a turn into the highway, driving away from the town.

Micha shook her head quietly. "I was jogging then. Your grandfather offered to have you and Lorenz tour me around the city. He knew we just moved in. He probably didn't know that we've lived here before."

Daniel stole glances at her while he was driving. The road was wet, and sleek. But there were barely any cars at that part of highway that early.

"That was the first time I saw you in person. You looked different in pictures," Micha was looking at him now, but it seemed like her eyes were looking in farther than his soul.

"You look good anywhere," he replied quietly without his eyes leaving the road. It was getting pretty foggy.

Micha slouched on her seat and sighed. She looked ahead, and saw the fog closing in. Daniel slowed down and turned his headlights on.

"How're your brothers doing?" Daniel changed the subject. He'd been biting his tongue since he let out a careless compliment.

"They can no longer speak to me," Micha's voice sounded so small and defeated. "They get punished when she finds out they've had contact with me." She bit her lip and looked out the window again.

Daniel felt a heavy weight fill his chest. He wanted to take her hand but decided against it. He kept both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. He slowed down even more as the fog closed in.

Micha noticed the fog and continued without Daniel prodding. "Riza's calls come less and less. Same for uncle Maes'. Aunt Gracia stopped by to meet me a week ago but only for half an hour. She told me that Riza was held in a difficult position. Rachel keeps sending her away on stupid errands and dad's been gone for almost three weeks on a business trip. He was with Uncle Maes, but he returned a week ago. I don't know if he's still out."

Daniel pulled over and turned his hazard on. The fog was too thick to drive in. He called his housekeeper to inform him where he was and turned his GPS on for monitoring. Micha watched him do all of this silently, and curiously.

"Sorry," Daniel chuckled. "With the conflict growing in the south with Amestris more, dad's been going through extra measures to keep watch of Lorenz and I. I insisted I didn't need an escort to drive you to school today, so I need to do this. I hope you don't mind."

"It's okay," Micha smiled. "I think you'll be late, though. The fog usually takes a while." They were alone on the road, but they saw someone stop behind them a kilometer back. The light was weak, but visible enough.

"At least we're not alone," Daniel whispered mostly to himself as he looked at the back mirror. He saw a car approaching, braving the fog slowly.

Micha smiled and sighed, "you'll get used to it soon enough."

Daniel looked out on his windshield and both his window and Micha's. It looked like the fog wasn't going to give up. "Is it always like this here?" He asked.

"It's been this way for two weeks. It's been unusually cold, too. Well, for fall at least." Micha sat up straight and looked at the back mirror. The bus usually stops for 10 minutes but I've never seen it this thick."

"Unbelievable," Daniel said.

"Not really. We're pretty close to the west. It gets pretty cold too," Micha replied. "And besides, my school's on the top of a mountain."

Daniel looked at her and grinned, "What I meant was," he stopped and grinned. "It's unbelievable you take the bus."

"I HATE YOU," Micha hit his arm as Daniel let out a hearty laugh. He held on to his tummy and laughed some more. Micha found herself grinning and giggled.

"Damn. Micha Mustang, taking public transportation. What an awesome headline." Daniel laughed more, this time, Micha laughed as well.

"All it took was three months, and now you're taking the bus, attending a school half way across town, and bringing your own lunch," Daniel grinned.

"So what?" Micha asked.

"Nothing," Daniel smiled. "The simple life looks good on you, that's all."

Micha blushed and looked at her hands on her lap. "It actually feels liberating. I just wish I could share it with my family." A tear threated to fall on her skirt but held it. Daniel noticed and pulled her in for a hug.

She was laughed bitterly and said, "one time, Alphonse called me in the middle of the night. He was crying so hard, I couldn't understand what he was saying. He was begging me to convince Riza to stay, for me to come home." The tears were fighting to come out.

"Riza didn't want to do what Rachel was commanding of her. Riza refused to leave the boys for a week, just to bring a parcel over to Xing. Rachel wanted her gone and Riza was threatening to resign. Alphonse was begging me to come home. He couldn't stand losing Riza either. I called her..." Micha stopped and swallowed. Daniel tried to calm her down but she kept going.

"I didn't know what to do. I wanted to stab Rachelle. I wanted to go home. I didn't want Riza to leave. I called her. I begged her to stay for the boys. She wanted me to come home. She said that if I did, she would stay. But I couldn't do it."

Daniel kept thinking how hard it must have been to be living for almost four months now, all alone. Rachelle was being unreasonable, by making Roy take back her enrollment in Amestris Central University just because it was "too expensive" and that she wouldn't be able to "really experience" being in a big school if she didn't dorm.

"I couldn't do it," she repeated. "But Riza stayed. She understood why I couldn't. She stopped texting me. And wouldn't return my calls. She hates me."

"No, she doesn't." Daniel said defensively. "She's just worried."

"If she was worried, she'd call," Micha stung back. "She's tired of calling. She's disappointed I turned out so weak."

The fog started to clear and there was another approaching car behind them that was coming closer. Daniel changed gear and let the car pass before he got back on the road. They drove to Micha's school in silence. When they got to the gate, the security guard told them that classes were suspended due to the fog and weather. Apparently it was worse in other areas. The other students that we're coming from the villages' father up in the mountain found it difficult to come down due to the rain and hail.

Daniel called his housekeeper and told her the situation. They were parked right outside Micha's school. Micha took her jacket from her backpack and shrugged it on. Daniel turned the heat on.

"We should head back before the fog closes in again," Micha said. "I'm sorry I troubled you."

"Think nothing of it," he replied and smiled. "I'll be late for my second period at this rate. Might as well just cut the whole day."

"Why not just come after lunch?"

"Because I want to keep you company," Daniel grinned.

(((-)))

Edward was sitting in class, feeling extremely bored. Most of the people in his class were far older than him. Some of them really respected him; while others were irritated since a little boy, practically half their age, was already accelerated to their level. It was chemistry class. Most of the students were okay for Edward. His class was mostly composed of people who were accelerated, like him. Only the really smart kids were in his class. Most of which, minded their own business or was too busy doing their best to ace such an advanced class.

As soon as the bell rang, Edward lazily fixed his belongings and went out of the classroom. His brother and Winry were already waiting for him. The three of them always ate lunch together outside, under a tree. Winry took out her lunch, and an extra Tupperware.

"My mom made me bring us some pie!" She smiled, as she held the Tupperware closer to the two boys.

"Oh boy!" Alphone exclaimed happily. He didn't hesitate to stick his own fork in for a bite. "This is so good!" He said with a full mouth.

Winry also took a slice and looked over to Edward, "Ed, don't you want some?"

"I hate it here," he said.

"What are you talking about? Going here was all you ever talked about. This is the reason why you moved… why we moved." Winry said.

"I was happier in the East," Edward said in a low voice. "At least we were a family there."

Alphonse put a hand on his brother's shoulder and looked at Winry. Her blue eyes were downcast. She stared at the pie her mother gave her. She remembered how all of them loved her desserts. She remembered how her mother would always serve them on special occasions, and how they would all eat them together. Micha loved it as well, so much that her mom taught her how to make it.

She never really thought about it, but she remembered that her parents were the ones who practically raised Micha. In more ways than one, Micha was more like their eldest child than she really was. It stung Winry to remember how around their house, there were more baby pictures of Micha in it than her and Elicia combined. Winry didn't feel jealous. She just felt like there was something empty. Like there was a family member missing.

"We all miss her, Ed," Winry finally spoke up. "We can go call her, if you like. I doubt anyone will know if we use the school's pay phone."

Edward's golden eyes lit up at the revelation. "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?" He stood up immediately and held on to Winry and Alphonse's arms. "What are you guys waiting for? Let's go!" He pulled the two of them back into the school. Winry accidentally let go of the Tupperware she was holding. She followed Edward, but looked back to see that the pie had fallen and scattered all over the ground.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :) I'll be making a chapter all about Rachel soon. I just need some time since my family and I have been spending all my holiday time together. It's nice to stay at home and relax before I get all stressed about thesis again. I hope you're enjoying the holidays with friends and family as well. :) Have a happy new year, loves!