I don't own FMA.


Riza walked around the main town with her hands tucked inside her coat pockets. She buried the lower part of her face deeper into her scarf. The temperature was consistently dropping since they got there. Today was Saturday. There were a number of families, friends, and lovers strewn around the town, seemingly unfazed with the chilly weather. Taking a left, she wandered back into the bakery.

The small bakery looked worn with age, but full of charm. The façade was covered with red bricks, with two large windows to display the cakes and pastries. The red and white vintage sign that held the bakery's name was perfect to finish off the look. Riza pushed the glass door open, and the smell of freshly baked bread and sweets filled her senses. She released an appreciative sigh.

Jean sat at the table near the cake displays on the counter. "Over here," he called to Riza as he lifted his arm to wave at her. She made her way to his table and sat next to him. Sweeping her chocolate colored eyes from her new vantage point, she saw why Jean chose this seat.

Riza smirked. "Did you choose this spot because you wanted to keep an eye on Micha and the boys, or because you can get a good look at that lady over there?" she nudged her head towards her left, where a young woman with wavy brown hair and large breasts sat enjoying her afternoon tea.

Havoc broke into a wide grin and chuckled nervously, "can't hurt to hit two birds with one stone, right?"

Micha came over to the two of them, holding a tray with two slices of vanilla cake, a plate of assorted tea cakes, a tea pot, and two tea cups. She set them down on the table.

The blonde watched silently, as Micha set all the contents of the tray (except for the assorted tea cakes), down on their table.

Appreciating the gesture, Jean grinned at the teenager and teased, "you know, I could take a photo of you in that apron and get paid more than what I do in a month."

She puffed her cheeks and frowned but this disappeared in a split second. "Only if you split the money with me," she grinned and winked at him before heading off the brown haired woman's table. She set the assorted tea cakes down on her table, and proceed to chat with her a bit.

Riza's eyes trailed Micha until she went back into the kitchen, where she spotted two little boys with mops of blond hair waiting for her. Their locks were tucked inside with a hairnet, and they both wore white aprons and gloves. There was a small horizontal window where you can see the people in the kitchen working about behind the cake chillers. There were two people inside (other than the boys); There was an older man, kneading dough and plump woman about the same age. She was rolling the dough into a crust.

"You've been awfully quiet since we left Amestris," Jean said casually. He was pouring them tea. "You've barely said a word to Micha too. Is something up?" He was now shoving a piece of cake into his mouth.

She broke her gaze from the kitchen and looked at Jean straight at his cobalt blue eyes. At this moment, Riza remembered that he was one of the reasons why she thought Roy only hired good looking people. She stayed quiet, pondering on his question. It's not like she didn't mean to stay quiet. Being in Micha's presence and absorbing her happy aura while being with the boys was enough for her. Hearing Edward and Alphonse laugh with her was enough to convince her that these three kids were still the same ones she knew and loved.

Havoc didn't flinch under her gaze. In fact, he held her eyes to his own too. It was hard to read Riza. He thought he already had a breakthrough previously, before Micha left the mansion. He already noticed how she was slowly starting to wear her heart out on her sleeve but now, she was a closed book yet again. "You can talk to me," he broke the silence. "I know I don't look as smart as Feury does, but I'm not stupid either." He smirked. "I'm hot and charming too," he added for good measure.

Hawkeye shook her head lightly to break her trail of thought. She smirked too, "is that so? And here I thought you were just good at charming people with your smile."

His cobalt eyes grew wide with slight surprise. There she is. An amused grin spread on his face. "You think I'm charming? Oh wow. Are you flirting with me?" he teased. "What would Roy think?"

She nearly spat out her tea.

Jean simply broadened his grin, making his eyes disappear.

Once Hawkeye recovered, she glared at him, causing him to laugh.

(((-)))

Daniel decided to accompany Kain, doing various errands to set up his system in the apartment next to Micha's. He was carrying two shopping bags in each hand, while Kain carried a heavy looking medium sized box.

The sky was overcast, but the clouds were not dark enough to indicate a heavy downpour. Their boots clicked as they made contact with the cobblestone. Nearly all the shops were locally and family owned, adding a sense of heritage to the town. There was also nearly no military presence. Daniel only saw two soldiers, and they weren't in full uniform, indicating they were off at the moment.

"We should get this into the car," Kain strained under the weight of the parcel in his hands.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get that for you? You can take the bags instead, they're not that heavy," Daniel offered for the umpteenth time. It's not that he belittled Kain, even if the teen was nearly more than a head taller.

Kain continued to walk, despite the obvious strain in his voice, "I can manage!"

Once they approached the car, Daniel opened the trunk and hunched into it slightly, in order to arrange all the equipment and other trinkets, they bought. Feury gave his lower back a stretch before he spoke to the teenager, "so, are you going to tell Micha you still like her while we're here?"

Daniel hit his head on the trunk.

He held on to the sore spot on his skull as he grimaced. "What was that for?" He complained.

The bespectacled man laughed, "it's so painstakingly obvious you haven't moved on one bit, and she hasn't either. When are you going to tell her?"

Daniel straightened up and closed the trunk, "there was nothing to move on from in the first place. Therefore, there is nothing to tell."

Feury let out a defeated sigh, "kids these days!" He made his way to the front seat, as Daniel was now starting the car. This didn't stop Kain from talking. "Who willingly skips classes, drives almost six hours, just to bring her to school? And now you're extending your stay here as much as you can."

Daniel snapped his head to Kain's direction. Kain on the other hand, didn't budge. He crossed his arms across his chest. "What's so wrong with telling her how you feel? You're no better than Roy and Riza."

The teenager pouted and looked away slightly.

"If you're going to tell the sad excuse of how you don't fit into her world, I'm not buying it," Kain said. "We all want what's best for her, and you can't keep her guessing."

"Are you letting your frustration out for Roy on me?" Daniel raised his brow.

The bespectacled man threw his head back in guffaw. "Maybe," he grinned. "But you've got to admit, the situation applies to the two of you, too."

(((-)))

Back inside the kitchen, Micha was busy piping cupcakes with her brothers. Mister and Misses Bauwens were absolutely taken with the two boys. Micha on the other hand, didn't reveal they were her brothers. She instead said they were her cousins, and told the elderly couple that Riza and Jean were their parents.

"Oh, Ella, it's nice to see your family visit you," Misses Bauwens commented. "It's so cute how your cousins also like to bake!"

Mister Bauwens joined in the conversation as he continued to knead dough, "it's hard to find kids these days take interest in these things. They're always so caught up with their gadgets."

Micha laughed this off and agreed that it was nice to have them visit her for the weekend. Once the two elderly couple left the kitchen to tend to more customers coming in the bakery, only Micha, Edward, and Alphonse were left inside.

"Sister, why do they call you Ella?" Alphonse asked quietly.

She replied to him as she continued to pipe pink icing on the cupcakes, "short for Michaela." Micha tore her gaze from the cupcakes and looked at her little brother, "it's also so they don't recognize me as that Micha. I've got to lay low."

Al's bright eyes widened slightly, "oh. That's why you didn't tell them about us either?"

She nodded her head as she took the tray of eclairs that Edward finished filling. She moved it to the counter, where Mister Bauwens picked it up and placed them in a box.

Micha stepped out of the kitchen and joined Misses Bauwens behind the pastry counter to help bag some of the orders. This was when she noticed Daniel and Kain were now with Riza and Jean. They apparently ordered some more cakes. It wasn't long until her shift would end, but seeing the long line of people waiting for their turn to purchase sweets, she might need to extend.

Daniel waved at her and gave her a thumbs up. This made her lips perk up in a smile and she waved too, before she got back to placing cookies in a box. Her little brothers came out of the kitchen, holding small boxes of pastries. It looks like Mister Bauwens convinced them to help out bring the orders to the customers also. Everyone seemed delighted to see the Bauwens' new help.

"You're so cute!" One of the ladies commented as she took her box of doughnuts from Edward. He simply grinned in reply before heading back to the kitchen to bring out more boxes that Mister Bauwens was preparing.

One of the regular customers teased misses Brauwens, "if your help is this cute, I may just want to keep on coming back!"

"I don't know what's cuter, the cupcake or this little boy!"

Alphonse and Edward both enjoyed the customers' praises, and thanked them all sincerely as they helped distribute their orders. This went on for nearly twenty minutes until the line died down. The adults (plus Daniel) watched the three siblings with amused smiles.

Jean placed his hands behind his head, "well at least we know if the company fails, they can always work here," he laughed.

With the elderly couples' thanks, and a big box of pastries, Riza's party left the bakeshop, and walked back to Micha's apartment. Edward and Alphonse seemed tired, but still happy.

"I never knew serving people like that could be fun," Ed remarked. "You do this every Saturday?" He asked his sister.

She flashed him a grin, "Saturdays and Wednesdays. Living the simple life isn't so bad, you know."

"It's different," Edward admitted. He had a thoughtful look on his face. "It always looked too hassle to deal with, but I never knew doing something seeming so menial could be… fulfilling."

His sister squeezed his hand. "Anything you do can feel fulfilling, as long as you do it with utmost sincerity."

Back in Micha's apartment, Riza busied herself with making dinner. Kain kept himself busy in the other apartment, while Jean headed out to find a smoking area. Daniel insisted on helping Riza make dinner so that the three siblings could spend more time together. The three of them were sitting around the center table in the living room, playing a board game. They seemed so absorbed in their game of Clue.

Riza was chopping vegetables when Daniel decided to start up a small conversation. "Are you liking your stay here so far?"

"Yes, it's pleasant town," Riza replied. Her eyes never left the chopping board.

Daniel was wiping a bowl; he wasn't looking at her either. "Would you consider staying here?"

Sliding the vegetables into the pot, she replied, "where is this conversation going?"

The teenager sweat dropped. He figured Riza was done being asked so many questions lately. "I just wanted to know if you could see yourself living here, that's all. It is a nice town, and everyone here seems so friendly."

"If you're looking for a reason to stay here, you know Micha's enough reason for you," Riza deadpanned. She placed the chopping board down, but she was still holding on to the knife.

He didn't even flinch at her comment; he did redirect the subject though. "If you're still looking for an excuse not to talk to her, you know you don't have one. She, Edward, Alphonse, and Roy are the reasons why you will never leave."

Her lips pressed into a fine line. She knew this was true, but this was why she felt like she needed to draw the line for the sake of professionalism.

An embarrassed smile grew on Daniel's face. "But I guess you're right. She's enough reason for me." He placed the bowl down and started to dry a plate.

"Why don't you just tell her?" Riza snapped.

"Only if you tell Roy first," Daniel challenged.

"We both know I can't do that," she replied.

Daniel grinned, "so you admit it!" he laughed.

Her cheeks flushed with indignation. She got caught. "My feelings for this don't matter. I am their babysitter, and I need to do my job. Roy is happy with Rachel. That is a personal matter for them that I have no right to intrude on."

He sighed, "I guess when you look at things so objectively it does make sense."

Riza went back to chopping vegetables for her soup. She took a carrot and proceeded. It was amazing how the carrot didn't wilt under her glare. They both continued preparing dinner in silence.

(((-)))

Micha couldn't sleep well that night, despite her brothers cuddling up next to her. After one hour of staying awake, she decided to warm some milk to help her sleep. Stepping out of her room as quietly as she can, she was surprised to see some light seeping out from under her door. She closed the door quietly behind her, and saw Riza sitting at the dining table, with a book and a cup of tea.

Micha approached her, "why are you still awake?"

"I can ask you the same thing," Riza replied, not lifting her gaze from her book.

Micha stepped around her and rummaged through her fridge to get the carton of milk, "I can't sleep." She then proceeded to pouring herself some milk in a mug and stuck it in the small microwave. After the first beep, she took her mug of milk and joined Riza at the dinner table. The blonde woman put her book down and looked at Micha. This was the first time she and her were alone.

After taking a sensitive sip, Micha spoke up, "will you talk to me now?"

Riza lowered her gaze to her tea cup. She had been dreading this conversation, but it was bound to happen.

"I'm sorry for being upset, that was childish of me," Riza started. "I should have never said any of those things to you."

Micha smirked, "it's fine, Riza. Just please don't avoid me. That hurts more."

Riza's lips hardened into a line as she looked at the girl sitting before her. She looked so pale under the fluorescent lights. The color from her cheeks were gone. She lifted her dark eyes to meet hers and for a moment, Riza felt like she was looking at Roy. Her raven hair and eyes were exactly like her father's.

Reaching for her hand across the table, Riza took Micha's hand in hers. The intensity of her gaze caught Micha by surprise. "I promise I won't leave you, or your brothers."

A small smile crawled into Micha's face, "dad too?"

Riza was silent for a few moments, but she did not tear her gaze away from Micha's eyes. She contemplated what the implications of her promise would mean. Even when things got difficult, even if he fired her. Riza knew deep down she would still find ways to look after these kids, and if that meant looking out for Roy too, then she would. She nodded once.

Micha squeezed her hand and her smile widened. "Thank you, Riza. I hope I can call you by a different name soon."


Thank you for reading and supporting this story. Please do leave me a review and let me know what you thought!

A/N:

Firstly, I know I said I would be doing fun stuff for the kids, but I just had to lay this out for now. O wanted to establish everyone's relationships with each other first. This will be important for the next chapters!

Secondly, Feelings are important and always valid! I cannot emphasize that enough.

Lastly, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you had a splendid 2017 and an even awesome-er 2018. Hehe.

I just want to thank all of you again for supporting and sticking it out until now with me. This fic has been going on for nearly eight years, and I plan to continue it further.

Cheers to more great things to come in 2018!