March 3rd, 1963
Alyse was cold the moment she stepped off the train in North City. She wasn't expecting any reception, and received none. While she had made arrangements to be up here with her office, she had no official orders and news of her coming probably hadn't even reached family yet.
She was glad she had packed for the cold, because even though it was already March, North City was frigid! There was snow all over the place, mostly shoveled, but the ground was icy as she made her way carefully down the steps and into the street outside the station.
"Afternoon, Miss," a porter smiled. "Help you with your bags? Where are you headed?"
"The military hospital." Alyse had determined that the best place to head first was to find Ethan or Aunt Winry. They would be the easiest to find. "If you could please give me directions?"
"Of course," he nodded, gesturing down the street. "It's ten blocks that way, and then four to the left, you can't miss it. But you shouldn't be walking about in this, Miss."
"I'll be fine," Alyse smiled kindly. "I might as well get used to it right?"
Besides, she didn't see much in the way of public transportation. So she walked, and was well and truly half-frozen by the time the hospital came into view. The warmth that wafted over her as she made it through the doors was heavenly. She stood there for a minute, thawing.
"Can I help you?" This time the person to ask that was a nurse at the desk.
"Yes," Alyse stepped forward. "Could you tell me where to find Doctor Ethan Elric please? I need to speak with him when he has a moment."
"Is it medical?" The nurse looked at her.
"No," Alyse shook her head. "But it is work and family related. I'm Alyse Elric, his cousin."
"I see." The nurse looked down at scheduling. "Let me check on that. He's usually up on the second floor."
Alyse waited as she called up there, talked to what sounded like four people, and then hung up the phone. "Doctor Elric is on break. You may go up to the second floor."
"Thank you." Alyse was relieved that it was that simple. She hurried to the stairs and went up them.
Perhaps she should not have been surprised to see Ethan standing in the hallway in a lab coat, grinning at her. "You're here on business?" His tone was teasing.
"Of course I am," Alyse laughed, grateful when he stepped forward to meet her in a friendly hug. She set down the bag and basket to hug him back. "Can't you use another beautiful assistant to distract your injured patients?"
"Given all my nurses are male, any beautiful female nurse would be welcome," Ethan chuckled, stepping back again. "Are you really up here looking for work, Alyse?"
"I am," she nodded. "I couldn't stay home anymore. I'm not needed there." It occurred to her then that, perhaps, it would be harder to find a useful place than she had thought.
"Then I could definitely use your assistance," Ethan assuaged her fears. "You might find yourself fetching a lot of coffee, cleaning bed pans, and bleaching things, but I can keep you busy."
Bedpans. Alyse tried not to shudder. "I can do that," she smiled. "Besides, how much coffee do you drink?"
"I didn't say for just me," Ethan pointed out. "We're short-handed enough right now, having you to do that kind of stuff will free up time for the rest of the medical staff. Almost all of the original hospital staff evacuated with their patients."
"Then I'll actually be useful." Alyse was relieved to hear it.
"Very much," Ethan nodded. "Though what made you think of coming to talk to me?" He asked the question with a bemused expression.
Alyse chuckled. "Well you spent so much time following me around helping me with my projects that I thought maybe I could… return the favor."
"You think I believe that's the only reason?" Ethan's expression turned a little smug. "Your timing is impeccable. The Emerald Alchemist's unit got off the train from the Western front this morning."
"Oh." Alyse felt her cheeks flush. "Wait a minute…." How did he know?
Ethan started laughing. "Oh come on! How long have I known you, dear cousin? Besides, I hear all sorts of news. Like the fact you and Fischer have been writing back and forth since the war started."
"Right. Of course you know," Alyse shook her head. Hadn't she told Ethan about conversations she and Cal had had hanging out last year in Central? "So he's here?"
"Actually, he's in with Mom getting his auto-mail looked at right now," Ethan said. "We had them all in here getting looked over a little bit ago, you know, just to make sure the reports of alive and kicking from the combat medics have a more thorough background check." He winked. "I bet you could drop in and see him. Mom should be almost finished."
Alyse's heart fluttered. She hadn't actually expected to get to talk to Cal first thing, and he didn't know she was coming. How would he react? "Sure," she said anyway. "Oh, and I have something for you, when you get off duty," she added, smiling. "Mom, Grandma, and I have been busy." She gestured to the basket with a nod. "And there's something in there for you from Lia too."
"That's a big basket, you all afraid of us starving to death up here?" Ethan chuckled, though he looked past her eagerly.
Alyse poked her finger into his stomach. As she expected, she hit lean muscle with no give whatsoever. "Well they're certainly not over-feeding you," she chuckled. "Though Lia's package isn't food." In fact, from its compression, Alyse was betting on thick, warm hand-knitted items angled more towards the cause of keeping Ethan warm. She was glad he didn't look sick or frail, though he did look a little tired.
"I'm sure I'll enjoy both gifts then," he replied. "Well, I should get my coffee and get back to work. The auto-mail workshop is back downstairs at the end of the long hall off the lobby. I'll be off later. It's good to see you. We'll talk more about work later." He gave her a friendly wave and headed back down the hall.
Nervously, Alyse collected her things and headed back downstairs, taking an immediate right at the bottom and following the hallway Ethan had told her about. She didn't have to wonder long about finding the auto-mail shop. She heard familiar voices as she neared the end of the hallway and saw the open door: Aunt Winry, Tore, and in a moment of laughter, Cal.
"All right," Winry was saying as Alyse reached the door. "Stand up and tell me how that feels." Alyse saw her stand up and glance past Cal, who stood and took a few steps, tapping his foot on the ground and testing the leg. Alyse couldn't help but notice that he was only in his shorts and tank top. Her face went hot.
"Feels good, Mrs. Elric," Cal grinned. "Smooth as always."
"Thank you," Winry smiled, though she was giving Alyse an amused look. Tore, with his back to the door, obviously couldn't see her. "Hello," Winry addressed her directly. "I wasn't expecting you to show up here."
Alyse wasn't ready when Cal and Tore both turned around. Cal saw her first, expression wide with shock, and he stiffened, apparently realizing she had caught him pant-less. Seeing that, Tore turned. When he saw her, his eyes lit up and he grinned wickedly. "Hey, Alyse," Tore smiled. "Long time no see."
"Hi Tore," Alyse swallowed then looked at her Aunt. "Hi, Aunt Winry. I'll be helping Ethan out. I just got off the train."
"Well that's great news," Winry's amused look faded back to a more normal friendly smile. "I know Ethan and the others could use all the assistance they can get. I keep getting pulled to help too, so I'm sure you'll be a big help." She turned and started putting tools away. "You should relax and get something to eat. I'll talk to the officer in charge of the barracks building about letting you have a room near mine. With so few soldiers in North City these days there's plenty of room."
"Thank you." Alyse appreciated the offer. She wasn't entirely sure where that was either.
"No worries," Winry smiled as she turned around. "The boys can show you where everything is, isn't that right?"
"Sure," Tore chimed in immediately.
"Yeah, no problem," Cal nodded after a moment. He looked like he might rather have done something else.
"That's settled then," Winry nodded. "Now you boys get on out so I can get a break and then some more work done."
"Sure thing," Tore chuckled. He reached out and Alyse squeaked as he turned her by the shoulders. "Come on, let's give him some privacy."
"What f-" Alyse did not finish that statement as it occurred to her that Cal would probably like to put on his pants and boots without an audience. "Where will we go first?" She asked instead.
In the hall, Tore smiled. "Lunch first. We haven't eaten since we got in and I know I'm famished! So I'm sure Cal is too."
"I haven't eaten yet either," Alyse admitted. "Though I brought treats for everyone."
Tore's eyes lit up. "You're a lifesaver! Though we'd better go after those after lunch or there won't be any left for anyone else." He quieted down then, but he still looked slightly smug. Of course, Alyse reasoned, he and her aunt almost certainly knew as much of – if not more than – what her correspondence with Cal contained than Ethan did. If they knew anything. They might be guessing, but if so, Alyse needed to give her extended family more credit.
A minute later Cal – now fully dressed – joined them in the hallway. "So, let's go."
He had not been prepared for Alyse to show up; not at all. It was all Cal could do to stay calm and relaxed as he and Tore showed her where the barracks were located on their way past them to the Mess, which had been moved into a huge old cafeteria and gym style building out of the cold tents. Alyse just seemed very out of place with the world of the war around them; or perhaps it was just because he felt so out of place around her at the moment.
Still she was here and he couldn't deny one other feeling; how very much he wanted to be alone with her, for even a few minutes. But that was not going to happen immediately. For one thing, they had Tore along, and the expression of amusement in Tore's eyes told Cal how much he was enjoying this turn of events.
Lunch was far from stellar, but it was hot, plentiful, and compared to what he and Tore had been getting to the west, it might as well have been a feast! Even with Alyse sitting across from him and Tore, nibbling at her food no differently than she did in cafés in Central, Cal ate until he couldn't fit down another bite. He couldn't remember being honestly full anymore. Tore did the same, and Alyse did not seem to find it strange. But then, so much of her family were made up of alchemists that Cal supposed it was normal for her. She did look amused from time to time, but made no disparaging comments. Then they headed back towards the barracks again. This time, when they got there and went inside, the main office had spoken with Mrs. Elric and Alyse had a room assigned that was, in fact, on the same floor as the Elrics' room. That meant, Cal knew, that it was probably a little larger and nicer than the regular rooms. Of course, in his mind, Alyse deserved it.
"I'm hitting the showers," Tore announced as he headed down the hall. "Hot water here I come!"
"See you later." Cal watched him walk off; just as aware that Tore was purposefully leaving him alone with Alyse. For a moment he tried to decide if Tore was a traitor or a true friend. "So, let's find your room." He offered Alyse an awkward smile and headed for the other set of stairs. He insisted on carrying at least the suitcase up the flights of stairs. The room was, as he had thought, nicer than the one he and Tore were expected to share. It also had its own little bathroom. "Not bad," he commented, looking around.
"It's nice," Alyse admitted quietly as she looked around. Cal was surprised to find that she seemed small here, and lost; a flower blossoming in a field of ice. When did I get so poetic?
He was even less prepared when Alyse, after a moment's hesitation, nearly launched herself into his arms, which closed around her body reflexively before he even had time to think! As soon as they closed though, Cal knew convincing himself to let go before she wanted him to was a lost cause. "Hey… are… are you all right?"
She was shaking, but she didn't seem to be laughing or crying, or in any way hysterical. "I've been so worried about you," she admitted. Her face turned upward, and while she was blushing she did not seem inclined to unwrap her arms from his midsection either. "That something would happen before I… I could talk to you."
His heart was pounding in his chest, his ears, his limbs. "You write a lot," he pointed out gently.
"Not like that," she scowled just slightly; he tried to ignore how it made her even prettier. "Face to face again, like we did last year only…"
"Only?" Where was she going with this? His instincts couldn't be right. There was no way…
"Only like this," she finished. "I didn't want anything to happen before you knew… before I could tell you how I feel. If you never knew I… I couldn't live with that. Without you knowing and without my knowing…"
She does mean it. Was it possible? Well, of course it was. "Tell me." He barely got the words out. He wouldn't think anything until he heard what she wanted to say. Still, his voice sounded dry.
"I know you may not want to hear this… but I'm… I'm in love with you," Alyse replied, still nervous but he could almost see her resolve steeling in those deep green eyes. "I was afraid to let it happen but… but there's nothing to be done about it. I love you. I want to love you, even if you don't feel the same. It feels right to me, and I need to know how you feel. If I'm just being a stupid girl again or if I'm right in guessing that you still have feelings for me too."
Well that was getting it out in the open! Cal slowly forced his head to nod. He could do this. She loved him! His suspicions, long ignored, were confirmed and right here, right now, he had to own up or lose his chance. "I know you do…" he replied hoarsely. "I can see it in your face." One hand came up, brushing her cheek lightly with the backs of his fingers. Her skin was so soft. "I think… I feel the same. I tried not to, and you know why, but it didn't do any good." He smiled weakly. "I'm scared. I admit it. It's hard to… to accept this."
Her hands loosened, and one moved. The next thing he knew it was resting on his chest, just over his leaping heart. "I know, Cal," Alyse replied with surprising gentleness. She seemed calmer in the face of his near-panic. "I understand, really." Now, after Vince, Cal had no problem believing that of her. "I don't want to rush things but… but I'd like to try again, if you're willing."
She was serious. Better, she wasn't getting horribly emotional or trying to play games. "My past… relationships… don't bother you anymore?"
"No," Alyse replied with a single shake of her pretty head. "That would be stupid of me. You don't hold mine against me and… the old reasons are so old that it's pointless."
She really had grown up. Even in the last year, Cal could see changes. He spent a moment hanging in agonizing indecision. Tore thought he should be with her. His mother's advice seemed to follow that. Mrs. Elric and Ethan both seemed to know, and yet hadn't said a word of objection. They seemed to find it amusing. Cal knew what he wanted, but did he have the courage to go for it? Win or lose; success or failure… could he risk his heart again? More importantly, if he died, would he regret having missed out on time they might have had together? Would he feel bad about doing that to her? "All right then. Would you… like to go out tonight?"
From her expression, from another girl Cal might have thought she had just received the proposal of her dreams. Alyse's expression brightened and her arm snaked up around his neck and pulled his head toward hers.
A moment later they were kissing in a way Cal honestly could not remember the last time he had felt so strongly about a kiss. It wasn't more sexually charged than others he had known. It wasn't more practiced, or more innocent, or anything particularly strikingly different… except that it was Alyse, and that made all the difference in the world. They had kissed before, years ago, and he had enjoyed it then. Now, there was something more to it. So… this is love.
When the kiss finally broke, Cal nearly crushed her to his chest for several more moments before letting her stand straight again. "Thank you."
Alyse chuckled. "Thank you. I was so afraid I would scare you away."
"I was afraid you might scare me too," he chuckled sheepishly. There was more to it than this though. He might as well get it all out of the way now. "Though I have to ask, what am I going to have to change?" He wasn't without faults, and a girl like Alyse had to have made note of them. If nothing else, she was particular.
"Other than stick with one girl," she asked with a weak smile? "Nothing. If I can't accept you for who you are we shouldn't be together."
Now that was the sweet Alyse he was used to. "It's a nice thought, Alyse," he smiled, "But I know there are things about me you'd change if you had a choice. Just tell me what they are and get it out in the open." Honesty… he needed the honesty. It would remind him that this wasn't too amazing to be real.
Alyse hesitated, as if she didn't want to hurt his feelings. But, as always, she spoke up in the end the way he had asked. She had never refused to answer one of his questions. "Well you drink too much."
"Noted," Cal said. "Go on."
"I hate the smell and taste of cigarettes. They're bad for you too," she added, emboldened by his lack of anger.
Cal sighed inwardly. "So I've heard. Anything else?"
Alyse's lip caught in her teeth. "Just… please be honest about your feelings. We have to actually talk to each other. I know this won't always be easy. We've both had some unpleasant experiences with romance and… there's things we'll need to work through. As long as we can talk to each other though, we'll be okay. All right, your turn."
"For what?" Had he missed something?
"To tell me what you don't like about me," Alyse smiled coyly.
Cal hesitated, but realized that if he didn't he was already being dishonest. This wasn't going to be easy. He swallowed. "Well, for starters you're occasionally overly emotional; you're judgmental about people and act like you're better than them sometimes, whether you think that way or not. And frankly… you're just too innocent."
He waited for the explosion, but it never came. "Less now than you might think," Alyse chuckled kissing him again briefly. Cal responded willingly, a little surprised by the heat in it and how tightly Alyse held him. When they parted he looked askance at her. "You haven't…" He ignored the weird urge in him to kill Vince if he had touched Alyse that way even though the guy had had more right than Cal ever had.
Alyse shook her head. "No… not yet."
Was she offering? This was too much in one day if she was. Cal shook his head and took a step back, though he left his hands on her arms. "Alyse… I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think we should wait on… " Hell, he was stumbling over the words. He wasn't used to a girl making him feel flustered! "I want to do this right."
Alyse looked puzzled for a moment, and Cal braced as he waited for her to get angry or tell him she was making a mistake again. Instead, she chuckled and shook her head. "You are so strange. I think I have you figured out and you surprise me. I want to wait."
"Then why offer?" She was just succeeding in confusing him further.
"Well that seems to be all you ever want from girls," Alyse replied pointedly, though not unkindly. "Have you ever dated a girl and not slept with her?"
Cal opened his mouth to insist of course, but the words died on his tongue. "It's been a while" he admitted. He felt irritated, but he wasn't sure with whom exactly. He didn't regret who he was or the things he had done…or who with. Clearly Alyse wasn't holding it against him either. "That's why it matters… if that makes sense."
Alyse smiled, looking slightly relieved. She hugged him again. "Completely. Thank you."
Cal wondered if he would ever stop feeling startled by her. "You didn't want to, did you?"
Alyse looked up at him, clearly embarrassed. "I do, actually," she admitted softly. "But I always dreamed of that moment being with my husband… as innocent and prudish as you might think it. After what happened with Vince… I was so sure, and that messed up. I thought about it. He wanted to. Now, I'm glad I didn't."
"I understand." He couldn't promise marriage though, at least, not yet. He nodded, gently pushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Then whenever that time comes and… whoever that guy is, if it's me or anyone else… it will be. I appreciate the offer more than you might understand, but I have a rule I try not to break and I'm really not going to do it now on a whim."
"Good," Alyse smiled, looking relieved. "If you were now, I'd be worried about what might have changed you. So," she shifted the subject slightly, "Where did you have in mind for us to go out tonight? I don't think there are many jazz clubs functioning in North City right now."
Cal couldn't help laughing. His tension eased. "I'm afraid there's nothing left but a couple of bars that are also cafés, and a bakery. Or so I hear tell. We just got back here after all ourselves."
Alyse nodded. "How… how long will you be in North City?"
At that, Cal's conscience twinged. "A few days," he admitted. "We're going out with Sky Fire's unit on a mission soon. It's important." Here he was promising things, and he could be dead in a week.
"Then I'll see you when you come back," Alyse replied somberly. "I'm not leaving. I told Ethan I wanted to assist him here and I meant it. I couldn't do anything back home, and while I'm not really in any danger here, at least I'm helping."
Brave; like the rest of her family. Cal smiled and kissed her cheek. "We could use more cute nurses," he teased. It was easier than saying something profoundly cheesy about feeling proud. "Though if I catch you spoon feeding anyone else I might have to get jealous."
"Better them than you being injured enough to need to be spoon fed," Alyse giggled. "Given how much you and Tore packed down earlier, feeding you enough would take months with a spoon."
"Hey, cut a guy a little slack," Cal smirked. "It's our first real meal in months."
Alyse winked at him. "Yeah, sure. That's what they all say."
It was so surreal, standing here in a strange room, having confessed his feelings and found them reciprocated, with Alyse Elric in his arms. Stranger still, was while he certainly desired her as he had nothing else in his life… that did not include the need to drag her immediately to the bed. He was happy to hold her close, and to know that she really would do anything, it seemed, to be with him. Even coming all the way up into a war zone. For however long he lived, and worked at it, and they both wanted it, he had her. Though he already knew that if this didn't work, he would never get over it. He couldn't take another heartbreak like the one with Valeria. It had taken him decades to get over it. Now though, he knew he was beyond that. He was over Valeria, well and truly. Now, he had someone better. Someone, he admitted, was a bizarre match, and yet Alyse was far better suited to him. Most importantly, with her love he felt whole again.
Mom was right.
Sitting at a desk actually felt strange. That was how Marcus Kane knew he had been in the field too long. Of course, they had all been in the field too long. He was sick of war, tired, cold, and he missed Rachel and the boys. What a waste of time and lives. He sighed, kicked back, and sipped the first cup of really good coffee he'd had in a month and a half. The unit was back in North City, if only to reconnoiter with the Emerald Alchemist's unit and prepare for their mission behind enemy lines. A brief bit of leave first had definitely been in order. They didn't get it nearly enough; certainly not as much as anyone was technically supposed to.
He had just closed his eyes to catch a cat nap when someone knocked at the door. So much for a moment's rest. Naturally, leave for his unit did not include himself. "Get in here," he barked at the door. Anyone interrupting him had better have a good reason.
He supposed he should have been less surprise when Maes Mustang walked into the room, saluted, and then stood there. "Lieutenant Colonel Mustang, reporting, Sir."
Textbook perfect. Maes was clearly not happy with him… not at all. "At ease, Firebrand," he replied. ""Do I even need to ask what this is about?" He had a pretty good idea.
"I want to go on the mission to Buzcoul," Maes confirmed his theory. "There's no reason to keep me in North City any longer. I've been healed up for months and all the fighting's moved north. I'm not doing any good here!"
"That's not what the reports say," Kane pointed out patiently. "The hospital is thrilled with your work, Mustang. Is there something that hasn't been reported that I need to know about?"
"No, Sir." Maes was practically squirming in his skin though. Outwardly there was no sign, but Kane knew the man far too well by now to think otherwise.
"Then tell me, Lieutenant Colonel, why you should come on this critical mission?"
"Tell me why I shouldn't," Maes countered. "No offense, Sir, but this is bullshit. I'm much more use in a firefight than I am fixing plumbing. You know that. Keeping me here doesn't make any logistical sense, especially not during a war."
It was the argument Kane had been expecting. Especially when, less than five hours after they had gotten back into the city Sara had shown up in his office with her brother Ethan's concerns about Maes. Kane had hoped that a little time off to cool down and get his head on straight would help Maes get things back in perspective and focus. He had also hoped it would quell some of his driving need to be up in the front action. He had seen that before. It tended to get people killed. Maes seemed more concerned with his own personal outcome in this than almost anything else; the exception being the safety of Amestris and his friends and family.
Kane just wished Maes worried a little more about himself. But if what he had heard was true, keeping Maes here hadn't done much good, and might be harmful if it went on much longer. "You have a point," he replied. "You're in."
"I ha- uh… oh." Maes had obviously been expecting some kind of further argument. He looked momentarily bewildered. "Thanks, Sir."
Kane didn't want to have that fight again. Not right now. He nodded. "You're welcome, Firebrand. Consider your plumbing days done for the moment and make sure you're ready to go with the others. I hope you haven't gone soft down here."
"In balmy North City, never," Maes snorted, but it was in more good humored spirits than he had heard out of Maes almost since the war began.
"Good. Prove it where it matters. Now, I was in the middle of something important."
"I'll leave you to it then." Maes saluted again and vacated.
With a sigh, Kane leaned back in the chair again and kicked up his feet. His eyes closed and he was soon in the middle of a very much needed nap.
If she was dreaming, Alyse never wanted to wake up. The whole afternoon had been a little surreal. Once the emotional rollercoaster of admitting their feelings was out of the way, she and Cal had spent most of the afternoon sitting on her bed, just talking. He had been astonished, and pleased, with the blackberry tarts she had brought, declaring them to be very much like the ones his mother made, and every bit as tasty. She might have doubted his sincerity except that, even after lunch, he ate three of them.
Cal's shoulder made a very nice pillow, and Alyse enjoyed the regular look of dumbfounded enjoyment on his face, like he kept expecting her to vanish too, and awaken to find that he was dreaming too.
Only they weren't. For a few blissful hours, they had time together. Tore had not come looking for them. Whatever that meant about his assumptions, Alyse was grateful for the private time. Cal's skittishness about being close to her seemed to simply fall away the longer she spent with his arm around her shoulder, her body tucked up next to his as they leaned back against the headboard; fully dressed, but that didn't seem to matter. There was a feeling of safety in Cal's embrace. Alyse always felt safe with him. Despite his reputation, he wasn't the scoundrel some people wanted him to be, and he always seemed to be there when she needed him, even when he tried not to.
"I'm a little worried," Cal admitted. "What's your family going to think? I mean, not so much Fullmetal's side. I'm pretty sure Ethan and Mrs. Elric already had a pretty good idea, and I admit I'm not sure what Aldon or Sara will think. Tore's been telling me we should get together almost since we left Central."
"He has?" Alyse looked up, startled.
"Like a broken record," Cal snickered. "Anytime he'd see one of your letters or I would write back he would bug me about it."
"I'll have to thank him," Alyse chuckled softly before thinking seriously about his question. "As for my family, I'm not entirely sure. I know my mother and Ren are supportive; they practically shoved me on the train up here."
She looked up so she could see Cal's expression. He looked surprised, and then relieved. "Well that's two people who won't want to kill me. I suppose that means your grandmother approves?"
Alyse did not tell him to relax. He would worry about it until his worries were proven to be groundless. "Grandma usually doesn't interfere with anyone's lives," Alyse chuckled, responding honestly. "However she has this way of …smiling. I suspect she doesn't mind, and I bet Will knows if Sara and Ethan do. How well do you know him?"
"We haven't been hanging out at bars if that's what you mean," Cal grinned. "This will be the first long mission I've been on with your brother. I guess if he doesn't like me he'll just sell me out to the Drachmans right?"
"Don't kid," Alyse poked him in the ribs with one finger, ignoring the twinge of fear in her stomach. "I forbid you from dying, do you understand me?"
"Yes ma'am," he replied, giving her shoulders a pleasant squeeze. "I guess the only one I'm really worried about is True Soul. I know he wasn't happy about it the last time we went out."
"He'll live," Alyse replied. Would he be thrilled? Of course not. Her father was never entirely happy with any of her boyfriends save…well… her family had approved of Vince until he broke up with her. "I think his biggest concern will be making sure I don't get hurt again. He's not much less protective than he used to be… he just bites his tongue better."
"I can't imagine him having much good to say about me," Cal admitted. "Not on a personal level."
"Well I've never heard any complaints about you as an officer," Alyse pointed out. She had done a little asking around. "Or, frankly, as a boyfriend or lover from anyone willing to talk about you."
"You've been asking my… previous girlfriends… about me?" Cal looked shocked.
Alyse decided it was nice of him to put it delicately. She knew full well how casual and quick some of those relationships had been, if they could be called that. "A girl likes to be aware," she smiled. "For the most part, they were very complimentary."
"Good to know." He seemed discomfited by this information more than reassured. "Though I'm not sure that's good information to share with your father."
"Daddy knows you were the one who saved me…" Alyse informed him gently. "When those drunks tried to attack me. He's worked with you for years, even if not closely. Besides, I'm not a kid, and I know what I want and what I'm getting into. None of the old reasons to argue against us going out still exist, or matter."
"It's been my experience that I don't like him is more than enough reason," Cal pointed out, his expression sobering.
Alyse could have kicked herself, but she didn't. As much as Cal said he had gotten over Valeria, that did not mean the lesson hard-learned didn't still sting. "That has never worked on me," she replied pointedly, turning so she could face him more directly. "Daddy has scared a couple of guys off, but they weren't man enough to stand up to him. I have never broken up with a guy because someone told me I had too."
"Not even me," Cal acknowledged, smiling weakly.
No, that had been her own choice, one she now regretted even though the Alyse from then would probably never have really understood Cal. "Well we spent months going out just fine before the war," she smiled. "So I'd say I'm fairly certain we're at least compatible enough to keep going out… and I definitely approve of your kissing."
"Funny how no one has ever actually complimented that particular skill of mine to my face," Cal laughed. "I guess maybe the other girls assumed I knew?"
Alyse kissed his cheek. "There is a certain assumption by most women that good looking boys who flirt around already know, or at least think they know, how good they are. Especially if they walk and talk as confident as you do." She nudged him in the shoulder.
"Maybe I deserve that then," Cal relaxed. "I guess I don't really need to worry about all this until the war's over… or I get stationed with your father somewhere."
"That might be best," Alyse agreed, grateful he had come to that conclusion on his own. "You have more important things to worry about."
Cal leaned over and kissed her softly. "Like coming back alive to a pretty girl?"
Alyse's heart fluttered. She could definitely get used to having him around.