Hey guys! New short story for ya to bide the time. I'm in the midst of Hurricane Michael so I'm only going to be able to post every once in a while. Maybe once a week? I'm not really sure. Either way, there is no power or running water at my house so I'm staying with a friend for a second to get some normalcy.

This is a short story based off the song by the Dixie Chicks called 'Traveling Soldier'. If you've heard the song, don't spoil things for everyone else :)

It was two days after Maes Hughes had turned twenty-two. He was sitting in a small cafe in his army uniform waiting for the train to head to South City. The war on Ishval had taken a swift turn and the Fuhrer had sent out a mandatory draft for all able-bodied men of Amestris to come and join the fight. Maes didn't really like fighting and really only joined the military to get some experience for free. He wanted to be an investigator and help people solve issues. This whole fighting thing just really wasn't his thing... Besides, ever since his parents died about three years ago, he'd been really lonely. The thought of not even having someone to write letters to or call when he had that free moment was devastating and completely depressing. He sipped on his hot coffee and contemplated what he was going to do. He didn't really like the thought of being all alone like that...

"Can I get you anything else, sir?"

Maes looked up and saw the prettiest sight he had seen all day. A lovely young woman with sandy blonde hair and a sweet smile was his waitress. He had been so focused on what he was going to do that he never even noticed her. He looked at her name tag and saw that her name was Gracia.

"No, thank you, I think I'll be alright... although... Would you mind sitting and talking with me for a little while? I'm feeling a little low..."

Gracia smiled and poured some more coffee for him anyway and said, "I'll be off in about and hour and I know where we can go for some quiet time. When does your train leave?"

"Later today, so I've got plenty of time."

She nodded and Maes smiled a little, happy to be able to talk to someone before he went off to war.

As promised, when Gracia got off, she went over to the nice young man who was waiting for her at the booth. She put her coat on and walked over to the table. He looked up and smiled, adjusting his glasses.

"You ready?" She asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Do you have a title I should call you by? I don't want to be of disrespect..."

"Oh, sorry... no, I don't have a title. Maes Hughes is just fine. And your name is Gracia, by the name tag?"

"Yes, it is... Are you from Central?"

"Yup, grew up here and everything... I know this may seem a little off the wall and out of place... and probably none of my business, but do you happen to have a boyfriend?"

"A boyfriend? No, I don't; why?"

"Well... I don't have any family so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me sending letters to you or giving you a call when I have that free chance."

Gracia was a little taken aback by the proposal but the sadness in his eyes was enough to not deny the soldier something so trivial. Besides, going off to fight without a soul knowing you're out there is such a lonely feeling and she could tell he was more lonely than anything at the moment.

"Of course you can... May I ask why you don't anyone to talk to?"

"I'm an only child and my parents died a few years ago. I entered the army to get free training in regards to investigations but then this war broke out... I was hoping that I would be able to evade the draft since I was already in the army (sort of) but they said that all able-bodied men had to take up arms and head down to Ishval to help the rest of the troops."

"I see... It looks like it's going to be pretty bad out there, huh?"

"If they need this many people then I would think so... What about, Ms. Gracia? How come you don't have a boyfriend?"

Gracia blushed. "I just didn't want to settle down with anyone as of yet... besides, with the draft going on, I didn't want to get romantically involved with anyone just in case... you know..."

"I understand. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable then..."

"It will be like a pen pal. But who knows? Maybe if you come back, we could give things a try? You seem like a very nice guy."

Maes smiled. "I'd really like that."

They talk discursively for a few more hours until it was time for him to leave for the train station.

While they were there, Gracia gave him her address to send letters to and also her phone number. She then handed him a small picture and he looked at it, seeing it was her.

"What's this for?" He asked with a smile.

"I figured with all the commotion going on, you might forget me. My mother is a bit of a sadist, I guess, and is a little bit extreme in her worries. That horrible murderer that was going around scared her and so she wanted me to have a picture of me in my purse in case something happened to me that made me unrecognizable."

"That's... gruesome..." he said with a nervous laugh.

"I know! I told her that it was like she was asking for it happen... either way, though, I thought you might like to have it."

"Gosh, Gracia, I wish my mother was as paranoid as yours and made me carry a picture of myself around so that I could give it to you." Gracia laughed. "Truthfully, though, I wish I could give one to you."

She waved him off. "I don't need a picture of you. You're safe in here." She said, pointing to her head. "Hopefully... hopefully that's not where you'll always have to stay."

Maes smiled and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I will do everything in my power to get back to you, Gracia. I know I'm not your boyfriend or anything but... maybe I could be?"

"I'd like that very much..." The train's whistle blew and Gracia looked over at it. "You should get going before it leaves you."

He nodded and turned away, heading towards the locomotive when he felt something pull at the back of his uniform. He turned around and found Gracia holding to gingerly between her fingers.

"Gracia?"

"I... I know this sudden but I don't think you'll mind."

She got up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on Maes' lips, surprising him for a second.

Gracia's face flushed a deep red and she looked away.

"I know that was completely out of bounds but..."

Maes moved her face back to his with his finger and bent down, kissing her tenderly on the lips as well. He pulled back when the conductor yelled once more and touched her chin softly.

"I'll do everything in my power to get back here... We'll be a great couple, you and I, I just know it."

Gracia nodded and watched him leave. He took a window seat and waved to her as the many other people letting their loved ones go did on the platform. She waved as the train left, waved as it pulled away from the station completely, waved until it was just a speck in the distance... waved until her tears stopped flowing.

She had made a horrible mistake; she had fallen in love with a traveling soldier...

Sorry if this is a little short. I really can't tell the length on my ipad and there's only so much I can cover with the lyrics of the song. Of course there are some changes to fit the FMA world... Also, because their love is so awesome just in general, of course I had to up the ante just a little.

Here are the lyrics to match the chapter:

Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she gives him a smile
And he said, "Would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talking to me?
I'm feeling a little low."
She said, "I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go."

So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you