Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, to all those who are reading but haven't review, YOU SUCK HURRY UP AND REVIEW!!! And to my loyal readers who've been with me from the start and reviewed almost every chapter(you know who you are), please review again I miss you personality. And I'd like to welcome the two newest reviewer,(You know who you are) Bows enjoy. I fine it a personal courtesy not to name names

Now to Let's bet Back to Dalka and the Elric brother's...

It was late afternoon, three days before my test, The Elric brothers and I were sitting on a train heading toward East City, after a 'suggestion' from an Alchemist that had called us the day before. I'd already tested my presentation, and had my white coat and pants hidden in the bottom of my bag. I had an extra two thousand Yen in my pocket that I'd earned by fixing things for people around town. My sketch book sat in my lap, half full of portraits of the Rockbells and the Elric. Everything from Us eating lunch to Ed, and later Al, doing alchemy, I was working now on a picture of Al, armor version, and his human self, from a picture I'd browed from Granny Pinako. Ed was starring out the window and Al was sitting very still for me. "Hey, Dalka, what are you going to do if Roy does send you to war?" Al asked.

"Live." I said not looking up.

"I'm being serious, Dalka." Al said, Ed looked over at me.

"So am I." I looked up checking the shadowing on Al and the picture, "After a month you should have learned to be able to tell the difference."

"Dalka…" Al whined a little, but didn't move. He was very good about that sort of thing.

"Come on Dalka, don't treat us like that." Ed said.

"Like what?" I raised an eyebrow, and kept my eyes on my work.

"Like we're little kids, I'm only two years younger then you." Ed sounded like he wanted to say something else, but choose not to.

"Fine, I'll tell you what I'm going to do." I slammed my pencil on to the top of my book, "I'll do my best to survive. I won't let just anybody kill me. I'll send you guys letters, if that's okay?"

"Of course," said Ed and Al.

I took up my pencil again, wanting to finish the picture before we reached East city, but I looked up at the brothers, "Have you ever wanted to just be? Go where you want, do what you want, be what you are?"

Ed looked at me oddly, "Yeah…"

"How many times, would you say?"

"Maybe… Fifty?"

I smiled, "The only times I didn't want that, was when I was with my grandpa. I was always just me with him. That's the way I want to feel again, and that's what I'll try and do." I turned back to my picture, "Now, Al, stay still. I need to finish this before the light changes even more." I finished the picture and put away my sketch book. We were only an hour away from East City, so for the rest of the ride I practiced the mental piano. A woman in Resembool, had a piano and let me practice on it, almost daily, so I had the sounds refreshed in my mind.

We arrived at East City six or seven. Colonel Mustang was waiting for us. Neither Ed nor I were very polite when we saw him. "What the hell are you doing here?" I glared at him as we flowed towards him with the stream of people.

"Well put," Ed said to me, then to Mustang, "Do you always have to fuck up my trips to East City?"

Mustang smiled, "Of course, Fullmetal."

Havoc waved from behind Mustang, Hawkeye stood calmly on the other side. I shot Havoc a look that could have dropped an elephant. "Why, the Hell, is that, God Damn, Asshole HERE?" I growled not taking my eyes off Havoc.

Mustang looked over his shoulder, "Oh, you mean him. He's here as our scoffer, and Hawkeye thinks I can't go anywhere without a Chaperon," Mustang pouted.

Hawkeye stepped forward, after saying her hellos with Al, "That's why I'm here, to protect you from these two."

I raised an eyebrow, "You really think I'm the one who will need the protection?"

"In which case, I'll just keep them in line," Riza and I share knowing smiles.

"Alright," Mustang intruded, "Let's get going already, I don't want to miss our train." He started to walk towards a different train then the one we'd just gotten off.

"Train?" I asked Riza.

"Yes, All State Alchemy tests are given in Central." She answered calmly.

"Joy," I said flatly.

We loaded onto the train, each of us with our own luggage. We even had our own compartment. I took one of the window seats, Riza sat next to me, and Ed on the other side. Across from us, Mustang at the window, Havoc, and Al, politely, took the floor near the door. I spent the first hour of the train ride glaring at Mustang or Havoc, which ever opened his mouth. Later I starred out the window, my fingers, now, automatically playing on my knees. I didn't dare pull out my sketch book. I hadn't shown it to anyone, and in these close quarters I'd have no choice but to share. Next to me Riza was reading a Book, so was Ed. Mustang was napping, Al… well, Al just wasn't moving.

"What are you doing?" Havoc asked me quietly after two hours. I nearly fell out of my seat. Riza had gone to the restroom, and Ed was also asleep, now. Havoc had moved and was sitting next to me.

I starred wide eyed at him for a minute, not understanding what he meant. Havoc indicated at my fingers. I looked out the window again, "Practicing."

"Practicing what?" He leaned in close.

I could smell cigarette smoke on him, even though I hadn't seen him smoke. I tried to get away into my corner, "I play the piano, I learned how to practice on my knees."

"Oh…" He leaned away and I finally took a deep breath. I hated smokers. Thankfully Riza came back before I had to make small talk. Havoc settled into the seat, acting like he was getting comfortable. Riza looked at us but didn't complain as she sat next to Mustang. I turned back to the window and let my mind wander, wishing I could open it even a little without waking the others.

I woke two hours later to the over welling smell of cigarettes. My eyes flew open. I felt warm, and there was a pressure on my entire left side. I looked and saw Havoc leaning against me completely out of it. He was snoring softly. The entire presence of him was unnerving. I suddenly felt nauseas, the world blurred. I had to get away. I kindly slid out from under him, put the coat he'd placed over me on him, and ran out. I was sick in the restroom, and my clothes smelled like him. I didn't want to go back, so I quietly explored the rest of the train. It was past midnight, just about everyone was asleep. So, there was no one to really glare at me, and nothing to do. I finally went back, after going through every car, I could. Havoc and Ed were asleep on one another. Havoc resting his head where my seat had been, and Ed's head was on the side of Havoc's butt. Riza napped lightly on Mustang's shoulder, a book in her lap.

Al was awake though, "Are you feeling better?" He asked quietly. I nodded, sitting under the window and pulling out my coat wrapped it around myself to doze for the next five hours. Around Six I put away my coat and got out my sketch book. I did a quick draft of Mustang and Riza thinking they looked good together, and then did one of Havoc and Ed, to use as black mail of course. Two days until the big test.

As I was putting away my things the train gave a little lurch, around seven or eight, and Riza snapped awake. "Alix, What are you doing on the Floor?" She asked looking at me first.

"Dalka, please, I like that name more," I told her closing my bag. I then pointed at Havoc, "My seat kind of got taken over."

Riza pulled out a gun, "I have a remedy for that." She snapped the safety off and both the men snapped to attention, waking Ed in the process. They breathed easy when they saw Riza putting away her gun, and I quietly took my seat.

Mustang looked out the window, "Huh… Good thing you woke us up, Hawkeye. We're almost at Central."

Something popped into my mind, "Hey, Mustang, isn't Central not that far from Resembool?" I'd seen a map while I was out, "Why didn't you just tell us to meet you there?"

He shrugged, "I thought you lot might like riding first class for once."

"Uh huh, yeah, right," I said sarcastically. I would have said more but the train was pulling in. Everyone stretched, picking up their things, and when the train stopped we filed out.

Hughes was waiting for us, "Hey Guys!" He waved his arm wildly. He was of course dressed in civilian clothes.

"Maes, you look like a fool," Mustang said disapprovingly.

"Thanks, Roy," He smiled and led the way to the two military cars he'd ordered. "Okay, kiddies, I got you three," He pointed at Mustang, Hawkeye, and Havoc, "Two rooms at a nice hotel. You three," He pointed at the Elric brothers and me, "can stay with me and my wife. You'll all just love her and my daughter, Elysia." Hughes climbed into the driver's seat of one, the brothers and I climbed into the same one. Mustang, Hawkeye, and Havoc got into the other which had its own driver. Hughes took of in one direction and the driver in another. I breathed easy when I couldn't see them any more. "Nervous?" Hughes asked over the engine.

"No," I answered honestly.

"Really? That's not what it looks like," Hughes teased

"That…. jackass, hit on me last time I saw him, I don't like being around him," I said.

Hughes hit the brakes, hard, "ROY, DID WHAT?" He looked at me like I'd bitten some one.

"Not Mustang, Havoc," I answered more then a little scared.

"Hey, how about a warning, up there?" Ed complained from the back.

"Oh, Edward, Alphonse, I forgot about you back there," He started to drive again. "Next time he does that, tell Riza. She'll turn him into a target for the sharpshooters. We can't have older men hitting on minors."

"I dealt with it." I said.

"Yeah, you should have seen her," Ed piped up. He then told Hughes what I'd done, in great detail. We arrived at Hughes's house as Ed finished. It was a beautiful two story town house, with a white picket fence around the front.

"Wow, this place is nice," I said as I slid out of the front seat, my bag and sword in my hands.

A little girl opened the door and came running out towards Hughes. "Daddy, Daddy, your back! Where's the funny Fire man?" She asked as He scooped her up into her arms.

"I missed you my darling Elysia. Your Uncle Roy, is staying at a Hotel. We don't have enough room for him, Aunt Riza, Uncle Jean, and these other friends of mine." Hughes explained hugging her furiously.

"Daddy your chin itches," She giggled.

Hughes put her down as another woman stood smiling in the door way, "Elysia, Gracia, these are the Elric brothers. Edward, the oldest and the Fullmetal Alchemist," Ed waved, "Alphonse, the younger," Al bowed and greeted both of them. "And this young lady is Dalka Hesperus."

I squatted down to Elysia's level, "Hello Elysia, How old are you?"

"Two," She held up two fingers, "But mama says I'll be three soon."

"You're very well spoken for a two year old." I smiled warmly, "You know, you're the twinkle in your Daddy's eye. He loves you so much we hear about you none stop."

She smiled back at me.

"And you know what else?"

"What?"

"You're even cuter then he says."

She giggled.

"Come on," I offered my hand to her, "Why don't we all go inside? I'm starved, what's for breakfast?" Elysia took my hand and everyone went inside.

Gracia let me have my own room, where I put my stuff on the bed, and we ate breakfast together. All I remember about it was that it was loud, fun, and felt like we were part of the family. Afterward Ed, Al and I played with Elysia until all of us were too tired to move. Hughes went out to meet up with Mustang and the others. He didn't come back until dinner, which was the same as breakfast. After dinner and a shower I sat on my bed, my white coat and pant hanging on the opposite wall. I was starring emotionlessly at it. It had only been a month since my grandfather had died, I should have been wearing nothing but black, still. Here I was about to go wear white, I wasn't suppose to wear white for another five months. How could I be doing this? I'd look just as good in black, but the white would be more impressive.

I looked out the now dark window. The city had come to live and its light made my room glow. The white of my coat was almost blue in this light. I desperately wished I'd asked Ed and Al their opinions before I'd decided to do this, but I had to insist it be a surprise. Damn my morals, or pride pending how you look at it, they were the things having the conflict here. I stood up closing my curtains and then went back to my bed. I lay down and starred at the blackness. My coat stood as a white shadow against the wall I rolled over and starred at the other one until I fell asleep. Tomorrow would be the last day before the big test.

Sorry people, looks like you'll have to wait until next time to fine out about the test. Grins It's so fun being evil. But I had to put in that segment with Elysia, I kinda share the Maes Hughes personality when it comes to my little cousins and small children.

I also share Dalka's opinion of smokers, if your a smoker you should learn what that stuff does to you. My grandfathers, in real life, both died because of complecations due to smoking early in life. I never even got to meet my mom's father, so if that doesn't out line my feelings about smoking, nothing will.

Sorry unnessisary info. Please review before you go on to the next chapter.