"Whatchya doin'?"

Startled, Al gave a sharp gasp of breath and toppled over onto the ground. He stared at the laughing figure that had stalked up behind him and scared him out of his wits.

"Ana! That wasn't funny!"

"I know! It was hysterical!" she snickered, holding her stomach as the laughter shook her thoroughly.

Al's bottom lip poked out as he sat on the ground, his fingers digging into the grass.

"Oh, I'm sorry, little dude. I didn't mean to scare you like that," she cooed, patting his head. "Forgive me?"

She acted so sincere that Alphonse bit his lip and looked to the side uncertainly.

"Pretty please?" Ana asked, clasping her hands together. "If you do, I'll let you rule your own country when I take over the world."

Al smothered a smile. This too was something he liked about her. She said whacky, impossible things all the time. "That's okay. But uh…could you… There's something else…"

Ana watched his fidgeting and blinked at him curiously, "You want my help with something?"

Nodding, he blushed slightly.

"Well, I can't say no to a face like that, can I?"

Al blushed harder.

"What can I do for ya?"

Picking at the grass nervously, Al confided in her, "Brother said that he was going to get Mom the best present ever, but I said that I would get her the best present ever. But I don't know what to get her."

"Oh, is it her birthday?"

"No… Can we only give gifts on birthdays?" If so, Al hadn't been informed. Edward seemed to think not. So, then…?

Ana shook her head, smiling as she clutched at her cheeks, "Awww, ya'll are so adorable!"

Al's face reddened full force. He had never known how to react to compliments. He was painfully shy, unlike Ana.

"Your mom is so lucky. Yes, of course it's okay to give presents. It doesn't matter when. If you care about someone, it's okay to show it."

Al brightened at the information, storing it away carefully. To him, those words were very important.

"What are you gonna get her?" Ana asked eagerly.

Al fiddled with the grass, staring down at it. "I…don't know. What's a good present for moms?"

Ana scratched her chin and glanced at the sky in thought. "All moms are different, but most people appreciate something heartfelt."

"Heartfelt?" he asked uncertainly, tilting his head to the side. He didn't completely understand what the word meant.

"Yeah! Like something that's made with love. Oh! You could make her something!"

Al's mood rocketed considerably. "That's a great idea! I could use alchemy! I bet Brother was going to too!"

"Well, what are you waiting for? Hop to it!" Ana enthused. Then her eyes darkened in confusion when her brain caught up to what he'd said, "Wait, did you say alchemy?"

He nodded, cracking a small smile despite the returning color in his face. "I know I don't look old enough to understand it, but Mom said Brother and I were prod…prod…"

"Prodigies?"

"Prodigies!" he agreed gleefully. He knew his mother loved it when they used their alchemy. They were still learning, and most of the stuff they made wasn't that exciting. Still, every time, their mom would tell them how proud she was.

She stared at him for a moment, an odd glaze entering her eyes.

A thought occurred to Al and he didn't give a second thought to asking, "Ana, are you an alchemist?" That would be amazing! If she knew alchemy, then she could teach him so much!

Ana's brows furrowed, "Ummm…..no."

"Oh…" Al replied, crestfallen. Seeing how she continued to stare strangely at him, he perked back up. "That's okay! I can show you what I can do!"

Ana waited silently for the boy to gather some supplies. She watched with a raised brow as he drew a proper circle. Only when he placed his palms to the array and initiate the transmutation did her eyes light up in wonder.

Afterwards, Al questioned her about her reaction.

She said she'd never seen alchemy before.

He told her it was science.

She smiled and called it magic.