Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. They belong to Arakawa-Senpai~ I only own my OC's, my made up towns/cities/countries/other misc characters and this fanfiction.

Author's Note: Hey there everyone~! This chapter is way overdue, for many major reasons I assure you. As we all know... Life. Just wanted to also quickly remind you that this fanfic is now also being posted on ArchiveOfOurOwn .org. All the chapters have been revised and posted there as a better version of the story on here, since it's SO much easier to go back and fix mistakes there as well as add links and artwork for the story. I will still continue posting chapters here of course~! This version will be without a lemon, the other one will have lemons.

I want to thank all the people that have faved or started following this story since my last post. It makes me so happy to see that, although I have neglected the story a little (which I shall try to prevent), that people are still enjoying it. So thank you very VERY much for the support~!

Please please PLEASE review... I'm actually hating this chapter and just need a kick in the ass with some confidence boosting encouragement. No flames or nasties though x3

Chapter: Touching Base

Summary: When there's time on your hands, connect with those you hold dear…

Mornings… They can be so eventful can't they? So much can happen that they seem to just breeze by, and before you know it, it's gone all too soon. This was the case for Alphonse, Juniper and Edward. The rest of their morning had been spent conversing and story-telling, mostly of wonderful memories and happy times. Edward and Alphonse asked Juniper about her use of archery; which was almost unheard of in Amestris, as well as how it came about to be paired with her water and air alchemy.

"Well, when I was barely three years old, my Da had been telling me all sorts of stories about my Ma, so that I knew as much about who she was as I could. She was quite the well-travelled adventurer to say the least. One night when Da put me to bed, he placed her bow on my lap and told me the most wonderful tale about it…" She stared of into the distance with a melancholic, yet fond expression as she told them the story.

Eighteen years ago…

"Daddy, I can't go to sleep with a big funny stick on my bed." Juniper said as she giggled loudly and beamed up at her father, Dorian, who chuckled softly and ruffled the young girl's long brown hair. He sat down on the edge of her bed and took the 'stick' from her lap and proceeded to show it to her properly.

"Oh my silly girl… This isn't a stick, this is a bow that once belonged to your Mother. It's a weapon that you use to fire arrows like this out of it." He lifted a very blunt, round tipped arrow and held it in front of her. He watched with amusement as her curious hazel eyes widened and her tiny fingers touched the arrow gingerly.

"But weapon's hurt people Daddy. Mummy didn't hurt people did she?" A sad pout formed on her lips as she became concerned and worrisome.

"No, she never hurt good people, only the bad people that tried to hurt her or others. But even then, that very rarely happened. Your Ma simply enjoyed it as a hobby more than anything, and she used to go hunting with it too."

"Hunting… Like what Big Brother does when he helps Mr O'Shea? So we can have stuff to eat?"

"Yes that's right. Your Ma was a very good hunter too. This was the bow she would use…" He paused. "She made it herself, you know."

Juniper gasped dramatically. "Really?! She make-ed this?"

"Made." He corrected with a warm smile.

"Ma-Made…" Her little brow furrowed and she bit her lip as she concentrated on pronouncing it properly. She was rewarded with a gentle pat on the head.

"Yes, she made it all by herself. I think she said she was about nine or ten, so she was Dan's age when she crafted it. She used the wood of a yew tree, and carved it out herself." Dorian ran his only remaining hand across it, his fingers rubbing over the decorated Celtic carvings across its limbs. Most of the markings resembled water drops and waves. He stopped at the marking of a bird; a falcon, just above the hand grip. "This was the last thing she carved on it, just before you were born actually. She used to say 'If this little one is a girl, she'll forever go where the wind blows, and we're going to watch her soar to great heights.'."

Dorian looked to his daughter. Although talking about his late wife saddened him terribly, he would always look at Juniper, and see so much of his wife, Joselyn, in her.

Juniper was looking down at the bow, her bottom lip quivering as she tried to hold back the tears. She thought it was unfair that she didn't have a mother like other kids in town do, but her father and brother were there for her as she grew, and she knew she'd never be alone. Juniper felt her father's warm hand cup her small cheek and raise her head up to look at him.

"No tears now, my brave Baby Bird…" He moved his hand from her face and grabbed one of her hands, where he then picked it up and placed it on the bow, curling her tiny fingers around it beneath his. "Before she died, she told me that she wanted you to have this, and to make it your own whether you decided to use it or not. It made a lot of memories for her, and she would have wanted you to make your own with it too."

Juniper gave an enthusiastic, but slow nod. She rubbed her small hands over the large weapon. "Thank you Daddy. Can I start using it tomorrow?"

Her father let out a bellowing chuckle as leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. He plucked the bow from her lap then placed it atop a set of drawers and out of her easy reach. "You're still too small, Juniper. If you grow big and strong, and be a good girl, then I'll start teaching you when you turn four. Okay?"

"Okay Daddy."

"Goodnight Baby Bird. Love you till-."

"Till infinity runs out." She finished with a giggle as she settled into her bed while her father left the room, closing her bedroom door.

Juniper rolled over and stared up at the photo of Joselyn on the bedside table. She smiled at it then closed her eyes. "Thank you Mummy…I love you."

"…and so that's how the bow came about. As for the alchemic elements; I chose them because I've always felt that I had a deep connection with water and the wind. Iraylia is an island country after all, with a lot of wide open spaces for gusty breezes. Not to mention being surrounded by the ocean and the near constant drizzle of rain there. I just associate with them really well because it's always been a part of my life I suppose. To be honest, I've not really given it much thought as to why I chose them up until now, either." She chuckled. "Not even Teacher asked me why." She stopped talking, then her brow furrowed as she tilted her head to the side when she noticed the deep concentration on the brothers faces. "Are… you two okay?"

Edward jolted slightly as he shook his head, and Alphonse just blinked rapidly as they were both shaken from their stupor after listening intently.

"Ah, yeah, sorry…" Edward began. "It was just such a…"

"A sweet and beautiful story!" Alphonse was dramatic, being the one with a softer heart and the easily triggered emotional state. It made Edward roll his eyes.

"Heh… I guess?" Juniper sweat-dropped and laughed it off as nothing. Although it was sweet, she found his reaction quite comical.

Just before silence could settle, a very loud grumble echoed in the room. Edward doubled over and clutched his stomach, blushing slightly as he looked at Alphonse and Juniper with a crooked grin. Alphonse let out an exasperated sigh and stood up from his chair.

"I knew it wouldn't be long till your stomach or your mouth started complaining, it is lunchtime after all." He said flatly. "You better go get yourself something to eat Brother."

"And you're going with him too, aren't you Alphonse?"

Juniper's voice had sounded extra sugary as she smirked at him with an inquisitively raised brow. Her question was actually a forceful statement, and she was going to ensure that he left the room to have lunch with his brother. She didn't need all this coddling after all.

Alphonse understood that this conversation was not going to be up for debate, and he conceded with a gentle smile and defeated sigh. "Yes, I'm going with him." He was glad he agreed, because he was rewarded with her brightest smile, making his heart melt. He knew he was slowly becoming a little bit of a pushover for her.

The Elric brothers were about to leave when Edward halted in his tracks. "Oh, hang on a sec."

Edward quickly walked over to Juniper and leaned in close to her ear, whispering to her quietly. She listened attentively without much expression to give away a hint to Alphonse, who now stood by the door, confused.

"Al probably hasn't told you yet, but it's his birthday tomorrow. Is there anything you'd want me to get for him on your behalf?"

She leans up to his ear and whispers back. "No, I wasn't aware. He probably wasn't going to tell me either… that cheeky bastard." Edward snickered as she continued. "But I already have something I can give to him. I have it back at my apartment. I plan on getting discharged from here today, hopefully while you both are out. So try and stall him back at his place and I'll meet you both there."

Edward nods affirmatively and smirks as he turns to leave, seeing a suspicious look on his younger brother's face. "Right, well we're off then."

"Have fun you two." Juniper smiles softly and waves to them as they disappear through the door. Once she was sure they had left, she reached over to the bedside table and grabbed the white envelope that had yet to be opened. She gently tore it open with her little finger then slid the letter out of its confinement. Unfolding it, she began to read;

Major Juniper Fox,

Firstly, allow me to say on behalf of everyone in the office that we are very relieved to hear you are conscious and doing well. It was distressing for everyone, especially for you as I can imagine, over what happened at the Central Bank two weeks prior.

I understand your reluctance to enlighten me of why you reacted the way you did, but any insignificant fraction of information can be useful. So I ask that you seriously consider talking with me, or with whomever you feel comfortable with about this. Understand that, although I cannot really condone your impulsive actions that night, it was what enabled us to apprehend two of the offenders. So for that, I am very grateful and pleased with your efforts. Just please refrain from putting yourself in harm's way again in the future.

I would like for you to return as soon as your doctor has signed you off as being fit enough for duty, as you are a key part for this investigation. We can't afford to let it slip from our hands now that we're making some ground on this for the first time in months.

Wishing you a swift recovery,

General Roy Mustang & the team.

Juniper snorted with amusement. She wondered if every team in the military were so… thoughtful and attentive to its members. She folded the letter and returned it to the envelope, placing it on the table again as she turned her legs out of bed and stood. Slipping on the slippers and wrapping her shoulders with a robe, and shuffled her way out of the room to go find the nurse.

"You look like you're just about ready to leave, Miss." Nurse Inez said cheerfully as Juniper approached the nurse's desk.

"I am. Actually, I was wondering if my request for an early discharge had been approved by Dr Knox."

"I just finished signing the paperwork for it, Miss Fox." Dr Knox's voice came from behind her as he passed a clipboard over to the nurse. He turned and smiled at Juniper. "After your examination this morning, I think you're as healthy as a young woman should be, so you're free to leave today whenever you like. If you have any nausea or start to feel unusual in any way, please call as soon as you can. Although I still want you to take a week off before returning to duty, so I'll write up the letter for you to give to your superior."

Juniper let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Oh wonderful! Thank you so much Dr Knox, and thank you Ma'am, for taking care of me too." She beamed at them both as they told her that it was merely their job to do so, and that she needn't thank them.

"How do you plan on getting home Miss?" The nurse inquired.

"I'm going to make a phone call now. I'll have someone come get me and take me home." She murmured and the nurse nodded. Juniper turned and made her way to one of the telephones nearby and dialled.

The delicate sound of jingling bangles tinkled softly as Juniper slipped on her silver and gold alchemic bracelets that had been returned to her by the nurse who had been keeping them safe. With that, she was fully dressed and ready to leave the hospital. She turned and smiled at Riza, whom she had called and requested to fetch her some clothes from her apartment before coming to collect her. Riza was only more than happy to oblige.

"You all set to go?" Riza said with a smile.

Juniper nodded. "Mm-hmm!"

They began to walk out of the room before Juniper halted dead in her tracks with a soft gasp. "Oh wait! I did forget something."

She turned back towards the bed and walked over to the bedside table. Gently plucking the lilac rose from the vase there, she turned back to Riza with a sheepish grin. "Now we can go."

The blonde woman gave Juniper an all knowing look as they proceeded out of the hospital. "That's a very lovely rose." She watched with amusement as Juniper's cheeks bristled with a hint of pink. "From Alphonse?"

Juniper simply nodded with a soft smile.

Riza chuckled softly. "Well that explains it."

Juniper raised a brow and looked to Riza, waiting for her elaboration, but it never came. She shrugged it off for now as they climbed into the vehicle Riza had waiting in front of the hospital. "Riza, would it be too much trouble to make a few detours? I need to fetch some money first, then I need to go to one of the nearest market streets to get a few things."

Riza started the car and drove them down the street. "Yeah of course. I've got no other urgent tasks needing my attention right now anyway, so I don't mind. Oh, that reminds me." She reaches into a pocket in her uniform and pulls out Juniper's State pocket watch. "I figured you might need it, I'm glad I thought to pick it up when I was at your place earlier."

"Ah! Thank you. You're always one step ahead huh?" Juniper replied with a light chuckle.

"It helps. Especially when your commanding officer is a slacker with paperwork." She deadpanned, leaving the pair in fits of laughter as they made their way through Central's lunchtime traffic.

After putting away the few groceries she purchased at the market and seeing Riza off, Juniper went straight to making phone calls. The first; her father Dorian and her brother Dan.

"Hello, Fox Estate Brewery & Inn, Dorian speaking." A deep voice with a heavy accent crackled through the receiver.

"Da, It's Juniper. I'm home from the hospital." She said, already swallowing the lump of tears in her throat as there was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

"Oh Juniper… My Baby Bird…" Dorian croaked, his voice dripping with emotion and relief.

"I'm fine now Da. My wound has healed well and I can return to work in a week. I'll come home for a visit as soon as I can, I promise." Juniper knew her father would want her to come home to visit sooner rather than later. She heard him let out a deep sigh.

"Alright… As long as you are okay, I'll try and be patient then. I know you're strong, but your old man still worries, is all."

Juniper giggled. "Yes I know. But you needn't worry too much. I have great friends who have been watching out for me this whole time. It was actually Colonel Elric that had helped with my wound a lot, which is why I recovered so quickly."

Dorian grunted. "Yeah… Your brother has told me alllllll about him. He sounds just wonderful, this 'knight in shining armor' he said." His voice rung with sarcasm, that Juniper couldn't help but roll her eyes and silently chuckle at. For a man who wanted her to settle down and find a husband, her father sure has a funny and rather hypercritical opinion on any boy who has ever taken close to her. Maybe it was just a fatherly thing for him to do. On the other hand, her older brother was in for an earful next time she saw him.

"Anyway, I must go for now Da. I have a few more phone calls to make."

"Be sure to give Izumi a call as well. Dan said she was asking about you when he went to pick up an order from her a few days ago."

"I will. I'll be in touch again soon."

After finishing her call with her father, Juniper made a quick call to Izumi. She was scolded for her foolishness, praised for her initiative and was overall pleased that she brought her teacher some relief, so she didn't mind first being chewed out. It was expected as much. There was just one final call to make.

"Elric & Rockbell Automail."

'Now that's just adorable.' Juniper briefly mused. "Hello Win, its Juniper."

Winry squeaked with joy. "Juni! I was wondering when I was going to hear from you again. Ed told me you were well and on the mend earlier this morning. I'm so relieved."

Juniper snickered at Winry's enthusiastic tone. "Yeah, and it's all thanks to Alphonse and his alkahestry too. I'd still be in hospital or worse if it weren't for him."

"That's Al for you, ever the dependable one. I'm just glad everything turned out okay."

"Speaking of which; since it's his birthday tomorrow, what kind of cake does he like? I figured I bake one for him, for his birthday as well as to thank him for all he's done for me."

She heard Winry snicker softly. It was the same kind that she'd been hearing from Edward and Riza, and she was beginning to realise why, causing her cheeks to heat slightly. Was the charge of attraction between the two alchemists really that palpable and obvious?

"Say no more, Juni. I have a few ideas to throw your way, so have a pen ready." Winry said with mirth, and a hint of mischievousness which caused Juniper laugh out loudly as she readied her fountain pen on a notepad.

"Fire away!"

After a lengthy conversation with Winry was done, an apple pie baked and a refreshing shower, it was 3pm. Juniper finished slicing up the apple pie that now sat inside a wicker basket. She had gotten the recipe from Winry years ago and it had become a favourite treat in her family. She wasn't surprised that it was the Elric brother's favourite too, so she baked one in order to take with her. She stopped and second guessed her current outfit; a sleeveless navy shirt and black shorts with her hair up in a messy bun. It had become a little hotter than expected today, so she had dressed for comfort. But the short length of her shorts had her self-conscious rethinking the comfort idea.

'Wait a minute, when the hell have I ever cared about what I wore in the summer?! Oh fuck it, I don't care!' She huffed out softly, slipped on her sandals, picked up her wicker basket and a certain book and promptly left before she changed her mind.

"Brother, I'd like to get back to the hospital sometime soon. It's been hours." Alphonse groaned softly.

Edward, who was laying on his back on one of the sofas in the lounge, simply waved his hand lazily as he scanned through an alchemy book and spoke with disinterest. "Yeah yeah… soon alright, Romeo? Just what would Juniper say if she saw you acting like this, hm?"

Alphonse's eye twitched.

Knock knock knock

Letting out a deflated sigh, he stood up from the opposite sofa and went to answer the door. Who was on the other side of it was certainly not who he was expecting.

"Juniper! What are you doing here? I mean, why are you out of the hospital?" He exclaimed as he stood aside to let her in.

"I was discharged while you were out to lunch earlier. The doctor said I was well enough to go after all. I can even return to work in a week." She beamed at him as she walked in past him and went to sit down on the unoccupied sofa.

"Well, as long as you're feeling alright…" He trailed off.

"Thanks to you, I'm feeling more than alright." She reassured him gently before turning her attention to the book and basket she had perched on her lap. She placed the basket on the coffee table in front of her then held onto the book, briefly scanning over its cover. "I brought this over too." She passed the thick book to him as he sat down beside her. "This is my version of the complete basics of water alchemy, since you were so eager to know more about it before the incident."

Alphonse felt the weight in his hands. "Woah… This is just the basics? It seems quite extensive… and thorough too." He murmured as he thumbed through some of its pages. He was stunned at the detail. "It looks like you've put a lot of time into your research of it."

"Yeah well, when I began my study of it, I couldn't help but notice how vague a lot of the books about it were. Some alchemists who wrote some of the books even came across as being a bit hesitant to go into much detail too, like they were hoping it wouldn't capture much interest, but just enough so that it was worth looking into." She explained.

"Maybe because water is, or at least it can be, such a dangerous substance when used with the intent to be a harmful one." Edward said from the opposite sofa he still lay upon. "An alchemist with immoral intensions could poison an entire lake or a town's water supply with a simple transmutation. I'm not sure if anyone would be foolish enough to even try that, but water alchemy doesn't exactly have the best reputation."

"There are three State Alchemists actually now that I think about it, who use water based transmutations and turned criminal. The Freezing Alchemist, the Shadowfrost Alchemist and the Typhoon Alchemist. It's kind of strange when you consider it though." Alphonse stated.

Juniper let out a deep sigh. "It's stupidly ironic that one of the most beautiful and simplistic elements in alchemy is also one of the most deadly. It makes me a little nervous for when my abilities become public to be honest."

Edward chuckled. "You got nothin' to worry about. It's not like you're going to go on some psychotic rampage any time soon."

Alphonse scowled slightly at him but Juniper simply laughed. "I suppose so!" She noted Alphonse's hidden expression. "Maybe I shouldn't let you study water alchemy, Alphonse. Especially with that look in your eye." She playfully nudged his shoulder with her own.

"Al's just grumpy with me because I kept him from running back to the hospital after lunch today. Isn't that right, Romeo?" Edward said nonchalantly with a cheeky smirk.

Juniper tried to stifle her laughter. Poor Alphonse, his body was rigid and face flushed a bright red as he was glaring daggers at his older brother. She realised that the large book he was currently death-gripping in his hands probably wasn't far from being a projectile.

"It is very sweet though…" She murmured softly as she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, feeling him instantly relax beside her.

Alphonse was fighting the urge to put his arm behind her back and around her waist to return the subtle gesture of affection, but the urge became too great and he went ahead and did it anyway, ignoring the looks on his brother's face for now.

Juniper felt her heart flutter and soar from the closeness and his touch. "A-Anyway… speaking of sweet stuff, I baked an apple pie for us. I got the recipe from Winry years ago. Would either of you like a…"

Juniper had reached for the basket she had previously placed on the coffee table, only it was no longer there. Edward had leapt up at the first mention of 'pie' and reached for the basket, plucked a slice from the delicious golden treat and bit into it.

"Oh wow! It does taste just like Winry's and Mrs Gracia's pie!" He muffled with a mouthful, making Juniper snicker softly and Alphonse roll his eyes.