I am so sorry for the long wait!

I woke up early, being able to watch the sun rise from my window. I walked downstairs and to the kitchen making a cup of tea. I knew there was no way I would be going back to sleep, so I went back to my room and was reaching for my novel, In the Heart of the Sea, before I decided being productive would be better.

With that decision reached I grabbed more loose paperand my alchemy book and sat at my desk. I opened to the same page as yesterday and studied the design for a while before closing the book I was going to try and do it from memory. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get the words correct yet, but I believed I could get the shape. I took a deep breath, a sip of tea, and then started carefully drawing out the base circle. Being happy with that, I went and drew the helix pattern down the center of the circle. That was the easy part of this circle.

Next was the writing up each side of the helix. The small lettering in Latin was harder to remember; and I know I missed a few spellings. The last part were the small sun, moon, soul and water symbols at each point of the helix.

I was so focused with my work that I didn't hear the door open or footsteps coming towards me. I jumped and luckily caught myself from marking across the paper when a hand landed on my shoulder. I put my pen down and raised my hand over my chest as I tried to calm my breathing.

I heard my dad stifling laughter before asking if I was okay. I nodded, coughing a little before turning my head towards him. "Breakfast," he said before leaving the room. I looked at the clock on my wall and saw I had been working on the circle for almost two hours. I decided then that when I became more experienced I would have something with my transmutation circle already on it.

I stretched my arms over my head and stood from my desk, hearing my back pop in the process. I took a quick look from what I had just finished to what my practice from the previous day was. I had used the wrong symbol for sun, and misspelled two words, but otherwise it was correct. But this was only one of the transmutation circles I needed-though it was the most important one.

As I descended the stairs, the smell of sausage and hash browns greeted me. I helped finish plating everything and took it to the dining table before refilling coffee for my parents and grabbing juice for myself. As we ate breakfast slowly, my dad inquired as to what I was working on.

"General Gran wants us to learn an alchemy array by memory for midterms; in addition to all the basic arrays. I was practicing drawing them."

"What did you choose to specialize in Paige?" Mother asked sipping her coffee.

"Using a combination of biological alchemy and nature alchemy to create animals for work." I stated proud of my decision.

"Or war," my father added grimly. We all stayed silent for a moment, after all both my parents had family lost in conflicts.

"You excited for your date today," Mother asked with a knowing smirk.

I blushed and nodded, looking around the table seeing Mafdet on the windowsill looking out at the birdbath.

"Go upstairs and study, we won't torture him too badly while he waits for you." I gave him a wry grin as I picked up a glass of water upon standing and walked upstairs. I decided that I would choose my clothing now. It was a warm day so I pulled out a dark blue halter top and a flowing, knee length khaki skirt with black flats. I brushed my hair out and braided it before pulling on a black pearl necklace.

I pulled out a book and laid on my windowsill deciding to read until I needed to get ready, though I realized I didn't know when Jean would be here. I stood back up and set my book on my bed as I grabbed my clothes and went to the bathroom. I pulled off my sleepwear and looked at myself in the mirror before pulling on my skirt and buttoning it on the side and then pulled the halter top over my head and tied the straps in a bow behind my neck.

I looked at the time and saw that it was almost eleven. I went to sit down by my window again when I heard knocking through my open door and felt myself blush and smile. I heard my father welcoming Jean in and talking to him. I pulled my shoes on and waited in my room until I heard my dad call me down.

I came downstairs and felt my smile widen upon seeing Jean in a pair of dark wash jeans and a light blue button-up short sleeve shirt. He was holding a single white rose which he held out for me as I approached. I lifted the petals to my nose and inhaled, the scent intoxicating. "Let me put this in a vase real quick," I asked and he nodded as I walked to the kitchen, pulling out a small vase and filling it with water.

I smelled the rose once more before rejoining everyone in the entryway. "Are you ready?" Jean inquired offering his arm. I nodded and threaded my arm with his. He opened the door and led me to his car, opening the passenger's door for me. I slid in and smiled at him as he closed my door before getting in himself.

I looked in the back and saw a picnic basket and laughed. "What is so funny Paige," he gave me a quick glance before looking back at the road.

"The very expected wicker basket and red and white checked blanket." He chuckled before responding.

"Well what is inside is nothing like a normal picnic," he grabbed my hand as I reached back to see. "Uh-uh. No peaking." He kissed my hand and kept it in his until he had to turn.

"Will you at least tell me where we're going?"

"Nope. I think if you are this curious you need a blindfold." I looked at him in shock ad smacked his arm when he smirked at me.

"Jean, is that something you need to tell me?" I blushed as I asked him, not being comfortable with this kind of exchange. He slowed to a stop at a sign and then looked at me, seeing how bright my cheeks were.

"Hey, look at me." I acquiesced and looked at him. "I'm not trying to force you into anything, or to rush this along. You don't have to do anything you are uncomfortable with. Just relax and enjoy the ride." He squeezed my hand tightly as we turned the corner.

I saw we were approaching the city limits and I got even more curious, but I respected his wishes to not ask anything. After a few minutes driving out of Central I saw some trees up ahead. I put my hand on his arm realizing where we were heading.

"Jean-" he put a finger to my lips.

"I wanted this to be special." He smiled at me as we drove through the gates of the nature park. He slowed as we drove around the verdant area and he pulled into a secluded area. He parked under some large oak trees and came to let me out of the car before grabbing the picnic basket. He offered his other arm and I threaded my hands over his elbow as he led us down the path. After a few minutes he gestured to a spot off the path and I nodded. We walked there and he took out the blanket and laid it down underneath the beech tree.

He gently kissed my cheek before helping me sit down, then sitting himself. I leaned against him and he put his arm around me. We looked through the forest as we leaned against each other. "So, what did you do since the last time we saw one another?" Jean asked stroking my arm.

"Went jogging, did homework, got ambushed by my friends asking for details. And you?"

"Got ambushed by my friends, worked out, and then planned this." He smiled down at me, kissing the top of my head. "Are you hungry yet or would you like to walk around a little bit more?"

"I would like to walk a bit more, if that is okay?" He nodded and helped me up wrapping his arm around my waist. He led me back to the path and as we walked downhill until it came to a lake. It was a light aqua and I could see fish swimming close to the shore. I gasped at the view and Jean pulled me closer.

"This is beautiful," I breathed out.

"The view isn't the only thing that is beautiful here," I giggled and he turned to me, leaning down to kiss my lips. It was soft, but I could feel his chapped lips. I put my hands on his chest, grabbing the for the fabric gently. He responded by wrapping his arms around my waist. I pressed my lips harder to him, feeling comfortable with him and this position. He stroked my back, going up until he held my head in his hand. He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead on mine. "Paige, I am comfortable taking this as slow as you would like. I am not going anywhere." He squeezed my hands and then kissed them.

"I know Jean, I just-" I cutoff, not knowing how exactly to express myself. "You are the first man I've dated. I feel comfortable with you." I was glowing with a blush I could feel. I hid my head I his chest.

"Well then, this makes this question a lot easier. Paige, will you be my girlfriend?"

I looked up shocked. "J-jean are you sh-sure?"

"Yes, I am. I care about you, and I am comfortable with you as well. I would like to be with you, if you would have me."

"Yes, Jean, yes." I threw my hands around him and hugged him tightly. He caught himself before falling, saving us both.

We stayed like that until his growling stomach had us pull apart and we both laughed. He threaded his fingers with mine as we went back up to where the picnic basket lay. He again helped me down and then sat beside the picnic basket, opening it.

I watched as he unloaded the basket, everything in covered containers so I couldn't see what it was. "Before you open anything, I want you to know that I made everything, my mother made sure I knew how to cook before I left, so I could take care of myself-and impress any women I invited to dinner." He smirked as I smiled at him.

I reached for one container and opened it, seeing potato salad. The next container was homemade pickles and onions. The third container was smoked chicken with vegetables. I reached for the last container and he stopped my hand. "Dessert," I nodded and he handed me a plate and a fork. He started serving me and I waited until he had his food before taking a bite.

"Wow, Jean this is amazing. You learned well."

"Thank you my lady. I am happy you are enjoying it." We ate in comfortable silence. "So, why do you want to be an alchemist?"

"Just, science comes so easy to me. And this is a chance to do more with it. I really don't want to be sent off to war, but I know that is a possibility."

"I love that."

"What?" I was really confused at his reaction.

"Your passion. Your eyes light up when you speak about science. It's beautiful." I blushed at his comment. "And you blushing makes you even more beautiful."

"Jean-" I stated softly. "Did you ever have interest in alchemy?" I asked him.

His soft chuckle had me curious. "Nah, I wasn't that smart. I am more of a hands on-firearms person."

I grabbed his hand and turned it palm up. "I was wondering what those callouses were from. What do you use?"

"Mostly a rifle or carbine, I am pretty accurate with a pistol too."

"I would love to watch you shoot sometime. I wouldn't mind a few lessons even." He grabbed my hand.

"I don't want your hands to ever have blood on them. I will teach you how to shoot, but you have to promise me you will only shoot in self defense. I have enough blood on my hands, I don't mind adding more to protect you."

"Jean, there is no need for you to kill for me. I don't want you to have any more blood on your hands." I was wondering why he was telling me all this. We were in silence until I softly asked him, "What did you do in Ishval?"

"I was task force mostly. Went on small missions that needed elite members. I usually was a scout or watch out. Good eyesight and even better with a gun." He was sad about it, but there was also pride in his voice.

"You can talk to me about anything Jean, I know you have more life experience than me, but I am here to listen to you. To help you."

"Thank you Paige." He hugged me tightly. "You ready for dessert?" He tried to lighten the mood.

"Depends on what you have in there?" I teased him, kissing his cheek.

"A little birdie told me you like cookies," he opened the container to chocolate chip cookies.

"You are amazing. Love cookies," he grabbed one and handed it to me.

"These are from my mom's special recipe, little bit of whiskey in there too." He winked at me. "Enjoy hun."

I grimaced at the use of the word. "You don't like that word?" I shook my head. "Well how about my little bird?" I laughed and shook my head again. "Hmm, I'll work on it." I smiled and took a bite of the cookie, smiling at the taste.

"These are delicious, if you leaned from your mother, I can't wait to see what her cookies taste like."

"You think you are going to meet her?" he pushed me down onto the blanket with a small squeal, straddling my waist.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not letting you go anytime soon." And I wrapped my arms around him to prove my point. I pulled him down to kiss his chapped lips again, their rough texture against my smooth ones. He smiled and pushed harder.

After he pulled away, he licked his lips and his glowing blue eyes looked into my dark green ones. "I wouldn't let go of this anytime soon." He touched his forehead to mine and pecked my lips.

He rolled over to lay on his back and pulled me next to him. He was playing with my auburn hair as he started talking about home. "My parents own a general store out east. My mother cooks, and they sell baked goods. She also is in charge of the farm while my dad runs the store. They have a few acres of gardens, chickens, cows, goats, occasionally a pig. I was working around the farm since I was four. The reason behind my amazing muscles." He flexed his arm under my head, which caused me to laugh. "I had a basic education, then joined the military. I knew I wasn't cut out for leadership, and I hated pushing papers, so I wanted to be in the field. They needed more fodder so they trained me up, found out I was good with guns-from hunting when I was younger. After two months I was put on a train out to Ishval. I met Roy, Maes and Riza out there, and was surprised I was assigned to Roy when it ended. But I am happy about it."

"I live with my parents, and I still have a year and a half of high school left, which I am completing at the military academy. After that, with the appropriate tutelage I want to take the State Alchemy Exam and hopefully join the military."

"What alchemy are you focusing on?"

"It will hopefully be a cross between biological alchemy and elemental. Making animals out of nature."

"That sounds really cool, how are you going to draw a transmutation circle in water," I playfully hit his chest and glared at him.

"I would get a glove or something," I responded keeping my hand on his chest.

"Like Roy has?"

"What do you mean?" I was curious.

"Well, he is the Flame Alchemist. His gloves are made of ignition cloth, and he has the transmutation circle for fire on them. He snaps, it creates a spark and he can control it."

"Hmm, I may have to talk to him about that." Jean stiffened under me. "What's wrong Jean?" I asked stroking his chest.

"If it is okay, I would like you to not be alone with him for a while. I don't want to be controlling, but he has tried-and succeeded- to steal my girlfriends in the past. I don't want to lose you." He tightened the hold he had on me.

I leaned up to look at him, looking in his eyes seeing fear there. "Jean, I am choosing to be with you, no one will take that from me. If anything goes badly, I will end it before moving on. But I wouldn't hurt you by shoving it in your face if I dated one of your friends. Besides, sounds like you didn't date very good women."

"That is very true, thank you Paige. Just so you know, any man that I see flirting with you will be threatened." He looked at me in full seriousness.

"Not going to control me, just scare the people you don't have control over." He smiled and nodded, which I hit him for.

I laid back beside him and just curled up with him, enjoying the weather and the company. "You have pets?"

"Yeah, I have a cat. Mafdet, he loves being a trouble maker. You?"

"I want a dog, but we can't have them in the dorms. Maybe when I move out I'll get one."

"Why are you still living in the dorms? Can't you move out?"

"Yeah, I can. I just don't have a reason to right now. I have my own place, cheap rent, fast to work and my friends are nearby."

"Then why do you have a car?"

"Well, I usually drive Roy around, so I keep the car usually-in case he needs to be picked up in the morning or middle of the night."

"Jean. You are using a military car for our dates."

"So? They don't care as long as I don't damage it. Or get it dirty. And if I do I'll blame it on Roy." We both laughed as we relaxed on the blanket, having it been a great day. We laid there occasionally talking but mostly just being comfortable with one another before Jean moved to get up.

"I think we should be getting you home, we've been gone for hours."

I sighed heavily but agreed, helping him put everything back in the basket. We walked up the path together and he let me in the car first, before driving back to the city. I realized then that since that first day at the cafe, I hadn't seen him with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Jean, do you smoke?"

He did a double take. "Why do you ask?"

"When we ran into each other that first day at the cafe, you had a cigarette in your mouth, but I haven't seen you with one or smelled one on you since."

"Well, that is because I heard you don't like the habit, so I am trying to not smoke around you."

"Jean, that is great. Thank you, but you don't have too."

"I should kick the habit anyways. Who knows, I don't want to be one of those pack-a-day people."

"I doubt you will ever get that stressed. Especially if I am around," I smirked as I grabbed his hand. He squeezed it and kissed my fingers, causing me to laugh. He slowed to a stop in front of my house and stopped. He opened the car door for em and led me to the front door. "Would you like to come inside for a bit?"

"If you don't think your parents will object..." he was hesitant.

"Jean, my parents already know you. You can come in for a glass of tea or something before heading home. Please?" I gave him a puppy-dog look and he smiled and consented. I opened the door and led him to the living room.

I went into the kitchen and grabbed a few glasses of tea before going to the study and grabbing my parents. As I went back into the living room, I saw Mafdet on Jean's lap, the two staring at each other. I smirked and went to sit next to Jean on the couch. As we talked I realized how happy I was in this setting. I was happy dating Jean. My parents liked him. As he left to go home, I went up to my room.

I know my parents would ask about what happened at dinner, which would be soon. I put all my alchemy stuff on the desk and went down to dinner. I told my parents what happened on the date, leaving out all the aggressive moves I made, and the personal details.

I went to sleep that night smiling, happy that I made that wish on the black sphere.