[This was one of the rare moments that she wished a meteor would fall from the sky, or something might spontaneously burst into flames, or a tree could fall down--something to create an immediate distraction.

So she steadies herself, and clears her throat to get Armstrong's attention. She could tell without more than a cursory glance that Edward would crack under the pressure of Armstrong's direct interrogation, but experience told her that she could hold out.]

I'm no fool, General. Just because I know it rationally...does not keep me from hoping.

[She could feel the shame burning in her cheeks. It was incredibly foolish for a subordinate to want so desperately for their superior officer to be here, especially for one as practiced as she, but that didn't change how wished that the flash of blue light she'd seen was Mustang.]

It probably did not help things when I appeared in the clearing and asked if Edward were the Colonel first.

[And that would be the first official lie of the evening, but she says it with such a straight face that not even Hayate reacts--Hayate, who can usually pick up on any hint of veiled anxiety in her voice. Even she had to admit that that was pretty convincing. Provided, of course, that Edward could play along.]