Fetch

Chapter Two:

Ed yawned as Havoc pulled up in front of a house on a well lit street in a residential area not too far from Eastern Command. Lily was curled up in between he and Roy and surprisingly still awake. He would have thought she’d be asleep by now, but maybe the excitement was keeping her awake.

Roy thanked Havoc for the ride and ushered them out. Al carried Lily’s suit case with out a word and Roy fished his keys out of his pocket as Havoc drove off.

Ed got his first look at Roy’s house. It was nice, really nice from what he could see in the dark. It had two stories, was painted white and had a nice open yard. There was a swing upon the porch and a short fence around the yard made of wood.

Roy sighed, finally finding his keys and handed them to Edward. “Go on ahead; I need to get the mail.”

Ed nodded, taking the keys and opened the gate, holding it open for Lily and Al. The two followed him up the walk silently. When they reached to front door, Ed keyed the lock and opened it, feeling around for a light switch. “It’s a little higher,” Roy said, startling him. He hadn’t heard Roy come up.

“Oh,” He found it and flipped it on, blinking at the sudden brightness of the foyer light.

Quietly as if they were in some church, they filed in. He handed Roy the keys, which Roy dropped in a bowl beside the door and closed the door behind him.

“Daddy?”

Roy took his eyes from the mail in his hand. “Huh?”

“It’s a little cold.” She replied after a yawn.

Roy nodded. “I know, I’m cold too, why don’t you go into the living room and I’ll be in a minute. It’s to your left.”

“Okay, Edward, Alphonse?” She asked reaching for Ed’s hand.

Ed smiled and followed her. The living room was cozy looking, had leather furniture, a fireplace, side tables, and the walls were painted a dark blue. It really looked classy, elegant, and homey at the same time.

Lily smiled running for the sofa and climbed up sitting in the middle. Then she patted the seat next to her. Ed and Al followed and sat beside her. They were quiet and Ed could hear Roy walking into a different part of the main level, then up the stairs.

He wasn’t gone long, and when he returned he handed something to Lily. “Here you go,” Ed noted that Roy didn’t look at it, just Lily as she took it with a smile. Then Colonel Mustang headed for the fire place.

“This is my Mommy,” Lily said happily as she tugged upon his sleeve.

Ed smiled, letting his amber eyes fall to the photo in a sliver frame. Roy stood in uniform, a lower rank, major by the looks of it, beside a woman who had the smile of an angel. Her hair was as red as fire, her eyes as blue as the sky… She was gorgeous by anyone’s standards. The woman too was in uniform with the rank of Major and she wore gloves with a blue transmutation circles upon them, one Edward had never seen. And even more wondrous about the photo was that Roy looked happy, had a real smile upon his face.

“She’s beautiful Lily,”

Lily showed Al and Al agreed.

Roy stood from the fire place after he had it lit. “Where do you want it kept Lily?”

“Where did you have it Daddy?” She asked hugging the picture.

“Bedside table, in my room.” He replied busying himself with unbuttoning his uniform jacket.

Lily looked down at the photo. “Oh… Could we keep it in here now?”

“Sure,” Roy muttered. “Just put it where ever you want. Once that’s done you should get ready for bed.”

Lily slipped off the sofa and ran to her father pointing to the mantle. “Please?”

Roy lifted her carefully and she placed it on top; then hugged him. “Don’t be sad Daddy.” Ed heard her whisper ever so softly. “Mommy’s still here, you know where?” Roy shook his head and she pointed to his heart. “Right there and right here.” She pointed to her own chest. “So she’s still alive, we just can’t see her.” Roy smiled and set her upon her feet turning her toward the entryway.

“Upstairs at last door on the right is your room, go get ready for bed.”

“You’ll tuck me in?”

“Of course,” He replied. “Edward, Alphonse, your rooms are the first on the left.”

Ed rose, taking that as a hint that Roy needed to be alone for a moment. “Come on Al,”

“Coming,” Al replied and they followed Lily toward the hallways.

Ed picked up his suit case and Lily’s waiting for her to go up the stairs first. It was weird being here in the Mustang household, but maybe not so weird. Roy had extended the invitation for he and Al to come and stay with him once before when the dorms were full, though he said it was to keep them out of a hotel during a festival taking place here in East City. They’d not taken it though.

Edward didn’t even know how to feel about Roy anymore. The man was slightly different with Lily around, softer and wouldn’t you know it there hadn’t been one jab about his height at all. Then there was what he’d learned about the Colonel being married, losing his wife, wanting to perform human transmutation not only to bring her back but everyone that had died in the war. It was just… What had happened to him in the war? Was what happened his real reason to become Fuehrer and he was hiding it behind false reasons?

“Brother, is something wrong?” Al asked, bringing Edward from the inner workings of his own mind. Ed blinked a moment finding Lily gone and him standing at the top of the staircase, Al waiting patiently behind him.

Ed smiled, shaking his head. “Just thinking, so let’s see our rooms, huh?”

“You’re being awfully cheerful about this. I would have expected some grumbling about staying with the Colonel.” Al replied as they headed down the hall.

“He’s nicer with Lily around,” Ed muttered. “And I like her.”

“So do I,” Al replied happily. “She can beat you at poker and catch your cheating.”

Ed winced. “I don’t cheat,”

“Sure you don’t.”

Ed stopped at the first door and looked inside. It was… nice. There was a desk, a bed, a bedside table with a lamp, a dresser, and a book shelf. He nodded to Al who went to check out the next room and nodded. “It’s the same, it’s really nice brother. It looks like Colonel Mustang had this ready for awhile.”

“Yeah but why?” Ed breathed.

“Isn’t that obvious Edward?” Roy asked, startling him. He turned his head to find Roy standing in the hall, one hand in his pocket with a smirk.

Ed frowned. “Obvious?”

Roy shrugged and passed Ed, resting his hand upon his shoulder briefly. “I’ll see you boys in the morning.”

“Daddy!” Lily cried running to her door. “You promised you’d tuck me in, you can’t go to bed yet and what about Ed and Al, aren’t you going to tuck them in too?”

Roy chuckled. “Lily, if I tried to tuck Edward into bed he might smack me.”

Ed caught Lily’s frown then she shrugged and ran back into her room. Roy was right; if he did try to tuck him in he would smack him. It would be too weird and he was too old to be tucked in.

He sighed, scratching his head and entering the room he’d chosen. Quietly he set his suitcase down upon the dresser and opened it looking for his sleep shorts. Once they were dug out he changed his clothes and unbraided his hair. Surprisingly, Lily’s braid was perfect. It was a little strange to have a little girl playing with his hair upon the train and he’d gotten a few smiles from an old woman who’d sat watching them along the way. He ran his fingers through his hair; glad to have found only one tangle where as when he braided it he always had a few.

He smiled a little, hearing Roy’s voice down the hall; he must be reading to Lily. He remembered his mother reading to he and Al before bed. Recalling a memory of one the many books their mother had read he drifted to sleep.

Edward awoke to a small cool hand upon his shoulder. “Big brother, big brother; please!” A frantic whisper said.

Ed rolled toward the voice and blinked his eyes open. For a moment he didn’t know where he was or who… Lily? In the light filtering in from the hall way she looked like she was upset, her face streaked with tears. “Lily what’s wrong?” He asked sitting up.

“It’s Daddy, some thing is wrong with him. I can’t wake him up and he was crying out.”

Ed sighed rubbing his eyes. “Probably just a bad dream,” He mumbled sleepily.

Lily’s hand grabbed his and her little fingernails poked his flesh, biting him. “No, big brother it’s bad, please you have to wake him up. He won’t wake up for me!” She nearly shrieked.

“Something wrong?” Al asked poking his head in.

Ed nodded moving almost on autopilot just to get out of bed. Lily was upset, something about Roy and she wanted him to do something; that was about all he could comprehend. Suddenly there was a cry from within the house. That jolted Edward into the land of the fully awake and he was at the door, pushing Al aside. “Was that the Colonel?” Al asked.

“I was trying to tell you.” Lily cried. “Daddy’s having a bad dream only he won’t wake up!” She ran to Ed. “You have to do something.”

Ed heard Roy’s distressed mumbling and looked down at Lily. He really shouldn’t… But she was upset and hearing this was disturbing, even to him. “Okay,” He nodded and walked down the hall to the last room on the left.

When he entered he found Roy upon his side, hugging a pillow to his chest, his face contorted. “Sable…” Roy muttered. Ed felt a pang in his heart. That was sad, really sad. He must be dreaming about his wife or her death and even though he didn’t like Roy on a normal day it didn’t mean that he wanted to see the man like this. Then there was Lily to think about. She was just a little girl, so innocent; she should not have to see this on her first day home with her father.

Ed marched over to Roy’s bed and shook him none too gently. “COLONEL MUSTANG!” He shouted. Roy only turned over. Damn it, Ed thought. He leaned over and tugged Roy into a sitting position. It was difficult as the man was heavy. Then he pulled his hand back and smacked him. That did the trick alright. Roy was awake and shoving Ed away, glaring.

“What the hell are you doing!” Roy snapped. He couldn’t believe Edward had actually hit him, in his own house! There had better be a good reason for this.

Ed glared. “Trying to wake you the hell up before you scare Lily more than she already is!”

“What!” Roy snapped. “What’s wrong with Lily?”

“You wouldn’t wake up and you were screaming.” Lily said meekly from the door way. She stood holding Al’s hand. “I tried shaking you-“

Roy sighed rubbing his face. His dream, of course; damn it. Why did he have to dream that while she was here? “I’m sorry, honey,”

“You should be!” Lily snapped. “You scared me.”

Ed nodded. “Yeah it was disturbing; I’m going back to bed.”

“Sorry Ed, thanks,” Roy said quietly. He had to feel a bit of humiliation for a thirteen year old to have to come and wake him from a nightmare just so his daughter wouldn’t be scared. He must have sounded terrible, he knew he talked in his sleep, but he couldn’t help his dreams. He just hoped no one told Anise about this, she might try and take Lily away from him again and he didn’t think he could bear that. Having her ripped from him once had nearly killed him, for it to happen a second time… What would be the point in living really? All this time, he’d mostly lived for her, so that he could have her with him again.

Edward paused and turned around. He shrugged. “You’re welcome,” He patted Al’s armor. “Come on Al.”

“Yeah,” Al replied quietly.

“Daddy, want me to sleep with you,” Lily asked. “So the bad dream will go away?”

Roy winced slightly. It should be the other way around. “Promise not to tell your aunt?” He asked with a smile.

Lily sighed, running over to the bed. Roy leaned over and lifted her. “Aunt Anise doesn’t need to know anything.” She whispered. “I’m not letting her take me away again. I like her, but I want to live with you Daddy.” She hugged him, burying her face in his pajama shirt.

Roy held her head to his chest. “I won’t let her poppet,” He kissed her hair. Lily didn’t know it but he’d been trying to get Lily, his baby girl, for the last two years and he’d only gotten Anise to give her up with the threat of bringing the military in. Anise was nothing like her sister Sable. Anise was out for herself, blamed him for Sable’s death and keeping Lily away from him had been her way of sticking it to him, as if he didn’t feel guilty enough for not being able to save his wife!

And Anise didn’t want to give Lily up because she wanted to have control over her. It was the same way with Sable. Sable was her little sister and she always threw a fit when Sable didn’t do what she wanted. In some respects Roy hated his sister in law as much as he loved her for trying in her own way to push his mind into the path of a goal. She had been the one to set the gears in motion. It was something she’d said.

Lily pulled away. “Daddy?”

Roy smiled brushing her hair from her pretty face. “Hmm?”

“Were you dreaming about Mommy?”

Roy nodded. “Yeah,”

She sighed. “Do you think if I hadn’t been born, she might have lived, been somewhere else?”

Roy closed his eyes, hurt deeply by her words. “Lily… Don’t say things like that. We had our orders and I don’t think anything would have changed. There still would have been that man, in that same place, with the same hatred of the state.”

“But-“

Roy took hold of her shoulders. “Lily I don’t ever want to hear you say something like that again.” He said sternly. “It’s not fair to you or to me, you understand? Your mother would be heartbroken if she heard that from you. She loved you so much and so do I.”

Her black eyes began to water and she sniffled. “But if Mommy wasn’t gone you wouldn’t have bad dreams.”

“Yes I would.” He breathed, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I think you’ll find that every soldier and every person has bad dreams.”

“He’s right Lily,” Ed’s voice said from the door way. “Sorry, I was on my way to the bathroom but I don’t know where it is.”

“Down stairs across from the kitchen.” Roy replied.

Ed sighed. “Lily, don’t you have bad dreams?”

Lily nodded. “Yes, sometimes.”

“Well ya see, everyone has them, I do, your Dad does, you do. I bet even Lt. Hawkeye does too. You shouldn’t worry so much.” With that he was gone.

Lily sighed. “I guess,” She tugged upon Roy’s pajama shirt. “Daddy you should sleep again or you might be late to work tomorrow because you slept in.”

Roy smiled, lifting her and setting her down on the other side of him. She lay down, waiting for him. He lay down and covered them both with the blanket. Instantly she snuggled up to him and he was forced to move his arm so she could get closer. This was what he’d waited for, for so long, her to be with him, this close, with in reach and staying, knowing she’d be here in the morning.

“Daddy you promise Aunt Anise won’t take me away again?” She asked sleepily.

“Over my dead body,” he replied holding her tight. He felt her smile.

“And she can’t hurt you because Uncle Maes will stop her, he told me so.” She yawned. “On the phone not too… long… ago…”

Roy sighed closing his eyes. It was a good thing he had Maes, a good thing Maes understood. Little did Roy know, Ed and Al were out in the hall listening and looking at each other with silent questions.

Roy stood in the kitchen the next morning cooking pancakes. He didn’t even know if Ed liked them, Lily loved them and was standing upon a chair at his side being as helpful as she could. “So I’m going to try and get off early tonight.” He said softly.

“Okay, what’s that mean?”

Roy smiled, flipping the three pancakes in the pan. “That means poppet, I’m going to try and be home before five this evening.”

Lily smiled a smile that made her eyes dance. “Then what do you want for dinner?”

Roy perked an eyebrow. “I’m not going to tell you that.”

She frowned smoothing her long black hair from her face. “And why not?”

“Because I’m supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around.”

“Can’t we take care of each other?” She asked softly.

Roy shrugged. “I suppose,” Roy replied as the phone rang. He sighed, pointing to the skillet. “Watch this for me,”

“Is it going to walk away?” She asked as Edward came in yawning and scratching his head.

Roy smirked. “It might, Ed help her please,” Ed nodded sleepily and went to the stove.

“Morning big brother,” Lily said happily, softly as Roy stepped to the end of the counter and lifted his phone. “Mustang,”

“Good morning Roy, how is everything?” Anise’s voice said softly. It sounded as if she’d just awakened or was about to go to sleep.

“Fine, and with you?”

“I’m fine. A little concerned when Lily didn’t call to tell me she’d arrived. I checked the trains last night to see if the train arrived.”

“Anise-“ Roy began. Damn her, couldn’t she just leave them alone for a bit?

“Well I was worried, you didn’t call either.”

“I was busy with my daughter.” He emphasized the word ‘my’ to prove his point.

“So you couldn’t pick up the phone and tell me when if she arrived safely. I’m her aunt Roy, I’ve taken care of her all these years; I think I have a right to know.”

“Well now you do. She’s fine and I’m not incompetent.” He snapped.

“I never said you were.” She replied.

“No, not out right, look I have things to do this morning so if you don’t mind I’m hanging up now.” With that he hung up the phone and turned finding Lily and Edward’s eyes staring at him. He sighed.

“I’m sorry Daddy,” Lily breathed.

“For what?” He asked.

“I should have asked to call her last night so she wouldn’t bother you today.”

Roy smiled and walked over to her. “It’s okay Lily.”

“I don’t like it.” She muttered, hugging him. “She won’t let go.”

Roy kissed her head, refusing to meet Ed’s eyes. Perhaps it was unfair to have Edward and Alphonse here while he was fighting with his sister in law like this and Lily was settling in. The boys certainly didn’t need more stress in their lives. “She will,” He whispered, pulling away. He smiled. “Just give her some time.”

Lily nodded.

Soon Alphonse joined them and they sat down to breakfast. Roy finished first as he was running out of time and he found a spare key in a drawer. “Here, you and Al should have this in case you want to leave today. Just keep it with you from now on.”

Ed blinked at him a moment, then nodded taking it. “Thank you,”

Roy nodded, bending over to kiss Lily’s head. “I’ll be down in a little bit.”

“Okay,” Lily replied.

Edward sighed as Lily gave Roy a hug before he walked out the door. “So lily, what do you want to do today?” He asked as she turned around. “You want to look around East City?”

Lily shook her head and ran into the kitchen. He frowned looking at Al and they followed. They found her pulling plates off the table and taking them to the sink. Well he supposed he should help her with the dishes.

As they got the sink filled with water and put the dishes in Lily began to cry, she didn’t make any noise, but her sniffling was a tell tale sign. Ed frowned turning her around. “What’s wrong?”

“She won’t leave us alone,” She cried as he knelt.

“Ms. Miller?” Al asked softly.

When Lily nodded Ed sighed. Things didn’t look as simple as Ms. Miller had explained to them. Things seemed much more complicated, not as black and white as she’d made it seem; no, there were shades of gray. Just what the hell was going on here?

Ed brushed her hair from her eyes. “Lily, why won’t Ms. Miller leave you and Mustang alone?”

“You can’t tell my Dad, he’ll get mad.” She whimpered.

“Okay,” Ed said a little warily. “I won’t tell.” He noticed Al didn’t say he’d promise and he looked at him. “Al?”

“I won’t tell.”

“Before you came I heard my Aunt talking to a friend on the phone. I know I’m not supposed to eavesdrop but I was just passing her study and heard her say something bad.”

Ed frowned. “Okay,”

“She said that my stay with Daddy wouldn’t be long at all. That he would figure out that taking care of me by himself is a mistake and she will be waiting for him to mess up and I’ll be back with her again for good. She said not even the military will be able to intervene, no one will. But I don’t want to live with her Edward! I shouldn’t say it, but I don’t like her. She took me away and wouldn’t give me back. I used to hear her and Daddy fighting over me when he came to visit, when they thought I was asleep. I belong with him, not her!” She paused covering her mouth, her eyes wide then she glared.

“She doesn’t want me so she can take care of me; she wants me so she can control my Dad. And he doesn’t like to fight with her and every time he starts to get the upper hand she throws it in his face that he couldn’t save Mommy, what makes him think he can take care of me. She told her friend that he took Mommy away from her so she’s going to take me away from him. I don’t like it Ed.”

Some people in this world were just…down right evil. It wasn’t Ms. Miller’s place to throw something that pain full in Roy’s face no matter how much she hurt. It wasn’t her place to keep Roy and Lily apart, only giving them visiting rights once in awhile. Here were the shades of gray, the darker ones. How in the world was that woman going to pull off stealing Lily away again? That’s exactly what Ed wanted to know, because he wasn’t going to let it happen. Lily wanted to be with Roy and Roy wanted her to be with him. That was evident to him in the way Roy smiled when he looked at her, in the small conversation they’d had last night.

It just rubbed Edward the wrong way in a way he couldn’t explain. He didn’t know, maybe he was partial to Roy because Roy had done so much for he and his brother. And he knew somehow that Roy wouldn’t walk away like his father had, he’d not walked away on them.

The phone rang and Al moved to get it. “Hello this is the Mustang residence… Oh Lily it’s for you,”

Lily wiped her face and went to Al who handed her the phone. “Hello… I’m fine… Daddy made us breakfast. Ed and Al. No, he went to work, but he said he’d be home early today. Yes…” She sighed. “You should ask him first Aunt Anise. Because it’s his house and he always asks you before visiting. No, I really don’t… I don’t want to talk anymore, bye.” She held the phone up to Al. “You can hang it up now.” When he took it she ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Al hung up the phone and turned to Edward. “What do you think that was about brother?”

Ed stood with a frown. “I don’t know. Hey could you stay here with her for awhile. I’m going to do something, won’t take long.”

Al sighed. “Brother we shouldn’t get involved. As much as I want too, Colonel Mustang may not want us too.”

Ed sighed lifting his hands and shrugging. “Yeah, and since when has he ever stopped to consider if we wanted him meddling in our lives?” He smiled. “Let’s just say we were invited.”

Roy looked up as Edward entered his office. He frowned. “Did you bring Lily with you?” He couldn’t help but worry, sure he trusted the boys, but he didn’t want Lily home alone all the time; yet another reason why he wanted Ed and Al to stay with them. Lily wouldn’t be home all day once he enrolled her in school or found a privet tutor for her. He just didn’t know which she’d prefer. Anise had started her education herself and been a little vague on the details, something that irked him.

Ed shook his head and flopped down upon one of the sofas. “She’s at home with Al. Ms. Miller called again, thought you should know.” Ed replied nonchalantly.

Roy felt himself glare. “Really, and what did she want this time?”

Ed shrugged. “I don’t know, Lily talked to her and she didn’t seem too happy either.” Ed’s amber eyes met his. “You know if you’re going to assign Al and I to be her older brothers the least you could do is give us the heads up on what’s going on.”

Roy smirked. “I didn’t exactly assign you Edward and you’re asking personal questions.”

Ed nodded. “Yes, I am, and I’m doing it because I don’t want to see Lily cry anymore… She was crying this morning after you left.”

Roy’s smirk fell. “What happened?” He asked calmly, though it worried him that she was hurting or upset enough to cry.

“What’s going on between you and Ms. Miller and what happened to Lily’s mother? And more importantly why wasn’t Lily living with you all along?”

Roy tensed. He didn’t want to talk about that in the least, it was too painful. “I didn’t walk away Edward.” He said grimly.

“That’s what I was told.” Ed replied. “Come on Colonel, give me something.”

Roy smirked. “You’re being awfully nosey Fullmetal. Didn’t think you cared that much, after all I am a bastard.”

Ed perked an eyebrow. “If I have too I’ll call Major Hughes, he slips me information all the time, but I’d rather hear it from you.” He warned.

Roy sat back with a sigh. Maes really would tell Edward everything he wanted to know; he knew he would, especially when Lily was concerned. Maes’s help was both a blessing and an annoyance at times. But talking about what happened to Sable… “Edward…”

“I watched some I cared about die too, you know that.”

Roy looked away; he still felt so powerless even now, just like that day. “I failed... to protect Lily’s mother… We were just walking though a town, just passing through, our unit. We weren’t…” He trialed off so he could calm the anger he still felt at himself, the confusion. God he could see it even now playing out like a motion picture film, only that he could still hear, taste, and feel everything like it were yesterday. “We weren’t provoking anyone, trying to hurt anyone and they still opened fire. I couldn’t… I couldn’t stop her from using her alchemy; I couldn’t stop the blood that seemed to pour from her chest, or her pain. No one could and she just… because she’s used so much energy with her alchemy to save everyone else as if we couldn’t have handled it, she… drained herself and couldn’t even fight to hang on until…”

Edward’s shifting upon the sofa caught his attention. He wasn’t looking at him but at the floor with a sad look. Well that was different; the kid couldn’t be feeling sorry for him? “If you couldn’t stop it from happening, and she used her alchemy to protect everyone else…”

“Because she was my wife Edward; the mother of my baby girl back home. I was supposed to keep her safe. Keep her safe so she could go home and her daughter would grow up with a mother who loved her, could touch her and hear her voice. No, I didn’t kill her, but it’s still my fault that I couldn’t save her.”

Ed’s amber eyes met his and for a long time he couldn’t read Edward in the least and he usually could. “Then you were pretty upset when you came home. Anise said Maes found out that you were going to try human transmutation to bring her and everyone who died back.”

Roy nodded, the can of worms was already open, had been open since the day he’d sent Edward to obtain his little angel. He smiled amused somewhat. “Anise came to visit that day, the day Maes found me in my dorm with my notes and other things…Lily was in her crib sleeping until Anise came.” He frowned not sure how to say this because he even still didn’t understand how it turned out. “We fought over Lily, all of us. Lily was just an infant then, barely a year old, so she couldn’t fight for herself, or have a say.

“Somehow, Anise convinced me Lily would be better off with her until I could get my act together and take care of her right. I suppose she saw my dorm room and career unfit. It wasn’t that I wasn’t taking care of Lily, I was. She came first before my binge of studying, before anything else. She had too, she was so tiny and helpless and beautiful.”

Roy closed his eyes refusing to cry no matter how much it still hurt. “I thought the day I lost my wife was the worst day of my life, I was wrong. That day was, the day Anise walked out of my dorm with my daughter. She promised I could have her back when I was better, more stable. At the time I really thought Lily would be better off with Anise, but everyday with out her was worse. I felt like I had lost everything and it was the biggest mistake of my life.”

“You’re still paying for it…” Ed muttered.

“I am, every time I look at Lily I wonder what I have missed… She tells me almost everything, spoke to me on the phone every night, sent me letters, I’ve gone to see her and tried to get her back failing until now.”

“But if you tried to get her back… what stopped you?” Ed asked looked at him finally.

“Anise, that woman is brilliant. She’s countered every attack I’ve thrown at her and maybe that’s partly my fault, maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I could have had her when she two. Everything was better, I had an apartment, had…”

“How did you get her now?”

“I threatened to bring the military into it. It’s something that… I don’t like the idea of it, but previous threats did nothing. I have enough influence now, could pull the right strings and if I had to, I could go to the Fuehrer personally and ask a favor. The Fuehrer has a kid of his own and as difficult as it is to read the man, the people I’ve spoken with, General Hakuro for instance, all say he’d back me all the way. The plan was that if she didn’t give Lily up then she would have been arrested and imprisoned. Hakuro even had the warrant papers ready to give to Hughes.

“I’ve tried to do this peacefully for so long, I just wasn’t going to be denied my daughter anymore, not when she wanted so badly to be with me as much as I wanted her. If Lily wanted to stay with Anise I’d let her, I really would, but she said she doesn’t so I fought for her.”

Ed smiled. “That’s good; Lily said this morning she belongs with you… Does Hakuro still have that warrant?”

Roy frowned, puzzled why Edward would ask such a question unless he knew something that he didn’t. “Ed?”

“I promised Lily I wouldn’t tell, she doesn’t want you to get angry… I don’t want to break my promise but I don’t think I can just let it go.”

Roy began to fear what this promise was, what Lily might have told Edward. “Does it have something to do with Anise?”

Ed nodded. “Lily over heard her talking to someone about you. She’s waiting for you to figure out that you can’t handle Lily, for you to slip up and then she’ll take Lily away and there won’t be a thing you do about it. Lily also said that Anise is using her to control you. I don’t know how that works, but I guess keeping your daughter hostage…”

Roy closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. So Anise was… That bitch! Perhaps it was time to cut her off completely. He didn’t want to do that because she had a right to see Lily as her aunt, but he wasn’t going to let her take Lily from him again, ever. Lily had made her choice a long time ago and it was time that Anise accept it and let go.

He smirked, lifting his phone. Well he had an idea. If Anise was going to try something he wanted her right where he could watch her. If he had too he’d set her up, he wasn’t going to back down or roll over for her any longer.

Quickly he dialed her home number. After a few rings the Butler answered and went to fetch Anise. “Roy?” she asked pleasantly.

“Hi, sorry about this morning I was busy. So what did you want to talk about?”

“I was thinking maybe I could come for a visit?”

Roy smiled. “Sure, is it alright if you stay in the study?”

“The study, don’t you have two guest rooms?” She asked with annoyance.

“I do but they aren’t guest rooms anymore. The Elric’s are living with Lily and I now.” He met Edward’s eyes and was a little surprised to find the boy smiling. “It’s better than the dorms and at least this way I know they will have food, they’ll have a roof over their heads, someplace comfortable to stay while back from assignments. And Lily likes them very much.”

“Sounds… nice. Are you sure you want to take in two children and Lily?”

Roy smirked. “I did the day I mentioned that they visit me in Central Anise.”

“I see, well if it’s what you want to do then who am I to argue? I have something to do here before I can leave, but I’ll come in a week how does that sound?”

“Sounds great, I’ll see you then.”

“All right, bye,”

Roy hung up the phone with a sigh. “Well she’ll be here in a week. Should be interesting to see what she does or doesn’t do.”

“Think she’ll behave?” Ed asked.

“I don’t know,” Roy mused. “But she’s in my territory now and there’s enough people here to watch her if she tries anything.”

“Al and I will watch too then. If we’re staying with you, who better to watch her during the day while you’re here?”

Roy sighed touched. “That’s not necessary Edward. I didn’t invite you to live with us to work-“

“It’s not working; it’s keeping my new friend where she wants to be and belongs. You’d do it for us.”

Roy smiled, nodding. He would, he really would. “Speaking of friends have you spoken with Winry lately?”

Ed winced. “Uh, no…”

Roy lifted his pen to get back to work. “You should. Mrs. Rockbell says she’s been worried about you boys, and Winry’s been worried as well.” It was hard to write the Rockbells after what he’d done in Ishbal under orders, but he felt it his duty to see to it that they were safe and well and keep them apprised of what Ed and Al’s conditions were. They cared about the boys too.

Ed blinked. “You talked to Aunt Pinako?”

“Yes,” Roy replied. “They make your auto-mail Edward, you’re under my command and if something goes wrong with it I need to know they can come and repair it anytime.” He smiled. “And they are nice people who care about you.”

Ed smirked. “So it’s to keep me functional then?”

“Of course,” Roy replied with a smirk of his own.

“Nothing else?” Ed fished.

“Not at all,” Roy said holding Ed’s gaze for a moment. Then he dropped his eyes to his paperwork. “Now if you’re done poking your nose into my past, I have a lot of work to do so I can get home early today. I promised Lily this morning and if I break a promise to her the world will end.”

“Huh?”

Roy smiled, shaking his head. “Never mind, stick around long enough and you’ll find out.”

Ed looked up at the sky as it began to rain, and rather heavily. “Lovely”, he thought aloud as he rounded the corner onto the street on the way back to Mustang’s house. “Now I’ll be soaked before I even get there.” The weather was just as depressing as what he’d heard. Who knew Mustang carried such scars around. If one didn’t know him or been like Edward had been before today, they would never guess anything was troubling him. He definitely hid it well behind that arrogant, brownnosing, sarcastic, egotistical façade. Maybe Al was right, maybe they shouldn’t get involved, but they were talking about a little girl who did nothing wrong and just wanted to be with her father. And it was just wrong to keep them from being together; it wasn’t Anise’s right. So what if Roy hadn’t been able to take care of her in the beginning; no, he was pretty sure if Roy hadn’t been convinced he was a failure he could have done it just fine, made it work. Anise must have really pulled on over.

It was cruel to do that to someone, make them feel so worthless and helpless when they were already hitting rock bottom. Roy Mustang was many things, but worthless wasn’t one of them, just take into account how many people followed him so loyally. People believed in him, in his abilities, even he believed in him, to help, to be there when no one else was. Edward just didn’t ask for help because he wanted to prove that he could fix his own mistakes, didn’t want to burden anyone else with his sins. But there was something to be seen here. Sometimes it was okay to ask for help, some things you couldn’t do alone. He just needed to remember that.

When he arrived back at the house, and he noticed for the first time that it was warm, warm like his had been before… Lily practically attacked him before he could get in the door. “Ed!” Her arms latched around his waist tight like some little bear hugging a tree.

“Where’s the fire?” He asked patting her head.

“She was upset that you left brother.” Al replied as Ed closed the door.

“I wasn’t gone that long.” Ed said taking off his cloak.

“We missed you and you didn’t even say goodbye.” She pouted and Ed sighed trying to pry her lose; she only clung harder.

“Lily you’re going to get wet.” He reasoned. This was sweet, knowing he’d been missed, but it was annoying. He just wanted to change out his wet clothes but she wasn’t letting go.

“Lily maybe we should let brother change and finish our game.” Al suggested. “She’s beating me at chess.”

Ed looked down at Lily who had a little smirk. “Want to play after I beat him?”

“Uh, how do you know how to play?” She finally let go, thank god, and ran to Al taking his hand.

“Daddy taught me, I still can’t beat him yet and he said Lt. Breda’s only beaten him once.”

“Roy plays chess?”

Lily nodded. “Yep, he said Grandpa taught him when he was little, then he was on the military academy chess team. He also said the only person he couldn’t beat was Mommy, said she kicked his ass every time and they used to play for hours. If you want I’m sure he’d be happy to teach you too. Just ask; that’s what I did.”

Ed shrugged. “I guess, well I’m going to go change.”

Roy took off his coat when he got home wondering how Lily was doing. She hated thunderstorms, the thunder scared her, always had. She never really did like loud noises and the rain shower this morning had turned ugly. He couldn’t hear any noise in the house and while that was common when to him, it was eerie since he knew there was a seven, hot headed thirteen year old, and a seven foot suit of armor that was twelve in the house.

He checked the kitchen, first hoping that Lily had listened and hadn’t commandeered Edward and Alphonse into helping her make dinner. No, no one was in the kitchen. Next he checked the living room. Not a sign of them there either.

He frowned heading for his study. Edward and Alphonse might have wandered in there to look at the books. They were there, or rather there was blanket draped over the sofa and the two arm chairs which had been moved to the center of the room. Al was sitting upon the floor next to the makeshift tent reading and Edward’s bare feet stuck out from under the blanket. Al’s helm came up. “Hello Colonel,”

Roy slipped his hands in his pockets, arching an eyebrow. “Well I see Ed’s here but where’s Lily?”

“She’s under there too. She got scared from the thunder so we made a hiding place. I think she fell asleep because I haven’t heard her talk for awhile, or Ed. We tried to explain it to her, but she said that’s what you said. It made sense but she didn’t like the noise.”

Roy snorted and made his way over to the tent, lifting up a side. Sure enough Lily was curled up on the floor next to Edward sleeping, hugging her stuffed animal raccoon. Ed was asleep as well and looked at peace. That was nice, the first time he’d ever seen Edward look so relaxed and at ease.

“Well I guess there’s no point in waking them up for awhile.” He said softly and dropped the blanket. “Thank you for watching her today.”

“It’s no bother, thank you for letting us stay here.”

Roy smiled. “No problem, I’m going to make dinner if you want to come in. I just have to change first.”

“Sure,”

Once Roy was changed in to a pair of black slacks and light blue dress shirt, he met Alphonse in the kitchen and looked at what he had. “What do you think Ed would want for dinner?“ he asked.

Al chuckled. “Ed will eat almost anything.”

Smirking, Roy muttered, “Well that’s helpful.” He decided on hamburger casserole and green beans. That would be easy to make and he could put it in the oven to bake, leaving room for distractions.

As he pulled out a package of hamburger Al spoke up. “Colonel, I was wondering… Have you heard anything about our dad?”

Roy sighed, setting the hamburger upon the counter, and bent down to pull a skillet from a cupboard. “No Al, I’m sorry, I haven’t. The truth is I haven’t been looking as hard as I should have in the last year.”

“That’s okay, I was just curious. Thank you for looking in the first place.”

Roy turned to Al. “Aside from him leaving, why does Edward hate him so much? Was there something said?” In truth Roy couldn’t imagine anyone just walking out on their children, turning their back upon them.

“I don’t think so. Mom told us he left to do some research but he never came back or wrote any letters. Brother’s angry because Mom used to stare out the window waiting for him. While she was sick she’d call for him and he didn’t come to her funeral. He’s mad because he thinks Dad abandoned us. Maybe he, did but I don’t like to think that way.”

“And he hasn’t gone back to Resembool since you left?”

Al shook his head. “Not that we know of. Aunt Pinako would make him call us or let me know.”

“I’ll look harder Al,”

“Don’t tell Edward, he gets testy about him.”

Roy nodded. “I’ve noticed.” He turned and unwrapped the hamburger, dumping it into the pan. Then he reached up to turn on the stove and grabbed a spatula, taking notice that the morning dishes had been done. He went to the pantry and pulled out several cans of cream of celery then hesitated. Lily hated celery, refused to eat it in the least claiming that it tasted like grass. How she knew that he didn’t even want to know. But knowing her she’d probably gone out to compare the two one day.

He frowned. “Does Ed like mushrooms?”

“Yes,” Al replied and Roy traded the can of cream of celery for cream of mushroom soup. Then he pulled out two cans of green beans and found his can opener.

“Lily really likes raccoons.” Al said suddenly.

Roy smiled. “Yes she does, and other small animals. If it’s cute, small, and furry she loves it. She’s never been one for big animals. I took her once to the Zoo in Central, Anise came of course.” He paused remembering the trip. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant one. “Anyway the elephants scared her, but then again they were loud at the time.” He frowned getting the first can open. “She doesn’t really like birds, but she loves bats.”

“She doesn’t like people too much either.” Al said softly. “Ed and I asked her if she wanted us to take her to the park later. She said no, there were people there.”

Roy smirked. “That’s Anise’s fault entirely. Lily does like people, the people I bring around her. The people Anise invites to her home or takes her around are rather snooty and feel that children should be seen and not heard. Uh,” He ran his hand through his hair. “When she wants to talk or has something to say she’d like to say it but with Anise she can’t really have that freedom.”

“So her aunt treats her kind of like a toy doll?”

Roy sighed. “Somewhat, I suppose she does, more like a tool more that naught. I’ve never liked it or approved of it, but I couldn’t really do much about it until now. I suppose I’m lucky to have friends that are curious and interested in her and don’t ignore her.”

“Like Lt. Hawkeye?” Al asked.

“Yes, like Riza and Havoc and Maes. All three of them have been great.” Roy replied softly.

“Daddy?”

Roy smiled as he turned from the stove. “Have a nice nap?”

She huffed. “You didn’t wake me up when you got home, why not?”

“Because I thought I’d let you sleep.” He replied. Suddenly Lily smirked.

“Ed looks cute when he sleeps, he snores too. I don’t think he knows that. I think I might tell him.”

Roy sighed, shaking his head. “Lily, Anise is coming for a visit next week.”

Lily’s smirk faded and her black eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Because she wants too,”

“Can she sleep outside?”

Roy blinked a moment never expecting that to come from his little girl’s mouth. She had always been such a sweet little girl. Then he smirked. “As much as I’d like to see that, no. We’re going to be polite. She is your aunt after all.”

“Only because she was Mommy’s sister, that’s the only-“

“Lily why don’t you set the table.” Roy interrupted quickly. What in the world had Anise said to her today? Lily was usually more tolerant of her aunt. He knew she didn’t really like Anise but; this… Good grief!

She smiled and pulled a chair from the table to the counter and climbed up beside him. Roy reached over to pull a strand of hair from her mouth then opened the cupboard for her. “What did you do today?” He asked after a moment of just watching her as she carefully pulled three plates down. She handled them like they were fragile delicate crystal.

“I talked to Aunt Anise, played chess with Alphonse, beat him.” She flashed him a little grin. “And hid from the thunder with Ed while Al stood guard. I fell asleep but you already knew that. Daddy, Ed doesn’t know how to play chess yet. He watched Al and I play for awhile…” She sighed, climbing down from the chair. “What did you do?”

Roy smirked. “Paperwork,”

“Oh,” Suddenly she screamed and Roy turned abruptly to discover why. Ed had caught her up in his arms from behind.

“Got ya,” Ed snickered.

“Not fair!” Lily cried. “Put me down,”

“And if I don’t?”

Roy sighed softly in relief and shook his head fondly. He was sure now that this wasn’t a mistake. Ed and Al played with her, paid attention, liked her, and it looked like they were treating her like a little sister, their little sister so what did that make him in their minds? Father or care taker, superior officer or friend?

Suddenly Lily smirked. “Edward, did you know that you snore when you sleep?”

Ed set her upon her feet, folding his arms over his chest. “I do not.”

“Oh yes you do. You’re face scrunches up too. It’s kind of funny.” She taunted and tried to mimic his face.

Ed’s eyes narrowed. “What were you watching me sleep?”

Lily shrugged. “I really don’t have to answer that. Now if you don’t mind I have a table to set.” With that she pulled the plates from the counter and walked over to the table with her little nose in the air. Roy hid a smile and focused upon dinner.

When dinner was over and the dishes finished Roy took Lily into his study with him to spend some time with her alone. Ed and Al were left to their own devices and didn’t seem to mind.

Roy sat at his desk looking over some notes for schools and privet tutors while Lily sat quietly as ever coloring beside him. Sometimes he’d just stop reading and sit and watch her curiously, not what she was drawing and coloring, but her. Seven long years, he’d waited for this, for her to be right beside him with in reach. It felt wonderful to finally have her back and she was still so tiny, so beautiful but a little less helpless. She could almost stand on her own now with her own opinions and feelings that she could voice.

It never ceased to amaze him how much she looked like him; yeah he was a good looking person but Lily… His little ball of energy was stunningly bright and lovely. It was like the best of him and Sable had been created within her and she was like her mother in many respects. Lily was…she was their creation, something made from love and never to be forgotten or let go of. She was precious and now she was home.

“Why do you keep staring at me Daddy?” she asked suddenly, her obsidian slanted eyes lifting from her paper.

Roy smiled, setting his papers aside and brushed her onyx bangs from her face with his fingers. “Because I love you,”

Lily smiled and it was as if nothing could ever go wrong again. “May I sit with you?”

Roy nodded, sitting back in his chair and she climbed over, hugging him. “I love you too Daddy. So does Mommy.”

“I know,” He replied.

“So you won’t be sad anymore right?”

“I don’t know about that.” He breathed stroking her hair. They needed to change the subject for the moment. “So do you want to go to school or have a tutor come here?”

“Can’t I go to work with you?”

Roy shook his head. “Not everyday, no. I’ll take you up again soon if you’d like.”

Lily nodded. “It will be lonely with out Edward and Alphonse here during the day.”

“Did you ever get lonely when you lived with Anise?”

Lily nodded again. “Yeah,” she looked away. “She used to leave me alone for days on end only seeing me at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and then she wouldn’t even talk to me. Her house servants were always so busy with their work and I didn’t want to bother them. The cook was nice; she let me sit in the kitchen a lot. I played outside mostly in the back yard.” She slipped from his lap taking his hand. “Come with me. I’ll show you what I did to annoy the gardener.”

Curious and more than a little annoyed, Roy rose from his chair and followed her outside their house. It was muddy and still raining and he made sure to grab an umbrella.

Lily looked around and found a twig then knelt down and began to draw in a small patch of mud. Then she placed her tiny hands upon the ground and small flowers grew from the ground. Roy couldn’t help the proud smile that crossed his face. He knew she liked alchemy, read books on it but he’d never seen her transmute anything. She wrote that she’d transmuted a toy clay bear once but he never saw it or heard about her transmuting after that.

He knelt beside her. “That’s very good Lily.”

“It’s not much but it made Mr. Sanders so mad when he’d go to trim the hedges and find new patches like this everyday and he’d pull them up. We were at war. Aunt Anise didn’t like it very much and told me I shouldn’t do things to aggravate people, but sometimes I just got so bored and she only let me read in the library for an hour a day. Is it bad?”

Roy shook his head sadly, picking a flower. “No Poppet, it’s not wrong to feel bored. I get bored at work more often than I’d like.” The more he heard, the less he liked. How was it better to take her away and lock her away when she needed sunshine? Lily was like a flower, she needed sunlight, needed to be with people who actually cared about her enough to spend time with her not shut her away. Damn it! There was no way he’d ever let her go back to that, it wasn’t living it was walking in a sea of numbness. He’d been there enough times to see it and her aggravating people was her way of getting a little attention.

He smiled. “And it’s not wrong to feel lonely either, but you won’t have to worry about that anymore.”

“But you work and I want to be with you.” She said, her black eyes almost wet with tears. Suddenly she was against him, her face buried in his shirt.

Roy had never felt so guilty for not being with her. There had to be something… “You know what Lily. I’ll make you a promise. I’ll come home for lunch everyday or send someone to pick you up. And I’ll find a nice tutor to come during the day. When I get home from work I’m all yours, how does that sound?”

Lily nodded. “But what about Riza, can’t she have you too?”

Roy snorted. “I’ll invite her over.”

“When are you going to ask her out on a date Daddy? She’s so pretty and nice.”

Roy blinked then sighed. “I don’t know if she’ll go poppet. I am her commanding officer and the military frowns upon that.”

“So change their minds.”

Again he wished people thought like his daughter. She seemed to think he could move mountains and make things happen when ever he wanted. “Let’s go inside and see what Edward and Alphones are doing hmm?”