A/N: Fullmetal and company belong to Arakawa. I do have more of the Mustang Gang coming (and perhaps even - miracle of miracles - an action sequence,) but for now, a background-prologue-drabblish-thing, featuring lots of pink, even if the word is never mentioned. And oh dear gods, I suck with honorifics, but that's because I'm not certain there's an english equivalent that's not too formal or too disrespectful. Language transmutation, anyone?
Mere hours after the birth, the man had come barreling into the room, mowing down a hapless intern or two in his overjoyed wake. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Hawkeye! Of course, we were all certain that you and the baby would be healthy, but I had to come see for myself. After all, it's not every day that someone so close to the Fuhrer gives birth…"
Hugh's mother braced firmly against the muscular shoulder before her coworker could envelope both of them in a bone-crushing hug, and placed a finger beneath the curled blond mustache to keep him from speaking any further. "Watch what you say, Armstrong. I'm thankful for your concern, but we have to be very careful. The shadows have ears."
"Don't you mean the walls?" Major Alex Armstrong surveyed the maternity suite warily, offering Elysia and Gracia Hughes a friendly wave.
"My mistake," Riza Hawkeye agreed. "I'm sure it's the painkillers talking."
"But I don't remember them giving you any medicine, Aunt Riza," Elysia spoke up.
"It was after you left, dear," her mother replied with tired glibness.
"I suppose this means that you haven't gotten any photographs of the new baby yet?" Armstrong asked, trying to distract her.
Fortunately, the girl took after her father. "I got plenty, but they're not ready to develop yet. You want to see the ones I drew, though, Mr. Armstrong?"
"That would be wonderful. The Armstrongs have been patrons of fine artists for generations!"
Elysia wasted no time in pulling out the album once they had gotten settled outside the room. Fortunately, it featured a wide range of subjects, at least a few of whom Armstrong recognized. "…and here's one of Winry-san the last time she came to visit. She said that Mr. Garfiel's thinking about opening up a new shop in Central to handle all the new customers, and she's going to be in charge of it! Of course, that means that her Rush Valley patients are going to miss her a lot. She said they might not let her leave, but Mommy told me she was just joking. Mostly. Oh, and here's this one of Salem Bradley. It's kind of dark because he wasn't looking when I took it, but Ed-san thinks it's my best work yet."
"The subtle interplay of light and shadow… The subtle mood of the piece, the dizzying angle lending to an atmosphere of terror…" Armstrong gushed. "Yes, I can understand why Edward Elric would like this one."
The green-eyed girl blushed at the alchemist's complement. "But it makes Salem-senpai look like he's got about six arms. I don't know why Ed-san won't let me show him it."
"I'm sure he has his reasons," Armstrong said with a shrug.