A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update; I got stuck with this chapter and had to finish one of my other fics. Please enjoy the chapter!

Also, I'm mixing elements of both the manga and anime in this story. You'll see what I mean.

Strand two- Family

This time, he was shocked awake. The darkness scattered as he sat rigidly up in his bed, his eyes automatically cringing away from the early morning sunlight. He blinked rapidly. This time, he was back in his apartment. All seemed well, perfect, completely in order. The books on his selves were still stacked haphazardly, his uniform jacket still hung over the chair and even the remnants of the bottle of whisky still sat on his bedside table. But this time, he was not clinging on to hope. This was a little too perfect, unnaturally so. Even more disconcerting was the fact there was no hangover in sight. Without warning, scattered images of his previous day (if he could call it that) flew to mind. Riza's gaunt and haunted appearance, Edwards defeated glance. As a flash of remembrance echoed through his mind he jumped from the bed, snatching his military trousers. To his relief, his hands felt the familiar sensation of the ignition cloth between his fingers. He smirked to himself as he pulled a glove over his hand and snapped his fingers. The familiar flicker of orange flame was brought to life before his eyes. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was strange, but having had his alchemy taken away from him, even for a short time, it really made him realise how much he took it for granted. It was then that he noticed the clock on his bedside table. His elation dimmed slightly. He was going to be late.

"Morning Chief." Havoc greeted as soon as Roy entered the office. A spike of fear coursed through Roy's veins. This was far too familiar to the previous day's events for his liking.

"Sir, I have the profiles that you asked me for..." Hawkeye was completely cut off as, to her shock; Roy crossed the room and threw his arms around her.

"S..S..Sir!" Riza managed to splutter as her face turned a violent shade of crimson at her superior's actions. Her embarrassment only increased as she witnessed Havoc give her a thumbs up sign over Roy's shoulder. Roy pulled back and peered closely at the woman in his arms. He almost breathed out a sigh of relief. She was his Lieutenant once more. There was not even a hint of the frail and defeated young woman that he had witnessed previously. A sound of someone coughing caught his attention. Havoc was sitting back at his desk, a smug smile playing across his lips.

"Do you want me to leave the room?" he asked.

"Work Second Lieutenant." Hawkeye stated briskly, wrenching herself from her commanding officer's grasp. Havoc grinned but returned to his paperwork. Roy stared at his hands for a moment. It was odd but he felt slightly empty now that she had moved away from his grasp. Before he could dwell any further upon the subject, the rest of his subordinates chose that moment to walk into the room. After the usual morning pleasantries, each of them took their seats and started on their own work.

"Sir, I have the profiles of the potential state alchemists." Hawkeye stated, walking up and placing them on his desk. What? Roy thought in confusion as he stared at the mountain of folders before him.

"The Fuhrer's still trying to recruit more alchemists?" He stated out loud. Riza raised an eyebrow at him.

"Of course, Sir. The amount of applicants that are reaching the standards needing to qualify is falling sharply. After the disaster last year the Fuhrer has decided to resume searching for potential alchemists." Hawkeye stated in a voice that told Roy that he ought to know all this.

"Yeah, but what I don't get is why we have to run around finding them." Havoc moaned. Roy continued to stare at the folders. Why were they still searching for State Alchemist? They had stopped doing that years ago? He looked up at Hawkeye and asked

"I thought we stopped searching for them after Edward became an alchemist?" Riza frowned.

"Edward?"

"The Fullmetal alchemist." Riza raised an eyebrow.

"I don't believe there is anyone under that name in the state ranks, Sir." She stated slowly, as if she was speaking to a small child. Roy's mouth fell open at the statement. Riza took this opportunity to walk back over to her desk and sort out her files. Havoc turned to Roy.

"The Fullmetal alchemist?" he questioned. Roy nodded vigorously, hoping against hope that something would be triggered in Havoc's memory.

"Yes, Edward Elric." However all he gained was blank stare. Roy sighed before continuing.

"Blonde, small, teenage boy. Spends all his time with his brother Alphonse?" Havoc still looked blank. Roy tried desperately once more.

"Has an automail arm and leg? His mechanic trails around after him, Winry Rockbell..." He was cut of suddenly as there was a smash from the other side of the room. Roy's eyes widened. Riza had dropped her coffee mug, the china smashing on impact, hot liquid seeping on to the floor. She was leaning heavily on the desk, almost as if she was unable to stand. There was silence in the room.

"Excuse me." Riza stated her voice shaking as she spoke. Without another word, Hawkeye swiftly left the room. Havoc shrugged as Roy continued to stare at his Lieutenant's desk.

"Rockbell..." Havoc muttered absently before turning to Falman, "Where do I know that name?" Falman hesitated, glancing at Roy, who winced. A sudden urge to leave the room sprung to mind. He muttered something about getting a cloth before marching out of the room. Almost a soon as he entered the corridor, a familiar laugh sent every hair on his body standing on end. He spun around to see the shadowy figure standing before him.

"Well, at least this time she isn't dying. But you've only been here for half an hour and you've already managed to upset her." Roy frowned.

"Why the hell are you doing this? Why are you playing with people's lives?" he hissed. The figure turned its dark locks towards him, its face still obscured from view.

"I'm not playing with people's lives boy. I'm playing with yours. And I must admit, this is far more entertaining than I thought it would be. Who would have thought that so many lives would be weaved in with yours? As I keep telling you, you sever one string, and who knows what you will create?" Roy was tired of hearing those words.

"Then what did you do this time? Why do they not remember Ed and Al?" he cried. The creature laughed manically. It was an ear splitting sound, harsh and unearthly. Roy couldn't help but take a step back from the spectre.

"And why would I tell you that eh? Don't worry though, you will soon see in time. This one is rather interesting." A sudden voice behind him caused Roy to turn around. Two soldiers were walking around the corner, laughing jovially. At the sight of a superior, the two ceased their discussion to salute, but Roy waved the gesture off, turning back to where the creature had been. Just as before, there was nothing there. He sighed heavily. As with before, he guessed he was just going to have to live this twisted reality though until he discovered what had been changed. As he walked back into his office he was shocked to discover that there was no one there. Odd, they were all working a moment ago he thought to himself. Curiously, the coffee mug and stain that he had expecting to still be there had already been cleaned away. There wasn't any evidence that there had even been anything to clean up. This was making very little sense. That was when the clock on the wall caught his attention. It was lunch time! At least that explained why the office was so empty. But it didn't make sense. He had literally only been out of the room for a few seconds, not hours. Roy sighed, shaking his head slightly, making his way towards his office. While the whole idea made very little sense, what part of this nightmare did? Why shouldn't time pass in a strange manner? He was brought out of his musings by the sound of voices from his office. He frowned, drawing closer and was able to make out some of the speech.

"... Hasn't spoken their names in years. I didn't even think he was capable of doing it." Roy frowned as he recognised Hawkeye's voice. What was she talking about?

"What exactly happened? I mean I knew the names, and Falman reminded me of the trial." Havoc's voice was cut off as Hawkeye interrupted

"Everyone remembers the trial. That's not what was so difficult."

"Then what was." There was silence for a moment as Hawkeye hesitated.

"It is not my place to speak of it." She murmured, so softly that Roy barely heard it. Havoc sighed.

"I'm not asking you to betray him Riza. Just tell me what you know. We've known each other for far too long to keep things that bother you hidden." Riza sighed heavily.

"It was during the war. The Rockbell's were doctors from Amestris, as you know. Only they weren't particular about their patients. They treated anyone who needed help, even the Ishbalans. Obviously the military didn't approve." Riza took in a deep breath before continuing with her story.

"At first the military decided just to order someone to dispose of them. It would be simple to cover up. They even relayed the order to the soldier in question. However, they changed their minds at the last moment." Roy's mind went blank as soon as those words were spoken. Could this be true? He never murdered those poor girls' parents. He almost laughed in relief before remembering where he was.

"So what did they do instead?" Havoc asked. Roy turned his attention back to his subordinates. While he didn't feel the same need to listen as he had done before hand, he was interested to see what had got Riza so flustered before.

"They waited until the end of the war, and then they arrested them on charges of treason. They claimed that they were giving unnecessary help to the Ishbalan warriors, more help than they had to the Amestresian soldiers. In the aftermath of the war people were hardly looking kindly on those who helped Ishbalans. They were sentenced to death. But that wasn't good enough for some people. The case that they had fabricated against the Rockbell doctors was so damming that a mob attacked their previous home in a small town called Risenbool. Their little girl Winry and her Grandmother Pinako were killed." Riza had continued speaking, but Roy had already moved away. His mind echoed with the words that she had just spoken. In a daze he sat down at the first desk he could find. He dropped his head on to the cool wood beneath him, still reeling from the news.

"I thought you would be happy." Roy raised his head slowly to see the creature had reappeared. It smiled, jagged white teeth gleaming against dark gums. Roy shuddered.

"How could I be happy with any of this?" He spat bitterly.

"You always wished that you could take back their deaths. And here you go. Guilt free. You've done nothing wrong." Roy dropped his head into his hands.

"But their dead... all of them! The entire family."

"Yes." Came the voice of his nightmares, almost gleeful, "If you kill the parents, the old woman and the young girl live. If you let the parents live, then they all die. Not to mention those poor boys you seem intent on saving." Roy's head sprang up at this statement.

"What are you talking about?" The creature hissed

"Think boy." It stated in a stern yet for some reason familiar way, "What would have become of that child once he ripped off his limbs in an attempt to defy God? Who did he run to? Who saved him?" Roy's heart sunk as he realised the truth. His head feel into his hands in despair as once again so many lives lay upon his head. A strange scrapping sensation started upon his scalp. He shuddered, realising the creature was knotting its sharp, bony finger in his hair. With a violent yank he found himself facing the creature once more, his teeth clamped shut to prevent him from screaming in pain.

"Your guilt is consuming. So much of your fate is sewn into it. Now is the perfect time to cut this string." Roy screamed in agony as he felt his head being wrenched even higher, sure that his scalp must be bleeding. As familiar dark spots clouded his vision, the creature whispered.

"Let's see how you deal with this one boy."

A/N: What do you think? Please review and let me know!

Hopefully I won't take as long to update this time. I pretty much know what I'm doing with the next one.