Meeting the Elrics

"I don't believe this," Ed complained as he and Al walking through the city. They had just arrived and were making their way to their hotel.

"Yeah. I wonder why the Colonel called us back," Al replied.

"Well, he better have a good reason. We're not his puppies. We don't have to come when he calls," Ed had his eyes closed as he continued his rant on Mustang that he didn't see the girl in front of him until he bumped into her. "Hey! Watch it! Huh?"

"Sorry," The dark blue haired girl said.

"Brother, you were the one walking with your eyes closed," Al pointed out.

"Shut up!" Ed snapped. "It's not my fault! That stupid Colonel Mustang just loves to yank our chains!"

"Huh? What's wrong with him?" The girl asked curiously.

"Nothing," Al said but Ed butted in.

"He's arrogant! He's so full of himself. 'Oh look at me! I'm the famous Flame Alchemist! I so hot I can't stand it!'," Ed mocked and the girl giggled. "Wait a second. You're just a kid. Why are you wearing a military uniform? With the rank of…Lieutenant Colonel?! What the heck?! Ha! Hahahaha! You're just a kid! There's no way you have a rank at all!"

"Well, I'm…,"

"What are you doing?!" A blur appeared out of no where and a hand clamped over Ed's mouth. "Are you crazy?!"

"Kouri? Kouri, where are you?" Major Armstrong rounded a corner with two ice cream cones in his hands. "Oh! There you are."

"Alex!" The girl giggle and ran over to him.

"I suppose I should give you a lecture about wondering off," Armstrong said as he handed the girl an cone. "But I just can't."

"Ah, you're such a softy!"

"Just don't tell your dad, alright?"

"I won't…if you let me ride on your shoulder," The girl cooed and he immediately bend down slightly and allowed her to step into his free hand. He raised her up until she sat perfectly perched on his broad shoulder. She patted his head and he chuckled. "That's a good boy."

"Major Armstrong?" Al questioned.

"Oh, hello, Elric brothers," Armstrong waved with his sparkles shimmering by his head. "Sorry I can't speak with you now. I have to get Kouri back."

"Ok," Al and Ed waved confused. The girl began to eat her ice cream as her eyes shined and remained on the boys. Al noted there was something familiar about the girl, but he just couldn't place what it was.

Ed then turned to the guy who clamped a hand over his mouth. It was Lieutenant Mark, a familiar face around Central, but not under Mustang. "Alright, what was the big idea putting your hand over my mouth?"

"Are you crazy?! You should no better than to mouth that girl!"

"Why?" Al asked.

"Are you saying you don't know?!" Mark asked.

"Know what? You're not making any sense," Ed said.

"How long have you known Colonel Mustang?" Mark asked.

"I don't know. Why?" Ed asked.

"That's his daughter," Mark whispered in almost a scared tone.

Ed busted up laughing. "Mustang as a daddy?! Can you picture it?!"

"I'm not joking," Mark frowned.

"If he had a daughter we would have know about it by now," Ed continued laughing as he walked off.

"Uh, brother?" Al asked as he followed.

"Actually, considering Colonel Mustang tries to keep his daughter away from guys it's not surprising they haven't meet her yet. The Colonel probably kept her out of sight on purpose," Mark shivered. "Oh boy. That kid's really going to get it if she tells her dad what he said."

The Next Day…

Ed continued grumbling as he and Al made their way to Mustang's office. "Um, brother?"

"Yeah? What?" Ed asked.

"Did you notice something familiar about that girl yesterday?"

"No. Why?"

"I'm not sure. There's just something about her that's bugging me."

"I'm sure it's nothing," Ed said as they stopped at the Colonel's door. He look at his brother then barged into the office. "Alright, Mustang. We're here. What do you want?"

The two brothers walked over to Mustang's desk. Mustang's chair was turned so the back was facing them. "Well? Are you gonna tell us why you dragged us all the way back here? Hello! Are you listening to me, Mustang?!"

"I'm listening."

"Huh?" The boys blinked in confusion when a girl spoke. The chair then turned around revealing Kouri. She had Hayate sitting in her lap and she was stroking his fur.

"Hi!" Kouri waved and giggled.

"W-What the…?" Ed asked. The door opened and Falman walked in.

"Vato, take these to Riza," Kouri ordered as she help up a handful of papers. "She just down the hall. And please tell daddy that the Elric brothers are here."

"Yes ma'am," Falman nod as he took the papers from her. The brothers continued to watch as the rest of Mustang's subordinates entered the room, received and order from Kouri and followed it as if she really was a Lieutenant Colonel.

"W-What's going on here?" Ed asked. "Is she really a Lieutenant Colonel?"

"I…I don't know," Al replied.

"You better believe she is," Havoc said as he appeared beside the brothers.

"Jean!" Kouri waved at Jean then turned her attention back to Kain.

"How is it possible? She's only a kid. No way she can be a solider," Ed pointed accusingly at the girl in Mustang's chair.

"Well, officially, she's not. But because of her relation, everyone here treats her with the respect of a Lieutenant Colonel," Havoc said.

"Relation? To who?" Ed asked with a bit of fear in his voice as Al just coward a bit guessing at what was going to happen next.

"That's right boys," Mustang said coldly as he and Hawkeye appeared in the room.

"Daddy!" Kouri exclaimed happily. Mustang walked over to her. He picked her up, causing Hayate to jump off her lap and find a spot on the floor, out of his chair then sat down with her on his lap.

"How's my baby doing?" Mustang cooed.

"A-A-A," Ed stood there in disbelief and fear. "H-How is it possible?"

"Colonel Mustang has a daughter?" Al asked.

"Did you two," Ed looked at Hawkeye.

"Don't be stupid!" Hawkeye screamed. "Of course not! Anyone with eyes can tell she's adopted."

"That's it!" Al suddenly shouted. He looked at Mustang and Kouri. "It's your bans! They're cut just like Colonel Mustang's!"

"Hey, that's right. They are," Ed said as he eye balled the girl's bans. "But how is that possible? Colonel Mustang, is she really your daughter?"

"Yes. She is," Mustang replied seriously. Ed froze when Mustang's cold eyes focus on him. "And she told me what you said to her yesterday, Fullmetal."

"Oh…That…I wasn't…I didn't," Ed stumbled then laugh nervously.

"I can't believe you did that," Havoc chuckled.

"Oh, daddy. Stop scaring the boy. That's suppose to be my job, right?" Kouri smile innocently at the Elric boys. Both of them shuddered. She obviously picked up some of Mustang's intimidating tricks.

"Of course, baby," Mustang said as he patted her knee.

"What did she mean by that, sir?" Al asked cautiously.

"You two are hear by assigned to be my baby's body guard."

"What?!" The brother's shouted.

"You dragged us all the way back to Central just so we can babysit a clearly spoiled brat?!" Ed shouted then he and everyone in the room, but Mustang and Kouri, turned blue. Mustang's eyes went dark and cold as could be as Kouri suppressed a giggle.

"Crap! Do you have a death wish, Fullmetal?!" Havoc asked. Just when Mustang looked like he was going to burn Ed to a pile of cinders Kouri snuggled into his chest, calming the man down.

"Fullmetal, you and your brother will do as she asks without question. You are to take her where ever she wants, do whatever she wants and most important of all…you are to protect her with your lives," Mustang laid out their orders.

Ed realized at that very moment that every thing Mustang was saying, ever move he was making, everything he wasn't saying, was telling Ed two things. That Kouri was his baby and he was fiercely and overly protective of her. There was also something else it was telling Ed, but he wasn't sure what it was. Ed just shook it out of his mind and accepted his new orders with defeat. "Yes sir."

"I'm not to happy with assigning you to guard my baby, but since Alphonse will be with you, I suppose I can trust you," Mustang said.

"What's the suppose to mean?!" Ed demanded.

"Alphonse is much more of a gentleman that you are. I trust him more with my daughter than you," Mustang smirked.

"What's that?!" Ed growled. "I'll show you who's a gentleman!"

"Uh, brother please!" Al said as he held his brother back.

…..

And yes she only sits on one of Armstrong's shoulder because he's so well build and she's so small. I just had to throw in at least one scene of them two together. He's just too funny not to include. Plus, Kouri talks to him like he's her puppy. Cute! And he takes it! Extra cute!