As I said, I am in this. I need to apologize. I love Jean Havoc so much, and my inner-fangirl came out when I wrote about myself... I am so embarrassed...
Havoc was making his nightly round to Grace's house. He did this religiously. He would knock on her door with a bouquet of flowers only to be kicked out and told never to return. He always did return, though, and she always, secretly, put the flowers in a vase on her table. "I don't want to waste good flowers!" was always her excuse.
Havoc knocked on the door—four quick knocks was his signature.
From inside the house, Eliza jumped up to peek out the window.
"Who is it?" Grace called from her lounging position on a chair, even though she knew the answer.
"It's Jean Havoc again!" Eliza answered.
"Tell him to go away. I don't want to speak to him."
"Alright!" Eliza went to open the door.
As if on cue, Grace stopped Eliza before she even touched the door's knob. Grace said, "No, you're too soft. I'll do it." Eliza lightly chuckled to herself.
Grace swung the door open with great velocity and determination. "What do you want? I told you to stop coming to my house."
Like always, Havoc took a moment to soak in her radiance. Grace was clad in a rather low-cut red blouse that showed off her massive bosom that would put Lust to shame. She also sported cut-off sweat pants, for she vowed to never wear pants that came below the knee unless absolutely necessary. "Wow, you are such a goddess," was his response.
Grace's expression was still flat. Her brow furrowed slightly, and her mouth just a tad turned down into a small scowl. "That doesn't answer my question, and I suggest you answer it quick lest I have to beat you up again." Grace smirked. Eliza audibly laughed from just inside the house.
"That was one time!" Havoc fussed.
Grace's frown returned. "You still didn't answer me…"
"Oh, right!" Havoc said nervously. "What was the question?"
Grace sighed. "Seriously, leave." She began to shut the door as Havoc threw his arm out to intercept the door.
"Wait, Grace!" He held the flowers up. "I brought you flowers because you're beautiful, smart, strong, powerful, funny—"
Before he could finish, Grace snatched the flowers from his grasp and slammed the door in his face. Jean Havoc was used to this.
"And I wanted to see if you would like to go on a date with me!" He yelled from outside.
Grace did not respond to him. Eliza, however, went back to the door. "I actually should probably say something to him," she said. Grace simply nodded with a grim look on her face.
When she opened the door, Havoc was already starting to walk away. He looked deflated.
"Lieutenant!" Eliza yelled. He turned, and she grabbed his arm and pulled him a little further away from the house. "I have a feeling she'll listen in, but I want to talk to you."
"Is this about that awkward moment with Ed earlier? And please, call me Jean."
"Sort of." Eliza blushed and looked down. "How is he?"
"I'm sorry?" Havoc asked, surprise coating his words.
"Ed. How is Ed? What has Ed been up to? How is he?"
Havoc squinted in eyes in accusation. "I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to these things, but it seems to me as though you're interested in him."
Eliza spoke quickly yet smoothly. "Lieutenant, I understand if you don't want to tell me anything, but I have a past with Ed that I'd rather not discuss. If you wouldn't mind, may you please tell me what Ed has been doing with his life? For reasons better left unsaid, I am interested."
"You know, it's funny. I think that Ed has been talking about you for a few years now. Nonstop. He really does seem to care for you." Havoc put his arm on her shoulder.
"I just…" Tears started falling from her eyes as she sobbed heavily.
"Shh, shh," he whispered as he pulled her into a hug.
"I wish my sister would just date you already!" Eliza managed out in between gasps. "You're so sweet."
"I didn't even do anything."
Eliza's tears ceased to fall, for an idea was forming in her head. "Maybe we could make her jealous."
Havoc's curiosity got the best of him. "How so…?"
"What if we went on a date?" Eliza chuckled before she thought about it. "On second thought, it's so ridic—"
"THAT WOULD BE AMAZING!" Havoc gripped her shoulders and lightly shook her to his voice. "Grace would realize her true feelings! I'll get you tomorrow for dinner!"
Eliza smiled and hugged him again. With her face snuggled into his chest, she sniffled a bit before saying, "But really, how about Ed?"
Havoc wrapped one arm behind her back and the other cradled her head. "Ed is…he is on an important mission. He and Al look more or less the same as they did the last time you saw them."
"I guess Al still wears his suit of armor."
"Huh? Oh…yes…but moving on, they have grown in their maturity. Ed is still rash, but he has such a nice heart. A real good sense of justice and what not."
Eliza sniffed again. "Did I make the right choice?"
"Huh? Right choice? What do you mean?"
"You know…saying that I never want to see him again?"
"I don't think so. I don't know why you said that."
Eliza shifted uncomfortably under Havoc's hold. "There is a really good reason. If he got back together with me, I'm scared that it would end his life as a State Alchemist."
"Why?"
Eliza grunted and, imagining that he was Ed's, rubbed her face on Jean's chest. When she realized it wasn't Ed, she gasped and pushed Jean away. "Well, I need to go back to the house. Grace and my boy need me. Thanks for this chat. I am so sorry that I wasted your time."
"Yeah…" Havoc thought for a moment. "Your son—his name is Edward, correct?"
Eliza's eyes quickly darted to the ground, and she nodded slowly.
"And he is about four years old, right?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned and ran.
"I'll keep my mouth shut about all of this! See you tomorrow!"
Eliza stood outside of her door before she went in. She wanted to clear her face of any sign of tears. When she felt herself ready, she hesitantly reached for the handle; the door opened before she so much as touched it.
Grace greeted her with a prominent frown. "You should not have told him about all of your business. It is none of his concern, and frankly, if you truly did not want anyone to find out, you would not tell anyone."
"I need someone to talk to! I can't pretend it never happen!" Despite all of her effort, she started crying again.
"I hate it when you cry. You know what? What you do with your life doesn't even matter to me."
Before Grace had a chance to continue, Eliza's pride and joy tottered around the corner rubbing his eyes.
"Eddie, darling!" Eliza rushed to embrace him. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"I heard Mommy crying!" Edward Junior mumbled. He looked like a mini replica of his father.
Eliza said nothing but hugged him. Grace watched them both with an indifferent gaze. They hugged for a long time. Finally, Eliza planted a kiss on his forehead and led him off to bed.
This part is so sappy, though. I AM STILL EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE PART WITH ME. Ya know, half of the time, even I don't understand what the characters in my story do or why they do it. It's part of the fun. The Eddie part probably wasn't even shocking to you, the reader.
