all who thought what they thought... all have to say is you don't know me so well... hehe he... oh...

As the months went by, Edward was learning what it meant to be loved and cared for, given attention and being taught the goods and bads of the world. Roy cared for him as if he were his own son, even telling people he was at times. Edward had never been happier and never felt more safe. He was actually finally able to understand what that word meant. He was able to communicate much easier now since Roy and Maes taught him out to read and write, and he was also able to make differentiating sounds that indicated what he wanted. It had been very hard for him to get his throat to cooperate but after much practice, he could finally get out basic noises like 'uh huh' 'uh uh' 'hmm' 'mmm' 'mmm hmm' and so forth. These basic noises, though taken for granted by most everyone else, meant the world to Edward. Being able to communicate, finally, was the best thing he'd been taught. Roy told him that with a lot of diligence and practice, they might be able to get Edward's voice back.

Edward was excited about that the most. Being able to voice his opinions with an actual 'yes' or 'no' was something he hadn't been able to do since he had been taken. Eight years he'd been silent and now he'd finally get the chance to maybe get his voice back. He wondered what it sounded like…

Edward ate his breakfast at the table as Roy looked over some files on the other side of table. Edward pushed his food away and Roy looked up as he rubbed his stomach a little.

"You alright?"

"Mmm hmm…" Edward said, although he didn't look alright.

Roy put the paper down and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Tell the truth. You look like you're in a lot of pain."

Edward didn't say anything, just sucked up the pain that was radiating through him. He'd endured things harsher than whatever was happening and so if he just kept it to himself, he wouldn't have to worry Roy. He just smiled at him, but his guardian made a face, not buying that he was alright.

"I know you're hiding something from me. It's sad that whatever happened to you makes it so that you don't even squeak… or whatever you do when you're in pain… He did a lot of bad things to you, didn't he?"

Edward nodded, not wanting to talk about it. The only downside with living with Roy was that since he was a soldier, he had a habit of trying to interrogate Edward. Edward understood he just wanted to help and get to the root of everything, the whys and whats of it all, but all it did was make Edward have flashbacks and cause problems. He had actually eased up a lot. They were at a good crossroads where Roy would still try to pick Edward's brain but knew when to stop now. This was one of those times.

"I won't hound you but if you're in pain, you don't have to hide it. Since you can't just come out and say 'ow, I'm in pain', I need to know, alright? You don't have to suffer in silence anymore."

Edward nodded as the pain subsided.

Roy looked at the clock and cursed.

"Shit, I'll be late for work. Are you going to go out today?"

Edward shrugged and grabbed his paper beside him.

I might walk in the park. he wrote.

"Just be careful out there. There's been an influx of attacks around the area, being so close to Central command and the Fuhrer and all. I won't keep you inside but just be cautious. I don't need anything happening to you again."

Edward frowned at that. Like it was my fault the first time… he said in his head. He just nodded and Roy smiled, touching his head.

"I'll be back at my normal time, hopefully. We might be able to catch the rest of that radio drama; hear it for ourselves instead of having Maes fill us in on it."

"Uh huh!" Edward said brightly.

Roy smiled as he looked at Edward for a second. He looked at the poor boy's gravid stomach and tried to hold back a grimace. It wasn't even about the fact that there were children in there, it just looked really painful with three living people inside of him. He didn't understand how women did it in general, but a kid? He shook his head and put his hand on Edward's stomach.

"Be careful with these guys, alright? You should be pretty close to being due and I have no idea how to get them out. If you need to go to the hospital, you call me right away, okay? You remember the noise we practiced?"

"Oy… Ang…" Edward said, straining to make it.

"Right. I'll remind the switchboard operator about that so that she sends you to the right place. Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

Edward gave the OK signal as Roy watched him for a moment. He felt something odd settle in the back of his mind. He didn't know what it was but he found himself hugging Edward tightly.

Edward hugged Roy back, confused. Roy was not an affectionate man, but he did show his love in other ways, mostly by rustling his hair. This was different and Edward didn't understand. Roy pulled away and touched his face.

"I don't know why I did that… It's like… I have this weird feeling in the back of my head. You know how you just know something is about to happen?" Edward nodded. "That's the feeling I'm getting… either way. I'll be back."

Edward nodded as Roy left.

The pain shot through him again, but Edward ignored it as he walked down the street towards the park later that day. Roy had found a way to get a hold of one of his friend's training shirts since he was quite a large guy, and gave it to Edward so he would have a better diversity of wardrobe. He still got dirty stares but people were realizing that he belonged to someone in the military and stopped harassing him too much. Besides, he didn't mess with the people and that's all they really seemed to care about.

As he walked along, a military car suddenly came by with a police care behind it, its siren wailing. Edward was used to that so he didn't take much of that into account.

Then another car came by.

Then another.

And another.

Then a couple of firetrucks and a few more military vehicles.

Everyone else seemed pretty suspicious about the sudden collaboration of law enforcement and military vehicles and began to follow the cars to see what was going on. Edward followed suit, trying to stay back but see what was happening. He couldn't really keep up with everyone and happened to pass by a restaurant that had its door open and the news blaring from the radio. Edward slipped in and leaned on the doorframe, clutching under his stomach and listening to the person on the radio, who sounded quite frantic.

"It looks like the terrorists were able to get inside of the courtyard and set off a bomb. Military personnel , police officers and emergency aids are rushing in to help get everyone away from the front of the- OH MY GOD ANOTHER BOMB'S GONE OFF INSIDE!" he screamed as Edward heard the sound of the bomb go off behind him.

Edward gathered his strength and turned to where he heard the explosion and his eyes widened as he saw that it was Central Headquarters. He began to walk as fast as he could towards the military base.

Once he finally got to the building, there were barricades and lots of people around but he pushed through them to get to the entrance of the military headquarters. Luckily, he was so disgusted by many that they just parted ways and he made an easy path towards the front of the base. There was smoke billowing out of the doors and people being brought out on stretchers and walking, their faces covered, people yelling. He looked all around, trying to find someone who looked familiar. Roy had brought over some of his friends to introduce to Edward and he knew that a couple of them had blonde hair, his superior being one of them. He swept the crowds of people, trying to find someone he recognized.

He turned around when someone ran into him and he fell on the ground. He caught himself before he landed, hurting his hand but saving his belly. He felt a horrid pain in him and he actually did squeak, the surprise overtaking him. The man just looked at him in disgust as he ran to the other side of the courtyard. Edward shakily got up –with no one's help- and paced himself to look around. He finally spotted a flash of blonde hair and looked over in the corner where a couple people were sitting around a woman. He waddled over to them and recognized the woman as Roy's superior. She was coughing and looked up, blinking at Edward.

"Edward?"

One of the other soldiers looked over and stood up, walking to him.

"Edward, what are you doing here, kid?" the younger man said. "You can't be here. We just got attacked."

Edward looked behind him, looking for Roy.

"Havoc, he's looking for Mustang." she said.

Edward looked around him to Hawkeye. Havoc moved as he walked over to her slowly and she stood up to go to him.

"Sweetheart, I don't know where he is." Edward's eyes widened. "He… he came inside to help us when the second bomb went off. A crazy alchemist came in here and started blowing things up. We tried to get him to come back but…"

Edward looked at the burning building as smoke still billowed out.

"If you stay here with us," the younger of the soldiers said, making Edward turn to him. "They will find him and send him to us."

Edward didn't want to wait but he had to find Roy.

After what seemed like hours, the smoke seemed to clear and the last of the people trickled out. Roy nor Maes had come out and Edward was beginning to panic. Not only was the pain in his stomach radiating through him, but the lump in his throat was getting bigger and harder. When it seemed everyone was out, Edward looked at Hawkeye and her crew and she looked at him in confusion as well. He turned and started up the stairs.

"Edward!"

He pushed himself up the stairs, looking around to find the other set that went up to the higher levels. His office… it was on the second floor… he thought, trying to find stairs when he heard a door open. He turned and was surprised to find Maes, his face smudged with dirt and sweat and blood… more blood than the other. Upon seeing Edward, his eyes widened behind cracked glasses.

"Edward?"

Edward watched him for a moment and realized he had something over his shoulder. His eyes flicked to it and then back to Maes, who was coming closer.

"Oh, Edward, you shouldn't be here…"

Edward looked at the large thing he was carrying and back at him.

"Turn around, Ed. Go back outside."

"Oy…" he said, his throat dry.

"Turn around, Edward." Maes said more sternly. "Go back outside."

Edward turned around stiffly but walked out.

Once they were out, Hawkeye stood up and looked at Maes.

"Did you see him? Where did he go?"

Maes didn't say anything, just followed Edward down the stairs. As soon as they were on the grass, Edward turned just as Maes set what he was carrying down. Hawkeye gasped as Edward began to walk backwards, shaking his head.

"He tried to apprehend the alchemist and he got him but… not before he got Roy."

Edward was staring at Roy's lifeless eyes, the black eyes devoid of shine. There was blood all over his face and body, all over Maes and a knife in his throat.

"He threw the knife just as Roy sent out a stream of fire and there was no way to avoid it. I was there and… I tried but…"

Another pain gripped Edward in his chest as he put his hand over his heart, grabbing it.

Roy, the man who saved him, who loved and cared for him, the only father he knew… he was gone…

Edward felt a rush of air from deep within his lungs escape and he didn't realize he was screaming until he fell to his knees, holding his head and staring at the ground. His body could only make that noise of its own free will. It could only scream. Maes started to walk over to him.

"Edward-"

Upon hearing his name, he looked up at him and everything just shattered.

Run. his broken mind told him.

In the midst of the first horrific tragedy he had ever encountered, his mind went into default and he ran away, running with all his might and power. He didn't care about children, he didn't care about Maes, he didn't care about himself. He didn't hear anyone calling his name, for him to stop, avoiding people in his race to get away from the tragedy. All he wanted to do was get away from the horrors and realization that his world had come crashing down once more.

Roy was gone and no one could protect him anymore. He had to get away from the people… he had to disappear.

told you you guys underestimated this. this isn't over, by the by. but yeah, roy died a horrible death... what will become of poor edward now?