Author's note: I do not own FMA or its characters. This is AU.

What You Have

Edward Elric would admit privately that Mustang was a decent person. He hated the fact that he and Al were beholden to the man, but he knew that Mustang had protected them both. The man had also gone to some lengths to make sure that Granny and Winry were taken care of and safe. Ed as grateful, but he doubted he would ever tell the man that. And he couldn't help but respect the fact that the man had taken in his nieces and nephews. Granny had stepped in to take care of himself and Al when no one else would, and while it hadn't quite worked out for them, he had been grateful for a place to call home and people to care about him and Al.

That was probably why he wasn't giving the colonel as hard a time as he could be. When he and Al had arrived today, they had found Mustang's office inhabited by the three Mustang children. Well, two of the three. The littlest one seemed to be happily following Lieutenant Hawkeye around the office. It was rather adorable. Ed had always thought that the lieutenant would make a good mother. Mustang looked up from his desk.

"Fullmetal, good. Your report?"

Ed blinked. That had almost been polite. Either Mustang was on something or he was really out of it. Ed shrugged. "It's not exactly done yet."

Mustang just sighed. "Feel free to join the homework table then. Edward, this is my nephew, Kurt, and my niece, Mina. Roisin is the one following Hawkeye. Mina, Kurt, this is Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, and his brother, Alphonse."

He found himself sharing a table with the older two children. Mina gave him a hesitant smile. Kurt didn't even bother to look up. With a sigh, Ed pulled out the half finished report and got back to work. When he looked up a while later, he found Hawkeye consulting with Mustang, Roisin perched on her hip and apparently asleep. They looked like mother, father, and daughter. Ed blinked, and for just a moment he could almost see the trio in civilian clothes at home in Mustang's study. He chalked it to Major Hughes' influence when the thought that they would be adorable crossed his mind.

And then it was gone as Hawkeye moved away from the desk. She headed his direction, stopping to set Roisin on the couch next to her sister.

"I am going to go get some dinner for everyone, Edward. Shall I bring you something as well?"

He nodded. "Yes, please."

Hawkeye's attention turned to the children. "Is there anything in particular you want for dinner? There will be no junk food."

She took their orders calmly despite the fact that Kurt was downright rude in his brusque answers. Ed frowned. Then he noticed that Mustang was frowning too. Mina quietly asked to go with the lieutenant, and the woman nodded with a smile. Hawkeye exchanged a look with Mustang before heading out. Ed watched as Mustang seemed to struggle with himself before speaking.

"I realize that you don't think much of me, Kurt, but you can treat Lt. Hawkeye with at least a modicum of respect. She deserves at least that."

Kurt snorted. "What for? Neither of you have done anything worth anything. If it were up to me, we'd be long gone. My sisters and I would be better off without you."

Ed could tell by the look on Mustang's face that the man didn't know what to say or how to deal with this. That was all right. He would take care of this, for Lieutenant Hawkeye's sake, and the kid was more likely to listen to him anyway. He grabbed Kurt's arm.

"Excuse us for a moment, Mustang." It wasn't a request.

He dragged Kurt out into the hall with him. The kid seemed too stunned by his actions to protest. Good. That would make things much easier.

"So, you're an idiot, but that's not surprising. You're, what, thirteen? Just about everyone's an idiot then. Trust me. I speak from experience."

The kid glowered at him. Ed just continued. "And before you tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. My mom died when I was ten. Al was nine. Our father had been gone for years at that point. So I know what it's like to lose a parent. Al and I don't have any other relatives. We were lucky that someone decided to take us in."

"What? So you want me to be grateful that man because he provides for us? Big deal."

Ed crossed his arms. "It's better than starving on the streets. You could have ended up there. And you've been lucky in your relatives. You could have ended up as little better than servants or worse. Instead, you've had just about every thing you've wanted or needed provided to you. You might not like Mustang. I don't. But even I will admit that he's done a lot for you and your sisters, and Lieutenant Hawkeye deserves your respect. She has absolutely no reason to spend her free time helping Mustang out with you three, but she has, and she has never complained despite your shabby treatment of her. The woman puts up with more than you will ever know."

The kid looked rather stunned. Ed just turned around and headed back into the office. He didn't know if Kurt would listen to him, but at least he had heard it from someone. Ed knew how important it was to pay attention to what you had. He made a mental note to call Winry again soon.

Theme: You have so much to be thankful for.