[[This is a short chapter but I got two out today and they were both on the short side. I figured two short chapters could equal a long chapter lol]]

Mustang recognized my motives as I stood before him, my eyes burning with anticipation. Every move I made was a memory. Every muscle I used felt like heaven. Sparring just felt so natural. I had Mustang pinned in three minutes. I wasn't even out of breath yet.

I let him up. "Again."

He nodded and we continued. People walked by curiously. Why would a cop be fighting with a kid? I was about to pin Mustang again when I saw her. I froze and stared. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't hear. I couldn't feel. All I could do was see. Her light brown hair was gently tousled by the wind and her eyes smiled softly as she walked by.

"M…m…." Mustang stopped his attacks when he noticed my state of shock. "Mom?" I took a step toward her. A tear fell down my cheek. I ran to her. "Excuse me, but may I ask your name?"

The woman smiled. "My name is Trisha." She seemed to realize something as she looked at me. "You look a lot like someone I knew… You don't happen to be…but who else could you be? No one else could look so much like Hoenheim." She cried with joy and I did too. "You're my son, aren't you?" She hugged me and I felt some guilt invade me.

"Um…I am your son, but I'm not your son… Your son looks exactly like me, but I'm…" I stopped myself. How could I explain this? "Your son, Edward Evans, he's in the hospital. He was in a car crash." She looked at me sadly. The face was so familiar, so much more beautiful than I'd remembered. I knew she wanted me to explain, but I needed to ask questions first. "They said you were dead! They said you died, and I believed them and seeing you, healthy and alive! I'm just so happy." I hugged her, feeling too big in her arms. She was shorter than I remembered, but I'd gotten taller. "I can't wait til Alpho-" I cut myself off. Alphonse would never see her. If only there were a way…

She looked at me with a question in her eyes. I stepped out of her arms. There. Mission complete. I'd seen Mom smile again. I couldn't ask for anything more. She's not even my mom. If the Evans think she's dead…well I've got to help them. I'm not letting another family break apart. Mustang came over. He stretched, trying to pretend that he wasn't sore from sparring (and losing). "Elric, what are you doing?" He looked at me like I was crossing a line. He looked panicked and unsure how to approach the situation.

"I told you, call me Fullmetal. This is…um… you know where I'm from? I just thought I knew her from there."

He laughed nervously. "Another girl? Jeez, Elric. You've got to respect age gaps she's old enough to be-"

"My mom?" I looked at him with a subtle hint in my eyes.

He froze. "Woah."

She looked at us curiously, "Excuse me, did you just call him Elric?" Mustang nodded and corrected his posture like he was in the presence of royalty. I shook my head as he nodded. I face palmed. He was always one step behind. "That's my maiden name. Do we have a relation other than you not being my son?" She smiled.

I shook my head, but stopped as the words sank in. "Maiden name? What's your married name?"

She frowned. "I'm married legally, but it wasn't for love. I was forced by my parents. They also forced me to give up the two children I had with my high school sweetheart. I thought you were one of them. Now, it's not that I don't like my husband, I just don't love him like I should." She looked at me like she knew me. "I can tell by your eyes that you understand depth and pain. You lost someone dear to you, didn't you?" She frowned.

I nodded and my voice was hoarse as I spoke. "My mother."

Her eyebrows knitted together with concern. "So we've both lived hard lives, though I guess you didn't have parents to force you into things. But that's no way to think about it. You loved her. You still are totally devoted to her." Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "You're so easy to read." She messed up my hair a little, but the gentleness of the touch was calming. "But to answer your question, my married name is Bradley. I'm surprised you didn't know already. Everyone seems to know me since I'm the first lady."