So, as another explainer: I'm basing Hohenheim's manner of being on the manga version where he is rather socially inept and a bit scatterbrained as I always felt like that portrayal made more sense.

Part twelve: To Stay Or Run Away

Jean looked over at his sleeping boss. The scene before him would have been inappropriate and downright creepy only eighteen months ago.

And why?

...Because Brigadier General Roy Mustang was asleep with a pretty, blonde minor hugged to him. She too was equally asleep and was lying there under the duvet together with said General Mustang while wearing a singlet and a miniskirt, which should have made even more alarm bells go off.

But no, these days, that was actually just amusing. And it was also good to see that the Boss was prioritising comforting Winry over his own image. It had become clear to Jean that the girl was in many ways the same as Ed and Al. She had lost her parents early, had grown up a bit too quickly, considering the fact that she had already been skilled enough to assist her grandmother while performing automail surgery at age eleven. She had been designing automail limbs before she was even double digits, and had made her first one at age nine.

...And the way that she had acted as they delivered the baby in Rush Valley, had made it even clearer to him that she knew what adulthood was far too soon. Granted, she had kept being a child a lot longer than Ed and Al, seeing as how she grew up in the care of Pinako Rockbell. But the thing that had really stuck with Jean was the fact that the cheerful girl had seen far too much pain and grief already. She had done a perfect job following his orders in Rush Valley, but the entire time he had seen that fierce conviction of someone desperately trying to save a life because she couldn't bear to watch someone else die on her. And Jean had a feeling that somebody needed to keep an eye on Winry, because that fear of losing more people, and especially the ones that she held dear, would very likely blind her one day and put her in a situation where she could die. Which meant that it was either a blessing or a curse that she had made Roy Mustang her uncle.

They had needed to be a bit creative as to how to keep their conversation in code as they had had their "fishing trip". The usual "flower shop girl" hadn't exactly been an option, considering the situation with Ed supposedly hating his father and the General currently having a bit of a shaky relationship with both his boys and Winry. And so "Elizabeth" had this time been a girls' school teacher that the Boss had asked for help because he was looking after a teenage girl during a very tense situation. It had worked out pretty well.

Jean knew that he should be sleeping, but after he had woken up and had made a rather unpleasant discovery, he wasn't really able to.

"Lieutenant Havoc, you really should get some sleep," came Al's concerned voice. He was sitting in the corner of the room with his legs crossed, not wanting to scare his father or his friend by having them wake up to some giant, grey monster next to them until they recognised him.

Jean bit his lip, sighing. Then he looked at the kid. "Alphonse, can I tell you something that you won't tell anyone else? I'm going to let them know once they wake up, of course, I can't exactly pretend for long..."

"Oh, of course, Lieutenant." His voice took on a slightly scared tone, obviously sensing that something was very wrong.

"I kinda found out when I woke up that I can't feel my legs."

Ed's head was buzzing as he sped up the road towards the graveyard. He was happy about Lieutenant Ross being safe, he was happy that he had at least outrun... or driven... Major Armstrong by at least an hour. That suited him very well, considering what the Ishbalan survivors he had met had told him about Uncle and Auntie Rockbell's deaths. The fact that they had been killed by someone that they had treated made his stomach churn. And Ed hadn't mentioned his own name as it could have made them look at the Rockbells differently because Ed was associated with them. And the Mustang part would have been like a slap in the face.

And so now he wanted some time alone to mull it over in front of Uncle and Auntie Rockbell's graves. He slowed down as he spotted a man standing in front of Mom's grave.

When he recognised the blonde ponytail, he stepped on the brake, coming to a complete halt.

...Which made the man turn around, most likely because of the sound of the engine behind him.

They both froze.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Ed yelled in indignant fury.

Hohenheim looked at him in confusion. "Edward? What are you doing in such a contraption?"

Ed just glared, speaking through clenched teeth. If he was lucky, then he had the most satisfying bombshell in the world to deliver to him. "I broke my leg, thanks for not knowing about it, seeing as how I've caused quite a commotion with it in Central. You see, it's a lot more practical, what with me being a State Alchemist."

"I heard that you became the smallest State Alchemist in history?" the bastard asked curiously.

Ed saw red. "I swear, if you say anything else like that, I will break your legs with this thing, even if we're standing in front of Mom's grave!"

Hohenheim's voice turned from confused to stern and frankly cold. "Pinako told me that you tried to transmute a human being, didn't you?"

Ed had a very hard time keeping up his self-restraint. "IF YOU'RE GONNA LECTURE ME, YOU BASTARD, THEN THINK AGAIN! HOW DARE YOU EVEN SHOW YOUR FACE HERE AFTER ALL THIS TIME!"

Hohenheim's stern manner deflated, looking slightly hurt and confused at the same time. "How can you call your own father a bastard?"

"You're not my father." His voice was cold. Ed wanted to drag this out, silently thanking Granny for giving him the chance to tell the bastard himself. He had wanted to do so for months now. To just cut off all ties to the man in person, so that he could let him see just how little he meant to Ed.

"I know I haven't been much of one, but I still am your and Alphonse's father."

Ed felt a small, malicious smirk form on his lips. "I think you'll find that the State very much disagrees with that."

Hohenheim was looking even more confused. "What do you mean, Edward?"

"I mean that you're an ignorant bastard who has failed to discover that we were adopted about one and a half years ago."

Hohenheim froze. "You have a new pair of parents?"

"No, there's just Dad. Which means that we finally have both a real Mom and a real Dad."

The bastard looked genuinely hurt. "But why would Pinako approve it when she knew that I would be coming back?"

Ed clenched his fists, but then he got an idea and drove over right next to Hohenheim. He pulled off his tank top before he leant forwards to show him the scars on his back, including the not entirely healed wounds from Greed's claws. Then he spoke with a growl. "Because last year, I got reassigned to the bastard who did this to my back. Dad stepped up to the plate and let Al and me stay with him so that he could help treat my wounds from the flogging. The bastard CO wanted to basically crush my spirit, and then Dad and me were targeted by a criminal organisation less than two weeks later and were caught in an explosion. And so that damned CO decided to use the opportunity to take me back to his house, seeing as how he was my temporary guardian as my commanding officer. Basically, the bastard was gonna make me into a soulless puppet that went to war on his command. As soon as the bastard took me with him from the hospital, Dad set in motion a plan to adopt us to get me out. He was our Dad twelve hours later. He didn't even think about it, he just did it. And he chose to adopt us rather than just get granted permanent guardianship. He did everything that you didn't. So no, you're not our father. Only biologically. If you were to try to claim us, I think you'd find that Dad would still win the case, because the adoption was approved by the Führer!" Ed straightened up and pulled on his tank top again. "Granny didn't even know that Dad and I were actually on friendly terms when he first called her to ask for her approval. But she agreed and signed the forms because she too could see that Dad was good for us, despite how messed up the way that the adoption had come into being was."

Hohenheim stood there, seemingly rendered speechless.

Which was what Ed saw as a good time to continue. "So, yeah, that's my Dad for you... You know, the guy who went from being a jerk to my Dad in just two weeks because he chose us. He pushed his own plans and lifestyle away to include us in his life. The most notorious womaniser in the Amestrian military stopped dating altogether because of us. And he didn't even think about it. It just came naturally to him. Instinctively. Because he actually cares about us and shows us that he loves us!" Ed glared at him fiercely. "And unlike you, he actually hugs his sons because he wants to and not because WE have to hug him first when we want one!"

Hohenheim just looked at him.

...Then a tear ran down his right cheek, and it was Ed's time to freeze. "...I see, Edward... He sounds like a very good father... I'm glad you found him."

Ed stared, but then anger filled him. "What the hell are you crying for?!"

"Because I'm beginning to realise my mistake..."

Ed leant back in his seat, both angry and shocked and hurt and everything all at once. "You're really so useless? You're not even going to fight for us?! Explain anything?! You were just gonna keep us waiting until you were in the mood to return?! And you call yourself an alchemist?! You give us nothing and expect us to wait for you?! You damn bastard!"

Hohenheim looked away, turning back towards Mom's grave. "I'm sorry, Trisha... I really didn't look after our sons, did I?"

"YOU'RE NOT EVEN GONNA FACE ME?!"

"Edward... Please tell me about your father... Who is he?"

Ed didn't even know what to think. And so he just spoke angrily. "It's Brigadier General Roy Mustang. He's also the Flame Alchemist and I've already made him swear to burn your hair off if he meets you."

"He was in the newspapers once... Isn't he rather young...?"

"He's twenty-nine."

"That's very young for a general, isn't it?" Hohenheim sounded curious. Curious and stern at the same time.

Ed wanted to ram his legs. He wasn't going to explain about Nina or about Dad's plans for becoming Führer. The bastard didn't deserve to know anything that was so personal. That would look like a sign of trust. "He impressed the Führer a lot and so he was promoted to the spot left by General Grand being killed by the same State Alchemist killer whose attempt at murdering me resulted in my broken leg... So anyways, it's Edward and Alphonse Elric Mustang. We live in Central now after the transfer."

"Is that why you burnt down my home?"

"No. But I suppose it sort of fits that we burnt it down, seeing as how we've got a new home with the Flame Alchemist... Especially when he's the one who found us after the transmutation and set me down this path. He gave us an opportunity to keep moving forwards, and so we did. But it was as a symbol of our resolve to never turn back," Ed said sternly. He had never really thought about it before. About how much it fit in hindsight.

"It wasn't... You did it because you didn't want to be reminded of your mistake..." Hohenheim's voice had grown cold.

Ed felt his stomach clench slightly at the implications of his words. "You're wrong!"

Hohenheim turned back around, looking down at him, towering over Ed. "It's just like when a child wets their bed and then hides the sheets... You were running away, Edward."

Ed felt trapped. And this guy had no right to do anything of the sort to him. "WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW?!"

Hohenheim almost looked sad as he straightened up again. "I do know."

Ed decided that he was done and swiftly turned the Fracturer around, now facing the exit of the graveyard. "Talking to you makes me sick. Now just piss off, you have no right to be here."

"My train doesn't leave before morning... I suppose I will meet you at Pinako's house as I have no home of my own to return to."

Ed was about to speed up, but then he paused, a smirk spreading across his lips. "I'm sure my bodyguard will love to make your acquaintance, then. He'll be here within the hour."

And without bothering to wait for a reply, Ed zoomed off, transmuting the front steps so that he could get inside the house as soon as he arrived. He found Granny with her eyebrows raised at his sudden arrival, but then she frowned. "You look like you met Hohenheim, Edward..."

Ed grunted. "Yeah. I'm gonna introduce him to the Major, should be fun."

He suddenly didn't like her expression at all, and he froze, his stomach clenching. "What's wrong?"

"Roy's in the hospital after he was impaled by a couple of thin spears. They went through the left side of his abdomen... I know that you two aren't exactly on speaking terms at the moment, but-"

Ed felt his stomach clench violently in horror. He couldn't lose Dad. And especially not like this and while the last words that they had shared being pretend angry phrases. "WHAT?! He'll be okay, right?!"

"Yes. It was the same night that you left, actually. Al and Winry have been keeping me updated regularly, and his condition is stable. He's conscious and he says that he understands it if you need to spend some time here..."

Ed just stared at her. "It was all just pretend, dammit! I just waved Maria Ross off on her way to Xing! It's just an act, and now my stupid Dad has used the opportunity to go after those bastards again while I'm basically in protective custody! That damned idiot!"

Granny paused, raising an eyebrow at him. "I'm actually glad to hear that... No why don't-"

The phone rang, and Ed zoomed over and flipped the windscreen back, hoping it was Al or Winry with another update as he grabbed the phone.

...Only to pause as a very angry voice spoke through obviously gritted teeth. "Where the hell is that bastard?"

Ed felt relief flood him. If Dad was well enough to come to the phone, then that was a very encouraging thing. "Dad! How are you?!"

The teeth were obviously unclenched in less than half a second. "Ed?"

Ed almost forgot himself, but then got back into character. "What the hell did you get yourself into?! I just got here after meeting that bastard in front of Mom's grave, and now Granny's telling me that you went and got yourself impaled!"

Dad sighed. "I was trying to play hero to vent some of my frustration... Turned out to be an ambush and so now I have a few other cauterisation scars to join the others... I... The knife you made for me gave me the opportunity to carve a transmutation circle into my hand... It saved my life... Ed, I'm sorry for what happened between us... But please come home..."

Ed saw a golden opportunity to come back to him a lot sooner. He could tell that Dad had obviously used the opportunity to go after Uncle Maes's killer... And it sounded like Dad had actually lost control and then reclaimed it. "Dammit, Dad! Of course I'm coming home! I've spent far too many days on a train with that crying giant while alone with my thoughts and then that bastard shows up! I damn well want my real father, no matter how much of an idiot you are as long as you promise to NEVER do what you did again! So don't get yourself killed and then I'm gonna be there to stop you from dying because it's obvious that you do stupid and potentially lethal things when I'm not there!"

There was a pause at the other end of the line. "Ed... Thank you... Now what did that bastard say to you?"

"What do you think? He told me off for burning down "his" home and he didn't even know that you'd adopted us and now he's even spending the night before he just leaves again tomorrow! And he didn't say why he left us or anything. He had been expecting us to have just waited for him! Why do you think I'm coming home?! He's everything that you're not and I wanna ram that bastard's legs and then some! I just wanna be back home, dammit!"

"I'm sorry, Ed... Do you want me to yell at him?"

"I want you to yell him deaf." Ed didn't care if Dad turned completely murderous for once. Hohenheim deserved it.

"Then I'll do just that." Dad suddenly sighed, and Ed could tell that there was something very wrong.

"Dad, what's going on?"

"I wasn't the only one that got impaled and needed to have their wounds cauterised... Havoc had the nerves in his lower spine severed... He can't feel his legs," Dad told him heavily.

Ed paused, his stomach clenching in horror. "...No... That... That can't be right..."

"I'm sorry, Ed."

The door was suddenly opened and Ed turned around to find Hohenheim in the doorway. "He's here, Dad... Just don't reopen any wounds... I'm gonna go find myself a normal wheelchair so that I won't drive over him and injure my leg further... He's not worth it."

"A very wise decision, Ed... We'll talk about this properly once you're back home."

"Sounds good, Dad. I'm gonna give you to him now." And with that, Ed held out the phone. "Hey, bastard, Dad wants a word."

Hohenheim paused and then sighed. "I suppose I would like to talk with him too." And so he walked over and took the phone from Ed. "Hello?"

"HOW DARE YOU!" was the first thing that came out of the phone, very loud and clear, and Hohenheim jumped and held the phone at least twenty centimetres away from his ear.

Ed felt the sound making the lump in his stomach grow even further, and his lips began quivering slightly. And so he quickly closed the windscreen and drove out into the hallway where no one could see him.

Then he bowed his head and began crying silently to himself

Roy wasn't exactly able to recall all the yelled words that he had just produced. However, he was sitting there with his right arm around his wounded side, plus his voice was hoarse and shaky with the increased pain.

...And he had a gun pressed to the back of his head by Hawkeye. "Hold on a second, I'm not done with you," Roy growled at the man that he hadn't even let talk once in favour of letling the bastard know how much of a bastard he was.

"Sir, I suggest that you refrain from yelling any further, you are putting too much strain on your wounds," Hawkeye said sternly.

Roy took a deep breath, closing his eyes to gather himself. "Yes, Lieutenant, I will."

"Good, sir." And with that the gun was removed.

And so he placed the phone back against his left ear. "Apparently yelling at you further is putting too much strain on my wounds... So I suppose I won't be able to do as Ed told me when it comes to yelling you deaf."

Hohenheim was obviously gathering himself somewhat after Roy's verbal bombardment. "...I gather that you are rather protective of the boys, then..."

Roy felt his anger triple. "It's about damn time that someone is! Do you have any idea how much pain you caused them?!"

"... I don't think I ever will. If I did, I probably wouldn't have left them in the first place."

Roy hissed at him through clenched teeth. "Then I hope you realise that you have no grounds to call them your sons without preceding it with the word "biological"... Because you gave up on them. And so I took them in and they became my sons..." Then he took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "Which means that I'll end this conversation soon, because I have an antibiotic drip scheduled in five minutes. Otherwise the nurses are going to tell me off for leaving my bed in the first place..." He decided to say something that left a bitter taste in his mouth, but that also felt right and was something that was more a tribute to Trisha Elric than anything else. "And so I'm only going to say this once..." he hissed threateningly, before he sighed again, both as a way to brace himself and so as to make the statement weigh more. "Thank you... Because no matter how pissed off I am, you're still the reason that I have them. You're still half of the reason that they exist." Roy looked down at his abdomen, frowning. "And I have a steadily growing dark spot underneath my clothes, so goodbye, and don't you dare speak to Ed if he's not the one starting the conversation."

Roy hung up the phone without waiting for a reply. Then he leant back in the wheelchair with a strained gasp at the sharp stab of pain. "I think we need to find the nurses now, Lieutenant." His stomach was clenching even harder at the thought of how difficult this was for Al. His youngest son had believed that Hohenheim would return. That Trisha's faith in the man was something more than foolish optimism born out of her profound love. And Al had kept calling that man "Dad" all the way leading up to the adoption. Roy had told him that it was perfectly okay if Al had wanted to still call Van Hohenheim "Dad" even after that point. Roy would never be their biological father, and the adoption had more or less been forced upon them.

But no, Al had decided that Hohenheim might be his father, but Roy was Dad. And that meant the world to Roy.

But now that Hohenheim was back and well, things were far more complicated. Which was why Al had told Roy to go yell at him while giving Al some time to think. And now that Roy was done yelling, it was time for talking.

...Although it appeared that he had been wrong once they ran into that one nurse that was completely fearless and unfazed by his rank. It was most likely why she had been assigned to be the one to oversee Roy's treatment apart from the doctors themselves. There were sweet, blushing, young nurses that batted their eyelids at him as they came with glasses of water or food for Havoc. Unsurprisingly, Havoc didn't mind his kind and gentle treatment.

...Roy got the fifty-four-year-old Beatrice Stone with the greying, dark red hair in the tightest bun that mankind had ever seen. Had Roy still been a colonel, then she wouldn't have been the ruler of about eighty per cent of his life at the moment, but they provided the generals with her as she was never one to show any leniency or a tendency to let herself be bossed around. It was sound to some extent. Generals were prime targets, and Beatrice Stone was never going to let anything pressure her into harming her patients. No risk of poisoning, poorly measured syringe contents or switched bottles. Just a terrifying amount of integrity.

And she was standing there outside his hospital room, her arms crossed, her left shoe tapping impatiently on the floor.

...And Roy remembered a bit belatedly that the doctor had earlier today said that one of his pain medications was most effective as a suppository.

He gulped.

Ed sat there in the hallway, having found his regular wheelchair. His stomach was churning. Den suddenly came over, walking up to Ed's left side, wanting to be patted. And probably also to offer Ed some comfort. And the main reason for drawing that final conclusion was that Den had walked up to the side with the flesh arm. Ed began absent-mindedly scratching the dog behind his ear. The only reason that he had returned to the hallway was so that he could listen to and watch the scene that was about to unfurl as soon as the Major arrived. And so he was sitting in the doorway, looking at the front door.

The bastard was sitting at the table, facing him, looking at Ed for a few seconds once or twice a minute. The rest of the time he spent talking with Granny, the two of them drinking that "Stray Dog Whisky" that they both enjoyed so much. Every time Hohenheim looked at him, Ed made sure to glare back at the bastard. To silently tell him that he had no place left here. That he wasn't wanted.

...That Ed wasn't running away from him.

Hohenheim had told him that he had burnt down the house because he had run away. And so Ed wasn't going to let the bastard hurt him and then run away like a child.

Hohenheim looked back up at him, and Ed felt his anger and curiosity spike as he rolled towards him. "You know, Dad gave us our childhood back. The thing you stole from us... It's actually pretty sad to think about... We didn't even know what we were missing out on... Thought we didn't need a father, you know? Because we didn't even know what it was like. All we knew was a back that was turned to us. That was what our father was to us for eleven years. Of course, we saw Winry and Uncle Yuriy. Saw how much he loved her. How much she loved him back. But that was just what Winry's father was. We didn't have that. We never did. We just had that back turned to us. And so I found that I didn't actually want a father. I wanted my parent back. And that was Mom. Between the time that you left and until Mom died, do you know what you were to me?" Ed didn't know why he was saying this. Why he was letting the bastard know. But he was. He was and it felt refreshing. And yet his voice was almost conversational.

Hohenheim just stared at him and shook his head almost unnoticeably. His face and eyes were unreadable. As if the man didn't know what to say or do.

"I used to think of you as "that man". Not your name, not "bastard", just that man. Because you were the guy that left us. All that I remember of you, is your back and that damned ponytail. You were that man who never did anything but turn your back to us. You were that man who never did what he should have done as a father. That never let us know anything about him. Only that back and the ponytail. Although I remember one other thing that I saw of you... And that was when you left us. When you looked at us sternly as if to say that you really didn't care enough to even say goodbye. So the back turned to us, the look of indifference, and that ponytail... And of course, you were the man that made Mom cry. And you were the man that broke Al's heart every damn day that you didn't return. Because Al's just as kind as Mom. And so he believed in her words when she said that you would come back. He wanted what I didn't, because he doesn't even remember you. I watched you as you left. Al doesn't remember that. He believed in you. Mom too. I didn't. I didn't because you made it clear that you didn't want us. So why should I have wanted you back? And then Mom died, so I had to grow up and be Al's big brother and his parents. Of course, Granny and Uncle and Auntie Rockbell relieved some of the pressure. But still... We still spent the nights at our old house. When Al had nightmares, I had to be the one who would wake up and talk to him. Stay up with him and hug him. And don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I didn't mind doing it. I wanted to help him and care for my little brother, and so I did..."

Ed swallowed hard, feeling the building urge to cry. "What I'm saying is that from age five, I didn't know what it was like to be a child without what I have learnt pretty recently, was far too much weight on my shoulders. But I didn't want you to relieve some of that weight. I didn't really know what a father was. And so, when Mom died, you went from that man, to pure and simple bastard. So, yeah, I was perfectly content with not having a father. Without you coming back. Why should I want you back when you made Mom cry and didn't even bother to come to her funeral? Why should I want to love or trust someone like you? To have you "care" for us? Do you understand why we had no reason to wait for you? Why I told Al time and time again to stop thinking you'd come back? I was trying to protect my little brother because what you left him with was a hope that he clung to for years... And it hurt. It hurt to see him every time he called you "Dad". Because he did that for the first thirteen years of his life. He only stopped calling you that once we were adopted. And the first time he only called you "Hohenheim", I almost felt like crying. Because in many ways, Al had been torturing himself by wanting you back. And it hurt. It made my stomach clench every damn time he called you "Dad." Because Al wanted you to come back. The man who wasn't there to even comfort us during Mom's funeral. I was supposed to protect Al, to look after him... But I couldn't stop him from torturing himself by thinking that things would be as they should be if you would just come back! And I knew that if I told him that, then I would have made him cry and it wouldn't have changed anything other than making Al feel like I was betraying Mom or something! And I didn't know what to do about it and I hated watching Al like that! So we may have started to look into human transmutation just because we wanted Mom back... But as the years went by, and Al still hoped that you would come back and still called you "Dad", I just needed Mom to help me out! So that maybe she could let Al know how wrong he was! So that we could have our real parent back! Because when you left, Mom became the one parent that meant everything to us! That didn't just give us Mom, but also took over for the role that you never filled!"

Ed felt tears beginning to run down his cheeks and he wiped them away, but he kept producing more and more of them. "And I never wanted a father. But then Dad came and he... He said something that made him everything that we needed and wanted from a Dad. Because he told me "I won't give up on you, kid." That was when Dad started to be our Dad. When he first hugged me. And so I don't want a father. I just want my Dad. And now we've got him..." Ed sniffed and wiped away some more tears. "And don't see this as a sign of trust. Because I don't trust you. I hate you. But I'm not letting you leave here without knowing just what you did. I'm not gonna sit alone in my room with a lump in my stomach and then regret not talking to you. To tell you just how shitty a person you are. And I want to flee. I don't want to even look at you... But if I had just stayed in my room, then I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. So there. You told me that I ran away? Well, I'm not running away from this just 'cause it's easy and it hurts. I'm letting you know so that you won't leave here tomorrow without understanding just what you did to us." He dried away his tears again. "And so I'll tell you one last thing, because I'm not glossing over the facts. I'm not gonna not tell you the whole truth just because it's inconvenient... Part of me is still grateful that you left. Because if you hadn't done that, then we wouldn't ever have had Dad."

Hohenheim just stared, and tears began streaming down his cheeks as he stood up. "Thank you for telling me, Edward... You're right... Completely right..." He looked to Granny. "Pinako, thank you for offering me to spend the night, but I think it's better that I just stay at the inn by the train station. I am beginning to realise that I had no right to assume that I would even have a place to come home to. And I have no right to stay now... But if you would join me later tonight for one final drink in my room, then I would appreciate it greatly. I'm not coming back once I leave tomorrow, so at least I should offer my old drinking buddy a nightcap in gratitude for your hospitality."

Ed didn't even know what to say or do. Everything was just a torrent of emotions and all he wanted was just to have Dad hug him again.

"I'll be there at nine," Granny answered as Hohenheim walked back towards the front door and began pulling his coat on.

"Thank you, Pinako."

And so Ed found himself watching as the man once again stood there with his back turned to him in front of the door. Hohenheim began pushing it open, but then paused, still not looking at Ed. "Edward... Please tell your dad that I am truly grateful for what he has done for you boys. He hung up before I could say it... And I would like to ask you one final question... The thing that you transmuted, did it share any physical traits with Trisha?"

Ed froze, not even knowing what to say.

Hohenheim still didn't look at him. "I suppose you wouldn't know because of what happened to you... Goodbye, Edward... Thank you for setting me straight, it was long overdue."

And with that he left and closed the door.

Ed just stared.

Then his lips began quivering and everything exploded in his chest.

Five seconds later, he was sobbing into Granny's shoulder.

Roy looked at his son as Beatrice Stone left the room to get him his dinner. He was making his mind up in half a second. "Al, open up your chest plate, we need to smuggle me up on the roof so that we can talk in private."

He had had better plans than this. He knew it was going to hurt. But he needed to leave the room without trace. Nobody knew that Al's body was hollow, and Roy knew that he could curl up behind the chest plate, not even needing to stand or move his legs beyond that point. He saw Lieutenant Hawkeye's stern glare, but Roy glared back at her for once, not letting it get to him. "You're going to be my accomplice, Lieutenant, and that's an order."

Hawkeye sighed, she too caring too much about Al to even try to talk Roy out of it. "Yes, sir, I'll take down your IV bag for you," she said instead, before walking over to the side of his bed.

"Dad, are you sure about this? What if you hurt yourself even more?" Al was obviously worried, although he was already working on removing the chest plate.

"Al, we need to talk, and I want to do so alone. And I definitely want some fresh air for once," Roy said, carefully swinging his legs over the edge of his bed, feeling the increased pain from his wounds as he moved. Winry was looking at him with worry, but then she knelt down in front of him and guided his feet into his hospital-issued slippers. Roy sighed with a kind of heavy gratitude. "Thank you, Winry. Are you going to be okay back here?"

She looked up at him and nodded. "Of course. I'll just go to the cafeteria and find some dinner." Winry stood up, smiling at him. However, her eyes still held that fear and pain and inner turmoil that all this must have been causing her.

Roy decided that she could do better than that, and nodded at the Lieutenant. "Hawkeye, take my wallet and go find that Xingese restaurant two streets down. Order whatever you and Winry want, and hear with Falman outside too."

"Yes, sir," Hawkeye said, handing Roy his IV bag.

Winry just stared at him, opening her mouth to speak, but Roy cut her off. "Don't worry about it, Winry... You're technically my houseguest, and that cafeteria serves too dry food when it's supposed to sustain you for more than three meals. Now, if you could just help me get inside the armour, then it'll be more than enough." He held up his right arm to hook around her shoulders. Winry immediately bent down, helping him to stand, earning a pained groan from Roy. It was a bit stupid. Once again, he was finding himself being coddled instead of moving around as much as he actually could. He was able to walk around. Or at least shuffle his feet with slighty pained steps while leaning a bit on his IV stand.

But he had two concerned kids hovering over him. He had almost died on them just a few days ago. And they hated to see him in pain, and so causing even more of it was just disrespectful in a way. Basically, his tough guy act was being highly compromised by his fatherhood. After all, he had cauterised his own wounds and found his way to his son, before killing the attacker with his flames... And then been told to lie down and not move by Al.

And so he had done that.

Which was why Havoc always seemed to be smirking when Al and Winry left the room. Apparently it was very amusing for his subordinate to watch his boss - the youngest ever Amestrian general, the Flame Alchemist himself - be ordered around by a couple of minors.

Which meant that Roy found these few slippered steps to be exhilarating as he was led to his kneeling son. "Thank you, Winry," Roy told her, but she was obviously not done yet. And so she was helping him all the way inside the suit of armour, and Roy kept his groans and hisses of pain to a minimum. It wasn't entirely comfortable inside, that was for sure. But he shifted his back and pulled up his knees to him, and found a serviceable position. "You know, Al, I think that us being the Elric Mustang household fits perfectly. We are creative and alternative enough for this to be a part of parenting."

Al chuckled. "And stubborn. That's a big part of it."

Roy chuckled as well and instantly regretted it. This was a very bad position for him to chuckle in. Snickering was obviously going to be a form of torture. Laughing was out of the question. And hiccoughs would most likely prove to be fatal.

"Hey, Al, wait a sec," Winry said as Al began to move to replace the chest plate. Apparently both girls had had the same idea at the same time, because the Lieutenant was handing Winry Roy's shirt, and Winry reached inside with it.

Roy was definitely being coddled. He felt like a little kid as Winry put his shirt around his shoulders at the same time as Roy leant forwards slightly. Once he leant back again, Winry immediately folded the shirt around him, smiling a bit awkwardly at Roy, but there was also a bit of satisfaction in her eyes. "There," she announced, before poking Roy's forehead sternly. "And remember that you are not allowed to hurt yourself, Uncle Roy."

Roy just looked at her, eyebrows raised. "Yes, Ma'am."

She obviously seemed to decide to be thorough, because she then took the shirt sleeves and tied them over his chest, also as a way to hold his IV bag in place. "Okay, Al, he's good to go."

"Thank you, Winry. Now you have as much food as you want." Roy caught a glimpse of Havoc before the chest plate was replaced. And the man was smirking, there was no denying that. Part of Roy was happy that they could actually make his subordinate smile. He still had a hard time accepting that Havoc had become a paraplegic. His stomach was clenching every time he thought about it. And it was obvious that Havoc was keeping his frustration and fear to himself, most likely because of Roy's, Al's and Winry's presence.

He felt a tug of pain as Al stood up, no matter how gently. "Dad, are you okay in there?" It was an odd experience to hear Al's voice in this way. He hadn't actually done this before.

"Yes. Now let's go before Miss Stone returns. Thank you for your help, everyone."

It was weird to sit like this, Al now walking through the room and out into the hallway. He didn't have much light, all of it coming from the eyes of the helmet above him, as well as a little from the white fabric covering up the hole left by Al's arm and the missing lower jaw.

He could still see that metal box covering the blood seal to protect it from any water attacks. He felt his stomach clench slightly every time he thought about that. Being his sons had resulted in the boys instantly being assumed to know how to use flame alchemy.

When Ed and Al had asked him if he was going to teach them one day, Roy had looked at them, and had then given them a simple "no." He had of course, further explained that he had needed to decide how to give them the properly thought out answer. Because said answer had required Lieutenant Hawkeye's opinion as to how much he should have told them. He could have just said that "it is because I don't want there to be any other flame alchemists." Or that "it is too dangerous." And that "it reminds me too much of Ishbal." But that would have meant that his words could have been interpreted as him not trusting his sons. That he had thought that they couldn't handle it. That they would have used it for bad.

He hadn't been expecting the Lieutenant to agree to tell them everything and then show up at their house that same day after work. He hadn't been expecting her to tell them every part of the story, including the way that he had burnt her back. And he certainly hadn't expected her to remove her jacket to reveal that she was wearing a singlet with an open back, exposing most of the array.

But that was what she had done. And Roy was thankful for it. It had been the same day that they had told his sons everything about Ishbal.

Once Hawkeye had left, Ed had disappeared upstairs, and Roy had been afraid that it had been a bad decision thatb they had gone into such detail. Al had just sat there for the next ten minutes, not knowing what to say, and so both of them had sat there in complete silence.

And then Ed had come backstairs into the living room, only wearing his boxers, and with the book that had served as their bedtime story at the time. He had handed the object to Roy, and then pointed at his own automail arm and leg in turn.

...Then he had told him about how they had done stupid things, but at least they were moving forwards and doing something else than just letting their actions stop them. That they were trying to do something about what they did wrong. Then Ed had promptly taken the book back and had then sat down on Roy's lap, holding the book up. "Now read to us, Dad." And with that simple command, Ed had told Roy that he hadn't felt like it had changed anything. That they had still wanted to be with him.

It was in many ways the same as when Ed had told Roy to be pillow. There were so many things going on in that boy's head, so many repressed emotions. And yet Ed just didn't really need to say anything but those simple commands.

Roy whispered very quietly, closing his eyes with a grateful sigh. "Al... Thank you for putting up with this idiot of a father whom you are currently smuggling through a hospital... And you don't have to answer... You probably shouldn't, or someone could hear you." He sighed again, resting his head against the hard metal behind him.

Alphonse stopped walking after a few flights of stairs. Then a heavy door was opened, and Roy knew that they were finally allowed to have a conversation in private. He felt Al moving and then sitting down with his legs crossed. "Al?" Roy asked softly, not really knowing where to begin.

"Dad... I love you," Al suddenly said, his voice slightly shaky as it echoed around him. Roy didn't really understand how Al could speak with a voice when there was nothing but a soul in there. But he just cherished the fact that he could. "And I don't actually remember Van Hohenheim... And I don't think... I don't think I want to talk to him. I did before... But now... I don't even know what I would say. What I would want to achieve. Before I just wanted to talk to my dad... To hear his voice... But he's not my dad... He's the person that was never there... Whom I wanted to be there... But he wasn't... I just don't know why I should talk to him any more. And I don't even know if I want to know his voice."

Roy sighed heavily. "It's okay, Son... You don't need to do or say anything to anyone if that's what you prefer... Just because Ed and I went with the hot-headed approach, doesn't necessarily make it the right one."

There was silence for a while before Al spoke up again. "Dad... Talking with Barry, seeing his body and whatever soul there was inside of it... My body's a ticking time bomb... Because my soul and the metal body that it's bound to are gonna reject one another at some point... They're not supposed to be joined, Dad..."

Roy felt like his breath had been knocked out of him by sheer terror, his eyes going wide. He was instinctively looking up at the metal covering the blood seal. "Al... I..." He couldn't lose him. He could never lose him. Never. He couldn't lose his son without even knowing what he smelt like. What he felt like when he hugged him. Never.

He found himself instantly trying to decide which limb was best. He needed his legs. And he could use his left hand for both big explosions and pinpoint aiming.

...Like father like son, then.

But then came the realisation that he wouldn't be able to hug his sons like he wanted to with one steel limb. And so it was a matter of balance.

...Left leg, then.

"Al, we're getting your body back." Roy knew that giving away his new plans would only scare Al. Which would then force Roy to lie as he made him a promise not to do what he would.

"You're planning to give up a limb if this metal body rejects my soul, aren't you?" Al asked, sounding scared. "Dad, I-"

Roy interrupted him. "Alphonse, please don't waste your time trying to make me change my mind. I can't lose you. And you know full well that Ed's just going to do it if I don't. At least I'll have three limbs left. Ed will have three limbs gone... So please, Al... I know that it hurts you to know it. To see it. But please... Please just imagine what it would be like for us if we lost you... Just... Just please... Please don't let me live with the feeling that I value a limb more than my son... Please don't let me lose you before I even get to know what hugging you is like. If I can buy us some more time, then I am more than willing to pay the price." Roy felt a tear building just at the thought. "Because I don't even know what you sound like." Ed had told him that Al's voice hadn't changed at all since his soul was bound to the armour. "I need to see you back in your body. I need to hug you and smell you and know what it feels like when you're hugging me back. To feel your warmth... I need to know what it's like to be your human pillow too... Can't you see how that's more important than a damn leg?" The lump in his stomach had expanded so much that it made it hard to speak evenly.

Al was silent for about half a minute. "Okay, Dad... But please make sure it's a leg. If you're gonna give something up to buy me some time to get me back in my body... Then at least make it so that I can feel what it's like to have two warm arms around me when the day comes. Because I really want to know what it feels like to get hugged by my Dad too. Because I don't know what you smell like either."

Roy sighed with relief. "According to Ed, it's a kind of masculine, soft warmness that fits my cologne. I asked him one day, purely out of curiosity... And apparently it also smells of safety... I hope you'll think so too when the day comes." He closed his eyes again, letting out a deep breath. "And thank you, Al... Because your Dad really loves you."

Pinako walked into the inn, receiving a few nods from the people at the bar. This afternoon had been a very long one. It had turned out that Major Armstrong had been "practicing the respectful eavesdropping that had been passed down the Armstrong family for generations," listening to everything that Ed had told Hohenheim. She had just held Ed for ten minutes after Hohenheim left, the boy breaking down into tears that she hadn't seen since Trisha's funeral. It had been an hour later that Ed had decided that there was a second thing that he wouldn't run away from. Which meant that the three of them had headed up to where Pinako had buried the thing that the boys had transmuted. Ed hadn't been able to dig it up himself, of course, but he had still wanted to have it done without alchemy. And so Major Armstrong had taken the shovel in his stead, but he had refrained from using his considerable strength. Because he too could tell that this wasn't something that was supposed to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

And it certainly wasn't Trisha Elric that they had dug up. And yet Ed had wanted to make a grave for it. All because it had been alive for less than a minute. But it had reached out to Ed, had looked at him.

And so the boy had decided that it was human. He was using the term very loosely, but otherwise, he wouldn't be able to classify his brother as human either. But in the end, it had brought them all hope. Because when that thing had never been Trisha, then that meant that people truly couldn't be brought back to life.

...Which meant that Al's body still existed, because how else could Ed have pulled back his soul?

"He's up in the second room to the left, Pinako," the innkeeper said. He was looking confused, a bit angry and a bit awkward.

"Thank you." And so soon enough she knocking on the door to Hohenheim's room.

"The door's unlocked," came the man's voice, and so she walked inside, finding him sitting on his bed inside the small room. The interior was simple. Just the necessities, the walls made of unpainted wood, and the curtains surrounding the small window were a sort of dull, light yellow. There were two bottles of Stray Dog Whisky on the nightstand, a couple of glasses next to them. Hohenheim had also placed a chair in front of the bed, obviously meant for Pinako. He began pouring whisky into one of the glasses, sighing. "Well... This certainly wasn't the return that I had expected... Thank you for even humouring me enough to come here."

Pinako walked over and sat down on the chair, taking the glass from him. "Like you said, we're old drinking pals. And I'd like to talk to you in full before you leave... Besides, there has always been more to you than meets the eye, considering the way that you haven't changed one bit in the past five decades." She took a sip of her drink, watching as the man before her poured whisky into his own glass. "...And I think that that is part of the reason as to why you left in the first place."

Hohenheim just looked down, not meeting her eye. "A bit of it, yes... I asked Trisha not to tell the boys about my body..." He paused. "...Why didn't you tell me about the adoption?"

The first part of the answer was given a heavy sigh. And she was still angry after what she had heard today. "Because Ed was supposed to have been here already when you arrived. I decided I ought to give him the chance to tell you himself should he show up before you left..." She looked down at the brown liquid in her hand. "...Ed has changed since the adoption, you know. It's only to be expected, regaining a parent after such a long time without one and all the events that followed. The old Ed, he was far more predictable. Most likely he would just have yelled at you, barely kept himself from punching you because you were standing in front of Trisha's grave... And then he would have spent the rest of the time avoiding you, hating you in silence until you left."

She took another sip. "These days, I don't really know how he'll react... Because he's not forcing himself to be the strong grownup that can't afford to break down. And who shoves everything away so that he can look after his brother... And who therefore expresses most of his feelings through anger and accidentally blowing up buildings to stop criminals... And so I didn't know what he wanted to do about you. So I simply let him decide, because I didn't want to rob him of something that he might have been craving to say for years."

"...I think you're right about that. He definitely looked like he needed to tell me what he did..."

Pinako had to admit that her anger was flaring. Those boys had put up with a lot more than they should have. And after today, seeing and hearing Ed like that... Even if she liked Hohenheim and he was an old friend. Even if Trisha had chosen him and trusted him... She didn't regret it one bit that she gave her approval for Roy to adopt Ed and Al. Hohenheim had hurt those boys far more than she had known. And every time Roy had come out here with his sons, there had been an extra glint in Ed's eyes that hadn't been there since Trisha died. Roy had told her that when he first came here, he had noticed that Ed wasn't beaten, and that there had been fire in those eyes of his. A look of determination. These days, that fire was burning even brighter, because there wasn't just fierce determination. There was also happiness and relief. Because Ed had finally gained something that he so desperately needed. And even if the kid didn't think so, he definitely deserved it. Both boys did. "...I didn't even know about half those things he said, and I don't think Ed did either before Roy became his Dad. Sometimes you don't know how much some things have been bothering you for years, just because you've come to accept them. Like that's just the way it is... But once you get some abrupt changes and contrasts to those matters that you have come to accept... you start to add them up and you can no longer accept any of it. And that is what happened today as he stared at you... It was like a volcano, and because he wanted so strongly to be what you weren't, he didn't run away... But because he has Roy, it didn't turn into something that he kept to himself so as to keep that delusion of pride... Which again, as he said, would have ended in him regretting not telling you what he did once you're gone..." She sighed again, and her voice turned stern. "You know, Hohenheim, Ed showed a lot of courage by saying what he did. Because that is one of those things that seem so easy, but once you get the possibility to say them, you back out, not even knowing why in retrospect. But it's so easy. It's the easiest way to approach it. Because the hurt that follows can be excruciating... And I think that that was also the moment that he accepted in full that his mother is dead... Because he chose what she didn't... And Trisha wasn't there to give him her opinion."

Hohenheim still wasn't looking at her. However, his hands were trembling slightly, leaving her fairly certain that he was either on the verge of tears or already crying. "...Which is why I didn't explain why I ran away in the first place... I didn't want to give him a reason to accept even a smidgeon of what I did... After all the pain that I have caused, I don't want to hurt him even more. Neither of them. Peaceful hate is a far better thing for me to give him, than even more emotional turmoil. Especially now that I'm leaving for good... After all, what he said is still true. I still broke their hearts. I still did all that to them. I have no reason to call myself their father when that is what I achieved. Because I truly am a monster..." He looked up at Pinako at that, tears brimming in his eyes. "Thank you for giving them a real father... Because they deserve one after I let all three of them down like that. You're a good friend, Pinako."

She raised an eyebrow at him. She couldn't help the slight sadness that had settled inside her stomach. Hohenheim had been a friend of hers for decades, and she was fairly certain that this would be the last time she ever saw him. All in all, it was a strange meeting, and so she sighed and grunted. "You know, I'm still angry with you, right? I really don't see why you couldn't have written them a letter at least."

"...I guess I was just too cowardly... So now someone far better has claimed those boys."

Pinako pulled out a picture from the pocket of her apron, handing it to him. "I thought you'd like to know what he looks like at least. It's from when they came here a few months ago for the Spring Sheep Fair... Ed and Al had convinced Roy to visit the petting zoo with the lambs... He's wearing the uniform because they're made from Resembool wool, you know... Anyways, Ed decided to tackle Roy, pressed him flat on his stomach, only to have a couple of twin lambs decide to land on Ed's back in turn a second later... And then fall asleep as Al began to pat them. When Al suggested that Ed was trapped in a woolly sandwich, Roy couldn't help but laugh, Ed soon joining him." She liked that picture. She had a lot of pictures of Ed being grumpy or rolling his eyes from the years that followed Trisha's death. Ed had been smiling while she hugged her boys. And then he had turned grumpy because pictures were stupid. And on this one, Ed was grinning and giggling after having resigned to his fate. And so he was leaning his chin on Roy's left shoulder, his cheek pressed to his. Ed would have thrown the lambs off, no questions asked, if it hadn't been for the fact that the others had been too busy watching the wool shearing contest, rather than playing with the lambs. Which was exactly why Ed and Al had dragged Roy with them to the barn where the petting zoo had been located. That way they had been able get the city boy to pet lambs while all three could preserve their pride. And she enjoyed seeing the change in both Roy's and Ed's faces.

Hohenheim sighed again. "He has the eyes of a man that has seen a lot of death, but then found a happiness unlike any other..." Pinako could hear the way that he could obviously relate. "Was he one of the State Alchemists that fought in the Ishbalan extermination campaign?"

Pinako took another sip of her drink. It was probably the one thing about Roy that she wasn't going to ever completely come to terms with. After all, he had still killed far too many people in that war. While her son and his wife had been working non-stop treating and saving the lives of Amestrians and Ishbalans alike... Roy had been a mass-slaughterer. But at least he hadn't been involved with the patients that Yuriy and Sara had treated. He had been in an entirely different region.

However, knowing why he was staying in the military helped a lot. That, and the way that what he had done would always haunt him to some extent. He had never tried to gloss it over. Had never shown any sign of thinking that what he had done was even close to justified. "He's known as "the Hero of Ishbal"... His flame alchemy is probably the most powerful and dangerous form of alchemy there is. He can create giant explosions just by snapping his fingers. All he needs is a spark and that transmutation circle of his... It's a horrible ability... Which is why he has made it so that he will be the last one to ever master it. He burnt all his research after the war. There aren't any traces left that can be used to learn the secrets of flame alchemy. He won't even teach his own sons... And twice now in less than two months, he has used his alchemy to cauterise his own wounds so that he could return to his boys... And he's also the one who chose to go against his own military when he found Ed and Al soon after the transmutation failed."

"What do you mean?" Hohenheim was still looking down at the picture in his free hand.

"At first he was angry, understandably enough. He actually just strode into our house, picked Ed up from his wheelchair by the front of his sweater and yelled at him... But then he decided instead to give the boys an opportunity to regain their bodies. He also did it for personal gain, though. He knew that his own stock would rise for finding such a talented, young alchemist, after all... But he changed, and he has become family as a result. Winry calls him her Uncle Roy, and he has already put her in his will... We all care about him, and I suppose he's a bit like a nephew to me... After all, he's still a bit of a squirt."

Pinako had met Roy's aunt on one occasion when Chris had been in East City for some sort of bar owners convention. She had decided to combine it with closing the bar for two weeks to do some refurbishing. Her real reason for going to East City had been that she had seen an opportunity that she seldom had, namely to visit and meet the boys as well as Roy. Being the owner of a hostess bar, while also wanting to keep her relation to Roy a secret, made meeting the boys casually a very hard operation. Roy was an adult with a reputation as a womaniser and blended right in with the other patrons. Ed and Al were minors. Basically: the boys weren't allowed to go inside the establishment in the first place. And so Pinako hadn't exactly been happy when she learnt of the environment that he had grown up in.

...However, learning that Christine Mustang was a highly skilled intelligence operative whose bar was a prime location for gathering information, had helped somewhat.

And so Chris had come to Roy's house to ask one of her patrons to help her out. The excuse had been that there were very few of her customers that actually went with the non-alcoholic beverages. And so Roy, who had obviously been someone fairly knowledgable about good and bad drinks before cutting it all out, was asked to give her his opinion on the non-alcoholic options. It had, of course, all been a planned event for a few weeks. Which was why the boys had gone to a funfair with Winry... And Roy had suggested that Pinako helped him out, seeing as how she had a lot of experience herself with drinks.

Which had resulted in the three of them sitting in the back of a truck, Chris smoking, Pinako puffing her pipe in between sips, while Roy had been toasting them with a plastic glass filled with non-alcoholic cider. Pinako had hit off with the older Mustang, which had again resulted in a rather embarrassed Roy as Chris pulled out an old album with pictures of his childhood. Pinako had appreciated the way that they had gone to all that trouble just so that she could meet the woman that had raised Roy, but it had turned out that Chris had been interested in meeting her as well. And it had been amusing to hear the way that Chris talked about her nephew.

Roy was family now, but not really like a son, even if he was the father of someone that were like grandchildren to her. And, like Chris and she had decided, Roy was a bit of a squirt. Young and and a bit foolish once he was off duty. Plus, she could never take him a hundred per cent seriously as long as Lieutenant Hawkeye was his assistant/nanny. And so nephew had fitted quite well, because Roy was still a bit of a kid in her opinion.

"Only fourteen years older than Edward... And already a lot smarter than myself... So why do you approve of him staying in the military? I suppose he's guiding Ed in his search for a way to get their bodies back to normal, but that alone shouldn't earn your approval, considering who he is?"

Pinako sighed. It had happened a lot today. "I'm not going to tell you. Roy has his reasons, and although he has told us about it, I would be breaking his trust by telling you. I may trust you myself and I know that you wouldn't tell anyone... But it's simply not my place to tell you. I expect that you can understand that."

Hohenheim nodded, grabbing the bottle again. He carefully placed the photo in his lap, obviously not quite done studying it. He had obviously seen the way that they had both emptied their glasses, and Pinako held hers out for him as Hohenheim began speaking again. "How do you think Trisha would have liked him?"

Pinako took the glass back from him, watching as he poured some more into his own glass. She took a medium-sized sip, before lowering the glass to her lap, holding it with both hands. That part had been something that she had thought a lot about for the past year after the thought first struck her. "Would you like the honest answer?"

"Yes, please."

"I'm pretty sure that hadn't she been in love with you, she'd be in love with Roy... And even so, she would still have loved him, if not romantically... Because he is a good man, even if his eyes are those of a killer... And Trisha would have spotted that right away."

Hohenheim sighed. "That's good to hear... You're one of the people who knew Trisha best. Knowing that she would have loved him means that I can leave while also feeling at peace with letting Roy Mustang be their father. He obviously makes them happy in the way that a parent should..." He took another sip. "...Which I suppose means that this truly is the end of my fatherhood. It's only what I deserve... Guess there are worse things though, even if there is certainly a lot of irony involved. The one time I act as a father, is when I leave my sons to be raised by a man whom I have never met. But I believe that it will help them to think that I'm just the bastard that only ran away." Pinako saw a tear land in his glass, his hands trembling even more. "...And I am grateful that there was at least one good thing that came from what I did."

Pinako returned to the house at a quarter to one. She had given Hohenheim the only picture that contained the three Elrics while they had still been so and Hohenheim himself. It hadn't been as something that was meant to mock him. She had just given him the choice if he wanted to keep it, because Roy would be prone to burning it should he find the photograph. And so she greeted Den, found Major Armstrong looking at her, obviously having wanted to make sure that he was fulfilling his duties as a bodyguard. She still found it amusing, though, that he was wearing white pyjamas and a white nightcap. He nodded at her, both of them avoiding to make too much noise. She nodded back, and the behemoth somehow managed to walk back to his room without any of the floorboards creaking despite his considerable size. But that too was undoubtedly an ability reserved for the Armstrong family line.

Pinako walked back over to the noticeboard and pulled out the red drawing pin so that she could replace the picture of Roy and the boys. Hohenheim had thanked her for giving him the other picture, before he had immediately folded it and placed it inside his wallet. He had told her that it served as a reminder, although he hadn't told her what it was for. She could only theorise that it had something to do with keeping him going as he did whatever he was going to do.

All in all, he was a strange, old man. And she was sad to see him leave for good. Because she could tell that if he should return, it would be in a coffin. And his warning about how she should escape while she still could because something terrible was going to happen, obviously had something to do about it.

Which told her that he probably ran away because he was scared and was now off to do something noble.

She sighed, fastening the picture to the noticeboard. It was next to a picture of Roy looking at the camera in slightly alarmed confusion, a slice of bread with jam in his mouth. He had sticky jam around his mouth, especially at the corner of his mouth, and his hair was unkempt. He had been eating breakfast as she had taken the photo, dressed in his pyjama bottoms and a singlet, stubble having appeared since he had shaved the day before. And she had used his half-asleep state to sneak up at him before it had been too late for him to stop the picture from being taken. He had quickly asked her about just what she had been up to, to which she replied that it was a nice reminder for him that he was human. Roy had been speechless for about ten seconds, just staring at her, before he had returned to his breakfast, mumbling a muffled "thanks" through his partially stuffed mouth. Pinako had further explained it with her having three and a half kids to look after, which had made him a bit awkward. He too had understood that she meant that he was still partially a kid. And she had been able to tell that he had been touched by it all. None of them had spoken of it since, and there had only been the two of them present at the time.

She turned away from the noticeboard, shaking her head, scoffing. That stupid man was worrying her. Because the fool really needed to catch a break. All three boys did. But knowing their lifestyle, she knew that it was just in their nature not to get one.

She walked back to the hallway closet, pulling out a scarf that Roy had forgotten once, before silently heading for Ed's room. The boy was sleeping on his back, his stomach exposed slightly, his flesh hand resting on top of it. The cast on his leg and the wheelchair next to his bed made her wish that they would be able to fulfil their goal soon even stronger. She carefully walked over to the kid, pulled the blanket back over him, and then placed the folded scarf next to Ed's right cheek, making it look similar to a plush animal. Ed snuggled up to it, instinctively reacting to the comforting smell of the man that he wanted to be hugged by so desperately right now.

Pinako sighed, looking down at the oldest Elric Mustang. "It's been a long day, huh, kid?"

And please leave a review!

I didn't get any for the past two parts, which is very discouraging. And please no flames ;)