I'm so sorry that it took me so long to post this! My muse for this story has been sort of dormant, I guess. But I swear, I won't abandon this one, although it might take a week between the chapters.

And thank you people so, so much for your response to this! This has become my most viewed fic so far, so thank you! You people are amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter Ten

Edward woke up to find himself in a surprising situation. He was lying next to the Colonel, using his right arm as a pillow, his own arm, although unfeeling automail, lying on the man's stomach. He had sort of believed it to be a dream. Part of him was glad to discover that it was in fact real, but another part of him was completely freaked out by it all.

Then the Colonel shifted and slid an arm over his side, making his back shout in protest, but Ed didn't care. Even when sleeping, the man was actually pulling him closer into the hug. Even when sleeping, the man obviously cared about him.

It was an oddly warm feeling that Ed hadn't really felt ever since Mom died.

The Colonel mumbled. Then he woke up. "Hmm? Wha? Oh… Ed." He smiled. "Morning."

"I think it's afternoon."

Mustang lifted his head high enough to look over Ed's head. "I think you're right. It's a quarter past two."

"Oh."

Ed felt awkward. They were going to have to talk about this.

"Uhm…Colonel?"

"I think you've earned the right to call me Roy."

"Oh. Right. Roy? Where does this leave us?"

Roy grew contemplative. He seemed to be thinking it through thoroughly. "I don't know. I have basically no experience in parenting, but I'll do my best for you if you want me to."

Ed had to say that it sounded both nice and scary at the same time. And of course, fucking weird. "I don't know … I haven't really wanted a father after that bastard left. And I still can't believe that it's you out of all people. I guess it's still just really confusing."

"That's okay. I'm confused too." Roy was speaking in a soft, comforting voice, but his eyes betrayed that he too felt a bit lost.

"You better be, otherwise this would just be creepy."

Roy chuckled and put his hand at the back of Ed's head. Ed pressed his forehead against his chest, joining in on the hug. It felt so good that it was okay. That it was okay to be hugged, to want a hug. To miss having a parent.

And he liked that Roy understood that it was more important than the fact that Ed hurt from his back and his face and even his hand. And so he didn't ask. He did have a concerned look on his face, but that was just as it should be. It was a sign that he cared.

So this what it was like to know "Roy" instead of "Mustang" or "The Colonel". Ed could understand why Hawkeye was so loyal now. If she got to see Roy for who he truly was, then Ed understood her perfectly. Although he wouldn't want to be his assistant.

But this. This was nice. This was warm and safe. It felt right.

"But it's still fucking weird that it's you."

"Well, I wasn't exactly thinking that this was where I would end up two weeks ago either."

"Kind of know the feeling."

"I mean, I am more used to you being a brat…"

"Oh, shut up."

"But you're a good kid. Just know that."

"Thanks. I guess that you're pretty okay when you're not busy being a bastard."

Roy sighed. "You know, Edward, you need to work on your compliments."

"Nah, I think I've got them under control."

"Of course you do…"

It was so weird to lie there, because the hardened shell that he had built up for the last eleven years was screaming at him to run, telling him "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" but his body wasn't listening. It was just so good not to be the one in charge of making things right for once.

And so Ed just enjoyed the hug.

"Hey, Edward, how's your head?"

"It's fine. I think Doc may have overdone it with excusing me from work for a whole week, but I guess it was mostly just because he doesn't like Schiff. I'm just dizzy and have a headache."

"Well, then I'm not the only one who wants you far away from Schiff."

"Guess so. But I'm getting back at Milton somehow."

"Be careful, Ed. I don't want you to get any more injuries."

"I won't let him beat me up again!"

"No, I'm talking about what Schiff will do if you take on his nephew. I don't want to watch you get flogged again. Once is one time too many."

"So now you're doing the whole "concerned parent" thing? Because that's actually a bit scary you know."

"Just so you know, Edward, you've had me worried ever since you decided to point a spear at Führer Bradley during your examination." Roy sighed.

"I still don't know how he managed to draw his sword…" Ed mumbled.

"There's a reason why he's the Führer. He's not an average soldier."

"But still…"

"Just let it lie."

"Fine."

Roy felt weird. He was actually lying in bed, holding Edward Elric and hugging him like a son. And it seemed that they were both enjoying it. And Roy felt that this was actually right. This was how it was supposed to be. And he had to say that he was extremely happy about the result of their talk. Ed hadn't shut himself off but was instead acting on what Roy guessed to be an instinctive longing for a father.

And he was himself happy with this odd feeling of, he didn't really know what it was, but it was a kind of warm pride in the boy, he supposed.

He felt a weird kind of ownership that he hadn't felt before. But it was nice. Because Edward was his. And so was Alphonse. They were his boys. And Roy actually felt lucky. He felt lucky for being able to hug Edward in this way, because who else would he actually have allowed to do so?

And so Roy couldn't help but feel slightly guilty about how he had been treating Edward these last two years.

"You know, Edward, I should have told you this earlier, but you're a great boy. A really great one. Both you and your brother."

"Oh, thanks? Where did that come from?"

"It was just something you said. You told me that you really thought that I meant that you're a brat and nothing more."

"Oh. Yeah, well, we figured that one out though, didn't we?"

Roy chuckled. "Yes. But still. You've been my subordinate for two years and I haven't actually complimented you, not once."

"That's okay."

"It's not, actually. Not when it led you to believe that I didn't care about you and that I only helped you this last week out of pity. That's not how I should have acted, and I'm sorry for it."

"I told you, it's fine. Now stop making this awkward." Ed moved his automail arm so that he hugged Roy tighter, and Roy did the same with his flesh and blood one so that the boy was resting closer to his chest.

"Out of all the moments for you to be a teenager, it has to be when I'm trying to make things right."

"Stop ruining it…" Ed was sounding sleepier.

"Fine kid, I won't." Roy smiled.

It didn't take long for a series of snores to escape from the teen. Roy just lay there, stroking the back of his head, enjoying the moment while trying to block out the dread that it also brought.

The door was opened slightly and Alphonse peeked in. Roy froze. He had promised Ed that nobody would know about this, but at the same time, it would be hard to keep this away from Al. Besides, this was a step further than any of them had guessed that that crying would bring them. It was, after all, a step into fatherhood.

"Colonel, oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you, I was just checking in on Brother."

"It's completely fine, Al," Roy smiled reassuringly.

"Oh, good. Do you know how he's doing?"

"He seems to be better. He says he just has a headache and is dizzy, but we both know that Ed isn't one for saying anything until he's dying of internal bleeding or something."

"I thought you didn't know about that one!" Al sounded surprised.

Roy felt his sleepiness disappear. "Don't tell me he actually did nearly die from internal bleeding?"

"You know when we said we went to Resembool for six weeks four months ago?"

Roy groaned. "You should have said something!"

"I'm sorry, Brother made me swear not to tell you! But I did force him to stay in bed every day and he did get fine after staying in the hospital."

Roy sighed. "You know, Ed is lucky to have you. We all are. Like I told Ed, you're both great kids. You just need to trust us adults a bit more."

"Well, it seems like Ed has begun trusting you a lot more. That's good."

Roy was glad that the lights were turned off so that Alphonse didn't see the faint blush reaching his cheeks. He was still so new to this whole parenting business that having it pointed out to him this way made him feel a bit embarrassed. "You know that if you ever want to talk, that you're free to come to me, right? I … already told Ed that I care about him, and the same goes for you. So if there is ever anything that you need, day or night, just tell me, please?" Roy had no idea if that was a good speech or not, but he would stumble his way through this, he had gone much too far not to finish after all.

"Thank you, Colonel, really. I will. And thank you for taking care of Brother, it means a lot to both of us."

"No problem, Al, it's my pleasure."

Al moved to close the door behind him. "Oh! Alphonse!"

"Yes?"

"It's Roy."

"Oh, okay. Thank you, Roy."

"Of course."