Girl

"Ooh!" Emily's eyes lit up in childish delight. "I haven't had sweet peas in ages!"

"Just for you, kiddo," Havoc said, kissing her on the top of her head. "And we've got an apple pie for dessert."

Light blue eyes suddenly went dreamy. "M'mm... you really do remember all my favorites!"

Ed shifted in his chair. The seventeen-year-old girl really was a bright spot in the apartment, cheering Jean up immensely. And it didn't help that she was so darn cute. Not pretty. Just... cute. She was like a younger female version of Jean himself, with the same impish grin, same straw hair tamed into a long plait, a smattering of freckles and sapphire eyes just a bare shade lighter than Jean's.

Adorable? That's not me, that's her... He knocked that thought out of his head.

"... and chicken pudding, too? Oh, Jean, you're spoiling me!"

"Of course I am, you twit. You're my favorite sibling."

Ed snapped back to the real world. "Wait... chicken pudding? Who exactly are you spoiling here?"

"Ed also likes the stuff," Jean explained to the innocently mystified expression on Emily's face. "He hardly ever leaves any for me when I make it."

A patented Havoc Family™ smile flashed across Emily's face. "Really? I think I like you even more, Ed."

This time, he really did nosebleed. He shoved a gloved hand against his nose in an attempt to stem the crimson tide.

"Oh, Ed, you're bleeding! Let me help!" She unfolded a handkerchief and held it to his nose. "Will you be all right?"

Havoc squawked with badly-suppressed mirth. Ed glared painful, pointy death at the man.

I can't help it if you two are so bedamned lovable!

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Hey, everyone? Blame Ed's ignoble doom on sketchyheart. That's where I got this idea from, and I quote: "He. Emily is cute. I suddenly desire Ed to start nosebleeding on her. 'Oh, Ed, you're bleeding! Let me help.'"

Yes, this is going to become another multi-parter, considering I only have two more titles to go and an epilogue. In other words, there's just no more space to really play with Ed and Emily unless I expand 'Girl' into an arc... ohh...

That pinging sound you hear is an evil idea.