Logic of a Child
Chapter 7: The Tribute
IMBSA: Well….I survived episode 25….:sniff: Barely, but I'm hanging on….My therapists' numbers are on speed dial, so that's OK. But the reason why I'm telling you this is to say that this chapter may have a slightly different feel to it than the others because we wanted this to be a sort of tribute to Maes. Hopefully we'll be able to honor his memory in a way befitting such a noble character.
Disclaimer: "Sometimes only one person is missing and the whole world seems depopulated."—Alphonse de Lamartine
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"Graciiia! Elysiiiia! Girls! I have surprise for you," Maes musically bellowed as he entered the doorway holding the hands of the two four year olds.
The two timidly entered the house as Maes gently ushered them inside and closed the door behind him.
"We're in the bathroom, daddy!" Elysia's voice rang out. Maes immediately knew that meant that Gracia was giving his sweet pea a bubble bath.
"We'll be out in a second, honey!" Gracia hollered back sweetly. Maes turned to the two four year olds,
"You two will be in for a treat tonight! We're gonna have a sleepover!" Maes announced.
"Mr. Hughess, what's a sleepover?" Riza asked scratching her head. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Hmmm…That's a good question, little Riza, Let me see…How about an all night party!" Maes stated with a smile.
"But why is it called a sleepovew?" Winry queried.
"Well it's called a sleep over because you get to over sleep the next day!" he noticed the two still didn't understand, "C'mon you'll see…it'll be so-o much fun you'll never want to leave!" Maes took the two girls by the hand and strolled to Elysia's bedroom. The room was decorated in pastels and had every toy a youngster could imagine. The girls stood in amazement as their wide eyes scanned the room from top to bottom.
"Wow!" Riza and Winry chorused, eyes still wide in awe.
"Go ahead, go play. My daughter won't mind. She'll be here in a few minutes." Maes told them. Despite his invitation, the girls somehow seemed to have a reverence for the things of a fellow four-year-old when all they had been surrounded by were grown bachelors who (for the most part) could make neither heads nor tails of this "parenting" thing. Before long, a slightly red-nosed and clean Elysia walked in, led by her delicate-looking mother.
"Hello sweetheart, good to see you," Gracia murmured, as she and her husband shared a brief yet sweet kiss.
"Daddy, daddy!" Elysia pulled his pant leg. Maes bent down and picked her up, holding her towards the Heavens with an enormous grin on his face.
"How's my beautiful princess? Feeling better?" He asked. She giggled and nodded. "Well, guess what, I have a surprise for you."
"What is it Daddy?" Elysia questioned quizzically.
"More like, who is it?" Maes answered. "I brought some friends for you to play with!" He turned her to look at the girls as they stood, transfixed by the newcomer, "Elysia sweetheart, this is Winry and this is Riza. They'll be staying with us tonight for a sleepover, isn't that great?" Maes enthusiastically stated, once again kneeling so he was at eye level with the girls. It wasn't long before dolls and teddy bears came down from shelves and bedspreads. As the girls played, with Maes and Gracia watching, the overzealous Lt. Col. began busting out his camera, snapping photos at every possible moment. Gracia saw her husband's actions and sighed.
"Oh, honey, Roy wouldn't like that." She informed him gently. Maes paused momentarily to respond.
"I know he said no pictures…." He admitted dolefully. "But this is just too cute to miss!" And with that, he returned to taking pictures. Gracia smiled and shook her head.
After a while, the three girls got it into their heads that they would make the most stunning trio of beauticians the world had ever seen. They began small, with the manes of some of the stuffed horses Elysia had, but soon gravitated to the hair of the dolls. Granted some dolls had combs that remained entangled and stayed there, but for the most part, the trio was satisfied with their performance. Every toy that had some semblance of hair did not go without a new coiffure or accessory. Knots of "ribbons" were added to top off their creations. As Maes excitedly took his pictures, Elysia could not help but watch her daddy crouch and click away.
"Daddy, could you play with us?" Elysia asked.
"Yeah, you could be our next customer," Riza chimed in.
"Okay, that sounds like fun…." Maes smiled at the honor of even being invited to play with them. He stood up to give Gracia the camera and couched down with the girls. Winry pretended to take his name.
"Mr. Hughes—H-U-G-H-E-S," he spelled out confidently, taking his role as a customer quite seriously. Winry pretended to write his name down.
"What awe you hew fow Mistew Hughes? A cut and style? Or---?" Winry asked, not sure what word should fit in and turned to Riza.
"I think it's called a makeover," Riza called out, restyling the hair of a red headed doll.
"I think I'll have the make over…" Maes said ensuring that all three girls somehow had a part in his play. He did not want to leave anyone out. Elysia took one of her towels and draped it around her dad's shoulders as Maes sat on the floor and leaned against the bed.
"Sit still Mr. Hughes," Elysia instructed as she pretended to cut his hair with a scissors she made with her index and middle finger. Her dad's spiky hair was styled with the likes of baby combs, brushes and water. He watched his daughter in the full length mirror on the wall by them and smiled as he observed how much care his Elysia put into his "haircut".
"All done," Elysia announced. She pretended to wash her scissors, while Riza scanned the room for more implements. Elysia left the room momentarily calling out to her mom. Riza and Winry decided that Mr. Hughes needed to update his look. Taking some elastic bands and little plastic alligator clips, they gently pinched tiny tufts of his hair and as best as a four year old could, wrapped the bands or clips around each matted tuft. He had about ten tufts of short, mini pony tails covering the top of his head. The two grinned in satisfaction.
"Please lean back," Riza requested. Maes leaned his head back on Elysia's bed, as Riza pretended to "shave" Maes face with a blunt toy spatula from Elysia's kitchen toys and some water. Mr. Hughes was very quiet. Winry was picking up the elastic bands that had accidentally flew off their little fingers.
Riza stepped up on her tiptoes to get a better view of Maes' face. His eyes were closed underneath the glint of his glasses. Elysia ran back into the room with a small bottle clutched in one hand and a small bag in the other. Both Winry and Riza quickly put a finger to their lips. "Your daddy's sleeping," Riza disclosed. She then inspected the things Elysia brought in. "Where's your mommy?" she asked. A bottle of nail polish and a make up bag were in her possession.
"In the bathroom," Elysia answered in a whisper and smiled slyly. She stuck her tongue out of her mouth in deep concentration as she twisted the nail polish bottle open.
Winry cooed as she unzipped the make up bag, "Ooh, pwetty lipstick!"
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Gracia walked out of the bathroom in her robe, squeezing her wet hair with a towel. Elysia's room was too quiet, so she tip-toed silently to the bedroom doorway to investigate. There was Maes, leaning against the bed, Elysia on his chest and Riza and Winry on either side of him. All were sound asleep. Gracia grabbed the camera and quickly clicked two photos of Maes and the girls, then stealthily walked away with a grin.
Maes suddenly opened his eyes. He caught sight of the ceiling, picked up his head and looked down to see Elysia lying on his chest in deep slumber. To the right of him upon the huge pink, purple and white rug with a unicorn that he sat upon, lay Winry and to the left of him lay Riza. He smiled being surrounded by a trio of four year olds who moments ago were giving him a beauty make-over. Maes slowly stood up carefully carrying Elysia, turned down the covers of the bed, placed her on it, planted a kiss on the top of his daughter's head, and pulled the covers over her. He then unrolled two mattress pallets, covered them with linens, and placed Winry on one and Riza on the other also covering them both up with blankets. Maes Hughes sighed. I could get used to this, he thought with a smile. Then he noted that both Winry and Riza were still four year olds. He stood with his hands on his hips, pondering this serious notion. Maes turned and saw his reflection in the full length mirror. It seemed to take all the control he had to contain his laughter, so he wouldn't awaken the slumbering four year olds. There he stood, clad in Amestris finest army uniform, sporting a head filled with ten little pony tails sticking out of his head like porcupine quills, randomly placed ribbons on a few of them. Bubble gum pink nail polish decorated the tips of his fingers and his nails. He noted a more mauve hue on his mouth, as though he had eaten the lipstick rather than it being used to color just his lips. As he stood there smiling to himself at the image in the mirror, he caught a glimpse of Gracia in the doorway, spying on him. He turned to meet her.
"So whaddaya think?" he whispered in her ear, holding out his arms that he placed around her waist as she walked in front of him, facing the mirror as well so they could both take in his image. She grinned sweetly holding Maes' cheek with one hand wagging her head. "It's hard to improve on perfection, I know," he poked fun in a low voice, still gazing at himself in the mirror.
"You are amazing!" she whispered back to him, turning to Maes and looking deeply into his hazel eyes. They were caught in the moment as he gently planted a soulful kiss on her parted lips. After a second, they both wore mauve on their mouths and chins.
Gracia cupped her hand to her face and let out laugh, yet being careful not to wake the girls. The lipstick was all over Maes. She wiped the mauve mess off with her towel.
"I think I'll go into work like this… Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes reporting for duty, sir," he joked quietly and once again grabbed his wife's waist.
She smiled, "No, I think it's about time you get cleaned up, Lieutenant Colonel," she replied breathlessly, wiping the lipstick off his face with her towel as well.
"But I like the new me….Let's go out for some drinks, so you could show me off," he joked again in a hushed voice.
"No offense, but if you get that pink stuff on your uniform, Maes, it'll never come off. I already ruined this towel," she explained.
"All dressed up and nowhere to go," he stated mock-sullenly and happened to look down, "Man, they did my toenails too!" He announced to Gracia, wiggling his toes. She continued to grin at the sight of his massive feet with touches of the pink polish on his toenails. They both picked up the toys that littered the floor setting them on the shelves and in their various places. There was a silence that filled the room, an awkwardness that was alien in the Hughes household.
"The two haven't changed back yet," Gracia observed. "What if—?" she stopped herself from going on.
"I know," Maes replied touching her shoulder, he soon dismissed the thought, and changed the subject, "Honey, where do you keep the polish remover?" Maes asked.
"Oh no…Maes I'm so sorry….I ran out of it just yesterday."
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Colonel Roy Mustang walked into his office early. He glanced at the coffee table. The cups they used to have their tea party still stood on it as if reminding him the previous day's events. He gathered up the cups and placed them on the desks. 'Is Riza back to her original self? Will she remember anything that happened? What if she suffers side-effects? What if she's not back to her normal state?' His frantic thoughts began jumbling together.
He was interrupted by the sound of the door to his office opening and someone entering. Looking up hopefully, Roy prayed that Riza was all right. And by all right, he also meant not a four-year-old.
His heart sank slightly as he saw that his visitor was Maes carrying the sleeping form of little Riza Hawkeye in his arms. Maes gave him a wry look, and a whispered, "Sorry buddy, you just must be outta luck. But we had the best time!" Roy looked down at Riza as she lay there…and noticed that her carrier sported a light shade of pink nail polish. Roy raised his eyebrows. "What?" Maes followed Roy's pointed look and then laughed quietly. "Like them? I think they're a perfect contrast to the uniform." He walked over to the couch as he said this, gently placing the slumbering girl on the couch. "I'll tell you later. The pictures are so-o cute!"
That shook Roy out of his reverie. "Pictures?" He repeated. "I thought I told you—"
"Well, I've got lots of work to catch up on today, so I'll just leave you and your little sweetheart alone."
And before Roy could even call "MAES!" he was gone.
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"Thanks honey," Maes said to Gracia once he had exited the Colonel's office, taking an also slumbering Winry from her arms. A sleepy Elysia rubbed her eyes from where she stood beside her mother, holding her hand.
"We'll be leaving then," Gracia told him, lifting Elysia to fill the space vacated by Winry.
"Bye, sweetheart." Maes and his wife shared a short good-bye kiss before he gave Elysia a peck on the forehead and walked away with Winry in his arms.
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A light knock on the door prompted Alphonse Elric to answer it. He opened the door slightly only to see Maes and a sleeping little Winry in his arms. "Lt Colonel Hughes," Alphonse greeted. As quick as he could, Al opened the door to allow them in, "I can't believe she's not back to normal yet," Al whispered.
Maes scanned the room looking for someplace to lay down the four year old.
"I know, I'm a bit worried about that….But I'm sure it will all turn out OK," he stated trying desperately to sound reassuring. The only bed in the room was occupied by Edward, who was slumbering underneath the covers and only took up one side of the bed. He looked at Alphonse as if ascertaining whether placing Winry there would be prudent.
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happened to Winry." The Lt. Col. carefully placed Winry on top of the covers beside a sleeping Ed. Maes knew the ties of their relationship were strong, bound by friendship and a compassion borne by trying times.
"Well, see you Al." He looked at Ed and Winry on the bed. He laughed, slightly nervous, and put his hand behind his head. "Make sure they don't hunt me down and kill me, ok?" He knew he'd left them in an awkward situation, but he trusted the boys. "I'll check on them later."
"'Kay." Alphonse answered and watched Maes leave the room.
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IMBSA: How sweet….I know it was a departure (we told you it would be), but considering the lack of Gracia/Maes on this site, we had to. Besides, it's good to take a break once in awhile. What's weird about eppy 25 is that I wasn't blubbering while I was watching it, but every time I think about it now, I want to cry. I'm stunted like that….And in case you're wondering, Maes called Gracia and told her about the girls coming over before he left HQ. He's not the type to spring something like this on her.
Runa: I almost didn't put the tea party in there, but I was convinced otherwise, and it seems to be a good move. Well, my mom has had experience with children (what with raising me and all) and I got most of my information from her. Plus, I also babysit.
The Celestial Tiger: I think he was one of everyone's favorite characters, if not the most favorite. You know they're only doing it because it's Winry and Riza, right? Well, Roy's bit more mature and he's seen what they can do if denied the freedom to make certain decisions. They're taking a big risk, yeah, but they certainly wouldn't want to bring Riza and Winry home with them. If Riza woke up at Roy's place, she'd probably go ballistic! Literally, now that I think about it. And while that would be completely hilarious, somehow, I don't want to write it.
Apparition7: We have a lot of Maes love in this chapter, so I hope it was OK. I checked Shou's voice, and you're right, they're the same. You're also right that Hiei is awesome. He ownz all their asses. Except Yusuke, 'cause I love Yusuke too. I trust that the chapter lived up to your expectations.
Kyia Star: Either it was Maes or Ed. Which would you choose?
Camille: It wouldn't be a true comedy without Maes added to the bunch.
Invisible johnny: Oh, Ed's just fun to tease, isn't he?
Presea Combatir: We like the prospect of Riza calling him Uncle Roy as well. That part of eppy 25 almost got me as well. I'm about to cry right now, in fact, just thinking about it….Then of course the movie I'm watching has to go ruin it for me….
Crazyanimefreak15: That's also a good reason. What's even better is that they're one big, happy family with Riza as the mommy. That image is just priceless! Ed kinda looks like Riza if you think about it. I've always toyed with an idea for a fic based off the book "Hush" by Ann Fraiser (good book, btw) using that excuse. But anyway, thanks for the review!
Tsunade-chan: I love Hughes too! SQUEALIES::huggles Hughes plushie: Thanks for the compliment. My mom helps me with those a lot.
Pichu17B: I almost didn't put the song in, but, as with the tea party idea, I was quickly convinced otherwise.
Pilgrim Snow: If that's true about your lunch ladies, I feel so bad for you. Thank you also for the review!
Lone Metal Alchemist: O.O :puts hands up: All right, all right!
aNiMe-AzN-aNgEl: I liked Roy as the daddy and Riza as the mommy. To quote Maes, "I'm sure he is." I think it's been established that we all like Maes. Why yes, we do live on the coast.
Ice Witch101: I'll be waiting for my cookie then!
Chibijac: I love sleep overs! Thanks for the feedback!
AnimeFreaks13: It's ok, as long as you've reviewed! Have coffee. Coffee will help. :nod nod:
Winry the Alchemist: I e-mailed you. So there. :p
C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: It is insulting when you really think about it. It may be just an image. But if you think of it in terms of that Riza is sacred to him, a sinner like him doesn't deserve her love. So he sleeps with other girls as a kind of way of forgetting what he's done, and that he can't have what he wants. Ah, it's kinda stupid, my theory is, but it's sorta…sad. Don't mind me….I'll check on your profile for the e-mail since it didn't show up. You know how ffdotnet is about URLs.
To SwordmasterKevin, My Dream's Shadow, angelneko22, candidus-lupus-full Moon, kitsunesensei, and lupin, thank you for your reviews!
It seems that "Why did Maes have to die?" is the million dollar question today. Hm. R&R!