Okay. First off, thank you for all the wondeful reviews. I will reply to them at the end of this chapter.

However, earlier tonight two of my sister's friends from school, one of them her recent ex-boyfriend, were killed in a car accident. It's all very surreal.

Don't let this keep you from being your happy selves, I just may be a little off for a while, If you know what I mean.

Sorry for pushing this onto you guys, just thought you had a right to know why I might not be quite as happy-go-lucky as normal. I am drowning myself in music, so that should help. I know the chapter name does not completely relate to the story, I guess it's because of what happened. I think I may be in a little bit of shock. Also it's about four days until my sister's birthday on the 28th.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA.

Chapter 9: Bloody Valentine

The next three days passed normally. There were no free offices for at least four days, so in the meantime they moved another desk into the Colonel's office and he worked there. Every morning he would be ill, and then be perfectly fine moments afterwards. For the most part he was fine at work except for a couple other times, but not bad enough to throw up. Alphonse thought maybe he had a stomach virus, but no one else seemed to think so.

Roy, Ed and Al were getting closer to a solution to running the country. They were thinking maybe all three could do it, because they all had very different minds and could come to better conclusions on things. Only this also meant they would argue a lot and it was a short-term solution.

It seemed the second day Roy had made Ed exceptionally mad, and as he was storming out of his office, slipped a few small pieces of paper onto Hughes' desk.

Pictures of Alicia. Apparently he hadn't completely demolished all the pictures Hughes had forced him to keep.

So once again the military was no longer safe during the day, bombarded by Hughes and his 'super-cute' daughter (She's just so cute when she's finger painting! Look at that work of art! Good enough for the Central museum, right? Right?)

There had been no progress towards finding the one who had transmuted Hughes like this. They didn't know how many people were involved. Basically all they knew was that someone did it, and there was a lot of smoke, some light and someone screaming. The smoke was expected with a transmutation like that one, and alchemy always gave off light. However, they couldn't figure out why there would be light after the transmutation was finished and why someone would be screaming.

Also, everyday, here and there, whenever Roy and Maes had the chance to be alone, they would embrace and kiss and run fingers through one another's hair and run hands over each other's bodies and just let the other know that they were still there and wouldn't leave them. At night Roy had wanted to let Maes share his bed, but he had refused, saying he didn't want to wake up in the morning and puke all over him, and he continued to use the couch. So every night Roy would lay on the far side of his bed, watching Maes until they both fell asleep.

And so it continued for those three days, until the fourth day came.

The day started out as usual, Roy waking up and holding Maes until he was done being sick, washing up, and going to work. In the mid-afternoon Roy was in the middle of kissing his way up Hughes' neck when he stopped and grinned. Hughes blinked and looked down at him.

"Why'd you stop?"

"You know it's Valentine's Day today, right?"

"What about it?"

"You know that new restaurant that opened up?"

"Maybe. Why?"

"Want to go? Right now?"

Hughes just sort of stared with his mouth open for a few moments, until he noticed Roy looked like he might be second-guessing his offer by his reaction. Hughes grinned and drew him into a bear hug.

"Of course I'd like to go."

Not long after they were in Roy's car, on their way to the new restaurant, when he came to a sudden halt. Hughes lifted his head from where he had rested it on his hand and looked at Roy, a puzzled expression making its way across his face.

"Something wrong, Roy? Why'd you stop?"

Roy simply thrust his head slightly towards the window on Hughes' side, gesturing towards it. He turned to look and his eyes grew wide.

His house.

He was too busy being shocked that he hadn't noticed Roy get out and come around to the passenger seat until he had already opened his door. Roy held out a hand for him, then frowned.

"You okay Maes? You're shaking. Are you sick again?"

Hughes looked down at his hands. They were shaking rather violently. He had no idea why he felt so scared, so terrified, but he was and he didn't like it at all.

He found himself standing up, ignoring Roy's outstretched hand, and making his way to the house as if in a daze. He could vaguely hear Roy calling after him, asking him what he was doing, but his brain didn't register the words.

He didn't know how he knew, but he did. He knew that when he saw Gracia's garden it would be filled with weeds. He knew that the door would be left slightly ajar, knew that the house would be dark and lifeless, knew that when he walked into the kitchen he would find Gracia sitting in the corner, knew that she would be pale and sickly and knew that when she looked up, her eyes would be hollow and empty with nothing left but a flicker of insanity.

End Chapter 9

Okay, I'm going to give happy replies. Or to the best of my ability, my brain feels a bit scrambled. You know why if you read my a/n at the top.

Thatz of the Dragon knights: Heh, you're making sense. I think. Hmm.

Well, at least one of those guesses is at least close. Or is it? uuuh...>.>

didn't think my story would freak anyone out O.o Or maybe I did...-memory loss at work-

Duet Maxwell Shinobi of Wind: Wow, an actual fan? Didn't expect that. Can I use you when it gets too hot? -coughbadjokecough-

Yah, well, I'll forgive you for drooling on my precious story this time, but next time...-scowls-

Mauzkateer: Yah, I love it when they fight like that, they're so kawaii-loveable -huggles them- Although alot of authorsseem to make it look as thoughEd hates Roy's guts and vice versa, but I think they respect each other rather deeply under all that. Or if you like EdxRoy like me...mehehehe...

You should find out why Hughes gets sick in the next chapter or so. I think at leastone of the upcoming chapters is a long one...didn't check.

NubianQueen413: Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that.

heh, yes, must luv the MaesxRoy...must I say! Yes I'm talking to you! -points at randonm reader-

Some replies are kinda short, sorry. Thank you to the reviewers and to the readers, but please take the time to review.

Well, 'till next time I suppose. This is a bit of a cliffhanger isn't it? -laughs maniacally-