Chapter 3: The Faux Smile
"HEY CHIEF!" Havoc pelted his silver lighter right in the middle of Edward's forehead knocking him out of his little space out, and on the floor of the car.
"OWW! WHAT THE HELL!" Edward quickly sat back up and was about to punch Havoc in the face when he saw Elysia outside his window.
"Oh, hi Elysia! How are you?" Edward stepped out of the car and hugged the little girl that was waiting for him at the front of the Hughes manor.
"Hi, Big Brother! I'm fine! Hi, Alphonse!" She waved at Alphonse, who was already unpacking the boxes from the car to the house.
"Hello Elysia! I see that you're doing great!" Alphonse was carrying the boxes over to the house, where Gracia was standing at the door.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hughes. I hope you're well" He set down the boxes and went back to pick up the last few. Even though he was in a human body, he was still extremely strong and still had a sort of metallic ring in his voice.
"Yes, I'm fine, and you?" Even though she was aging, Gracia Hughes was as beautiful as ever. She bent down and picked up a book that was sticking out of a box and flipped through it.
"Ahhh, Transmutation Circles and their Qualities by Dr. Johann Zennehiem." Edward was carrying another box to the door when he saw the book Gracia pulled out.
"Yes, that is a really good book if you want to know more about circles, Elysia" Edward looked over to Gracia, and thought for a split second that he saw a tear in her eye.
"Mrs. Hughes? Are you all right?" Edward knew that having lost her husband to Envy, she had to get a job. It was lucky that Colonel Mustang gave her one since he was re located to Central, he needed a personal secretary, and he hired the widow of the late Maes Hughes.
"Hmm? I'm fine Edward, thank you for asking. You're such a sweet boy…" Her sweet voice washed over any grief that was still in her.
"I can't let them see. I can't let them hear. I must be strong" Her dreams were still ravaged by the loss of her husband, his coffin opening and seeing a green haired man with an strange marking on his left thigh, cackling like mad…
"Don't think about it. Put on a smile for your husband's and daughter's friend." She gave him a smile, and lifted a box and put it in her daughter's room.
