I'm sorry, guys. I love Maes Hughes…. terribly. To the point it hurts…but…in this fic, he just died. I'm sorry! I hate it! But I need it! Forgive me!


When Havoc didn't come to work, yet again, everybody was worried. Ever since the day of the funeral, Jean had been absent. That was about a week ago…and everybody was taking his or her own sweet time dealing with it. But…at least they had come to the office. Sure, it was really slow now, and people lacked their drive to laugh and joke around, but at least they were there.

Roy Mustang…was hit hard by it like a brick, but he was still worried about the Second Lieutenant, so he took his leave to find him. Perhaps he was in his apartment; yeah…he'd check there first…and then head to the graveyard.

Can you hear me?

"Ano…Hughes…I still don't understand…anything that you said to me." Jean said quietly, his gaze set on the grave before him. He was silent for a while, until he smiled, "I finally beat Breda at that game he's always playing….I…I wish you could have seen his face…I really do…" he found his eyes watering, even though he was sure he was dried out by now. He was going to say something else, until he felt like he wasn't alone. It was that feeling, the one where you know that somebody that you really care for is by you.

Are you near me?

"Havoc." He jumped at his name, and turned around. He was shocked when he saw who was behind him. What on earth was Mustang doing there, oh well…duh. He was Hughes' best friend, after all. Turning fully to the man, he gave a weak salute.

"Hello, sir…" Mustang gave him a nod and watched the other's salute drop. As he had feared, Jean Havoc was a total mess. His eyes showed more than one sign of crying, he wasn't wearing his uniform, and there wasn't a cigarette in his mouth. Mustang wasn't sure what to say, as the man smiled at him tiredly…he was lost for words with the man in that state. "I'm sorry…for my absence, sir…I…I realize that it was really uncalled for…but…" his eyes where heavy with water again, "I…wanted to see him…again…" Mustang immediately gave himself a mental kick as the other man turned his head away from him. He'd made him cry.

"I understand…" was all he could push out. He searched for words, and decided to point out why it was a bad idea that he wasn't there, "We're all worried about you, Havoc…" the taller man gave a nod, and a few tears hit the grass. This wasn't helping Mustang any either, "I'm…worried about you, Jean…." He watched as sad eyes looked to him in slight shock. His facial expression changed a bit, as he looked to the ground,

"I remember Edward talking about alchemy once…" Mustang immediately stiffened. "He was talking about Equilivant Exchange…" he suddenly looked up, anger trying to show through his sadness, "What about us? What have we gained if that stupid rule is true? When Hughes died…what was there to gain? Nothing!" he looked to the ground again, more tears falling freely. "Hughes gave his life, and we have nothing to show for it…nothing at all…" Mustang gave a sad sigh and smile,

"Nobody said that the outcome of the exchange is going to be a positive one…" very good, Roy…make it worse. "Come on…" he took a step forward and grabbed his hand, "You need to—" when he was pulled forward he forgot what he was going to say. Havoc's arms wrapped around him, and he seemed to melt. Havoc wasn't helping him with his own emotions, as he could feel a lump in his throat. Placing his head on the other's chest he gave a small sigh, "Havoc-shoi…" the other man didn't make a sound, he just held him. "We need to go…" he felt him nod.

Can we pretend…to leave and then….

When Havocs hug loosened, he took a small step back and looked to the grave that he knew the other had been talking to for quite some time. He nodded towards it, and wouldn't let the words he was thinking come from his mouth. The both of them shared a small smile as they looked to it, the both of them knowing that they'd be back together. Mustang looked up to the other man, to see if he was ready to go, and Havoc gave him a larger smile as he wiped the remaining tears away from his eyes. He was surprised when the other held a hand out to him, and it made him smile. Taking the hand Mustang chuckled to himself, even now…Hughes was still somehow playing matchmaker. As they turned from the grave, their fingers laced together, and Jean smile seemed to brighten.

We'll meet again…

"The…office is the other way…" Havoc pointed out when he noticed where they were walking. The man beside him didn't look to him; he only kept his smile,

"I know…" he stated.

"Well…where are we going then?"

"You'll see…" Havoc looked confused, and somewhat worried, until the Colonel turned and smiled to him. Yeah…he was in trouble, but at the moment he didn't mind. As they walked, he began to wonder…if Hughes knew what had just happened.

Yeah…Hughes knew all to well, and as his spirit watched the two make their way down the street, he gave a huge grin,

"It's about time…Roy…"

When both out cars collide…


I'm so sorry that I killed him! I…vowed to never write a fic where he's dead in it, but I did! If it makes you all feel better, I cried a bit writing it!

Review…-sigh-