I know Riza lives in an apartment, but for the sake of the story, she's been upgraded to a two-story house. ^_~
Onward!
Chapter 3
Roy let out a breath of relief upon hearing that Edward would be fine.
The boy had some scrapes and bruises, and trembled as he latched onto Riza as soon as the doctor finished examining him. He had a slight fever, and even though it was low, the doctor stated that, since he was a young child, it might go up. They had to get him to swallow the medicine since, despite his condition, he threw a fuss when he saw the needle. With Riza there, they managed to get him to eat some chicken-noodle soup, and then they just waited for Roy to come. That was how he found them.
Alphonse reached out, and Roy placed the boy down on the bed where Edward was still clinging to Riza's arm.
Alphonse crawled on the bed and hugged his brother as if sensing that the boy was upset.
Edward sniffled, and then the tears came. He buried his face in Riza's side and sobbed.
Riza placed a hand on his head since Alphonse was hugging the boy from behind.
"Edo," Alphonse whispered, "Edo…"
Edward blinked and sniffled loudly with a hiccup, then looked over at his brother.
Alphonse looked back at him with watery blue-gray eyes, "Edo!"
Edward sniffled again and let go of Riza, then hugged Alphonse with a slight smile gracing his lips.
Roy watched in amazement.
Riza smiled and gently moved both boys into her lap.
Edward looked up at her and smiled a bit. "Wiza…Awu spoke!"
Riza nodded with a smile, "Yes, he did. Good job, Alphonse."
Alphonse smiled and hugged his brother again, "Edo!"
Roy turned when Havoc called his name, then went over.
Havoc saluted, then started in a low voice, "We asked around like you asked, sir. Witnesses say they saw three soldiers cornering and then chasing Edward. We did more digging, and found out the three. One of them was a National Alchemist named Raida Tembre. The other two were normal soldiers…Drew Framby and Arnold Arcidainta. We have the three in the prisons right now, awaiting interrogation."
Roy nodded, "Good work. We'll need Edward to identify them…" he glanced at the boy that was still clinging to Riza, "…write it in for tomorrow."
Havoc saluted in affirmation.
"Dismissed," Roy nodded, "Thank you."
Havoc shook his head, "No problem, taisa. We'll keep an eye on those three."
Roy nodded again.
Havoc saluted, then headed out.
Riza looked up when Roy came over and sat tiredly next to her on the bed, uncharacteristically displaying a sign of weariness and weakness as he put his head in his hand.
"Taisa?" Riza blinked.
Roy didn't respond.
"Mustang-taisa?" Riza questioned once more.
This time, Roy responded to his name, and looked up at her, "Something fishy happened. Right here in the base." He hissed a few colorful words, then took a deep breath and let it out before looking back at her, "How are they doing?"
"They fell asleep," Riza responded, looking tenderly down at the two children in her lap that were cuddled up to each other and her, "It was a long day…for both of them. Edward's disappearance effected Alphonse, too."
"I noticed that. Either it's because of what happened, or they just normally had a strong connection at that age," Roy sighed.
"Because of…what happened…sir?" Riza blinked.
"I'm sure you've figured it out a little bit," Roy responded, looking at the two boys, his eyes softening, "They must have found a way to return Alphonse's body back to normal, and tried it. And this is the result. Last night, Edward came to my room and told me that he remembered that his mother was dead, and knew that he could do alchemy…though he didn't know what it was called. He also mentioned a Gate. I'm not sure I understand that part of it…but from everything I've heard, and from what Hoenheim has mentioned to me before……I believe that there was some sort of reaction that did this to them when he tried to restore Alphonse. It certainly isn't equivalent trade…which makes it a little hard to believe."
"Maybe…it is," Riza said quietly.
Roy blinked.
"Memories start forming and lasting between the ages of three and four," Riza explained to him, "At this age…it's like a new beginning for them. They can start over. Obviously, in the back of their minds, there's still something of what happened. If, in exchange, their memories were taken when they were reduced to this…then, in one sense, it is equivalent trade."
Roy thought about that for a moment, then nodded slowly in agreement. "I'll need to put some serious thought into this." He looked a little hesitant, and then finally managed to speak again, "…I think I'll need help taking care of them, though."
"Are you asking me?"
Roy nodded.
Riza looked away to hide a blush, then looked down at the two toddlers, and smiled warmly, "I'll help. But remember…I still have to look after Black Hayate. And what do we tell the ones waiting for them in Rizenbool?"
"I'll think of something," Roy shrugged, then blinked, "Were you inviting me to your home?"
"I hardly can think of any other way this will work. You recently moved out of the dorms. I can hardly say your home is set up yet. Mine is. And it has room."
Roy nodded, fighting back the heat that surged through his cheeks. "V-very well, then…"
"Get the things you got for them and come by…I'll take them home," Riza carefully balanced the two toddlers, then stood up.
Roy nodded, "At least…well, since you're helping and everything…I'll help you get them to your place. Then I'll get what we need."
Riza nodded, "The two got a diaper change here at the hospital…but I hope you don't forget those."
Roy shook his head, standing up.
The two walked out, purposely not looking at each other due to the strange, swirling thoughts that crossed their minds when they did.
Alphonse was the first to wake up, and started crying. Somehow, the noise didn't wake Edward, who was sound asleep in the bed next to him.
"He didn't eat," Riza explained to a lost looking Roy, "He's probably hungry. Right, Alphonse?"
Alphonse sniffled and nodded, holding his hands up.
Riza lifted him out of the bed, "I'll get him something to eat…I'm surprised Edward didn't wake up." She shifted Alphonse in her arms and placed a hand to Edward's forehead, "Still warm…" And he's still flushed…she turned to look at Roy, "Keep an eye on him while I feed Alphonse."
Roy nodded dumbly and she left the room they had set up for the two boys.
Black Hayate wandered in and wagged his tail a bit.
Roy stared at the dog and sighed, sitting down on a chair in the room, "How the hell did I get involved in this?"
Black Hayate just wagged his tail and seemed to grin at the man, then walked out of the room, nudging the door open more with his muzzle and causing it to creak.
Edward stirred and opened his eyes at the noise, "Awu…?"
"Hawkeye is getting him something to eat," Roy stated.
Edward blinked and rubbed his eyes, then yawned sleepily and shivered. "Woi?"
"Yes?"
"I dun feel good."
That was all the warning Roy had before the boy threw up.
Riza paused when she heard a scream from the guestroom upstairs.
Alphonse, who was proudly feeding himself, paused and looked up as well. "Edo?"
Riza sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Actually, that sounded like…" She blushed. Was I about to call him 'Roy'…?
A very disgruntled looking Roy showed up just then.
Riza stared at the expression on his face, not placing it.
"Where are the clean sheets and the bathtub?" Roy asked.
Riza sighed, "What happened?"
"Edo?" Alphonse frowned. He knew his brother was upset. Tears pooled in his blue-gray eyes, "Edo!"
"He threw up all over the sheets," Roy ran a hand through his hair, "No warning…"
Riza sighed in exasperation, "So you left him up there by himself to ask where the clean sheets are!? Oh, for the love of…" she shook her head and marched out of the kitchen, "I change my mind…you watch Alphonse. I'll watch Edward." She grabbed something that looked like sheets from a nearby linen closet, then marched past Black Hayate and up the stairs.
Roy glanced at Alphonse, who was staring back at him with questioning eyes. Roy then groaned and flopped into a chair, "Your brother is more annoying now than he was when he was older!"
Alphonse didn't understand what those words meant, but it seemed funny, so he giggled, but quickly frowned, "Edo?"
"He'll be fine," Roy sighed, looking at the toddler that could only say one word and the dog that couldn't talk at all. "Know what? I'm lousy at this. I could barely handle a teenager…and now this happens…I'm supposed to be taking care of the kid, but all I do is seem to make it worse."
Alphonse blinked and shook his head.
Black Hayate sat next to the high chair.
"Plus, there's these new feelings around that woman…" Roy leaned back in the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, "This is a mess."
Alphonse nodded sagely and Black Hayate also seemed to incline his head.
Roy eyed them suspiciously, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you two understand what I'm saying and completely agree."
Alphonse just smiled and Black Hayate just wagged his tail.
"Okay…there," Riza sighed. She had gotten Edward out of the bed and in the tub, running the water to be cool to take down his fever. The sheets could wait.
Edward sat in the tub, shivering and sniffling.
"It's okay, Edward," Riza said for the fifth time, "What happened wasn't your fault."
"Why did Woi wun off, then?" Edward asked, tears in his eyes.
"Because he's an idiot that doesn't know how to take care of kids," Riza muttered under her breath, then smiled at the confused look on the boy's face, "He didn't know what to do."
"Gwownups like Woi get cunfuused, too?" Edward blinked a couple times.
Riza wiped a stray tear from the boy's face and nodded, "Yes. Even we get confused."
"So…I wasn't bad?" Edward bit his lip.
"No, you weren't bad," Riza shook her head, then gently dipped the washcloth into the water and slowly and carefully sponged him down with the cool water. "You were very brave."
"…I want mommy…but she's not come'n back…" Edward whispered.
Riza softened, and ran a hand through his hair gently, "I know…and I know that…well, it may be different than what you're used to…but I'll try to be a substitute mommy for you."
"And Awu, too?"
Riza found herself smiling, "Yes. And Alphonse, too."
Edward smiled, and the rest of the bath went quietly, with both chatting about nonsense things.
Riza finished, and got Edward out and into a pair of sky blue pajamas that had pictures of cats and dogs on it. "Feeling better now?"
Edward nodded, "Uh-huh. I'm thiwsty, though…"
"Well, let's get you something to drink. Then, I'll change the sheets and you can rest some more," Riza responded.
Edward nodded. Normally, when he was sick, he continued to jump around. But not when his stomach hurt.
"Are you in pain?" Riza noticed him flinch.
"My tummy huwts," Edward responded shyly.
Riza picked him up, "Tell you what…I'll make you some ginger tea. It'll make your tummy feel better." Why am I talking like I've worked in a pre-school my entire life?
"What's 'tea'?" Edward asked.
"It's like…warm water, but it has a different taste than water," Riza stated as she carried him down the stairs.
"Oh," Edward rested his head on her shoulder and smiled. Not mommy, but…just like mommy…
The scene Riza found was a giggling Alphonse, a tail-wagging Black Hayate, and what looked to be a sulking Roy.
"Woi is pouting," Edward stated.
Roy blinked and looked over, realizing for the first time that they had come down the stairs…he was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't even notice.
"Interesting choice of pajamas you picked out," Riza commented to him.
"I tried to find one with shrimps on it, but they didn't have any…"
Alphonse and Edward laughed when Riza whacked him upside the head.
Roy blinked.
Riza turned red, realizing that she had just smacked her superior officer on the head, and coughed to clear her throat, "Please forgive my impertinence."
"Er…excused…" Roy stammered.
Riza glanced over at him and handed Edward to him, "I'm going to make some tea…Edward still has some stomach cramps."
Roy blinked and nodded as the boy in question settled in on his lap.
"Wiza said you was cunfuused," Edward stated, looking up at the man, "So…you dun hate me, wight?"
Roy nodded, "Of course not."
"Edo!" Alphonse smiled.
Edward smiled at his brother, "All done, Awu?"
Alphonse pointed to his empty bowl, and tried to say 'all done'. Though it sounded like babble to Riza and Roy, Edward seemed to understand it.
"Good!" Edward nodded.
Riza soon had some ginger tea for Edward, some coffee for Roy, some green tea for herself, and some warm milk for Alphonse set in front of them.
Alphonse chirped something and drank at the milk.
Edward sniffed his tea suspiciously, then sniffed it again. Then, he shrugged and sipped it. He blinked.
"Do you like it?" Riza asked, sipping at her own tea.
Edward nodded, "Uh-huh."
"Don't drink it too fast," Riza warned, "Or you'll throw up again."
"Kay," Edward nodded.
Alphonse blinked and held out his bottle of milk to Edward, "Edo."
Edward shook his head, "Nah…it's all fow you."
Alphonse seemed to consider that, then shrugged and nodded, continuing to drink the milk.
"Awu and me shawe," Edward explained, though nobody asked.
"That's good," Riza nodded.
Edward had finished half of his tea, then looked up at Roy and smiled brightly, tugging on the man's shirt to get his attention. "If Wiza is gonna be like mommy…does that mean you'we gonna be ouw daddy?"
Roy coughed and spit his coffee across the table, his face red.
Riza was blushing as well, her gaze averted from them to hide it.
Black Hayate barked a couple times as if in laughter.
Alphonse laughed and clapped his hands.
Edward blinked in confusion. Why are the adults act'n so stwange? Their faces awe all wed! And they won't wook at each othew… "Mebbe you should go to bed."
Roy finished wiping his mouth, and blinked at the boy.
"Cause mebbe you gots sick, too!" Edward looked half between sad, panicked, and protective, "Cause you two awe all wed! I get wed when I gots a tempewatuwe. Awe you sick, too?"
Roy stood up with Edward, "Well…bedtime for you! I'll change the sheets, and the two of you can go to sleep…well, in separate beds so Alphonse doesn't catch Edward's cold."
Alphonse protested as he was scooped up as well.
Roy was nodding, "Yes…definitely…a diaper change for Alphonse, and a bath, and then to bed…and straight to bed for Edward…" He was still muttering things like that as he went up the stairs, with two protesting toddlers under his arms.
Riza watched, her face bright red now as she stared at her tea. She sighed and put her face in her hand. Leave it to a kid…and not just a kid, a mini Edward……geez…
TO BE CONTINUED…