Bandit- I'm so happy I feel giddy! People out there love me!

Roy- I wonder why. The story sucked.

Bandit- No, you just hate me.

Roy- …true.

Ed- Can we get to the story? Do the disclaimer.

Bandit- (pouts) Fine.

Disclaimer- I live with my mom. I have no job. I currently have 22 cents. Do you think I own it?

(A/N) Just so you know, I love Hughes. And I love Gracia. So he survived EP. 25 and will be in many of the chapters.

Hughes sighed and hung up the phone for the up-teenth time. Rubbing his temples, he groaned his dismay. He was sporting a mother of a headache, and the press was not helping him. He hadn't even gotten a good night's rest before his phone decided to switch alliances, betray him and nearly drown him in military calls demanding he get off his ass and find out what the hell was going on.

'I don't even know what's up', he thought. 'And keeping me in the dark takes talent. This is the sixth one this month. If I don't find some information soon, I'm gonna get my ass chewed out.' His left eye twitched in irritation. 'Sometimes I wonder why I do this job.'

He stood on his feet, stretching his back in an attempt to get out the cracks and kinks accumulated from sitting so long. Hughes' eyes wandered up the stairs to his bedroom. Maybe if he was lucky, he could get another hour in if he hurried…

A shrill ring interrupted any plans he was about to make, and Hughes warily glanced at the phone. He really needed to talk to Gracia about that ring. He never knew how annoying it could get.

'Maybe I should lay off the calls to Roy. If this is what he hears all the time… no wonder the guy's so uptight.'

Sitting back on the couch, Hughes finally decided to answer before that screeching banshee woke up his family.

"Hello?"

"Hughes, where the hell are you? It's a mad house at Central!"

"Ah, Roy. I was wondering when I'd get a call from you. You sound cheerful this morning."

"And you sound sarcastic. Didn't get enough sleep?"

Hughes would have grinned if he weren't so tired. "How'd you know? Anyways, how is it down there? I've been up since 5:00 and the phone hasn't been quiet since."

"Same here. This is the… what, ninth time this has happened? Everyone's starting to panic." Roy's voice sounded grim.

"I know. I haven't had this much trouble since Scar was on the loose. And compared to this, I'd take him any day." Hughes leaned back against the couch and sighed. "These murders make no sense. I'm not even sure I can call them that."

"They would have been dismissed if they didn't happen to the State Alchemists and military personel. The Fuhrer is trying to calm everyone down. He might as well try to stop a hurricane at the rate things are going." A snort erupted from the phone. "He can try all he wants, but by noon today everyone will know. The press are like flies when it comes to murders.They smell even a hint of blood and don't let up until they find their meal."

"You're telling me. I'm trying to think of a good fib to tell Gracia."

"…Is she still worried? About you working for the military?"

Hughes glanced back up the stairs where his wife was sleeping soundly. "Of course. When I told her about Scar, she wasn't very happy. After that run in with the homunculus, evenifshedoesn'tknow, I'm surprised she even lets me go outside. I tell her some nut is killing off the military personel, again, she'll flip."

"She just loves you. It's natural for her to worry. Stop complaining." Hughes wasn't sure, but he swore he heard a bit of resentment in Roy's tone.

'He really needs to get a wife,' he thought. 'Stubborn man.'

"Yeah… it'd be nice if there was some woman to worry about you too…"

"Hughes, don't' even start." Roy growled. "Now get your ass down here. We'll talk about this later." Without a goodbye, not that Hughes was waiting for one, the phone clicked off. Hughes stared at if for a moment before putting it back into the cradle. He felt a bit more awake, but was still reluctant to actually perform any bodily movement. At least Gracia was still asleep. Much easier to sneak out.

"Maes? Are you awake?" A voice tinged with sleep shouted from the bedroom upstairs.

'This is not my day. God, I hate mornings.'(1)

"Yeah, Gracia. I'm going have to go in early today. Something's come up." Hughes hoped his wife wouldn't argue. He didn't need it this early in the morning. He was so drained the bumpy couch he was sitting on felt comfortable.

"…Maes. What's wrong?" By now, Gracia had traveled down the stairs into their living room, still tired but brown eyes bright with worry (2). "The phone has been ringing all morning. I'm just glad Elicia is still asleep." She clung to her blue robe and looked at Hughes expectantly. Hughes immediately averted his eyes, finding a piece of lint to stare at.

'Damn. Why don't things go my way for a moment?'

Gracia stared at her husband's uncomfortable silence and nodded her head. She'd guessed as much. She straightened her back and walked to the kitchen. "Do you want coffee? You'll probably have a long day. I'll take Elicia to school."

Guilt raked at his heart strings. 'She deserves the truth, but I just...'

Hughes eyes lifted from their position on the floor, looking at her retreating back. He got off the couch and walked up behind Gracia, winding his long arms around her small waist and giving her a tiny peck on the cheek. She, in turn, relaxed into his embrace and rested her head against his chest. They both remained in that position, just comforting the other in a small, but meaningful way.

"I love you," Hughes said quietly.

"Good, because you better come back. I don't want you getting into anything dangerous, but…" Gracia sighed and turned in the hug and burying her face into his chest. "I don't want you dying without telling me anything. So if you don't say anything now, it means you have to come back."(3)

"Of course I'm coming back. I won't leave you and Elicia alone. I promi-"

"NO." Her forceful words took them both by surprise. "Please, don't say that." She lowered her voice a bit and continued. "Because it will hurt even more if you don't come back. I don't want you to have to lie, just to spare my feelings, because you're not. When they brought you back, everyone said you wouldn't make it..." Gracia choked back a sob and gripped his night shirt.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back, keeping quiet. It was obvious his wife needed to say what was on her mind. Before, it had been a taboo subject. When he had awoken from his comatose state about a year ago, almost everyone called it a miracle. Nobody, not even Roy really thought he would come back. And when Gracia had arrived at the hospital, he'd almost wanted to go back to sleep. She'd lost wieght, bags had started to form under her eyes, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days. She started crying, falling to the floor the minute she saw him, not even able to make it to his bedside. And all he could think about was what he'd done to her and Elicia...

By now her tears lessened a bit and she found the voice to go on.

"I know you are trying to help Roy become Fuhrer, for whatever reasons. And no one said being in the military would be a safe job, but remember this: You have a family. An obligation. You of all people should know that. He is your best friend, but I'm your wife. And Elicia shouldn't have to grow up without her father." She took a quick breath. "But if there is any chance at all you might not come back, even if it's unlikely, I want you to tell me. I don't care if it hurts me; it will hurt even more if I'm not prepared. I won't go through it again. I refuse to."

Hughes laid his head on her soft hair. He'd never known how strongly she felt about this. She'd never brought it up before, and Hughes had just wanted to forget the entire episode. Gracia still didn't know what really happened since Roy and the group fed her some reasonable lie, like getting stabbed by a psycho Alchemist. And most likely, she would never know the truth, but maybe if he clued her in on what was happening now, even just a little info...

"You're right." Hughes said. "And I know I should tell you, but I just want to keep you guys safe. I can't promise you anything, but I can try..."

Gracia took her head off his chest and looked up into emerald eyes, searching for a hint of truth, and she found it. There were still traces oftears in her eyes, but she offered him a small smile.

"Good answer. Now go get dressed. You're probably already running late. Roy must be tearing his hair out by now."

That got a snort out of her husband.

"Yeah. The day Roy rips out anything because of stress is the day I burn all my pictures of Elicia." This presented an amusing mental picture for both of them and their laughter filled the room, removing the previous gloom that had filled it.

The phone rang again, and Hughes actually growled at it. How dare that monstrosity interrupt on his touching moment…

Gracia suppressed a giggle at the frustrated look on Hughes' face. "Here, let me." Gracia moved from Hughes' side before he could object and picked up the offending object. "Hello? This is Gracia speaking…" Seconds past, and her head slowly moved up and down, nodding at whatever the caller was saying. Her eyes grew slightly wide and she sneaked a fearful glance at him.

'I don't like that look…'

"All right. Goodbye." Gracia replaced the phone on the cradle and looked at Hughes. "That was a man named Mark Winters. He said something about having information to the… killings." She went a bit pale at the last word, and Hughes inwardly cringed.

'I wish she didn't find out that way…'

"He wants to talk to you tomorrow. He claimed he was attacked. I won't ask you what attacked him, since I assume you know." Gracia gave him a pointed look.

'For once, you're wrong about that. I'd be simpler if I did.'

Gracia moved past Hughes and entered the kitchen, preparing to cook breakfast for their daughter that was soon to wake up. "And you, sir, need to get dressed. Roy will BBQ you if you don't hurry up." Hughes glanced down at the striped pajamas he was currently sporting and grinned sheepishly.

"That would be a good idea. Mustang isn't known for his patience." With that, Hughes began his climb up the stairs, thinking about the last 15 minutes.

'So, there is someone connected to the murders. This might be a lucky break. Maybe the guy got a good look at the killer's face. Doubt it, though. Mondays are never that lucky.'

"Maes?"

Hughes stopped short and looked over his left shoulder. "Huh?"

Gracia came into view at the foot of the stairs and stared him in the eye. "You didn't tell me anything, so I expect you to come home in one piece. Otherwise I'll bring you back just so I can kill you."

Hughes gave her a smile and continued his way up. He couldn't give her an answer and she knew that… but somehow hearing those words and how she felt about the whole thing made him feel more relaxed and prepared, and he'd bet she felt better now that she come out with the truth.

'I know you will Gracia. And I won't die without a fight. That I promise.'

Footnotes-

(1) I don't know why, but I can see Hughes as being a bad morning person. Maybe because he seems so cheerful most of the day. Or maybe because you need a bucket of water to get me out of bed… (sweatdrop)

(2) I have no clue what Gracia's eye color is. Gomen.

(3) Everybody go "Awww…"

Wow. I think that was seriously cheesy. I can't write good angsty scenes!XD I know this chapter wasn't that interesting, but I don't want to rush. (And I love Hughes : p) I do that a lot, so if I am, tell me! If Hughes seems OOC, it's because it's the morning and I wanted to make him much more serious (plus I wanted to add that scene with Gracia). He'll be much more upbeat in the next chapter. I promise the next chapter will be more interesting. Here's a quick shout out to those that reviewed.

Anime Monster- Actually, I really don't like OC's either. Unless they're well written, they tend to get in the way of a good story. But don't worry, because my OC's will stay single!

i love athrun- Here's the new chappie! I hope you like it!

Sirith- I'm glad you think it's interesting. I was afraid readers would be bored stiff reading it! (sighs) I need some confidence…

catey- I'll update as soon as I can, but school might get in the way for a while. I'll do my best though!

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