yesh! sorry it took me so long to update this! -fireun

"Hn. I see. Yes, thank you very much." Roy Mustang hung up the phone and knuckled his left temple.

"Sir?"

"Riza, I realize we are in fact in the office, but you can let up a bit on the formalities every now and then." He dropped his hand with a sigh and looked at his companion. "That was Gracia Hughes. She has managed to capture our wayward patient." A small smile lightened his face. "She managed what none of our men could manage with fresh pie. There are some days I think that is how she snagged Maes years ago."

"Are you asking me to bake, sir?" Riza asked, deadpan.

Roy blinked up at her, not quite sure whether or not she was joking. The gleam in her eyes reassured him and he settled back in his chair with a smirk. "Well, I could always give it a try…"

"No. I do not have any desire to rebuild my kitchen."

"Now, Riza, that is hardly fair…"

"Mustang, you couldn't boil water without accidentally ending up with nothing more than an impressive cloud of steam." Havoc opened the door, belatedly deciding to knock when he was already half into the office. "If you two are done flirting, would you like me to go get the little guy?"

The safety of Riza's pistol clicked off and Roy moved his right hand in a very deliberate, one might say mildly threatening even, way. Havoc switched tactics, dropping humor and raising a hand in defense. "Do you want me to retrieve Edward or not?"

"You just want pie." Riza muttered, drawing an amused snort out of Roy.

Havoc just stared. Riza making jokes was out of his realm of experience.

Havoc's baffled expression only served to amuse Roy further. Chuckling, he motioned towards the door. "Go check on Edward. I don't think he will be too interested in leaving Gracia's tender care and returning to the hospital, but we should at least make some sort of attempt. It will keep the medical staff from whining too much."

"Edward, Mr. Havoc is here to see you….oh." Gracia paused in the doorway of Elysia's room, a smile blooming across her face. Her daughter was curled in Ed's lap, sound asleep. The young man turned his head, a painfully bittersweet expression on his face. His arms were protectively around the child and his eyes were suspiciously wet as he smiled up at Gracia.

"She was all tired out from showing me all the teddies." Ed's voice had a distinct catch to it, the slightly muffled sound that suggested tears stubbornly being suppressed.

"There definitely are a lot of them." Gracia chuckled softly. "Well, Mr. Havoc is waiting in the kitchen."

Ed's grip on the sleeping girl tightened minutely, but very little got past Gracia Hughes. She nodded slightly and beamed a gentle smile at Ed. "I will see if he wants some pie. If you want to wander out in a bit, and if he is still here, you two can talk. Otherwise, enjoy playing with Elysia. She's missed her big brothers." Gracia closed the bedroom door and returned to the kitchen and her guest.

Havoc, caught leaning against the counter strategically close to the apple pie, grinned apologetically and moved to stand in a more acceptably formal position. "Don't worry." Gracia waved her hand dismissively. "I'm used to Roy and Maes causing all sorts of mischief in the kitchen. It's not really a place for strict formality anyway, not with children around."

"Speaking of children, how is my errant alchemist?"

Gracia's expression sobered. "Mr. Havoc…what happened? Ed is rarely without Alphonse…and his automail…."

Havoc massaged the back of his neck, grimacing in discomfort that was in no way physical. "It seems the boys found their stone. Al fixed up Ed, and gave himself up in the process. From what Roy tells me, Ed tried to bring his brother back…and failed."

The pained expression in wide gold eyes, the way he clutched the sleeping Elysia…it all made sense. Maternal intuition calculating and planning, Gracia swiftly made a decision. "Edward will be staying here. I could use the help around the house and I know Elysia would love the company."

"Well, that makes my job easier. Dragging Ed anywhere he doesn't want to be is not exactly my idea of fun." Havoc sighed. "You wanna let Mustang know or shall I?"

Gracia smiled, her eyes twinkling despite her worry over Ed. "I'll take care of it. I think it's been too long since a Hughes has bothered him in the office."