Chapter 5

Title: With Love
Pairing: Maes/Elysia/Glacier, a bit of Maes/Roy
Word Count: 363 Spoilers: Chapter 16 because this drabble is based on the manga. If you really want to know why, it was because Ed saw Hughes waving to him as the train passed by a train station. That didn't happen in this drabble. Bah, this is supposed to be the spoiler for my drabble. Never mind now.
Summary: Those who had gone ahead didn't want to. But Maes had returned to bid his final farewell.
A/N: This chapter almost made me cry. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who misses him. He was a great guy.

He was there, watching them. Familiar faces that he recognized as his family, friends and comrades were gathered. Even the Fuhrer was there. He hadn't imagined it would be this grand. The sight of it – a sea of blue military uniforms – was almost overwhelming.

His eyes fell on two figures in black standing in front of the line. They were the most beloved people in his life - his wife, Glacier, and his daughter, Elysia. He found that he couldn't tear his gaze away from them, especially little Elysia. She had been standing by her mother's side quietly until they started burying him. That was when she began asking those heart-wrenching questions:

"Mama, why are they burying Papa? Why are those men burying Papa?"

When no one answered her, she continued pleading, "Don't… don't… Papa can't go to work if you do that. Papa always said he has lots of work. Don't bury him. Papa!"

Every word of hers stabbed at his heart, again and again. He wanted nothing more than to hug his little girl and tell her, "Don't cry. Papa is here." But he couldn't. His hands were translucent and they went right through her as he tried to do so. Glacier did it in his place.

They couldn't see him or hear him. He could do nothing, absolutely nothing. He never felt this helpless and inadequate before. How was he supposed to tell them? Not to cry for him? How was he supposed to leave seeing them like this?

He was there to bid his final farewell. And his time was soon up. It was time for him to leave for real. Even as his silhouette began fading, he murmured his final good-byes into the wind.

Please don't cry, Elysia. Papa always loves you.

Glacier, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. Take care of yourself and our daughter for me.

And Mustang, my friend. I knew you would scold me for being an idiot. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise to support you from bottom now that I've gone higher than you. (chuckles dryly) But surely you understand, don't you? I know you will.

Goodbye, everyone.

With love.

Hughes.

END