A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, please forgive me. Things in the sory should be heating up.

Chapter 17: Ghosts in the night

Despite still technically being off duty, Roy stood in front of the Ishbalin's cell the next morning; in his new uniform. It was amazing the leaps and bounds his loyal followers would do for him when just asked. As it stood Fury was watching over the Elric's, Kairan and Heidi while they slept. For Heidi it was about damned time she got some well deserved sleep. Her body guard reported that between Kairan and this case she'd had little.

Roy watched the man sleep, one arm behind his head and couldn't help but feel that this man was simply too relaxed to be ready to face his death. Something wasn't right here. Something was going on that perhaps even Heidi didn't yet realize. "Hmm," He breathed before turning to leave.

"I didn't want to harm the child." Envy said.

Roy paused. "That's not what you said the other night."

"I was angry; she saw it and did nothing." If he wasn't playing in character he would have shrugged. Where the real Scar was only Lust knew and she'd not checked in with him in a few days, not since the Mustang house hold had burned to the ground and new orders had come in from their master and Pride.

"About what?" Roy asked curiously.

Envy sat up holding a smile from his lips. "Her brother killed mine and she did nothing to stop him."

Roy didn't even nod. "It was a war; we were all under orders, though that's hardly an excuse. What ever actions she took or didn't take she must have had a reason. Excuse me but I need to be getting back."

"Back to play the role of father and husband when you destroyed so many of my brethren? You don't deserve what you have. God will judge you."

Roy smiled grimly. "And I'll accept that when the time comes."

"It will be soon,"

Roy slipped his hand into his pocket and left with out another word.

When he returned Ed and Al were playing with Kairan, or playing as much as they could with a one month old baby who was awake. Al held Kairan while Ed shook a rattle and Kairan cooed. It was a pleasant sight and Roy wished he had a camera. Fury was reading a book in the corner while the body guards stood as silent as the grave at the door.

Sighing he ran his hand through his hair. He was getting as bad as Maes, but really how many opportunities was he going to get to see the Elric's look so…Happy? Edward did look happy, that smile wasn't to be mistaken.

Roy knelt upon the floor next to the boys. Edward immediately stopped playing, blushing a little. "Sorry Colonel, I didn't know you were back. How'd it go?"

"It was interesting." Roy replied.

Al help up his son. "You want him?"

Roy did want to hold his son but not at the price of missing the boys play happily. "No, you go ahead. I should check on Heidi."

Ed's amber eyes left the Colonel and rested upon the sleeping woman. "About her, Colonel she was talking in her sleep not too long ago."

Al nodded as much as he could. "She was dreaming about her brother. We couldn't understand much just his name. Fury said not to wake her up because she's had little sleep."

Roy closed his eyes. The talk with Scar must have brought on the nightmares of Zolf. Heidi always had them when ever the man came up in conversation of she looked at the photo of the two of them together from a long time ago. Roy had tried to hide the photo, tried to keep from any one talking about the man, but no one could forget someone who was once close to them or meant the world to them. No one could forget the person who'd betrayed them either. The only good thing about burning his house down was that she no longer could look at that photo.

"Thanks; don't stop playing on account of me." He ruffled Ed's hair as he stood.

Ed grumbled smoothing his hair as Roy made his way over to the bed where Heidi slept. As always she looked like an angel, his angel. Carefully he sat upon the bed and brushed her hair from her eyes. She shifted smacking his hand away as if she didn't want to be bothered. Well he was okay with that. She could sleep for the next week if she wanted; he'd take care of Kairan, Scar, the Elric's, and the command center as long as she got some rest. It had been one hell of a month. A baby, Scar, their home, Scar again… He sighed. Just thinking about it all exhausted him.

Sometime during the afternoon Heidi awoke suddenly in a cold sweat. "Roy!"

"He's gone to over see Scar's departure sir," Fury replied setting his book aside. He stood. "Can I get something for you?"

Heidi shivered rubbing her arms. Something wasn't right, she could feel it. It felt as if someone were walking over her grave. She shook her head and looked around the room. Ed was asleep at the table over a book. Al was sitting stationary beside the small crib where Kairan slept. Her bodyguard stood ready to assist should there be any danger.

"No, Fury, thank you." She frowned. "Wait…Roy's overseeing Scar's departure, that wasn't scheduled until tomorrow."

Fury nodded. "The Colonel moved it up. He said the sooner he was out of East City the sooner things could get back to normal." The young man smiled "Oh and something came for you from Central, the Fuher to be exact. Colonel Mustang said to wait to give it to you until after you were awake." He turned to the chair beside him and lifted a small package. Then he brought it to her.

Heidi's frown deepened as the package was placed in her hands. It was from the Fuher's office to be sure. She'd seen the man's hand writing before on a few letters he'd personally written while she was recovering a few years ago.

Carefully she opened the package. Two lapels and some rank pins fell out along with three envelopes. One was addressed to Roy, the other two to her. Setting Roy's aside she opened one of the one's to her. It was an official document awarding and stating a promotion in rank. She shook her head opening the other.

Dear Heidi Mustang,

In your successful capture of the fugitive Scar; the state and I have seen it fit and long over due to promote you from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel. Congratulations Heidi. As I know that you are married and just gave birth there will be no transfers. In fact we do not see any reason nor promote the division of our Military officer's families unless it is war time. You will never have to worry about that. It had become clear that you and Colonel Mustang work very well together and have done wonders for the Eastern Command Centre. That conclusion was reached after our observation a month ago.

In saying that, we are now ordering you and Colonel Mustang to transfer here to Central Command two weeks from now. Temporary living arrangements are being made until you find something more permanent.

Once again congratulations and be sure to bring little Kairan in sometime, the people around here are very curious about him.

Sincerely, Fuher King Bradley

Heidi picked up the lapels and pins. It was so unreal, the promotion, a promotion she never imagined she'd ever get. She was content to remain a Major for the rest of her career. She was content to work below someone and in face she still would be but have more authority. Now when she gave an order when Roy wasn't around to give them it was nearly as good as his, not that it wasn't before, it was just that she could command more people, people not directly under him. She wasn't exactly sure how to feel about this, happy, sad…shocked but not so much for she felt a little numb.

"So what is it?" Fury asked.

"A promotion," She muttered.

"Really! That's great Major or should I call you Lieutenant Colonel Mustang now?"

Heidi smiled. "If I get another one anytime soon before Roy gets promoted it's going to get a little confusing around here. We're supposed to be transferring to Central in two weeks Fury, want to come?"

Fury blinked. "Me?"

Heidi nodded. "Of course, I'll speak with Roy but I can't imagine he'd leave any of his staff behind."

"Save for maybe you," Roy teased from the door way with a smile.

Heidi lifted his letter and held up a new lapel. Roy nodded. "I heard, I'm glad, just don't get ahead of me. I already take orders from you at home; we can't have that at work too."

Heidi giggled. "Oh come on Roy, I bet Hawkeye would love to see you working hard."

Roy sighed. "Women, so?" he pointed and nodded to his letter. Heidi handed it to him. She and Fury sat quietly while he read it and placed it back inside the envelope.

"So we finally get to get out of this back water place. Fury, tell everyone I want them here in five minutes." Fury nodded and Roy walked over to Edward.

"Ahhhhhh!" Ed screamed when Roy bent over to shake him gently. That was not what he was expecting or who he wanted to see first thing upon waking. His loud scream was enough to wake Kairan and Roy's eyes narrowed. "Don't do that!"

Roy sighed and moved to lift his son from his crib. "It will be good to get out of this place and into a real home… Edward you and Alphones are to come to Central with me and my staff. We'll leave next week so get your affairs in order."

Ed blinked rubbing his eyes. "Why?"

"Because Heidi and I are getting a transfer, you don't have any leads and no I'm not allowing you to go tramping about Amestris with Scar still alive, at least with out a mission."

"What he means Edward, is that he'd like you to come home with us." Heidi translated. Sometimes Roy wasn't very good about telling the boy's how he really felt. In truth he didn't like them going off on their own and getting sidetracked where Roy didn't know where they were until later. Roy felt that they were his responsibility, felt better when he knew where they were, and what they were doing so he could help should they get into a bind.

Ed looked between Roy and Heidi and sighed. "What ever."

Roy smiled despite his son's tiny tantrum. For crying out loud he was only a month old, was he hungry, or just fussy because he'd been awakened from his nap? "Great, Heidi?"

She smiled. "Bring him here,"

Roy placed their son in her arms and tucked her hair behind her ear. "So Edward did you hear?"

Ed yawned in a disinterested way. "What?"

"You'll be addressing Heidi as Lieutenant Colonel now," Roy replied proudly. "It's about time; next to go up will have to be Major Armstrong."

Heidi frowned a little lifting her eyes from her son who was oddly enough quieting down just from pulling on her hair. "Are you trying to build yourself up an army of higher ups?"

Roy held his chin pondering that. "You know that's not a bad idea, I just wanted all my friends to move up with me, hell I'd even take Edward with me."

Heidi snorted from the stunned look upon the boy's face. "Don't blow a brain cell Edward, he likes you too, a lot actually, worries about you and Al all the time." She sighed. "Well I suppose I should get these put on my uniform."

Roy picked up the lapels and pins. "You know Heidi; I thought you'd be happier about this. I'll do this for you."

Heidi placed Kairan upon the bed untangling his fingers from her hair, letting his little hands wrap around her two index fingers. She smiled upon her son. "I am I guess. I just have other ambitions that are a little more important than promotions."

Roy smiled. "Such as,"

Ed huffed rolling his eyes as he sat back.

"Being a good mom and wife, not perfect, but good."

Roy smiled. "You are, so Ed when are you going to put a uniform?"

Ed's smile from Heidi's comments faded. "I'm not,"

It was that night that Roy was discharged from the infirmary, finally, to his relief. After eating a rather quiet dinner in the mess hall as Heidi had had not the time to really do any shopping, they went home.

They took turns in taking showers and watching over their son then it was off to bed. Roy was glad to sleep in a semi real bed. He missed Heidi's bed from their previous home but he promised that when they arrived in Central he'd find them one just as good. Heidi was more concerned with all the things Kairan had lost and expressed the wishes of her parents. After a long moment of thought Roy agreed it might be for the better to let them handle replacing the things they lost as he'd not had time to really look at their bank account and well the books had burned as well. They would of course pay them back that much was decided between the two of them.

After a few days things calmed down a little and settled into a routine. Since they had Edward and Alphones to help with Kairan it was easier to work. There was only one problem, Heidi couldn't sleep. Roy didn't know it in the least, she kept it from him. The arrangements with Scar went off as planned it seemed only there wasn't a problem with the train. He simply slipped off and disappeared in to the shadows of the world. How she couldn't fathom since Roy had a pretty sizeable guard upon him.

She'd really begun to think over his capture. Somehow it didn't seem to sit well with her that he came so easily, even she, knowing she'd been bested would still fight a little. Something was terribly wrong. Also off and on she felt as if someone who wasn't supposed to be near was watching and very close.

Tonight she sat up in the living room upon the military issue sofa in her military issue apartment, nursing a small glass of whiskey, hoping it would help her sleep. Heidi was never much of a drinker, but tonight she really wanted to sleep, but no matter what she tried she couldn't. She was deeply envious of Roy for being able too. Although he did deserve it, he'd worked really hard at taking care of her and their son and was often really worn when the day was done.

Slowly she got up and walked to the left open window to stand in the moonlight and look out upon the street. Lamp light lit the street down the way; the one in front of her apartment flickered every now and again. It was raining once more and a dog ran across the street chasing something.

She shivered and took a sip of the burning liquid, shaking her head. Something just wasn't right about tonight. Yet again in her short life time, she felt her doom approaching and it made her sick.

Zolf stood in the shadows smiling, amused. Liezel had walked in and sat down, been sitting for an hour without noticing him. Now she stood blanketed in moonlight. She still had the slight roundness of being pregnant as that didn't go away right away after having a child. She looked really beautiful, good even, healthy, save for the exhaustion. He'd read a paper not too long ago with an announcement of his nephew but couldn't remember the name and he'd heard she'd been promoted. Married, a lieutenant Colonel, and a mother, he was proud of her, really proud. She'd done more with her life than he had and come out pretty well off save for the house. Major Flame, or rather Colonel Flame would probably be fixing that soon.

God he wanted to reach out and touch her skin, feel its warmth, but he supposed that was out of the question now. It stung to know he could probably never touch her again after what he'd done. Still he wanted to at least hear her voice once again. "Little doll, don't scream,"

The glass fell from Heidi's hand, shattering upon the hardwood floor. She couldn't turn around; all she could do was tremble in fear from the sound of his voice. No she was imagining things, Zolf was dead…He was dead and there were no such things as ghosts. Maybe she was dreaming, maybe she'd fallen asleep on the sofa, yes that was it, it had to be.

"Liezel…" He chuckled. "Or should I call you Heidi now since you changed your name."

"Go away you're not real." Heidi breathed shutting her eyelids as tightly as a locked down and painted shut window. Somewhere in her tortured frightened mind and heart, she felt if she couldn't see him then he wouldn't be real.

You're not real; this is just a dream like all the others. Oh god please let it just be a dream!

This Zolf wasn't expecting, this silence after the first reply. He'd expected her to be cowering in fear, running away, screaming and throwing things, crying out for her sleeping husband, most of all attacking him for the horror and pain he'd caused, the agony. "You know this hurts more than anything else, seeing you like this. I've been watching, you're not doing so well are you?"

Stop asking me things! Her mind screamed. She could feel him getting closer, inching almost. Her skin crawled at the thought of him watching, even knowing about where she was or anything.

"Liezel I don't want to hurt you-"

"Then go away," her trembling voice said through clenched teeth.

Zolf rolled his eyes. "Ah for crying out loud Liezel,"

"Liezel died that day,"

"Fine Heidi, what ever just hear me out." He bit. "I'm still your big brother, you will always love me; your words from the mouth of the Fuher. They told me I killed you, do you know how much that hurt, how I wanted to die, how I suffered?"

Heidi laughed coldly and she turned to look upon him for the first time in years. "You hurt and suffered, you wanted to die?" She stepped over the broken glass and closed the distance between them. Her hand made contact with his cheek, her nails biting his flesh.

"How dare you come to me and talk about suffering!" She hissed quietly but still with potent venom. She didn't want to wake her baby or her husband at the moment. She wanted to let Zolf feel every inch of what he'd done to her.

Zolf held his stinging face smiling a little. "I guess I deserved that."

"You deserve a lot more. Do you know what it was like to wish for death everyday, to try and take your own life and be stopped? Huh? I lost everything, had to change everything about me. I lived almost completely alone for years Zolf."

"So did I, but I heard you got a pretty good deal out of it. Did you forget mom and dad when the Kruger's adopted you?"

She slapped him again. "I'd never forget mom and dad, they raised us better and they'd be ashamed to call you their son so don't even attempt to go in that direction."

Well that got her pissed, but it hurt him as well. He'd never considered that while sitting in his cell all these years. Hearing it from his little doll was like a thousand shards of glass piercing his heart. "Hei-"

"Why aren't you dead?"

Another blow to his heart. She must really hate him now. "Don't know."

"How do you know so much about me, what all do you know?" She asked coldly as she folded her arms over her chest.

Zolf smiled and took a seat up on the sofa. "Well I saw the news paper about your wedding, that's how I knew you were alive. You looked so happy, beautiful-"

"Get on with it," Heidi bit.

"Marrying Colonel Flame can't say I saw that one coming. Didn't know about the kid until after I got out. Someone just let me out and since I knew you were alive-"

"Come to finish what you started?" Heidi asked.

Zolf shook his head. "No,"

"Then why are you here?"

"Can't I want to see my baby sister?" he asked a little softly. "I really missed you, the things we used to do. Don't you?"

Heidi swallowed, her eyes closed and she nodded. "Yeah, but I miss the brother I grew up with not the brother you've become. You hurt people Zolf, you hurt me. I don't want you hurting anyone else-" Kairan's soft crying sounded from the bed room. She sighed. "You should go before Roy wakes; he's a pretty light sleeper of late." She left the living room, hurrying to grab her son and quiet him, see to his needs before Roy woke.

Zolf waited upon the sofa as she padded into the kitchen across the room and turned on a light. She carried a small moving bundle that wailed. "Honey?" He heard Roy call from the bedroom.

"I've got him, go back to sleep."

"Mmm,"

Zolf snorted. Heidi whirled around. "Why are you still here?"

He pointed to the baby in her arms. "Can I at least see him once?"

Heidi sighed shaking her head and checked Kairan. He'd just had a bottle an hour ago and he wasn't wet or muddy as she'd changed him right after. Still she checked him for a diaper change and sat upon the other end of the sofa. "Promise me you will not hurt him; promise me you will leave after this and stop haunting me."

Zolf nodded. "I promise, I only want to look at him Liezel." He frowned. "Damn he's loud."

Heidi nodded. "Yes he is," Carefully, hesitantly because she still felt like this was somehow a dream she placed her son in the arms of her brother who looked a little lost, but held him just the same.

Zolf looked upon the crying child as his little hands began to tug upon his hair. Damn kid looked like Mustang, but had his mother's light blue eyes. Still the kid's crying subsided into cooing, his little arms and legs wiggling a little. "What's his name?"

"Kairan after Grandfather," She replied as her brother smiled a real smile.

Zolf nodded. "He's cute, but then again you're so beautiful and Mustang's got a pretty face too. Are you happy with him?"

"Kairan or Roy?" She asked a little confused.

"Both,"

"Yes I am, I like my life though it's hit a difficult place at the moment."

Zolf smiled as baby Kairan reached for his face. "I think he likes me. Listen up kid I'm not a good person to like. I'm dangerous, but I love your mom and I'm sorry for hurting her. You got to promise me something and take care of her, she's a handful."

Heidi didn't know what to say to that. Instead she looked her older brother over. He looked pale, his amber eyes weren't as bright as they used to be, and there was sadness in them that hurt her to see. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, time had aged him a little as well. "Your hair got longer,"

Zolf nodded. "I really am sorry Heidi, for everything, but I'm glad you got all this. You deserve so much more. I don't really remember too much about Flame, but I know he'll take care of you two…" He met her eyes and it was a little difficult as he saw that night in his head, the night that he betrayed her trust. It was amazing that she was letting him hold her son. "Did he say anything about what I-I…"

Heidi shook her head. "He doesn't care, he loves me scars and all and he's crazy about Kairan."

"Then you did good." He sighed placing her son back in her arms as carefully as possible. Gently he leaned over and embraced her. She stiffened but he didn't let go. "You're still my kid sister and I still love you. I really do. Goodnight doll," He kissed her forehead then touched the child in her arms. "You be good and give your dad hell for me." With that he was gone from the window in which he came, leaving Heidi to sit blinking for a moment.

Finally after a long time Heidi rose from the sofa and walked back to the bedroom. She put Kairan back in his crib and slipped into bed. Roy rolled over wrapping his arm around her tight. "Mmm, missed you, were you talking to Kairan out there?"

Heidi closed her eyes. "Just a ghost,"

"No such thing," He muttered. "Love you,"

"I love you, go back to sleep."

Roy half nodded inhaling the scent of her hair and snuggled closer.

Heidi closed her eyes; this was all just a dream… Zolf was dead, this just had to be her mind playing tricks on her, it was just the stress, it was… She sighed. She didn't know what it was but it wasn't and couldn't possibly be real.