Roy was finishing up work so he could babysit Elicia with Ed and Al. As he was working Chiko was reading, he was curious on who Maes Hughes is and why he made his owner sad. Chiko looked at Roy and tapped his hand, Roy looked at him and asked. "Mhm. What is it Chiko?" Chiko didn't say anything only just moved to a picture on Roy's desk and tapped on Hughes. It took Roy a second to understand what he was asking. "Are you wondering who Hughes is?" Chiko nodded and Roy smiled at him. "I guess it's about time you knew. Maes Hughes was my best friend. We met back at the academy, the food there was gross and the only decent food there was the quince and he had took it. Boy was I mad and I saw that he was talking to some other cadets that were jerks, Bullies as you might say. They picked on an Ishvalan that was just minding his own business and well, Hughes was good at things in the academy and we deemed each other as rivals. We tried to win over everything, target practice, training. Everything, one day those jerks I mentioned had pulled the Ishvalan aside and started beating him up. Obviously I helped him and got into a fight, Hughes pulled a gun on me and just when I thought he was gonna shoot, he smirked and aimed the gun at them. We got into a fight and I learned his name, I told him my dreams of joining the military and he told me that he wanted to protect the woman he loved. Even though he hadn't met her yet and we became best friends, he was even there for me after the war. He supported my idea to reach the top, to become Führer but now he's gone. Someone killed him, he died. Leaving behind a wife and daughter." Roy took a shaky breath and covered his eyes with his hand trying not to cry as he continued. "I'm still gonna become Führer but he was supposed to be there with me, not be promoted to brigadier General and be buried into the ground. Damn it all, why did he have to die? It's not fair, it's not fair. I wish he was still here and with his family. Who's gonna be there when I'm down? Who's gonna be there when I feel like giving up? Who's gonna shove pictures of their daughter for riding her bike for the first time? He was my best friend and I need him." Tears came down his cheeks as he sighs shaky, he gasps as he looks down at the sight.
Chiko was hugging his hand and comforting him while he cried. He laid his head down and looked at Chiko, who looked back at him and said. "I guess you filled in that role Chiko, Hughes will forever be my friend and my brother but at least I have you Chiko and the Elrics. Thank you Chiko, for being my friend." Chiko hugged Roy's face and rubbed his head against his cheek. Roy smiles at this and closes his eyes enjoying the company of his pet, as Chiko glowed again the tears subside as Roy's smile widened.
Roy, Chiko, Ed and Al were walking to the Hughes's while Roy was holding the doll house for Elicia. Ed was having second thoughts, Al was happy while Roy was having mixed feelings. He hadn't been around his niece in a while so he wasn't even sure she'd know him but he'd still take care of her. Because Gracia had been doing allot lately and it shouldn't be too much trouble to watch her daughter for a night while she hanged out with friends. Ed knocked on the door and Gracia opened it, she smiled at them. "Thank you guys for coming." "It's no problem Mrs. Hughes." As they came inside, Elicia came running in and hugged Roy's legs. "Uncle Roy! You came!"
Roy smiled and handed the box to Ed, getting on his knees he patted Elicia's head and said. "Hey cupcake. How're you holding up?" Not understanding the question, she smiled and said. "I held the mirror for mommy while she did her hair." "Well you did a tremendous job because she looks like a fairy queen." Gracia blushed and said. "She already had her dinner buts there's ice cream in the fridge. Her bedtime is at 9 and I should be back at 10:30." "It's okay Mrs. Hughes, we got this handled. Go have some fun." Gracia smiled and nodded, they said their goodbyes and she left.
Elicia notices the box in Edward's hand and ask. "What's that big brother?" Ed smiled and gave it back to Roy who smiled and said. "Uncle Roy made you a gift but you have to be extra careful and gentle with it because the pieces are very tiny." "Okay uncle Roy!" Roy opened the lid and Elicia smiled at the sight. "Can I play with it uncle Roy!?!" "You sure can cupcake." "Yay! Come big brothers let's go play!" Ed and Al agreed and followed her into the living room as she carried the box with extra care.
Roy stood up as Chiko came out of his hair and went to his shoulder, looking at him and giving a little squeak. Roy looked at him and smiled saying. "That's Elicia, Hughes daughter. The woman you heard was his wife Gracia. Their getting by fine but there are times when their down and Gracia never really has time for friends, that's why I agree to take care of Elicia so she can spend one night with friends. Come on let's go in there." Chiko nods giving a squeak and Roy's walks into the living watching Elicia play with her new doll and house. It was truly a nice sight, seeing her be gentle with the toy Chiko.
After awhile Elicia wanted to play Rapunzel. She begged Ed to be Rapunzel and he caved, she brought out a dress which caused Roy to break down in laughter when Ed grudgingly agrees, Roy was the evil witch which Ed thought was fitting, Elicia the prince and Al was the horse.
Ed was on top of Elicia bed as Roy said his lines with a hand on his heart the other one outstretched to him and to make more Hilarious Chiko was imitating him. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Let down your hair." Ed glared at him and said. "I will not let my hair down you pervert!" "What's a pervert?" Ed, Al, Chiko and Roy freeze at that. Ed panicked as that Hughes would come back from the dead and kill him for swearing in front of his daughter. Roy looks at him and mutters. "Nice going Ed. (Clears throat) Uh, a pervert means a handsome guy that, uh, looks at other women for a living." "Why?" "I'll tell you when your older." "Okay, but your supposed to be the witch uncle Roy!" "Yeah uncle Roy, your supposed to be a woman."
Roy glares at Ed and says. "Well excuse me for not sounding like a woman because I've been around smoke to much and it's made my throat raggedy. Now I'll say it again, Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair." "No I will not because you forgot the magic word." "I already said the magic word Rapunzel!" Ed rolls his eyes and said in a girly voice. "Will someone ever save from this tower?" "I will!"
Elicia comes out and says. "I'll save you Rapunzel!" Elicia poked Roy with her toy sword and he was gonna fall dramatically but tripped over a block and falls into her box of stuffed animals with only his legs sticking out. Ed holds in his laughter as Elicia climbs up the bed. He gives her a hug and says in the girly voice. "Thank you for saving me from the evil witch!" Roy had gotten up from the box and rubbed his lower back while saying. "Hey! I was doing it for your own good young lady!" Ed rolls his eyes as Elicia giggled and said. "Now that I saved you, time for a kiss!" "Huh?"
Elicia gave Ed a big old kiss on the cheek and whispered in his. "I'm sorry big brother, I love you but daddy said I can only kiss someone when I'm married." Ed's heart clinched at this and kissed her on the cheek. Elicia giggled and said. "Let's go eat ice cream!" "Okay, let's get some Elicia." Al led Elicia to the kitchen as Ed took off the dress and noticed Roy leaning against the wall holding in lower back in pain. He looked at him concerned and asked. "You okay colonel?" He looked at Ed and smiled while whispering. "Yeah I'm fine, one of the toys poked a bruise that was still healing. I'll be fine when I soak in a hot bath tonight." "You want some ice for it? Might help it heal." "Ice sounds amazing. I'm gonna sit in the living room and rest before we put Elicia to bed." "Kay."
Roy walks to the living room leaning against the wall holding his lower back, Chiko had got out of his hair and looked at worriedly. He got to the couch and laid down, he buried his head into the pillow and closed his eyes. Chiko started stroking his head in comfort as he rested. Ed came back with an ice back and placed it on the bruise. Roy winced at the pain but claimed down as the pain went away. "You feeling a little better?" Roy opened his eyes and looked at Ed, he saw the bags under his eyes had gotten better and he got so weight back. He had gotten better then the last time he saw him and that was after he found Chiko, he had changed his life. Roy smiled at Ed and said. "A little better. I'll be fine after some rest." "Want me to make you something to drink? Tea?" "Tea sounds amazing Ed, thank you." "No problem colonel." Ed went into the kitchen and made him some tea, Chiko snuggled into Roy's hair hoping to comfort him and it worked. Roy felt better with Chiko with him.
After Roy drank his tea and they finished the ice cream, it was time for bed. Chiko had asked for a crayon and paper for a project that he didn't want anyone to see. Al offered to keep an eye on him and clean up the kitchen. Roy and Ed took Elicia to bed, she changed Into her teddy bear pajamas and Ed brushed her hair while Roy grabbed a story.
As Roy finished Hansel and Gretel Elicia yawned and laid her head on his chest. "You smell like daddy." "Oh? And what does daddy smell like?" "He smells like that cream he puts on after shaving and like coffee, even though I don't like coffee and I can hear your heartbeat. Here big brother." Elicia grabbed Ed's head and leaned it against Roy's chest. "You can hear it too." True to Elicia's word he can hear the steady beat of Roy's heart in his chest. Elicia yawned and asked. "Tell me about daddy." Ed could hear Roy's heartbeat quicken as he started talking. "He was the biggest idiot I knew, biggest pain in my neck. He was obnoxious and annoying." Ed glared at Roy for his insensitive but saw a tear go down his nose as he looked at Elicia as it fell on her head. "But he was the greatest friend I knew. He was always there for me when I needed him, he was the most selfless, generous man I've ever known and I'm proud to call him my friend."
Elicia fell asleep as Ed buried his face into Roy's chest, smelling like coffee and aftershave.
Roy and Ed had put Elicia to bed and went into the kitchen to see Al watching Chiko draw. Al looks at them and asks. "Is she asleep?" "Yeah, what's Chiko doing?" Roy looks at him and says. "He's drawing, he doesn't want us to see it until it's finished." Just as Roy said that Chiko put down the pencil and started squeaking. "Looks like he's done." "Yep. So Chiko what have you been working on?" Chiko blocked the view of the picture and pointed at them, then covered his eyes with his hands. Roy, Ed and Al chuckled and did just so, Chiko gave the okay and they uncovered their eyes. They gasped at the sight.
It was a drawing of Roy, Hughes, Gracia, Elicia, Ed and Al on the picture and Chiko on there, they were all holding hands. Roy looked at Chiko who was on his hind legs smiling at them, Roy smiled at him and said. "It's beautiful Chiko, I love it." Chiko smile widened as he started hopping with joy while squeaking. Roy smiled at this and laughed, Ed and Al looked at Roy with joy that he was getting better and it was thanks to Chiko.
To be continued