Chapter Six:

Bruises Inside and Out

Roy put his hand behind his back, and took it out a fist.

"An' now yer seein' what's gonna happen." he said, still drunk.

Jenny's legs shook while in front of her father's drunken form. "W-what?"

"This!" he extended it quickly, getting her in the stomach.

She grasped her chest, out of breath.

"D-daddy..."

"There ain't no 'Mommy', there's no 'Daddy'!" mocked Roy, "Only you and I!"

"Stop this Daddy!" yelled Jenny, tears in her eyes. "Stop doing this to me!"

"Nevuh'." responded the former military officer. "Now let me tell you something."

He grabbed her arms, and pinned her down. "Ever since I first saw your lily-white face, I hated you. Hated you, not because of anything you did, but because of what you are."

Jenny had tears silently flowing from her eyes, although she wasn't making any sounds.

Roy slapped her cheek, and got up. There was a mark. "Now go to your room. And don't even think 'bout runnin' away."

As she ran up to her room, Roy grinned.

That'll teach that little bitch a lesson.

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This persisted, even at the day before the funeral. Her face began to show a few bruises. And a few of the teachers were concerned.

"What happened?" they asked. "To your face?"

"I simply fell." said Jenny, "And my father helped me feel better."

She continued lying like that, and keeping her eyes dry.

But she snuck back into her house during the final night before the funeral, making sure that her father couldn't get to her.

She slept well that night, although she cried herself to sleep.

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The next day, Havoc gave Jenny a ride to the funeral.

"I don't know why..." said Havoc, "But Roy asked me to, so I did so. I wonder why he didn't..."

"Who knows?" said Jenny. "Maybe he's feeling sick?"

"Like a hangover?" joked Havoc. "Ha! Wouldn't that be funny. Him drinking. Like that would ever happen."

"Yeah." said Jenny, hiding her sadness. "Like that would ever happen."

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Everyone paid their respects at the funeral, but there was one person who never showed up.

Roy Mustang was the only one who didn't show up. One wonders if anyone noticed.

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At school the next day, Jenny went to the nurse's office. One of her bruises was swelling, and she needed medicine for it. Medicine that she obviously couldn't ask for at home.

While the nurse went to get the medicine, the medicine for the bruises on her skin, she started thinking. There was medicine for bruises on the skin...then why couldn't there be medicine for the other bruises? The bruises within one's own heart. The bruises that reflect the pains of words, of thoughts.

Why wasn't there medicine for those bruises?

As she got the medicine from the nurse, she sighed.

Bruises inside and out. She thought, I have both kinds.

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When she got home, she walked quietly inside. Roy wasn't waiting.

As she went upstairs, she peeked into Roy's room. He was there, sleeping.

She was about to close the door, but then she heard words. And tears.

Roy was talking in his sleep. And what he was saying was...

"Riza...Jenny...my women, I love you both. I miss you both. I'm sorry to you both. Because of me, you're separated form each other. Please forgive me...it's all my fault..."

Jenny slowly closed the door, now lost in thought.

How can Daddy love me and hate me at the same time?

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At school the next day, Jenny was still thinking the same thoughts. That of Love and Hate. Of being drunk and being sober.

Of Life and Death.

What does it all mean? I'm...I'm so confused...Mommy...please help me...

Daddy...

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Author's Note: And there ends that. I need some time to think of what is to happen next. Or maybe I'll have something tomorrow. Or maybe even after I've gotten a few new reviews :). Hopefully the last two :).

Please R&R! I hope that you either enjoyed or cried to this. I at least hope that it made sense. Thank you all who recently reviewed!