Not in chronological order, but the boys' ages will be listed at the top of every chapter.

Roy Mustang, 29. Yuery (Harry Potter) Elric 4 months. Edward Elric 14.

Roy finally managed to convince Edward no one was judging him for taking a break, so while Ed naps Roy keeps the baby happy and quiet. Missing (cut) scene from Fullmetal Dadchemist

How Hard Can it Be (to ask for help)?

Mustang's Townhouse

Saturday Afternoon

Edward was sleeping on the couch, having fallen asleep shortly after arriving. This shouldn't unusual. Edward was known for sleeping anywhere and everywhere as soon as he was still for more than five minutes. Edward, however, was a very attentive and cautious parent, and his son was in Roy's arms.

Roy had offered to hold the tiny boy so Ed could remove his coat and boots, and the teen had grumbled but handed the child over. Roy took this as a sign of trust since he still hadn't heeded Roy's advice on daily childcare. In particular the part where it was safe to set the child down or even let someone hold him while Ed did things like eat or shower.

Ed trusted Roy to watch his son. This was either a breakthrough or exhaustion. Either way the boy needed sleep so Roy crept quietly from the room and into the study. Yuery showed no sign of sleeping himself yet, but Roy did have backlogged paperwork that needed to be done. So he sat in his chair, shifted the tiny boy to the crook of his left arm and picked up the top sheet of the report he had just started when Ed knocked.

"Report from the office of Colonel Frank Archer to the office of Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist.

I formally request the aide of your top alchemists in a matter of great importance. The skirmish over the border has grown decidedly heated. I will be sending a formal request through as well via General Grumman. I will be requesting Fullmetal, Silverfist, and Graphite. Please comply quickly." Rot read in the same tone he used when reading fairytales. The baby stared up at him with wonder as Roy commented. "Like hell I'll be sending your Daddy to a warfront. That's just not something that will happen so don't fret."

Yuery giggled at Roy's comment, as Roy set aside the request and moved to the next file that needed his attention. He carried on in the same manner for about an hour while the baby listened intently. Eventually though, the baby grew tired and hungry.

Roy had worked his way through nearly all of the paperwork before this happened, when Ed wandered into the study in search of his son. As soon as he saw his now sleeping baby Ed smiled, then collapsed into the loveseat Roy had recently placed in the corner when Ed started stopping by, though he refused to think about his own reasoning even as the boy flopped back over and within moments was back asleep.

Forty-five minutes later

Yuery began stirring around, but Ed was still deep asleep. The dark circles under the boy's eyes screamed the need for more sleep. Roy slipped silently out of the study, gently shutting the door behind him. He then went in search of the diaper bag, which had been dropped next to Ed's boots.

Once he was back in the living room, he settled the baby on a blanket next to the couch. Before digging through the bag for a diaper and bottle. By now Yuery was chewing on his fist and looking around curiously. "I know. It is strange to wake up in a different place than you fell asleep, and without your father, but we're going to let him sleep a bit longer." Roy said gently as he activated the array etched into the bottle to warm it.

He sat cross legged in front of the baby and quickly changed his sodden diaper, before picking him up. With his back propped against the couch he laid the baby semi upright against his bent knees and offered him the bottle. Yuery greedily drank for a few minutes. Eventually he turned away, releasing the nipple. Roy set aside the bottle to burp the baby.

This was much more pleasant without Hughes here to tease him, or his team here to see him showing weakness. He could just enjoy this time with Yuery, grateful he found a way to help Ed without a fight. After the baby let out a loud belch he carried Yuery with him as he rinsed the bottle and diaper before putting them back into the bag.

He then pulled out a few of the baby's toys and situated him back on his blanket, reclaiming the spot against the couch. Roy watched the baby with amusement as he grabbed up a stuffed bear and began swinging it around while babbling happily.

He leaned over to grab a brightly colored stuffed dog and waved it around in front of Yuery to get his attention before tickling his belly with the dog. He squealed with giggles louder than Roy had intended. Roy cringed as the door to the study opened but continued to play with the baby. First waving the dog above his face then tickling him with the toy.

Ed came into the room, looking a little better at least. Roy nodded at him. "There's some leftovers in the fridge if you wanted to heat that up for your lunch. We're okay, having fun here."

"I know I was really tired earlier, but were you reading him classified files?" Ed asked as he walked into the kitchen, raising his voice slightly.

"As you well know babies don't care what you read as long as you read." Roy defended. "Pots are in the cabinet next to the sink on the left."

"Thanks! No I meant, can't you like get in trouble for reading them out loud like that?" Ed called from the kitchen as some pots clanked around and one was set on the stove."

"I hardly think anyone will care that an infant has now been made aware of the amount of toilet paper that is used in Eastern Command this quarter." Roy said with a snort, completely ignoring the earlier reports that probably should not have been read aloud. He wasn't going to worry about it though, his house had been checked for bugs just yesterday.

Ed came back in carrying two bowls of left over reheated pasta. He offer one to Roy, then plopped down on the other side of his son with the other. "Well, you never know. I smart person could use that kind of information to analyze the weak points in security or some shit."

"hmm. I never considered using toilet paper reports to search for a weakness." Roy said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, because that didn't make any sense. It was a joke."

"Still." Roy said. "Archer requested you, however somehow the request was misfiled, and we didn't even see it in my department until January."

Ed snorted. This wasn't the first time Roy 'lost' paperwork that would have distracted Ed from his goals. "So are you staying for dinner?" Roy asked as he took the bowls to the kitchen.

"If you're offering me food, I'm not turning it down and we both know it." Ed said before picking up his son to follow Roy, as he gently bounced the baby. "What are we having?"

"Pasta. Or I'll order in." Roy said with a shrug, "Do you want to call Alphonse and invite him to join us?"

"Sure, thank you again. For taking him." Ed said as he flushed red. He hated needing help and they all knew it. Until last weekend when Hughes had visited, he wasn't sure he could get Ed to let him help without a fight.