'No one knows their true selves...

There were times before if I really had parents...

if they really loved me... but...

how come I don't see them...?

Do they hate me...?

How was I born...?'

Chapter 8 ~ The Birth of Life!

-Normal-

3 months had passed. It wasn't long to any normal person, but it seemed so long for Catherine. The name Mercury Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist had spread around Amestris like wild fire, and this was a problem for her. She knew that there will be even more problems along the way in search for the philosopher's stone. "If this keeps up... Scar will definitely come after me..." she groans, a nervous smirk crossing her face. It was a good thing that Catherine hasn't heard anything about Scar, but sooner or later, he'll come after her in the near future. Currently, Catherine is on her way to central to report on what she had found in new Optain. She was spending the last two months in repairing the city, with a strict rule of not using alchemy.

::Memory::

"As an alchemist... you must..."
"I must what... Dante?"
"Learn how to use alchemy properly and fight physically mentally!"
"Say what!?"

The Trigham brothers pulled up a large stack of bricks behind the old womens' back. It was the largest stack Catherine had ever seen, and the most scariest thing in her life. She could've sworn it was the leaning tower of Pisa! "No way! That's impossible! Only alchemy can be able to use all of that!" she exclaims, pointing at the tower. Dante smirks and replies, "I knew you would say that." Standing up, Dante motions Catherine to go up to her. When the clueless girl abid to the elderly's silent order, a sudden rope raps around her waist and bounds her arms to the side of her body. "Pull the whole thing to the otherside," meaning the othside of town as a brick delivery girl.

::End of Flashback::

-Me-

During those 2 months, there was nothing but pain in my whole body. 'I'm glad that it made me stronger and faster, but it was still painful! Only a monster could-!' I was interrupted from my thoughts when the train had finally arrived at it's stop. I sighed and collected all of my stuff before leaving. I left the train with ease, which was normal now a days. Ed and Al used to be by my side in the past, but I can't dwell in those types of things. 'First I must report to whoever the heck I need to see and then take a long break,' compiling everything I needed to do, I was too distracted even realize I that I was even farther from where I was ment to go. "You do know you're heading the wrong Mercury," that annoying voice... why does it sound familiar? I looked over my shoulder, and I saw that stupid jerk. "Well well... if it isn't Roy Mustang."

Yep, that bastard was right on my tail and was smirking right down at me. I hate to say this... but he's way taller than me up close. "Er! Damn it Mustang! You just have to come at me this close!" I declare, indicating our height difference. I was about... wait why am I thinking about it!? I have to focus on the situation at hand! "Hmph! Says the person who's wandering around aimlessly," that truly wasn't needed at all. I wanted to punch the guys' face when Riza came into the picture. "Colonel, it's time to head back to Headquarters," informs his female companion. She then spots me and smiles greetingly, "I'm glad to see your still in good shape Catherine." "Well you're seeing the outcome of all those stupid fights I went to," I say proudly, eyeing Mustang in the process. I gave Riza a hint who exactly was the cause.

"Since your here Mercury I'd like you to-" Mustang was about to say something to me when a sudden person jumps out of nowhere, "Hey Roy it's nice to see ya again!" it was none other than Maes Hughes himself. I stood in place stunned as I watch Hughes blabbers random stuff, and one in particular was about his yet to be born daughter. 'Must be Elysia they're talking about... does that mean she hasn't been born yet?' I thought to myself nostalgically to myself. I remember Hughes' moments around the anime before he... he... died... 'I just had to remember that!' "And who is this little young lady?" Hughes questions, turning his attention to me. The word little echoed in my head endlessly, until it had reached the end point in the back of my head. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LITTLE CHILD THAT IS SO SHORT THAT CAN BE MISTAKEN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD!?"

They all sweat drop and said simutaneously, "He/I never said that." While fuming, Hughes once again asks, without adding little, as to who I am exactly. "This is Catherine N. Cairo who is also known as the Mercury Alchemist," answers the colonel, pointing out who I was. Hughes went up to my face and, strangely, was scanning my face for something. A vein popped out with my conscious thinking, 'He doesn't believe it at all.' "Yep your the one I've been looking for!" Hughes blurts out before grabbing my wrist and drags me to a random direction.

"I've been looking everywhere for a girl like you! Since work has gotten me coeped up in the office, my wife has gotten so lonely at home!"
"I undestand sir, but-!"
"Your busy with work as well, but I need someone to look after my wife! She's pregnant you know, and the doc said that the baby will come any day now!"
'So yo expects me to take her to the hospital!?'

On and on, Hughes continues to blabber about his newborn child, and I was trapped in his clutches.

-Mustang-

It was amusing for Mustang to see someone else suffer by his friends' wrath, but felt bad for her at the same time. "Colonel, what was it that you wanted to ask Miss Catherine?" Riza asks curiously. "I was just about to ask her to run an errand for me," he simply states and leaves with Riza following his side, who never got a clear answer. 'I was hoping she'd go with Ed to Youswell,,, oh well,' smirking unconsciously, Mustang stares up at the sky. "Let's head back to HQ."

-Back to me-

I finally reached the Hughes family, or soon to be, home apartment. I'm glad that it didn't take too long, but I really wanted Hughes the shut up, he loves his family way too much. "Honey I'm home!" announces the very cheerful military man, waltzing straight into the apartment door. I sweat drop thinking, 'Why that crummy old line?' Hughes signals me to come, which I was about to before I had to watch him in his cheerful mode. Mrs. Hughes walks into the room and greets her husband, 'Your home early Maes." As I stepped in the room, after they kissed each other, the couple turns to face me. When I saw how big Mrs. Hughes stomach was, I blurted out, "Your stomach's like a melon!" The couple laughed at this sudden action. Motioning me over, I did as I was told and walked up towards them. My hand was suddenly placed on top of her belly, which was rather awkward for me.

There was a sudden feeling in my hand. "Do you feel her kicking?" ask the ever so polite Mrs. Hughes. I didn't know how to respond, knowing that there's a little being sleeping inside was new to me. Sure I knew about pregnancy, but never up close.

"It's nice to meet you ma'am I'm-" but Hughes stops me from finishing my introduction. "We already know who you are Catherine," Maes informs me, "the boys told me a few things about you. Sorry I never told you, the way Ed described you was rather different." "How so?" I ask curiously, tilting my head to the side. "He told me you were the most violent girl in the military." I wanted to snap right there and run to where ever Ed is, but I had to keep my cool until I met the boys again face to face. "I see... so that's what he's been saying about me..." I grumble to myself. I took a seat on the couch and watch as Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Hughes busy themselves around the home. 'So this is what a normal family is like,' my thoughts were getting the better of me. Even though she's pregnant, Miss Hughes sure is a strong enough to work like this.

Instead of just watching, I decided to offer them my help. "Don't worry Catherine," the kind women reassured me, "I can take care of things myself." inexperienced, I knew that when a woman is pregnant. she needs to rest now and then so the baby won't be stressed. Before I said anything else, there was someone knocking at the door. "I'll get it!" I instantly ran to the door to see who it was. When I opened it, time moved slowly as I saw the face of the women. Her face... it was so familiar to me, and yet this was the first time we've met. I blacked out in placed suddenly, same as when I said good-bye to the boys.

::FlashBack::

"Mama! Look at what I made!" a little girls' voice rang, along with little light foot steps echoing. Everything became clear again, and I was seeing from a different point of view. I was running in a fancy hallway, searching every corridor I could. Then I found the person I was searching for in a beautiful garden. "Mama look!" running up to her, I show a beautiful blue rose. The woman turns to me and looks surprised. Kneeling down to me level, she takes the rose and smiles, "Thanks you Cat, it's beautiful." "Mama, is Papa coming home yet? I haven't seen him in day!" my question made the women tense up. "Yes... Papa will come home soon," she hugs me out of nowhere, but I felt something wet on my shoulder,

Who are you? Why am I calling you 'Mama'?"

She let's go of me and offers, "Why don't why don't you go visit your friends?"
"But it's your birthday today! I wanna stay with mama and say happy birthday!"

I gasp in realization, "Maybe Papa will come home today!? He surely will come home! Papa never misses your birthday!" The women looks at me surprised at first, but then smiles once again for no good reason. The face becomes clearer, along with her smile.

Wait! Please tell me... are you my mom!? Who's my father!?

::End of Flashback::

Time went back to normal, meaning that me and the stranger were still together at the door. "Ah! Camilla, what are you doing here at this time of day?" Mrs. Hughes questions the lady, walking up right next to my side. "I came by to give you some presents for the baby," Layla lifts up a small basket. The two walk past me, but I was still stuck in place after what I just saw in my head. "Catherine, is something wrong?" the question was what made me snap out of my trance. "N-Nothing..." I stammered as I closed the door shut. Camille Clementine, a neighbor of Mr and Mrs Hughes, and is also a secretary of King Bradley. I was quiet surprised that a person like her would be part of the military, but looks can be deceiving, and not in a good way. 'Does she know about the homunculi then?' there's no proof, but my hypothesis might be correct on that end.

If I remember correctly, the higher-ups are in leagues with the homunculi, and are the ones that want immortality. 'Damn it's so hard to remember! What the fuck did Truth do to my head!?' frustation was boiling up inside me. Stuck in my thoughts, Camilla asks me, "Where are your parents now Catherine?" "Eh?" I look up and realized where I was right now, at couch in the living room. All eyes were on me at the moment, and I was trapped in my thoughts to even realize it. "Um well... my parents aren't with me now," I nervously informed them, lying through my teeth. In my head, I was bashing myself while screaming, 'It's a lie! It's a total lie!' I continued my 'story' in a calm manner, "My parents are traveling alchemists, but we got separated during a trip to Resembol. I'm not even sure if they're alive or not, if I'm an Amestrian or not. So I guess that's why I joined the military."

Strange, this may be a made up story, but I was so sincere in how I told it. Was it because of how nice they were? Or because of the warm feeling I was getting? "I hope you find them," that was so not what I was expecting. Camilla just smiles at me as I stared at her with shock written all over my face. "Ahem!" Hughes walks up to me with stern look at first, but changes into caring one. "So Catherine, you have a place to stay?" he blurts out of nowhere, causing me to nearly fall off my seat. "I... well you see..." trying to pick out the right words to say, I stumble in my words and nervously played with my hands. I failed miserably at hiding the fact that I had no place to stay. The question was so sudden that I didn't even get the chance to even think of what to say with 'that'. "Well it's decided! You're staying here and that's final!" "Eh!?" I squealed in surprise.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, the Hughes' were actually letting me stay on their home. "I can't possibly stay here! You have your family to take care of," I told him in objection, trying to change the man's mind. He shook his head and patted my shoulders in reassurance, "Our home is your home from now on Catherine, and we love to have guests here." Geez, I meet too many nice people now-a-days. Smilingly, I looked down at the ground unconsciously and ended up staring down at my feet. "Thank you..." was the one thing I could say. I always found the Hughes' family really nice people when I watched the anime, but this was far from what I had imagined. "I think it's time to manke my leave now," Camilla states as she gets up from her seat, "I need to finish up my work before I get in trouble with the Führer again like the last time I slacked off."

"Oh my... well take care then."
"I will Gracia, and make sure to take care of that bundle of joy inside of you."
"Don't worry Camilla. Catherine here will help me when the time comes."
"I see."
'No!'

Camilla left after saying her final farewells, leaving me to face my problems again, and still try to get out of my current situation.

::That Night::

Late at night, I was in my room getting ready for bed when suddenly- "Agh!" there was a sudden scream from outsidem my door, along with a sound of crashing plates to add. I instantly ran out and saw Mrs. Hughes crouched onto the ground withering in pain, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Mrs. Hughes! Are you alright!?" I gasp, running up to her side in panic. "Th-the baby is... agh!" unable to finish her sentence, she continues to scream in pain, and grabs onto my wrist for support. 'This is bad... Hughes isn't home anymore... what do I do now!?' my thoughts ran like crazy from how much craziness there was. I had no other choice, I had to call Hughes and a doctor to come right away! 'But then...' I stared out the window. 'It's pouring outside.' If there was a weather forecast I would tell if it's going to rain or not, but there's no tv here, and I don't know how to use the radio here.

"Mrs. Hughes you have to lay down now... I'll try my best to help you get through this," I reassure Gracia to the fullest as I helped her up to her feet. I lead her to the sofa and placed her down. I was supposed to make a phone call, but when I did the phone went dead instantly. "Dammit! out of all time...!" I cursed under my breath and slammed the phone down onto it's receiver. When Gracia gave out another cry of pain, making me look back at her nervously. Science has helped me in alchemist, but using it for medical purposes is going to be a new challenge for me. Bio-alchemy isn't really my specialty, even though doesn't exist at home, but I may know a few things about child-birth. In a matter of minutes, I started to look around the household for all the stuff I need incase I still can't get a hold of the doctor nor Hughes. "Is this all the stuff Mrs. Hughes?" I asked nervously, placing the towels down by her side.

"Yes... that'll do Catherine... Is the phone line still dead?"
"Sadly yes..." 'Too bad cellphones don't exist.'
"It's sad that my baby will be born in a time like this.. ergh!"
"Please sit still Mrs. Hughes, your husband wanted me to take care of you." 'Even though it was mostly by force.'

I was unsure of what to do next. 'This reminds me of what happened during Ed's birthday in the other version of FMA... those guys literally thought Mrs. Hughes was goes to die!' I thought as I mentally laughed at myself, trying my best to keep the memory out of my head. "Agh! I'm going to die!" screaming the familiar line that I was thinking of earlier, Gracia then faints afterwards. I scream in terror, "She's dead! I failed Hughes! I just killed his wife!" I ran around the room and continued to panic. "Gracia? Are you there?" a voice called out from the other side of the door. I stopped for a second until I heard the voice again, causing me to leap at the door in joy. "Thank god!" I reached the door and greeted the stranger, "Thanks for coming to help me with the sudden child birth of my friend!" That wasn't a greeting... but I needed help here!

Who in the right mind would want to be in this type of situation alone? "Gracia is giving birth now!?" oh joy, it was just Camilla. 'Wait- Camilla!?' my thoughts were correct, it was in fact Camilla. "ITHINKGRACIAISDEADANDISINTHELIVINGROOMCOUCHANDHASN'TMOVEDATALLSINCESHEYELLEDTHATSHE'SGOINGTODIESONOWICAN'TTELLWHATTODO!" I blurt out. Taken a back from how much information I blurt out in one sentence, Camilla stood in place until she noticed the passed out/dead women on the couch behind my back. "Gracia!" Camilla runs passed me and knelt down towards Gracia's side. She sighs in relief and informed me, "Gracia's fine... but she needs to give birth now!" As Camilla tries to wake up Gracia, I instantly run to the telephone to see if I could get in touch with anyone, but I got only static. That wasn't good, and things were going to get worse. "Catherine! I need your help!" when Camilla calls out to me, cries of pain were accompanied in a matter of seconds.

No time to spare, I ran back to where the two were, but the sight wasn't what I had expected, "C-Camilla!? What are you doing!?" Camilla had Mrs. Hughes in a position for childbirth, and was starting to prepare for the delivery. "I need you to heat up the water again it's gotten cold," Camilla instructs me, pointing out to the metal basin. The basin that once had hot steaming water had already gone cold by the looks of it. Doing it by myself again would be a hassle, but Gracia needs all the helps she can get right now. I knelt down to the ground and took a look at the water. 'Man it's as cold as ice! It'll take too long if I start to heat it up now!' my thoughts scream as I placed my hands onto the metal area. When I did, a flash light up for a second, and instantly the water was warm once again. Even though I was lost as to what had happened, I instantly let go as I heard Gracia, once again, scream in pain. God must really not like me... Gracia was giving birth right when I turn to see what's going on.

"Oh mother of Jesus of god..." I mutter under my breath, staring at the terrifying sight.

\\Later/

Thankfully, the delivery was a success, but that memory will forever be engraved in my head for the rest of my life. Hughes finally got back from work and celebrated the birth of his newborn child. "Gracia she's so beautiful~!" weeping tears of joy, Hughes starts to take pictures of both his wife and daughter. Now I curse on how fast technology was advancing. My time may seem better in the 2000's, but Hughes would've made me never want to go near an electronic if he'll keep using it as a camera in my timeline. The doctor came as well and check Elicia if she's okay. The doc sighs in relief and informs the couple, "Your daughter is as healthy as a horse. No need to worry about anything wrong about your child." Gracia smiles and looks at me, "It's all thanks to Catherine that I was able to hang in there." "I didn't do anything! I just screamed around while Miss Camilla did most of the work," I explain at the same time blush from embarassment.

Hughes suddenly ruffles my hair out of no where. "Agh! Mr. Hughes!" I squeal as I felt almost hairs start to come out of its roots.

"From now on your my daughter's mother-in-law and you can't reject the offer from this moment on!"
"Eh!?"

For unknown reasons, I was forced into something again and in the worse case possible. Camilla just sat down and watched us happily as I try to get out of my current situation. I suddenly jumped towards where Camilla was, then hid behind her back like a frighten cat, "Please save me Camilla! This mad man is nuts!" "I... uh..." lost in her own words, Camilla looks at me then to Hughes."Maes leave this poor child alone," Camilla orders with a dar kaura surrounding her. Hughes back off finally. I sighed and hugged Camilla from behind, "Thank you! You're the best!" The sudden hug made both me and Camilla freeze in time again, this time something was off... it was so familiar to me not only by sight but by touch.

-Jealousy-

Jealousy still kept her eye on Catherine, but she was getting angrier by the minute. "Damn you... you took another this important thing away from me..." she mutters under her breath as she watches Catherine hug Camilla through the window. "I will become human again..." was the last thing Jealousy said before completely disappearing into the darkness again.

To Be Continued

Ok! Now Ed and Al won't feel awkward anymore about talking about child-birth! Cause now, Cat understand how they feel! Oh, and Camilla looks like Shinmyo Megu from We Are. please R&R