A NOTICE FOR THE MANCHESTER INCIDENT:
Now I know people come here to read fiction and distance themselves from the real world because it often closes in on us and makes life hard, but in this case, and in the many cases where bombings had taken place and people lost their lives, I just want to say how despite casualties happening and a lot of people struck with fear, no one should feel like hiding away at home and never coming out again. Terrorists can never be powerful if they can't control the people and strike fear in society, something that no self respecting country will stand for. Terrorists may wreak mayhem and take innocent lives, but they're stripped of power the moment they realize that nothing of what they do will change the way the people will continue on living and fighting for themselves and others. That's all.
ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:
Daughterofapollo12345: I had wondered about it from time to time and finally found the right mood to write it ^^ What? Really? I read the manga but haven't seen that at the end, was that a bonus/special scene? Since in the manga it's similar to Brotherhood (with minor alterations ofc).
Lily: Thanks a bunch :)
The Family I never had
Greed chuckled, listening to the delighted, playful giggles bubbling out of the mouth of his little niece, "Aw, look at those legs, look at 'em. Hehe, yeah you'll be the coolest baby this town has ever seen!" he grinned widely, making little Nanami giggle and stretch her little arms out to him.
The Homunculus chuckled, "Wanna go for a walk eh?" he stood up and buckled up what he personally dubbed as "baby transporter" on his back, it was some sort of a baby carrier sling thingy, it looked like holsters for swords as he fasted the buckles on the front and carefully lifted Nanami and eased her into the straps, expertly buckling her in place and double checking the buckles to make sure she was secure and wouldn't fall off.
He gently petted her head, "Heh, lucky little girl, getting spoiled and carried like a princess," he rubbed his nose with hers and the little infant laughed and grabbed at his face, making his laugh wickedly at the adorable buddle before him.
"Oh I'll spoil ya rotten kid, I'll spoil ya rotten," with one hand resting on her back protectively, Greed exited the palace grounds and started walking out into the fresh air, letting the sun hit his face.
He sighed, it was peaceful, quiet, something he appreciated each day more and more ever since Lan Fan and Ling had gotten Kiba and then Nanami following two years later.
Kiba had been a rascal, Greed had often smugly joked some of his genes had something to do with it as well, only to get smacked by Ling, since Kiba had been a real screamer as an infant.
The kid would start screaming at random intervals in the middle of the night and sometimes, both Lan Fan and Ling would be too exhausted as they wobbled their way into Kiba's room, only to be greeted with a softly singing Homunculus and Kiba slowly starting to calm down and fall asleep in said Homunculus' arms.
Needless to say Ling had been greeted, more often than not, at random sights as he saw Greed scrolling through what looked like "cook books" and "20 ways to raise a badass baby" books in his spare time, in between sparring, training, helping Ling with some of his meetings as his right hand and taking care of Nanami and Kiba.
Ever since the kids had come into their life, Greed's character had changed quite a bit. Ling didn't know if that wouldn't have happened if the kids wouldn't be around or if Greed was trying to become a better man for his niece and nephew, as the self proclaimed uncle once admitted.
I may be a Homunculus, the last one alive, but those kids don't need to see that old side of me.
Ling had understood him, but still, he had told him countless of times he didn't need to change so drastically, that he could do it step by step.
Greed had just laughed and told him to shut up as he shoved a fist in his face. That was Greed for you.
Even after Marcoh had somehow managed to separate Greed from Ling, contrary to what Marcoh himself believed, namely that Greed would need a host for his powerful soul, Greed had actually looked identical to Ling even after their separation.
Marcoh had researched it extensively and after a few months theorized that Greed must have taken a portion of Ling's genes with him and that that may have just been enough to provide him with a host. Ed and Al have argued that wasn't quite equivalent exchange, but then again, they themselves were searching for new ways to create a new law for alchemy.
Greed still didn't know how that had been possible, maybe it had just been the Stone's unexplainable power, but either way, it didn't bug him all that much. He may miss his more handsome face every now and then, but he learned to live with Ling's features. He chuckled, no doubt Ling would smack him if he knew his thoughts right now.
"Uncle Gweed! Uncle Gweed!" the voice of none other than Kiba entered his ears and Greed carefully turned around, Nanami immediately stretching her little arms out to her little brother, who tripped over his own feet multiple times before reaching the Homunculus.
"Hey there little man," Greed still found it astounding how Kiba effortlessly took his hand, without fear, trepidation or any caution. The little toddler had, much to the amusement of his mother, taken to calling Greed his father's twin and he thought that whatever he said to Greed, Ling would automatically know and the three had taken to playing a game.
Whenever Kiba would whisper something to Greed and Ling would enter the room just a few moments after, Kiba would run up to his father and clumsily ask him if he remembered what he just whispered to him. Such moments would always end in Greed laughing his ass off and Lan Fan trying hard to suppress her laughter at Ling's flabbergasted look.
It offered a source of the many little entertainments in the busy palace and eased Ling and Lan Fan's worries when they would return in their private abode and be greeted with Greed and the children.
Greed chuckled when Kiba asked him, "Uncle Gweed, where we goin'?" he grinned easily at him.
Kiba had the habit of imitating Greed's sometimes slouchy speaking manner, much to Ling's chagrin, but he just found it cute, "Just walking around," he smiled gently and squeezed the much smaller hand holding his own, getting a excited laugh from the little boy of two years in turn.
Ling watched from his perch on a tree, royal robes discarded for his casual ones as he watched the Homunculus interact with his children. He chuckled when little Nanami shifted and fisted her tiny fists into the material of Greed's dark shirt, making the Homunculus nearly swoon at the sight.
Ling himself felt his heart jump at how adorable his children were, Lan Fan truly was amazing to give birth to such wonderful beings and start training only a few months after. Ling had constantly reprimanded her for her efforts, saying she had plenty of time for rest, she was on maternity leave after all, but she had swept aside his worries, telling him she had a duty to protect him and the other clans.
Ling's newly proclaimed policies and laws in Xing have been, for the most part, positively received, even from the elders. He had great support in abolishing the concubine system, rebuilding streets, shabby alleys and houses as well as building new facilities for medical purposes, teaching Alkahestry and a few orphanages for the children whose parents had been killed in the wars Xing had been involved with.
All in all, Xing was starting to grow as a country, the desert has stopped becoming such a great obstacle to travelers wanting to explore the different culture of Xing, Mustang had agreed on trading routes between Amestris and Xing, forming a strong bond between the West and the East.
Lan Fan had even allowed him public displays of affections here and there, but she still quite flustered and shy when Ling kissed her cheek, held her hand or swept her away somewhere for some much needed kisses away from prying eyes.
The worst part was, Greed would always mercilessly tease them with saucy remarks, even while Ling was attending important meetings, he would send him knowing looks, dirty grins or would wink whenever Lan Fan would be in the vicinity.
The woman was thankful for her mask, that way she was spared from the embarrassment of exposing her flaming red face to both her husband and the sneaky Homunculus that loved annoying the living daylights out of them.
Things had been going good for Lan Fan as well, after the initial crisis of becoming a mother, reading countless of cook books, parents guides and what not, she had slowly along with Ling adapted to life being a parent and fulfilling her duties to Xing.
It was true, some of her decisions were dictated by the presence of her children such as doing risky missions alone, in the past, she wouldn't have a problem with it, but nowadays she would always leave with a partner or Greed. Ever since becoming a mother and starting training again, Greed had watched her like a hawk at times, the Homunculus defended himself by saying Ling had forced him to, but she knew Greed himself was worried over her and loved the children like a big, scary, overprotective uncle would.
She didn't mind that in the slightest though. She just wished that when the kids grew older, Greed wouldn't stop being more polite, she almost wished he would permanently drop his foul mouth but then he wouldn't be Greed.
Greed felt the powerful aura of chi behind him, a handy little ability Lan Fan taught him and smiled. Heh, he was the same idiot as before, just older and with a better sense of style after Greed had given him a bashing (in truth, it had been Lan Fan but he liked to credit his own influence).
Ling's expression softened and he shook his head fondly, sensing his wife approaching him, looking at him from the balcony in amusement. Ling lifted a finger to his lips, motioning with his head at the trio walking toward the pond in their private garden.
Lan Fan smiled at the scene, a fond, soft smile on her face as she replayed the events that had led them to this moment, some sad, others more enjoyable.
She realized Greed had been playing a key role in weakening Father and had almost died as a result. Ed and Mustang had intervened just in time, Ed kicking Father away and Mustang creating a wall of fire that separated them from him while both Greed and Ling recovered.
She moved her gaze toward the small grave situated at place under the large tree providing shade, decorated with flowers, Fu's grave, her grandfather's grave. Lan Fan bowed her head in greeting and she smiled when she looked at the sky and the warm breeze blew in her face as if greeting her in turn.
Greed couldn't help but smile like a fool as he watched Kiba curiously explore the pond, he himself moved closer when Nanami started squirming, wanting to feel the water too.
"Damn...getting soft like this...a few years back, I wouldn't be caught dead playing with kids like this and playing house with a piss ant like Ling and Lan Fan and all that..." he looked at the couple watching him from the corner of his eye, unaware of his knowing gaze, "Tch, those idiots, I guess some things won't change,"
He was glad for that small comfort.
Next chap? :) NOTE: the crossover with FMA:B and Attack on Titan will be written in about two weeks, I haven't watched AOT yet I'm sorry for the delay! .