AN: so i decided to be mean and add in another chapter and leave this one on a cliffhanger ( :

Maes Mustang's shoes squeaked on the floor of the hospital floor as he walked through the hallways. His little hand was clasped tightly in Uncle Breda's hand, who was looking unhappy as he stared straight ahead.

"Uncle Breda?" he asked quietly. "Is… Is my Mummy okay?"

He looked down at Maes suddenly looking very sad. Why was he sad? Was Mummy not okay? There was a horribly tight feeling in his tummy that wouldn't go away. It had been inside him since last night. He'd stayed with Auntie Gracia last night because Daddy hadn't even come home from work and Maes was a little bit scared. When Uncle Breda picked him up from school that feeling stayed because they weren't driving to Auntie Gracia's, they were going somewhere else. Maes had looked up at the tall white hospital building in fear as they had parked.

"That's what we're here to find out, kiddo," Uncle Breda replied.

This… This was scary. Maes wanted his Daddy. He wanted his Mummy. Their hugs always made him feel better.

His eyes drooped closed as they walked. He almost tripped up, but Uncle Breda caught him before he could hit the floor with a smile, but he still looked unhappy. Maes didn't know why.

He really wanted his Daddy.

Maes hadn't been able to fall asleep last night, not without Daddy next to him in bed. It helped Daddy because he was falling asleep without Mummy, and it helped Maes because he missed Mummy a lot and he could still smell her in their bed.

He didn't like being apart from Daddy either. Maes was always scared that when he was at school Daddy would get sick too and would leave him and Maes would be all alone.

Uncle Breda asked him to stay outside the room while he went in to check that Daddy was ready to see him.

"Why wouldn't Daddy be ready to see me?" he asked, voice small. He wanted his Daddy. Why wouldn't Uncle Breda let him see him?

Uncle Breda just smiled at him, but Maes could tell he still wasn't happy. The door closed loudly behind him.

Maes stood, staring at the window, waiting. That uncomfortable feeling got worse in his stomach and he started to feel a little sick. His hands were sweating, his school polo-shirt sticking to his back.

I want my Mummy. I want my Daddy.

The tears begun to fall, and his little body begun to shake.

"I want my Mummy," he warbled quietly. "I want my Daddy!"

The door opened and he jumped. Daddy stood on the other side of the door, looking down on him.

"Daddy!" he cried, launching himself at him. He caught Maes and hoisted him up into his arms. Maes buried his face in the crook of his father's neck. His little hand gripped his father's collar, the other hand's fingers curling around his neck as his arms squeezed his father tightly. He never wanted to let go.

"Maes," Daddy whispered. A hand was placed on the back of his head, holding him close to his father's body. Daddy held him tightly, giving him a squeeze like he always did when Maes was upset. "Are you okay?" Maes shook his head. "What's up buddy?"

"I – I wanted you, and I wanted Mummy." Maes heard Daddy let out a big breath very quickly. "I couldn't sleep last night because I wasn't at home with you and I missed you and you didn't come home from work and I was scared –"

"Maes," Daddy hushed him. Maes was moving and he clung to his father, his feet wrapping around his waist. Daddy sat down, keeping a tight grip on Maes. "Calm down," he soothed. His voice was gentle, like it was when Maes woke up from a nightmare and shouted for Mummy or Daddy to come through and save him. What Maes thought was strange, was his voice sounded funny. It – Was Daddy crying?

Maes scrunched his face up, keeping his eyes closed. He didn't want to see Daddy cry again. That was too scary.

"Take your time," Daddy urged. "Why were you scared."

"I…"

"Take your time, Maes."

"I thought you would disappear like Mummy," Maes finally admitted in a whisper. "You didn't come home from work and I thought you had disappeared like Mummy."

Daddy froze, his thumb stopping in his hair. It had been stroking his head but now it was still.

"And I didn't want you to disappear," Maes continued, his sobbing becoming uncontrollable. His grip on his father's collar tightened, his hands scrunching up into fists. "I didn't want you to leave me," he wailed.

"Maes, Maes," Daddy hushed him hurriedly, pressing a kiss to the side of his head and hugging him even tighter. His grip never loosened, and that made Maes feel a little bit better. "I would never leave you. Neither would your mother. Just because she can't see you right now doesn't mean she's left you." That funny hitch was back in Daddy's voice. Maes felt something wet hitting the bare skin of his arm. "She's in that room and she's fighting so hard to get better so she can see you again."

"Is she awake?"

There was a pause before Daddy spoke again. "Not right now. She was earlier when the doctor spoke to me. They are working to make her all better."

"I want to see her," Maes mumbled, his sobs quieting.

"I know you do, bud. God, I know you do." Daddy hugged him even tighter and Maes thought he might squish him. "Just hold on a little longer, okay? Please. She'll be able to speak to you soon."

"Okay," Maes whispered.

"And please, don't ever think that Mummy has left you," Daddy begged. His voice was sounding even funnier now. "She would never do that. It would make her upset to hear you say that."

"Okay, I won't."

"I – Thank you, Maes. Right before she fell asleep, she told me how much she missed you. She can't wait to see you again, but you need to be patient until she's all better."

"Okay, Daddy, I will."

"I told her about your picture," Daddy said. He pulled Maes away from his neck and looked into his eyes. Maes' stomach tightened as he saw Daddy's wet, red eyes. He looked really tired. It looked like he hadn't had much sleep last night either.

Maes' teacher had told the class about it earlier that week. That's why under his eyes were dark and looked bruised. Maes wondered if he had dark patches like that after he couldn't sleep last night.

Daddy smiled at Maes, and he couldn't help but return it. He'd forgotten about that picture. It was hidden in his room, tucked under a collection of other pictures in his desk drawer in his bedroom. His stomach fluttered briefly in excitement as he thought about how it will be such a nice surprise for Mummy when she wakes up.

Leaning forward, Daddy kissed Maes cheek before shifting him so that Maes was sitting sideways on his lap, his legs draping over the side of Daddy's lap.

"She's so excited to see it."

"Oh, good!" Maes perked up almost immediately. "I can't wait to show her."

Daddy kissed his head again before the smile fell from his face.

That uncomfortable feeling was back, the excitement gone.

"Maes, I'm –"

There was a sudden beeping from inside Mummy's room. Maes' head popped up from Daddy's shoulder. He was confused. What was that sound? He heard Daddy gasp and bolt up from the seat, throwing Maes off balance. He clung tightly to his father to stop himself from falling.

"What –?" Daddy asked loudly but stopped. Uncle Havoc exited the room. He looked really scared. Maes cowered backwards, bringing a fist to cover his mouth as he leaned against his father's shoulder.

"Nurse!" Uncle Havoc yelled, the volume making Maes jump. "We need some help!"

Maes had never heard Uncle Havoc shout like that before.

Ever.

Daddy took a step forward, but Uncle Havoc shook his head quickly, hand motioning towards Maes. Daddy stopped moving and just stared at the door as it closed behind Uncle Havoc. Maes looked over Daddy's shoulder and saw lots of people running their way.

"Daddy?" he asked quietly, feeling panic rise within him. he didn't like it. It was a horrible feeling and he didn't like not knowing what was happening.

Was Mummy… okay?

"I'm so sorry," Daddy whispered into Maes' hair repeatedly. He was definitely crying now, and it was loud. Maes had joined in. He didn't fully understand what was happening but seeing Daddy cry like this was enough to make him sadder than anything else ever had.

Ever since Daddy had told him Mummy was sick, he'd been on his best behaviour. He made sure he helped Daddy around the house – when they were home, that was – and he made sure he looked after Daddy when he woke up from a nightmare. Maes thought it was strange that his Daddy had nightmares. Daddy wasn't scared of anything, and he was so brave, but it made Maes realise that it was okay for big, strong, people to have nightmares sometimes.

It made it easier for Maes to talk about his to Daddy and to other people.

People rushed past and into Mummy's room as Uncle Breda, Uncle Havoc, and Uncle Fuery piled out. Uncle Fuery was crying. Uncle Havoc's eyes were wet, and he was blinking a lot, so was Uncle Breda. They all looked inside Mummy's room helplessly.

Maes didn't get to, Daddy made sure of that.

But windows were like mirrors, Maes had discovered, and he caught a glimpse of Mummy's face in the door opposite her room.

She was hurt. Why was she hurt like that? Daddy had said she'd had an illness. Why was her face cut like that? Had she fallen?

Maes buried his face further into Daddy's shirt and continued to cry quietly.

He just wanted his Mummy.