so i have no idea what crete's atmosphere is like so i gave it a kind of italian/Mediterranean vibe. i figure if xing can be china, why not crete be that? besides, there is an island with that name so...

Roy had had a car nearby and took Edward in it so that he didn't have to walk all the way to a place to eat. He thought that would be pretty cruel on the heavily pregnant teen. As they rolled up to the restaurant, Edward was completely enthralled with the place. It was a Cretean restaurant and had terraces laced with fake grape vines with grapes hanging off of them, ivy plants climbing the building, and little nuances to show the Cretean style. Edward was so excited and grinned wide at Roy, who was watching him from the other side of the car. Edward pointed enthusiastically at the grapes hanging from the vines.

"Yeah, those are grapes. You never been to a Cretean restaurant before?"

Edward shook his head and Roy smiled, closing the door.

Roy headed inside and went up the three stairs that led into the restaurant but Edward stopped at the bottom. He didn't feel right going inside. He hadn't been able to go into a lot of buildings ever since he was rescued. He had tried many times, if only to get out of the cold, but no one would let him in. He remembered vaguely when his parents (or what he thought were parents) had taken him to wonderful city full of shiny arms and legs. He didn't know what it was called but he remembered the people there were so friendly and waved at him, making him feel welcome. There weren't a lot of buildings but the tents seemed to serve as them. He remembered his parents buying shoes for him and shorts and shirts… He even remembered a booth that was full of nothing but toys and the man on the other side let him come around the see them all. He liked toys…

"Edward?" He looked up as Roy looked at him. "You okay?"

Edward looked behind him at the restaurant and then back at him. Roy looked at the restaurant too.

"You don't want to go here?" Edward shook his head. "Then what is it?"

Edward looked at himself and rested his hand gently on his stomach. Roy nodded, actually having forgotten that the kid was part of a gross experiment and was holding life within himself. The whole reason the city hated him and despised him.

"I'll protect you." Edward gave him a questioning look and Roy motioned for him to come with him. "Being in the military has its perks. Come on, Ed."

Ed? What's an Ed? Edward thought as he slowly made his way up the stairs.

They walked into the restaurant and the hostess smiled at Roy but then gasped at Edward. Edward hid behind Roy as the hostess looked at Roy with confusion and then at Edward.

"Um…"

Roy pulled a silver pocket watch out. "How about you act like you never saw him and act normal?"

"S-S-Sure, yeah…"

"Two please."

She nodded and took them to a booth, putting the menus down. She made a face at Edward but he didn't see it because he was looking at his lap. Once the girl left, Edward looked up and saw Roy holding the menu in front of him. Edward hadn't been to a restaurant before so he picked his menu up like Roy was doing and held it up. There were lots of letters and numbers but he had no idea what they meant. A voice scared him and he jumped, making the waitress jump as well.

"Oh, sugar, you scared me!" she said, putting her hand over her heart. "I didn't mean to scare you either, honey. What would you like to drink?"

Edward shrugged and looked at Roy for help.

"I'll have a pint of whatever you got and… give him some juice."

"What type of juice?"

Roy looked at Edward for a second, trying to figure out what he might like. He smiled and looked up at her.

"Cranberry juice I think will do nicely."

She left and Roy watched Edward as he held up the menu again. He wondered what type of mentality Edward had in regards to basic things. It seemed he recognized letters but most likely didn't know how to read or write. Poor kid probably can't even spell his own name… the man thought.

"Do you know what pasta is?" he asked.

Edward peeked over the menu and shook his head. Roy smiled and reached over to push the menu down.

"Not to be a jerk, but if you can't read, then you don't have to hold up the menu."

Edward looked away, embarrassed, and shut the menu. A small kick came from within him and he put his hand on his stomach, massaging the section where a foot most likely was protruding. He wasn't very comfortable at this table or the restaurant and the people. Eventually, someone would recognize him like the hostess had and do something do him. Not even Roy being a military officer would be able to do anything because Edward knew that if he got involved with him, he could lose his job. The waitress came back and gave them their drinks and took their orders.

Edward eyed the bright red liquid in front of him, the white straw standing out starkly from the liquid. It looked like fresh blood. What kind of person does he think I am?! What is this, blood?

"Why are you looking at that so angrily?" Roy said with a small laugh. Edward looked at him and Roy frowned. "Have you never had cranberry juice?" Edward shook his head no. "I think you'll like it. It's a tad tart but it's good." Edward didn't want to be rude and so he pulled the juice closer to him. "Careful now, it's sour."

Edward nodded and did what Roy was doing and put his mouth on the top of the straw. Nothing happened. He frowned and watched Roy again, noticing he was sucking on the straw. He did his mouth the same way and ended up with a mouthful of the strangest liquid he'd ever tasted. At first it was a sweet taste and then out of the blue, in the back of his tongue, a cringing sourness made him pucker and he shivered, almost knocking the drink over.

"Whoa! Hey, watch out now!"

Edward turned away from him, putting his hands protectively over his belly.

"What was that for?"

Edward pointed accusingly at the juice and Roy sighed.

"I told you it was sour. I figured you'd like to try something a little new than sweet juice like grape juice. I wasn't trying to trick you though… I wouldn't give you something bad, Edward. Here, look." He pulled the drink over and took a sip out of it. He made the same face Edward had and pushed it back. "Man, that's pretty sour today…"

Edward doubted that he wouldn't try and trick him but it seemed not to be hurting the officer at the moment and so he calmed down a little, bracing himself as he took another slower sip of juice. Once he got the taste of it, he liked it a lot. The waitress brought a basket of bread and Edward watched the basket like a hawk. There was a whole thing full of bread and he was going to have it. Once Roy wasn't looking, Edward was going to grab it and keep it hidden beside him. He'd save some of the bread for later so he could snack on it.

Roy was talking to the waitress for a second when he saw out of the corner of his eye the bread basket leave the table.

"And some more bread." He added before she turned to leave.

The waitress looked down and blinked at the missing bread basket and shook her head, agreeing. Roy looked at Edward as he tried to look inconspicuous.

"Edward, I know you have the bread basket."

Edward looked away and Roy smiled.

"It's alright. You can have all that bread to yourself. She's bringing me another one."

Edward made a face and looked at the piece of bread in his dirty hands. You can get more bread if you just… ask? he thought, completely flabbergasted at the thought. He looked at Roy and hit the bread basket on the table with a confused look.

"What are you trying to say?"

Edward hit it harder and Roy reached out to stop him. Coming so quick at him, Edward dropped the basket completely and pushed as far back into the seat as he could. Roy sighed.

"I told you that I wasn't going to hurt you. I know everyone looks down on you and you've been hurt before but I'm not going to. Alright?"

Edward nodded slightly and tried to relax.

"Are you trying to ask about the bread?" Edward nodded. "Yes, the bread is free. They'll give us more if we ask."

Edward sat back again but this time in shock. He'd been trying to get food for a month and weeks before that and no one would even throw him a scrap, but he could have just walked into a building that sold food and gotten bread for free? He frowned and hit the basket.

"What's wrong?"

Edward touched his stomach and then pointed at the bread.

"Well, it's yours so you can eat as much as you like. Like I said, I'm getting another-" Edward shook his head quickly. "Then what is it?"

Edward sighed and pointed out the door, then to the bread, and then his stomach. He looked around and hoped Roy was able to follow what he was saying. I wish I could talk… or write…

"Are you… mad because you've been out there and the bread has been in here and you needed food?"

Edward shrugged. It was close enough. Roy leaned in a little.

"Let me tell you something about people, Ed: they're douchebags. Assholes, butt wipes, whatever mean thing you can say about them, that's what they are. You don't make them money, so what use are you? That's what they want you to think. Don't worry though, you won't have to worry about that anymore." Edward turned his head. "You're gonna come with me."

"Your mommy sent me to come and get you because she's got a new puppy she wants you to see. Would you like that? A new puppy?"

"A puppy?!"

"Yeah, sure thing. Come on, I'll take you to her." He said, holding out his hand.

He took his hand and walked towards a black car. He didn't see his mother there…

"Where's Mommy?"

"Oh, she's in the car. We don't want the puppy to escape now, do we?" He shook his head. "Good. Now, hop on in." he said, opening the door.

He climbed in the back of the car. He heard no sounds of dogs or whimperings of puppies… and his mother wasn't there either.

"Mommy?" he asked in fear.

"Your mommy's not here. You're gonna come with me."

Edward shot up and stumbled out of the booth, backing away from Roy.

"Edward?"

"Edward? As in that freak with the belly Edward?" another diner said.

Edward looked around as the other people in the restaurant began to look at him, all suddenly aware of him.

"Hey, that is him! It's that Edward kid! Get out of here, you freak! Take your heathen spawn back to hell where you came from!"

"Yeah, we don't want to see your disgusting body around us!"

"You're a disgrace to humanity. An abomination."

"Get out here!" someone yelled, throwing their cup at him.

Edward ducked and started backing out when he backed into the waitress, dropping all of the food she was holding.

"What's your problem?!" she yelled as Edward turned around to see what he had hit and she gasped, pointing. "You're- you're that monster! You saw what he did! He assaulted me!"

Edward looked around fearfully, trying to find a way out. He had nowhere to run! They wouldn't let him leave. The diners had stopped eating now and were all gathered around him. Edward thought he saw Roy trying to break through the crowds but he wasn't able to get through. Someone grabbed Edward's hood and pulled him, making him fall backwards. They yanked it off and then pulled at his shirt, which after much protest from Edward's arms, they exposed him and his stomach. He didn't understand why if they hated him so much, why did they want to expose him so much?

"Look at that mass!" someone yelled, pointing and laughing. "Gonna lay an egg, little chicken?"

"We should do something about it that bun in the oven there, kid. I think it's long over cooked." Someone said, opening a switchblade.

Edward's eyes widened and he began to try and fight to get out of the restaurant. He had to protect his children, no matter what. Fight or flight took over and since he was never taught to fight, flight was his only option. He felt someone grab him by the shoulder and pull him back from the ring. He landed on someone's chest as the switchblade touched his neck.

"You sicken me, you disgusting monster! People like you shouldn't be allowed to live on. You think we should feel sorry for you just because you were kidnapped? Ha! Like we could believe you didn't just let that crazy alchemist do whatever he wanted to you. You just let him and now look at you? A disgusting abomination… and you let all of the city see you! Flaunting it like you were proud…"

"Hey! Put that knife down!" Edward heard Roy yell.

The man let go of Edward and he tried to get his hood, but someone had a hold of it and was pulling it away. Edward didn't care anymore now and turned tail to run when he felt something fly into the side of his head and he felt himself lean, cracking his head on the doorway of the restaurant.

ah the lovely townsfolk. coming together and welcoming those who are different... not. damn people.

and wtf about the bread, right? i'd be saying the same thing that edward did. it's like i've been starving and i could have just sat down in a chair and got free breads?!