"AHHHHHHHHH!" Havoc yelled as he sat back down on the bed. River jumped and Kino squeaked.

Mustang twisted his pinky finger in the ear closest to Havoc, "What are you screaming about?"

"My calves," Havoc bent and massaged the back of his shins, "I can barley stand they hurt so much."

Mustang sighed, "You ran bare foot, that's what happens."

Havoc turned around to River and sort of blushed. He didn't know how long they stared at each other before Mustang came in; that was a little embarrassing. Especially when he mentioned them as a pair; what was wrong with saying "Havoc and River"? Why did he have to call them, "Love-birds"? Edward was the worst though.

River smiled warmly back at him, "Come here," she reached out to him.

Havoc felt Mustang and Edward's eyes staring smugly at his back. He twisted his torso around and scooted himself close to her. He wasn't sure what she was going to do but he didn't see any reason not to trust her. She reached across him and touched the upper outside of his thighs.

A warm chill ran up his spine at her touch.

"Bring your legs up so I can see," she giggled.

Havoc rocked back and set his legs on her lap as she directed then flipped over on his stomach. She pushed both pant legs up and ran her cool, thin, pale fingers over his calves. The warm chill bounced back down and up again as she softly rubbed his skin. He sighed as he identified the chill. He felt ridiculous; he never quivered under a woman's touch before.

"You stressed out all the tendons in your calves," she shook her head, "it'll be about two and half weeks before they soften out."

Mustang shrugged smugly, "Well what are you going to do, Havoc? Do you want to stay with River and Kino in your dorm or you want to get back on your feet?"

Havoc tried to look contemplative despite his annoyance as he rested his chin on his arms. He wanted both options.

"Virgin!"

Everyone's head whipped around to the doorway to see Sirkis with a big smile.

"I can't believe it! They found you! On the roof, right? What a weird place you silly woman!"

"Sirkis!" River and Kino greeted in unison before they both laughed.

"Ah, give me some love you two!" Sirkis put an arm around both of them and kissed their foreheads.

"Are you going to allow that, Daddy?" Edward whispered.

"Go away," Havoc growled. Yes, Kino stared calling him Daddy and how unfortunate that he called him daddy in front of Mustang and Edward. As touching as it was, Mustang and Edward insisted in making a joke out of it.

"What ya doin'?" Sirkis was lifting an eyebrow at Havoc's position.

"Mama's waiting for Daddy to tell her it's okay to heal him."

"Daddy?" Sirkis balked, "What does he need healin' for?"

"He hurt his leg muscles." Kino smiled.

Sirkis didn't say anything for a while but had a disappointed look on his face. "You have a funny dad, lil' buddy."

"He's a hero!"

Havoc smiled to himself out of pride. Sirkis obviously didn't like this whole thing and couldn't insult him after a heroic deed. Besides, he'd hurt Kino's feelings should he actually say something bad about his "daddy". This all worked out well.

Kino jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom connected to the room. "I have to pee."

Silence.

"Everyone," River cleared her throat to call for attention, "I want you all to know that the day after tomorrow is Kino's eighth birthday. Sirkis, could you gather the alley kids together to visit and Edward, contact Winry. All of you must be there."

Sirkis looked shocked, "Already? Boy the lil' bugger's growin'. I feel old-but probably not as old as you, dad."

Havoc sighed. "Why must you all tease me about being called dad? I almost think you're all jealous."

Mustang snorted and that made everyone stare. "Oh," he theatrically expressed false confusion, "were you serious?"

Edward lifted an eyebrow at Mustang and glared at the height difference above him.

Havoc suppressed a grin and turned to River. "Do you know what he wants?"

River shrugged, "He told me he knew so I didn't ask for details." She stared at her lap with a drained look from her eyes, "I do know that he doesn't want toys or clothes."

"Really?" Sirkis asked and his head tilted, "what does lil' buddy want then?"

River looked up and smiled. "I just want to give him what ever he wants and I want him to be surround by all those he loves." She turned to Mustang, "Could you allow nine children from the West to visit a whole day?"

"Nine?" Mustang balked, "Who are these children?"

"They're alley kids," River responded, "they're practically Kino's brothers and sisters. Sirkis will go get them and Jake will help supervise the children. In fact," River smiled and looked at Edward, "you ought to go with them so you, Winry, Sirkis, and Jake can watch them on the train."

Edward cringed internally at the thought of wrestling nine kids on a train. "Why don't you come too?"

"That's more tickets to buy, Ed. You know Winry best and I'm not separating myself from Kino." River's face was serious but it lightened some, "Besides, the children are better-behaved than you think. All you have to tell them is they're going to see me so they need to be good. Jake knows them well too so you'll have hardly anything to do because he handles them so nicely."

Mustang moaned, "I don't think we can have nine extra children and three extra adults here."

"Bull," River folded her arms and everyone was surprised, "I can have all nine children with me and I know the dorms can hold more than one person. There are only three."

"Who's Jake?" Havoc asked River.

She smiled at him, "He's a young friend of mine. He has the big brother roll among the children so he's almost like a son to me."

Havoc chuckled, "How many children are you going to adopt?"

River laughed, "As many as can fit under my ever lengthening wings."

"That was beautiful," Sirkis commented, "and I can actually see wings on you." He checked her back just in case and River giggled.

"So," River turned to Mustang, "I will do free labor for every dollar you spend on the train tickets after his birthday."

Mustang's face scrunched, "You don't have to…"

"Roy," River interrupted, "I just want to be able to give him everything he wants. He won't ask for much so it's not going to be difficult. It's very important." She stared at him with sad but demanding eyes, "Do this for him and you'll get something back. I promise you a unique gift, Roy, Edward, Alphonse, Jean, Riza, Sirkis; one that will last forever and will never be destroyed. This gift is one only Kino can give."

A flushing toilet broke the silence and Kino ran back onto the bed. "Sorry Mama, I had to poop."

River kissed his head, "That's fine." She turned to Havoc with a smile, "Jean, you need to be one your feet again."

A glow shone through the white clothing she still wore and her green optics dulled into a subconscious focus. Gently, she set her pale hands onto his calves; white sparks licked the air and danced with freedom before they disappeared under the skin. River sighed and her eyes glowed with life.

Havoc sat up without taking his blue orbs from hers; his heart was racing and the sound waves tickled his spine. He took a settling breath before he spoke, "Thank you, River."