"Mama! Mother! Kino!" Nine children exclaimed all at once, as the door swung open with out a sound.
Havoc, River, and Kino started awake in bed at the sudden shouts. Kino sat up in-between River and Havoc and a wide smile stretched across his face.
"Everybody! You came, I can't believe it!" Kino climbed over Havoc and ran to them. They greeted him with hugs and kisses before turning to River. She noticed with a tired smile that all nine had taken baths and were dressed appropriately.
Jacob appeared in the doorway with a smile but it immediately disappeared upon seeing the shirtless man in bed next to her and he exited just as quickly.
"Come on kids," Jacob called from the hall to the children, "Uh, come out here."
"Why?" a girl asked, she had blonde hair and looked the oldest of the children. "Mama's right here."
River laughed and slid over Havoc in her dressy nightgown. The children gasped and cried with joy as they gathered around her like sunflowers to the sun.
"Jake?" River began to call him in but Jacob was quick to answer.
"No, I can see you out here, ya know," He stuttered, "they're innocent and I'm not-er-sorry to barge in on you two-I mean-the leader guy said we could so I didn't think-ya know, sorry."
"'The leader guy' has an official title, mind you." Mustang smiled teasingly at Jacob before showing in the doorway; Riza behind him. "Aw," Mustang scowled sarcastically, "put a shirt on, you're scarring the kid."
"Are you pretending to care about kid," Havoc smirked, "to hide your jealousy?"
Mustang rolled his eyes and made an exasperated spitting sound, "Naw, been there, done that. I hope you feel accomplished of yourself though, that's always important-especially for greenhorns."
Havoc lazily glared at Mustang.
"Jake isn't a kid." The oldest blonde's hazel eyes darted between the men. "He's gotten his deep voice, body hair and his actions have changed so he's a man just like you. He has been for a while."
"Thank you, Elizabeth." Was Jacob's reply from the hall.
Mustang was about to speak when a chuckle behind him pulled at his attention.
Falman smiled down at her with obvious mirth, "Elizabeth, right?"
The little girl beamed with pride, "Yes and I'm 10 years old, do you like my name? It was the name of a queen on a TV show so I named myself after her."
Falman nodded, "It suits you."
"I know."
"Hey, what are you doing?" Havoc's voice turned all heads to the boy standing on the bed.
"Watch as I jump off this bed!" The boy bounced and landed on the floor with youthful grace and a child giggled.
"Jumper," River shook her head, "I know there's all these new things for you to jump but please ask before you go and do your stunts, okay?"
The 8 year old smiled sheepishly at Mustang, "Sorry," his eyes slid to the dresser, "Can I jump that?" He pointed.
"No, it's too dangerous," Havoc set a hand on his shoulder, "and it's not meant to be jumped."
"What's this?" All looked to the dirty blonde-haired boy holding boxers up inside the bathroom.
"Henry," River's voice was wary, "put that down."
"But what is it?" Henry held them to his nose and took a deep inhale. He pulled them away with a scrunched face. "Ew, it smells!"
Havoc bolted to the bathroom and he jerked the underwear out of the boy's hand.
"Ahhhhhh!" A small brown haired boy cringed, "Those are underpants Henry, and you just put them in your face!"
"EWWW!" The little ones all chorused.
"Now, now, all of you," River quickly acted to change the subject, "have you all introduced yourselves?"
"Eddy knows us," Elizabeth shrugged, "and Winry too."
"River!" Winry came in suddenly and embraced her.
"Winry," River staggered.
A child nearby laughed in a high octave.
"So," River smiled and looked about, "is everyone here?" She named them in her head: Mustang, Riza, Falman, Winry and now showing up; Edward, Alphonse, Fuery, Breda,…where was…?
"Hey lil' tikes! Mornin' Virgin!" Sirkis slid in his socks across the floor into view.
Jumper screamed for Sirkis and ran to into him with his arms out wide and the red head laughed.
"So we're all here," Mustang became everyone's moment of focus, "I've been anxious to know what wishes you have in mind for your birthday, Kino."
The boy smiled sweetly and it reflected with tangible purity from his blue eyes. "I want to play with everyone."
"Where?" Mustang slipped his hands in his pockets.
"There's a park nearby," Havoc shrugged, "do you want to play there?"
Kino's face lit up, "Yes!"
The military men dressed in civilian clothes and loaded everyone into the jeeps before taking off.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"So," Fuery began as he sat next to her in one of the many cars headed to the park, "What's your name?"
She had short dark hair; that stuck up in the back where it was shorter and her auburn irises stared warily. "Zipper," she almost whispered as she fiddled with something in her hands.
"Did you name yourself too?" Fuery pushed his glasses higher on his nose.
"Yeah," Charlie, the boy on his other side interrupted with a drawling inflection in his voice, "but I know this guy who named himself Stupid."
"He tells stories," River had told him as they loaded up, "he has a tone he uses so you know when he's telling a tall tale."
Fuery just nodded then turned his head to the sound from the floor.
Zipper quickly dived for it but the seatbelt stopped her inches from the object. Fuery grabbed it for her and saw that it was a beaten up battery. He looked curiously at her and she blushed as he saw three broken zippers and seven short wires in her hands.
Fuery smiled and handed the battery to her. "Zipper, what do you like to do?"
She peeked at him under her eyelashes and smiled, "I collect batteries, wires, zippers and I like to make things."
/\/\/\/\/\/\
The brown-haired boy next to Breda gasped again and jerked away from the window. Breda was getting tired of that and glared straight ahead at the wheel.
Afton giggled in the back too; as he did the last several times that Leo gasped in fear. The boy in the back found everything funny, apparently.
"What now, Leo?" He mumbled.
"I'm afraid of cats," Leo's blue eyes were wide as he squished himself into the back of the seat. "There was a cat out there."
"So?" Breda glanced at the boy.
"It was big and black."
"Big? You sure it wasn't a dog?"
"Maybe," Leo relaxed some and so did Breda. "but," Leo inhaled worriedly, "I'm afraid of dogs."
Breda rolled his eyes. Tall street lamps, men with beards, the color pink, really old men, germs, dark windows, machines, cats, dogs-the list seemed endless. Yet, he felt some common ground with this kid in the fear of dogs. Nasty creatures that bite, carry diseases and cause deaths.
"I hate dogs too." Breda said and glanced again at the big eyes that looked surprised at him. He couldn't hold back the slight smile tickling his lips.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
"And that's how you do multiplication," Falman drove erect in his seat with amazement at how quickly Elizabeth learned things.
"I see," she tucked her hair behind her ear, "so two multiplied by six would be…..twelve."
"Yes!"
Mustang moaned in the back next to Tanade (Taw-naw-day). A girl who he gave up on talking to because, according to River, she was very shy but really liked an adult's company. Basically, she just wasn't a talker.
So having nothing really to do, Mustang was bored and the conversation up front with Elizabeth and Falman was far from entertaining. "Falman, can we talk of something else?"
"You don't think she's a genius?" Falman was too fascinated to have his good mood dampened.
"Sure," Ron, the girl sitting on the other side next to Mustang in the back pouted, "but Roy doesn't want to talk about smart stuff anymore." Her red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and small light freckles blended in her skin.
Mustang thought she was okay for a girl but he knew that she had taken an obvious liking to him. She had given him her name with such admiration. She had an interesting name so he figured she named herself. Now curiosity nagged at him to replace his boredom.
"Why did you give yourself a boy's name, Ron?"
Her blue eyes sparkled, "Ron was my daddy's name and he was a hero. He saved people."
"Oh," Mustang thought for a minute, "What does your dad do?" he asked though he had an idea.
Ron's smile softened, "He died doing his job, and he had a coat just like the one you were waring. I remember because I tried it on once before they took it away."
Mustang felt a pang in his chest for the young girl and was afraid to ask anything else but she talked on like she read his mind.
"My mommy died a long time ago but I don't know when. I remember a black day though…sort of, anyway. Daddy cried too and then Mrs. Becker watched me for a while until some strange men came to my house with daddy's jacket."
"I'm sorry," Mustang attempted a smile.
"For what?" Ron's eyebrows scrunched.
Mustang shook his head as he fought his spreading smile, "Nothing I guess, I mean I feel sorry for you."
Her face softened and she was curious, "Why? I have a good life."
Mustang's face was composed but his insides stirred in the wake of her innocence. He stared into her light green eyes that showed nothing but the good in the world from the depths of sorrow. It seemed Ron knew nothing but optimism. He was proud of her but he still felt a pain inside. Too soon she'd see how cruel the world was.
He spared a glance at Riza in the passenger seat (Elizabeth was set in the middle of Falman and her). She only stared out the window with her hand at her mouth; contemplative as usual.
He looked back at Ron when she tugged his sleeve.
Ron's eyes watered but she smiled like she was witnessing a miracle. "You look just like my daddy!"
Mustang flinched instinctively like the phrase had daggers. Ron hugged Mustang awkwardly in the tangle of seatbelts. What could he do? Groaning, he rubbed his eyes; he could already hear the teasing.
"How cute," Falman grinned mischievously in the rear-view mirror, "You and Havoc can be the Parent Pose!"
"You realize you're tempting me to put you on probation duty." Mustang growled.
Falman laughed, "Because you know it bores me to death?"
Mustang smirked, "You could replace the janitor for a free week."
"No thanks," Falman shook his head.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
They all arrived at the park and gathered in the empty field of green grass under the leaving afternoon sun. Havoc held a palm-sized leather ball in his hand.
"So Kino," Havoc bushed back his dark colored bangs, "I've got a ball we can play with, if you want."
Kino had a look in his eye for a second before he grabbed the ball from Havoc and ran off. "Try and get me, daddy!"
Mustang moaned as he walked to the sidelines with Elizabeth and Ron screaming joyfully clinging to his legs.
"Can't you find something else to do?" Mustang complained.
"No way, daddy!" Ron laughed, "I'm staying with you!"
Alphonse walked over, "You two could ride on my feet," he offered shyly, "I don't get tired and I'm really strong so it's no problem at all."
"Can I jump you?" Jumper asked behind Mustang.
"Uh, sure," Alphonse shrugged, "though I don't know what you mean."
Elizabeth stood up, "Just get on your hands and knees and let him jump off you."
"I got you, Kino!" Havoc swooped his arms around the boy and he screamed playfully.
"Save me, Mama! Save me!" Kino called through the giggles caused by Havoc's tickling.
"I'm coming, Kino!" River tackled Havoc and almost knocked him over.
"Hey," Havoc chuckled, "You can't be on the boy's side-that's two against one!"
"Oh, be a man, Havoc!" River laughed.
"It's just a trash can," Breda sighed with his head back in exasperation, "what is it about these random things that scares you?"
"Nothing," Leo peered around Breda's leg, "I just hate them because I had to sleep in one once. It made so much noise that Mama had to come in with me to make the noises stop."
Breda immediately regretted his last words but was eager to change the subject.
"Do you want to play ball then?" Breda nodded towards Havoc, River and Kino who had abandoned the ball to wrestle each other in the grass.
"Can I jump you?"
Breda turned to the trash can where Jumper sat on it with innocent and curious eyes.
"Eww, Jumper," Leo cringed, "that trash can has lots of icky things in it! You'll get sick!"
"Yeah," Charlie drawled from Breda's side, "otherwise you'll have aliens growing into your skin; that happened once to the guy named Stupid."
What the…Breda's eye twitched.
"Yeah right," Jumper rolled his eyes, "next thing you know, there will be wild rabid girls that like tell-tale boys like you."
Charlie was silent but Breda could see the tears building. He was about to speak up before Jumper wrapped his arms gently around Charlie.
"Oh Charlie, it's okay. At least we know when you're telling a story because you use that funny voice. It's okay that you like to tell stories, remember what Mama said?"
Charlie sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Yeah, I remember."
Jumper ruffled Charlie's hair, "Good, I love you, Charlie."
"See it now?" Falman was squatted in the sand with excitement bubbling inside him.
"Hmmm…" Elizabeth stared hard at the sand and squinted. Giving up she reached into her pocket and pulled out a rounded piece of glass. She held it to her open eye and read the scribbles in the sand Falman had drawn. "Oh I see now," She nodded, "could you explain…long division…again?"
Falman pointed at the glass in her hand, "Can I see that?"
Elizabeth handed it over and Falman held it to his eye. Holy crap, he could barely see through it. The scratches and the ding in the side were really distracting and it was so small.
Falman put his hand directly in front of her face. "Can you see my hand clearly?"
"No," Elizabeth shook her head, "Mama did this to me before-I can see things better when they're far away."
"Oh, so you found this?" Falman handed her little eye glass back to her.
"Yep," she smiled, "Mama found it for me."
"Can I jump you?" Jumper rocked on his feet.
"Why? Is it because you think I'm short enough to jump from where you're standing?" Edward growled and turned away, "Ah! Henry! Put that down right now!"
"What is it?"
"Something that you don't put in your mouth-Put it down!"
Henry sniffed the crow's feather in his fingers. "Eww!"
Afton let a shrill ring of laughter and ran after Edward as he raced to swat the feather out of Henry's hand.
"That carries bad germs, Henry. You will definitely get sick if you taste it." Edward had his hands on his hips but they jumped when sudden impact hit his back.
He turned around to see Afton on his back laughing in a little girl's octave. What was wrong with this kid? Not only did he laugh at everything but he wasn't very graceful either.
"You get it?" Fuery smiled at Zipper as she peered into the hood of the jeep with her wide auburn eyes.
"It's beautiful!"
"I know," Winry rubbed the battery with her finger. She had joined them just to see what they were doing and ended up staying.
Fuery chuckled, "Yeah, but that's all I know about cars. I don't know enough to disassemble and reassemble it."
"Disa-what?" Zipper's head tilted.
"Disassemble means to take it apart and reassemble is to put it back together." Fuery smiled.
"I love the disassemble part! It's the best!" Winry sighed with glee, "I need to check Edward's arm, now that I think of it." With that she left.
"Bye Winry," Fuery waved but he didn't think she heard him.
"Disass…" Zipper twisted her tongue in her mouth.
Fuery chuckled as she tried to say the two words and he helped her pronounce them. She was so sweet and he could really relate to her. Though remembering the names of the parts, she could very well remember how they connected and worked.
"You're a very miraculous girl, Zipper." Fuery set his hand gently on her shoulder.
Sirkis put his arm out and dared Jumper to leap over without touching it. Jumper had great delight in the challenge and eventually succeeded. Breda, Falman, Elizabeth, Henry, Afton, Leo, and Charlie watched and encouraged then cheered with Jumper as he cleared Sirkis's arm.
The sun began its steep decline to the horizon and the cool night air weeps the ground from the other side of the setting sun to take in the darkness. The trees and the grass let out a sigh into sleep to await the next rise of the sun. For sure it would be up again, the quiet world knew, as they said farewell to the sun.
"Let's all play ball before today ends!" Kino yelled with his pure smile as he held the ball with two hands above his head.
"Is that one of your wishes?" River smiled and brushed his bangs back.
"Yes!"
Havoc had the ball and ran but Mustang tackled him from the side; knocking him to the ground. Breda picked up the rolling ball and handed it to Jumper. Everyone complained because they all knew that it would be probably an hour before they got the ball back from the little cheetah-kid.
Elizabeth out-smarted Jumper around a tree and tackled him to the ground.
"Yeah!" Falman cheered, "that's my girl!"
"Your girl?" Mustang eyed Falman and the grey haired man started at his own realization.
"Want to join the 'parent pose'?" Mustang teased.
Henry picked up the ball and sniffed it before attempting to lick it. Fuery, Alphonse and Falman ran to stop him.
Alphonse tossed the ball over the gaining crowd of men and children to Winry in the back but he threw it too hard. It flew over Winry, hit a trash can and it flew back over Winry's head and into the crowd. Jumper squirmed out of the dog pile with the ball in his grasp and ran.
Later, Jumper handed the ball to Afton after he jumped an empty picnic table. However, Afton laughed so hard about Breda charging him that he just fell to the ground in hysterics. Everyone was hit by the boy's contagious laughter and couldn't stop laughing until Edward picked up the ball and ran. Mustang was the first to charge. Edward skidded into a sharp corner and took off in the other direction.
"Come on snapping turtle!" Edward provoked over his shoulder.
"Shut it you cyborg-ic shrimp!" Mustang yelled. (AN:: cyborg: half man, half machine)
Edward turned on his heel and chucked the ball into Mustang's face.
After re-building the spirit of the game, Fuery handed the ball off to Zipper and she ran a distance before passing to Elizabeth. Falman grabbed her and she laughed while the ball rolled away. Winry picked it up and Edward glomped her but quickly let go as he saw the ball roll away.
"You two should be together," Elizabeth said and ran off. Edward looked Winry in the face and she smiled. He blushed and walked away.
River picked it up and ran. Mustang just missed her and Edward just let her pass. Kino was running after her but he was laughing so it slowed him down. Havoc glomped her when she looked over her shoulder at Kino but Breda took him to the ground. River spun, gained her balance and ran. Alphonse chased her but Afton bounced off River's hip as he had run into her.
Everyone was concerned until they saw that Afton was laughing so hard that it wasn't audible. Again, the comic relief in the atmosphere tickled all out on the field as the sun finally began to tuck itself under the horizon.
Riza sat next to Tanade on a table bench and watched with a smile as Mustang and the others laugh like they hadn't before in a long time. She caught herself laughing but didn't bother to stop. It kept some of the sadness of the ending day to a minimum.
She reflected on the conversation in the car between Mustang and Ron; she felt again the touching emotion of that moment. She had to act contemplative to keep the tears at bay. Something about children, Riza never thought, made the world a bit brighter, more colorful, and more fun. This tender innocence really brought out a more gentle side to everyone.
Riza's heart was wild in her chest as she felt a wave of emotion emanate from Mustang's smile as Ron hung on him. What would it be like to have a child like her that Riza could call her own? Maybe that was a little too perceptive.
Tanade yawned next to her and cuddled into her side. Riza didn't know what to do but let the child get comfortable under her arm. After a couple seconds, Tanade climbed into her lap, got comfortable and fell asleep.
Riza smiled and embraced the small brunette close. This felt right to her, just this moment with this quiet little girl. Riza didn't say a lot to her but she didn't need to now. Riza's smile puckered and she kissed Tanade's sweet head without any thought then held her closer.
A shadow fell on Riza and she saw Mustang in front of her with a sweet smile on his lips. She blushed a little but didn't want to move.
"You too, huh?" Mustang picked up Ron when she began rubbing an eye of sleepiness.
"How couldn't I?" Riza stood up but Tanade didn't stir except to wrap her arms around Riza's neck.
"They leave today," Mustang's smile disappeared, "Sirkis is going to load them up and take them back West."
"What's going to happen to them?" Riza's eyebrows creased as she remembered these sweethearts lived on the street.
Mustang glared worriedly at the ground, "I don't know."
The two looked back at River and Havoc who held Kino in his arms. Kino was upright and talking to him.
"What's wrong?" Havoc caught their worried faces and stopped.
"Where are the children going?" Mustang asked.
River smiled tenderly seeing Riza holding Tanade and Mustang carrying Ron. "Where ever they wish," River answered, "They could very well stay in an orphanage but they prefer the streets."
"Why?" Havoc asked.
"That's where I took them in and cared for them." River shrugged, "they'll go to the place they feel is home." River's eyes glazed with coming tears, "That's what angels do."
Sirkis stood leaning against the truck's driver door as the military said good bye to the children.
"I won't forget you, Fuery." Zipper smiled warmly and kissed his cheek.
"Be safe out there," Fuery said in sort of a rush from the sweet gesture.
"I'll see you again someday," Zipper smiled and she dropped a blue zipper in Fuery's open hand, "I promise."
"I miss you, daddy," Ron cried into Mustang's shoulder as he tried to set her in the back of the truck.
"Please let go Ron," Mustang said gently but even his own arms wouldn't obey.
"I don't want to go away," Ron sobbed, "don't leave me."
Mustang felt her kiss his neck and he pulled her out to hug her tightly again.
Riza did everything she could to keep the tears back as she let go of Tanade and watch Mustang with Ron.
"Bye Breda," Charlie, Jumper, Afton, and Henry said in unison with smiles and waves.
"See you kids, stay out of trouble." Breda smiled and waved back.
The boys laughed and waved to Edward, Winry and Alphonse. Of course, they waved back. Winry let a tear fall and hoped it would dry quickly; a shiver shook her spine.
Edward saw her tear and instinctively wiped it away with his flesh hand. She flinched and looked at him. He held his red coat in front of her without eye contact and she put it on with a smile.
Falman hugged Elizabeth tightly and set her in the truck.
"I'll practice lots," Elizabeth said, "so when I come back, I'll be smarter and you can teach me more."
"I do hope I can see you again," Falman tucked a hair strand behind her ear. Elizabeth kissed his cheek.
"I love you, daddy," she smiled mischievously at his surprised reaction, "there, you're part of the parent pose-whatever that means."
After all the children said their good-byes and were all in the truck, Sirkis started the engine and rode the angels in the back to the West, to the setting sun.
Two words of evil to blame for this HUGE delay: Senior Project. It's killing me slowly and taking a crap load out of my time. Also the pretty weather has been distracting. I wanted to be outside. Sorry, for the annoying delay. Hope you liked it! Thank you!! R&R!!