Sigh. I hate this episode.

It's that episode.

...Episode...

Twenty-Five.

dun Dun DUUUN!

The Lovely Daaaarlings!

Hagenochibi: Thanks! I agree with the description bit. It's definitely sort of my weakness.

Kaijukote: Yeah, I can imagine so.. I wasn't quite sure how I should've written it. I didn't want to put.. Like.., "And then I saw a flash of white and appeared in an Ishbalin house. Holy crap!" Xl
Most definitely, he will be!
ROFL! That would the gnarliest scene ever! That is just made of epic win. XD
Haha! XD
(Hm.. I was thinking of something like.. Martin.. Or Jack.)

AnonymousGirl18: Hm, that's fine. X3 I'm kind of running out of ideas for languages, so it's nice to get more numbers! (Thumbs Up Here.)
That sucks! Though it makes sense how you could begin to forget. English is one of the most popular languages. Just try to remember your language every day! XD"
Really? Hm.. It probably is. It's around 4,57something words. Most of the others could be around 200 more words probably.
Oh really? My Grandmother's birthday is August 13!.. I think.. (Checks) Yeah! August 13th! XD Mine is September 15th, so I have a few more weeks to go.
Will do! (Salutes)

AnimeFanGirl167: Haha, indeed you are! XD And that is a very good question... Fufufufu...!

Want to Be a Lovely Daaaarling? Review. Bwahaha!

I'm so sorry this is short! But the next chapter will be much, much longer. I promise! This was all I had managed to get down this weekend, and it's where the episode ended. Like I said, I'll make the next way longer than this one!

I have NO rights or ownership to FMA. Hiromu Arakawa and FUNimation Entertainment do. Luckily. Imagine if 4Kids got a hold of FMA. o.o
I have ALL rights and/or ownership to Riley, Hannah, and any other character, plot or location not created by FUNimation or Hiromu Arakawa.
You have NO rights to either. Sucker. xP

Chapter Twenty-Two:
Words of Farewell.

I sighed, staring at my things across from me in my hospital room.

They were destroyed.

From the metal canister down to the bendy straw. Which meant, even if I didn't have to chase after Hannah, I would still be going back to Dublith to replace my things, and get some new clothes. I wasn't entirely sure what I'd do after that. I mean, I was splitting away from Ed and Al, and we were never actually teamed up anyway so whatever happened after this trip was up in the air.

I stood from the hospital bed and grabbed the soaked, smeared, and ripped items, along with the camera which I had left in the hospital when I went after Al. I tossed all but the camera into the trash can as I headed out the door.

Heading over to Ed's room, I saw Block say, "It sounds like they're talking about some pretty heavy stuff."

"Well I'm not going to listen," Maria Ross said as she placed her fingers in her ears, "I've gotten myself in enough trouble already that way.

I smirked, "Not to mention that sounds a bit illegal."

Block jumped, looking over my way before laughing nervously. "Riley! I was just.. Listening to report to you, Ma'am!" He exclaimed, saluting.

Silence.

I shook my head, walking into the room, "It's fine, I'd do the same thing.." He let out a sigh of relief as I shut the door behind me.

Maes seemed to be the only one to have noticed me, as Winry exclaimed to Ed and Al, "What do you mean you don't care?! Are you crazy?!"

Ed shrugged, "We just don't think we should have to deal with dangerous things anymore, like the Philosopher's Stone, or homunculi."

"Yeah," Al said, nodding, "We thought we'd look for a different way, you know?"

I caught on to not only what they were saying, but doing. I knew Ed too well by now to fall for this. But what were they planning? Where were they going, and why didn't they want the Military to- Okay, it's obvious why they wouldn't want the Military to know, but that isn't the point.

Then again, it really isn't my business anymore, is it?

"Well boys, it would definitely be better but...," Armstrong trailed off.

Maes picked up for him, "If you really thought there was another way, why did you go through all this trouble?" So, Maes was suspicious as well.

"Who knows, maybe there's not," Ed replied casually. Yet another reason to doubt him – Ed was never casual about the stone. He was impulsive, short tempered, and dramatic about the stone. "But there's someone we should ask," He ended.

"Our original teacher," Al informed us.

"She lives south of here. In a place called Dublith. We're planning on taking a trip there," Ed said.

"But it's just so sudden-" Maes stopped Armstrong from continuing, and looked at me. Finally, the rest of those bastards noticed me.

He smiled, "So Riley, you look like you have something to say."

I nodded, "Yeah. I'm going to be gone for a little while, a couple days to a week at most. Is that alright?"

Maes and Ed blinked in curiosity. "Where are you going?" Ed asked.

"Same as you," I shrugged, "I need to go to Dublith to get my things repaired."

He nodded, "Hannah's going with you?"

I paused, and sighed, "Actually, she's already there. She found out. Hence the second reason I'll be going."

His eyes widened, "Oh."

Nothing was said for a moment, and then Winry gasped. We looked over at her to see her staring at the map of Amestris on the wall. She pointed at the map, stepping forward slowly. "There.. On the way to Dublith.."

"What? What is it, Winry?" Al asked, confused.

Winry suddenly spun around in a circle, smiling, "Only the Automail Capital of the world, Rush Valley!"

I sighed, shaking my head at her excitement as she began jumping on the bed, shouting, "You got to take me there! You gotta!" She began to pull on Ed's jacket, "I've always wanted to go there, come on you guys! Please?!"

"Vacation on your own time, okay?" Ed grumbled.

"Well then who would pay for all my travel expenses?!" Winry remarked instantly, putting her hands on her hips.

Twitching, Ed shouted back with, "Very funny!"

"We can manage it. It's on the way, like she said," Al piped in happily.

Ed sighed, giving in. "Okay, fine..."

"Hurray!!" Winry exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Eventually, Maes and Armstrong left the room, and I sat down beside the bed. "So, where are you really going?" I asked.

"What? We're going to Dublith of course!" Winry exclaimed. When Ed and Al didn't reply, she looked to them for back up. "Right, guys..?"

Ed looked over at me, "If you get done with Dublith in the next few days, go to Rush Valley. If not, meet up with us at the Ishbalin Refugee camp south of here."

I blinked in surprise. I would still be stuck with them?

Smirking, I nodded, "Will do."

. . .

I stood beside Gracia and Elysia next to the train as several other officers stood behind us. Ed and Al stood in the doorway, Winry behind them. As Elysia waved to them, I placed my hands on my hips, "I'll see you two in a few days, alright?"

Ed nodded, "Be careful, Riley."

"You too!" I winked at Al, "Be sure to keep him away from anything flammable, okay?"

As Al laughed, Ed's brow twitched. "Very funny..," He grumbled angrily, only making us laugh more.

They left into the interior of the train as we all waved. Once the train left, Maes places a hand on my shoulder. I looked over and he said, "You should make sure that shoulder's healed before you leave, Riley. You can stay with us until then, okay?"

I nodded in response at this, and looked over to his family. "Hey, Elysia, wanna know how to blow sulfur up?" I asked, a sly smirk on my face as I walked over to them, hands on my hips.

I could practically hear Maes pale, "H-Hey! Don't teach her those things!"

. . .

I yawned as I walked toward the main room, stretching in the oversized PJ's Gracia let me borrow. I was leaving to Dublith tomorrow. Pausing, I stopped when I heard Maes on the phone in the main room. I peered in through the crack in the door to hear better as he said, "I'm sorry, I thought I told you. It was just some minor scrapes."

Tilting my head in curiosity as I could hear Roy's voice shouting at him through the other end, Maes continued, "More importantly, I've heard some things. Sounds like your transfer to Central may become finalized soon."

Mustang was being transferred? So what would that do to me? And the others? Were we just going to go under another unit?

"You need to hurry up and get important here so we can have an easier time! Find yourself a good wife!" Maes whispered

I laughed, walking into the room as I could hear the dial tone. "I don't see Mustang having a relationship with someone anytime soon, Maes," I laughed out.

Maes grinned, "Doesn't mean I can't encourage the guy!"

He walked passed me, and into his bedroom. When he came back out, he was once again in his uniform. I rose a brow, "Where are you going?"

. . .

"I don't think it's unreasonable," Gracia started as she and I stood at the doorway of Elysia's room, watching Maes tuck her in. He had explained everything to the both of us. Or, most to Gracia; And all to me. "Roy's worried about those boys and Riley, too."

"He shouldn't worry about something he doesn't have to. Or get bombed out with trivial things," Maes replied calmly. "Besides, if it's really coming from the inside, there's a good chance our lines have been tapped."

I nodded in agreement, "He has a good point. Depending on who on the inside it is, communicating right now is on the back burner."

Maes nodded. "Sorry, but I still have to check on something."

"Just.. Be careful," Gracia said.

Maes leaned toward Elysia, whispering, "Daddy has a lot of work to do. Bye bye!" He kissed her forehead and left the room.

Before he left completely, I ran to the door, grabbing hold of his arm. "If you find anything out, you'll come back and tell me before you act on it, won't you?"

He didn't reply for a moment as he put his jacket on. "Like you said, communication right now is on the back burner," He replied before leaving. I glared at the door, my brow twitching. Of all times for someone to actually pay attention to me, it's this time. Of course.

With Hannah
(Ooooh.)

Hannah sighed, walking down the sidewalk toward the hotel she was staying at.

She had yet to leave Central. She knew Riley thought she had left, but she really hadn't. She had been to the train station every day so far, but before she could buy her ticket, she stopped. Something held her back. Riley did. Maybe she should've given Riley another chance. The two had been friends for so long, and Riley really did have good intentions.

Maybe she should just call Riley.

Tomorrow, of course. It was far too late to do it now.

She stopped when she saw two officers standing at a payphone. She squinted her eyes and then widened them in surprise when she saw that it was Maes Hughes. 'The one with the cute daughter..!' She thought to herself. When she noted it looked as though he couldn't find any change, she began to step forward, taking some out of her pocket.

Before she could reach him, he found change and made his call. "What?! What do you mean he's gone?!"

She blinked, curious. 'He sounds angry about something.' He hung the phone up, muttering something. He turned and began to leave with the other officer, but stopped walking, taking out a small throwing dagger, placing it beside the officer's neck.

Hannah froze on the spot. What was going on?

The officer turned to face Maes, waving a hand over her face. A mole appeared under her left eye and Hannah almost gasped. 'How did she..?!' The officer swung to get her gun out, but before she could, Maes slashed her throat.

The officer began to bleed as she fell to the ground. Maes began to walk off, and Hannah sighed in relief. But it wasn't over, and that was shown when the officer stood back up, transforming into another woman. She was thin, with short, light brown hair. Maes, upon hearing this, turned as he raised his blade.

But then stopped.

Why?

It clicked in Hannah's head. That was his wife.

His "wife" had her gun pointed at Maes. She said something, and then shot. Hannah's eyes widened in fear and shock, and dropped the coins she still held in her hand. Maes, and the coins, landed on the concrete.

With Riley.

I let out a sigh as I sat on the couch in the main room, waiting for Maes to return. I wasn't going to bed until I knew he what he knew. Gracia walked by, and stopped, "I'm sure he'll be fine, Riley.. Go to bed, okay?"

Looking over at her for a moment or two, I nodded, "I guess so." She nodded with a smile and headed to her bedroom to sleep. I decided to go ahead and do the same, and covered myself up on the pull-out couch. Just as I got comfortable, the phone rang.

Damn it.

I was going to ignore it, but when it crossed my mind that it could be Maes, I jumped up and grabbed the phone. Bringing it to my ear, I asked, "Maes?!"

"N-No. It's me.."

I blinked in surprise, "Sheska?"

"Yes.."

I crossed my legs, phone by my ear. I could hear her sniff a few times. "Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes fired me, Riley!" She cried out.

"Wha?!" I exclaimed in surprise. "Why would he do a stupid thing like that?!"

I could hear her shaking her head as she replied, "I don't know! He just.. Fired me, and ran off." Why would he fire such a valuable person, someone with excellent memory of military records, valuable military records, and then leave..?

Wait.. "Sheska, when did he leave?"

"About an hour ago, why?"

My eyes widened. If he left for home, he would have arrived already. But he was gone. I threw the phone down and jumped up, running to the door. Gracia came out as I did. "What's going o-Riley?!" She shouted as I swung the door open, taking off outside as I struggled to put my shoes on.

This wasn't good.

I began running around the area around HQ. I honestly had no idea where he'd be, I just knew he had to be close by. That was when I saw it. I came to a dead stop when I saw a payphone booth open, and a uniform clad body on the ground next to it. My eyes widened.

Maes...

Maes Hughes was dead.

Slowly and shakily, I made my way over to him. Once close, I could see his wounds. A cut on the shoulder, and a gunshot wound in the chest. I began looking around the scene for more, and further down the road, I saw some coins laying there. Next to it, was Hannah's purse.

No... Hannah, too?.. But where?..

Crying by now, I grabbed the coins and inched to the payphone to make a call.

. . .

Silence.

I sat against a tree that surrounded the cemetery, arms around my knees as I watching the burial. I should've shown, in uniform and all, but I couldn't do it. Maes was gone, putting on a stupid dress to stand there emotionless wasn't going to bring him back. I could see the officers clearly from here, as I could also see and hear Elysia shouting her protests to them burying her father. That didn't help.

A few hours had passed now, and the only ones left were Gracia, Elysia, Mustang and Hawkeye. The officers stood by the newly added grave for a while, while Gracia and Elysia headed over.

I looked up at Elysia as she walked over, hugging me. I didn't wait to hug back, silent as I did. "..I want you to have these," Gracia said, handing me a small box. With my free hand, I grabbed the box and opened it to see Maes' daggers.

Silence passed, and I nodded, looking up at her. "Thank you." She nodded and left with Elysia.

A little while later, I saw Mustang put his hat on, and looked over at me. A second later, he began to make his way over. He stopped about three feet or so away. "...Sorry, I didn't find him sooner..," I muttered in a mixture of anger toward both, Maes and me.

"You found him," Mustang stated.

After a tense moment of me thinking of a reply, I stood, running forward. He blinked in a bit of surprise as I hugged him, crying; And then placed a hand on my back as he let me.

I hate that part..

No. More like, the whole episode.

Sigh.

Be Responsible. Don't Flame and Drive! Rawr.