Ed, Al and Ava arrive back in Central a day later, Ava left the boys at the hotel before heading to file the paperwork of their findings in Lior, she knew from a phone call she made on the train Roy had sent troops to deal with the fall damage in Lior.

It had taken her 3 all-nighters and a train ride to the East city to complete her case file to give to Roy, she hadn't left her office at all thankful for the attached room she had requested. Finishing off the paperwork and leaving it to print she locked the main door to her office and went for a quick power shower to freshen up, before rushing to the station, getting the train heading to eastern command.

Walking into the familiar room Avas greets everyone before noticing her best friend at the back "Havoc!" She shouts before running over he hugs her lifting her off the floor spinning her around causing her to laugh.

"Damn you're getting heavy, have you gained weight?" Havoc asks playfully

"No have you managed to land a stable relationship?" She bit back the pair laughing before a familiar face came into her vision

"Hey, Mustang." She started "I gave Riza the case file on Lior, took longer than expected to type it all up, my apologies."

Havoc shoved her playfully. "You should be getting out and about, yanno or you'll end up like him." Havoc gestured to Roy causing Ava to laugh again.

Roy grumbled something she couldn't quite hear before returning to his office but not before giving Ava a stern look. Shaking her head she jumped back into the conversation and helped the group. Since the Lior case was finished she hadn't got anything to do. Everyone was so focused on their jobs they hadn't noticed the brothers walk in.

"Master Sergeant Fuery, how's the radio?" Riza asked Kain, Ava was looking over Havoc's shoulder at the Yoki case

"The receiver on this thing has seen better days, I think I'm going to have to replace it." He said focusing on the radio signals

"Hey, it's Ed and Alphonse," Kain spoke up, Ava took a quick lookup of acknowledgement before talking to Havoc.

"Yanno you keep making smudge marks on case files someones going to light you like a fag." Taking the cigarette out of his mouth while he was working, transmutting it so it stopped burning.

"Welcome back boys, The Colonels expecting you three," Riza said, looking between the boys and Ava. Ed groaned while Ava ruffled Havoc's hair before walking into Roy's office.

The trio sat down on the leather sofa, Ed sighed expecting a telling-off.

"Well done on the Lior case you three." Roy stated to the group "I appreciate you resolving the matter."

"No big deal, it's not like we did it for you anyway," Ed said resting his head on his hand annoyed

"Right, the philosophers stone another false lead?" Roy asked, she could tell he was intrigued by the way he looked at them

"Yeah, after all, that the stone was a fake." Ed sighed.

"Even so, the power it held was real enough that he transmuted a chimaera. I don't know enough about bio alchemy to have a conclusive report, but it's certainly the next step." Ava said tallying off her notes in her report

"Might be worth looking into, It might even give us a clue to getting our bodies back," Ed added

Roy looked to be contemplating something before reaching into a draw to pull out a file. "It might help if you consulted a specialist," he said pulling out the file the name she read sent shivers down Ava's spine.

"The Sewing Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker." Roy stated reading off the file "He's done some extensive research into chimaera transmutation. I'll introduce you." He offered

I'd really rather not. Ava thought to herself I'd have rather gone everywhere other than his place, I was naive to think I could go this journey avoiding him.

"There's a catch right?" Ed asked knowing Roy didn't just hand out favours.

"No, this is just paying you back for the work in Lior, Doing you a favour is better than being indebted to you." He said smirking

"Fine, I'm going to guess you'll be taking us? His alchemy is up for review soon right?" Ava asked, getting off the seat and opening the door for the brothers.

"Yeah two birds, one stone thing." He said standing up and gesturing to the door. The group leave the office and get into a car.

The car journey was silent. Ava sat next to Roy the brothers on the backseat mainly because Ed only took up half a person seat whereas Al took a person and a half. Roy took out a file reading as they were being driven to the Tucker residence.

"2 Years ago, Tucker transmuted a Chimera that could understand human speech. That's what earned him his certification as a state alchemist." Roy said, reading from the file and occasionally looking up to the boys as he spoke making sure they understood.

"By human speech you mean?" There was a small pause as Ed worked out what he meant "Wait! You mean it talks."

"Did," Ava said looking out the window

"What do you mean V?" Ed asked, his voice holding a slight concern over her apparent demeanour.

"Did." She repeated "It said one thing, 'I want to die.' It then refused to eat or drink till it got its wish. I had been tasked to try and keep it alive. I failed. Nothing sat right with me about him or his practice since that day." Ava said defeated, they'd find out eventually so what's the use in hiding it now?

The car pulled up outside the impressive house that was the Tucker residence.

Big house for only two people. She thought unimpressed before getting out of the vehicle she looked back to see the boys with slightly concerned faces at Ava after what she had just told them but she wasn't about to have a heart-to-heart. They had a job, get in, find information, and get out.

Roy rang the large bell to the house as the trio stood on the walkway.

"Geez, this house is huge," Ed said before Ava heard a thud come from next to her. Ava had to put her hand over her mouth so as not to laugh at the sight in front of her. Ed was face down after being ambushed by a large white dog.

"Daddy, look there are people here." A small voice came from the doorway as Ava turned she saw a small child no older than 5 years old her hair in 2 long plaits. She wore the biggest smile when seeing them.

"Nina. This is why I told you to keep the dog tied up" A tired voice explained from behind Nina, her father by stark contrast to the bubbly child, looked old and worn out as if he'd already lived a thousand lives.

Shou invited them inside asking Nina to play outside of the grownup talk. Ava looked at the young child being reminded of the times they were sent away so grown up could talk.

"I'm sorry about the mess, ever since my wife ran out this place has been a wreck I'm not much of a housekeeper," Shou said as he passed cups of tea to the group. before sitting across from them fingers intertwined in front of his face curiosity clearly raging within him. "Now that we're all settled in let me say that it's a pleasure to meet you, Edward, as the colonel told you I'm the Sewing life alchemist Shou Tucker."

"Ed is interested in the field of bio alchemy, he would like to have a look at your research," Roy said

"And what of you Ava? Why is the Life and Death Alchemist here?" Tucker asked looking over his rimmed glasses.

Roy begins to speak but Ava beats him to it. "It's simple really, the boys have been placed under my care, as Colonel Mustangs' work has picked up in recent days, so has tasked me with keeping an eye on them," Ava stated so blandly it could have been like she was reading him the morning paper, but Roy could see the challenge behind the facade, luckily for the Shou didn't want to argue with her.

"Of course, You may look into my research as needed, but if I am to show you my tricks I will need to know your that's the rule of equivalent exchange," Shou said a small smirk gracing his lips

Of course, he'd pull that card. She thought, waiting to see what Ed and Roy would do first. Ed signalled it was fine and explained everything that happened to them and why he was now using automail.

"I don't know if it will be of any use to you but why don't you go ahead and take a look at my laboratory," Shou said, gesturing to the door down the hall.

The group walked into the lab and Ava felt sick, but she willed her face to show nothing. She knew this was the cost of research and needed to be done to understand bio alchemy better but the truth was, she'd didn't like looking at the mixed-up remnants of creatures tucker had in there, let alone the thought of how many had to be tortured or killed in the process to get to where he was now.

"It's kind of embarrassing, I'm widely regarded as an expert on chimaeras, but the truth is it hasn't been going that well lately," Shou admitted to the group.

Further down the lab, there was a door Shou led them to upon opening Ava and the boys were amazed at the extensive library.

"Feel free to look around," Shou said as the Trio walked in Ava instantly pulled the most worn books off the shelf to study. She'd learn quickly that books that looked brand new were never really looked upon, once written. A book that had a beaten spine and battered cover was a book that had been used a thousand times over.

Setting herself up on the table in the corner transmuting part of the table to hold books at the correct height to not cause her to consistently bend over the desk to read.

She could hear Roy talking in the hallway. "I'm going to head back to work now, I'll send somebody by to get you this evening."

Ava and the boys didn't acknowledge him already deep into the inner working of the books.

"They've got some ability to focus, I'm not even sure if they know we're here anymore," Shou said as the pair left them to it.

It was well into the afternoon when Ava pulled her head out of the books looking around the room she spotted Nina watching her from behind a bookshelf. Smiling, Ava gestured to her to come to sit with her, Nina looked nervous. Stretching Ava yawned before turning her attention to the small child.

"I need to stretch my legs hows about we play a game ?" Nina looked up at Ava excitedly

"Can we? Please?" Nina looked at her, the biggest smile plastered on her face pleading.

"Of course, I wonder if Al would want to play too?" She said, the pair began sneaking around the room before Nina spotted Al, tugging Ava's arm

"There he is!" Nina said to her as she came round the corner

"Where? I can't see him, all I see is this giant horse." Ava exclaimed, acting like Al wasn't there.

"He's right here!" Nina shouted giggling Ava smiled at Al who got the idea, picking Nina up onto his shoulders before pretending to gallop. Nina squealed laughing before Ed came round the corner.

"What are you guys doing?" Al, Ava and Nina froze as if caught doing something they shouldn't before turning to look at Ed. Ava tried to warn him but he cut her off "In case you forgot we didn't come here to play horsey" Suddenly The dog jumped pinning Ed again.

This time Ava burst out laughing "I tried to warn you." she said between laughs.

"Alexander says that he wants to play too!" Nina said excitedly.

Ed clearly having enough got up saying something about not being beaten by a dog before chasing Alexander. Ava, Al and Nina following.

Ava passed by the kitchen and noticed the sorry state, taking a quick look she decided to help them she gathered every cup, plate and saucer washing up everything, before moving on to clean the countertops and cooker. She smiled hearing the boys laughing and playing with Nina and Alexander and was taken back to happier times.

Searching the cupboards she whipped up a quick stew for Nina and her dad, repeating the mantra that she was helping Nina mainly, it was clear since their mother left he'd been focusing on research and not her, taking one job off the plate could help free up some time for them.

Shou and the boys stood in the doorway shocked to see her being homely.

"Can I help?" Nina asked.

"Of course, you can, help is always appreciated," Ava said loud enough for the males to hear, as she picked up Nina spinning her around before getting her to spoon some stew into bowls. Ava placed the bowls onto the table while the males got some cups for water Ava even spooned some for Alexander to have. The group sat round the table to eat and Ava could have sworn Nina's smile was twice as big as when they met.

After they finished the boys went back down to the library while Ava cleaned up.

"Thank you, Ava," Shou said passing the bowls to her,

"It's no worry, it's hard being a single parent, sometimes you just need to ask for help." She said with a smile, Ava still felt uneasy around him but this was for his daughter.

A knock at the door startled Shou, Ava explained it was probably their ride, opening the door she found the familiar blonde hair and blue eyes of Havoc, Ava hugged him before signalling down to the library.

"Did you manage to get a hotel room?" Havoc asks her as they descend the steps Ava hits her head with her palm making Havoc chuckle. "There's still a spare room at my place if you have nowhere to stay." Ava rolls her eyes at the idiot. It was still a shock to Mustang's team that she was the only person he didn't fall head over heels for preferring to bicker and dig at each other like children. Opening the library doors they found Ed squished by Alexander.

"What are you doing Ed?" Havoc asked looking confused and concerned at the same time

"Let's just say I'm taking a break from a long day of research." Ed groaned before getting off the floor

"After all that you must be Dog tired." Shou joked. Havoc and Ava had a chuckle while Ed groaned some more.

Once the trio were out of the building Ava promised to come back and play tomorrow as Havoc turned to Shou.

"Oh, Mr Tucker I almost forgot I've got a message to pass on to you, it's from the Colonel he said don't forget assessment day is soon," Havoc said before joining the trio in the car the boys in the back while Ava jumped in the front with Havoc.

Havoc dropped the boys off at the hotel they asked where Ava was going, and she reminded them that she booked a different hotel and that she'd see them at Tucker's house tomorrow. Along the way, Ava pulled out Havoc's favourite fags pulling one out for him and herself, with a flick of her wrist a tiny flame danced on the tip of her finger.

"So?" Ava questioned taking a long drag of her cigarette "What happened to Becca?" She asked not because she was interested but because she liked to annoy him.

"She was too focused on Mustang." He said with a shrug.

Ava rolled her eyes at him "Maybe you should stop going out with people that like Roy?" Ava realised her slip-up a little too late as Havoc put the brakes on sharply.

"Since when did you start calling Mustang, Roy?" He shivered saying his commanding officer's name out loud

Ava rubbed her head where her head had hit the dashboard, then looked at Havoc's annoyance written all over her face.

"Because idiot. When we were in central it annoyed him more. nothing more." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You've also caused me to bruise, you tool, no wonder girls don't stay long."

"Hey! I'm a gentleman to the ladies, you barely pass for that some days."

Havoc said as he pulled up

"I'm not going to even argue with that because if it came to me or you the women would pick me." Ava joked trying not to let the hurt show. It was the one thing she hated being reminded of. Was that people barely looked at her like she was a woman. The pair walked into Havoc's flat dropping her rush bag on the hook.

"Shit, I'm sorry Ava, I didn't mean." Havoc tried to backpedal but he'd already said it

"It's fine Jean, I'm not trying to impress you any way you're not my type." She said sighing

"What is your type?" He asked curiously

"I dunno, Tea?" She asked him as she filled the kettle, he nodded, opening the doors to the balcony where he placed the cigarettes and an ashtray. "I guess someone who likes me as I am, yanno. Someone willing to be selfish of me. I want to be by their side as they chase their goals, and push them to take everything they deserve." She continued as she finished making the tea coming out to the balcony, and lighting a cigarette for herself. " I want our love to be a passionate flame that burns brighter than the stars." She sighed looking out towards the East City.

"I guess I want someone I can be greedy with. My whole life I've been doing everything for everyone else. it would be nice to have that with someone." She finished taking a long hard drag of her cigarette.

Havoc had stayed silent unsure what to say, he knew Ava had had a hard time with love, as they all had after the war.

"I mean, I know one person that fits into the category." He said finally trying to steer the conversation another way. She looked towards him her head tilted in confusion

"Who?" Ava asked one eyebrow raised

"A certain dark-haired Colonel, who whether he admits it or not does care a lot about you." Ava turned back to look out at the city taking another large drag.

"What makes you say that?" She asked trying to hide her smirk

If only you knew Havoc, If only you knew She thought to herself

"I may be an idiot but I do notice things, like the glances he gives you when you're not watching, how he's always wanting to know if you're okay." He said rocking back in his chair slightly

"Really? Roy checks on me?" She asked, eyebrows raised in fake disbelief

"Yeah. Ever since he managed to ship you out of the Ishvalan war he's kept tabs on you, he's always worried you're going to get hurt or something, which we both know is highly doubtful, you're too intelligent to throw yourself into dangerous situations." Havoc said

"I dunno Havoc. I think you're reading too much into it." She said finishing her cigarette.

Yawning, the pair headed off to their beds Ava found it hard to sleep Havoc's words playing through her head.

For Ava the days became a routine; Wake up, Have breakfast with Havoc, throw in a dig or two, pop to the corner shop to pick out dinner, and research at Tucker's. make dinner for them all, clean up, get picked up, drop the boys at the hotel, go to Havocs, have a cigarette and catch up, sleep and repeat.

Ava should have known it wouldn't last, happy families never do. The morning had started off as usual, tea and a cigarette on the balcony, she'd looked over the city, a dull grey cloud blocked out any light from the sun almost as if it knew what had been done. She'd gotten to the corner shop looking for what to cook for dinner that night, Nina had said she enjoyed her spaghetti bolognese. Browsing the shelves, she also picked up a small cake for them to have after, it was a rabbit-shaped cake made of white chocolate, she also picked up a few treats for Alexander. Ava felt light-hearted walking down to the Tucker residence her past fears were minuscule as she came to the terms of scientific research. Ed and Al were waiting for her on the porch. They knocked on the door but the house was eerily quiet, knocking again finding the door loose. Ava walked in shouting for Nina who normally greeted her at the door. Still, the house stayed silent, almost begging them to leave. Ava placed the groceries on the table before following the boys through the house to the lab. Upon opening the door they saw Shou hunched over what looked to be a newly transformed chimaera.

"I did it guys, I finally did it," Shou said his voice was unusually calm. It gave Ava a cold shiver down her spine that wouldn't go away, something didn't feel right. It was too quiet in the house.

"A chimaera that understands human speech. Shou confirmed kneeling in front of the chimaera "Here, I'll show you." He said looking at the chimaera "That person over there, That's Edward."

The chimaera turned its head to Ed "That person Edward."

Ed got closer to the Chimera amazed by what they saw but Ava had begun to get paranoid, there was still no sign of Nina

The chimaera began repeating itself, "That person Edward, That person Edward, That person Edward." with every word the creature spoke Ed became more and more fascinated until

"Big brother Ed." Ava's heart sank below her feet through the core of the earth and out the other sides as her hands shot to her mouth in shock, she stood there frozen, her body unwilling to move, as tears formed on her eyes.

"Mr Tucker, when did you first get your state certification?" Ed asked, his voice dangerously low.

Shou stood hand on his chin thinking "Let's see, it was 2 years ago."

Ava watched Ed carefully he'd began to shake trying to control his anger

"And, when did your wife leave you?" He asked not looking from the chimaera.

"That was 2 years ago too," Shou said looking at Ed

"I Just have one more question." Ed had began to spit his words out, Ava wasn't sure if she could stop him from doing something unthinkable.

It all added up. Shous' wife left and he got state certified, he's been failing his assessments and would lose his state certification soon. Add that to Nina and Alexander disappearing it meant only one thing.

"Nina and Alexander. Where are they?" Ed turned to look at Shou as he spoke, his face stern and unmoving.

Shou's face turned into one of horror that they had figured it out. Ed in the blink of an eye had Shou pinned up the wall. Ava's feet finally managed to move as she walked to the Chimera that was Nina and Alexander and dropped to her knees hugging the poor thing as she cried, her tears burned falling down her face, as she tried to bite back from screaming.

This poor child that Ava had been trying to help get more time with her father was reduced to nothing but an experiment. She'd gone out of her way to help this man get a connection back with his daughter, she'd cooked and helped him get back on top of the house So they could spend time together. On top of that the chimaera she had been tasked to keep alive before was his wife. That's why it wanted to die, that's why she couldn't have saved it even if she had done everything right.

Behind her she could hear the punches Ed was landing on Shou but nothing they were saying was registering in her ears, her only focus was Nina and Alexander's whose lives had been ripped away, by their Father no less the person who was supposed to love and cherish them.

That was until Shou said something even more horrifying. "Were the same you and me, Ed look at what messing around with someone's life did to your arm, your leg, your brother." Ed had pummelled him almost to death after that, Al having to grab him to stop Ed from killing him.

"You're wrong Shou." Ava had said when Al pulled him away "They aren't the same, what they messed about with impacted them and them alone. You transmuted your own wife and daughter, you messed with someone else's and feel no remorse for doing so. you are not the same!" She shouted barely being able to see through the tears in her eyes.

Ed finally let go of Shou letting him slide down the floor as the group turned to look at Nina and Alexander.

"Edward help, daddy, do you hurt?"

Ava took in a big shaky breath, "Ed go upstairs and ring the Colonel, tell him there's an emergency he needs to see but don't explain exactly what it is." Even though Ava hated bossing the boys about, but, she knew she had to take charge of Ed's emotions. "Me and Al will watch them." She said looking down at the chimaera, Ed went to protest but looking at Ava he decided against it leaving the room.

"Can you help them?" Al asked her

"I don't know Al, there isn't a body left to use. and I'd risk killing them both if I try without testing. but I want to try. I can ask the Colonel to allow me to use Tucker's other experiments and see if I can separate them. It won't be pretty though. with nobody I'd have to find something without a soul to put her into essentially." Ava asked feeling sick as she spoke, Ava had managed to sew on chopped-off arms to war victims of Ishval so they could still go about life but they were talking about a child's soul being ripped out and placed into a new body. she didn't know if she would have the strength to but she wanted to try.

When Roy had arrived, he had condemned the building and stripped Tucker of his certification on the spot, once he found out the truth. coming outside he looked at the trio sitting on the steps in the rain, Ava sat between them, he could see was shaking but not from the cold of the rain, but from how much she had cried, the boys held each of her hands finding she had balled her hands so hard that she had cut herself, her blood washing away in the rain. Roy knew Ava was already aware of what state alchemists could do with their power but he felt that he needed to remind them that they chose to come into this line of work.

"You will more than likely come across cases like this again, in the future. And you may end up having to get your own hands dirty as well." Roy had directed the last sentence to Ed but when Ava turned to look at him and he finally got to see her, he realised the mistake he had made, her eyes were red and puffy, the light all but gone from her eyes, her hair stuck to her face in the rain. she looked lost and broken.

Roy took a deep breath unsure what to do, he wants to comfort Ava but if he did so publicly it would have complications for them both. He went to step towards her but in the distance, he heard Havoc "Ava!"

Ava hadn't bothered to look up as Havoc approached her, he spoke softly to her and she shook her head as he helped her up, Roy watched as she told the boys to go back to the hotel, before being escorted by Havoc to his car and driving off. Roy stood there for a minute unsure what to do all he knew was that in that moment he felt guilty for not doing more for her.