Chibified
By Selim
Rating: M
Summary: It looked like an innocent alchemy book, but it was anything but. After activating it, Edward becomes a four year old child in body and mind and the only person eligible to take care of this child is a reluctant Colonel Mustang.
Disclaimer: I do not own FullMetal Alchemist Pairings: Roy + Edward

Thank you (and sorry for not updating recently): Mimifoxlove, Insane Slytherin, Dragon-Tsuki, Sharingon-Sasu-kun, Lost Cause, Alchamoras, Demonskid, GeneralSephiroth, Elemental-Zer0, UchihaUzumaki Baby, Teh Wonderful Crack Fairy, Pandafoot105, syao9, K.Furi, InuyasanKagomerlovers, Kijo Kurosaki, Trista Louise, KissMehYaoiLuvinArse, SoSickOfNyQuil, TraitorTatara, KiboKi, Chibibunny-chan, (AFF) Radcat, Ari, Kags21, Amethyst-eyed Koneko, Angela, LadyRonin, Nusku, Pimpshit, Demondogs, and Nutsy the one and only

Ah. I really want to apologize for not updating in nearly 7 months. I don't usually do this but I ended up overloading myself with fanfiction – at that time it was Experiment A I wanted to put a lot of work into. Along with fanfics I was trying to write I also had a lot of school work to do. It's a sad excuse, I know. I hope to finish this fic with the next chapter. Hopefully it will be up before I go back to school.

Small feet kicked out in front of him, Ed grinned out the window as the train finally started running. It had taken him strolling in with an extraordinarily large family to get past security, but he had done it. So when they had finished checking tickets and he was no longer hiding, the petite child took a seat and had enjoyed the noises around him as he speculated on his day. First Tom had turned out to be a not so nice guy and then someone had hurt the man. Ed felt his stomach spin.

What made it worse was that the child had the rising suspicion it was him who'd cause such a devastating 'owie' (the only word the child could think of to describe the gaping hole going through the man's chest). But, Ed had no memory of it. Was it really him? Could he do that? The boy shook his head feverously at the thought. He would never! Some really bad man had come in there and hurt someone and Roy was going to say it was him who did it! Ed sniffled. And then he wouldn't get any more toys because Roy was mean like mommy was when she was mad, only Roy was mean all the time.

"Hold the train!"

Ed glanced out the window and gasped. He knew it had taken forever for the train to fill and last calls to be taken, but it seemed to have been enough time for Roy to find him. Ducking, Ed listened to the front of the train as Roy was helped into the moving cart by the conductor. "I'm looking for a little boy..."

The child sniffled as the two men started down the aisles, looking into and under seats until dark eyes fell onto golden eyes trying to hide. "There you are..." Roy whispered, seeming almost relieved. "Thank you. When is the next stop?"

"Risembool."

"Damn. Too late to get off?"

"Not unless you plan on walking all the way back to the station, but I'd advise you ride the trip out."

The colonel nodded in understanding before taking the empty seat in front of the blond. Alone, the two stared at each other with nervousness, fear, and relief balled into one. "Why..." Roy finally whispered hoarsely, "Did you run away?"

"I didn't do it, Mister Roy! Tom was hurt and...I don't know how he got hurt!" The child sobbed, jumping from his seat and into the colonel's lap. "We were eating cookies and drinking juice and playing games and I fell asleep..." The child sniffled. Roy patted the boy's head, letting blond hair move through his fingers. "How did you find me?"

"We found Tom and you weren't there. We had the feeling you were returning home and this is the only train heading in that direction." Roy reached his hands under the blond's armpits, lifting the light weight into his lap. "You have to tell me what he did to you besides entertain you." He shuffled the boy back, staring at wide, innocent, golden eyes. "Tell me Fullmetal. What did he do?" He kept his voice even and full of command.

The golden eyes filled with tears. Not Fullmetal. "Mister Roy?"

"Never mind. Just...go to sleep. We'll turn around at the station."

"But...I was going to see mommy."

Roy stiffened. "We'll turn around at the station. Your mother is...on vacation."

"Wha'?" Ed shot up. "She left me!"

Holding Ed's arms, Roy held the boy down so Ed wouldn't start an uproar. "Nothing like that. Your mother…went to go see your daddy!" He smiled. Ed paled and stuck his nose up, making Roy smile. Some things never changed. "Maybe she'll drag him back home to take care of you and Al."

"I hate daddy!" Ed stuck his tongue out. "He left and mommy started crying."

"Well now it's going to be even better because you can torture him, but you're going to make me cry." That got Ed's attention. "You're trying to leave me already? You already claimed my bed; don't you want to stay there for awhile longer?" Ed took a second, glancing away. Sighing, Roy raised his hand for a cart of treats. Ordering a small cake slice before the cart went back up to first class, the colonel handed the meal to Ed. "Does your mommy let you eat whenever you want?" He tried.

Smacking his lips as he dug into the food, Ed smile. "Nu-uh! I love Mr. Roy!" He smiled as he took an oversized bite into the cake.

Sighing in defeat at the mess his charge was already making. Taking his handkerchief out and wetting it with his own saliva, he rubbed Ed's mouth. "Eat more civil-" He caught himself and pulled away. How was it that Ed was reducing him to a worrying mother? Remember, Roy he's a hazard to the military if any information gets loose.

"Mr. Roy?"

"What?"

"What's going to happen when I go home?"

"Home?"

"To your house."

Surprised that Ed would refer to his home as home, Roy couldn't hide his smile. "You're going to take a bath, we're going to scrub my bed clean, maybe some dinner afterwards, and go to sleep. I don't know about you but you made today even more trying than it should be." He rubbed blond hair.

And halfway back to Central, almost four hours later, little Ed had curled himself up on Roy's lap in a deep sleep. Alone to his own, tiring, thoughts, Roy found himself missing the loud mouthed underling. "I miss you Fullmetal…"

This was responded by a small moan from the sleeping child, barely audible to the commanding officer – "Save me, Roy…"

It was dark.

Ed turned his head to every foreign sound. He hated this dark world. He hated that stupid book that had locked him into the dark. Was this how Al felt in that rusty hunk of metal? I'm so sorry, Al… Maybe he should have listened. Had gone to the colonel instead of going about the mysterious circle himself? Had he of still used this questionable alchemy circle? Probably not. Having his arm back wasn't worth the loss of experience. He hated sitting back and listening to those voices…

And they were always Roy's voice chastising him for some misbehavior - from using the unregistered alchemy to peeing the bed.

The worst part of all this was the little monster that would show up out of nowhere. Wide eyed and cocky, four-year-old Edward would appear, often startling sixteen-year-old Ed. The child was…almost demonic. "I don't want to go back," the little child would stomp his foot down, "I hate it here. With your body I can do anything! I refuse to go back!"

Settling to the ground, having grown tired of trying to find that light to the other world, Ed covered his head in his hands. "Save me, Roy." His voice almost affectionate. Calling his superior sir or colonel was out of the question. Besides, Roy seemed more endearing when the blond was almost on his knees. "I promise, I'll be the best officer out there…I don't want to be here anymore…"

"Fullmetal…"

Ed almost missed the voice, calling out for him. "Mustang! Help me! Please!"

"Fullmetal, what did you do…"

Do? Ed sniffled, using his arm to wipe away any escaping snot. He just wanted to fall into the Colonel's arms and cry. "I didn't do anything! Get me out of here!"

Instead he was met with himself. The little boy was glaring up at the new light to the other world. "Roy is calling for you…" He whispered.

"Let me out! I, I'll find some way to give you a life but just let me have my body!"

The four-year-old tilted his head back. "Why would I do that? I like having all the attention. If it's a world without this Fullmetal than it's an even better world. I like being Edward Elric! Your memories are so warm…" The child put his hands to his chest.

"Please!"

"I want more cake, good night Edward Elric!" The child rushed into the light and both he and the outside world disappeared again, leaving nothing but darkness to engulf the blond.

With a bundle on his back, Roy counted the stares directed towards him. Some strangers suggested it was his bastard child and that it was wrong for a little boy to be without a mother. These comments were ignored as the Colonel kept just to his own thoughts. He could have sworn he kept hearing the little tyke calling for help. But, his voice just seemed to break as he called for Fullmetal to answer him.

Ed was all fine and dandy, but he was no Full Metal Alchemist. "You, Full Metal, are in so much trouble when you come back. Disobeying strict order to come to me with any information. I said I would help you in any way possible but instead you go off and do stupid things like this." He readjusted the weight on his back. "I should call Al when we get home. Poor kid's been worried sick since we entered Buttram's home."

It was then he realized that the tiny legs that were wrapped around his waist were kicking as tiny hands tigheed around stiff shoulders. The little bundle mumbled something into his neck.

"What's that?"

"…I really gotta pee." Little legs kicked almost frantically. "Pee-!" He whimpered. Looking around the neighborhood, Roy cringed.

"We're almost to the apartment. Hold it." He briskly walked as the kicking legs stilled and the boy made a whining noise. Irrational fear began to scream in his mind that his back was getting wet though (in reality) this wasn't the case. After what seemed forever his home began to show in the distance. Carefully, he lowered Ed to the ground and gave the child the key to his apartment. Free from the hassle of carrying a squirming child Roy made it towards the buildings where (not to his surprise) Hawkeye and Al were all ready standing. "Seems you heard we found him."

"He was in a hurry when he rushed past us, did you say something to him about running away?" She waited until Roy was entering the building before following close behind. Al, quieter than normal, followed close behind. The apartment door was still thrown open and from the backrooms a water-hitting-water sound came back strong. Unable to help herself, Hawkeye giggled and took a seat in the kitchen area. "I wish I could take pictures of Ed's behavior. It's so cute."

"Big brother would be too embarrassed to allow those pictures to exist." Al shuffled against the wall nervously. "He died at the hospital." Simple and to the point. Roy didn't need to ask who they were talking about. Tilting his head to the side the colonel snorted.

"So there is a god. And those bodies, have they been taken to the morgue?"

"Yes," Hawkeye tapped her long fingers against the table. "Identifying them may be harder though." She cut herself short as the little blond boy rushed into the room, fingers dripping of clear water from not thoroughly drying his hands off, and climbed into Roy's lap. Grunting, Roy fixed himself in the seat so Ed could have more room. "Ed, I need to ask you some things about Mr. Buttram."

The boy stopped moving. Golden eyes widened and stared up at Roy. "I didn't hurt him. Somebody must have come in."

"Did you black out?" Roy tilted his head back. Ed blinked and thought deeply about that before nodding. Rubbing his temple the colonel huffed out what sounded like 'Full Metal'. Even gone he was causing damage. The small child suddenly slid off his lap, rushing over to Al to stare up with wide eyes of curiosity.

"Al?" He leaned forward, as if inspecting a scrape in the metal. Alphonse stepped back nervously. "Al, why does mister Roy keep calling me Full Metal? Wouldn't you be Full Metal because you're a metal man?" The group froze. Did he know that there was no man under that armor? Al shifted nervously, the back of the suit hitting the counters with a loud clank. "I mean," the boy continued, "I don't have anything metal on me."

"Roy's just old!" Al choked out. "He can't tell flesh from metal anymore so he thinks you're like my brother who wears similar armor!" His raised his voice, it cracking as he tried to think of a good enough lie. Ed had always been quick to catch things but at the same time he was innocent enough to accept anything to make the world black and white.

Nodding enthusiastically, the little boy twirled and rushed towards the living room where a pile of his collected toys were. The three at the table watched before turning to each other hoping that what they'd just encountered was their own insanity. "Is he…like that a lot?" Hawkeye finally asked, tuning out the sound effects Ed was giving to some of his toys.

"I like to think it's just Full Metal trying to come out," he quieted as his home phone rang. Excusing himself, he started towards the large machine, bringing it to his ear. "Mustang."

On the other side of the room, having grown bored with his toys, Ed was watching the adults with, unnoticed, spiteful eyes. The wooden train hit the ground and the small boy rushed forward toward Roy, tugging on the man's arm demandingly. Hawkeye stood up and took Ed away from the talking colonel, settling the now excited (or so she would believe) child on her lap. "So what's the colonel like at home? Is he bringing those lady friends of his home?"

Kicking his legs out, Ed sniffled. "No."

"You aren't going to tell me anymore?"

"No." Ed crossed his arms as Roy hung up the phone with a silent good bye. "Who was that?"

"It seems a slot opened up for that alchemist. She's willing to come out tomorrow and check out the notebook." None of the group ever saw the horrified expression on the four-year-old's face.

A soft clicking of a clock played its part to keep the small boy up as he stared angrily towards the ceiling. His thoughts traveled fast as he analyzed his choices. This body and mind, though often subjected to childish whims and behavior, was an outlet from that book. Years upon years of being trapped in the realms of time were so boring and it was destiny that every so many years a fool would break the seal and release him into their younger bodies. Sitting up the small boy let his blanket drop to the floor as he crawled off the couch.

It didn't help matters that, this time, the victim was more headstrong than most. This boy was the only one he'd ever lost control to. He still hadn't figured out just what this boy was to these people only that the military was doing whatever they could to save the boy. Then there was Buttram and his brutal end. Whoever this Edward Elric was, the crying boy in the darkness was only a tidbit of the real character.

"Can't sleep?"

Jumping from his thoughts, Ed turned to face Roy. The man was scratching his chest absently as he opened a cabinet to grab boxed crackers. The blond boy smiled. "Nu-uh. I had nightmares!"

Those words captured the colonel's complete attention. "What about?"

"Me. I was crying for you and for you to come get me." The blond murmured absently. "But then I opened my eyes and realized I was here and not at Mister Buttram's place." He explained. Roy's face scrunched up with a simple mutter that he understood what the boy was scared about. He offered the open box.

Accepting a cracker, Ed nibbled on it quietly deep in thought. On the back of his mind, in that little world he never wanted to go again, he could hear Edward Elric singing nonsense in order to keep his hopes up that the colonel would save him. The fool. "What are we doing tomorrow?"

Grunting, Roy leaned back. "Didn't you hear me earlier? An unspecified Alchemist is going to visit tomorrow to look over a book and talk to you."

"A book?" Ed leaned forward hopefully. Roy eyed him suspiciously before tapping his noise twice with a smile.

"Secret."

"That's not fair!" The child stood up in his chair, hands on the table as he tried crawling forward, switching tactics. "I don't wanna talk to strangers no more! Why am I going to talk to this stranger?"

Putting the crackers away, Roy collected the child in his arms and started towards the back rooms. "I'm glad to hear you learned not to talk to strangers but you don't need to worry about this one, I'll be there." He tucked the boy into the sheets before taking starting towards the door to change the sleeping arrangements. "I'll be in the living room if you have another nightmare."

The child nodded and cuddled into the blanket, his child brain no longer able to keep up with his thoughts as sleep took over. Staring over the child, Roy shook his head before leaving. There were some things about this kid that made no sense.