Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal alchemist.

Warning: Past MPREG. Violence, crimes are being done to children.

TWO

Ed spent the day grueling over paperwork and imagining what his daughter was doing. He tried to ignore the strange looks that Fuery sent his way, especially when he picked up the telephone. He knew something was going on because the others were always here and especially before noon. Sighing, he waited for him to look at him again before giving a warning glare which only succeeded in bringing out a long eep in the young man before returning back to his own business.

When they weren't there after lunch, Ed turned to Fuery. He didn't leave headquarters almost all day and that was because he couldn't get behind in paperwork. Damn it he wasn't made to be a paper pusher but then again, it was the only way to make sure they kept him from going on missions.

"Where's the rest of them huh Fuery and don't tell me you don't know. I saw you giving me looks all day."

Fuery gulped and seemingly tried to ignore him but it wasn't easy. Ed just stared him time while tapping his foot with his arms crossed. Fuery couldn't stand pressure and it was obvious he would crack if this kept up. Smiling, he waited with bated breath hoping the man would fold.

He didn't have to wait long for Fuery to screw up however. Finally the poor man couldn't take it anymore.

"They're at the crime scene!"

Ed frowned not expecting that.

"What crime scene? I haven't heard of any murders."

Fuery gulped again.

"They told me not to tell you, that's why. But they were going to tell you anyways because the murders have been on children. First one was a two year old found in an alley. Then there was the four year old found in a trash can behind housing. They were vicious with her. More than the slashes they put in the two year old. The autopsy revealed that the four year old had been suffocated with tape thrown over her mouth and that her nose must have been covered too at some point. Then she was thrown in a plastic bag and placed in the can. The two month old was found alive though and was crying when we found him. He recently was taking to the hospital and it was determined that somebody poisoned the child. He isn't expected to make it."

Ed nodded and while trying to take this in, wondered where Haydyn was now. He suddenly realize what that meant and wasted in no time to collect his things. Fuery looked worried and didn't really seem to know what to do about the situation at hand but Ed wasn't worried about Fuery at the moment. He was going to make sure his daughter wasn't suffering and she was okay. He wasn't going to let her be killed too because she was way too precious. An idea came to mind and he turned back to the startled man.

"So there's only been two deaths and an eventual one thanks to poison?"

Fuery nodded not being able to speak.

"I wish you'd tell me earlier. I'm gonna get Haydyn and make sure that she's-"

"Dada!"

He paused and saw the child. He was happy to see her but frowned realizing that she had said her first word. It wasn't papa but she finally said something that he could understand. He picked her up and allowed her to put her arm around his neck and kiss him. Haydyn loved burrowing close to it when she slept. He would have to guess that she loved the warmth and wanted to be close when she was most vulnerable.

"Knox you here too?"

"Do you honestly think they wouldn't call me when it came to this?" he asked and Ed decided not to ask anything further. Knox seemed pissed. "Mrs. Hughes is staying with a friend so that they could better keep watch on their children. You may know Mika the little girl that Elysia is often going on about?"

Ed nodded hesitantly.

Mika was the one to demonstrate how much of a good story teller she was. This was the girl that Roy brought up once saying that geniuses were becoming more common because of that. But it was also known that she lived with her adopted mom and dad. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan he realized. They were good people although they could never have children. They were looking for a baby when they found her and decided that they wanted Mika even though she was three years old. That had been two years ago.

"She was the one found in the trash can. It was horrible. Not only did she have twenty five welts on her body alone but she had her toe and finger nails taken off. She had bleeding in her abdominal cavity and I could hazard a guess that there had been sexual abuse as well. Her pelvic wall was torn. The thing that killed her was the duct tape over her face though. Truly tremendous but not only that they had to seal her body in a plastic bag with her little blanket. Her mom said she didn't go anywhere without it. Damn culprit better hope they're never found. It's vile to kill an innocent child!"

Ed nodded numbly in agreement. He didn't know what he would do if anything happened to his daughter and this murder was truly gruesome. He had met Mika once now that he thought about it. The Sullivan's had held some type of outing and invited anyone they could think of. The little girl was sugar high by the end of the day that they had trouble getting her to bed. But before all that, she told him that she was sorry that god took the one he loved. She said he became a pretty star and that he was looking out for the one he loved and that they will be together again someday. It almost made Ed cry but he held back.

"The two year old really did have slashes on her body?" He was almost afraid to find out what happened to this poor child but he worked in the military and he wanted to get rid of the culprit just as much as Knox did.

"She had forty slashes to her torso. The culprit showed no remorse in cutting the baby up. Then tore off her toe nails. She had torn and bloody ears making us believe that there are baby earrings missing. Her lip was torn and again there was a tear to the pelvic wall. Her death was due to blunt force trauma to the abdomen. She was kicked so hard that it killed her."

Ed was shocked to say the least but Knox wasn't smiling and it seemed that nobody would be safe until this killer was found.

"Of course the two month old recently died. They found large quantities of arsenic in the system. Could be a message that not even babies are safe. Anyone else and this would be a sensation for those that still hate the military to be talking about how we are failing to keep their kids safe."

"What if the target is the military?" Fuery asked. "Then when we're in the limelight, they sweep in and supposedly save the day to make us look bad."

Ed was thinking about it. It seemed really farfetched since the military had been better these days. General Hakuro was even retiring and they were putting a female, whoever it was to be the new leader. Ed closed his eyes trying to tie this all together. Haydyn was issuing loud snores from her position on him. It was all he could do not to hold her and never let her go. Some people were just sick.

"I don't think so boss. The children come from different parts of the city. They don't have the same babysitter either and the only link we found between the two girls and the one baby is the man that used to watch them. He died though and they have valuable witnesses stating that the girls were in their beds."

Ed turned and surveyed Havoc looking beat and plain tired but for the most part was doing okay. Ed nodded hoping that they had a better lead than that. Anyone that would willingly do all that to a child was sick. He would never do any of this to Haydyn. He shook his head letting all of this fit in. Al was in a seminar at the moment and Winry was in Rizenbul visiting Granny. Alex was fine and Winry was doing well as well. Al was a huge surprise though since he waited a whole two months after the funeral to announce his wish to become a doctor.

"I love alchemy brother and I always will but seeing my brother in law suffer so much made me do some thinking. If preemies had a better chance of living, he wouldn't have hesitated to get the C-section as recommended. He would have survived as well as the baby. I'm going into medicine and make sure to make a difference." He had told him this and he went through with it as well.

Al did make a good doctor but seeing as how two little girls were slashed mercilessly down and an infant was poisoned, Al would only crumble at the news. But Alex was three years old and was in the age limit of children getting killed.

"I don't want to worry Al but is it only in Central that this is happening or-"

" There's been another murder!" Falman and Breda ran in as quickly as they could while panting from exertion. Breda looked pounds lighter since this thing began in the wee hours of the morning. He could very well lose weight by the time they solved this case.

"Who has it been?" Knox asked with a frown.

Ed could tell that he wanted nothing more than to stop this as well. Knox had two sons and his only granddaughter. There was no way the man would stand for child abuse nor would he like the murderer that killed them. He blinked realizing the man wasn't going to keep his control for much longer.

"It was a three year old in Rush Valley. Supposedly the boy was missing for about an hour before the mother noticed and sent a cry of help. They haven't found him yet but they say that he's usually off running around and disobeying his mother's command to stay with her at all times. "

"That's not a murder, it's a missing children-"

"That's where the murder comes in. A young girl about almost two was found in a ravine south from there. MP officials have said that she was beaten so bad that she vomited and the cause of death was a deadly punch to the head. She must've seized as well."

"Oh god, when is this nightmare going to end?" Ed whined holding tightly onto Haydyn. Haydyn seeing this held onto her daddy tighter. She whined and his only response was to sit back down keeping his daughter with him. The girl pushed herself flush against him and began to fall asleep again. Havoc chuckled watching the child before becoming serious again.

"We need to get involved with these officials and ask everything that they found out so we can solve this. This isn't serial killings, this is capital murders that if it goes to the president, we'll be torn apart by-"

"Glad to know somebody told me about what happened!" By the sound of sarcasm every head turned.

There in all her glory stood the new President Olivier Armstrong and she didn't seem happy at all to just find out that there were murders happening all over the better part of the country. Before Ed could explain what was going on, Havoc interrupted, replacing the deteriorating cigarette with a new fresh one although he didn't light this one as well. It was becoming a habit just to have it hanging out of his mouth.

"We meant to tell ya honestly President but we have been at the crime scenes all day kicking up dirt. There is no way that so many children with so many differences could be murdered by the same person and yet they're happening."

She gave him a cool expression before sighing.

"Update me as soon as you find something. I will not stand for a killer coming into this country or being in this country and killing off the ones that don't know right from wrong yet. These kids are still innocent." She paused gazing at the baby in the room. "You do know that having a kid here could get you in trouble but seeing the circumstances, next time bring a note."

Before they could counter what she said, she had already left

"Bring a note she says. Oh it could get you in trouble bringing a kid here."

Al just sighed.

Ed was being dramatic again. He should have faced this problem ages ago. If Ed didn't like someone he was going to mock them. The horrible thing was, he fell for the one he mocked the most and now that person was gone. He couldn't believe it though. He hated the fact that the murderer was killing children. He had a child under the age of five and even then killing six year olds and seven year olds even wasn't great either.

"Ed if you don't like the new President then don't. Nobody is making you like her, all you have to do is make sure that you respect her."

"I don't respect her either. She's rude, cruel, and only cares about one thing; herself. She doesn't care that there's children dying by the maniac and that we are trying to limit the amount because children don't deserve to die."

"Funny you once said Roy was the same way and look what happened." Al wish he hadn't said that because as soon as he did, Ed's eyes darkened before he nodded.

"I thought I didn't need him Al and he was only getting in the way when we were trying to find the stone. It changed since the day he said he loved me. Wasn't very cocky then though. He said it three times. Once when he was drunk, the second time when he was sober and convinced me of a thing known as true love, and the last time was when he died. Makes you realize just how strong the power of love exists. I exist for you and only you. I will only tell you I love you as long as my heart allows it. I will tell you I love you and only two times will it count. Once when I tell you how I feel and with my last breath so you will know that I can never hate you even after death."

Al was close to tearing up after hearing those. His brother was never one for love but hearing that, he realized that he hated Roy all over again. Love him my ass. Roy why did you have to go and leave the one that loves you all alone. You can't protect Haydyn if your buried six feet under. He was brought out of his thoughts by seeing the famous pyrotex gloves that the late flame alchemist owned. He didn't know Ed had had them and wondered why he kept them all this time.

"I've been saving this for when Haydyn's older. She'll possibly want to learn alchemy plus I could find out how to use this to protect her. I know my alchemy has saved me for a lot of things…"

"What is it brother?"

Al didn't know what got his brother so down but he wanted him to know that he was here for him when he needed it. He was making giant leaps and bounds with what he was doing and hopefully he was doing something great. But he hadn't felt like it he had yet so he was still working. He found he loved being a doctor and that he was helping even if he hadn't discovered a way to help premature infants as of yet.

"Alchemy is supposed to be so great and yet it can't help the dying. It can't keep you from dying either. Makes you think about why science is so great if you still can't save the one you love."

Al frowned.

"I know you can't stand this Ed. But brother there can't be any common factor that you think of for those kids. I mean let's not talk about them, it makes me want to cry just thinking of it. If Haydyn had been any more premature I'm sure you wouldn't be talking to me about this-"

"Can you repeat that Al?"

Al looked up in shock.

"I don't know what-"

"Exactly though. Those kids. Has anyone looked to see what hospital they were born in. Or possibly that they were preemies as well. Maybe the person had a grudge against a particular hospital or their baby was a preemie and ended up dying. You're great Al and I love you!"

"No you don't, you just love the idea." He smiled though to show he was only joking and Ed rolled his eyes.

"Being a doctor has made you more cynical."

Al nodded.

He knew his brother would solve this and in the meantime he promised to help by watching Haydyn. The little girl was passed out on the couch and it had been such a long while since he had seen the girl. She was cooing in her sleep which was really cute but the best part was getting the picture in the mail. Even though he knew Ed must have been crazy at the time. Who gave their four month old at the time a lollipop. Even if the four month old liked it as well. He was setting that girl up to be a menace and Al hoped that he learned that he shouldn't give the girl everything that she had wanted.

"Be safe."

He hoped his brother would always be. Until then they had to make sure the future generation was safe first. He frowned, just thinking about it.

"It could be worse. Ed could be in a jungle with a mad killer on the loose or he could have a cold. He has neither so my brother would be fine."

Ed sneezed a couple of times and Havoc offered him a hankie with a laugh.

"Is someone talking about you boss. I swear you hardly ever get sick." Ed just glared before snatching the hankie and using it before attempting to return it.

By rank he was the highest next to the dead brigadier general which put him in charge by default. He suddenly realized though why the man hated his paperwork and he did it while watching the others to make sure they didn't slack off as well. Them slacking off meant that they stayed an hour or two late each day and he wouldn't have that. He still hadn't gone into the man's office since the day he died and he was sure the rest hadn't either. They couldn't stand the overwhelming memories just thinking about where the man was now.

"This is the sewer sector. You may remember since your little date with scar that time back-"

"DAMN YOU HAVOC IT WAS NOT A DATE! THAT MAN ALMOST KILLED ME YOU ASS!"

He paused seeing the look that Havoc passed onto Hawkeye. It had only been a second but it was enough that had Ed convinced that he wasn't just seeing things. He smirked and then made a cup with his hands and mumbled only loud enough for Havoc to hear.

"Forbidden love I see? If you told Hawkeye how you feel I doubt she would kill you so much. That or get her jealous but once she found out, she'd probably try to kill you so-"

"I don't pretend boss. She is seeing someone anyways. A man named Phillip Andrews. I know that he is okay but in my mind I sometimes wish he was the killer so that she would break it off with him. I just end up feeling guilty though. I told her how I felt you know?"

Ed hadn't. He felt bad for Havoc. He had some feeling for her however slight and since the woman was dating, she turned him down. It was not exactly fair but at least she was still alive and Havoc didn't only see her in his dreams. That was the one thing Ed hated most about himself. He kept dreaming about the man and believed the nightmares were the ones that had him dead. He thought often that if he woke up, he would be able to see him and tell all about the horrible dream he had. Roy was never there when he awoke though.

"I'm sorry she has a boyfriend."

"I am too. She started to date him shortly after I told her how I felt. Turns out, I think she is afraid to be in love after what happened between you and the chief. It was hurtful and still is though."

"It won't be the same because she isn't a guy-"

"And that means what Ed? Women die in childbirth every day. Roy wasn't the only one lost to the horrors of childbirth and he won't be the only one. Difference is he is a man and the only thing you could think about is how he left you. I have news for you though, I'm not trying to be mean but you have to concentrate on the fact that he's dead so that you could move on and be there for Haydyn. It's selfish that you keep thinking about only yourself when there's her. The little girl that won't ever see him and grow to think that she killed her own papa because her daddy can't be happy with the fact that he still has a part of him that's alive."

Ed froze hearing all this. A part of him believed Havoc was right but his mind couldn't help it. He missed Roy terribly and wouldn't ever forget what it was like that day in the hospital when he woke up and came to know that Roy was gone. He didn't want to believe, couldn't help but think it was a nightmare and that both were okay. But he wasn't okay because he was dead and he kept trying to forget that. He tried to become a good parent for Haydyn too but it was hard. Being a single parent was hard work and not just because he was alone but because he had wanted to raise her with Roy.

"I'm sorry boss, I went too far-"

"No, you were just telling me stuff I have had trouble seeing myself. Thank you Havoc." He mumbled.

Havoc just sighed before changing the subject.

"Well remember what you said about the preemie theory. Well out of the five children only one of them wasn't a preemie and it was the one that was poisoned. We still haven't found the missing toddler from Rush Valley but we know the child found in the ravine was eighteen months and had a severe disability from being four months premature. Mika was born at thirty gestation and had problems learning. The two year old was miraculously not disabled but was born at thirty one and seven gestation. So in short all the other four kids were born early."

Ed nodded.

He hadn't wanted to be right because now it looked like the man just wanted a little bit of mercy killing. Or maybe a woman he thought inwardly. It could be either but he wanted to know who it was so he could kick the person's ass. How dare somebody put tape over a small child's mouth and suffocate them before dumping them like trash? It was ridiculous.

Havoc put an arm out and stopped Ed pointing to the tricky landscape where the factory was. Ed didn't know why they were on the outskirts looking this way but he suddenly saw it. He heard it too and he knew Havoc was not one to pass up investigating the reason.

"I got a call that some kids were throwing stones and had to check it out boss." Havoc's explanation was a relief to Ed since he didn't think he could see a child's mangled body.

Going forward, he expected to see the troublesome kids running but he didn't. What caught his eye was a bush to the side and the dripping of its soft tipped ends with liquid from an unknown source. He was horrified in thinking what it could be. He didn't want to get closer but Havoc had other ideas because he leant forward in curiosity.

"Funny I told those damn miscreants that items not bottled weren't allowed here." It was only after picking up the object did he see the human skull.

He dropped it and it rolled for some time before landing in front of Ed. It was small so it had to have been a small child maybe between the ages of one to one in a half. Hell it could have been six and further if he known any better. The skull was battered frayed and Havoc looking though the bushes brought up decomposed clothes and a back pack with all the kids handy works. Ed wasn't thinking properly, he knew it. All they found was the skull and not the rest didn't even faze him so much as seeing the skull in front of him had. He did the only thing there was to do.

He screamed and did so loudly.