The Calendar

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters therein.

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XIII: Hughes – Part I

It hung on the wall next to the filing cabinet. One day to a page. One number to a sheet.

Colonel Roy Mustang walked into the office. A glance around revealed an almost normal collection of subordinates. 'Almost' because every one of them was smiling.

All were working and yet all were smiling. Mustang frowned and scanned the office. And then he saw it and smiling was the last thing he wanted to do.

"What is the meaning of that?" He said sternly. Hawkeye looked up.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes is responsible for that, Sir."

Dark eyes studied the calendar. Photos had been attached to the page and to the wall around it. He estimated the photographic border at a foot and a half. His fingers itched and he considered getting his gloves out.

"Why did the Lieutenant-Colonel feel the need for this, Lieutenant?" Mustang was proud of his restraint.

"It is Elysia's birthday today, Sir."

"We are all aware of that, Hawkeye. But half these pictures are of Fullmetal."

"It's his birthday too, Sir."

"The Elrics aren't due back til tomorrow." Mustang said slowly. "He will miss it."

"Then leave it til he returns, Roy," Maes said happily as he entered.

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Author's Note: Itchy fluff… and I do so like the wise Maes…

More thanks to the reviewers, lots of thanks as always: Bar-Ohki (methinks Ed could fall asleep anywhere…lol), Bizzy (lol...I think Ed would sleep in and and assume someone else had removed it...lol),HughesHanajimaHilaria Hypocrite (lol…Envy is the 'funnest' and I had have at least one representative of the Homunculi…lol), indigo's ocean (told you it was random, but it does seem to have worked…lol… and you need ice-magic on the ice-cream esp. with sprinkles in it), TheQueenOfMediocrity (apart for the first they're all 200 words…more dribbles than drabbles on my side… keeping to the 100 limit like you do requires more talent than I have…'smiles')

silken :)