Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters from the series. But I do own this small fuzz in the back of my shelf .

Hope you like the 4th chapter.

TenshShanai.

text– somebody is thinking


Chapter 4: My Sanctuary

Ed awoke with a wet clothe on his forehead and a hand stroking his hair. He heard hushed voices talking to another.

"… told me to keep him here. Something happened at the orphanage. And she will come here as soon as the situation is under control." He opened his eyes to see Riza sitting next to him, Roy leaning at the doorframe his arms crossed over his chest. He smiles as he saw Ed looking around the room he was in. "Hey Ed. Feeling better?"

Ed blinked several times to wake up whipping his eyes. Riza helped him to sit up as Roy sat next to her on the bed his arms around her waist.

"You scared us as you were standing out there. Soaking wet and coming down with a high fever." Roy laid his hand against Ed's still too warm forehead. "Your fever dropped a bit. But you should rest until Dr Hyde comes here." Ed's eyes went dark at the mention of the doctor. He knew that he has to go back to the orphanage, back to his brother.

"I… Do I have to go back there?" Ed looked at the couple who smiled sadly at the question.

"Not yet. Dr. Hyde said that there had happened something at the orphanage and that she has to wait until the situation is under control. But she couldn't say anything further." Roy stroked Ed's cheek lovely. "She comes later to examine you. Until then you stay here."

Roy stood up taking the nearly dry wash clothe from Ed's lap to wet it again and gave it to Riza. She helped Ed to lie down again.

"You should sleep until she arrives. The fever is still high, sweetie." She brushed some strands out of his face and kissed him on the forehead like his mother had done so often before she laid the wash clothe on his head. "Sleep well, sweetheart." Ed closed his eyes and smiled.

"Good night, mom." He was sound asleep. Riza fastened the blankets around the lithe body. They left the room to get to the living room where Silver was laying in front of the lightened heath drying his fur.

"He is asleep again." Silver opened his eyes to Roy's statement and stood up stretching his limps. The couple sat on the couch watching the fire.

"Do you know what happened at the orphanage? It seemed to be hectic and I think I heard Hughes' voice in the background." Roy looked at the chimera in front of the heath.

"No. I heard a busting sound and ran towards it. As Ed passed by I decided to follow him instead searching for the source of the noise. What had happened after we had left, I don't know. We have to wait for Megan." Roy nodded and laid his hand on Riza's seeing his wife had a warm smile on her face.

"What are you smiling at?" Riza woke up from her small daydream.

"It was nice." Roy was confused and gave her a questioned look. She giggled. "I don't know if you heard him but he called me 'mom'. I just think that sounds nice. I don't know why but I love this small boy. I only met him twice and I wish he could stay forever. I mean as our son." Her eyes sadden. Roy stroked her hand and kissed her.

"I feel the same way."

At this moment the front door bell rang.

"I get it." Riza nodded to her husband's statement. Roy opened the door to find Megan Hyde and Hughes in front of it, both with a sober expression on their faces. He invited them inside. "What are you doing here, Maes? An ill boy is no case for the investigation department." Roy joked but Hughes kept his straight face.

"I'm sorry, Roy, but this is not the time for jokes." He sighed and sat on the couch where Roy had sat before Megan still standing in the hallway to get to the boy.

"Where is our small one?" She had her doctor's bag in her right hand ready to get to Ed. Her long black hair was braided to keep it from falling into her face. Riza showed her the way to the guest room where they had left Ed just minutes ago.

Megan sat next to the sleeping figure on the bed stroking the dumb hair waking him slowly.

"Hey squirt. How are you?" His eyes were half lidded as her tried to figure out who the person in front of him was.

"Aunt Megan?" She nodded and reached for her bag to get her stethoscope. She examined Ed carefully with Riza's eyes never missing any movement. After she was done she laid the blankets back on Ed brushing the strands out of his face.

"What's wrong squirt?" Ed bit his bottom lip.

"Do I have to go back to the orphanage?" His voice was low as he tried to hold the tears back. Megan swallowed shortly than smiled.

"We can talk about that when you're healthy again. Now go back to sleep."

She stood up and left Ed and Riza in the room. She sat down on the bed.

"Can you stay here until I'm asleep?" Riza smiled warmly to the question of the boy.

"Of course I do. Now close your eyes and go to sleep." He did as he was told and felt Riza's hand stroking his hair. Soon he was asleep again. "It would be nice to have you here forever." She kissed him on the forehead and left the room.

She arrived in the living room seeing her husband sitting pale on the couch Hughes sitting next to him his hands over his eyes and Megan leaning against the heath with Silver to her feet.

"What's wrong? Is it Edward?" Roy looked at her shaking his head. "Then why do you look so ill? Darling what's wrong?" Roy shook his head again laying his head in his hands. Hughes sighed.

"It is not Edward. It's William. He has done something awful." Riza gave him a questioned look. "He raped one of the carer of the orphanage." Riza went pale immediately her eyes wide with shock. "It happened after Ed left the room. One of the guards told us, he heard the busting of wood and went to investigate the incident. The time he arrived at the room we gave Ed and Will he saw Will sitting between the legs of the girl who had taken care of them the day, rocking his hips and moaning. The guard called another one and they got Will off the girl. They imprisoned him in one of the restrooms on the floor and called for a doctor and the police. As it is a national orphanage the investigation department is in command for this case."

Hughes sighed heavily. Riza was standing near the heath her legs shaking. She swallowed several times to get her stomach under control.

"A...and the girl?" Megan turned to the fire.

"She was rapped brutally. There was blood everywhere on the bed. I don't know if she will ever be able to live a life without pain. Most likely she won't be able to get children." She sighed and closed her eyes.

"I'm glad that Ed wasn't there to see his brother." Her eyes darkened. "Speaking of him. Do you know why he came here?" She turned around to look at Roy and Riza, tears streaming down Riza's face.

"No. He didn't say anything." Roy rubbed his eyes.

"What will happen to them?" Hughes stood up and scratched the back of his head.

"Well. Will will be committed to an institution for underage criminals and well Ed will come back to the orphanage." Hughes sighed again.

"Can't he stay here with us? He doesn't want to go back and the children will stare at him for what his brother had done. We can't do that to him." Riza wiped her tears away. Hughes looked at her with a friendly but sad smile and shook his head.

"He can't stay here forever. He has to go back to the orphanage. I mean sure, he can stay here until he's well enough…"

"And if we would adopt him?"

Roy had his hand folded under his chin looking at the fire in the heath. Hughes sighed heavily. "Do you know what you're talking about? I mean adoption? Roy you're what? 18 years old? You're married some months to Riza. I mean wouldn't you want an own child first before you think…"

"Maes!" Roy's voice was firm. "I know what comes with an adoption. I know the risk and what responsibilities come with it. But I don't mind. I love this small guy. I don't know why. I just won't live without him and I don't want him to be alone in the orphanage." Roy balled his hands to fists yelling at his best friend and best man. Riza rubbed his back trying to calm her young husband down.

"I feel the same way, Maes. I want to be a mother, no his mother." She smiled leaning against her husband.

Hughes patted Roy on his shoulder. "That's what I wanted to hear. Now I know it will work." He turned to Megan. "But you need the approval of the guardian, right 'Aunt Megan'?" She gave him a look to his 'aunt' statement but nodded. "Yes and what a coincidence that she is here." She rolled her eyes.

"I think it doesn't speak anything against you two to take care of Ed until Will's process is over. Then we can talk about the formalities which will take a long time." Roy and Riza let a breath out they where holding.

"But remember it will be hard. He probably doesn't understand what will happen to his brother. And there was maybe more behind the rape…" Hughes looked upstairs. I hope I'm not right. But it fits into the puzzle. The mark on Ed's bed, the teeth marks on Will's penis, even the rape of the girl.Hughes sighed.

"We know it will be hard but we know we are able to give him the comfort he needs." Roy's voice was soft.

Hughes nodded. "Yes. I know. If you need something call me I'm always there for you. Take care of the small one." He took his coat he left over the backrest of the couch. "We should leave. It's late and we have to work on the case." Megan took her own coat and putting it back on.

"I'm leaving Silver with you. He can help you." Roy and Riza nodded as Megan and Hughes left the house walking to the car. Roy hugged his wife close.

"That is the best decision we ever made." She just nodded and kissed his cheek.

"Let's get some sleep."


AN.: Review? Yes please