School's out! Three months of doing absolutely nothing before I start college! I plan on using that time to finish, yes, finish Breaking Point. You know, in the original plan, this was supposed to be the next to last chapter. It's not anymore. I think it'll hit somewhere in the twenties but not higher than twenty-five. That's just a guesstimate though. I don't have an outline anymore so we'll just have to see.

T-minus five hours to graduation! I'm so nervous!

Disclaimer: -sigh- Don't own…blah…blah…blah…

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"Wanna play?" Elysia asked Ed who had returned to his spot on the beach.

"No."

"Why not?" She looked genuinely hurt that he didn't want to play.

"Just don't."

"But Daddy said it would be good for you so you should come play!"

"…No."

Elysia looked ready to cry. Ed turned away from her and stared out across the lake until she got bored and left. He sighed. He knew he would hear about that later. The only question was whether it would be from Hughes or Roy. He wasn't quite sure which would be worse. Pulling his knees up to rest his chin on them, he sighed again.

"Ed…" Maybe later wasn't the best word to use. Ed turned to look at who had spoken. To his surprise, it was Gracia. She smiled and sat next to him. He returned his gaze to the lake. "You know, Elysia's pretty upset. She really wanted to play with you. She couldn't even sleep last night when we told her you'd be coming along."

"We played on the way here," Ed said keeping his focus glued to the lake.

"Surely there must be some game you like? Tag? Hide-and-seek?" Ed winced. "Or you could make some sandcastles. Maybe you could show her your alchemy. I bet she'd enjoy that."

"Then make Mustang do it."

"But Elysia doesn't want to play with Roy. She sees him all the time. She never gets to see you." She reached over and started lightly rubbing his back. He stiffened at first but slowly loosened up. "I'm taking Elysia on a nature hike while Roy and Maes go fishing. Do you want to come?"

"…I guess."

"Elysia will be happy to here that. Come on."

After standing and wiping off the sand, she helped Ed to his feet. Not bothering to knock off the sand, he fell into step with Gracia. Ed waited in the kitchen while Gracia helped Elysia into some more suitable hiking clothes. He glanced out the window and saw Roy and Hughes heading toward the lake with their fishing poles, Roy looking considerably happier than he had that morning.

"Just a burden," Ed said to himself. "Like I was to…Al. Maybe…they're better off…without…"

"Are we ready to go?" Gracia asked carrying a very happy Elysia. Edward's gaze snapped away from the window.

"Yeah!" he said, a little too loudly.

Gracia looked suspicious for a moment, but moved the thoughts aside. Elysia ran for the door as soon as she was set down, but let Gracia take the lead until they were on the path.

"Every year when we come here," Gracia said with a smile, "I like to take this trail, first thing. It's amazing how nothing ever changes out here. Don't you think so?"

"Yeah…"

"Cheer up, Ed. You know Al wouldn't like anyone mourning over him. He'd want you to continue on with your life and just remember the happy times."

"I guess…"

"Cheer up! Cheer up!" Elysia chimed. Ed looked at the huge grin on her face. Her grin grew when she noticed he was looking at her. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him down the trail.

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"Were they biting?" Gracia asked coming from the trail. Elysia followed close behind pulling Ed along with her. The guys were starting a fire in the fire pit for dinner.

"Fishing hasn't been this good here in years!" Hughes said holding up one of the fish. Elysia released Ed's hand and ran over to see the fish.

"That's not saying much," Roy said taking over the job of starting the fire by himself as Hughes became distracted by Elysia. "We're lucky if we catch anything here."

"So how many did you get?" Gracia asked, taking a seat on one of the logs surrounding the pit.

Elysia stuck her head over the bucket to count. "One…two…three…four…five…six! Six fishies!"

"Six guesses what's for dinner," Hughes said with a chuckle. Everybody but, of course, Ed laughed.

Ed took a seat on one of the logs. Elysia took the spot next to him and started making up a song about six fish. Ed glanced at the woods and vaguely wondered if he could make a break for it without being caught. He decided against it and turned his thoughts to forming an escape plan from the bedroom that night. He hadn't even realized how long he'd spaced out until the smell of cooked fish filled his nose, and he noticed he had a plate in his hand.

"Is everyone enjoying themselves so far?" Hughes asked with a mouthful of fish.

"Yeah!" Elysia said happily. "Me and Mommy and Big Brother went on the trail, and we saw a turtle on the beach! Then, a lizard fell on Mommy's head, and she screamed, and Big Brother had to get it off, and he let me put it back on the tree!"

Hughes chuckled at the image that formed in his mind. "It does sound like you guys had fun."

Roy's face became smug. "It's too bad Ed wasn't with us so he could pull that grasshopper off Hughes's leg. I didn't know a man could scream like that."

Hughes's face became redder than Ed's jacket. He laughed nervously and shoveled fish into his mouth so he wouldn't have to say anything. Everyone laughed. Even the tiniest flicker of a smile formed at the corners of Ed's mouth. It wasn't much, but it was enough to lift everyone's mood considerably.

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The sun was almost fully down, and the air was starting to get chilly. Gracia and Elysia decided to watch the sunset, and Hughes was putting out the fire. Ed decided that enough was enough, and he was going to get some sleep whether the others liked it or not. Much to his disappointment, Roy decided he wanted to do some reading in bed. Ed had been hoping he could be asleep by the time Roy came in.

"Sounds like you had fun today," Roy said from his bed while Ed looked for a good place to hang his jackets.

"Guess so."

"You know, it wouldn't hurt to speak in full sentences."

"I'm tired, let me go to sleep. How's that?" Ed asked as he crawled into bed. He turned his back to Roy.

"Little early to be tired, don't you think?" Roy put his book down. Ed had thought it was suspicious that Roy had opted out of more activities to read. Now, it was obvious that he just wanted to talk to Ed more.

"In case you forgot, you did wake me up early." Ed pulled the covers over his head, hoping that Roy would get the message.

"Eight's not early. I was going to wake you up sooner. You should thank me for letting you sleep that long."

"Thank you," Ed said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

There was a moment of silence in which Ed almost fell asleep. Almost.

"What were you doing out in the woods all by yourself?"

"Exploring."

"Why don't I believe that?"

Ed, finally fed up, sat up in bed and stared directly at the colonel. "Maybe because you're a fucking annoying bastard that can't keep his nose out of other people's business! How's that for a full sentence?"

Ed stormed out of the room, not even bothering to grab a jacket or put on his shoes. He stopped just outside the front door when he didn't hear anyone following him. He glanced toward the beach. The others hadn't noticed him. He took the chance to head toward the woods.

"Nobody hates me?" Ed questioned remembering the conversation from earlier that day. He glanced back at the front door. It stayed shut. "You don't even care enough to follow me."

He disappeared into the woods.

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Please don't be mad. I know it's short. Way too short. But it seemed like such a good place to end it! Er-hem…Anyway, I hope you liked it despite it's size. Great things come in small packages! Just ask Ed! It seems to be turning into a Hughes and Roy parental fic. When I say Hughes, I mean the whole Hughes family. Yet another thing that's changed without the outline. Hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!

T-minus three and a half hours until graduation! Wish me luck!

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