Chapter 8: The Welcoming Family

It only took a few hours to get to Central. As they got off the train, Roy walked them over to a car, which was waiting for them. They got into the car with Al sitting beside Roy and Ed and Dayna sitting together, Al started to notice something, Ed was constantly holding hands with Dayna and he never recalled seeing Ed so happy with a girl before.

'I mean, he's happy when Winry's around, but never this happy'.

They left the train station and Dayna was watching all the buildings go by out the window, until she saw a large, beautiful house. The car came to a stop, Roy asked Dayna to go with him while Ed and Al were asked to stay in the car.

"Is this the Hughes' house?" she asked.

"Yes, now I guess I don't have to ask you to behave" Roy said with a smile on his face. Dayna smiled back as Roy knocked on the door. The door open and Dayna saw the smiling face of a very pretty lady.

"Good afternoon Gracia"

"Oh, hello Colonel. How are you?"

"Fine. I brought a guest, she's the one I told you about over the phone"

"Oh, yes of course! Come in dear. We'll take good care of her sir".

"Well goodbye. Dayna? I'll pick you up tomorrow for the Alchemy Exam. I just have to run it by the Furher"

"OK, see you tomorrow sir. Tell Ed and Al bye for me" she called as Roy left.

Gracia told her to put her bags on the floor as she gave her a tour of the house. She mentioned that her husband, Maes Hughes was working and that he wouldn't be home until later this evening.

"Do you like stew Dayna?"

"Well, I've never had it, but I heard it was good"

"It is good, we're having that tonight"

She led her down a hallway to a pretty room. The bed looked very comfortable and the rest of the room was very neat.

"This is your room, it's usually the spare room, but when you want to stay here, it's yours"

"Thank you Mrs. Hughes"

"There's a surprise for you on the bed"

Dayna walked over to the bed and opened the package. Inside she found some clothes.

"Thank you Mrs. Hughes, but you didn't have too"

"Colonel Mustang told us about you and we thought that you deserved it. He told me he didn't know your size, but told me that you were a little taller than Ed, so I hope that they fit. I really hope you like the jacket, I made it myself".

She lifted up the jacket; it was way shorter than Ed's, cutting off a little above the waist. It was a nice, dark blue and when she turned it around, she saw what Mrs. Hughes meant. On the back was an insignia, a winged snake on a cross; just like on Ed's coat.

"Whoa, thank you so much!"

"I'll let you try them on. I'll be downstairs checking on dinner and I can introduce you to Elicia"

Dayna went downstairs to see Mrs. Hughes coming out of the kitchen.

"Well, how do they fit?"

"Perfectly. Thank you again"

The outfit was a pair of dark blue jeans, a cream-colored top with spaghetti straps and the jacket. Dayna also brushed her blond hair with the hairbrush that was also in with the clothes; there was also a pair of black hiking boots.

"The blue really brings out your eyes, come on, I'll introduce you to my daughter" said Gracia taking Dayna's hand and leading her into the family room.

"Elicia, I want you to meet someone. This is Dayna, a friend of Edward and Alphonse. She's going to stay with us for tonight"

Dayna saw an adorable little girl, in a little pink dress and pigtails. She had been playing with a small pile of toys in the corner, when they came in. She immediately stopped and paid attention to her mother.

"Hello Elicia. How old are you?"

"I'm four"

"That's a pretty dress you're wearing"

"Thank you, you're really pretty"

"Thank you very much"

"Can you read me a story until dinner's ready?"

"I'd love too"

Dayna took the book that Elicia held in her hand and Elicia crawled onto her lap. Dayna read a few of the stories and enjoyed every minute of it, it was like she had a little sister.

For a few hours Dayna sat there reading to Elicia, the little girl hanging on to every word and not moving from her spot, until there was a noise at the door. Elicia hopped off of Dayna's lap and ran to the door.

"Hooray! Daddy's home!"

Dayna got up and stretched, getting the feeling back into her legs, she then walked to the door where she saw Elicia lead a tall man with glasses and a beard into the house.

"Daddy! Big sister read me a lot of stories. She's really good at it"

The man looked up to look at the strange girl that his daughter was referring to; suddenly Gracia came out from the kitchen to greet her husband.

"Welcome home honey. This is Dayna, she's the one Roy called about. She's going to be staying with us"

"Oh! I'm sorry, been busy at work and completely forgot. Hello, I'm Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes," he said shaking Dayna's hand.

"We can finish the introductions in the kitchen, dinner's ready" called Gracia

The stew was so good that Dayna was having trouble trying to pay attention to the things that Hughes was talking to her about. He was telling her about the first time that he had Ed and Al over for Ed's birthday and Gracia went into labor and Ed had to deliver the baby.

"I bet they had no idea of what they were doing"

"Hm, all they did was run and scream, I think that they thought I was going to die. Fortunately they found their way when they did" said Gracia.

"Yeah, they're great kids," said Hughes.

Dayna told them about when she met Ed and Al and how grateful she was to everyone who she's met for all that they've done.

"So, are you nervous about the Alchemy Exam tomorrow?" asked Hughes.

"A little, but I think I can do it"

"Well, if you've got Ed and Al behind your back, I don't think that you need to worry about it. If they have faith in you, that's all you need".

Dayna smiled, "Thank Mr. Hughes"

After dinner Hughes played with Elicia while Dayna helped Gracia with the dishes. When they finished, they headed towards the family room when Dayna spotted a piano nearby.

"What a beautiful piano. Do you or Mr. Hughes play?"

"No, We're planning of giving Elicia lessons when she's a little older, so we decided to get it".

Dayna sat down at the piano and looked at the keys. The wood glistened in the light. She was admiring the work when she felt a tug on her sleeve; she looked down to see Elicia there.

"Do you play?"

"Um, a little. My mother gave me lessons when I was four"

"Can you play something for me?"

"No Elicia, Dayna needs her sleep. She has a big day tomorrow," replied Gracia.

"I don't mind, I can play one song for you Elicia"

Dayna sat there for a minute trying to relax and concentrate and started to put here hands forward onto the black and white keys.

She played the song that her mother sang to her and before she knew it, she was singing along,

"…If I could flutter like a bird, I would fly to you…and offer my wing to your wounded back…"

She looked down to peek at Elicia, gently swaying back and forth. Dayna smiled and finished her song.

"…I'll be anything, if it can stop you from being seized with fear…"

Applause came from the three and she stood up and took a bow. She laughed and smiled; it was great having a family, if only for a while.