Chapter 7

A Helpful Conversation

Hey! I'm back! Sorry it took me so long to update my story! I have been very busy with school and stuff like that! Also, sorry if this chapter might be a little on the short side, but I just wanted to post at least something more of this story! AND GUESS WHAT? THIS CHAPTER WILL HAVE HUGHES! YAY!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't own FMA!

It was 6:00 in the morning and Edward was still asleep while Roy was wide awake getting ready for work. After he finished he called Hughes to ask him if Ed could come over his house since he has off today and since Roy has a lot of work to finish today. Hughes told him that of course Ed can stay at his house and then Roy went to wake Ed up and tell him the plan for today and then make him get ready.

After Edward finished getting ready he went downstairs and started eating his breakfast while Roy read the newspaper and drank coffee. "I don't understand why I still have to stay with a babysitter, I mean we both know that I won't try to run away anymore and I am old enough to take care of myself," Edward complained.

"Yes, I know all that, but I am doing this in order to punish you for scaring me when you ran away, as I already told you. And don't even think about trying to spill your milk in the sink while I'm not watching, Fullmetal. You better drink it," Roy replied with a smirk on his face.

"Wha- H- How did you know what I was thinking? That isn't fair!" Ed shouted, surprised.

"Don't be so surprised, Fullmetal. If I'm not capable of reading you like a book after 6 years, then I'm not qualified to be the Fuhrer. So you should get used to me knowing your move before you even have a chance of doing it," Roy replied with his evil smirk.

"Uhhh! This isn't fairrrr! Whatever, I guess I should just drink it since I probably will just waste my time if I try to convince you to let me drink something else instead" Edward pouted and sighed.

"Good to know that you are finally beginning to understand your situation. Well, hurry up, I still have to get you to Hughes' house and then get to work," Roy stated.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Then again, maybe I should just take my sweet time and make you late for work. Then Riza will be mad at you and shoot you most likely," Ed said cheekily.

"Oh, really? Then maybe I should put you over my knees and spank you like a little five year-old. What do you think about that?" Roy retorted.

"WHAT? WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LITTLE CHILD WHO NEVER GREW TALLER THEN THE HEIGHT OF A FIVE YEAR-OLD? And I'd like to see you try and get me over your knee first before you even talk about spanking me, you old Fuhrer Bastard! The last time, you caught me off guard!" Ed screamed at Roy.

"Is that a challenge? You really think I can't catch you? That's just too great! Okay, just don't cry like a baby after I finish with you, Ed. I have time to kill anyway, I have an hour and anyway Hughes lives on the way to my work," Roy replied while smiling.

"Fine, let's go then. I'd like to see-" Ed started, but was cut off as Roy lunged at him.

"You should pay more attention," Roy smirked.

"I wouldn't be so smug, you still haven't caught me," Ed confidently stated.

"Oh, yeah, let's see you dodge this," Roy said as he pulled the carpet out from under Ed's feet and Ed fell. Then Roy pinned his arms to his back and picked him up, sat down on a chair, and put him over his knees. "So, Edward, I got you over my knees after all. Now then, how many times should I spank you? I'm thinking fifteen for underestimating me and fifteen for once again calling me Fuhrer Bastard. What do you think?" Roy asked smugly.

"This is not happening! This isn't possible!" Edward whined. "Fine, whatever, thirty is good, I can take whatever you throw at me!" Edward then replied confidently.

"Okay. You're going to get off easy this time because I am running out of time, so be happy. Now then let's start," Roy replied.

As Roy started to spank Edward, Ed started to scream in anger towards the halfway point, but his stubbornness wouldn't let him cry or sob openly in front of the Fuhrer. After he was done, Edward looked somewhat guilty and angry, but at himself for getting caught in the first place. Afterwards, Roy drove to Hughes' house and he apologized to Ed for spanking him, but he also said why he had to and Ed told him he understands why. When they approached Hughes' house Roy said his goodbyes to Ed and Hughes and his family and left.

"So, Ed! Why are you looking so glum?" Hughes asked in his cheery voice.

"It's not that I'm glum, it's just that I can't really understand how Mustang thinks sometimes, and it infuriates me!" Ed replied angrily.

"What happened this time?" Hughes sighed knowingly.

"Well, I did some things that I shouldn't have, but still he shouldn't have gotten that angry about them. I mean it's not like I did something that I normally wouldn't do. And yes, I know he thinks of me as his biological son, but he shouldn't get that worked up about what I did," Ed answered confusedly, and then proceeded to tell Hughes exactly what he did that made Mustang so pissed off and worried. (AN: Refer to past chapters for Ed's past actions that got him in trouble.)

"How did he go overboard?" Hughes questioned, actually interested in this conversation.

"Well, he has me on house arrest for a month, where I can go places but it has to be with a babysitter, he's making me drink milk every morning for a month, he wouldn't let me go to the library or read books about alchemy for a week, he spanked me once, easily, for calling him a Fuhrer Bastard, and now, before we came here, he spanked me thirty times," Ed stated, embarrassed. (AN: He also told Hughes how he challenged Mustang to catch him first.)

"Haha! I'm sorry! But that is really funny! You tried to cross the Fuhrer many times when you should have known that he will always win no matter what, especially against you since he knows how to push your buttons!" Hughes explained laughing.

"I know that! But I can't just give up without a fight! And anyway why does he care about me like his own son! It doesn't make sense to me! You can tell me can't you? I mean you are head of investigations and you are Roy's best friend! Can you please explain that to me?" Edward asked.

"Okay, but you have to promise not to mention it to Roy, okay?" Hughes stated seriously.

"Yeah, yeah. Just get on with it, pleeaassee?" Edward said innocently.

"Okay, okay. Well, it's really simple, actually. Since you became a state alchemist, Roy took it upon himself to watch over you as if you were his son because he felt responsible for you not having a childhood since you entered the military at such a young age," Hughes stated.

"Oh, that actually makes sense, in a way. Wow, I have a little, I repeat little, more respect for him now, and I understand him better now. Thanks Hughes," Edward said happily.

"You're welcome, and glad to help. If you ever need anything and you are too proud to ask Roy, you can come to me anytime. Now then, do whatever you want while you are here, obviously you know the limits of whatever you want entails, right?" Hughes said sternly.

"Thank you, and of course I know! Well, I'll be somewhere in this house obviously," Edward sighed in response.

'That kid really has his moments where he feels comfortable enough to open up. He never ceases to surprise me. And he is a good kid, despite the fact he gets into trouble a lot and has a short temper.' Hughes thought.

Please review and no flames! Also, don't worry! Next chapter will be Ed playing with Elicia and spending the rest of the day at the Hughes' house and the turnout of that. Hope you liked it and I hope that the Hughes part was good! And I probably won't update for a long time again.