Chapter 7

Flynn held Elicia in her arms as she stood beside Gracia. She avoided looking at the black casket in front of them. Jean kept his arm around her which she was grateful for; his presence was comforting and strengthening. Her eyes stayed on Mustang who was stoically standing beside Fuhrer King Bradley who was talking, giving Hughes' the promotion to Brigadier General. 'What was the point? He's dead,' she wondered, hugging Elicia to her. How does that help his wife and daughter? Too little, too late, and too useless. She closed her eyes and a tear slid down her cheek. When she reopened her eyes, they met Mustang's which were almost hidden under the brim of his hat.

A brief smile crossed his face in an attempt to comfort her since he couldn't touch her. He wanted to so much ever since that night on the balcony. The woman either had no idea how much she affected him, or she was ruthless and malicious to a degree that surpassed him. He had purposely avoided her as of late because the urge to touch her and kiss her was almost uncontrollable. Amazingly enough, he had occupied himself with paperwork; some of which were transfer papers to bring Flynn to his office despite the fact it would be a conflict of interest on his and Havoc's part. He just wanted her near the both of them. Maybe with Havoc being right there, it would make it easier for him to resist her.

Flynn handed Elicia a white rose, following her mother as they walked to the casket. Gracia carefully placed her rose on top, leaning her forehead on the shining black surface. Teardrops fell on the gleaming exterior and sparkled like diamonds in the sun as she cried.

"Mommy?" Elicia called, reaching for her mother.

Flynn kissed the little girl's cheek and handed her over to her mother when Gracia opened her arms to take her. She hugged them both, laying her rose on the casket before walking away. She felt Jean's hand cover hers, holding onto it tightly. They stopped under a nearby tree to watch the casket being lowered into the ground. The rest of the family and friends walked by, tossing in their roses. The last person was Mustang; he held the rose to his lips before dropping it into the grave. She cried from viewing the uncharacteristic public display of sentiment from him. He did not move but stood staring down into the hole. Riza Hawkeye came to stand beside him when he lingered at the grave site long after everyone else had left.

"Flynn? Are you ready to go?" Jean asked her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"No. Just a little longer. You can leave if you want. I'll see you soon at my apartment," she replied, almost hoping he would leave.

"Sure. I love you, honey," he said, kissing her briefly on the lips. His eyebrows drew together pensively as he stared at her. She not only did not return the I love you, but never took her eyes from Mustang. He sighed deeply, walking away.

Flynn had not realized she did not return his declaration of love because she had never heard it. Her full attention was on Roy Mustang as he and Riza Hawkeye talked. She watched as he turned his face to the sky with his hat pulled low over his eyes. She had never seen him in a hat, but they had worn their complete formal dress uniforms for the funeral today; everyone except for her. She came today as a grieving family member, not a military comrade. Her heart sped up when he began walking toward her. She patiently waited for him to come to her.

"What are you still doing here?" he asked, taking off his hat and running his hand through his hair.

"I could ask you the same thing," she responded, reaching up to wipe the tear from his cheek.

"Like I told Riza, it's raining." It was a blindingly sunny day.

"Yeah, I know."

"I've put in for you to be transferred to me, uh, I mean my office," he said, blushing violently from his Freudian slip.

"Roy, do you really think that's a good idea? Seems like a recipe for trouble to me," she stated bluntly. She was feeling the same thing he was and one of them had to admit it. She loved Jean and did not want to do anything to destroy their relationship. Roy Mustang held a certain fascination for her, and he would probably be great as a lover, but she could not picture him as a husband and father. She refused to throw away a great man and a good relationship to fulfill a fantasy about another.

"You're probably right. What will you do?"

"I was thinking about quitting completely. Resigning from the military. There's something wrong there, Roy. Maes knew it and that's why he was killed."

"Then maybe it's best you leave for your own safety. I'll have a hard enough time protecting everyone as it is," he said, refusing the urge to talk her out of it. He wanted her near him, but he knew it was for the best that she wasn't.

"Roy, don't let anything happen to Jean. You know how much I love him." She leaned forward, kissing him briefly on the lips.

That was just cruel. She stabs him in the heart with a request to protect the man who stands in his way and has the audacity to punctuate it with a kiss. "I will always do everything within my power to bring him back to you alive."

"Thank you. Will you walk me home?"

Jean was sitting on the couch waiting for her when she arrived. He glared at her as she walked in the door. He had been seething with anger and jealousy since he left her at the graveyard.

"Are you in love with him or me?" he demanded, standing up as she walked past him to the bedroom.

"What?" Flynn yelled, feeling heat blanket her from head to toe. She began pulling off her clothes, ignoring him when he came into the bedroom.

"Tell me!" he yelled, shocking her. He never yelled and barely raised his voice.

"Jean, don't be stupid!" she snapped, standing in front of him with nothing but her panties on.

"Then say it." He stood over her, gazing down at her face intently.

"I shouldn't have to. You should know." She shrieked when he grabbed her, pulling her against him. His mouth was so close to her ear that his warm breath caused chill bumps to raise over her entire body.

"Quit being so damned stubborn and just say it. I need to hear it," he whispered, his lips grazing her ear and making her body temperature rise.

"I love you. You're the man I want to be with. You're the man I chose to marry," she said, enjoying the feeling of his smooth, recently shaved cheek brushing against hers as she spoke. Her body tingled as he sighed noisily, pulling her tighter against him. She kissed his cheek, trailing kisses along his soft skin until she reached his lips. A brief kiss on his lips sent a jolt of electrical arousal through her; she loved this man and everything about him. He was kind, gentle, and down to earth; so far he had proven loyal even if it had been a problem in the past. She kissed him again moving her fingers to the buttons of his white dress shirt. He had taken off all of his uniform except for his shirt and pants, and she was about to make that disappear. She pushed open his shirt, sliding her fingers over the hard muscles of his chest and belly, tracing each one with her fingers.

Jean hissed and sighed intermittently as she tickled him lightly at times. He put his hand to her face, tracing her lips with his thumb. He stared into her eyes as he pressed his thumb to her bottom lip, curious to see what she would do. To his great delight, she opened her mouth, allowing him to push his thumb inside. He moaned as she sucked on his thumb lightly while, unbuttoning and unzipping his pants.

"Oh, yes!" he cried out when she took his hard member in her hand, squeezing it as she sucked harder on his thumb. He closed his eyes, biting his bottom lip as she began to stroke him.

Flynn could feel wetness trickling down her legs already. He was so unbelievably luscious, and she wanted him. She was about to give him a surprise. She popped his thumb out of her mouth, moving her lips to his chest. Each sigh or groan that he made aroused her even more as she trailed kisses lower and lower. She stopped long enough to sit him down on the bed. After giving him a brief kiss, she knelt between his legs. He placed his hand on the top of her head, staring into her eyes. She maintained the eye contact as her tongue darted out, licking the velvety smooth, warm head. Her body shivered at the lengthy, deep groan that came from him. She never had to wonder if he enjoyed sex with her; he always let her know and quite loudly too. Her lips enclosed the head, and he fell back on the bed with a grunt.

Mustang had been next door changing when he heard them arguing. He had stuck around a little too long being nosey. Now he listened as Havoc moaned and groaned like a champion lover. He didn't have to wonder what she was doing since Havoc was the only one making noise and a lot of it. Sex had been her drug of choice to medicate her wounded emotions in the recent days of Hughes' death. He believed she would have seduced him on the balcony if Jean had not been in her bed. He was surprised her fiancée could even walk she kept him in bed so much. Poor, poor man.

"What are you doing, you pervert?" Ed yelled, standing in the doorway of Mustang's bedroom.

"Shut up! Yes, I'm being a pervert, but I kind of can't help it. They're loud and the walls are thin," Roy said in his defense.

"Get up and walk the hell out you degenerate! We had to sleep on the couch the whole week I stayed with her because of you!" he exclaimed.

"Would you shut the hell up before they hear you?" Roy hissed. A strangled cry from Havoc distracted them from their conversation. "We – what do you mean we?" Roy demanded, jumping right back in where they left off.

"You're worried about them hearing me?" he laughed. "I mean we – her and I, me and her. She was sleeping on the fold out bed in the living room. When you and your flavor of the night would start hollering, I'd climb into bed with her."

"Really? How was that?"

"Torture."

"I imagine. Did you ever feel her up?"

"Once. Accidently."

"I'm disappointed, Ed. Surely you could have seduced her easily. She really likes you. What about that kiss the other day, huh?"

"Roy, are you in love with her?" Ed asked, blindsiding Mustang with that question. Roy blushed hotly and began stammering in an attempt to reply with a lie. "Oh, my god! You are! You are in love with her!"

"Shut up, Ed," Roy roared, launching himself toward the loudmouthed blond.

The sound of two men yelling on the other side of the wall, shocked Flynn and Jean.

"Well, that's a sound I've never heard before from over there," Flynn remarked, standing up. "Ready for something else?"

"I was really enjoying that. But you deserve something too lovely lady. Besides, everything you do to me feels good," he murmured, pulling her onto the bed with him.

"Mmmmmmm. You're so sweet to me," she purred, straddling his hips with her back to him.

"Well, this is new," he said, sitting up so he could reach around to grab her breasts.

Flynn bit her lower lip as he lifted her up then slowly lowered her onto him. She moved her body in wave like motion, feeling his teeth gently nip her shoulder blade. Her body quivered when he reached around to rub his finger against a very sensitive and pleasurable spot.

"Oh, Jean," she gasped, leaning forward against his hand as she continued moving her hips.

"Oh, Flynn you feel so good," he moaned. They were too enamored with each other to realize that the voices next door had gone silent.

"How can you stand to just listen?" Ed asked, suddenly realizing how uncomfortably close they were. Mustang held him by the back of the neck and their cheeks were pressed together as they listened to the sex fest next door. "Would you let me go?"

"What's wrong? Afraid I'll kiss you?" Mustang teased, then he did. He grabbed Ed's face and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He laughed as the irate blond went ballistic.

"You damn dirty bastard!" Ed yelled, rubbing his cheek until it was red and raw.

"Hey, hey, wait until you hear this," Roy said excitedly.

"Sick and twisted," Ed grumbled. It occurred to him with startling clarity that he wasn't much different as he listened to the steadily rising volume of people lost in the throes of passion next door. He almost felt sick but wanted to grab himself at the same time when he heard her shriek briefly then cry out Havoc's name. He made a whimpering sound when he wondered what his name would sound like if she screamed it.

"What's wrong with you?" the big pervert asked, eyeing him with amusement.

"Shut up!"