15Welcome Back Brigadier General Maes Hughes
Meanwhile, on a hill looking over Central a figure stood watching the city with a nostalgic look. "Well, Roy, it looks like we'll meet again."
The figure made its way into Central. It weaved through the crowds and to the gates of Central Command. "I have an appointment with General Mustang." he said.
They let him in with out much question and the figure made its way to Roy's office. Once he reached the door, he knocked on it twice, paused as Roy called for him to come in, and he entered the room, "May I help you?" Roy asked.
"Old friends can't say hello?" Asked a familiar voice. Roy's eyes grew in size as he heard it.
He stood and shouted, " You think it's funny to impersonate dead people?"
The man smiled, most of his face was hidden by the hat he wore. He lifted his hand to the hat and removed it, "It's funny that you think I'm dead."
Roy gasped as he saw the mans face then smirked, "Long time no see."
-0-0-0-
Ed stood in the hotel lobby with the phone to his ear, "I just got here and you're already sending me off to do something?" He asked into the phone.
Roy's voice came in from the other side, "I just need you to escort someone to their home." he said.
Ed frowned, "Who?"
"Oh you'll see." Roy replied. Ed could just hear the smirk in his voice. "Be here." With that, Roy hung up so Ed couldn't protest. Ed nearly threw the phone at the wall but stopped himself. He walked upstairs to retrieve his brother.
"Al, we're going to Roy's office." he said. Everyone else was still asleep, so Ed wouldn't have to worry about them wanting to come along. Alphonse nodded and stood. Al handed Ed his coat - soon as Ed could, he had bought a normal one and transmuted it to look like his old one - and put on his own. The two walked towards Central Command together and were surprised when they saw who exactly they were escorting.
"Lt. Hughes- I guess you're Brigadier General Hughes rather." Ed said in surprise.
Maes smiled brightly, "How has my adorable daughter been, Ed?" He asked.
Ed paused, Al replied for him, "She and Gracia are doing fine, General Hughes."
Roy blinked, "You actually remember him? I guess your memory is returning smoothly then, Alphonse." he said.
Al smiled, "I guess it's all the familiar faces. Let's bring him home then, Brother."
Ed nodded in agreement, Hughes squealed in delight, "Oh, I can't wait to see my adorable family again!" Both Elrics smiled, having been very upset when they heard that he had died. It was impossible that he was dead now that he was walking around in the flesh. So it was either everyone lied or he had survived somehow, slipped away, and no one found out.
Ed knocked on the door to the Hughes' apartment and Gracia answered. When she saw her husband she gasped, "Maes..." she smiled and hugged him, "You're alive!"
"Daddy's home?" Elicia walked into view and ran over, "Daddy!" She jumped up and hugged his leg. "Did someone dig you out of the ground, Daddy?"
Hughes smiled down at his daughter, "Yep, that's it, that's what happened." He knelt down and hugged her. Then he turned towards the brothers, "I'll see you around, you two! Don't forget to stop by."
"Don't worry, Hughes." Ed said. He and Al made their way back to their hotel.
Ed's mood seemed to be a lot brighter than the one he had earlier that day. Al didn't know what it was - most likely Hughes being alive somehow.
When they got in the front door the first thing that happened was a wrench smacking Ed in the face, making him fall through the doorway and then yelling between the two.
"Where were you two?" Winry asked finally after some screaming.
Ed smiled, "Roy called us in for an early-morning escort."
Winry tilted her head, "Who was it?"
Ed shook his head, "Gracia asked me if you could bake some of your apple pie and bring it over." He glared daggers at Zack who had started laughing at the shrimp's misfortune. "I think all of us should go. I'm sure Bailey, Elicia and, Gracia will get along. The twins would get lonely here."
Bailey smiled, "Are they friends of yours...?" she asked.
Winry nodded, "They're the family of a deceased soldier. Lieutenant Hughes was a really nice person. He'd always smother us with pictures of his daughter and wife. I miss him." She said. "I had learned to bake a really good apple pie just before he was killed... it's become sort of a memorial whenever we go over to the Hughes' residence and eat apple pie. But what's the occasion, Ed? The anniversary of his death isn't until next month. His birthday was two months ago."
Ed smiled, " You'll find out."
-0-0-0-
Later, the teenagers all made their way to the Hughes' residence, Ed even invited Roy to meet them there. Alphonse knocked and Maes answered the door, "Oh, Edward! Visiting already? Hello, Winry, long time no see."
Winry stared a moment, blinking. "Aren't you dead...?"
Hughes looked over himself, "Nope, I don't think so. Come on in, everyone."
Everyone sat down in the living room and spoke, Roy arrived not much later. Everyone had a slice of pie and Hughes pulled Roy and Ed to the side. "I bet you two are wondering why I'm here."
"Well, yeah, you've been 'dead' a while now." Ed said.
"Well, I did, in fact, die. I just recently came back to life-"
Ed stuck a hand up. "Wait! Came back to life?" He didn't believe it, "I thought you escaped or something, what do you mean come back to life?"
Hughes pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don't know. All I know is I woke up randomly about a week ago and I'm just now showing myself."
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the living room. The three ran in and saw that Cody had failed at transmuting something and it had ended up creating a mini-explosion. It looked like he was trying to transmute the pie because he has some of it on his face.
Zack clapped, "Very well done!" He snicked.
"You can clean it up, Zachary." Gracia said with a smile that was murderously cheery. Zack sighed and started cleaning the mess.
Cody wiped the pie from his face, "I'm sorry about that Mrs. Hughes." He apologized.
Gracia smiled, "Think nothing of it."
Hughes slumped down, "My pie." Roy patted his friends back apologetically.
-0-0-0-
The boys all lay awake that night. "That was pure fail, Cody." Ed said.
Cody frowned, "Well, sorry!"
"I agree with Ed, that was fail." Zack said. Cody threw his pillow at him.
"We'll have to take Winry to Risembool soon." Alphonse said. "I'm sure Granny Pinako misses her." Ed nodded in agreement.
"I wanna go around and see everyone so they know I'm alive. How's Sig?"
Al frowned, "He's doing alright since you know, Teacher, died. He still works at the shop and all."
Ed frowned, "Damn it all." He lay back down and stared at the ceiling, "I guess it can't be helped. Human Transmutation is out of the question. Maybe whatever brought Hughes back could do the same..." Al sat up this time.
"Brought him back?"
Ed nodded, "He probably didn't want me saying anything... oops. Well, since I've started, might as well finish. He told us that he woke up a week ago out of random. That he had been dead until then."
Al chewed his lip in thought, "We should investigate it, Brother." Ed nodded.
Cody smiled, "I'll help."
Zack nodded, "I'll help too. We can become... the twin alchemists!"
Both Ed and Al facepalmed. "Okay, you two can help, but you're not becoming State Alchemists." Ed said.
-End of Chapter-