To Be A Child

Chapter 5

Roy opened the bedroom door and crept into the room quietly. His charge was still asleep, golden hair splayed over the pillow and breathing slow and even. Ed's face looked peaceful, more peaceful than it ever did when he was awake.

He looked just like a child.

Roy took a moment to bask in the innocent beauty Fullmetal had when he was asleep, before sighing deeply. He grabbed a pillow off the floor and launched it at Ed's face.

"Wake up, sleeping beauty!" Roy gave a small smirk as Ed groaned and buried his head underneath his pillow.

"We're going grocery shopping today," Roy said. "I expect you to be downstairs in fifteen minutes."

Roy left the room to the sound of muffled cursing.

Edward rolled off the bed with a groan. Was Mustang going to bug him again today? Why the hell did he need to accompany the bastard to go grocery shopping?

He couldn't even remember the last time he had been grocery shopping . . .

Ed shook his head and went through his usual morning routine. He was pleased to see that Mustang was no longer a complete stalker as he stepped out of the washroom and found the hallway devoid of the snapping pyromaniac.

Ed stomped down the stairs and entered the kitchen just in time to see Mustang getting off the phone.

"Who was that?" Ed asked, plopping down into a seat. He was mainly asking out of curiosity; he didn't care who Mustang talked to in his spare time.

"Hughes," Mustang said, turning to the counter and grabbing a plate full of food, before setting it down in front of Edward.

"Say no more, Mustang." Ed started shovelling food into his mouth. "I don't want to hear about anything having to do with that crazy family man."

"Don't talk with food in your mouth."

A painful twinge shot through Edward. How many times had his mother said that to him? How many times had Alphonse said it? Maybe he really shouldn't talk with food in his mouth, if he wanted people to stay.

Not that he wanted Mustang to stay.

Edward growled softly, and finished the rest of his food without saying anything else.

Edward sighed as he followed Mustang through the grocery store. He had forgotten how boring shopping could be. Shopping with Mustang was better than shopping with Winry though; Mustang didn't fangirl over every item and he was paying for everything he put in the cart himself.

Still . . . even though it was boring, he had to admit that maybe he enjoyed it . . . just a little bit though.

Ed scanned the shelves around him. He spotted a package of chocolate chip cookies on a shelf. He snagged them and quickened his pace until he was walking right beside Mustang. Ed reached over and casually placed the cookies with the rest of the items in the cart.

"Put them back Edward."

Edward pouted. "C'mon, they're just a few measly cookies!"

"Exactly." Mustang stopped to examine a can of pasta sauce. "We can make much better cookies at home."

Edward blinked. Did Mustang just say they were going to bake cookies? The only person he could remember saying that to him was . . . his mom. But Mustang wasn't his mom! He sure as hell wasn't his father either.

So . . . what was he, exactly?

Ed shook his head rapidly; there was no need to dwell on such things right now. All he had to focus on right now was the fact that he was going to be getting some cookies.