Help Haiti Fic To Breed a War Chapter One
May. 11th, 2010 10:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessTo Breed a War
Author –![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer – not in any way mine
Rating – PG-13
Characters – ensemble, Roy/Riza, Ed/Winry
Spoilers/timeline – future fic so spoilers all the way up to 107
Summary – All he wanted was a peaceful life but he’s not likely to get it.
Author’s Note #1 – this is for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
help_haiti (at long last) for Floranna who wanted blind!Roy. Five years in future, parings Riza/Roy and Ed/Win in the background. Angst in the wy you do your angst but in the end somehow hopeful quality. Roy should have dealt with his blindness and won't angst about that. The angsting for what it is you can choose. And of course completely in mangaverse.
Author’s Note #2 – thanks toevil_little_dog for the beta and to her, bob_fish & enemytosleep for the hand holding and plot suggestions. This is just the first part of it. I didn’t want to hold it up any longer. Actually Roy doesn’t really angst in this yet. There will be a bit of blindness angst but it won’t be the main gut wrenching stuff. I have two blind friends, one who went blind from an accident and another who slowly went blind. Let’s just say I didn’t think I could do Roy realistically without him thinking on his limitations from time to time, based on what I see those two brave ladies going through.
“It needs but one foe to breed a war, and those who have not swords can still die upon them.”- J.R.R. Tolkein
* * *
A heart-rending shriek shattered the tranquility of the house. Roy set aside his tea cup, canting his head toward the secondary crib set up in the corner of his library to make it easier on him when Riza was away. “Alphonse, could you please check on Christopher for me?” He offered up a smile for the young alchemist. Together, they had been working on a book of healing alchemy; their time together based mainly around Alphonse’s medical school class schedule. Roy knew he should feel guilty about taking advantage of Al’s easygoing nature, but the boy honestly seemed entranced by the newborn. He wanted to help, unlike Edward who avoided the baby as if pregnancy was contagious.
“Sure.”
Roy heard Al pop up and head for the distressed infant. He might not be able to see what was wrong with his son but Roy could smell it. All the more reason to send Alphonse to tend to the baby’s needs. Roy could change diapers. He’d learned to do most things in the handful of years since he was robbed of his sight. In his own house, Roy barely needed his cane, let alone Winter who dozed, half crushing Hayate, according to Alphonse. He had made his peace with his blindness. He still felt robbed but he had been given something in return: the ability to do alchemy without a circle. That said, Roy really didn’t want to change dirty diapers and he knew that was awful of him.
Roy listened to Alphonse cooing to Chris, turning back to his green tea, brewed perfectly this time. Alphonse was learning. While Alphonse bustled about, gathering up stuff to change the baby, Roy contemplated their current field of research. Maybe one day soon Havoc would walk again and he would see. Spinal cords, optic nerves, surely they could be fixed somehow. Sipping tea and twisting the thorny problem around in his mind, Roy waited for the inevitable. Al had never faced a poopy diaper before.
A retching sound reached Roy’s ears and he couldn’t contain the smirk. Al gagged several times more. “You okay, Alphonse?”
“Oh god, it’s everywhere!” Al cried. “It’s on my fingers.”
Roy clamped a hand over his mouth, trying not to snicker. He knew how fussy Al was. The boy helped him develop newer, neater habits – since both Roy and Riza were not naturally neat – to help Roy from falling over things he could no longer see. Roy sucked in a calming breath. “Yes, that happens. Thanks, Al. Just take the diaper to the toilet and flush a few times while you hold the corner then toss it in the diaper hamper.”
Al gagged some more. Chris squealed like he did whenever his diaper came off. Roy’s son liked to be free and natural as far as his father could tell. A soft whoosh sounded followed by the smell of talc.
“When you’re done with the diaper, could you get Chris his bottle? It’s about meal time.”
“What? So he can turn milk into this?” Al snarled. “I don’t think so.”
When he heard Al stomp out of the room, taking the fragrant square of cotton with him, and the young alchemist hadn’t handed him Christopher, Roy assumed he had put the baby back in his crib. Roy got up and headed for the kitchen. He carefully felt along the inside of the ice box until he came up with the slick, cool glass milk bottle. Roy knew where the pans were. The tricky part was heating up the milk and formula mixture without burning it. He couldn’t see the little bubbles forming.
“Roy, I was kidding,” Al said from the doorway. “I’ll heat up the baby’s bottle.”
“You watch the milk. I’ll get the bottle.” Roy opened the cabinet that held the glass bottles. He got one and put it in a pan of water to warm. “Thanks. You’re going to be a good father some day, Al, better than I am,” Roy said, a wistful tone to his voice.
“You’re a fine father, Roy. You just have a couple of limitations,” Al countered.
“I can’t see my child. I won’t be able to keep track of him once Chris is mobile and it hurts to hold him sometimes.” Roy flexed his hands. Marcoh had healed them, but his hands were plagued with residual pain and stiffness some days. “That’s more than a few limitations.”
“Still, it could be far worse.”
Roy shrugged. That was true. He and Riza both had nearly died. “Tell me something funny before I get maudlin.”
“Go get situated with your son and I’ll bring the milk. I have a great story for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Heading into the living room this time, Roy scooped up his son and sat on the couch with him. It was easier to sit somewhere more roomy for feeding time. Where the hell had he put the burp rag? He called to Al to fetch him one. Chris squirmed in his arms. Roy stroked his son’s forehead, so soft, so new. He let Chris’s little finger close over one of his. There was such surprising strength in them. He couldn’t see his child, but Roy knew the boy was strong. Chris smelled of talcum powder and milk and he was getting heavier by the day. These were sensations not lost to Roy.
He shifted his hand to Chris’s crown, smoothing out the baby’s silky hair. The kid had been born with so much of it. His men joked Chris could sport Fullmetal’s braid if the baby wanted to, an exaggeration, of course, but amusing. Roy knew his son had walnut-hue hair and had his mother’s brown eyes. Riza told Roy every night how beautiful their boy was, but he had to wonder, if in fact, Chris looked just like every other baby. Roy never knew how nursery nurses told newborns apart without looking at the tags on their wrists.
“Here you go, Roy.” Al sat down next to Roy, handing him the bottle. “I already tested the milk. It’s fine,” he added, draping the burp rag over Roy’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Al.” Using the pinkie finger of the hand holding the bottle, Roy guided the rubber nipple into place. Chris was generally a huge help, latching on with greed hitherto unknown to mankind, unless in homunculus form.
“So, story, last weekend Ed tried to take Winry dancing,” Al said.
“I do remember him being exceptionally grumpy. What did he do?” Roy smirked. “Fall on her?”
“Never even got the chance. You know my brother’s sense of style.”
“As abysmal as Maes’s ever was but on the opposite end of the spectrum. Maes made you long for a black and white world.”
“And Ed thinks black trousers and a black pull over shirt are the answer for everything. At least he put on his black jacket,” Al said.
“So he looked like a badly dressed mortician.”
Al snorted. “I tried to warn Ed. He informed me in no uncertain terms that Winry liked him no matter what he dressed in. I didn’t bother to correct him after that.”
“He didn’t get past the bouncer, did he?” Roy laughed, making Chris lose his seal on the bottle. The infant wailed until Roy plugged his mouth with the nipple. Chris sucked noisily.
“Nope.” Al snickered. “They wouldn’t let him in without a proper hat and tie. He tried to transmute one of Winry’s hair ribbons into a tie then got into an argument about the hat.”
“He didn’t want to squash his antenna,” Roy said and Al howled.
“A moot point since Winry beat it into oblivion with her purse. She had to settle for going to the movies.”
“Al, take that boy shopping. Make him see a tailor,” Roy implored. “Assure him that suits come in black if that’s what he wants.”
“He won’t go with me. He says I’m fussy. You take him.” Al’s tone left no doubt he was rolling his eyes at his brother.
“I can’t see what he’s buying.”
“Blind, you’d do a better job than Ed does when left to his own devices.”
“I’ll have Riza talk to Winry about places Ed can go to shop and let Winry take him.” Roy felt Chris push against his bottle. “How’s Chris doing with his bottle, Al? He’s starting to fight it.”
“Almost done but I think he’s losing interest,” Al replied.
“Chris not interested in food? Who knew that could happen?”
“Here, I’ll take care of the bottle while you burp him.” Al took the glassware out of Roy’s hands.
Roy put his son on his burp rag guarded shoulder, patting the baby’s back. Chris let out a burp that could be heard all the way to Drachma. “Thanks, son. Now I’m deaf as well as blind.”
“No wonder he was done eating. He was one giant gas balloon,” Al said, coming back into the living room.
“Al, is it about time for me to head to The Fat Lady’s Arms?” Roy had a grandfather clock but when he got engrossed in his studies, he never paid heed to the number of bongs.
“You have an hour.”
“I wanted to walk if you were coming, that is.”
“I’ll walk with you. Ed wanted to get dinner tonight. We might as well eat there. Your mom makes some great browned chicken soup.”
“Says it was Granny’s recipes. Christmas is not much of an inventive cook. Heaven help her if she loses Granny’s cook book.”
“Let me give Ed and Winry a call. You don’t mind us joining you and Riza for dinner, do you?”
“Not if you don’t mind dinner with Chris the Cranky.”
“Aw, he’s a good baby.”
“I meant my mom.” Roy smirked.
“I’m telling her you said that.”
Roy flinched. “Don’t. She’ll hit me and I can’t see it coming.”
“Like I tell Ed, if you keep asking for it, I can’t feel sorry for you.”
“You’re a harsh master, Alphonse.”
“I’ll go hook up Winter’s harness for you.”
“I want to push the stroller,” Roy protested.
“And how do you plan on guiding it? Tie your seeing eye dog to the front?”
Roy huffed. “You can help guide.”
Al sighed. ‘Fine, but I’m hooking up Winter anyhow.”
Roy put Chris in his stroller, found a clean bottle and nipple and put them in the smaller bag. He sat that bag next to the diaper bag just in case Riza was late and the boy got hungry again. Babies needed so much junk just to travel. It amazed Roy. He hadn’t any idea. Maes had glazed over those details and, growing up by the time Roy was old enough to really understand all that was going on with babies, he had already been shipped off to Hawkeye’s for his apprenticeship.
“Are you sure you won’t just take Winter’s harness?” Al sounded worn out. “I won’t be responsible if Riza sees you doing something foolhardy.”
“I’m blind, Al, not helpless.”
“You shouldn’t even be that.” The bitterness in Al’s tone threatened to wake the sleeping dragon inside Roy’s head, the one that made Roy parse through all his anger and regrets until he was in a fine frenzy.
“Even so. I’ll let you get the stroller outside. Give me the dogs until we’re out on the sidewalk.”
Once they were on their way to the Arms, Roy could feel the setting sun on his face. Al had the front of the stroller acting as a guide and walking the dogs at the same time. Roy had to keep urging him to go just a little faster. Roy could walk at a normal speed so long as he had a guide outside of the house.
“Roy, are you really sure you want to push the stroller with me guiding?”
“Alphonse, I can use my flame alchemy with Riza guiding me. Pushing a strolled down the sidewalk is a hell of a lot easier,” Roy protested and the younger alchemist snorted at him. “Al, how are things going with Ed, his inability to go on a successful date aside? Last time I saw him, he was fighting with Winry over him not wanting to take her to Xing the next time he goes.”
“She said, and I quote, ‘Fine, then I’ll ask Ling to let me come so I can work on Ran Fan’s automail and then Ling can make me his wife’.”
“Poor Ed. He’s his own worst enemy. I almost feel sorry for him.”
“Fighting is like breathing to those two then they make up.” Al hesitated and Roy could imagine the scowl. “Loudly. I’m getting my own apartment. I don’t care what Ed says.”
“Our place has a huge and unused third floor, Alphonse. You could stay there.”
“I can’t imagine you’re any less loud.”
Roy could imagine the annoyed look he was doubtless getting. “Well, no, but I’m not swinging from the chandeliers any more either.”
“That was a most unwelcome mental imagine, Roy,” Al replied and Roy snorted. “You just want a live-in babysitter and diaper changer.”
“That apparent?”
“What do you think?” Al hugged then yanked the stroller away from some broken side walk. “I’m fairly sure Winry will be going to Xing. Eventually Brother will yield to her.
“A smart man usually will. I’m hoping some more ambassadors from Xing will come here. I’m getting bored.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll jinx yourself and we’ll get overrun with Xingese with dire problems,” Al scolded.
Roy snorted. “You don’t really believe in jinxes, do you, Alphonse?”
“Not necessarily but I do believe in being careful of what you wish for.”
Roy really couldn’t argue that. He stumbled a little over some uneven sidewalk, thankful Al didn’t call him on that. He could smell the booze and food the moment they turned onto Spanker Lane. His mother’s new bar was the crown jewel of the row but there were a few other bars in the area, each and every one popular with both civilians and the military.
Roy had his mother describe the bar to him after she bought it with his money, the least he could do after blowing up her other place. He knew the façade curved around the corner and the imposing building was four stories of red brick, sandstone and granite. Inside the place was huge with intricately carved wood, stained and leaded glass and an immense fireplace that he was still in charge of lighting whenever the need arose.
He had familiarized himself with the bar area so he didn’t really need his cane to get around. He could even tend bar since his sisters were draconian about keeping all the liquor bottles in order and he had that order memorized. Sometimes he helped out to alleviate the boredom.
He had lost the battle to go to Xing as the ambassador – for the time being, at any rate – so he had to wait on Xingese ambassadors to make their way west. His other duties included composing letters and propositions to send to Xing, slow work since the railroad wouldn’t be fully reestablished for at least another year. It had taken months to both recall his mother’s native alphabet and to learn to touch type in Xingese on the typewriter he’d been gifted from Auntie Yin, his mother’s best friend from way back in the day when his mom was young. Yin read over his missives to be sure they were right and the old lady loved having a little governmental supplemental pay to add to her tea house earnings. The only other thing left to him in his job was keeping up a presence in the small Xing quarter in Central.
“Here, Al, you’d better give me Winter and take the stroller, just in case Riza’s in there.”
“Covering for you again, am I?”
“You’re so good at it.” Roy exchanged the handle of the stroller for that of his dog’s harness. He could imagine the looks Al and Winter were giving him. His dog hesitated after a few steps so Roy put out a hand, fumbling for the door knob. He held the door open for Al and the baby. Roy didn’t hear many voices in the bar.
“Slow afternoon?”
“We’re between lunch and dinner,” a feminine voice answered him.
“You’re as beautiful as ever, Susan.”
“Like you’d know, Roy Boy. I could be behind this bar naked for all you know.”
“Nonsense. If you were naked, this place would be swarming and Al would be panting and shoving my son at me so he could get behind that bar.”
She snorted at him. “Let’s have a look at that baby.”
Al pushed the stroller forward.
“Roy, are you making Alphonse do all your work for you again?”
Hearing Riza behind him, Roy turned. “No.”
“Just the diaper changes and anything else he doesn’t want to do,” Al offered as Susan cooed at Chris.
“You’re too nice, Alphonse,” Riza said, slapping Roy’s arm.
“I’m blind. I can’t see if the baby is clean,” Roy protested.
“You have fingers.”
“I’m notusing my fingers. Being blind needs some kind of benefit. Not having to clean a poopy bottom is it.” Roy made his way to the bar. “I’m not too proud to admit I need help occasionally.”
“Yes, and as Al observed, it’s usually with things you don’t want to do in the first place,” Riza said wryly. She pressed her lips to his cheek.
“Nothing’s changed,” Chris said. Roy heard her heavy footfalls as she came into the room. “His father was the same way and had just enough charm to get away with it, too. I’m not sure Asher ever changed your diapers either, Roy.” She sat next to him. “Poor Dai-Yue had to do all the dirty work. Men.”
“Hey, I had no control over Dad.” Roy waved a hand at her. “You should have scared him into shape.”
“If his wife couldn’t, what do you imagine I could have done, son?”
“You’re far more terrifying than Mom.” Roy shrugged. “We’re not all lazy. Al makes a great babysitter.”
“Riza, the little one is getting fussy,” Susan said.
“I gave Chris a bottle just before we left. He ate most of it but got a little gassy,” Roy said. “See, I do do some things.”
“Again, just what you want to do.” Riza’s tone was light. He could hear her taking their son from Susan. “But it’s a help. This little boy is a handful.”
“Just like his father and his father before him,” Christmas said. “You can use my office, Riza, if you want to feed him.”
“I’ll put the dogs there, too,” Roy said, trying to maneuver the stroller.
Riza took it from him, putting their son it. He let her lead the way while he handled the dogs. He wouldn’t need Winter inside the bar and she’d appreciate being off her harness in his aunt’s spacious office. He sat next to Riza on the couch, digging in the bag for the burp rag. Somehow he knew she was getting her shirt open one-handed, not entirely sure how women could balance a heavy baby, open their shirts and hold a conversation all at the same time.
“I hope you don’t mind I invited Al, Ed and Winry to join us for dinner here.” Roy put a hand on Riza’s knee. “I didn’t think you would.”
“I don’t mind. I only mind if you invite people to dinner at the house without asking me first.”
“Are you kidding? I saw Maes make that mistake once. I thought Gracia was going to spit him on a skewer. I know better.” Roy reached over, touching his son’s hair. Chris nursed loudly as if he hadn’t seen food in days. “I think we should have taken the young emperor’s suggestion and given Chris the middle name of Ling.”
“Because he’s so greedy?” Riza laughed. “We probably should have, even if Ling no longer has Greed living inside him.”
“Chris Ling might have had a better ring than Chris Feng but since that was Granddad’s name.” Roy shrugged. “Though I wonder if Dad would be disappointed we didn’t name him Asher.”
“I think he’d be pretty happy you chose your aunt’s name. She did raise you and it’s far better than my father’s name so, it’s good.”
“So the next boy is Asher Zebulon?” Roy grinned.
“You can leave my father’s name entirely out of it. And just how many babies are you planning on?”
“Planning on fleeing if I say six?” Roy laughed.
“You’re definitely on your own there.”
“Let’s get use to having one before we plan on siblings. I’m not much help to you as it is.” Roy sighed. “I thought being an alchemist, and already being accustomed to not getting much sleep because I’m embroiled in research, would have helped out with the baby. But there’s so little I can do to help at two in the morning when by the time I can get downstairs, get the milk warmed and a bottle ready, you’ll have had him fed and both be back to sleep.”
“You’re a big help, Roy.” Riza shifted Chris’s weight, managing to get a hand free to rest it on Roy’s. “For those middle of the night wake ups when Chris is just being a curious brat and is awake just to be awake. I fully intend to keep handing him off to you if he doesn’t need fed or changed.”
“I’m fine with that. We can explore together. I’ll read from my alchemy books to him.”
“Are you planning on warping our child’s brain from the get go?” Riza bumped his hip with hers. “This is why I never wanted to fall in love with an alchemist. You’re all obsessed. Find something better to tell our child.”
“I’ll tell him how he doesn’t want to be like his Uncle Ed and give him examples.”
How she got a hand free to pinch his side, Roy had no clue. “Roy…”
“What can I do? I can’t read children’s stories to him, just the ones I can remember. I’m still learning to read Mizu’s touch language and I don’t think children’s stories come in it. I know that alchemy books do not but I have mine memorized. So it’s alchemy or stories about Ed.”
“Hmm, running away sounds better all the time.”
Roy pressed against her, kissing Riza’s neck as slid his arm around her waist. “You wouldn’t want to go anywhere without me and you know it.”
“Yes, I do.” Riza shifted Chris up onto her shoulder to burp him. Roy tried to duck out quickly lest he be deafened or vomited on but Chris snared his hair. Roy eased away much to Chris’ boisterous complaints.
“Why does he like my hair so much?”
“He likes what his dad smells like, I guess. Or your hair is a great touch sensation.” Riza gently thumped Chris’s back. He gave a little burp then quieted. “Let’s see if you’ll sleep and let Mommy and Daddy have dinner now that you’ve had yours.”
“We could get lucky. If not, maybe I could alchemize the stroller to give it a little more bounce. We could rock it a little while he’s at the table. Chris seems to like movement.”
“Your daddy is going to spoil you from the start,” Riza said, getting up. Roy heard her put Chris in the stroller.
“You and I had crappy childhoods. I want our son to have a better one.”
“He could hardly have worse.” Riza’s breath hitched. “Forget I said that. Shouldn’t tempt the universe.”
“No, you should not.”
Roy let Riza take the stroller back into the dining room. He shut the dogs in the office, grateful they were too well behaved to whine about it. From the loudness in the dining room, Edward had arrived. Roy followed Riza to a table, taking the one seat left.
“Hello Winry, Edward.
“Been bothering my brother all day again, b-a-s-t-a-r-d?”
“Ed, spelling it out is no better than actually saying it,” Winry scolded.
“It’s not like the baby can spell yet.”
“Yes, Riza, those two in the morning ‘I’m too curious to sleep’ sessions will be filled with don’t be like Edward tales of woe.” Roy grinned.
Riza sighed. “Let’s just order dinner before you two get started.”
“Good idea. Susan, why don’t you start us with the soup while everyone makes a choice,” Chris said. “Roy, Riza, do you want some? Everyone else decided to try it.”
“What is it?” Roy asked.
“Oxtail.”
“Ooo, with red wine? Yeah I want that,” he replied eagerly. “What else is on the menu tonight?”
“We have lamb with currant and mint sauce,” Susan replied. “Lamb’s fresh from Resembool. And there’s curried chicken as the other main dish. You can have either corn fritters or sugared beets and baked potato or potato marbles.”
“Lamb, sugared beets and potato marbles,” Roy replied.
“I hope you don’t plan on doing what Ed plans on doing with those marbles,” Al said.
“If anyone starts flinging food, I’m going for my gun,” Riza warned.
“Noted.” Roy pouted. “Madam, you’re really branching out food-wise here.”
“This is a respectable place. I’ve got a new place opening soon,” Chris replied. “Bar only, no food.”
Roy turned to his mother. “Since when?”
“I was going to surprise you with it. It’s the Plastered Bastard over by the enlisted barracks. You know the strip of bars I mean. Always good to own one dive bar in my business.” Chris said.
“Ha, she named it after you, Mustang.” Ed snickered.
“Riza, seriously, I know how I’m spending my late nights,” Roy grumbled. “Really, Christmas, Plastered Bastard?”
“It seemed to fit,” his aunt replied as Susan returned with the fragrant soup.
“It was not named for me,” Roy said. “Even if it was.” He took a sip of the soup, letting the deep red wine and spices wake up his tongue.
“It definitely was,” Ed said then grunted. Roy assumed Winry hit him.
“Winry, how are the last days of your apprenticeship going?” Roy asked.
“I had planned on going to Xing to celebrate and to see if we could make some inroads there. Some other apprentices show an interest in going to Xing and trading ideas,” she replied. “But Ed’s refusing to take me with him.”
“Much like his fashion sense, Edward’s sense of romance and adventure is as stunted as his height,” Roy said sweetly. Riza kicked his ankle in warning or was that Christmas? Either way, it hurt.
“I’m not rising to the bait,” Ed said far too self satisfied with himself, leaving Roy wondering what Winry had said, or more like did, to get Ed to behave.
“You should take Winry to Xing, Edward. I always wanted to see it, maybe meet some of Mom’s kin.” Roy felt the hand pass in front of him setting down a plate. “Now I can’t even see it and appreciate that part of it if I were to go. It’s a shame to miss something.”
“Exactly. Thank you, Roy,” Winry replied and Ed grumbled something. “I still have a few weeks left to go but it’s a little scary trying to decide where to set up my practice and how hard it will be.”
“I’m sure.”
Roy listened to the young people debate back and forth where Winry should set up shop. Riza and Chris, both of them, were uncharacteristically quiet. Roy wondered if they were regretting choices they had made in life or longing for the freedom to make them. Lately fate seemed to be making his choices for him and Roy wasn’t sure he was entirely content. He loved his wife and his son. He just wished he could do better by them.
The door to the pub slammed open. Even Roy turned instinctively though he couldn’t see if the wind had caught it when a customer came in or if there was a danger. He hated this.
“There you are!” an oddly familiar voice said. “Do you know how hard it was to find you?”
“Ling!” Ed cried. “What the hell?”
“Someone is out to kill my entire clan,” he said. “I could use your help.”
Author –
cornerofmadnessDisclaimer – not in any way mine
Rating – PG-13
Characters – ensemble, Roy/Riza, Ed/Winry
Spoilers/timeline – future fic so spoilers all the way up to 107
Summary – All he wanted was a peaceful life but he’s not likely to get it.
Author’s Note #1 – this is for
help_haiti (at long last) for Floranna who wanted blind!Roy. Five years in future, parings Riza/Roy and Ed/Win in the background. Angst in the wy you do your angst but in the end somehow hopeful quality. Roy should have dealt with his blindness and won't angst about that. The angsting for what it is you can choose. And of course completely in mangaverse. Author’s Note #2 – thanks to
evil_little_dog for the beta and to her, bob_fish & enemytosleep for the hand holding and plot suggestions. This is just the first part of it. I didn’t want to hold it up any longer. Actually Roy doesn’t really angst in this yet. There will be a bit of blindness angst but it won’t be the main gut wrenching stuff. I have two blind friends, one who went blind from an accident and another who slowly went blind. Let’s just say I didn’t think I could do Roy realistically without him thinking on his limitations from time to time, based on what I see those two brave ladies going through.“It needs but one foe to breed a war, and those who have not swords can still die upon them.”- J.R.R. Tolkein
* * *
A heart-rending shriek shattered the tranquility of the house. Roy set aside his tea cup, canting his head toward the secondary crib set up in the corner of his library to make it easier on him when Riza was away. “Alphonse, could you please check on Christopher for me?” He offered up a smile for the young alchemist. Together, they had been working on a book of healing alchemy; their time together based mainly around Alphonse’s medical school class schedule. Roy knew he should feel guilty about taking advantage of Al’s easygoing nature, but the boy honestly seemed entranced by the newborn. He wanted to help, unlike Edward who avoided the baby as if pregnancy was contagious.
“Sure.”
Roy heard Al pop up and head for the distressed infant. He might not be able to see what was wrong with his son but Roy could smell it. All the more reason to send Alphonse to tend to the baby’s needs. Roy could change diapers. He’d learned to do most things in the handful of years since he was robbed of his sight. In his own house, Roy barely needed his cane, let alone Winter who dozed, half crushing Hayate, according to Alphonse. He had made his peace with his blindness. He still felt robbed but he had been given something in return: the ability to do alchemy without a circle. That said, Roy really didn’t want to change dirty diapers and he knew that was awful of him.
Roy listened to Alphonse cooing to Chris, turning back to his green tea, brewed perfectly this time. Alphonse was learning. While Alphonse bustled about, gathering up stuff to change the baby, Roy contemplated their current field of research. Maybe one day soon Havoc would walk again and he would see. Spinal cords, optic nerves, surely they could be fixed somehow. Sipping tea and twisting the thorny problem around in his mind, Roy waited for the inevitable. Al had never faced a poopy diaper before.
A retching sound reached Roy’s ears and he couldn’t contain the smirk. Al gagged several times more. “You okay, Alphonse?”
“Oh god, it’s everywhere!” Al cried. “It’s on my fingers.”
Roy clamped a hand over his mouth, trying not to snicker. He knew how fussy Al was. The boy helped him develop newer, neater habits – since both Roy and Riza were not naturally neat – to help Roy from falling over things he could no longer see. Roy sucked in a calming breath. “Yes, that happens. Thanks, Al. Just take the diaper to the toilet and flush a few times while you hold the corner then toss it in the diaper hamper.”
Al gagged some more. Chris squealed like he did whenever his diaper came off. Roy’s son liked to be free and natural as far as his father could tell. A soft whoosh sounded followed by the smell of talc.
“When you’re done with the diaper, could you get Chris his bottle? It’s about meal time.”
“What? So he can turn milk into this?” Al snarled. “I don’t think so.”
When he heard Al stomp out of the room, taking the fragrant square of cotton with him, and the young alchemist hadn’t handed him Christopher, Roy assumed he had put the baby back in his crib. Roy got up and headed for the kitchen. He carefully felt along the inside of the ice box until he came up with the slick, cool glass milk bottle. Roy knew where the pans were. The tricky part was heating up the milk and formula mixture without burning it. He couldn’t see the little bubbles forming.
“Roy, I was kidding,” Al said from the doorway. “I’ll heat up the baby’s bottle.”
“You watch the milk. I’ll get the bottle.” Roy opened the cabinet that held the glass bottles. He got one and put it in a pan of water to warm. “Thanks. You’re going to be a good father some day, Al, better than I am,” Roy said, a wistful tone to his voice.
“You’re a fine father, Roy. You just have a couple of limitations,” Al countered.
“I can’t see my child. I won’t be able to keep track of him once Chris is mobile and it hurts to hold him sometimes.” Roy flexed his hands. Marcoh had healed them, but his hands were plagued with residual pain and stiffness some days. “That’s more than a few limitations.”
“Still, it could be far worse.”
Roy shrugged. That was true. He and Riza both had nearly died. “Tell me something funny before I get maudlin.”
“Go get situated with your son and I’ll bring the milk. I have a great story for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Heading into the living room this time, Roy scooped up his son and sat on the couch with him. It was easier to sit somewhere more roomy for feeding time. Where the hell had he put the burp rag? He called to Al to fetch him one. Chris squirmed in his arms. Roy stroked his son’s forehead, so soft, so new. He let Chris’s little finger close over one of his. There was such surprising strength in them. He couldn’t see his child, but Roy knew the boy was strong. Chris smelled of talcum powder and milk and he was getting heavier by the day. These were sensations not lost to Roy.
He shifted his hand to Chris’s crown, smoothing out the baby’s silky hair. The kid had been born with so much of it. His men joked Chris could sport Fullmetal’s braid if the baby wanted to, an exaggeration, of course, but amusing. Roy knew his son had walnut-hue hair and had his mother’s brown eyes. Riza told Roy every night how beautiful their boy was, but he had to wonder, if in fact, Chris looked just like every other baby. Roy never knew how nursery nurses told newborns apart without looking at the tags on their wrists.
“Here you go, Roy.” Al sat down next to Roy, handing him the bottle. “I already tested the milk. It’s fine,” he added, draping the burp rag over Roy’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Al.” Using the pinkie finger of the hand holding the bottle, Roy guided the rubber nipple into place. Chris was generally a huge help, latching on with greed hitherto unknown to mankind, unless in homunculus form.
“So, story, last weekend Ed tried to take Winry dancing,” Al said.
“I do remember him being exceptionally grumpy. What did he do?” Roy smirked. “Fall on her?”
“Never even got the chance. You know my brother’s sense of style.”
“As abysmal as Maes’s ever was but on the opposite end of the spectrum. Maes made you long for a black and white world.”
“And Ed thinks black trousers and a black pull over shirt are the answer for everything. At least he put on his black jacket,” Al said.
“So he looked like a badly dressed mortician.”
Al snorted. “I tried to warn Ed. He informed me in no uncertain terms that Winry liked him no matter what he dressed in. I didn’t bother to correct him after that.”
“He didn’t get past the bouncer, did he?” Roy laughed, making Chris lose his seal on the bottle. The infant wailed until Roy plugged his mouth with the nipple. Chris sucked noisily.
“Nope.” Al snickered. “They wouldn’t let him in without a proper hat and tie. He tried to transmute one of Winry’s hair ribbons into a tie then got into an argument about the hat.”
“He didn’t want to squash his antenna,” Roy said and Al howled.
“A moot point since Winry beat it into oblivion with her purse. She had to settle for going to the movies.”
“Al, take that boy shopping. Make him see a tailor,” Roy implored. “Assure him that suits come in black if that’s what he wants.”
“He won’t go with me. He says I’m fussy. You take him.” Al’s tone left no doubt he was rolling his eyes at his brother.
“I can’t see what he’s buying.”
“Blind, you’d do a better job than Ed does when left to his own devices.”
“I’ll have Riza talk to Winry about places Ed can go to shop and let Winry take him.” Roy felt Chris push against his bottle. “How’s Chris doing with his bottle, Al? He’s starting to fight it.”
“Almost done but I think he’s losing interest,” Al replied.
“Chris not interested in food? Who knew that could happen?”
“Here, I’ll take care of the bottle while you burp him.” Al took the glassware out of Roy’s hands.
Roy put his son on his burp rag guarded shoulder, patting the baby’s back. Chris let out a burp that could be heard all the way to Drachma. “Thanks, son. Now I’m deaf as well as blind.”
“No wonder he was done eating. He was one giant gas balloon,” Al said, coming back into the living room.
“Al, is it about time for me to head to The Fat Lady’s Arms?” Roy had a grandfather clock but when he got engrossed in his studies, he never paid heed to the number of bongs.
“You have an hour.”
“I wanted to walk if you were coming, that is.”
“I’ll walk with you. Ed wanted to get dinner tonight. We might as well eat there. Your mom makes some great browned chicken soup.”
“Says it was Granny’s recipes. Christmas is not much of an inventive cook. Heaven help her if she loses Granny’s cook book.”
“Let me give Ed and Winry a call. You don’t mind us joining you and Riza for dinner, do you?”
“Not if you don’t mind dinner with Chris the Cranky.”
“Aw, he’s a good baby.”
“I meant my mom.” Roy smirked.
“I’m telling her you said that.”
Roy flinched. “Don’t. She’ll hit me and I can’t see it coming.”
“Like I tell Ed, if you keep asking for it, I can’t feel sorry for you.”
“You’re a harsh master, Alphonse.”
“I’ll go hook up Winter’s harness for you.”
“I want to push the stroller,” Roy protested.
“And how do you plan on guiding it? Tie your seeing eye dog to the front?”
Roy huffed. “You can help guide.”
Al sighed. ‘Fine, but I’m hooking up Winter anyhow.”
Roy put Chris in his stroller, found a clean bottle and nipple and put them in the smaller bag. He sat that bag next to the diaper bag just in case Riza was late and the boy got hungry again. Babies needed so much junk just to travel. It amazed Roy. He hadn’t any idea. Maes had glazed over those details and, growing up by the time Roy was old enough to really understand all that was going on with babies, he had already been shipped off to Hawkeye’s for his apprenticeship.
“Are you sure you won’t just take Winter’s harness?” Al sounded worn out. “I won’t be responsible if Riza sees you doing something foolhardy.”
“I’m blind, Al, not helpless.”
“You shouldn’t even be that.” The bitterness in Al’s tone threatened to wake the sleeping dragon inside Roy’s head, the one that made Roy parse through all his anger and regrets until he was in a fine frenzy.
“Even so. I’ll let you get the stroller outside. Give me the dogs until we’re out on the sidewalk.”
Once they were on their way to the Arms, Roy could feel the setting sun on his face. Al had the front of the stroller acting as a guide and walking the dogs at the same time. Roy had to keep urging him to go just a little faster. Roy could walk at a normal speed so long as he had a guide outside of the house.
“Roy, are you really sure you want to push the stroller with me guiding?”
“Alphonse, I can use my flame alchemy with Riza guiding me. Pushing a strolled down the sidewalk is a hell of a lot easier,” Roy protested and the younger alchemist snorted at him. “Al, how are things going with Ed, his inability to go on a successful date aside? Last time I saw him, he was fighting with Winry over him not wanting to take her to Xing the next time he goes.”
“She said, and I quote, ‘Fine, then I’ll ask Ling to let me come so I can work on Ran Fan’s automail and then Ling can make me his wife’.”
“Poor Ed. He’s his own worst enemy. I almost feel sorry for him.”
“Fighting is like breathing to those two then they make up.” Al hesitated and Roy could imagine the scowl. “Loudly. I’m getting my own apartment. I don’t care what Ed says.”
“Our place has a huge and unused third floor, Alphonse. You could stay there.”
“I can’t imagine you’re any less loud.”
Roy could imagine the annoyed look he was doubtless getting. “Well, no, but I’m not swinging from the chandeliers any more either.”
“That was a most unwelcome mental imagine, Roy,” Al replied and Roy snorted. “You just want a live-in babysitter and diaper changer.”
“That apparent?”
“What do you think?” Al hugged then yanked the stroller away from some broken side walk. “I’m fairly sure Winry will be going to Xing. Eventually Brother will yield to her.
“A smart man usually will. I’m hoping some more ambassadors from Xing will come here. I’m getting bored.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll jinx yourself and we’ll get overrun with Xingese with dire problems,” Al scolded.
Roy snorted. “You don’t really believe in jinxes, do you, Alphonse?”
“Not necessarily but I do believe in being careful of what you wish for.”
Roy really couldn’t argue that. He stumbled a little over some uneven sidewalk, thankful Al didn’t call him on that. He could smell the booze and food the moment they turned onto Spanker Lane. His mother’s new bar was the crown jewel of the row but there were a few other bars in the area, each and every one popular with both civilians and the military.
Roy had his mother describe the bar to him after she bought it with his money, the least he could do after blowing up her other place. He knew the façade curved around the corner and the imposing building was four stories of red brick, sandstone and granite. Inside the place was huge with intricately carved wood, stained and leaded glass and an immense fireplace that he was still in charge of lighting whenever the need arose.
He had familiarized himself with the bar area so he didn’t really need his cane to get around. He could even tend bar since his sisters were draconian about keeping all the liquor bottles in order and he had that order memorized. Sometimes he helped out to alleviate the boredom.
He had lost the battle to go to Xing as the ambassador – for the time being, at any rate – so he had to wait on Xingese ambassadors to make their way west. His other duties included composing letters and propositions to send to Xing, slow work since the railroad wouldn’t be fully reestablished for at least another year. It had taken months to both recall his mother’s native alphabet and to learn to touch type in Xingese on the typewriter he’d been gifted from Auntie Yin, his mother’s best friend from way back in the day when his mom was young. Yin read over his missives to be sure they were right and the old lady loved having a little governmental supplemental pay to add to her tea house earnings. The only other thing left to him in his job was keeping up a presence in the small Xing quarter in Central.
“Here, Al, you’d better give me Winter and take the stroller, just in case Riza’s in there.”
“Covering for you again, am I?”
“You’re so good at it.” Roy exchanged the handle of the stroller for that of his dog’s harness. He could imagine the looks Al and Winter were giving him. His dog hesitated after a few steps so Roy put out a hand, fumbling for the door knob. He held the door open for Al and the baby. Roy didn’t hear many voices in the bar.
“Slow afternoon?”
“We’re between lunch and dinner,” a feminine voice answered him.
“You’re as beautiful as ever, Susan.”
“Like you’d know, Roy Boy. I could be behind this bar naked for all you know.”
“Nonsense. If you were naked, this place would be swarming and Al would be panting and shoving my son at me so he could get behind that bar.”
She snorted at him. “Let’s have a look at that baby.”
Al pushed the stroller forward.
“Roy, are you making Alphonse do all your work for you again?”
Hearing Riza behind him, Roy turned. “No.”
“Just the diaper changes and anything else he doesn’t want to do,” Al offered as Susan cooed at Chris.
“You’re too nice, Alphonse,” Riza said, slapping Roy’s arm.
“I’m blind. I can’t see if the baby is clean,” Roy protested.
“You have fingers.”
“I’m notusing my fingers. Being blind needs some kind of benefit. Not having to clean a poopy bottom is it.” Roy made his way to the bar. “I’m not too proud to admit I need help occasionally.”
“Yes, and as Al observed, it’s usually with things you don’t want to do in the first place,” Riza said wryly. She pressed her lips to his cheek.
“Nothing’s changed,” Chris said. Roy heard her heavy footfalls as she came into the room. “His father was the same way and had just enough charm to get away with it, too. I’m not sure Asher ever changed your diapers either, Roy.” She sat next to him. “Poor Dai-Yue had to do all the dirty work. Men.”
“Hey, I had no control over Dad.” Roy waved a hand at her. “You should have scared him into shape.”
“If his wife couldn’t, what do you imagine I could have done, son?”
“You’re far more terrifying than Mom.” Roy shrugged. “We’re not all lazy. Al makes a great babysitter.”
“Riza, the little one is getting fussy,” Susan said.
“I gave Chris a bottle just before we left. He ate most of it but got a little gassy,” Roy said. “See, I do do some things.”
“Again, just what you want to do.” Riza’s tone was light. He could hear her taking their son from Susan. “But it’s a help. This little boy is a handful.”
“Just like his father and his father before him,” Christmas said. “You can use my office, Riza, if you want to feed him.”
“I’ll put the dogs there, too,” Roy said, trying to maneuver the stroller.
Riza took it from him, putting their son it. He let her lead the way while he handled the dogs. He wouldn’t need Winter inside the bar and she’d appreciate being off her harness in his aunt’s spacious office. He sat next to Riza on the couch, digging in the bag for the burp rag. Somehow he knew she was getting her shirt open one-handed, not entirely sure how women could balance a heavy baby, open their shirts and hold a conversation all at the same time.
“I hope you don’t mind I invited Al, Ed and Winry to join us for dinner here.” Roy put a hand on Riza’s knee. “I didn’t think you would.”
“I don’t mind. I only mind if you invite people to dinner at the house without asking me first.”
“Are you kidding? I saw Maes make that mistake once. I thought Gracia was going to spit him on a skewer. I know better.” Roy reached over, touching his son’s hair. Chris nursed loudly as if he hadn’t seen food in days. “I think we should have taken the young emperor’s suggestion and given Chris the middle name of Ling.”
“Because he’s so greedy?” Riza laughed. “We probably should have, even if Ling no longer has Greed living inside him.”
“Chris Ling might have had a better ring than Chris Feng but since that was Granddad’s name.” Roy shrugged. “Though I wonder if Dad would be disappointed we didn’t name him Asher.”
“I think he’d be pretty happy you chose your aunt’s name. She did raise you and it’s far better than my father’s name so, it’s good.”
“So the next boy is Asher Zebulon?” Roy grinned.
“You can leave my father’s name entirely out of it. And just how many babies are you planning on?”
“Planning on fleeing if I say six?” Roy laughed.
“You’re definitely on your own there.”
“Let’s get use to having one before we plan on siblings. I’m not much help to you as it is.” Roy sighed. “I thought being an alchemist, and already being accustomed to not getting much sleep because I’m embroiled in research, would have helped out with the baby. But there’s so little I can do to help at two in the morning when by the time I can get downstairs, get the milk warmed and a bottle ready, you’ll have had him fed and both be back to sleep.”
“You’re a big help, Roy.” Riza shifted Chris’s weight, managing to get a hand free to rest it on Roy’s. “For those middle of the night wake ups when Chris is just being a curious brat and is awake just to be awake. I fully intend to keep handing him off to you if he doesn’t need fed or changed.”
“I’m fine with that. We can explore together. I’ll read from my alchemy books to him.”
“Are you planning on warping our child’s brain from the get go?” Riza bumped his hip with hers. “This is why I never wanted to fall in love with an alchemist. You’re all obsessed. Find something better to tell our child.”
“I’ll tell him how he doesn’t want to be like his Uncle Ed and give him examples.”
How she got a hand free to pinch his side, Roy had no clue. “Roy…”
“What can I do? I can’t read children’s stories to him, just the ones I can remember. I’m still learning to read Mizu’s touch language and I don’t think children’s stories come in it. I know that alchemy books do not but I have mine memorized. So it’s alchemy or stories about Ed.”
“Hmm, running away sounds better all the time.”
Roy pressed against her, kissing Riza’s neck as slid his arm around her waist. “You wouldn’t want to go anywhere without me and you know it.”
“Yes, I do.” Riza shifted Chris up onto her shoulder to burp him. Roy tried to duck out quickly lest he be deafened or vomited on but Chris snared his hair. Roy eased away much to Chris’ boisterous complaints.
“Why does he like my hair so much?”
“He likes what his dad smells like, I guess. Or your hair is a great touch sensation.” Riza gently thumped Chris’s back. He gave a little burp then quieted. “Let’s see if you’ll sleep and let Mommy and Daddy have dinner now that you’ve had yours.”
“We could get lucky. If not, maybe I could alchemize the stroller to give it a little more bounce. We could rock it a little while he’s at the table. Chris seems to like movement.”
“Your daddy is going to spoil you from the start,” Riza said, getting up. Roy heard her put Chris in the stroller.
“You and I had crappy childhoods. I want our son to have a better one.”
“He could hardly have worse.” Riza’s breath hitched. “Forget I said that. Shouldn’t tempt the universe.”
“No, you should not.”
Roy let Riza take the stroller back into the dining room. He shut the dogs in the office, grateful they were too well behaved to whine about it. From the loudness in the dining room, Edward had arrived. Roy followed Riza to a table, taking the one seat left.
“Hello Winry, Edward.
“Been bothering my brother all day again, b-a-s-t-a-r-d?”
“Ed, spelling it out is no better than actually saying it,” Winry scolded.
“It’s not like the baby can spell yet.”
“Yes, Riza, those two in the morning ‘I’m too curious to sleep’ sessions will be filled with don’t be like Edward tales of woe.” Roy grinned.
Riza sighed. “Let’s just order dinner before you two get started.”
“Good idea. Susan, why don’t you start us with the soup while everyone makes a choice,” Chris said. “Roy, Riza, do you want some? Everyone else decided to try it.”
“What is it?” Roy asked.
“Oxtail.”
“Ooo, with red wine? Yeah I want that,” he replied eagerly. “What else is on the menu tonight?”
“We have lamb with currant and mint sauce,” Susan replied. “Lamb’s fresh from Resembool. And there’s curried chicken as the other main dish. You can have either corn fritters or sugared beets and baked potato or potato marbles.”
“Lamb, sugared beets and potato marbles,” Roy replied.
“I hope you don’t plan on doing what Ed plans on doing with those marbles,” Al said.
“If anyone starts flinging food, I’m going for my gun,” Riza warned.
“Noted.” Roy pouted. “Madam, you’re really branching out food-wise here.”
“This is a respectable place. I’ve got a new place opening soon,” Chris replied. “Bar only, no food.”
Roy turned to his mother. “Since when?”
“I was going to surprise you with it. It’s the Plastered Bastard over by the enlisted barracks. You know the strip of bars I mean. Always good to own one dive bar in my business.” Chris said.
“Ha, she named it after you, Mustang.” Ed snickered.
“Riza, seriously, I know how I’m spending my late nights,” Roy grumbled. “Really, Christmas, Plastered Bastard?”
“It seemed to fit,” his aunt replied as Susan returned with the fragrant soup.
“It was not named for me,” Roy said. “Even if it was.” He took a sip of the soup, letting the deep red wine and spices wake up his tongue.
“It definitely was,” Ed said then grunted. Roy assumed Winry hit him.
“Winry, how are the last days of your apprenticeship going?” Roy asked.
“I had planned on going to Xing to celebrate and to see if we could make some inroads there. Some other apprentices show an interest in going to Xing and trading ideas,” she replied. “But Ed’s refusing to take me with him.”
“Much like his fashion sense, Edward’s sense of romance and adventure is as stunted as his height,” Roy said sweetly. Riza kicked his ankle in warning or was that Christmas? Either way, it hurt.
“I’m not rising to the bait,” Ed said far too self satisfied with himself, leaving Roy wondering what Winry had said, or more like did, to get Ed to behave.
“You should take Winry to Xing, Edward. I always wanted to see it, maybe meet some of Mom’s kin.” Roy felt the hand pass in front of him setting down a plate. “Now I can’t even see it and appreciate that part of it if I were to go. It’s a shame to miss something.”
“Exactly. Thank you, Roy,” Winry replied and Ed grumbled something. “I still have a few weeks left to go but it’s a little scary trying to decide where to set up my practice and how hard it will be.”
“I’m sure.”
Roy listened to the young people debate back and forth where Winry should set up shop. Riza and Chris, both of them, were uncharacteristically quiet. Roy wondered if they were regretting choices they had made in life or longing for the freedom to make them. Lately fate seemed to be making his choices for him and Roy wasn’t sure he was entirely content. He loved his wife and his son. He just wished he could do better by them.
The door to the pub slammed open. Even Roy turned instinctively though he couldn’t see if the wind had caught it when a customer came in or if there was a danger. He hated this.
“There you are!” an oddly familiar voice said. “Do you know how hard it was to find you?”
“Ling!” Ed cried. “What the hell?”
“Someone is out to kill my entire clan,” he said. “I could use your help.”
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 11:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 04:28 am (UTC)Ling is not Greed! I never liked the thought of Ling staying as a GreedLing, so that made me smile like a moron. Which is not new.
A baby...my biological clock is ticking way too early so babies in fic and rl maked me go all aww.
I have a sneaking suspicion that they are all going to Xing. I love that.
Roy and Ed are such a riot. ^^
Excuse me now, I'll go squee in peace.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 09:29 pm (UTC)I'm so glad you liked this. I have no idea how long it'll take me to completely finish but I'm working on it.I promise
I'm glad you liked the bit about Ling
Roy quite insisted he had a baby (Now if I could only make this look less like he had it with Al...)
Whether we get as far as Xing I'mnot sure yet but definitely there is something brewing.
thanks again
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 04:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-25 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-25 11:58 pm (UTC)