Chapter 2

Roy brought Mandy back to his house via car, which the teenager was excited about, since she hadn't been in many cars in her life. She went in one once when a family from Central had imported their car with them, even though they hadn't needed it.

They pulled up to a house; it looked pretty big. There was a wraparound porch that held rocking chairs and a small table, a nice path to walk to the front door through the yard, and a large window that could clearly show the kitchen inside.

"Come on." Roy said, getting out of the driver's seat and shutting the car door behind him. Mandy followed his instruction, getting out and shutting the car door, even though she wanted to stay in the car and figure out how it worked. Flinging her duffle bag over her shoulder, Mandy followed Mustang inside of the house.

"Seems like a big house for you to be living by yourself," Mandy mentioned as she looked around. A clean kitchen, four seated dinner table, and picture frames all over the place.

"I don't live by myself," was all Roy answered with. Mandy looked at the pictures hanging on the walls, noticing that quite a few depicted a blonde woman with brown eyes, Mustang, and a young girl with blonde hair and black eyes.

"Dad!" the girl from the pictures – a bit older, maybe fifteen years old – had appeared at the top of a set of stairs. She had blonde hair that looked too short, ending at the base of her neck, and the occasional freckle on her cheeks. She ran over to Roy and hugged him. Roy hugged her back.

"I didn't know you would be home, Emma." Roy chuckled, his whole persona seeming to turn into a family man. Mandy just stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do in this situation. Her father had never been there, and neither had Ian's – who she spent all her time with.

"I came home a few minutes ago." the girl – Emma – smiled, looking so much like Roy's. "I didn't know you were going to be home!"

"I had something to take care of." Roy released the blonde from his hold. "Emma, this is Mandy, she'll be staying with us for a little while. Mandy, this is my daughter, Emma; your room will be right next to hers. Show her the guest room, Ems."

"Yes, sir," Mandy said. She walked up the stairs, expecting Mandy to follow after her. The brunette couldn't just stay dumbstruck in the hall, so followed the younger teenager up the stairs and to a plain white door; this door stood out incredibly next to a pink door with glitter all over it. "Here's your room, we don't really have any rules here except that you can't leave without telling someone where you're going, and you're not allowed to have any guys in your bedroom."

"Thanks." Mandy smiled. She opened the door, revealing a plain room. There was a queen bed with navy blue sheets and pillow cases, a window which was covered by gray curtains, darkening the room, a wardrobe, and a television on the wall. "Wow.."

"Trust me, this isn't wow. Mom thought it was too plain, but since she decorated my room, dad got to decorate this one." Emma shrugged.

"You're kidding, right?" Mandy asked. She couldn't help herself from grinning ear to ear. "This is better than my room back home."

"Why aren't you at home?" Emma asked. The brunette turned to her, not knowing how to answer. She wasn't sure if the kid would understand; this Mustang spawn had a father – hopefully a mother too, Mandy thought to herself. "Sorry, trying not to be nosy!" The younger laughed a little.

"No, no, it's fine," Mandy said, laughing a little herself at this girl, and how Mustang could have raised someone like her. "I tried to join the military."

"How old are you?" The blonde's face contorted into confusion in a way that made Mandy want to laugh again.

"I'm seventeen, but I thought I could get away with it," Mandy said. "I would have too, if it wasn't for your meddling dad." This caused both the girls to laugh together, which in turn caused Roy to make his way up the stairs to find out what all the fuss was about.

"What's going on up here?" he asked.

"Nothing, dad, it's bonding between teenagers. You wouldn't get it," Emma said. "Now scoot, I'm gonna show Mandy my room."

"Fine, fine." Mustang sighed, the way Mandy would expect, before he walked back down the stairs.

The brunette wasn't sure how she missed all of this. He just didn't seem like the type of guy to have a family. She felt he was more like the reserved 'I never want a family, they're weaknesses' kind of guy. Apparently not.

"Come on," Emma said. Mandy was about to protest when the other girl pulled her through the white double doors.

The older brunette was overwhelmed with pink and green items, looking all around the room. There was a queen sized pink bed with a green canopy, a green vanity table, and pink curtains.

The colors were overwhelming.

"Wow.." Mandy trailed off, unsure of what to say. Then she said the only thing she could say. "It's very… pink."

"Don't forget green. My mom designed it," Emma said with a smile.

"Where's she?" Mandy asked. Figuring she would find out sooner or later, the brunette had put it off, but now she had the opportunity to ask.

"She's at work, she should be home in an hour," Emma answered.

"Is it alright if I go take a shower? I haven't had one since before I got in from Resembool and it's been three days.." Mandy trailed off.

"You're from Resembool?" Emma asked, her eyes widening.

"Uh..yeah.." Mandy trailed off. Not many people cared about her hometown, which was a rural little place in the country. Emma snapped out of her daze that she was in a second later.

"Uh, there's a shower in your room; door leads to it in there," Emma answered the older question.

"Thanks," Mandy said gratefully, walking back to her guest room. She wanted to melt into the bed after sitting on a hard bench for three days, but instead just went to the shower, wanting to get cleaned up first.

Mandy sighed in relief when the hot water began to hit her skin. It was even better than showering in Resembool, where they had colder water. She had grown up showering in cold water, and hadn't noticed anything different until just now.

The teenager smiled softly. She felt a hole filled inside of her, while another gaped open. A frown was brought to Mandy's face as she realized what it was.

Her mother.

Roy sighed, sitting in his office. This girl was his girlfriend's daughter. Well, his ex – girlfriend's daughter. He had a new wife, a new daughter, this kid couldn't possibly be his. Though, the thought wouldn't leave his mind. She was seventeen – years old. Mustang had been with Ella seventeen years ago. Unless Ella was sleeping around, which he seriously doubted, this kid was his.

The call finally came.

"Well?" Roy asked into the phone, knowing fully well who it was.

"You were right, Roy. She's your kid," Hughes answered.

"Dammit," Roy sighed to himself. "What am I going to do?"

"I suggest telling her about how you're her dad and calling her mother," Hughes said. "I found her phone number. Here it is.."

The phone rang four times before she picked up. Roy felt the breath in his lungs leave him as she spoke.

"Hello?" He almost couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Ella?" he asked back. There was silence for a long moment, but they both seemed to understand to stay on the line.

"Yeah," Ella answered.

"I met Mandy." There was silence again.

"So I guess you know that she's your daughter." Ella sighed audibly through the phone.

"Did you expect me not to when a girl with your last name at the same age that we would have had a baby together tries to join the military where I work? When were you going to tell me that I had a daughter?" Roy asked.

"I didn't want to trap you, Roy." Ella sighed. "You were going to school and having a life."

"I was going to the military!" Roy retorted.

"I didn't know that until Mandy was already born," Ella explained. "I purposely asked my mother to keep your letters until I was ready to read them. I didn't want anything you said to influence my decision to keep her or not tell you."

"But you should have told me," Roy said.

"I know I should have told you, but I didn't." Ella sighed once again. "I'm getting on a train now. I'll be there in a few days to pick up my daughter and go home."

"You know we're going to have to talk about what to do with her when you get here, right?" Roy asked.

"I know."