So here we meet again…or for the first time. Either way, it's time for my newest Fullmetal fanfic! Woo! Er-hem, alrighty then. Shall we get started?

Summary: When Edward gets Winry pregnant, he thinks things can't get any worse. He's forced to change his opinion when she doesn't make it through the birth, and he is left to care for the child on his own. To top things off, after they have a fight, Alphonse wants nothing more to do with Ed. What will Ed do? [Parental! HughesxEd, some Parental! RoyxEd, self-mutilation] AU

Rating: T (very likely to change)

Important: Al is human, but Ed is still a state alchemist. And if it wasn't obvious already, Hughes is still alive.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Italics indicates a flashback.

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It's funny how everything can go wrong all at once. One moment, it seems everything is fine, and even when things seem stressful, everyone is happy. But in the next moment, everything that could possibly go wrong, does.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Elric, the child is fine, but Winry didn't make it."

Edward had never hated doctors more than he did in that one moment of time. They were useless scum that weren't fit to do their job. If every doctor in the world chose right then and there to spontaneously combust, Edward really wouldn't have cared.

Edward looked at the tiny girl in the doctor's hands. His daughter. He'd said it over and over in his mind before, but until he saw the girl for himself, the words never sunk in. She was his daughter. It was obvious. She had his eyes, but the little tufts of hair on top of her soft head were closer to the bright blonde of Winry's hair than his own golden locks.

"Would you like to hold her?" the doctor asked. Edward nodded slowly, and the child was carefully handed over. He held her close, afraid that he would drop her. The baby didn't seem to be looking anywhere in particular or care who was holding her. Using his gloved hand, Ed wiped away a bit of drool pooled below her lip, and she slapped a tiny hand at his finger. Ed smiled softly at the tiny thing in his arms.

Nothing can ever stay so perfect.

"It's your fault she's not coming back!"

"Al, what are you saying?" Ed asked, completely stunned at his younger brother's behavior.

"You killed Winry! You're the one that got her pregnant! If it weren't for you, she'd still be here!" Al didn't seem to care who heard him.

Ed couldn't even think of anything to say in return. Deep down, he felt the same way. The more Al yelled at him, the more Ed understood where the drastic change in Al had come from. He had loved Winry, too.

Love does change people. Especially with the loss of that loved one.

"Say something!" Al yelled at his brother. "Why don't you deny it?"

"Because you're right," Ed muttered, refusing to make eye contact. "I killed Winry."

Edward barely registered that his brother was leaving. Al stopped just before he walked out of the door, looked back at Ed with a look a complete hurt and betrayal, and walked out. Ed stood still, waiting for him to come back through the door, but he never did.

A broken heart will always affect more than one person. Especially when there's more than one broken heart.

Edward looked down at the sleeping baby. He felt his eyes watering up, but he refused to let even one tear fall.

"Why?" he asked the sleeping form. "Why did you survive…and she didn't? What gives you more right to live than Winry? What makes you so special?"

The baby offered him no reply.

He let the tear fall and fell to his knees.

Edward came out of his stupor when he felt a raindrop fall on his nose. He looked around trying to remember where he was. He could recall wandering around the city after leaving the hospital. He had refused to go back to the dorms. No one but Alphonse knew about the baby, and he didn't feel like being ridiculed by the colonel and the others. Not to mention that he would have to explain why Alphonse wasn't with him.

So instead, he was sitting in an alley, his knees pulled up close, with the baby girl cradled tightly in his arms. She was silent, and Ed was thankful. He didn't know what to do if she should start crying.

More drops steadily started to fall. Ed pulled his red jacket over the infant but made no move to leave. The rain quickly turned into a downpour, but Ed still sat. He was only slightly concerned that the girl did not cry. Even covered as she was, Ed was sure she still had to be getting wet. Thankful that the rain was there to mask his tears, he cried for them both.

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Maes Hughes cursed his luck as a downpour started on his drive home. He slowed down and kept a sharp eye out for any idiot pedestrians that might try to cross the street. He had too much on his mind to worry about swerving around anything. Edward had missed his meeting with the colonel, and when Hughes had gone searching, he had instead found Al furiously packing his things and refusing to answer any questions about Ed. No one else reported seeing him that day.

For a moment, Hughes thought his imagination was playing tricks on him. He thought he saw a red form huddled in an alleyway. He figured he was just seeing things because he was so worried about Ed, but he stopped the car nonetheless. Upon stepping into the alley, he realized he really did see red.

"Edward?" he asked the huddled form, a worried tone in his voice.

The person raised his head. "Lieutenant Colonel?" Ed asked softly as though he couldn't believe anyone was there.

Hughes walked over and stooped beside the drenched teen. "What happened? You've been missing all day, and then I find you out here in the rain? Did you have a fight with Al? I saw him packing." Hughes kept his voice soft but forceful enough to indicate that he wouldn't be happy if Ed didn't have a good reason for his actions.

"Yeah, we had a fight," Ed answered in a voice that didn't seem to belong to him.

"Why?" Hughes asked, his voice losing the edge. A closer look at Ed told him the boy had been crying, and he knew something big must have happened for the brothers to be fighting like that.

Ed stayed silent for a few minutes. Hughes was about to ask again when Ed moved his jacket slightly, revealing a tiny baby. "It's a long story," Ed said.

Hughes took a moment to think as Ed covered the child again. He didn't understand, but his first priority was getting the two out of the rain.

"Come on," Hughes said as he stood up straight.

"Huh?"

"To the car." Hughes jerked his head toward the parked car. "You'll get sick if you stay out here, both of you. I'm taking you to my house."

"But I-" Ed started.

"No 'buts,'" Hughes said as he grabbed Ed's arm. He pulled him to his feet, careful not to make him drop the baby. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he led him to the car, opened the passenger door, and sat him down inside. Ed obeyed without protest.

Hughes took the wheel without another word and resumed his drive home with his silent passenger. The baby occasionally made unhappy noises, and Hughes knew that the moment she woke up, she would start crying.

Hughes didn't pry or even attempt conversation the entire way home. Other than the occasional glances in Ed's direction, he wouldn't have known there was anyone with him.

It was dark by the time they reached the house, and Hughes was thankful that he had left work a few minutes earlier than usual that day.

The house was warm, and Hughes could smell dinner cooking. Elysia could be heard playing somewhere in the house. He took Ed's soaked jacket, along with his own, and hung them by the door. Leading Ed to the couch, he made him sit. Once he was sure Ed wouldn't try to dart for the door, he went off to find Gracia. They both returned and sat on the couch opposite Edward.

Hughes took a deep breath before speaking. "Edward, I want an explanation, and I want the whole story."

Never taking his eyes off the waking infant, Ed told his story.

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And that's the end of the first chapter. I'm aware that Ed and Al were somewhat out of character but do keep in mind the situation. I wouldn't exactly act in character either.

Well, I've been planning this story for awhile now, and I was kind of scared to start writing it, but there's no turning back now! I look forward to working on it, and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Equivalent Exchange: I write, you review.