Dear Readers - it was such fun to write Interlude that I had to continue. Also, I think there's a definite need for more family-style fics to be written for the homunculi, so here I am, trying to fill the void with my little bit of fire and ice. Enjoy.

Reviews make everybody happy. Do it today!

~ FairMaiden333

P.S - Broken Wall and Within These Walls will be updated - it may just take a little longer to get the chapters ready.

Disclaimer - I do not own Pride, or his step-mother-who's-really-his-sister-in-law. Nor do I own Fullmetal Alchemist. Having wrung that admission from me, what do you intend to do to make me feel better?

Prompt - 2 am

Any normal child would have been asleep long since, but Selim Bradley was still staring up at his ceiling with sightless eyes, turning the day's events over in his head. Normally, he would have snuck out the window by now, but tonight his 'mother' seemed unwilling to let five minutes pass without creeping into his room to check on him. The incident with the car had obviously shaken her nerves.

"Selim?" He repressed as sigh of irritation as his door creaked open again, the soft footsteps padded towards his bed. "Still awake, dear?"

"Yes, Mother," he responded. The light from the hall fell half across her worried face as she stroked his hair, and Pride forced himself not to pull away from her hand. How he hated the stupid human warmth that made her touch and talk and care and act as if he, the first of Father's children and his favorite son, had any need of her reassurance.

"I was worried that you might have nightmares," she said.

"Don't worry, Mother. I never have nightmares," Selim said placidly. It was true. He was the perfect son - he made sure of that. Of course, he had slipped up earlier, when he walked out in front of that vehicle without noticing, his mind taken up with other matters. It still disturbed him to remember her shriek, her sudden lunge, the warm hugs and tears which had followed when she had been assured that he was all right. That caring warmth again, which was nothing like anything he'd known before, but for a moment had weakened him enough that he'd returned her embrace with real sincerity. Now he tensed his hands into fists under the blanket, stiff with disgust at the idea that he had behaved as if he truly wanted this woman's affection, even for a moment. Father would have been ashamed. As a homunculus, he should not be influenced by lesser beings - he should not, would not, let this human matter to him.

"My brave little boy," she finally sighed. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Remember, sweetheart, you don't have to be alone just because you're too proud to admit that you're scared. Mother's here if you need her."

Long after she closed the door behind her Pride was still rigidly lying in bed, glaring at the ceiling. Stupid woman. She knew nothing…