this is AU and i needed him to be of a lower rank so... yeah... you'll see

The smell of hibachi was alluring as he watched the vendor mix in some vegetables, a little chicken and a little beef. He topped it off with some soy sauce and another cooking sauce and tossed the rice into the mix. He finished it up and took a large spatula and scraped it into a container. The man waiting looked about as hungry as he was and pulled out a wad of bills to pay for his meal. After counting out the cash, the vendor gave him the change and the man grabbed a fork and opened up the container, relishing in the food he had been served.

The vendor watched the man for a minute and started to clean his grill when he spotted him on the side of the stand.

"You gonna buy something kid, or not?"

Edward didn't say anything but he shook his head. The vendor looked him over and then frowned.

"Wait a minute, I know who you are. You're that Edward kid. Get out of here, you freak! You think I'm going to feel sorry for you? If you don't have the money then don't expect a handout here."

Edward didn't really expect anything from anyone. He just wanted to smell the food and imagine he was eating it. It's not like he hadn't eaten in days or anything. The vendor moved his hands.

"Shoo! Get away from here, you nuisance! You're bad for business."

Edward ducked away and walked to a bench to sit on and ease his aching back. A lady was sitting next to him for a second until she saw him and gasped a little, getting up and moving to the other bench beside his. He sighed as his stomach grumbled, used to this type of reaction but also annoyed by it. He touched the distended stomach and was met with both another growl and a soft push from the inside. He smiled and pushed back.

Edward was pregnant and all of Central knew about it. He had been regarded as a freak, humiliated in front of everyone in the center square. It wasn't like Edward wasn't a victim, that he had been kidnapped, been experimented on, been forced to scream so loud that he lost his voice. No… nothing like that had happened to him… Nothing like that happened… or you'd think so, by the way the people treated him.

He had been kidnapped when he was eight and held in a mad man named Shou Tucker's lab for years, a whole decade actually. He knew nothing of the world, of its people, of its rules. He only knew his cell and the man who ruled over him. He had been tortured and beaten and used for so many different things. This last experiment though… Tucker wanted to use his knowledge and title of the Sewing Life Alchemist to see if he could do just that, sew life into someone. Of course, Edward was the perfect guinea pig and Tucker didn't really seem to care if the giving life thing was done on a man or a woman.

Edward had grown to three months, with triplets, he was told, when the lab was discovered and he was rescued. Only… he wasn't rescued. When it was revealed that he was indeed pregnant, the doctor kicked him out of the hospital (literally) and Edward was left naked and exposed to the people of Central, who derided him, humiliated him, and some in the crowds wanted to kill him, calling him an abomination to mankind.

Edward ran away, unable to defend himself, and spent two weeks naked and cold and on the streets. He finally couldn't stand it anymore and found a way to get to the homeless shelter. The shelter wouldn't take him in but they gave him some clothing at least. The clothes were much too big for him for his small stature, but it seemed to be worth it to keep his ever growing stomach from being exposed. The black shirt and pants were perfect for hiding his five month girth, the red coat kept him halfway warm (it wasn't near thick enough) and the boots were at least waterproof, but quite large. The ensemble at least kept him mostly dry when it rained.

Someone suddenly sat beside him, scaring Edward, and he looked over at the military man. Since his case seemed to directly involve the military, when he was 'rescued' they were the ones that came. It seemed they liked to keep tabs on him.

"Edward, how many times have we told you not to loiter around people's businesses? It makes them lose customers and then they call me." The officer said in a casual tone.

Edward liked this officer. He didn't know his name but he remembered his face. He was there when he was pulled out of the laboratory, when he was thrown to the people, and was the one to get him arrested the first time he had loitered somewhere.

"Do I need to call the police again to take you into custody?"

Edward shrugged. At least I'll get fed if I'm arrested… he thought to himself. He hated that he couldn't talk. He practiced all the time but his voice was gone. Ten years of screaming at the top of your lungs and crying yourself to sleep every night seemed to do that. He also didn't know how to read or write since most of his developmental years were locked in a cell. He knew letters and numbers, but that was it.

"Come on." He heard the man say.

Edward looked up in confusion as he stood up and looked at him.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" Edward nodded with a questioning look. "Let's go get some food then. When was the last time you ate?"

Edward shrugged again.

"You don't know or you won't tell me?" Edward stared. "Okay, if you know show me on your fingers and if you don't shrug again."

Edward debated this little game but held up one finger.

"One day?" Edward shook his head. "One… week?" Edward hesitated but shook his head again. "One month?" He nodded slightly and the officer seemed to get very upset. Edward put his hands protectively around his stomach and braced for impact. "You haven't eaten in a month!? Have you even tried?!"

The officer stopped yelling when he saw Edward was hunched over, his eyes squeezed shut, and shivering. He calmed down for a moment and knelt down to Edward, touching his hands slightly.

"Edward." Edward jerked away but he tried again. "Edward, look at me." Eventually Edward opened a golden eye as the officer looked at him kindly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I won't hurt you. I was mad about you not eating, not you."

Edward didn't really understand what the difference was but the officer stood back up and put his hand on his shoulder. Edward jumped at that but didn't shrug his hand off.

"I know this city has trampled you under their feet when you were in the lowest depths of hell and could give two damns about you. I saw you in that cell and what everyone has done to you… it's not fair. I should have done this as soon as I found you, but I didn't want to be linked in. I want to take care of you, kid."

Edward pulled away from him immediately and glared at him. He shook his head 'no' furiously, his blonde shaggy hair getting in his face.

"Why?" the officer asked.

Edward couldn't explain, of course, so he just stared at the man. This is a joke. No one wants me or my children. I'm just a freak of nature. he thought to himself.

"Do you want to stay out here forever? Starving half the time and being arrested the other? I'm offering you a roof over your head, a full belly, and… a home…"

Home? Edward thought. He turned his head at the officer, wondering what that word even meant. The officer seemed to understand.

"A home is a place you are welcome, a place where you feel you belong. It's a comfortable place... it's where you're loved."

Edward made a face at that. He had heard the word before, but it usually came with negative connotations. Shou Tucker loved when he could get a good long and high pitched scream out of Edward. Shou Tucker loved when Edward squirmed under the ropes of the metal table he was always on. Shou Tucker loved to break Edward over and over again… For Edward, love was not kind.

The officer was confused over Edward's hesitation. He was offering the kid something he hadn't had since he was eight: a home. The city had brutally cast him aside, leaving him to the dregs of society and even they wouldn't take the poor kid in. He'd been kidnapped, tortured, experimented on, locked in a cell, and god knows what else for ten years of his poor existence and not a soul wanted him because of an experiment a crazy man did to him. Not even his fault, but that of a crazed man. He shouldn't have let his pride get in the way those two months ago. He should have rescued Edward then, taking him in and showing him what it means to be loved and looked after… but he abandoned him, just like the rest of the city. Now he wanted to make it up but it looked like Edward had seen too many wrongs…

"Edward… I know you may not believe me. With everything you've gone through, I don't doubt your doubt. Two months of being free with the whole city against you and now, all of a sudden, this military man (who has had you arrested many times) wants to take you in? Believe me, I get how preposterous it may seem but… I'm not trying to trick you or make you a laughing stock. I sincerely want to help."

Edward put his wrists together and gave the officer questioning look.

"Why do I keep getting you arrested?" He nodded. "So I could make sure you ate something, had a roof over your head for the night, and slept soundly in a bed that was warm. In all honesty, I prayed every night that I'd be able to find you and call you in. Then you wouldn't be on the streets for at least a night."

Edward made a face and the officer sighed.

"I know it all sounds strange but I want to help you… and the first thing I want to do is treat you to some food. Will you let me do that?"

Edward thought for a second and then nodded. The officer grinned and started to walk off. Edward reached out to grab him but he stopped and just waited. The man looked back and motioned for him to follow.

"Come on!"

Edward went to him slowly and he started to go again but Edward grabbed his uniform to make him stop. The officer stopped and turned to look at Edward. Edward pointed to his nametag.

"My name?" Edward nodded. "I'm Lieutenant Mustang. My first name is Roy."

Roy… I wonder how you spell that… It seems easy enough… Edward thought. Roy smiled at him.

"You got it?"

Edward smiled and then pointed at his badge again, but at the R.

"That's an R…" Edward nodded and then pointed at him again. "Are you wanting to know how I spell it?" He nodded enthusiastically. Roy laughed a little. "I'll teach you at the restaurant, alright?"

Edward beamed and followed Roy.

ah a beautiful friendship... hopefully. and yes, this is an mpreg. this will also be a short story so yeah... and edward is mute in this if you couldn't tell.