He tucked the Elric boys into bed, tugging the blankets up to their shoulders. Alicia sleeps soundly in the other room, and he checked on her first.

After the attack by Envy, none of them were safe; Hughes was sure of that. Envy had escaped, but with so much information - what could they do? The brothers had been due to take a train, but Hughes convinced them to delay it until it was safer, until they could guarantee that the train was locked and secure. Though with a shape shifter, even that was dangerous; he could be anywhere.

He could be anyone.

"Lieutenant-Colonel?" It was Al's voice, soft and tinny, and Hughes jumped faintly; he'd thought the boy was asleep. It was so hard to tell, with the armour, though he'd been assured Al did sleep. "Is everything all right?"

He'd been staring down at Ed as he thought, watching the way the boy's face slackened in sleep. Odd, the way a child his age could have already developed such a pronounced anger line on his forehead.

"It's fine," Hughes reassured Al.

Sleepily, Al murmured, "Goodnight, Lieutenant-Colonel. Goodnight, Brother."

Hughes smiled softly. He could get used to that.

He left the room and closed the door, and Gracia was there. "How are they?" she murmured. "After the Colonel's death, I thought they'd-"

"Ah," Hughes said. "They are. And he's a Major-General now."

Gracia leaned against the wall in a startlingly easy sprawl. "It won't be easy on them."

"No." He kept the tone from his own voice, watched her.

No grief.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" She smiled, reached for him. "Lieutenant Colonel?"

He drew his gun.