December 14th, 1957

Ethan and Lia stood on the train platform in Central Station, waiting for the passengers on the train that had arrived just after theirs to disembark. They had arrived in Central only an hour before, but given who was on the next train they didn't mind waiting!

"I can't believe Will and Ren are getting married in six days!" Lia smiled, even bubblier than usual as she rocked slightly on her heels. "We haven't seen them since last year. How do you think their research is going? I wish they had written more."

"How can you have so much energy after so many days on a train?" Ethan cut his girlfriend off with a playful chuckle. Even more than two years after their reunion – two years dating – there were moments he found himself dazed that this vibrant, beautiful girl was the skinny little tomboy best friend he'd secretly crushed on for years… and she was his.
Lia's smiling face turned from the train to him and she winked. "I had a comfortable pillow."

Ethan blushed. They slept better resting against each other on the train than on separate benches. It didn't matter that they were both fully covered in a public space – since neither of them could afford a private berth – Ethan was still a little self-conscious about it. "Yeah, well don't tell your mother," he teased back. He and Lia had made a trip or two to South City – she had made more on her own – to see her parents. Ethan had given little thought to the Swansons, whose house they had rarely played in, but was grateful that Lia's parents seemed to approve of him.

"Are you afraid my father will object to my face touching your shirt?" Lia reached out and squeezed his hand.

"You know it," Ethan grinned, utterly failing at being cocky. "You never know where that shirt's been after all."

Lia leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Hopefully on you," she replied softly in his ear.

"Hey you two, get a room!"

Ethan's face went red as he looked back up at the familiar forms pushing through the crowds outside the train. "As if you're ever any better," Ethan quipped back, grinning at his cousin.

"You're here!" Lia squealed and was met with equal enthusiasm as Ren dropped her bag and the two girls hugged enthusiastically.

"Is it just me or is everything girlier all of a sudden?" Will asked as he picked up Ren's bag. Ethan grabbed Lia's.

"I seem to recall that's how most weddings are," Ethan smirked.

"Then we may have to do something stupidly macho and masculine to make up for it," Will laughed as they all headed for the parking lot, the girls chatting in the lead. Sara was supposed to be picking them up with the car. Ren and Lia were both staying with her for the visit– at least until after the wedding. After that Ethan knew Will and Ren had a nice suite booked at the best hotel in town, where they wouldn't be bothered for a few days.

"I'll make sure to tell Dad to invite the Strong Arm Alchemist over," Ethan chuckled; macho and masculine indeed.

"Oh we'll see him at the wedding I'm sure," Will replied and Ethan thought, for a moment, his cousin looked a little less than thrilled.

"Something wrong?" Ethan asked, slowing his pace just a bit. "Don't tell me you're getting nervous now."

Will shrugged. "Why not? I'm not worried about Ren, but I have to admit this whole international State level affair thing has me terrified. I mean the Emperor of Xing and full retinue is coming to Amestris for the first time since anyone alive can remember, and it's all because I was crazy enough to ask to marry his sister."

"But you know that before you asked," Ethan pointed out, though he did feel sympathy for his cousin. "Let the big-wigs at Headquarters and the Assembly make a big deal out of the visit. It's not like they're all invited to the wedding."

"If they were I'd probably die," Will snorted. "I figured I'd be more nervous about making that permanent commitment or something; not dealing with the logistics."

"Just think of it as Mao, Jiu, Mei and the family coming for a visit," Ethan suggested. "Forget this Emperor of Xing business. That's for President Breda to deal with. All you have to worry about is getting Ren out of her dress on your wedding night."

"Ethan!" Will gasped, looking stunned and all together bemused. "I can't believe you finally have the guts to say something that suggestive."

Not the gall to suggest it; the guts to say it. Ethan smirked, this time pulling off cocky perfectly. "Well it got you smiling again didn't it?"

Sara was waiting for them as promised, with Trisha – now three years old – grinning in her car seat in the back. "Hello little princess," Ethan grinned at his niece as he slid into the back beside her.
"Unca Ethan!" Trisha giggled.

"What, I don't rate a greeting anymore?" Sara turned around and smirked at him.

"Thanks for the pick-up, Sis," Ethan grinned back.

The others chorused the thank you as everyone loaded bags in the trunk and piled in. Sara and Franz's car was a little smaller than Ed's or Al's and Ethan found himself a little squished next to Will. Lia and Ren got to sit up front with Sara.

"There'd be more room back here if I was next to something smaller," Ethan mock-griped, referring of course to Lia.

Ren giggled and Will snorted. "No one's scrawnier than you, Ethan," he cousin replied.

Sara chuckled as they pulled out of the lot and got on the road. "It's nice to hear the snide remarks and family banter. You look good, Will."

Will smiled. "Thanks, nice to know someone noticed. My lovely conscience likes to remind me I have to fit in my suit at the end of this week."

"Does that mean you're free to pig out after?" Ethan asked. Actually, knowing Will had an appetite to rival any Elric when he was nervous – or performing alchemy like the rest of them – his cousin was looking as fit as ever.

"It means she reminds me of the things I keep thinking I should do, and making sure I behave," Will countered, though he smiled fondly in Ren's direction.

"Sounds like you two won't have to do much adjustment when it comes to marriage then," Sara grinned. "Ren's already got you trained."

"Oh I assure you, he was already well trained when I met him," Ren commented, sounding amused and perhaps slightly smug. "He simply needed a little refresher course."

"Well he got that," Lia quipped playfully. "I'm so glad we got in when we did. Now, when is your family arriving?"

"On Tuesday," Ren replied, sounding even more excited. "I can't wait for them to get here."

"I still can hardly believe your family is bringing their own train," Will said with a shake of his head.

"It's a small train, dear," Ren smiled over her shoulder at him. "Besides, it was easier to load up everyone coming from Xing on one train and check things at the border than have everyone come through customs all scattered." It made sense considering that –as much as Ethan was sure Mao would have preferred a small private trip – they were bringing the entire Imperial family, as well as friends and relatives of Ren's that were not the immediate family, and any retinue required by Xingese tradition to accompany the Emperor; including his elite personal guard.
"It also makes for an impressive entrance," Sara added with a knowing smile Ethan could see reflected in the rear-view mirror. "Headquarters is in an uproar getting ready for the State visit. It's an historical event all by itself. After the wedding's over I expect half of Amestris will forget all about you two while everyone's focusing on what Mao is up to. There's sure to be further negotiations, a huge State dinner they've scheduled in place of the usual New Year's party, and who knows what else."

"I'm good with being forgotten about," Will chuckled, looking honestly relieved. "At least by most everyone."

"Good," Ren replied. "I, for one, think you will be very memorable."

Sara sighed. "I am so glad the two of you will not be rooming at my place after that. I love you both, but I don't think I could take the sugar content."

"Or the noise," Lia giggled.

Sara smirked even as she and Ethan spoke in unison, "That too."

The light banter lasted until they reached Sara's house and Will and Ethan lugged Ren and Lia's bags upstairs to their rooms. Ethan was just glad neither was in the habit of packing heavily.
"My parents are bringing anything else I might need," Ren chuckled when he commented.

"Though you had your dress made here didn't you?" Lia asked as they all sat around the kitchen table drinking tea and sodas.

"I did," Ren sipped her tea. "Gracia knew a fantastic seamstress in town who was able to do exactly what I wanted. I need to go in tomorrow and do a last fitting and make sure everything's perfect."

"I'm sure it will be," Will smirked. "Unless you're too small for it."

Ren lifting her chin just slightly and gave him a prim look. "Some of us do not find it difficult to maintain a size, William."

"That's because you never eat anything," Will teased back.

"Are they always this bad?" Sara asked Ethan and Lia, though she clearly knew the answer.

"Worse," Ethan laughed. "Where's Franz?"
"At Headquarters," Sara stuck her tongue out briefly in irritation. "I said its crazy over there didn't I? They've got all the staff in the President's Office, the Event Coordination office, the Assembly, running overtime getting things ready. He'll be home for dinner though."

"Good," Ethan nodded. "We're over at Mom and Dad's for dinner right?" Aldon, Cassie, and the four boys had all arrived by train a few days before if their train came in on time.

Sara nodded. "You're in for quite a time," she smiled. "The house is packed." With their parents, Aldon's crew, Tore, and Ethan and the dogs it was going to be pretty full.

"Well Dad saved me my room, I'm not giving it up," Ethan replied, sipping his cream soda.

"Lucky," Will chuckled. "Mom and Dad remodeled my room and gave it to Grandma. Then when Alyse moved out they turned her room into a guest room. At least I get that much."

"It's better than the couch," Sara pointed out with a smug expression. "And that's all you'd get over here. I don't think either of my houseguests is going to be sharing."

Ethan ignored his ears. No, they weren't turning pink. Really. "Not for a while," was the best reply he could manage, and just hoped his sister wouldn't get nosy. Not with Lia in the room. After years of Sara and Aldon's teasing about Lia, now that he had admitted they were right they had actually lain off a lot, but he knew they wanted to know about their little brother's life and, well, he didn't always want to share.

Sara let it be and soon they were all absorbed in a conversation about Will and Ren's research and travel over the past year. Ethan was soon too wrapped up in hearing about his attempts to find information on the nature of souls and the workings behind soul attachments to think about anything else. It was just nice to be home with friends and family.

December 16th, 1957

The arrival of the Xing Imperial family – and attendants and following retinue of relatives, family friends, and other people invited to weddings of the Imperial family – was greeted with more fanfare and pomp than any visiting dignitary in the past two generations! No one questioned the unusual amount of preparation to make certain that a welcome was befitting of more than a delegate – but the Emperor himself! The train disembarking was guarded by ranks of Central officers to keep things private and quiet until Mao and his family could enter the cars provided to drive them to the established Xing Embassy within Central – a large estate no smaller than the Armstrong's in-town manor.

The real greeting occurred in the safe confines of the Embassy grounds. President Breda, select members of the Assembly, and a few specific officers had been chosen as the welcoming party, and Breda –true to form- kept the entire thing short and sweet. Though he looked truly relieved when his initial greeting was met by Mao's grinning face as he stepped forward and offered Breda a hearty handshake. Edward did his best not to smile too big.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to finally meet you in person, President Breda" Mao chuckled, "And especially pleased to do so with such a non-political excuse."

Breda relaxed, grinning back. "We're glad to have you." He seemed unsure how formally to address the Emperor at this point.

"Mao is fine," he replied easily. "This is what our mutual friends call me after all." He was, of course, referring to Ed, Winry, Al, and Roy for the most part.

"Breda's good," Breda replied. So few people called him by his first name anyway, and Mao apparently understood this.

The rest of the family – and critical political – introductions were quickly handled, and then the Imperial family went inside, where the important hellos really took place.

::Mother!:: Ren nearly catapulted into Mei as the two women locked into a hug.

::Renxiang,:: Mei embraced her tightly. ::I have missed you.::

"Hello, Mao," Ed grinned as he shook the Emperor's hand, taking his cue from Mao's earlier chose of customary greetings to use. "It's good to see you again."

"And you, Edward," Mao grinned. "You look well, both of you," he added as Winry joined them. "My mother will be glad to say hello to you both when she finishes squashing my little sister."

"I'm sure," Ed chuckled. "She sure seems happy about this."

"We both are," Mao shrugged slightly. "We could not have found a better match for my sister if we had tried, and likely not in all of Xing. She is too much like my mother in spirit."

Ed glanced over as Mei gave Will a warm hug as well. "So how did you ever explain this to your people so it seemed like an acceptable match for a Xingese Princess?" he asked curiously.

Mao's grin became slightly smug. "My people are used to thinking in terms of rank, so since your country does not have nobility, I simply explained it in terms of equivalent rank. I hope no one in your family minds being considered the next thing to royalty. Also, great military leaders and cultural heroes are greatly respected in Xing. The noble house of Elric was more than an appropriate match in station for a woman of Xian. This makes your family kin to ours, and since no family would allow even a daughter or sister to marry below station, that must make our families equivalent."

"I like it," Ed nodded approvingly. "Feel like royalty?" he teased Winry, turning to wink at her.

Winry chuckled. "No more than usual," she quipped back.

Mei, Will, and Ren joined them as Alphonse and Elicia managed to pull away from where they were talking with Breda. Al grinned and he and Mao shook hands as well. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Elicia," he smiled.

Elicia – who was the only one of their generation in the family who had not met Ren's family – smiled as confidently as ever and offered a polite inclination of her head. "The honor is mine," she smiled. "Your sister has re-civilized my son."

Mei laughed, taking Elicia's hands in hers. "As your son calms my daughter. I have wanted so long to meet you."

Within moments Mei, Winry, and Elicia were chatting like old friends.

"That didn't take long," Ed commented softly to Al.

"I didn't think it would," Al replied.

::So what do you think?:: Ed turned to ask Old Bao, who had stood quietly by – as was his usual way – and watched with a quiet smile.

Bao smiled at Edward with clear amusement. "I have never been to Amestris and my great-granddaughter is getting married. You think I was going to die and miss this trip?"

Ed had his mouth halfway open to reply before he froze. "You speak Amestrian!"

"Some," Bao chuckled, his voice and accent pleasant and soft, like a reed instrument. "It has been a long time, so it seemed prudent to practice before coming."

"Wise as always," Al agreed easily. "I'm glad you're here, Sir."

"As am I," Bao chuckled. "I am grateful each day that I have awakened to see another morning."

Ed realized then why he was almost surprised that Bao was here and still walking under his own power, though he used his cane more than Ed remembered. The man was what, a hundred and ten years old now? "You know," he said with a chuckle, "that's a good attitude to have." It wouldn't hurt him to take that attitude a little more often, consciously. He looked around, realizing that Mei and Will had already vanished with Jiu and the children presumably to show them their rooms. Or so Ed guessed.

"It is one I adopted years ago," Bao continued with a smile. "But come, let us explore this lovely place. I feel quite at home here already."

The Xing Embassy was decorated, unsurprisingly, in Xingese antiques despite the clearly Amestrian architecture. The house had been up for sale when they were looking for a place for their embassy and it had clearly been a good fit, despite being mostly empty save for a couple of dignitaries.

"We know where your rooms are," Al spoke up. "Would you like to see them first?"

Bao straightened up a little, a couple of joins cracking as he moved forward. "That, I think, sounds like a fine idea."

December 18th, 1957

Within two days it seemed as if the Xian family had been living in Central for, well… weeks maybe. If nothing else, Will was relieved that his fiancée's family seemed surprisingly at home in the house they were staying in. Grand as it was, it was far from palatial; at least by Xingese standards. It was still one of the biggest, fanciest houses Will had ever seen, and big enough to house the entire delegation from Xing including family friends. Ren and Will spent a decent amount of time showing Ren's friends – now his as well – from Xing around Central, leaving the older generation to, well, the older generation! It was easier that way. Will's best college buddies – Jeff and Hamish – arrived the day after Ren's family and they, with a couple of Will's best friends from high school that he still kept in touch with, completed the gaggle of twenty-somethings that spent their time between houses and sites, catching up and having a good time.

That afternoon, however, there was something important that Will was looking forward to, even though it made him a little nervous. In all of the hustle and bustle of planning a year ago, and Ren talking about the plans – and writing and calling back and forth with Alyse – there had been a lot of Xingese traditions brought in as well as Amestrian. Perhaps the most important was what Ren had called a Unity Ceremony. It was a tea ceremony in which only the immediate families of the betrothed couple took part, meant to symbolize the peaceful unification of two families.
Despite looking forward to it, Will understood what a big deal it was and only hoped that things went the way they were supposed to.

"Relax, Will," Alyse smiled as Will led his family toward the one area of the Xingese Embassy grounds that was private and sacred; the gardens and tea building that had been built immediately upon the purchase of the grounds several years ago. For this, they were all in traditional Xingese dress as well; a gift from Ren's family. Will liked the colors; they seemed to match his family well. His mother's was a light leaf green with golden silk edging and embroidery in a floral design. His father's a darker green with darker gold in a similar style, embroidered with dragons. Alyse's had panels of gold and a bluish-green, a little more playful, though the embroidery was floral like their mother's. Gracia – as the esteemed grandmother – was there as well, and hers was in both the light green and the bluish-green dyed in an intricate fade with golden edging and embroidery in the design of the spreading branches of cherry trees in bloom.

Will's was a bit different. The colors of the Imperial family of Xing were gold and red primarily, but also black. The robe Ren had left for him this morning was an even darker green than his father's, an emerald so deep it had looked nearly black until Will held it up to the light, when it shown with a surprising vividness! The edgings and embroidery were gold again – dragons like his father's – but within the details, the finger points, and in some of the piping, there was a deep red as well.

They were greeted at the entrance to the gardens by one of Mao's personal attendants and escorted through the dormant garden to the little tea house in the center by a pond.

Will had been told they did not have to remain silent, but something about the place made him un-inclined to speak. At least, that was, until he saw Ren waiting for him in a robe of brilliant scarlet and a rich plum purple like a sunset beneath the golden embroidery. She came forward to meet them all, smiling. "Welcome," she took Will's hands in hers. She spoke to them all, but her eyes were riveted to his. "I am so delighted that you all wished to take part. It means so much to my family."

"We're looking forward to it," Elicia assured her.

"I had heard there are other things sometimes done in place of the ceremony," Al commented curiously.

"Well it was this or real combat with my brother," Ren giggled. "Usually that is reserved for less agreeable parties, or more hot-headed ones."
They all went inside and everyone quieted, though there were smiles all around. Ren had explained how the ceremony worked to Will and his family in advance so they had a good idea of what to do. Old Bao was performing the ceremony in question, and they sat in a circle with him at the head of the room and put Gracia in the place of honor at the other end. Will and Ren were each placed on either side of Bao, and then the family members were lined up in order of generation with those closest to that age beside their siblings and the eldest at the other end. So Alyse sat beside her brother, then her mother and father beside. Jiu then Mao sat beside Ren, with Mei after. The three children – being young – had the option of not attending and were happily playing elsewhere!

The ceremony itself was surprisingly simple and yet elegance in that simplicity. Old Bao carefully prepared the tea from scratch; grinding and then steeping and carefully preparing the first cup – a tea of blended spices from which first Ren drank and then it was carefully passed around the circle with each member of both families taking a small sip. Then a second cup traveled the circle in the opposite direction. From there an almost intricate dance began as Mei – in place of her departed husband – shared a drink with Alphonse – and then Gracia and Old Bao one as well, and so on for those across from each other. Finally, Ren and Will did the same. He felt his heart flutter as her eyes met his above the cup as it passed between them.
Then the passing continued, until every person had sipped from every cup, and shared with each other member of the opposite family. In the end, everyone had a mostly empty cup sitting in front of them and no way to tell who each cup had originated with.
As simple as the pattern really was, it took an hour to complete the entire ceremony properly. Yet to Will it did not feel all that long. It was peaceful and pleasant, especially after the constant rush of the past few days. It unified families, but also the heart and spirit; Will felt more centered and calm.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Old Bao smiled and reached for a fuller pot of apparently already brewed tea. "So, who's thirsty?"

The laughter which followed was a harmonious sound all its own.