"You agreed to this," Ed pointed out a bit sullenly as Roy hesitated at the entrance.

"I agreed assuming that it wouldn't kill me."

"It's not going to kill you."

"You say that, but I don't quite trust that. Is it even safe?"

"You always ask that, and I always say 'it is', so why do you even bother?"

Roy muttered under his breath, "Maybe because I hope one day you find something a little less dangerous to do on our dates."

"Well, I thought as an anniversary thing ma-bob we could go to where we had our first date – the amusement park! They've improved it, see?"

"I see that they added more contraptions."

"Contraptions," Ed snorted, "Do you know how old you sound?"

Roy raised an eyebrow, "But you like it when I'm like that."

Ed narrowed his eyes. "You promised you'd take me on one ride, and this is the ride I chose!"

Roy heaved a sigh and glanced a final time at the sign that read, 'Magic Carpet Rides Here!' It couldn't be that bad, could it? Roy found his hand snagged by Ed, who as usual, hauled him along at a quick pace. Sometimes Roy had to remind himself that Ed was still a child in the eyes of the law. At seventeen Ed was unable to vote, to drink, to do many things that Roy could do, and Roy realized that it meant Ed still looked at the world from a different perspective. Not to say that Ed wasn't mature, he was. But Ed still had some innocence left, and innocence Roy was willing to protect. The young man had never had to kill and Roy would kill to protect Ed from ever having to do so.

What morbid thoughts for a date, Roy thought. He rubbed his fingers across Ed's hand and gave it a little squeeze. I'd do anything for you, and you may not even realize it.

Ed came to a halt in front of the gate and waved at the operator who was shaking his head and replying to what looked like a maintenance engineer.

Ed's eyebrow flicked up as the operator came over.

"I'm sorry, sirs, but the ride is closed. There was an accident earlier, one of the gears broke."

Ed's mouth turned down into a pout, and Roy resisted laughing…and then realized his good fortune. They turned away, Roy gleefully and Ed sulking.

"Come on, Edward," he said, "I have an idea."

Ed cocked his head to the side curiously, but followed in Roy's footsteps as dusk set in. Roy led them to the dance platform as music began to play.

"No, I don't dance!" Ed complained sharply.

Roy smiled and took Edward into his arms. "Close your eyes," he murmured against Edward's ear, "and listen to my breathing and match it."

Reluctantly Ed closed his eyes and felt the crispness in the air, felt Roy's chest rise and the heat of Roy's breath against his cheek.

"I know you wanted to 'fly'," Ed snorted at this, but Roy continued, "but you don't necessarily have to be in the air to 'fly'. Sometimes your heart soars just being with another person."

Ed jerked his head back, his eyes narrowed. "Now not only are you an old pervert, you are a corny one too."

Roy laughed against Ed's ear. "Well then, how about we go home?"

Ed squinted at him. "No, let's stay for a while longer. This is nice."

Roy grinned and thought to himself, For whatever reason he always gets sentimental in amusement parks.