May 10th, 1968

"Well don't you two look like a pair of smug cats," Elicia laughed as she hugged first Alphonse, then William, as they came in through the front door, returning from their long-planned research trip. "Did you learn anything interesting?"

"A few things," Al laughed, hugging her back. "But somehow I don't think you really want us to start babbling alchemical philosophy at you first thing in the door." It never was. He had learned that very early on in their marriage. His wife would sit and listen patiently to all of it, but it wasn't something she enjoyed for more than maybe an hour at a time.

"How did you know?" Elicia feigned shock. "Why don't you two get the dust off your feet and sit down. Then you can tell us all about it."

"Us?" Will looked around curiously.

"Well Mom," Elicia grinned. "Ren and the kids are on their way over, and Cal, Alyse, and Gloria should be here in time for dinner."

"Oh good," Al grinned. "I've missed having a full house."

"What, I'm not enough company for you anymore?" Will asked, looking half hurt.

Al didn't buy it for a second. "Sorry, kid. Sometimes a man needs the company of his wife."

Will laughed. "Yeah, I think I've figured that out by now, thanks."

"It's about time you did."

Al turned and spotted his daughter-in-law standing in the doorway behind them. She had excellent timing, as always.

Will spun on his heels and embraced his wife as the kids darted in through the door. "My delight," he chuckled, kissing her. "You've never been lovelier."

"Liar," Ren giggled.

"Would it be better if I said you looked quite voluptuous and fertile?" Will grinned wickedly.

Roughly a month away from her due date with their third child, Ren certainly qualified as both. Even their couple-of-months excursion out of town made the differences more apparent. Al was too smart to comment however.

Ren rolled her eyes. "I think I prefer lovely."

"Daddy!" Minxia tackled Will, Michio mirroring her against the other side. "Did you have fun? Did you see anything cool?"

"Did you bring us anything?" Michio blurted excitedly.

"Is that how you show your father you're glad to see him?" Ren scolded.

Will laughed and scooped Michio up in his arms. "Maybe I did," he replied, eyes twinkling merrily. "But I only bring presents to good kids. Were you good for Mom while I was gone?"

Michio looked nervous.

"He was just fine," Ren assured him, chuckling. "They both were."

"Well I'm glad to hear it," Will nodded. "Then if you two will scamper in to the living room, maybe I'll see what I have in my bags, okay?"

"Okay!" Michio wriggled down and he and Minxia hurried out of the entryway.

"Well they're enthusiastic," Al chuckled.

"They need someone to romp with," Ren sighed, smiling good-naturedly. "I'm afraid our house is a little chaotic right now."

"Will can handle it," Elicia smirked.

"I'll help," Al offered, smiling as they all headed into the living room. He enjoyed playtime with the grandkids. "Better than them taking Will apart in their excitement anyway."

"That's for sure," Ren giggled. "Thanks."

"Before or after you relax from the trip?" Elicia asked.

On the couch, Will had both kids clinging to him as he offered small packages from his suitcase.

Al chuckled. "Before, if I want to have a living son at the end of the night."

Elicia kissed him. "You're such a considerate father."

May 13th, 1968

It was rare for Breda to be so excited to see someone, but it wasn't often that Charisa came home, or that she was mere months from getting married! His little girl was going to be a bride.

Not that she was really a little girl anymore. Now she was finished with her legal education at University and coming home to work in government the way she had planned for years.

That was one of the few reasons Breda would ever be happy to be standing at the Central Station platform at nine in the evening. "Danged train's late."

"Well it's a pretty long trip," Nancy chuckled, patting his arm. "Patience, Heymans. She'll be here."

"Good," Niam stretched and stuffed his hands back in his letterman jacket. "I had to break a date for this."

Nancy shook her head. "I'm sure Denise understands. Charisa is your sister after all, and she hasn't been home in quite a while."

"Yeah, I know Mom," Niam chuckled. "She's cool with it."

"Good," Breda glanced over –and up- at his son. "She's coming to the wedding right?"

"Of course," Niam grinned, "As if I'd invite anyone else."

"Should we be getting used to having her around?" Nancy asked.

Breda watched his son's fair skin turn pink. "When you need to know, I'll tell you," he replied vaguely.

Breda chuckled and turned his attention back to the tracks. Was that? Yes…in the distance, the sound of the train whistle. "Well I look forward to getting that intelligence report," he commented glibly. Discussion stilled with the anticipation as the train pulled into the station and came to a halt, billowing smoke in the night air. It was only a few minutes before a flash of red hair emerged through the crowd, and Breda found himself bear-hugging his daughter. "Welcome home."

"Thanks Dad," Charisa hugged him back just as tightly, beaming as she let go only long enough to hug Nancy, then Niam. "Wow, am I glad to be off the train. That trip never seems to get shorter."

"Yeah that extra twenty minutes late must be killer," Niam laughed. "Want me to take your bag?"

"Thanks, Niam," Charisa handed her suitcase over, before turning back to Breda. "Okay, probably a weird question but… have you been working out?"

Breda felt a mixed sensation of amusement and slight pride as he shrugged as casually as he could manage. "Some. A guy only gets one shot at walking his little girl down the aisle. I'd hate to embarrass you."

It earned him another firm bear-hug. "You could never embarrass me, Daddy," she replied adamantly. "But I do appreciate it," she added with a wink. Then she turned back to Niam and asked him a question about his girlfriend.

As they headed for the car, Nancy took Breda's arm and smiled. "I told you she'd notice."

May 17th, 1968

Alyse hurried up the stairs to the house, feeling exhausted but happy. "I'm home," she called out as she hung up her purse and headed up to the main level. "Sorry I'm a little late. We ran over." She enjoyed the work-out classes she'd enrolled in at the local gymnasium however, and couldn't really feel too guilty about them even if they were after she got done with work three evenings a week.

Mostly, she felt guilty leaving Cal to pick up Gloria from her folks' place and get dinner going, even though he insisted that he didn't mind.

"Don't worry about it," Cal chuckled poking his head out of the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready."

"It's so quiet," Alyse chuckled as she crossed the living room. "Where's Gloria?"

"Our little angel's right here," Cal stepped further into view. He had her strapped on in the little chest-height carrier. Gloria smiled and giggled. She always enjoyed being able to look around. "She's been helping me cook, haven't you?"

"And just how has that worked out?" Alyse kissed her daughter's cheek, then Cal's.

"Mostly she hands me the spice bottles, and then I take them away before she can spice things herself," Cal admitted. "But I think we got a pretty good pasta with a creamy white cheese sauce out of it."

"Sounds good," Alyse agreed, her stomach rumbling. "Does she need feeding first?"

"I don't think so." Cal looked thoughtfully down at Gloria, who was clearly content at the moment. "She had a little snack of mashed veggies and hot cereal earlier. She'll probably be okay until you've eaten."

"Thank goodness!" Alyse had been so happy when Gloria was finally recently declared old enough to start on bits of soft baby-appropriate foods. While she still breastfed quite a bit, she slept longer – almost always through the night – and wasn't quite as demanding about getting at Alyse's chest every couple of hours; not surprising since she was only a little over four months old. "Dinner smells delicious."

"Well, you know, I've been learning from you," Cal winked and slipped an arm around her shoulder. "My cooking was bound to get pretty good sooner or later."

"I've always thought it was pretty good to begin with," Alyse pointed out. Simple as the meals he'd prepared for her had been when they started going out, they had always been tasty. "What's that other thing I smell?" It was definitely a vegetable.

"Steamed asparagus," Cal said. "Simple, but I thought it would go well with the pasta and the sauce."

Healthy too. Alyse smiled. "Great. I'll get cleaned up then, if I have time?"

"It'll be another five to ten minutes," Cal assured her. "You've got time to wash up and change."

She'd just have to save a long shower for after. That was okay. "Thanks," she replied, appreciatively. "I need it!"

"Oh I don't know," Cal teased as he let her go. "I kind of like you hot and sweaty."

Alyse shook her head. "Do you really want your daughter to know that?"

"She doesn't understand," Cal pointed out.

"Not yet," Alyse agreed. "But the first clue you have that she does will be the day she manages to repeat it." Thank goodness that was still a ways off.

Cal looked less amused.

Alyse hurried up the next level to the bedrooms and changed and brushed her hair. She had only been back at work a couple of weeks, and working out heavily a couple of weeks, but she was glad to be back at both! She wasn't even working full hours, but it gave her time to talk to adults, and it made her appreciate time at home with Cal and Gloria even more.

She was just grateful that every day Cal seemed to grow easier around the baby, and more comfortable taking care of her. There was no doubt he loved her of course. His favorite baby-duty seemed to be rocking her to sleep.

When Alyse got back downstairs, dinner was on the table, and Gloria was comfortably settled in the clever little infant-safe chair Aunt Winry had designed and built for them. It adjusted to hold infants and would shift to a regular baby chair when Gloria could sit up on her own. "You're amazing," she smiled as she sat down across from Cal.

"And we're not even in bed yet," Cal quipped.

Alyse resisted the urge to fling a noodle in his face. Instead she wrinkled her nose at him. "Daughter."

Cal snickered. "At four months I promise she isn't going to understand if I flirt in front of her."

"Better to get into practice now," Alyse chuckled, taking a bite.

"So does that mean I will or won't get to enjoy playtime for good behavior later?" Cal asked.

"I'm not sure that qualifies as good behavior," Alyse replied, amused. "But I could always use a little help scrubbing my back during my shower." It was at least the start of an offering. Cal had been so patient and understanding when she was pregnant, and right after when she was sore and sensitive. Now, she knew he was getting impatient. Not that they hadn't enjoyed intimate moments since Gloria was born, but not many, and in truth, her chest was so sensitive lately that it made things awkward.

"Sounds like a good time to me," Cal smiled, apparently happy to take what he could get, and began to eat contentedly.

"So did anything interesting happen today?" Alyse asked curiously after they were nearly finished.

"Actually yeah," Cal nodded. "When I got home, Maes called."

"Well, that is interesting," Alyse looked at him. She hadn't heard too much about the Mustangs lately save whatever her parents happened to bring up. "What did he want?"

"To invite us over for dinner," Cal replied. "Apparently he's finally ready to start socializing with the world again."

"Well that's good!" Alyse smiled. She was really glad to hear it. Trouble as he was, she had always liked Maes, and especially Elena. She ran into Elena at Headquarters every once in a while, and they had a lot in common. "When are we going over there?"

"Saturday," Cal said. "If that works for you I mean."

"Sounds great," Alyse assured him. Given her work, sometimes she had client meetings on weekends, but not lately. "It'll be fun."

"Speaking of fun?"

From the glint in his eye, Alyse knew Cal's thoughts were already back on the then and now… and her. "After Gloria's had her share and falls asleep," Alyse winked at him.

Cal nodded. "So feed her and I'll walk her to sleep."

Alyse couldn't help chuckling. "You do domestic pretty well, you know that?"

He looked momentarily embarrassed, but a moment later the expression was replaced by a slightly too-cocky grin, and she knew he was playing. "Hey, anything to get some right?"

May 20th, 1968

There was one positive to getting up early on a Saturday morning; Tore didn't find himself fighting three dozen shouting kids for space for Dare to play at the playground in the park. He preferred it when there were just a few people, and before it got too warm later in the day.

This morning he sat on a bench, watching Dare make chaos and abstract art in the sandbox. The one-and-a-half year old couldn't really make anything that resembled anything other than piles of sand, but he seemed quite happy to do it. Then he would run it all over with his favorite toy truck. My little demolitions expert.

He had to admit, he also really liked watching the early morning joggers. A lot of really pretty women went running in the park in the morning. Even if they rarely stopped to strike up any kind of conversation, Tore got a great view. This morning there had already been two blonds, a very athletic brunette, and one who looked at least half Aerugean, with long, luxurious black hair. His eyes caught sight of a flash of red and he turned. Coming towards him at a nice pace, long smooth strides, really hot curves in a tank top and running shorts that…

"Terrence?"

Hot curves that he knew too well. Tore managed not to look discomfited as he flashed her a smile. "Hi, Charisa. Long time no see."

Charisa slowed down, and came to a stop as she reached the bench, giving him a curious look. "That's an understatement," she admitted. "I finished school, so I'll be back in town now."

"I heard," Tore replied. "Congratulations." It felt so awkward to be speaking at all. After the mess with Cecilia, he'd been too ashamed of how he'd treated Charisa to say much, and she had been conveniently gone most of the time. "You're… getting married in July, right?"

Charisa nodded, and smiled. "We are. Raul will be in town next month, after he finishes up some business. I've been ridiculously busy with plans. I'm so glad Alyse was available, or I think I'd have lost my mind by now."

"Which explains how you have time to go running on a Saturday morning" Tore asked, lightly teasing; testing the waters.

"For sanity and the sake of my dress," Charisa quipped in return. "What are you doing out here by yourself this early anyway?"

Fair question. "I'm not by myself," Tore replied simply.

Charisa gave him an odd look, then followed his glance to the nearby sandbox, and her eyes widened. "Right…" the word came out softly. "I was told. He… he looks just like you."

"Yeah, I know," Tore replied. What was going through her head? If she'd been told, she had to know about what happened to Cecilia right? "Who told you?"

"My folks," Charisa came around and sat down on the other end of the short bench, still watching Dare play. "They were also the ones who told me about what happened with Cecilia." The name came out softly, as if she disliked saying it.

"Yeah? That was a while ago." Tore wished he knew where this was going. Talking to Charisa, of all people, about it seemed strange and uncomfortable. "The break-up anyway. I didn't know about the other until… until they called to tell me about Dare."

"So she really committed suicide?" Was that… sympathy in her eyes?

Tore nodded, and felt dumb. Charisa hadn't liked Cecilia, but that didn't make her heartless. "Yeah, last September."

"And she never left any clue as to why?"

"She didn't have to," Tore replied. "I mean, think about it. She had a sucky home life, lame friends who didn't support her, no self-esteem, a drinking problem, and then her fiancé chickened out and was too dumb to catch the hints that she was already pregnant." Who wouldn't want to end a life like that?

Charisa blanched. "One thing no one's been able to tell me… You don't have to if you don't want to but, why didn't you get married?"

"Fair question," Tore sighed. "Because I wasn't in love with her. We had some good times, but there was no way that relationship was going to last that way, and I couldn't see it going anywhere in a direction that was good for either one of us. I thought… I thought things would be better if I was honest about it, so I told her I didn't want to get married." His throat caught briefly. Better for him… but it hadn't done Cecilia any good, had it?

Charisa surprised him with sympathy. "Tore it's not your fault. You can't go through life thinking it is. It was almost two years later. She had plenty of issues that weren't your doing, that she never did work through."

Tore nodded; grateful for the support, even if it was kind of late. "Still, I don't know how I'll ever explain to Dare how this happened. His parents didn't get married, and then his mother abandoned him on his first birthday."

"He's got you," Charisa replied. "I think that's what will matter the most."

"And what kind of consolation is that? I still barely feel like know what I'm doing half the time." Tore shrugged. "I mean, we're getting along okay now. He's stopped crying for Ces every night."

Dare looked up at them both from the sandbox. "Daddy!" He waved, then got up and toddled over to the bench, looking up at Charisa curiously. Still, he went straight for Tore. "Up!" He held out his arms.

Tore smiled and did as the kid wanted. Dare liked to sit on his lap. "That good?"

"Yay!" Dare giggled. "Daddy, sand!" He pointed at the huge mound he had made, complete with two lumps that could almost be towers.

"Big sand," Tore agreed with a chuckle. "Good job. Does the truck roll on the sand?"

"Twuck sand boom!" Dare tossed his hands up and giggled. Then he looked at Charisa again. "Who?"

Charisa smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Charisa. It's nice to meet you Dare."

Dare looked at her hand, then grinned and grabbed it with both of his, shaking it firmly. "Hi 'Risa!"

She looked startled, and Tore didn't' blame her. It sounded just like what he used to call her. Face flushing, Tore looked at his son. "You gonna go finish the sand tower?"

"Yeah!" Dare let go of Charisa, hugged him, then scrambled down and toddled back towards the sandbox.

Charisa was smiling at him. "You know, you're pretty good at the Dad thing already. It's obvious you love him and he seems to feel the same way about you."

"I'm glad," Tore smiled weakly. "He's almost the only one. After everything I've put them through, I'm lucky Ed and Winry and the rest still consider me part of the family. I don't know what I'd do without them right now. I feel like such a loser sometimes."

"You're not a loser."

At that, he chuckled. "I'm not? Then tell me why this is the first time we've spoken in over two years?"

Charisa smiled back. "Because you can be an ass."

"And that's so much better," he smiled weakly before it faded. At least he could apologize. She was listening. "I'm really sorry. I know it may be worthless now, but I am. You were right about so many things and I said some terrible things to you. You were my best friend. You were – I'm sorry." He couldn't say the last part. He didn't have the right to.

But Charisa had caught his hesitation. "I was what?"

Well hell, what could it hurt now? The worst she could do was stop talking to him again. "The girl I wished all the others were," he admitted, looking her in the eyes. "When I asked you to go with me that summer… it was because I always hoped if nothing else we'd be as close as we were then. Well I totally screwed that up. Now… now I'd be happy if you'd just keep talking to me. I miss my best friend."

Charisa looked at him in silence for nearly a full minute. Then she smiled. "So do I. This is the first time I think I've seen him around in a few years."

He couldn't remember the last time it had happened, but Tore felt his face flush hot. "Does that mean you don't hate me?"

"I don't hate you, Tore. I just couldn't take the guy you turned into. You weren't at all the boy I knew, the nice guy I knew had to still be in there somewhere. But I can't make you be someone you don't want to be, and I wasn't here." She sighed. "I wasn't always understanding either, and I'm sorry for that."

"Well you know, all I did was prove your Dad right," Tore smirked self-depreciatingly. "He said I was the wrong guy for you. You deserve someone better."

"I'll decide who I do or do not deserve thank you very much," Charisa sniffed. Of course, she had already made her choice, and it wasn't him. "You're a good guy when you use your head. I… I'd like to be friends again."

Tore was sure his shock was clear on his face. He was too stunned to feel any other emotions yet. "You would?"

"If you want," Charisa added.

"I- um..yes!" Tore blurted out, a heady elation flooding through him. It was loud enough it startled Dare, who looked over at them. "I've missed you so much, but I thought you'd never forgive me."

"I didn't say I'd date you again," Charisa pointed out with a chuckle. "I'm getting married. But I haven't been around to be here for you, and I want to."

He'd definitely take friendship over nothing. It was already more than he'd hoped for lately. "Thanks, Charisa. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know, okay?"

"There is one thing," Charisa smiled. "When you get the wedding invitation I sent you in the mail… accept it."

"You…" She'd already invited him. "Wow, I… thanks." He hadn't even invited her to the one that hadn't happened. Of course, that had been because of Cecilia's animosity.

"You're welcome," Charisa chuckled as she stood up and stretched. "I need to get going. I've got a dress fitting in a couple of hours. See you around though, right?"

"You bet," Tore replied, smiling with genuine happiness. It wasn't romance; but it was a mending of a friendship he had thought ruined forever. Today was definitely a good day.

"Nice day to break out the grill," Cal commented as he followed Maes into the back yard of the Mustang house.

Maes grinned as he checked the charcoal, which was getting close to being ready for cooking. "Definitely. I like taking advantage of the good weather. We've been doing a lot of outdoor cooking this month."

"Which is why you look like you live in the back yard?" Cal teased. Actually, Maes looked pretty good; certainly better than even right after his return from Xing. He looked oddly laid-back in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. His hair was only a little longer than it had been when he was still with the State, barely a quarter inch, but it seemed more relaxed. That, and he was smiling. That definitely helped.

"There are worse places to live," Maes shrugged. "All right. I'd say we're ready to toss on the food."

"So what are we having?" Cal asked curiously.

"Aerugean style grill," Maes chuckled. "Shrimp, Steak, and a combination of vegetables and tropical fruit."

Cal looked at the kabobs curiously; pineapple huh? That sounded tasty. "Looks good."

"Tastes better," Maes assured him. "Elena's family used to have this all the time apparently, but we haven't had the grill until this year, so I've never tried making it until recently."

"So you're the new cook?" Cal asked, teasing a little.

"It was better than hiring one," Maes took it in stride and grinned back.

It was nice to see him just smile again. "That's true," Cal agreed. "So what else have you been doing with all that free time?"

"Keeping busy," Maes replied without even flinching. Apparently he'd gotten over the discharge thing too. "I've been teaching defensive technique classes down at the local gymnasium. Just a couple a week for different ages, but that's a lot of fun actually. I've also learned to play the guitar."

"Who knew you had musical talent," Cal chuckled.

Maes smirked. "Well Elena certainly enjoys it. There's a lot of really good Aerugean guitar music. Other than that, it's mostly around the house stuff; cooking, helping the kids do their homework."

"How's family life?" Cal wasn't sure if the question was too personal, but before Maes' failed suicide attempt, Cal had been half amazed he and Elena were even still married. Not that he ever dared voice that opinion. He didn't want them to split.

"Good," Maes replied as he set the meat on the grill first. "With the girls, it's almost like all that crap never happened. They forgave me almost at once, and ever since I got back they've just been happy we're home and a family."

"And Elena?" The woman in question was inside with the girls, Alyse, and Gloria. If Cal wanted to find out how that was going, now was the time to ask.

Maes glanced sideways at him before looking back at the food. "As pathetic as this might sound, I think our relationship is the best it's ever been. I mean, we had almost a year to work on it in Xing, so I'd hope so but… even when we were first married and deliriously happy, it was like living in dream. We never fought, and we had two adorable kids, and everything seemed like it was perfect. We'd survived the war, we were in love; I had a real chance at a career. Then reality ran us over." He flipped the shrimp, his smile slipping a bit. "After that, I just kind of felt like I was floundering a lot. We lost the baby. I screwed up… repeatedly. I just couldn't get past the guilt. It all built up, and I messed up more. I don't really know when I lost it, but we've had a lot of time to talk things out, work through the tough spots, and go at things with a clean conscience and a real plan for both of us."

The smile returned. "It's weird, but now that I can barely do alchemy, and I'm home, and not doing other things or trying to live up to something else, I'm happier, and I know that makes Elena happier. I can devote more time to the things that matter to me most."

"I'm glad to hear it," Cal clapped him on the back. "And I totally understand what you mean."

"Domesticity agrees with you too huh?" Maes smirked at him.

Cal nodded. "More than I used to think it would." There was one thing Maes hadn't mentioned however. "How's Roy?"

The smirk slipped. Maes checked the shrimp again. "Well, he enjoyed his fourteenth birthday," he replied, "And he's doing well in school, has a few good friends, and his alchemy's coming along really well. He's still working with Sara, and he's going to go spend a few weeks in Resembool with Fullmetal and Mrs. Elric after they come up for Charisa Breda's wedding."

"Sounds good," Cal nodded. "What about you guys? I know he was pretty mad at you."

"We're okay, just not as close as we used to be," Maes admitted. "I've tried, and we're civil. He's happy to do things with the family, and he doesn't really argue with me or anything. He just… he doesn't go out of his way to hang out, or ask me questions if he doesn't have to."

"Is he still mad?"

"No. I just think he's still disappointed, and I think he's afraid I'll explode at him or fall apart again." It was clear that Maes felt some residual guilt over breaking down right there in front of his son, the full brunt of his frustration and agony and anger – at himself – flung into his son's face.

Guilt and insecurity, distance from Dad… Cal understood these things. "He'll get over it," he replied confidently. "You're trying right? That's more than a lot of guys."

"Tell that to my son," Maes sighed, focusing on the steaks and putting on the first of the veggies as the shrimp came off.

"Maybe I will," Cal replied. "That is, if you don't mind, and at a more appropriate time. My old man and I never got along; compared to him, you're an angel."

Maes rolled his eyes. "Yeah, look at my wings."

"Maybe you should have a chat with Fullmetal while he's here," Cal suggested in all seriousness. "He and Ethan and the rest are as close as ever, despite the mess he was after Aerugo." He could speak now from full experience. He'd never seen a tighter knit family group, and he'd heard some pretty rough stories about that time even though he'd missed being there in person.

Maes looked thoughtful. "Yeah, maybe I should."

"Great," Cal grinned. That was enough for one day. "So enough with the serious talk. When do we eat?"