June 20th, 1957

Edward rarely had occasion to visit the Armstrong family estates, despite the fact that Alex had inherited them years ago and had never actually moved out the way his sisters had after they got married – or in Olivia's case, promoted. So the Strong Arm Alchemist still lived there with his wife, Cynthia.

Their two daughters – Alexandria Rose and Annabelle Louise – were both grown and married. Alexandria had married a wealthy businessman and moved to West City where she assisted him in his business and they had two sons. Annabelle had married a minor member of one of Creta's old noble families and moved to Pylos, where she was making a surprising splash on the international art scene with her paintings. She and her husband had one son and a daughter.

Edward knew a good deal more about Alex's daughters and their families; it was hard not to when Armstrong got talking about them because he could go on for hours. Perhaps fortunately for everyone, Alex had never had a son, and his wife – while as finely bred and of as long a lineage – was much less overpowering a personality!

So today was a rare occasion, but one certainly worth the effort of putting on a good suit; the Strong Arm Alchemist was finally retiring. Ed felt oddly nostalgic and a little sad, though it was ironic that he was actually going to miss interacting with the man every day. He was sure Alex would be around, but when someone was ready to get out – and Ed knew that Armstrong had considered it many times, especially back right after Ishbal – than it was time for it and they would celebrate in style!

Today was Armstrong's first day of retirement and in celebration his wife had invited friends and family and colleagues to share in that day. Fortunately, their home was more than big enough to handle that many people! Even just their very closest friends counted up to quite a number when extended family was included; Elrics, Heimlers, Mustangs, Feurys, Falmans, Bredas, Kanes, and a large number of other State Alchemists and military personnel, as well as some entirely non-military friends of the Armstrong family who Edward had never met or only in passing. Edward and Winry had Tore in tow as well, though the kid looked reasonably uncomfortable in a suit. Will and Ren happened to be passing through the area, and Ethan – with Lia, unsurprisingly – was home from college for the summer. The only Elrics not in attendance were Aldon and Cassie and their brood; given that Cassie was due to have their fourth child in the next few weeks travel had not been an option. Ed, Winry, and Tore were going to spend a few weeks in Resembool to help out and visit when the baby came.

Perhaps the only guest that made Ed a little edgy was Olivia. Both Catherine and Olivia – and Catherine's family – had come in to congratulate their brother. Ed wondered if Olivia had only shown up to be gracious and keep up appearances, or if she might actually have some affection for her only brother. Either way, Ed avoided the old bat. He was sure she wouldn't retire until the day she fell dead at her desk, and despite her age she still seemed far too vital for that to happen anytime soon.

"Edward, Winry, I am so glad you could make it today!" Ed found himself the victim of one of Armstrong's enthusiastic hugs as he stood near one of the buffet tables covered in delicacies.

"Thanks," Ed replied, trying not to sound as squished as he felt until the bigger man put him down. When he could breathe again he smiled. "Congratulations," he said even though he had done so a few times already. "So how does it feel to be officially retired?"

"Refreshingly relaxing," Alex smiled. "I do enjoy having the leisure to pursue enjoyable pastimes. Cynthia and I are planning a long Continental tour. Finally some time for pleasant, peaceful travel."

"Sounds great," Ed chuckled. "Maybe someday I'll have the sense to follow your example."

"Wouldn't that be something," Winry smirked beside him. "You know, Ed, a little travel that doesn't involve adventure and danger might be nice."

Ed replied with a casual shrug. "We're going to Resembool aren't we?" He was teasing her of course. He knew she meant more worldly travel. Most of what they had done in their lives when it came to going any distance was tied to a mission or goal of some sort. Rarely did they have a real vacation.

"That'll do for now," Winry acquiesced after a moment.

Armstrong chuckled. "You would be wise to consider it, Edward." Then someone waved the man in another direction, and Ed, Winry, and Tore headed into the crowd in another direction.

"So what do you think of the place?" Ed asked Tore.

"It's huge!" Tore exclaimed. He had looked a little wide-eyed since they pulled up and parked outside the estates earlier. "What I wouldn't have given to end up in a place like this when I was trying to make a living on the streets."

"Yeah well, I wouldn't mention that colorful bit of the recent past to any of the security guards," Ed chuckled, though it was a fair warning.

"Oh, right." Tore looked around surreptitiously.

"Like you never broke into a mansion," Winry snorted, nudging Ed in the ribs with one elbow.

Tore looked up at Ed sharply. "You what?"

"Rat," Ed shot at Winry before giving Tore a conspiratorial grin. "She's right. I've done a lot of less than legal things in the name of the state and a mission. Doesn't make it right though, even if it is a matter of necessity."

"Are you ever going to tell me those stories?" Tore asked skeptically.

"Sometime," Ed replied vaguely.

Tore rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I got it. Hey, do you mind if I go hang out with someone a little more…"

"Your age?" Ed finished the statement, taking no offense. "Sure, go ahead. Just stay out of trouble."

"I'll try," Tore grinned impishly then ducked off into the crowd heading for a group of kids about his age. Ed spotted Charisa Breda among them and knew everything would be fine. He knew most of the kids in the group. There wasn't likely to be any real trouble.

"So does he make the rest of us look like angels when we were kids?"

Ed turned, grinning, and enfolded his daughter in a brief hug. "No, you did that on your own."

Sara gave him a skeptical smile. "I'm not entirely sure I believe you, but thanks for the compliment. Some party isn't it?" For the occasion, Sara was out of uniform like everyone else, today dressed in a simple blouse and skirt in white and a rich plum color.

"It's what I've come to expect from Alex and Cynthia," Winry commented. Despite the few times they had been to the Armstrong estates, or to events hosted by them elsewhere, Ed had to admit they were consummate hosts. "And for an occasion like this, I wouldn't expect anything less."

"I think almost everyone I know is here," Sara nodded.

"Where's Franz?" Winry asked curiously.

"Over there," Sara gestured through the crowd, smiling. When Ed looked, Franz was chatting with Maes and Elena while Trisha and little Roy ran in circles around them. Théa, almost a year, clung to her mother's skirt and watched them with eager eyes that said she wanted to run after them but all she was likely to do was topple over if she tried.

"I can hardly believe they're expecting again," Winry commented softly.

Ed nodded. "That was quick," he agreed; less than two months at most from losing the last to conception judging from the recent announcement and from conversation with Roy and Riza. "Planned?" If anyone would know, it would be Sara.

"I think so," Sara replied cautiously. She looked a little concerned. "They're both happy about it, but Elena's been very cautious even though Maes told me the doctor said everything is fine."

"I can understand why," Winry commented softly. Ed squeezed her hand, remembering still the tense weeks leading up to Ethan's birth, when Winry had been ordered to bed rest to keep their little one from coming into the world too soon to survive. "I can scarcely imagine anything more painful than losing a child."

"They seem to be getting past it all right now," Sara confided. "Maes is just even more protective than usual, and Elena seems inclined to let him be that way."

"They'll probably settle down again after the baby comes," was Winry's pronouncement on the subject. "No worries about it getting here safely, and more time to move past what's happened."

Sara nodded. "I hope so. Maes has been so jumpy and tense, even at work. We've had them over a few times, but most of the time they just want to be at home together." Her concern for her friends was clear.

"It'll be all right," Ed assured her with a smile. "You'll see. So," he shifted subjects just a little to lighten the mood. "When are we gonna see another grandkid on your end? Your brother's about to be up on you four to one!"

"And it's going to stay that way a little longer," Sara chuckled wryly. "Aldon's crazy and we've got life settled the way we like it right now. Work during the day and family time in the evenings and weekends. I love my daughter but one toddler at a time please!"

Ed snickered. "We were fortunate that you three weren't right on top of each other, though Al and Elicia managed just fine with two close together, and my Mom did it almost entirely on her own. You'd be fine."

"I'm not anywhere near as patient as Aunt Elicia or Grandma Trisha," Sara shook her head matter-of-factly. "Right now we're happy the way things are."

"And that's what matters," Winry nodded.

As they watched, Trisha swung around Franz's legs to avoid her pursuing friend and practically started climbing her father's pants! He wobbled a little, then braced and scooped her up out of little Roy's reach. She squealed and grabbed as Franz settled her on his shoulders. Trisha giggled and grabbed tightly onto his hair and neck.

"I think it's my turn to rescue the dashing hero," Sara giggled as she headed off.

Ed watched his daughter rejoin her husband, scooping Trisha easily off Franz's shoulders and tickling her even as she set her back on the ground with a gentle admonition that was mirrored by the one Maes was giving his son.

"Missing those days?" Winry's comment was full of gentle amusement.

Ed put his arm around her waist. "Maybe a little. Life was easier then."

"Easier maybe…but better?"

Ed turned to look at his wife with a knowing smile. "That's not even remotely a fair question and you know it. Life was good then; life is good now. That's what matters. Come on," he steered her back towards the table. "I didn't get a slice of pie."

July 10th, 1957

The world was a much bigger place than Tore had realized. Oh, he understood numbers on maps and charts, but to really discover it for himself was a whole new experience. The train ride to Resembool was definitely an eye opener! He had never seen so much open land. Heck, he had never been out of Central. The parks were the closest thing to a forest or field he had ever seen outside of pictures and those did not even begin to capture the scope of the world beyond the city.

He was enraptured with the passing countryside and the smaller towns and cities they went through. So much was the same and yet not. When they changed trains for Resembool a couple of days South of Central, he was glad they had a few hours layover, because it meant he got to see a little of the city when they stopped at a restaurant for lunch and wandered down the main street. It was surprising how much he marveled at it, despite the similarities. Perhaps it was how at home he felt that amazed him most.

Resembool... was the emptiest place he had ever seen. When he stood on the platform for the first time all he could see in the distance was the hint of a village off to one side in the hills, a warehouse by the train station, and then a few houses speckling the hills. "It's so…empty."

"It's more than you could see from here when I was your age," Fullmetal smirked, then his eyes went blank a moment and he slapped his palm against his face. "I can't believe I just said that."

"Don't worry, honey," Mrs. Elric chuckled as she picked up her own suitcase. "I promise not to tell anyone."

"Thanks," Fullmetal smirked. He looked out across the landscape. "I'm a little surprised Aldon's not here to meet us."

"I'm sure there's a good reason for it," Winry replied as they walked out of the station and started up the dirt road. "He's probably at the house. I hope we haven't arrived too late."

Tore followed them down the road without commenting – a dirt road! He had never actually seen one, but he felt too foolish to say so and admit what felt like ignorance. It wasn't his fault he had never been out in the country. It was weird to try and picture the Elrics growing up out here though.

Scattered houses, sheep dotting the hillsides; it was a nice late afternoon, sunny and warm though not too hot. They walked along under the deep blue sky, dotted with clouds that looked – at least Tore thought – a lot like the sheep.

Tore did his best not to be nervous as he carried his pack along the unfamiliar road. He had seen pictures of Aldon Elric and his family and heard plenty of stories, but he had not yet met these members of the family and he only hoped that it would go well. After over half a year in Edward's home, Tore felt more settled than he had in twice that time before it. He had gotten used to being patient about his quest to find his mother. There was little to do now but wait for a lead.

He had a routine again, and time had simply proven what Charisa had told him; the Elrics were who they were and they would always make it clear where they stood with a person. Tore liked that. They treated him like a young man, but they did not treat him like a child. He had chores around the house, school work, and then his lessons in alchemy and training sessions with Fullmetal.

Aside from two incidents at school, Tore had mostly stayed out of trouble. The first was a fight in which Tore had played the protagonist, helping defend another kid that was getting picked on. For that he had gotten a lecture on appropriate use of force, followed by a sparring session that gave him better ways of handling it. The second time Tore had admitted that he'd lost his temper when the same bullies started teasing him about his height. Both Edward and Mrs. Elric had chuckled over that one, he'd been told he needed to learn not to respond to an enemy's gibes, and he got two days suspension from alchemy practice, though double the physical training. Strict but fair and consistent; Tore was good with that.

The house appeared on the hill above them and Tore watched it with interest. It was a big house, pretty, and it had a huge playground built to one side that was bigger than any Tore had ever seen in Central. Of course, Mrs. Elric had told him they had three grandsons who lived here and that Aldon designed and built things for a living, so perhaps he shouldn't be surprised. That thing was cool! He didn't care how old he was, he was going to enjoy climbing to the top and getting a good look around!

Fullmetal knocked on the door and Tore tried to relax, nerves twisting his stomach. New environment, new people… wait, he wasn't a coward! He screwed up his courage, and waited.

Winry was sure she had never seen her son looking so tired as when Aldon opened the door and smiled at them with two days growth on his face and bloodshot eyes. Still, the smile was warm and genuine. "Mom, Dad! It's so good to see you."

"And you," Winry stepped in, placing one hand on her son's face. "Though you look as if you haven't slept in days! We didn't miss the birth did we?" That was a large part of their coming out of course, though to help afterwards was the other main priority.

"I could almost wish," Aldon sighed, stepping back inside so they could enter. "And no, I haven't slept much in days. No one really has. Coran came home with a cold a few days ago, and now he's mostly over it but Art's got it. Urey's teething, and Cassie's been having mild contractions for two days but getting almost nowhere. Doc says she's fine; the baby's just taking its sweet time getting here. In the meanwhile, she can barely get comfortable enough to sleep." He wearily rattled off the list. "So Art's in bed, Cassie's lying down trying to get some rest, and I've got Coran trying to keep Urey entertained while I get something ready for us all to eat."

Ed gave his son a pat on the back. "Sounds like things have gotten pretty hectic since we left Central."

"No kidding," Aldon snorted.

Tore looked around the place. "Wow, nice place! Kinda messy though." Ed's fist dropped firmly onto Tore's head. "Owwww! Okay, sorry."

"Haven't had a lot of time to clean," Aldon apologized.

"Don't worry about it." Ed gave Tore one more dirty look, then smiled at his son. "There are more important things right now."

"It's not that bad," Winry assured him. Really it wasn't. She recalled days when their own house had looked worse!

"You want some tea or something?" Aldon offered, turning to head for the kitchen.

This… was Winry's element. It was time to take over and do what they came here to do; help. "Oh, sit down, Aldon!" She pointed him towards the easy chair. "You're exhausted! We came to make things easier for you all, let us do it."

"But I—" Aldon paused mid-objection, looked her in the eye, and smiled. "Yes, Mom."

"Smart boy," Ed chuckled as picked up Winry's bag. "Come on, Tore. Let's get settled upstairs and see what we can do to be helpful around here."

Winry watched Aldon until he had crashed in the chair. "That's better," she commented as she turned to look at the kitchen, which barely looked touched. "You look run ragged! Have you slept at all?" She asked questions as she started pulling out ingredients for food. Thank goodness they had the ingredients for a good hearty stew; maybe not Pinako's recipe, but good nonetheless.

"Not much," Aldon admitted tiredly. "Now that Coran's well he's a bundle of energy, but Art's been in bed mostly for two days. Neither of the younger boys are sleeping well, and I can't seem to make Cassie comfortable no matter what we try. Add keeping the house up…"

"No wonder you look overworked," Winry sighed. "Please tell me you haven't been operating machinery under these conditions?" She was only half joking.

"Haven't gotten a lick of work in all week," Aldon half complained. "Thanks for coming, Mom," he said again then, softer.

Winry turned and smiled again. "You're welcome. Why don't you catch a nap while I get dinner going?"

Aldon chuckled. "That's the plan. I hope you don't mind if I do it out here though. If I go back in the bedroom either I'll wake Cassie or she'll keep me up."

"I don't mind," Winry shook her head. It was better that way. She'd get dinner started, then go check on Cassie for herself and see how her poor daughter-in-law was faring!

There was a squeal upstairs and some loud thumping.

"It sounds like Coran found his Grandpa," Aldon commented, leaning back in the chair and kicking his feet up on the footrest. "I hope Tore doesn't think I'm rude," he added a moment later. "I completely forgot to say hi to the kid."

"I'm sure he'll understand," Winry soothed, beginning to chop vegetables. "He's actually very mature for his age when you get past all the qualities that remind me of your father."

Aldon chuckled again, though softer. He was definitely starting to drift off. "That's what Sara said."

Winry let the conversation die there and wasn't surprised when Aldon was out cold within a couple of minutes. Her poor boy. Winry listened to the sounds upstairs, able to tell who was doing what from the sounds they made. Edward put away their bags in the guest room, Tore's in the second guest room that was set up down the hall, and they had convened – she thought – in Coran and Reichart's room. She suspected that meant that Urey was with them too. That was good; the boys had new entertainment to keep them out of their parents' hair!

Winry worked quickly. It helped that she knew the house intimately, even with the changes that had been made since her son moved into it. Stew was on the stove in less than twenty minutes, then she moved on, doing the dishes that were piling up in the sink and picking up the scattered toys and other items that cluttered the living room. It was a sign of Aldon's exhaustion that he slept as she cleaned right around him.

She had just finished sweeping the dust out of the house when she heard a small surprised gasp and turned around to see Cassie standing in the doorway that led from the hall into the room. Cassie smiled tiredly. "Hello, Winry. I thought I heard you arrive."

A wave of sympathy hit Winry as she looked at her son's wife. It was rare to see Cassie so spent – not even when Winry had seen her in other pregnancies. Still, even if Winry hadn't known the baby was due imminently, on Cassie's slim frame her belly looked about ready to burst! "I didn't want to disturb you if you were resting," Winry smiled as she crossed the room and hugged Cassie, as awkward as the action proved to be. "How do you feel?" She asked as she stepped back.

"Like I'm going to explode," Cassie sighed, though she seemed in reasonably good spirits. One hand rubbed the side of her swollen stomach. "I've been having mild contractions for a couple of days. They're consistent, but they're driving me crazy."

"Well hopefully things will move along faster soon," Winry replied. "Were you able to get some rest?"
"Some," Cassie nodded. "Though it's catnaps at this point. None of the boys gave me this much trouble."

Winry giggled. "So maybe this one's a girl?"

Cassie chuckled but cut off with a wince. "Must be. If so she's going to be a feisty one." She looked around the living room again, with a short pause and a warm smile for her sleeping husband before she turned back to Winry. "Thanks. You work fast."

"It's what we're here for," Winry shrugged. "Edward and Tore are upstairs entertaining the boys. Or at least, that's what I gather from the lack of screaming and pounding."

"I'll thank them too, later," Cassie replied. "I'm looking forward to meeting Tore. We've heard so much about him. I know Coran was excited about having someone a little older to hang out with, especially with Art not feeling well."

"Oh I suspect they'll get along fine," Winry said as she turned back to the food preparations to check on the stew. "Tore even plays well with Trisha. He seems more comfortable with younger kids than he does with adults most of the time." She smiled as she stirred. "Trisha calls him cousin."

"Sara mentioned," Cassie chuckled, sitting down in a chair at the table. "I guess they're getting along."

"It seems so," Winry nodded. "I just wish I knew what they were all up to."

After wrangling eager, often bull-headed alchemists determined to pass the State Exam, a swarm of four young boys and two exuberant dogs was almost nothing for Edward to handle! After the initial tackle from Coran, Ed herded Coran and Urey into the bigger of the two bedrooms – where Coran and Reichart now slept, with Urey the only one in the nursery room, at least for a couple more days. Tore followed them.

"Hey there, kiddo," Ed smiled as he sat down on the edge of Reichart's bed.

"Grandpa!" The four-year-old boy's face lit up, despite the fact he did look like it was a pretty bad head cold. He sounded stuffy enough. "You're here."

"A special visit," Ed nodded, "just like I promised right? We're going to have plenty of fun while I'm here."

"But I'm sick," Reichart sighed, a dejected look coming to his face. "Daddy said I have to stay in bed."

"So we'll have fun up here," Ed promised, ruffling the kid's hair with one hand. "We can read stories and play games."

His face brightened again, and Urey seemed to like the idea too, even though the one-year-old barely understood what Ed was saying. He just toddled around the room, grinning. "Great!"

"Umm… do I have to stay?"

Ed looked up at Coran, who looked decidedly less enthusiastic with the proposition of spending more time cooped up entertaining his little brother. He chuckled. "Nah. Not if you don't want to. Why don't you take the dogs outside and show Tore around?"

Coran's face brightened immediately and even Tore looked slightly relieved. "Sure, I can do that. Come on," he waved to the dogs and they followed him out.

"Thanks," Tore smiled. "Nice to meet you, Art. We'll play later okay?"

"Okay." Reichart didn't seem to mind the two boys vacating. Ed guessed it was because it meant having his Grandpa almost all to himself. "What story are we going to read?" he asked when Tore left.

"Which one do you want?" Ed asked, looking over at the bookshelf.

"A long one!" Reichart giggled.

Ed chuckled and leaned over, pulling off an adventure story about pirates on the seas of Creta. "I think we can definitely accommodate that. Come here you," he scooped up Urey onto his lap. "You want to hear the story too?"

"Ya!" Urey giggled.

"All right," Ed grinned and flipped it open to the first page. He and Al had owned a copy of the book when they were kids and he knew it well. The boys always seemed to like hearing him read. Probably because he got really into it and even attempted voices. Ed was sure he could keep the boys distracted for at least an hour or two. "Once, long ago, on the high seas there was a pirate ship made of black wood. It was a big ship, with a blood red sail, and a crew as treasure hungry as ever there was. Their captain, known far and wide as the fierce pirate Caliban…"

Tore followed Coran back downstairs. Their first meeting had been brief and chaotic, given it included little Urey and the dogs. Now, Tore just hoped they would get along. Coran was about the same age as Charisa's little brother, so he figured that wasn't a problem.

It took a little longer to get outside than anticipated, since Coran's mother and Mrs. Elric were talking in the living room. They both stopped and smiled at the boys, and Tore froze for just a moment, eyes a little wide. He hadn't ever been around a lot of mothers other than his own and it was the first time he'd ever seen a pregnant woman up close. "H...hello, ma'am," he managed as he stifled the exclamation in his head.

"Hello, Tore, it's nice to meet you," Cassandra – Cassie, that was her name right? He thought – smiled. "Don't worry about formality. Just call me Cassie."

"O-okay." Tore smiled, and tried to relax a little, sure his expression gave away his thoughts. He didn't have to call Ethan and Sara by anything other than there names; so it made sense he could just call Aldon and Cassie by theirs. "It's nice to meet you too."

"Hi, Granny!" Coran tackled Mrs. Elric enthusiastically. "We're going to go outside for a while. Grandpa's reading Art and Urey a story."

"That's good," Mrs. Elric smiled, returning the hug before letting him go. "I won't keep you. Be sure to show Tore all the cool spots okay?"

"Oh I will," Coran grinned, then turned back to Tore. "Come on, let's go!"

Tore let himself be dragged outside, glad to be outside and away from adults for a while even if he wasn't entirely sure what there was to do outdoors. Though that did not prove to be a problem for long.

"So," Coran said when they were outside. "You ever been out of the city?"

Tore shook his head. "Not until this trip," he admitted.

Coran grinned. "You're gonna love this."

As it turned out, the other boy was right. He showed Tore the huge playground his father and Fullmetal had built, and some of his father's workshop. Then he showed Tore all the cool haunts in the surrounding countryside. There was an old tree, old mines up in the mountain hills, and the bridge over the river. Tore got to see sheep and cows up close for the first time.

"We'll go up to town tomorrow," Coran grinned finally as they headed back towards the house. "Dinner will be on the table in maybe fifteen minutes."

"How can you tell?" Tore asked curiously.

"Sniff." Coran smirked.

Huh? Tore wondered if the kid was nuts, but he stopped and inhaled deeply. On the breeze he could smell a stew cooking. It was the same smell that had been in the kitchen earlier. "Dinner," he grinned back and they both headed for the house at a brisk walk.

They hadn't talked a lot about personal things, but then Tore hadn't really expected to. That would come later, as they felt each other out. Right now, at least food was something both boys had in common!