4 years have passed since the Promised Day. Everything was different, but somehow yet the same.

Alphonse got his body back and went back to live in Resembool for a while then traveled to Xing and all around the world to research eastern alchemy.

Edeline, although couldn't practice alchemy anymore stayed in the military. In Roy's team nonetheless. The bantering was the same, that's for sure. To tell you the truth there wasn't really anywhere else she could go – Resembool just held too many sad memories for her – but she also made a promise that she intended to keep.

She had gotten her right arm back, her left leg still auto-mail. She became an excellent marksman. Almost as good as Hawkeye. On some days maybe even better with a handgun – although no one would ever dare to admit that – but her sniper skills could never compare to the other blonde. But her true talent came with knives. It suited her style better. She had used to transmute her auto-mail to a blade anyway.

She was 20 years old… and still living as a man.

Sort of…

Her immediate co-workers, aka Mustang's team knew the truth. But the rest of the military had to be kept in the dark still even though she wasn't a State Alchemist anymore – sort of, she still did research – since not only Ed but probably also Roy would have to take the fall for the years of fraud. Roy tampered with official documents for her sake, and if it were to come to light… She couldn't have that, not with her promise to push him to the top. So she decided to continue this charade until the then Brigadier General Mustang became Führer President. Whenever that would be… They were slowly but surely getting there, over the last 4 years he managed to step another two ranks up to Lieutenant General.

Leaving Central HQ after her shift on a beautiful spring afternoon, Ed paused as she squinted due to the sudden bright light blinding her. She brought up her right hand to shield her eyes as she glanced up at the blue-blue sky. She closed her eyes in appreciation as the warmth of the sun's rays bathed her arm, the feeling of which – even after all this time – still amazed her. She was so lost in the sensation that she didn't even notice the blond man approach her from behind with an unlit cigarette sticking out of his mouth.

"Hey Chief, you coming?" – Havoc asked nonchalantly eyeing his petite co-worker as she drew her arm back to her side, rumpling the fabric of her ever-present red coat for a moment thus revealing her small but definitely existing curves hidden my bandages and slightly too large clothing. He seriously didn't know how she could have fooled them for so many years. But maybe just having this inherent knowledge was what made her feminine form so obvious.

"Hmm? To where?" – Ed glanced at him confused. She caught his gaze travelling down her torso, making a vein pop in anger on her forehead as she clenched her fist together, ready to punch him for his blatant staring.

"Uhm…" – he mumbled almost forgetting his initial inquiry then noticing the furious stare that could be throwing imaginary daggers at him. – "The team is going out for a few drinks tonight. Wanna come?" – he managed to say as he snapped out of his daze.

"You know I can't drink yet, not legal." – she said gritting her teeth, still not over his previous lewd behavior.

"Oh come on, you will be in like 6 months, who cares?! Just one drink!" – he waved invitingly as he trotted down the white limestone stairs of command central.

More like 10… – Ed sighed disapprovingly but followed her reckless co-worker anyway. Little did she know what she was in for…

The next morning – or better say afternoon – Edeline woke up with a splitting headache in an unfamiliar bed, not remembering how she got there, or even what happened before that for that matter. She shot up to a sitting position, wincing because of the pain that went through her head because of the sudden movement.

"Dammit!" – the blonde cursed under her breath as she clutched her head. She peered through her fingers, opening her eyes only to a slit.

"Not again?!" – she exclaimed as she took in the beige-brown and green colors of the all too familiar room. (The general just couldn't give this color scheme up it seemed, his house in East City looked just the same.) Over the years she had ended up in Mustang's guest room a few times… but only when sick or injured and the raven-haired man always took it upon himself to play guardian to her in those times. She had a tendency to overdo things to the point of collapsing.

Followed by an assortment of curses Ed slid towards the side of the bed and threw the covers off of herself only to find a naked pair of flesh and auto-mail legs. She had no pants on. With a panicked more thorough examination she came to the realization that her only clothing on were her panties and an overly large white shirt – which by the way wasn't hers. Even her chest bandages were gone and somewhere in the back of her mind she was 100% sure that she was not in a position last night to take them off herself.

"Damn that bastard!" – she was seething as she stomped her way out the room almost ripping the door off the frame, the only thing saving it is that she didn't have an auto-mail arm anymore. With a quick glance around in the hallway she decided to try the living room, kitchen area first.

By the time she reached the kitchen she was staggering because of her throbbing head and had to catch the doorframe for support.

"Hungover much?" – Roy commented from behind a large newspaper, not even glancing up. – "There are painkillers and water on the counter if you need it."

Ed just huffed as she shuffled over to grab said objects, downing them in one gulp then made her way to a chair across from Mustang, plopping down exhausted from the effort.

"Where are my clothes, you bastard?" – she sulked as she crossed her legs becoming acutely aware that she was still missing her pants. Roy glanced at her above the paper raising an eyebrow.

"I washed your clothes, since you so graciously puked all over them last night. They are still drying." – Roy stated as he averted his eyes back to the line he was reading.

"I vomited last night?" – Ed asked half embarrassed half surprised as she set her still aching head in her hands for support.

"Don't you remember?" – her raven-haired superior mused with a sigh, shaking his head slightly still behind his newspaper.

"Not a thing." – she groaned, massaging her temples.

"Ah. Maybe that's for the better." – he said dismissively.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" – she jumped up outraged slamming her hands on the table.

"Let's just say that barfing on the way here in my car wasn't the most embarrassing thing you did all night." – he teased as he finally set down the newspaper on the table. – "I don't even know where to begin…"