February 8th, 1966

Edward grinned as Aldon hugged him on the front porch of the Resembool house.

"As much as we see you lately, it's like you live here already," Aldon joked. "You were just here last fall."

"And then you came up for Alyse's wedding," Winry chuckled as she cut in for her own hug.

"Get used to it," Ed snickered. "Once the house is finished we'll be down here a lot more often." He was looking forward to living in Resembool more again, as much as it would be rough not seeing the rest of the family all the time. They could always travel back and forth. Trains were faster now, and the roads between Resembool and Central were actually a bit faster by car for lack of long train stops to take on and off passengers and cargo. They had driven down this time in Ed's red convertible. "So how is the house coming along?"

"We'll go up and you can have a look yourself before dinner," Aldon assured him as they shuffled inside. School wasn't out yet, so for the moment the house was quiet.

"Which will take a little while," Cassie smiled as she met them at the door, little Edward clinging to her pant leg, and Callista gurgling in her arms.

"How about I give you a hand," Winry offered immediately. "Or two," she chuckled.

"With the food or the grandkids?" Ed asked.

"Both of course," Winry replied. "Why don't you two go ahead and have a look at the house while I help out here?"

"Are you sure?" Ed knew Winry was looking forward to seeing it too.

"We're going to be here for most of a month," Winry pointed out reasonably.

Ed turned to his son. "Well?"

Aldon shrugged, and grinned. "Sure, let's go."

The familiar walk was relaxing, and while the weather was brisk, Ed was reminded just how far south they were, even with the mountains. It was a little warmer than Central, and the partly cloudy sky was still patched with blue. "So how's everyone adjusting to having Callie around?" he asked, using Callista's already adopted nickname.

Aldon smiled. "Pretty well, considering. It's been a couple of years though, so we're all getting used to midnight and three in the morning feedings again."

"I thought you looked tired," Ed chuckled.

"With this one, I can do a lot more of the feeding," Aldon pointed out, though he seemed pleased with that fact. "Edward thinks she's great, because he gets to be a big brother now. Ian and Urey don't seem to mind her. Reichart's offered to watch and feed her a few times already. Usually when Cassie's getting things done around the house."

"And Coran?" Ed noticed his oldest grandchild was suspiciously absent on that list.

Aldon's smile slipped. "Honestly? I'm not entirely sure what's going on in his head these days. He's not really misbehaving or anything, but he's sulky when he's not in public, and he's been more short-tempered lately."

Ed had noticed both to some extent during their visit a month ago. Coran had been absolutely polite during family get-togethers and at the wedding, but he didn't seem to smile much, or want to be particularly social. "How does he treat Callie?"

"Fine," Aldon assured him. "Just… I get the feeling he's having trouble getting used to having another younger sibling in the house. He doesn't actively avoid her, but he doesn't offer to spend time with her either."

"He'll adjust," Ed said. "A lot's happened to him in the last couple of months, and it's not like he's being ignored."

Aldon nodded as they crested the hill before the old Elric property. "Right; Cassie and I are trying our best to be understanding and supportive and consistent. He's just frustrating lately."

"He's a teenager," Ed chuckled as he looked up at the next hill and saw the construction site ahead of him. It was distinctly odd to look up at that hill and see not the old farmhouse, and not the burned out old tree, but a busy construction area, at that very moment full of workers.

"What do you think?" Aldon asked, grinning.

"It's great," Ed replied taking in everything. The foundation was cut and poured, and all three of the floors above it were already structurally there, at least as far as the main beams and weight-bearing walls were concerned. The external walls of the first two levels were boarded in, with the spaces for doors and windows staring out at him. The deck wasn't started yet, but Ed knew that wouldn't be until last.

They spent about a half an hour watching and exploring the site. Ed asked the foreman questions as they got a tour over the areas that were safe for them to walk through, and when they left he was feeling really good about it. "They're making surprisingly good time given the season," he commented contentedly as they headed back towards the house.

"Do I want to know how you're planning to furnish that monster?" Aldon asked, grinning.

"Your mother and Elicia are going to spend way too much time shopping at my expense, that's how," Ed grinned. Not that he really minded. This was their dream place, where everyone could come and stay comfortably and the whole family could be together without stringing out halfway across Central.

"Then I'm sure it'll look great," Aldon smiled, then he stopped for a moment, and frowned. "Do you hear something?"

Ed paused. Over the next hill he heard quarreling voices. "Yeah. Sounds like a fight."

They crested the last hill before the Rockbell house to see four familiar shapes stopped in the road.

"Give it back!" Urey was glowering at Coran. Ian and Reichart were off to one side.

Coran looked frustrated and angry. "After you embarrassed us like that today? You've got to be kidding!"

"Come on, Cor… it's not like he wasn't trying," Reichart said in a calming, reasonable tone. "Give him a break."

"Yeah, give him back the bar," Ian added. "You're not Mom."

Coran was holding something, Ed realized, wishing he had his glasses on. They were just too far away for him to see details comfortably, but he guessed the item to be a candy bar. "I don't care. That was pathetic! You were dead last!"

Urey stood stock still a moment later, and then, bawling, turned and fled up the hill towards the house – his book bag still laying in the dirt.

"Coran Elric what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ed jumped at the unexpected bellow that came out of Aldon, who was no longer beside him but barreling down the short hill towards his three remaining sons. Ed followed.

All three boys were staring at their father. Ian and Reichart looked like spooked deer. Coran just looked angry. "Taking care of my little brother," he replied flatly.

"More like pushing him around and taking things that aren't your business!" Aldon snatched the candy bar out of Coran's hand in one surprisingly quick grab. "You don't have the right to pick on him like that! You think that's going to help? Of course not!" He stuffed the bar in his pocket. "Now get your ass home and get your homework done… in your room! We'll talk about this more when I get home."

Coran's face had gone from red to purple. "So everyone around here is against me! Fine! I get it!" He turned and stormed off towards the house.

Ian and Reichart stood there, fidgeting.

Aldon was panting, then he shook his head and groaned. "Shit."

"Umm…I'm gonna go home and do my homework…" Reichart said softly after a minute. "If…if that's okay."

"What happened at school?" Aldon asked, looking up.

Ed decided it was just best to stay out of it for the moment. There were times it was definitely not best to step in and help out a parent.

Ian sighed. "We had a fitness run in phys ed. today. Urey came in last."

"In his class?"

"In the school," Reichart clarified. "I mean, they don't have the little kids run with us, but all the grades from Ian's on up."

Aldon still looked pissed, but he also looked concerned. "You guys can go," he replied quietly. "You're not in trouble. Neither is Urey."

Ed watched the two boys relax a little and nod, then scamper up the hill. "Well that was something."

"You see what I mean about him?" Aldon asked with a temporarily hopeless, frustrated expression. "He knows Urey's self-conscious. That was completely inappropriate!"

Ed was definitely beginning to see the extent of the problem. "How long do you think he's been doing that?"

"I'm about to find out," Aldon replied firmly.

For the moment, all Ed could do was follow Aldon after the kids back up to the house and see how things worked out. He understood why Urey would be upset. The middle boy had always been the most solid build of the three to start, and compared to his brothers he was shorter and usually heavier. Given a choice, he'd rather curl up with a book than run around outside. Not that Ed blamed him, but he had noticed that the last few visits Urey was chubbier; the way he usually got before growth spurts, only this time it didn't seem to have gone away with the last spurt.

Apparently the stir outside had made things inside a bit more chaotic as well. When they entered, Winry and Cassie both looked concerned.

"Ian explained," was Cassie's entire greeting. "Urey's in his room crying. Coran's in his room, sulking."

Reichart and Ian already had their homework out and we just settling down with a snack of carrot sticks, oatmeal cookies, and milk. Little Edward was sitting next to them, mouth full of cookie, coloring. Only Callie, in Winry's arms and a bottle in her mouth, seemed oblivious to the tension in the house.

Aldon still looked like he might explode again at any second. "I can't believe he'd do something like that!"

"Don, calm down." Cassie laid one hand gently on his chest. "If you shout at him again Coran's not going to listen. Let him cool off first."

Aldon nodded begrudgingly. "Fine." He stalked over to the fridge, jerked it open, pulled out a bottle of something, and vanished back out the front door.

"You weren't kidding," Winry looked at Cassie, apparently referring to something in the conversation Ed had missed while they were out.

Ed's mind, meanwhile, was starting to go a mile a minute thinking about the problem. Given conversations with his grandsons in recent months, he thought he had an idea that might help out the situation. "Hey, Cassie," he looked at his daughter-in-law. "I've got a question."

Aldon was surprised when it was his mother who showed up out in the workshop instead of his father. Somehow, he had expected Ed to follow him. Though for the moment he was kind of glad he hadn't.

"Rough afternoon?" Winry asked as she leaned against the workshop bench he was sitting on, drinking his beer.

"Was I ever that obstinate and pushy?" Aldon blurted out. It had been a while since he'd really lost it, and he was having trouble calming down enough to go inside and talk to his eldest.

"No," Winry shook her head. "None of you were. Well, Sara could be, but not in the same ways." She smiled. "No, the only person in our family I know who's like that is your father."

"Great," Aldon took a sip. "So what should I do?"

"I appreciate your asking, but I think you already know what to do," his mother replied. "You're a good parent. Right now letting things cool off and talking it about is about the best you can do. Coran's not stupid, just frustrated. He knows better than to take it out on his brothers."

Aldon nodded. That was the problem. Coran did know better, but he did it anyway. How much of Urey's most recent reticence to go outside and play with his brothers had to do with Coran's behavior? "This is going to sound terrible, but sometimes I just want to give him a good hard smack and beat some sense into him."
"It worked with your father."

She… had a point. "Yeah, but I'm not Izumi Curtis," Aldon shrugged. "I'm still not much of a fighter." And he had no real interest in becoming one. "I don't suppose Dad wants to go a few rounds with him?"
Winry chuckled. "I'll ask. He just might. Though I thought you might like to know, he has an idea for what to do for Urey."

"Oh really?" Anything that was positive encouragement for his middle boy Aldon was all ears to hear! "Just what does he have in mind?"

It was almost dinner time when Edward opened the door to the room that Urey and Ian shared. Urey was sprawled on his bed, a book open in front of him as usual, but his face was puffy and red from crying. "Hey, kid," Ed smiled. "Mind if I come in?"

Urey looked over his shoulder, and nodded. "Sure, Grandpa." He rolled over, put a marker in his book and surreptitiously stuffed a couple of chocolate wrappers under it as he sat up. "Sorry about earlier."

"For what?" Ed asked as he sat down on the bed next to him. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I lost the race," Urey sighed. "And I embarrassed everyone."

"Coran isn't everyone," Ed replied flatly. "Not everyone's a fast runner, Urey. You've got plenty of other talents. You get good grades in every subject don't you?"

"Yeah, except phys ed.," Urey sighed. "I try, I really do, but I'm just not really good at sports. I get hit in the face with balls, or trip over my feet. Coran said it's cause I'm fat and slow."

That was one fifteen-year-old who deserved to get his face punched in. Not that Ed let that thought cross his expression. "Well Coran's wrong," he replied. "So don't listen to him. I actually came up here because I wanted to ask you something."

Urey looked up at him curiously. "What?"

Ed pulled the book out from behind his back and held out Basics of Alchemy. "How would you like to learn alchemy?"

Urey's eyes lit up when he saw the book. Tentatively he reached out and when Ed didn't close his fingers, Urey snatched it up and flipped open the cover. "That would be amazing! Do you think I could?"

"You've got everything it takes," Ed smiled, glad to see Urey so eager. "You're smart, determined, and patient. I've seen your grades, remember? I think you'd make a great alchemist. So here's what I'm gonna do. I'll leave that book here, and I want you to study and learn all the theory in the first two chapters"

"Is that all?" Urey looked relieved. Ed wasn't surprised. Urey was a fact sponge.

"Almost." Here was the tricky part; not a trick, but the bit he had to have come off right. Ed held up one hand. "Alchemy isn't just about knowledge, it's about the circulation and use of energy."

"I know that," Urey nodded.

"Good," Ed grinned. "Then you know that in order to do alchemy an alchemist is better able to control and use more energy the better shape they're in. My alchemy teacher always said… well, wait," he cut off. "You should know what she said." He'd told them all the stories enough.

Urey chuckled. "Yeah. She said 'to train the mind you must also train the body right?'" He looked proud for remembering, but then his smile slipped. "That doesn't sound so easy."

"You don't have to start out a marathon runner or anything," Ed assured him. "All I'm going to ask you to do until I come to visit again is listen to your Mom and try your best okay? When she says that's enough, it's enough. An alchemist needs to have a good sense of self-control. You still interested? I'm not going to force you to do this."

"No, I'm interested!" Urey blurted, clutching the book close. "Please, Grandpa! I'll work really hard, I promise."

Ed gave Urey a hug and grinned. "Good. That's just what I was hoping to here." He was sure that by the time he and Winry came down for their next long stay, Urey would be more than ready to start real alchemy training.

February 13th, 1966

Tore wasn't in a great mood as he got off work that afternoon. "Man, I can't believe that was it," he grumbled as he stuffed the scrap of paper in his pocket and left his desk, heading down the hall.

"What, your run time?" Cal asked as he fell into step beside him.

Tore shrugged. Normally he didn't mind annual physicals. He always did well. "I passed," he said, trying to sound like he cared a little less than he did. "But my time was twenty-seconds shy of last year." The truth was, he was irritated with himself. He'd felt sluggish today, and while that was far from a bad time, it wasn't his personal best at all.

"Maybe you're spending too much time in the bedroom," Cal teased. "You getting enough sleep?"

Tore snorted, but grinned. "Maybe that's it." Though there was more wedding planning than sex going on these days. "But if it is," he turned the reasoning back on itself, "Then how'd you do?" Cal had been practically floating for over a month now. Marriage to Alyse had been good for him.

"About the same as usual," Cal admitted with a shrug. "Definitely better than last year." Of course, he'd still been recovering from his injuries this time last year.

"Well that's not bad," Tore chuckled, and tried not to feel tired and disgruntled. Maybe it wasn't that big a deal. What were a few seconds? A couple of sit-ups? Everyone had an off day. He stopped at the top of the steps as they existed the building. "You want to do something tonight?"

"Can't," Cal replied. At least he had the grace to look apologetic. "'Lyse and I are watching Minx and Mich tonight so Will and Ren can go out with friends."

"How domestic." Tore smiled, managing to keep any sarcasm out of his tone. It sounded good, really. And he knew Will and Ren could use the adult socialization time away from their kids.

"Hey now," Cal's ears turned pink for a moment. "It's a favor."

Yeah, his friend wasn't ready for kids yet. Tore chuckled. "It's okay. I won't tell anyone you turned down a game of pool to change diapers. We should hang out sometime soon."

"Yeah, we will," Cal promised. "I gotta go. See you later."

Tore watched him leave, then sighed and pulled out a cigarette as he headed towards Cecilia's apartment. She wanted him to help finalize the guest list tonight. That could be fun… right? Or at least, he hoped it could turn into something fun. Cecilia had a way of turning almost anything that might seem dull into foreplay if she wanted to.

Daydreams of how that was possible were broken off rudely when he got to her apartment and she was glowering at him when he opened the door.

Tore stopped cold. "Umm… bad day, sweetie?"

Cecilia held up what looked like his handwritten list of people Tore had planned to invite. "What is she doing on here?"

The heated tone was enough to say exactly who she meant. Tore sighed. Please can we not fight about this again? "Charisa's one of my best friends," he replied calmly. "Look, it's not like I'm asking you to put her in the wedding party. I just want her to come."

"Why?" Cecilia asked. "Even after everything she did to me?"

"Okay we are not having this argument right now!" Tore snapped. He'd had enough! It had been a long enough day.

Cecilia's mouth hung open, stopped mid-word. Then her eyes began to fill with tears, and spill over almost immediately. "I… I'm sorry but I just…"

Awww hell. "Ces, please don't cry." Tore stepped through the door. She didn't try and stop him as he closed it behind them. "I've had a rough day, and I don't want to ruin tonight too with arguing."

Cecilia sniffled. "That's…sweet. I'm sorry you had a rough day. Let's talk about that later then." She stuffed the list in her pocket. "Why don't we do something else to make the bad day go away?" She kissed him, her chest pressed against him, bunching up in that way he rather liked.

Tore wasn't about to argue. He was lucky Cecilia wasn't the type to argue something long and hard! He could press that issue later…if it was worth it. Charisa didn't like Cecilia either. He'd figured that out well enough by now. Would she even mind not getting an invitation? Or would she be relieved because she wouldn't have to be a good sport and put in a showing and pretend to be happy for Cecilia?

Whose hand had just gone somewhere… interesting. Tore grabbed her and started for the bedroom. He was perfectly happy to be distracted.

February 19th, 1966

Damn it! I hate it when this happens. Maes grumbled as he set his glass down and got to his feet. Why is it I always run out of cola when I'm not done yet? He wasn't in the mood for anything else tonight. Maybe there was something in the kitchen that would go with his whiskey?
He headed for the door to his office. He'd already put the kids to bed. Elena was out with a couple of her girl friends tonight; a rare chance to go out with friends that he hadn't wanted to deny her. At least, she said it was with female friends; a night out for just the girls. No husbands, boyfriends, or kids.

Maes knew better. She was avoiding him. Ever since that night he'd missed her attempt to lure him into bed. Or maybe before that…. Or maybe before he'd started looking through everything that came into the house or out, wondering if she was cheating…not that she would ever really cheat. Not Elena. But that she might want to. That some man was wooing his wife away and any day now he'd be handed divorce papers.

He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He turned the corner and nearly fell flat on his face…. Owww shit! What the…. Stupid fricken toys! He straightened up and kicked the stuffed animal he had stepped on into a corner. "Damned messy house." He kicked another toy out of his way as he headed for the kitchen.

He found the cola in the fridge and, whiskey glass in hand, set about adding the flavor. Really, it was better with just a little cola. He was capping the bottle when he heard footsteps on the stairs. "Who's up?" he asked gruffly.

"It's me, Dad," Roy said from the kitchen door. "I know I'm supposed to be in bed but I…I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Maes asked.

"I wanted to ask if you… if you'd teach me flame alchemy."

Maes spun around so fast he almost spilled his drink. "Are you insane?" he shouted, louder than he intended.

His son stared at him, but stood his ground. "N..no! Of course not. I want to learn alchemy," he pushed on, clearly uneasy. "And you're a flame alchemist, and grandpa was a flame alchemist. He was a great alchemist! I want… I want to learn what you know."

"Not on your life," Maes growled. Was he crazy? "Flame alchemy's brought nothing but trouble to this family ever since Grandpa Hawkeye wrote it down! He died. Dad died because of what he could do! I'm not going to have you do anything so foolish!"

Roy's expression went from stunned, to hurt…to angry. "I'm not a fool! I'm not crazy either, Dad! How can you even say that stuff about Grandpa, or Great-grandpa? They were brilliant men! You shouldn't…." his voice trailed off, and his expression darkened. "Dad… are you drunk?"

Maes froze. "Of course not," he snapped back.

That only made his nearly-twelve-year-old son madder. "Yeah you are. I can smell you. You promised Mom! I can't believe you. Théa and Rochelle are asleep upstairs and you're drunk? What's Mom gonna say when she-"

The strike to the face startled Maes as much as it shocked Roy, who rocked backwards, staggering into the wall, one hand going to his cheek.

Maes froze, and his glass fell to the floor, shattering as it crashed on the tile. I…I hit my son. I… hit… Roy…. And Elena. Oh Elena I… the girls are… Oh god!

Elena laughed at one of Josie's jokes as they sat around the little table in their favorite restaurant. It was so nice to get out with some of her friends every once in a while. They were all married now, with children, and it was difficult to get away for any just-woman talk.

She nibbled at what remained of her salad and salmon; a satisfying dinner, particularly since she hadn't had to cook it herself.

"So what about you?" Henrietta asked, turning to Elena. "You always have a few good tales about Maes or the kids."

Elena sipped her tea. "Well, yesterday Rochelle asked me-"

"Excuse me ladies," the waiter interrupted apologetically. "But is there a Mrs. Mustang here? You have a call."

Elena stood. "That would be me," she informed him. It was probably Maes. Perhaps one of the children wasn't feeling well? Or just wanted a good night over the phone and was being stubborn about bedtime. "I'll just be a moment," she smiled at the others as she went back to the counter where the waiter handed over a phone. "Hello?"

The other end of the phone sniffled. "M..mom?"

Elena froze. "Roy?" Something had to be wrong.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I called the operator and she put me through," he started babbling. "But I didn't know who to call and…"

"Roy," Elena spoke firmly, making herself stay calm. "What's wrong?"

"It's Dad!" Roy blurted out. "He… we were talking and he flipped out! He was drinking and we had a fight and then he hit me and he ran off! I'm sorry!" he wailed. "I didn't know he'd be that mad! I thought he'd be proud and…"

"Slow down, sweetie," Elena managed to cut in. Maes had hit Roy? Maes was drunk… Maes had run away? It seemed so incredible and yet…. Her throat tightened. "I'll be home as soon as I can sweetheart. Just stay there. Lock the house, and make sure your sisters are all right, okay?"

"I will, Mom," Roy promised, and she could hear him trying to pull himself together. "I'm sorry, Mom," he said again.

"It's all right," Elena soothed, panic beginning to flutter in her heart. "It's not your fault. I promise, everything is going to be okay."