Yet another chapter, and it's quite short. Sorry, just haven't seen the need for really long chapters in this story.

WARNING: Gay relationship, Roy/Ed, don't like don't read. Still nothing graphic, just kisses, cuddles, and brushing of hair which I find to be one of the most intimate things in the world that a person can do for another.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own FMA... but oh if I did, I would be so gone from this town right now.


The next morning Ed slowly woke up as the light played over his eyes. He was vaguely aware that he was being held and once he looked down at the calloused fingers he knew exactly who it was. He rolled over and cuddled into Roy's chest. Roy sighed happily in sleep and held Ed a little tighter to himself. Ed wondered for a minute if Roy did love him but just wasn't ready to let go of Hughes yet. He pushed aside the thought and let himself be held by Roy. He needed to meet with Al again soon. They were going to head to Lior soon and look for Scar. He was planning something. He had to leave today, this morning, he had to leave before he couldn't. But Roy's arms were warm and protective and Ed didn't want to leave just yet.

"I know you have to leave soon," said Roy's deep soothing voice. Ed sighed and tried to hide in Roy's shoulder like a child trying to hide from his parent. Roy stroked Ed's hair and kissed him on the forehead. "Where are you going?"

"Lior," Ed whispered. "There are some things that... need to be handled."

"You can't tell me what they are?" Ed hesitated. He knew what Roy would say. He knew Roy would want to handle it. But this was something that Ed had to handle himself.

"Not right now," Ed whispered. "Maybe one day... I can tell you everything that has happened. But not right now."

"I could help-"

"No. Please." Ed looked up at him with such a pleading look that he almost wanted to tie Ed to the bed post and never let him leave the house and handle whatever it was that needed to be handled. But he also knew that he couldn't do that and keep Ed as his lover. Ed would hate him forever for it.

"All right," said Roy kissing Ed deeply and holding him close again. "All right, do it your way. But if you need me, for anything, just call me."

"I know," Ed replied. "I have to go. I don't want to go but I have to." Roy kissed Ed again and held him like he would never let him go.

"I know," Roy finally said as he pulled away. Ed regretfully got out of bed and stretched. Roy watched him stretching out the human and machine limbs and found himself transfixed. Ed looked so beautiful in the morning light. He got out of bed as well and the both of them got dressed. As Ed was putting on his boots Roy realized that Ed's hair was still loose and falling around his shoulders. Roy went to the bathroom and found a forgotten brush that he kept in the drawer for female guests and walked back out into the bedroom where Ed was starting to pull his fingers through his hair in an attempt to brush it.

"Will you let me fix your hair?" Roy asked quietly. He looked up and saw first the brush and then the look in Roy's eyes. If Roy couldn't fix what was wrong in Ed's life, he wanted to at least do this. Ed nodded and sat up straight on the edge of the bed. Roy climbed onto the bed and sat behind him. Ed felt the brush being pulled through his hair and working out the tangles. No one else but Winry had done this. He let his eyes close as he began to relax. Roy was slowly pulling the brush through Ed's golden hair and Roy was constantly getting distracted by how the light played on Ed's golden hair. But finally he couldn't find anymore tangles.

"Do you have a hair tie?" he asked quietly. Ed pulled his hair tie off his wrist and handed it to Roy. Roy put the hair tie on his wrist and braided Ed's hair carefully. He tied the braid off with the hair tie and then wrapped his arms around Ed's torso. Ed put his hands on Roy's arms and thought, I swear Roy Mustang, if you don't love me it might kill me.

"I have to go," Ed whispered again.

"Call me if you need me," Roy whispered to him.

"I will," Ed replied. Ed turned his head and Roy was there and they kissed gently. Then Ed pulled away from Roy's arms and Roy walked Ed down to the door. Roy reached for the handle but Ed stopped him. Roy looked deep into Ed's eyes.

"Thank you for coming to get me last night," Ed whispered.

"I'll always come get you," Roy replied. Ed grabbed Roy suddenly very hard and Roy wrapped his arms equally as tight around Ed.

"What's wrong?" Roy whispered. "What do you need me to do?"

"If you get a message from me," Ed whispered in Roy's ear, "in the name that is all that is good just listen to what I say. Understand?"

"What have you gotten yourself into Ed?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I'll get out alive. I just know I have to do this." They pulled away and Roy could see the tears in Ed's eyes.

"I'll listen Ed. But if you need me you know I'll be there." Ed nodded. Roy kissed him again and then Ed opened the door. Ed was gone in the blink of an eye and Roy was left staring at the shut door. He wasn't sure what to think about all this. All he knew was that he wanted to protect Ed from this and fix whatever had happened. But he knew Ed better. If Ed didn't want him in this, he was going to have to sit back and try to wait this out.