They lay together long after, breaths slowing and quieting within the bright room. Ed's head was resting on Roy's shoulder, his human hand laying upon Roy's bare chest, the steady thumping of his heart beating against his fingertips. They fell asleep like that, legs tangled together and holding each other in a lovers' embrace. After five years and so many months, after everything that had been thrown at them, they had each other, and one way or another they would find a way to make it work.

For the first time since the Nazi soldiers had stormed the small apartment he shared with Alfons Heiderich in Munich and taken him to the concentration camp, Ed's dreams weren't haunted with images of pale fanged scientists stabbing down at him with bloodied blades, pedophilic soldiers looming over him and reaching for him, and the sickly, dying Alfons he left behind. His sleep was unfettered by horrifying memories; it wasn't blood and pain and nightmares. It was light and peace and the feeling of being loved and being safe.

For the first time, he wasn't afraid that when he woke up, his reality would be worse than his nightmares, because he knew that it couldn't possible get any better. Even in his sleep, he could feel the arms around him, holding him close—strong, reassuring, and promising protection. He could sense the closeness of the other body, the warmth and security of having another person holding him and knowing that they wouldn't hurt him.

XXXXXX

"So, Havoc," Ed asked gleefully, looking at his friend over the table, "what's your New Year's resolution?"

Havoc tossed back another shot and said, "To find a girlfriend who won't ditch me."

This led to snickers and jibes all around. "Hey, at least now I don't have to worry about Mustang stealin' 'em! He's got his own—" Havoc started, flushing and cutting himself off before he could dig his own grave any deeper.

"Oh no," Ed drawled when Havoc didn't continue, "please, finish." Something dangerous flashed in his eyes and Havoc apparently thought better of it, because instead of completing his thought, he grabbed another shot off the table and downed it, looking anywhere but at the amused Fullmetal Alchemist.

Ed decided to let the slight to his and Roy's honor go when Hawkeye popped up beside the second lieutenant, gun and eyebrow cocked. Edward was wandering away farther into the party when he heard in his ears, "Yes, Lieutenant, what were you saying?"

Ed passed through the crowd like a golden phantom, drifting through the crowd of off-duty officers, soldiers, and alchemists, calling out greetings and laughing. He scanned the people, looking for the tall, dark figure of his lover; Roy was nowhere to be seen, and Ed had an idea where he might be. He skirted around the crowd and continued on his way up two flights of stairs and out onto the roof.

A man was standing there, a black blot against the dreary sky and silver snow. Ed trudged through the snow, pulling his coat tighter around him against the cold; he loved winter, loved the snow and the feeling of cheer that inevitable overtook the city, but he could do without the cold. The subzero temperatures made his joints ache and his limbs heavy.

"Oi, Mustang!" he called, "why aren't you downstairs with the other uniforms? It's fuckin' freezing up here!"

Roy turned and looked down at him. "You didn't have to come up here, you know," he said, his dark eye taking in the sight of his young love stalking towards him. Snowflakes fell around him like how own personal whirlwind, landing in his hair and on his coat—that long, brown coat he was so fond of.

Ed shrugged, brushing snow off his shoulders. "Yeah, but then you'd stand out here like a bloody git until you caught a cold, and I certainly have no intention of dealing with you when you're cranky," he grumbled.

Roy smirked, wrapping an arm around Ed and pulling him flush against him; Ed welcomed the warmth, his arms snaking around Roy's back under the trench coat. Roy nuzzled his hair. "Mmm," he hummed. "You know, I don't think anyone will miss us if we decide to abandon ship and head home early."

"Oh?" Ed questioned innocently, looking up at his lover in mock obliviousness. "And what would we do then? I mean, there's still an hour 'till midnight. How would we possibly pass the time?"

Roy grinned and purred, "I can think of a few things to keep us occupied." He captured Ed's mouth in a kiss, holding the blond in an embrace full of love and the possibility for the future.

"SAY CHEESE!"

FLASH!

They jumped apart, whirling to watch the coattails of a jacket and two sets of boots disappear around the corner along with three incriminating shadows. Ed growled low in his throat, hackles rising. Roy chuckled and shook his head, wrapping his arms around Ed's waist and pulling him back against his chest. "Leave them be, Edo," he murmured into Ed's hair. "It's New Year's Eve, let the kids have their fun."

Ed scowled but didn't object when Roy turned him around and drew him into another kiss. He looped his arms around Roy's neck and tilted his head for better access. They stood there under the snow and held each other, taking comfort in slow, lingering kisses and sharing body warmth. They'd faced hell and made it through together, and now they had a future.

After all, it was a brave new world.

XXXXXX

Ed started out on this path broken and damaged, falling down a sinkhole of depression and self-loathing so deep he couldn't even imagine there being a bottom. All he'd wanted was to return home to Amestris, see what Al had become for himself, and then end it. He'd wanted desperately to end the pain, the guilt, the hatred—he just wanted it to all stop. He wanted peace at last. He wanted to drift away and leave all his emotional baggage behind as he fell into peaceful, final oblivion.

He'd wanted peace, and he'd found it in the last place he'd expected. Back in the camp, he'd have never imagined—not in his wildest dreams—that a childhood crush would save his life. He'd have never dreamed that his savior, that his knight in full-on military armor, would come in a man who'd used to drive him up the wall. How could he have imagined that the heart he'd lost long ago would be found with the last person he'd have suspected?

He'd never have guessed that Roy Mustang would be his salvation.

XXXXXX

And there you have it! The sequel to "Arduus Ad Solem" is over! I hope you all enjoyed, and a BIIIIIG thank you to all my supporters. I couldn't have done this without you all. I know it took me a while, but I finally did it, so I hope you liked it.

Tell me what you think and feel free to point out any errors or mistakes. I skipped around while I wrote this, and I took a break to work on a new Katekyo Hitman REBORN! fanfic that had been in my head for a while, so please, please, PLEASE tell me if you see anything wrong!

This concludes my first venture into the FMA fandom, and I'm very glad that I started this. I never intended for this to span two stories, but obviously, things did not go as intended.

I'll see you guys again soon with my new KHR fic! If you're into REBORN!, keep an eye out for it, please!

~Nagi Kokuyo

5/1/12