Disclaimer: I do not own FMA

It was the week after the party and everyone in HQ was talking about Ed and Riza's engagement. Everyone knew that they where going out, but never expected Ed to propose to her. Ed walked down HQ heading to the cafeteria so that he could get himself a coffee and some breakfast before starting his work. He went up to the counter and asked for his usual before sitting down at the table to eat his meal. He was just about to take a bite out of his toast and eggs when some soldiers came over to his table.

"Good morning Colonel Elric." One of the men said sitting down opposite him. Ed said good morning to them and carried on with eating his breakfast.

"We heard that you proposed to Major Hawkeye last Friday at the party." One of the other men said, Ed nodded his head.

"Yes I did." He replied eating some of his scrambled eggs and drinking his coffee. The men looked at each other and went to ask him some more questions when General Mustang walked over to them.

"Why don't you leave the Colonel to eat his breakfast in peace." He said sitting down next to Ed, the men looked at each other before saluting the General and went of to do their duties.

"Thanks Mustang." Ed said drinking his coffee. Roy looked at what Ed was eating.

"I can not believe that you are actually eating that." Roy said in disgust.

"I have eaten far worst whilst on my travels believe me." Ed replied finishing his breakfast and taking the tray back to the counter for the staff to take.

"So what brought you here anyway? Since you don't eat the food here." Ed asked.

"I came to ask if you and Riza would like to come to dinner with us on Friday night?" Roy asked Ed as they walked out of the cafeteria and heading towards there office's that are on the other floor.

"I don't know I will have to ask Riza." Ed replied, they walked up the stairs and stood outside Ed's office.

"OK I will ask Riza when she comes in and get her to discuss it with you at lunch." Roy said, Ed went into his office to start the days work whilst Roy went to his office to do the same. When Ed walked into the office all of his subordinates cheered 'congratulations'.

"Thank you." Ed said taking of his coat to hang up on the coat peg in his office.

"Emily and Michael tells us that you proposed to her in the middle of the dance floor with everyone watching." Susumu said sitting at his desk. Ed just nodded.

"I wish I had been there to see it." Nelson said leaning on his desk.

"Haven't you all got work to do?" Ed asks smirking at them, he went into his office and started on his paperwork. At about eleven o'clock Ed heard someone knocking on his door. "Come in."

"Colonel Elric, the Fuhrer asked me to bring these to you." The soldier said, he handed the papers to Ed and saluted before leaving the office to let Ed look at the papers. He read through them and called for all of his subordinates to see him. They all stood in front of his desk at attention wondering why the Colonel had called them to see him.

"I have called you all in here to discuss the training that you all will be doing for the next couple of months." Ed said reading the paper in front of him. "The Fuhrer has arranged for first aid training for who ever wants it, though I do recommend that at least one of you have this training excluding Wright." Ed said, he looked at everyone and waited for someone to volunteer.

"I will do it." Emily said stepping forward.

"So will I." said Michael also stepping forward.

"OK, training will be every Friday after noon in room 304 on the third floor after lunch." Ed said giving them the form to look at.

"Next the fuhrer has agreed to allow me to train you all to help with your fighting skills, be warned I take my training very seriously and I expect you all to do the same. I will not tolerate any messing around in my training sessions. Understood." Ed glared at his subordinates making them all gulp.

"Because of the policy that says that men can't fight with women in training I will not be able to train you Lieutenant, but I do know someone who can." Ed said making Emily sigh in relief.

"I wouldn't look to relieved, the person who I will be asking help from is my old alchemy and combat sensei." Emily froze at his words, she had heard off how the Elric brother was trained by a strong and scary woman who helped defeat the enemy during the crisis the country was going through three years ago.

"You don't mean?" Ed grinned at her. "I see that you have heard the rumours, yes she did help when the country was in crisis. She even took down a Briggs bear in the middle of winter during her own training." Emily paled, the bears up in Briggs are rumoured to be at least ten feet tall whilst on there hind legs.

"Major Hawkeye has also offered to help anyone who wants with their skills using a gun." Ed asked everyone in the room nodded.

"All right I will tell her that you all want to be trained by her at the shooting range." Ed dismissed everyone to think about what they would be doing the next couple of months.

In Roy's office Riza was going through the reports that needed to be finished by the end of the month to make sure that Roy was keeping up with his work.

"It seems that you have been working hard Sir this month, there isn't to much work for you to do." Riza commented, she was pleased to see that Roy had started taking his work seriously.

"Well I'm not going to get promoted just by sitting around and doing nothing." Roy said signing his name on the bottom of a form.

"By the way Major, are you busy Friday night?" Roy asked Riza who raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why do you ask Sir?" Riza asked wondering what her commanding officer was up to.

"Lisa wanted to know if you and Fullmetal wanted to go out with us on Friday." Roy said looking at Riza with a smile. Riza smiled back at him.

"I would love to go, does Ed know about this?"

"I spoke to him about it this morning, he said that he wanted to talk to you first to see if you wanted to go." Roy said picking up another of his forms.

"OK well it's almost lunch time, did you want me to get you anything before I go to see Ed?" She asked him standing near the door. "No thanks Riza, I have brought my own lunch with me. How no-one hasn't had food poisoning from eating that muck is beyond me." Roy said causing Riza to giggle. She left the office and picked up the bag she keeps in her desk draw and went to Ed's office to have lunch with him. When Riza went into the outer office she noticed that Major Wright and Lieutenant Knotts was sat at their desks eating their lunch and talking.

"What do you think about this training?" Susumu asked Emily who was sitting at her desk.

"It seems really scary, have you ever heard the tales of that woman?" Emily replied paling at the thought of being trained by the merciless woman. Emily turned to face Riza when she heard someone enter the room.

"Good afternoon Major, the Colonel is in his office." She smiling at Riza who smiled back at her.

"Thank you Lieutenant, Oh Major Wright how did your discussion go with Dr Marco?" Riza asked.

"It went really well. Dr Marco was able to help me perfect my transmutation circle and has helped me make it possible to develop healing alchemy that can heal broken bones as well as wounds." Wright said sounding really confident with his research. Riza went into Ed's office with a smirk on her face.

"Hi Riza." Ed said standing up to give her a hug.

"Hey Ed, how has your morning been?"

"OK, your grandfather sent me his approval to train my team and gave permission to allow my old sensei to train Emily since I'm not allowed to fight her. Not like I would though." Ed said sitting on the couch next to Riza like they normally do when they have their lunch.

"Well look at it this way at least you will know that she will be trained to her fullest without you having to worry about being to hard on her." Riza said handing Ed his sandwich.

"Yeah your right, I just feel sorry for Emily. Compared to my training Izumi will work her to the bone, she's lucky that she isn't learning alchemy from her as well." Ed said shivering from the memory.

"How is Izumi? I haven't seen her since see came to see you last year to check up on you." Riza asked.

"She's all right, apparently ever since Hohen...I mean dad helped her by rearranging her organs with his alchemy, she has been of perfect health." Ed replied.

"That's good, so what about your father?"

"Nothing, but that doesn't surprise me in the slightest." Ed finished of his sandwich and cuddled up to Riza.

"How are you and Lisa getting along?" Ed asked Riza who but their rubbish in the bin before cuddling close to Ed.

"It's still a little strange, I grow up believing that my father was my only family, and he wasn't good at being a father." Riza said remembering what her father had done to her in order to keep his secrets safe.

"She is really nice, apparently she wants us to go to dinner with her and Roy." Riza said.

"I know Mustang mentioned it this morning, would you like to go?" Ed asked.

"Yes I think it would be good, it would give me a chance to properly introduce the two of you." Riza replied giving Ed a smile. Ed and Riza sat talking for a while longer before Riza went back to Roy's office.

The day seemed to be going well until Fuhrer Grumman walked into Roy's office. "Fuhrer Grumman Sir, I was about to bring these papers up to you." Roy said standing up and saluting.

"General Mustang, I wish to talk to you about an important matter." Grumman said sitting down in a chair in front of Roy's desk.

"I have an important misson for you. There have been reports of millatery soldiers causing trouble in the town of Pendleton in the west. I would like you and a few people that you can trust to go there and do an investigation in the guise of an inspection." Grumman said passing Roy the folder with the details in it. Roy looked through the folder.

"Yes Sir, I will assemble my best and head out as soon as we are ready." Roy said putting the folder on his desk. "Good, Oh and General, General Hakuro is in charge of Western command so be careful, I know that you two don't get on too well." Grumman said standing up to leave. When Grumman had gone Roy called his team into the office.

"What is it Sir?" Hawkeye asked walking into the office.

"The Fuhrer has just given us an important mission, he wants me and two of my best men to go to a town in the west called Pendleton to investigate the reports of soldiers causing trouble in the town." Roy said standing up from his desk. Hawkeye gave Roy a carious look.

"Why would the Fuhrer want us to go all the way to the west to investigate rumours of disobedient soldiers?" She asked, she know that there had to be some other under line reason for her grandfather to be sending them there.

"I don't know. But he did mention before he left that to be careful of Hakuro who has been put in chargeof Western command." Roy said. "He also said that he wants me to go down there pretending to be doing a route inspection."

"I see so that means that there is something going on in the military that he wants dealt with discreetly." Riza said to Roy who agreed.

"Falman I want you to go down to the filing room and find out any information about western command and Hakuro." Roy ordered, Falman saluted and went to find the information that the General wants.

"Havoc and Breada, when we have the information, I want you to accompany me to Pendleton to investigate this matter." Havoc and Breada nodded in understanding.

"Hawkeye I want you to stay here and take command of the office until I come back." Riza saluted. "Understood General." Roy dismissed them and picked up the phone to call Lisa about their plans on Friday.

"Hello?"

"Hello Lisa." Roy said disappointed that he wouldn't be able to go to dinner with her on Friday.

"Hi Roy, what's wrong?" Lisa asked hearing the annoyance in his voice.

"It's about Friday, your grandfather has asked me to go down to western command and do an inspection there so I won't be able to make it." Roy explained to her.

"Oh OK well we could always have dinner when you get back. How long do you think you'll be away?" She asked hoping that he wouldn't be away for to long.

"I don't know it might be a week or more. But don't worry Riza and Fullmetal will still be able to go with you." Roy said trying to cheer her up.

"All right, will I be able to see you before you go?"

"I will have Riza bring you to the train station when I am leaving so we can say good bye." Roy said, he talked to Lisa some more about how things where going with her and Riza and what her father thought about it, before saying goodbye and hanging up. At four o'clock Falman came back into the office with the information Roy wanted.

"General I have the information that you asked for, ever since General Hakuro was put in command of western command there have been many reports of people seeing soldiers sneaking around the town, the crime rate has gone up by 10% and there are even reports that many people have been attacked by soldiers for no reason." Roy frowned something was going on and Grumman wanted it to be sorted quietly.

'How has this been allowed to go on for so long?' Roy thought to himself. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes there is, apparently rumour has it that Lieutenant Colonel Drake has been seen spending a lot of time with General Hakuro outside of work." Falman said Roy stood up from his desk and took the folder with the information that Falman had brought him.

"Thank you Second Lieutenant. You are dismissed." Falman left the office and went back to his work, Roy called in Havoc and Breada.

"You wanted to see us General?" Havoc said walking into the office.

"Yes Captain Havoc and Lieutenant Breada I want you to prepare yourself for departure, we catch are train at eight tomorrow." Roy said, Havoc and Breada left the office to prepare themselves for their departure the next day. Roy finished of his paperwork and left work at five. As he was leaving he saw Hawkeye standing near the door waiting for him.

"Hi General, you all set for tomorrow?" Riza asked.

"Yes I have finished of my paperwork for today as well so there should be too much for me when I get back." Roy said, he didn't want to come back and have piles of paperwork to do. "I told Lisa that you and Fullmetal will be going to dinner with her without me." Roy said.

"OK I will ring her and arrange to meet her at the restaurant." Riza said, she looked behind Roy and saw Ed walking up to them.

"Hey, I hope I haven't kept you waiting?" Ed said, Riza smiled.

"No you haven't, Roy was just saying that it will be just you and me going to dinner on Friday with Lisa." Riza said holding his hand, Ed grinned at Roy.

"Really? That means that I can tell her all of embarrassing things that you have ever done, like say you walking around HQ in a mini skirt singing the happy song." Ed laughed, Roy glared at him.

"Don't you dare Fullmetal." Roy threatened causing Ed to laugh harder.

"Don't worry Sir I will make sure that he doesn't say anything." Riza said reassuringly, Ed pouted at her. "Aw and I have so much to tell her." Roy just glared at him.

"Oh before I forget, I told Lisa that you would bring her to the train station tomorrow so that we can say goodbye." Roy said, Riza nodded.

"Why can't you go to see her tonight?" Ed asked him.

"Because she is having dinner with her parents tonight." Roy explained. "Wow it sounds like you and her family get on really well." Ed commented sarcasticlly causing Roy to glare at him some more. They all walked home so that they could rest and get ready for the next day.

The next morning Riza, Lisa and Sarah stood on the platform waving to Roy, Jean and Breada who was on the train ready to depart and head to Pendleton. "Bye Roy I hope that you will be back soon." Lisa said standing near the window, Roy lended out and kissed her. The whistle blow and the train moved out of the station. Sat in a private carriage Roy went through the information that Falman had given him so that they would be prepared when they got there.

"What do two think?" Roy said wanting to know what they thought could be going on in the town.

"I don't know Sir, but something shady is happening down there." Havoc said.

"I agree, Breada you was stationed in the west for a while, is there anything that you can tell me about the town."

"Not really I was stationed in west city where the command centre is, I only know of rumour that I had heard whilst I was there." Breada said, Roy thought about the information he had been given.

"Apparently Hakuro and Drake visit Pendleton quit often, there must be something there." Roy said thinking aloud.

"Maybe his family lives there." Havoc commented, Breada shook his head. "No his family live in west city, and so do Drake's there must be something else." He said.

"Well we will find out and stop the corruption." Roy said, they all sat there talking about other things until they arrived at Pendleton. "So it looks like that you and Miss Swan are getting along quit well." Havoc said with a huge smirk on his face.

"Yes we are, though her father doesn't seem pleased with it. He's watching and waiting for me to screw up so that he can rub it in and go around telling people about how he was right." Roy said slouching in his seat.

"Don't worry General, I'm sure that he will warm up to you evientally." Breada said trying to cheer his commanding officer up. "I hope so, but for now we need to concentrate on the task at hand." They sat and talked, watching the world go by, looking forward to be off the train and in a warm bed.

Back in Central, Ed was stood in front on his team in the millatery training room with Izumi stood next to him.

"Everyone this in my former sensei Izumi Curtis, she will be helping me with me training over the next couple of months. Like I have said before this isn't a game, I expect you all to work hard and take everything we tell you seriously. Do I make myself clear?" Ed said to the frightened men and woman in front of him.

"Yes Sir." they all replied.

"All right to start of I think we will have you all run around this room. I want you all to do twenty laps just to start you off." Ed said looking at Izumi for guidance. They all looked at him like he had gone mad.

"Twenty laps?" Todds questioned causing Izumi to glare at him. "What? I thought that the millatery's training is supposed to be the best, don't tell me that you can't do simple twenty laps around this room? I think that these men are weak Edward, what have you been teaching them?" She asked looking at Ed.

"This is why I wanted them to have this training." Ed said, he looked at his team and gave them a look that said 'run or else I will make you.' Everyone started running with Ed and Izumi running behind them. When they had finished they all collapsed on the floor exhausted whilst Ed and Izumi stood there like they could do more. Ed allowed them to rest for a couple of minutes before telling them to stand up again.

"All right now I want you all to do some simple stretches and then we can move on to the real training." Everyone paled, real training? They thought that that was the real training. By lunch time everyone was exhausted and hungry, they all went to the cafeteria and was surprised at what they saw, there was a big butch man standing behind the counter where the food is served and the smell coming from the kitchen was heavenly. They went up to the counter and picked up there trays.

"What is Sig doing behind the counter?" Ed asked Izumi who followed Ed's subordinates to get some lunch.

"When I told him that I would be coming here to help you train these soldiers, he said that he would join me since he has heard about how bad the food is in the cafeteria and wanted to help by helping the cook learn how to cook better." Izumi said grabbing a tray and passing one to Ed.

"Ah Edward I see that you have gotten taller since the last time I saw you." Sig said given Ed a bowl of beef stew. "Thanks Sig, it's nice that someone has noticed." Ed replied, they all went to sit down and ate there stew.

"Wow this tastes great, a lot better then the slop they usually give us." Griffen said tucking into his meal.

"I'm glade you like it, after all the hard work you have done today you need to replenish your calories. You will need it for the next part of the training." Izumi said making everyone of Ed's subordinates groan.

At the end of the day, everyone one of Ed's subordinates where limping home, being told that they had to be at work at seven so that their training could start again. Ed, Izumi and Sig walked home with Riza.

"Thanks for coming here to help Izumi, I think that they will become a lot stronger with your help." Ed said walking next to Riza.

"That's all right Ed though understand that I do this for you and not for the millatery." Izumi said holding Sig's arm as they walked. "Anyway it gives me a chance to talk to Riza and find out more about her." Ed gave Izumi a curious look.

"Why would you need to know more about Riza?" Ed asked.

"Well you are marrying her aren't you? I want to become more acquainted with her, after all we are like family." Izumi replied making Ed smile, he had always saw her as a foster mother, though he would never openly admit it.

"Though I am surprised that Alphonse is with Winry and you aren't, no offence Riza."

"None taken." Riza replied with a smile. "Winry is just a friend, she's like the sister I never had. I just never really saw her in that way, not like Al does." Ed said in explanation.

"As long as you both are happy that is all that matters. Oh by the way I was visited by your father the other week, he said that once his been to see Pinako he will come to visit you." Izumi said, Ed groaned.

"So he has finally decided to come and pay a visit, I wonder how long he his planning to stay this time?" Ed said slightly annoyed. "I thought that you was getting along with your father now?" Sig asked confused.

"I do it's just that how does he expect us to bond if he keeps dissapearing for years at a time?" Ed said looking upset, Riza squizzed his hand. "I am sure that once he has do what he has set out to do, he will settle down." Ed smiled at her.

"Now enough with this conversation, lets get home and have some dinner I suspect that after the workout I gave you and you men today has made you hungry." As if on cue Ed's stomach rumbled making everyone laugh. They all went back to Ed's apartment where Izumi cooked up a feast for them all.

In Pendleton Roy's train just arrived at the station. Roy, Jean and Breada got of the train and headed out of station to look for a hotel for the night. As they looked around the town people glared at them as they walked passed.

"I see that the people who live in this town are not happy to see us." Havoc said, they found a hotel and went in, they went up to the receptionist who didn't look pleased to see them.

"What ever it is, I don't care I have had enough of your kind coming in here causing trouble." The receptionist said folding his arms.

"We aren't here to cause any trouble, we just need a place to stay for a few nights." Roy calmly said.

"Oh really, well I'm afraid that we don't have any spare rooms available." The man said determined to make them leave. "Do you know of any place that would have any spare rooms." Roy asked polity irritating the receptionist.

"No I don't, why don't you try asking one of your millatery friends." The man said in a unfriendly voice causing Roy to frown. "What exactly have the millatery done to upset you? Maybe we may be able to help." Roy asked hoping that the man could give him some information as to what's been going on in the town.

"You mean you don't know? Where are you from?" The man asked suddenly interested. "We are from Central. We have heard rumours of soldiers illegally going around disturbing the citizens of this town so we where sent to conduct an inspection and investigate the allegations made." Roy explained to the receptionist. "You didn't answer me question." Roy said to the receptionist.

"The soldiers keep coming in here, saying that they are searching for something important. They turn everything upside down and reck everything looking for what ever it is they are searching for. If you refuse to let them in they accuse you of hiding something and have you arrested. I heard that someone wouldn't let the soldiers into his home because it was infested with rats from the sewers and was waiting for someone to come and help him, but the soldiers didn't believe him and broken it to his house, they ended up being infected by the rats and found nothing for their troubles. When that General from West city asked what had happened they lied and said that the man had done it them because he had a problem with the millatery. The man was imprisoned for attacking a soldier, his family now lives in this hotel because they burned down their home claiming that it was to get rid of the rats." Roy frowned, why had Hakuro allowed this to happen?

"OK we will talk to this General and try to convince him that it was the soldiers not the man at fault." Roy promised.

"I see well I still don't fully trust you but I supposed I can't throw you out, here this is the room we use for families that come to visit the town, but I warn you don't go causing trouble for my other guests or else I will throw you out." The receptionist handed Roy the key, they went up to the room and spoke about what they were going to do next.

"Well it is obvious that the millatery is well liked though the receptionist didn't seem to elaborate on what exactly why that is." Havoc said picking a bed and sitting on it.

"I understand why know why Ed always refused to wear the uniform on field missions." Breada commented.

"Yeah it must have been convenient. But lets not forget that even if the people knew that Fullmetal was in the millatery he always managed to change their minds." Roy said taking his jacket of and hanging it in the wardrobe

"First things first, we will need to go to West city tomorrow to conduct our 'inspection'. Whilst we are doing that we will talk to the people there to find out any information that we can." Roy said sitting on the bed.

"Breada you have been stationed there before, is there anyone that we can trust to talk to without them going to Hakuro or Drake?" Roy asked.

"Well we could talk to Lieutenant Glen Walker, he doesn't like Hakuro or Drake and would be more than happy to give some information." Breada replied "There is also Second Lieutenant Rose Piper who also as a problem with Lieutenant Colonel Drake."

"It sounds like Drake doesn't seem to be making friends." Havoc commented.

"Well it may have something to do with what's been happening around here, we will find out when we get there. Right now we should get some rest." Roy, Havoc and Breada went down to have some dinner before going to bed to rest before getting the train again in the morning.

Back in Central in Ed's apartment, Izumi and Sig was saying goodnight to Ed and Riza. "Are you sure that you won't stay here? I have a spare room you could use." Ed said, Izumi shook her head.

"Thank you Ed but we have already found a hotel for us to stay in, and besides you don't want us here when you could be spending some quality time with Riza." Izumi said causing Ed to blush. Izumi and Sig left to go to their hotel leaving Ed and Riza alone in the small apartment. "She's right you know I can't remember the last time you got to spend time together without dreading that someone may walk in at any moment." Riza said given him a kiss.

"Yeah with all the work I have to do at the moment and with Winry and Al being here last week we haven't had time to be really alone." Ed replied after the kiss. "So what do you want to do?"

"Why don't we go for a walk around the park, it's been awhile since we have done that." Riza suggested. They put on their coats and headed towards the park. As they walked they talked about the wedding and what they wanted to do.

"When do you what to get married?" Ed asked Riza as they looked at the lake watching two swans sitting close to each other on the bank. "I was thinking about a spring wedding, I have always wanted to get married in the spring." She said smiling at her fiance. "Then we will be married in the spring, it would be perfect for the idea that I had." Ed said looking across the lake.

"What plan is that?" Riza asked curious. "I was planning on arranging and outside wedding, if you agree." Ed replied looking into her hazel eyes. "I would love to get married outside, besides I doubt that any church would let you in." Riza replied laughing, they stayed there for a little while longer before heading home to rest for the night, Ed was going to need to with all the hard training he would be doing with his men the next day.

Thanks for reading, please review.