This story was originally supposed to be much short than it currently is, ending with the bar scene. It was also meant to be less explanatory, but I think Roy deserves more than that, after all that we've put him through, hm? And Auren needs closure. :D

"Gooood morning, men," Roy chirped brightly as he entered with Havoc and Hawkeye flanked on either side of him. He ignored the stunned expressions of Breda and Fuery as he smiled broadly. "How wonderful it is to again be in a warm climate!"

"The cold really disagrees with you, doesn't it?" Breda raised a brow.

"You have no idea," Hawkeye answered for Roy, not even earning a glare from him thanks to his fantastic mood.

"You'd think the Flame alchemist would be able to keep warm in cold weather," Havoc commented. "Any moisture, even frozen."

"That's enough out of you two," Roy commanded, surprising all by flopping casually onto the couch. He stared at the expectant expressions of his entire team.

"Well, did you meet the General?"

"Yeah, we did." Roy looked rather thoughtful as he spoke. "He looks just like the description we received. Though he's rude, aggressive, arrogant, and incredibly cocky."

"And he wants peace?" Fuery asked in surprise, then looked down. "Unless that's a common Drachman personality..."

"Nah, he's always been cocky. He's just getting worse with age," Roy mused, earning an agreeable nod from Riza.

"Wait, you know him?"

"Yeah. So do you, actually." Roy smirked secretively.

"What-well who is he, Colonel?" Breda pressed anxiously.

"General Emil Van Auren," Roy explained dramatically, "has been climbing the ranks for ten years. He is loud, obnoxious, and his automail packs a hellish punch."

Realization dawned in the eyes of his uninformed subordinates.

"...Wait, you can't mean-"

"Ten years hasn't tempered his disposition, but Edward is indeed alive." Roy fielded the shocked gasps and inevitable questions. "The initial defection to Drachma wasn't his choice. It was forced on him by the Drachman military, where he remained with the hope of ending international hostility and war."

"But-he's gonna come back when he's done, right?"

"I somehow doubt that, Breda." Roy sighed. "He maintains this new identity and insists that his old life is done for good."

"You didn't see what we saw," Havoc continued. "He's a good deal different from the Ed we knew. He almost backhanded the Lieutenant, until she stopped him."

More gasps, and Riza simply clutched her holster.

"What about Alphonse? Are you going to tell him?"

"No. Auren is going to tell him." Roy crossed his arms, frowning. "I'm going to drag that little bastard out of Drachma and out of his comfort zone and he's going to explain all of this to his brother."

"Smuggling someone out of a country isn't that easy," Breda supplied. "Especially with all of the surveillance going on at the border."

"Especially with your reputation now," Havoc added. "There's a few people ready to name you as a traitor, if you just give them a reason to."

Roy uttered a groan as his head fell back against the couch. "We'll have to be really careful. I'll give him a week to come to terms with what he has to do, and then we're dragging him to Risembool."

"I can't believe it," Fuery murmured.

"I know. Ed was always kind of uptight before, but he's turned into a jerk."

"He has his reasons," Roy assured, though he didn't dismiss Breda's statement. "It started out as a join or die decision."

"And he chose Drachma?"

"He chose a chance for peace."

Roy spent the rest of the week trying to repair his damaged reputation, only making small progress. He was surprised to hear his phone ring before the week was finished, and nearly fell flat on his face in his scramble to reach his office phone.

"Bernard?"

"Come now, Colonel. We have met, we no longer need a liaison." Auren's voice came through the line, carrying his usual coarse arrogance.

"Edw-Emil." Roy fell into his chair, keeping the sigh from his voice. "I was worried you wouldn't call."

"Despite our past, I am still the Drachman General who is striving for peace. We have business to tend to. I hear you are trying to become credible and influential again."

"Now that we've rooted out the scum, I have no reason to resort to underhanded and illegal tactics."

"But wasn't it a fun foray?" Auren chuckled, sounding less harsh than he had days before. "I will have my undercover men slip into the role now, and watch for anything new. You will focus on encouraging positive views of Drachma. We will prepare them for the alliance."

"Yes, I will dig myself deeper into the hole by looking like a Drachman sympathizer, just before you arrive and we are called blasphemous traitors." Roy sighed. "Not to mention, I say positive things about Drachma, and then you show up with that attitude..."

"You find a problem with my attitude?"

"You don't?"

"I suppose I shall extend communications with Amestris soon," Auren mused, ignoring Roy's accusations.

"Very good! We can begin with your brother's family."

"I knew that's what you were getting at," Auren muttered. "Bring them to Kondrav in a few days' time."

Roy scoffed. "Al doesn't even trust that I'm communicating with Drachma, he'd never let me drag him, his wife and his young daughter to the country."

"Then how am I supposed to-"

"And you call me senile! Hike your fat ass over the mountain and catch a train to Risembool!" Roy cursed when he heard the line go dead. Hanging up himself, he leaned back in his chair. "He doesn't take jokes as well as he used to..."

Roy's ponderous rest didn't last long due to the phone ringing again. He answered it in monotone, not really caring who was on the other end.

"You were only joking, weren't you."

"Yes, General clueless, I was. About your weight, at least. You're still going to trek through that nasty mountain pass and come visit Amestris."

"Like hell I am! That pass is too damn rough! I can't-"

"What? Edward Elric, the unstoppable Fullmetal Alchemist, halted by a measly mountain? One that, I might add, myself and my team braved twice in two days." Hearing Auren's growl on the other end, Roy finished the job. "Getting soft around more than just your middle, are you?"

"Meet me in Xolemir in two days," Auren snarled, the line disconnecting immediately after.

Roy leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes. He could only imagine how rocky the reunion might play out, especially with Auren's rough personality. Unfortunately, it was necessary for everyone's sanity.

He dialed a number on the phone, smiling as he heard a warm voice answer.

"Riza? I know we just returned from the cold weather, but..."