Chapter Fourteen

Risembool

It was late afternoon and Edward was lumbering around on a spare automail leg while Pinako and Winry worked on building him his new set. Al was taking what he had called a long deserved nap. Edward himself had decided that he needed to walk to the graveyard. It had been so long since he'd visited his mother's grave, and so much had happened since the last time. Between Sloth, and then Envy in a way, his sense of family had all but crumbled out from underneath him. Al had remained the one true constant.

So here he was, trudging that path he'd walked so long ago, and most times reluctantly. Yet when he reached the grave he sank down on his knees before it, staring at the headstone marker. No words left his lips, nor tears his eyes. Yet he sat in melancholic silence trying to form some peace of mind of what he'd done to his mother, to his entire family. He truly had been a fool at times. He knew that now, and it was too late to change anything.

Finally as dusk began to settle over the hills of Risembool Edward stood, albeit a bit stiffly for all he hadn't moved in several hours. Casting his mother's grave one last dark golden eyes look he bowed his head, the words, "I'm sorry," slipping from his lips.

Turning away for good now Ed began the walk back to Pinako's house. Shoving his hands into his pants pockets he let his mind wander as he walked. He was unsure of what awaited him when he returned to Central. Mustang had hinted on having something for Ed to do once he was back in the city. But as curious as Ed was about that, he was more curious as to what Mustang was planning to do about an assessment. He wasn't worried in the least, no, just curious. Before he might have dreaded what the stupid bastard might have suggested he do, but now? Ed felt certain he could handle anything they threw at him. Even if it was another match between he and his General.

In fact, such a match might come as a welcome to him. He hadn't had a good alchemy spar in years, and if he were to face off against anyone, that smug man who'd been the cause of so much confusion would be perfect. He'd love to finish what they started at Ed's first assessment battle.

There was no telling though. For all Ed knew Roy could arrange for him to do something embarrassing, or order him to come up with research on an obscure topic.

As Ed walked he pulled his State Alchemist pocket watch from his red jacket. Running a gloved thumb over the exterior engraving he considered it glumly. He had only joined the Military to get access to research and missions that could lead him to the Philosopher's Stone. What a disaster that had ended up becoming. If he'd known what would await them on that path in life, he might have strayed from it. So why now was he allowing himself to stay? He could hand in the watch, tell the General to shove the watch up a certain bodily hole, and march out the doors never to see the place again. He knew though somehow that if he did that, it wouldn't make him happy. In fact it would do the exact opposite.

He was nearly back to the house when Al suddenly jumped down from the tree he'd been sitting up in. "Hey!" Al greeted his brother cheerfully.

"Al!" Ed gasped as he recovered from his shock. "Don't do that when I'm not paying attention."

"It's too easy to scare you even if you are paying attention." Al sighed and winked at his brother.

"Thanks." Edward muttered and kept walking, Al falling in beside him. "So, you and Winry, huh? Why'd you never tell me?"

A faint blush appeared on Al's cheeks at the question. "I didn't want you to regret my coming through the Gate after you. And, to tell you the truth, at first I was a little worried to tell you."

"Why?" Ed shot him a baffled look.

"Because," Al began, the flush on his cheeks growing, "I wasn't sure if you had feelings for Winry or not. So until I could decide that I wasn't sure how to tell you. When I did decide that you didn't like her that way I couldn't seem to find the right time to tell you. And I guess I didn't have to."

"No." Ed smiled, "I sure hope you two didn't cause a scene though out on the road."

"Brother!"

Edward laughed and patted his brothers shoulder, "kidding, kidding." Adopting a more serious face he continued, "I've always liked Winry, but not in the way you do. She's more of a sister to me, always has been."

"I'm sure you'll find the one you love, brother." Al finally said as he smiled over at his brother, "I'd be very happy for the both of you."

"Yeah… one I love." Ed repeated quietly to himself, his brows knitting together in thought. This time, when the image of Mustang swam to his vision he didn't push it away. Instead he considered it for a moment, before blinking it away.

"Just call me when you do, I'll have to collect money from Winry." Al informed him as they reached the front yard of the house.

"What do you mean, "call you." And what is it about all this money I've seen changing hands. Just what is it you all are betting on?" Ed asked, grabbing his brother's arm suddenly.

Al merely smiled, "I have a feeling you know now, you're just not admitting it too yourself. Or so goes Pinako's theory."

Ed's face contorted in frustration, "screw that! Why do I have to call you?"

"I'm staying here, brother." Al told him frankly. "Because of Winry, and because I'd only be in the way back in Central."

Ed opened his mouth to argue but Al held up a silencing hand.

"You'll understand what I mean. Or, I hope you do soon. I've made up my mind, and it's not like we can't still see each other or talk. But you're still in the Military, that's your life. I have to live mine now as well, now that I am back and I have my human body."

Ed contemplated his brother in silence for a moment before nodding, and smiling in acceptance. "All right. You know I wish you the best of luck."

"I do." Al smiled back.

All mentions of Ed's love life, or lack of it, were left forgotten on the doorstep as the two entered the house.

Central

Roy Mustang had finally left his office, surprisingly he'd been the last to leave. All the rest of his team had gone home on time, yet he'd decided to stay hours later than normal. What had he been doing? Absolutely nothing. A fact which infuriated him. He couldn't concentrate. The reason? A certain blond alchemist.

The previous night he hadn't been able to sleep well at all. Tossing and turning he just couldn't seem to drift off for more than a few minutes at a time. A fact which had made him a complete and utter grouch today, and he knew it. He'd never seen even Hawkeye keep her distance so carefully. It was actually very admirable of her. Yet the notion he courted of whether or not to give the woman a promotion for her restraint today did not last long.

Trying to be helpful his mind presented him with an image of Edward. An Edward with large cow eyes. An image that actually made him chuckle aloud, causing several people on the street to jump in alarm. Usually when General Mustang laughed randomly, it was never a good sign. Ed had been entertaining that night, and Roy had actually enjoyed the time he spent with him. Even if Ed had subjected him to the most terrible joke in Amestris.

As he noticed he was smiling, actually smiling, and not smirking, Roy shook his head. It was what had happened all day today, the thing that had prevented him from working effectively. For some reason his mind kept drifting to thoughts of Ed, and with such insistence that he found himself now unable to redirect his thoughts. Apparently he subconsciously wanted to think about Ed. "Why? Damnit!" He suddenly shouted at the sky.

If people were now starting to clear out from his vicinity he didn't notice. With a frustrated frown still on his face Roy continued to stomp his way home. He could have had one of the cars drive him, but he had felt the walk might do him good. So he continued to make his way home, trying to determine why his mind kept wanting him to think about Ed. What was it he wasn't understanding here that he was supposed to?

A block behind Mustang, the military car Havoc always borrowed crept after him.

"Anyone catch what he yelled to make the kids cry?" Falman asked from his seat in the back of the car.

"Nope." The others all answered.

All five of them had originally gone out for dinner together, leaving Mustang to finish his work, or try to. But on their way out of the restaurant they'd spotted their beloved boss walking home, and had thus quickly piled into the car to follow him. Unannounced to the General, he was currently the subject of sightseeing for his entire team. And they were having a great time doing it. At least so long as they were not caught.

"He turned the corner, drive a bit faster." Riza urged Havoc who was behind the wheel.

Jean complied and the car moved faster to keep up with the General.

"Who wants to make bets on how many things he punches, or how many times he yells something?" Fuery asked, pulling out the small spiral notebook they'd taken to using for logging the pages of bets they were placing considering Roy and Ed's relationship.

"I'm going to go with he punches one thing and yells once more. 200." Havoc announced.

"You know, I'm not sure he'd appreciate us getting rich off of each other by making bets on his love life." Riza began, "but it sure beats just watching him and getting annoyed at his thick headedness."

"I wonder how Ed's doing." Breda wondered.

They all thought about that for a minute before Jean answered, "I'm betting 300 that Ed makes the first move on Mustang when he gets back."

Fuery scribbled the bets down as everyone began to challenge that claim with thoughts of their own. "Okay, and shall we bet on Mustang's reaction?"

"That could get complicated." Falman pointed out.

Hawkeye couldn't help the very girly giggle that escaped her, completely petrifying the men in the car. "Those two are such blockheads right now, they deserve each other." She cast their shocked faces one amused glance and smiled. "Oh all right, all right, I'm a girl, I admit it."

The woops that filled the car might have alerted Mustang to their presence had the windows not been rolled all the way up.

Speaking of Mustang, had he known what his team was up to, he probably would have made the car explode on the spot. As he didn't, though, he continued on his way home. Only once he'd turned down the street his house was on did the car make an unnoticed u-turn and head back the other way. As he let himself into his house he ignored the tidied bottom floor and made his way upstairs. The second floor too, was immaculate… for the most part. He really needed to pick up all the alchemy books that were still scattered everywhere through the second floor hallway and its rooms.

Yet tonight was not the night for it, and he stepped carefully over the books, stripping out of his clothes as he walked before collapsing down onto his bed with a groan. He wondered if it would be too much to actually get some sleep tonight. Grabbing a pillow he stuffed it over his head, crossing his arms over it to hold it there. He desperately needed to sleep. He had a meeting with the Fuhrer tomorrow to further discuss what was to be done with Ed. He needed to be well rested, though he knew without a doubt the one thing he would do in that meeting was refuse to give up his claim to Edward as part of the team he commanded. He'd look more presentable though for his case if he didn't have dark circles under his eyes.