Phoenix: Not sure when I'll throw Ed off a cliff again. I might for one story I've been considering starting up. I shall see though.

GreedxEd: I've thought of maybe doing a oneshot series of Ed and Al's misadventures that get mentioned here. They definitely are amusing, and Winry will be told more of them.

mrawgirl: Yay, Daphne has another fan back! I think she's the kind of mom I'd maybe want to be.

Paon: Yes, Roy had a point. I think none of us want there to be any sort of knowledge about love lives between family members, especially parents and kids.

Lamia: Daphne does tend to stir things up a bit.

Mez: Do I even want to know where she got a stress ball like that?

Mandeln: Still can't recall what I forgot.. but still trying.

greyscale: She'll be very pleased to hear that you love her.

Shawn: Daphne really is nice, she has no fear of saying anything.

Rose: I've laughed plenty of times in the library, soon they learn to ignore you, or ask what's so funny because they need a laugh themselves.

wishful: Thanks, I'm glad you love her.

Shikon: Yay! I win FMA! -parades it around with Daphne- I actually need a massage too though... my left shoulder is killing me.

anmb: You read my mind! -takes her bottle of wine and hot masseuse somewhere... private-

XwhiteXspirit: You usually don't have to wait too long for this one... Usually a week is the max for a chapter of this. It just depends on how nice I'm feeling.

B.D.: Yes, there are just some things that parents and kids do not need to share.

So here it is, and it's actually longer than what is normal for a chapter in this story. I doubt anyone will complain, but there was just no good point to end the chapter. And I'd rather go over, or even under, in order to make sure that the chapter flows nicely. So here we are! Edward gets some pampering.

For my LJ people who read the naughtier cut chapters/scenes, your answer is 'yes'. I'm getting that all typed up right now.

I'm almost over 300 reviews for this story... I'm going to throw myself a mini party right after I finish fainting at my good fortune.

Chapter Twenty One

Edward woke up after his nap, and gave the clock on the bedside table a bleary look as he rolled over in the large bed with a yawn. 3:18. He'd slept almost six hours. Flexing his body slowly, limb by limb, and then giving a luxurious stretch as he found his body was willing to move with little more than a few sore spots. He almost gave a satisfied groan as he felt his muscles loosen while he stretched. It felt good to feel mostly free again.

Pushing off the covers Edward climbed out of bed. Stripping out of his pajamas he laid them on the bed before heading into the bathroom. He'd taken a shower that morning, but after the train ride he felt in need of another shower. So he turned on the hot spray until it felt as if his skin might scorch, and lathered up again. He made a mental note though to buy more shampoo when they next went to the store. He preferred Roy's shampoo, and he certainly had a lot more hair to attend to.

After he'd showered, he combed his hair out and dressed in his pajamas again. Swiping a pair of Roy's slippers Edward padded out of their bedroom and began to make his way down to the kitchen. Upon opening the refrigerator, he laughed.

On the middle shelf, in plain view, sat a plastic wrap covered plate of what he assumed would have been his share of last night's dinner. His name was written on it blatantly in Roy's untidy scrawl, along with the words 'stop raiding my fridge'.

"Forgot to say please." Edward taunted the handwriting as he took the plate out of the refrigerator and shut the door.

Humming happily to himself Edward wandered over to grab himself a fork, ditch the plastic wrap into the trash, and grab himself a bottle of water. He then made his way from the kitchen and down several hallways to go outside onto the back patio. Setting his plate and water bottle down onto the table out there on the deck, Edward dragged a chair over so he could sit down and eat.

It just felt like one of those late afternoons where you were grasped by the urge to escape back to nature. Edward was willing to oblige over his lunch.

When he'd finished the meal of chicken, salad, and cheese crusted bread, Edward finished off the bottle of water before standing up again. The time spent sitting outside had further refreshed him. The little sore spots that were left felt a bit stiff after sitting in the patio chair, but he believed they would work themselves out soon enough. He should be feeling in top form by tomorrow morning.

Grabbing the empty plate and water bottle, Edward ventured back inside. He tossed away his trash and loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. He looked over at the clock again, seeing that almost an hour had gone by, but not quite. He still had approximately two hours until Roy would be coming home.

He could start dinner, but he knew that Roy would be upset with him. He knew he was supposed to be resting, so he'd leave the dinner plans to his doting beloved. Especially if he was getting his dessert in bed… he wanted to enjoy the whole treatment.

So Edward wandered from the kitchen, and to the library. Making his way into the circular room he flipped on the lights. Again, he laughed.

Sitting on the centermost table, so as not to be missed by the blond alchemist, was a stack of books.

Edward walked over to them, and picked up the folded note laying on top of the stack. Unfolding it he read, "I tried to pull ones I thought you'd enjoy". He set the note aside with a smile and turned to the books. Setting them aside one by one he browsed the selection curiously.

For a man who didn't seem to be the reading type, Roy had done well in choosing a variety of books. Ranging from topic specific, to the encyclopedia which Edward smirked at, Roy had covered every spectrum. It filled him with a happy warmth to see that Roy had prepared everything for him. Everything that he could have needed while limited by pain was set up to be easily accessible for him. He was dating a romantic, and he loved it.

Selecting a book Edward piled the rest back up neatly and turned to leave the library. While the furniture in here was comfortable, Edward felt like being back upstairs in bed and starting up the fireplace.

Once he was back in the bedroom he set the book on the covers before going to start the fire. Once the flames were beginning to snap cheerfully he walked over to the window and pushed it up and open. The cool air would keep it from getting too warm, but Edward wanted a fire.

Soon enough he was curled up in bed, propped up by pillows, and a book open in his hands.

As it always did, time seemed to pass by swiftly when you were in the world of letters and words. Completely absorbed by a book. The minutes passed by without notice, turning into hours.

Edward was so absorbed, he hadn't even realized that he was no longer alone until he heard the light laughter that jolted him back to the present. "Roy!" He gasped in surprise, the book falling closed in his hands. "I didn't hear you come in."

Roy smirked, "yes, the book… I know." He said and walked over before Edward could get much further in getting up than pushing off the covers. Sitting down on the edge of the bed he cupped Edward's cheek with a smile. "I see you found all my notes."

Edward leaned his face gently into Roy's hand, his eyes affectionate as they got lost in the black warm abyss of Roy's gaze. "I did, thank you. You're spoiling me."

"Today's not over yet. I plan to spoil you some more." Roy smiled. "As soon as my mother goes to bed tonight I'll give you that massage."

"And my dessert in bed?" Edward reminded him, not about to let a chance to have cake, or something, in bed.

"And some wine." Roy promised, and leaned in to catch Edward's lips with his own.

Edward eagerly kissed Roy back, and didn't lose any time in achieving dominance over their kiss. They'd both been without each other for days, so as eager as Roy was, Edward was just as much. In small amounts of pain still or not, he was determined to hold onto being the dominant one of their relationship. The sight of Roy coming undone under his hands and mouth, and downright begging him unreservedly for more, was something he never wanted to lose.

When they parted at last, needing that accursed invisible substance called air, Edward smirked at a flushed Roy. And he knew he probably looked the same, albeit probably worse. His hair had been mussed up by Roy, and while he hadn't minded in the act of kissing, he minded now. He began fastidiously trying to make his hair lay flat again. "If we didn't have company, I'd be tempted to suggest we skip dinner for later."

Roy smirked back and reached up to help Edward fix his hair, if only for the excuse to run his fingers through it some more. "Damn, I was hoping we could forget about her for the night."

"Roy." Edward chided him with an arched eyebrow, "from what I gather, she'd rush in here within the next ten minutes to see what was taking us. Do you really want her to see? Company first."

Roy had to admit, there was a valid point there in that disappointment. "Your hair looks lovely now." He said as he lowered his hand only to brush the fingers against Edward's lips which had become plumped from their kiss. "You always look lovely though."

Edward rolled his eyes, and swatted the man's shoulder. "Don't make me sound like a girl."

"Oh, Ed," Roy flashed him a teasing smile, "I know you are not a girl. I've experienced the fact that you are not a girl. I've gone to work limping because you're not a girl."

Edward chuckled, and latched onto the finger tip edge of Roy's glove with his teeth. Holding the man's gaze he went finger to finger, slowly easing the glove off with his teeth before giving a flick of his head to toss it away. "And what do you tell them?" He asked before he took Roy's index finger in his mouth and began to suck on it slowly while he cocked an eyebrow at the man, waiting for his answer.

Roy groaned, and battled the urge to pin Edward to the bed and to hell with what his mother walked in on. He was already responding to Edward's treatment of his now shaking hand. "Not a word, what gets shoved up my ass is our business alone."

The finger was released with a wet popping sound, and Edward grinned wolfishly at Roy's lustful expression. "And what fun business it is." He set the book he'd been reading aside and slid out of the bed while taking Roy's ungloved hand in his. "Come on, let's go."

Roy disposed of his other glove and allowed Edward to lead him out of their bedroom. "I'll let you entertain her while I cook."

"I'll do my best." Edward smiled and squeezed the hand he held. "What does she know of me already?"

"Nothing too specific." Roy said as he thought back, "I went over how long we've known each other. How we recently got together after you came back from an exceedingly long mission. That's about all. I let her entertain herself most of the day since I had meetings scheduled for almost all of it."

"Okay."

They made their way down to the dining room together, still holding hands with their fingers entwined together. It was there they found Daphne, already sitting in a chair at the table and drinking a lemonade. She looked up as they walked in, and smiled. "There you two are, I was wondering what was keeping you."

Roy fixed her with an exasperated expression. "I choose to have no comment here." He groaned. Only his mom would say those words but have a less than innocent smile.

"He was helping me fix my hair." Edward winked at Roy, who blushed faintly at the cheeks.

"Ed!" He hissed.

Edward smirked at the man, and leaned over to place a quick kiss on his cheek.

"He was being helpful?" Daphne joked and waved Ed over to her. "Come, let's talk while he slaves in the kitchen for us."

"I am his slave, not yours." Roy rolled his eyes, and released Ed's hand. "It shouldn't take too long."

Edward smiled at him, "will my slave bring me out something to drink?" He asked in a low, teasing voice.

"Your slave will." Roy chuckled and headed for the kitchen.

Edward turned with a smile to go over to where Daphne was sitting, and take the seat next to her. "I was thinking that you must be a fearsome woman to have raised him."

Daphne laughed, and tucked a lock of curly black hair behind one ear as she fixed Edward with a smile. "He was a challenge, I'll give you that. But he's turned out even better than I had hoped."

"He mentioned to me that you were always pushing him to be better." Edward ventured.

She nodded, "doesn't every parent want their child to succeed? I pushed him because I could see the potential he had. I didn't want him to waste it being just some other person in the military. Alchemist or not."

"And now he's Fuhrer."

"Yes, yes he is." She agreed with a faint smile. "But to be honest, his reaching the highest he could in the career ladder, and Fuhrer is the highest, wasn't the only thing I wanted him to succeed in."

Edward gave her a curious look, "and has he succeeded at that?"

"Do you love him?" Daphne asked instead.

"Yes." There was no hesitation there. "I've loved him for a very long time, and I always will. No matter what happens to me." He had said the last sentence quietly, more to himself.

"Then he succeeded." Daphne replied simply, and fixed Edward with a smile. "He loves you too, I can see that. Every parent also wants their child to find happiness with someone else."

Edward smiled at her, "we are happy. But what now?"

"Well, you two get married I'd hope."

Edward blushed, why did everyone always come back to he and Roy marrying? Not that he didn't want to… but it was too soon. "No, I meant what now for you? If he's succeeded with everything you were pushing him for, what now?"

"I can be a mother now. For so long after his father died I felt I had to take on two roles." Daphne sighed, "I think it's why I pushed him as relentlessly as I did. But now I can be just the mom again. I want to bond with my son again."

"I lost my mom when I was a kid." Edward said, feeling that this was someone he could open up to. "My father had run off years before. I never even met him again until I was a teenager. I hated that man… I did. I blamed him for so much, for everything. I ended up losing him not too long after. He died, and I finally grew up, but too late to realize that all the years I spent hating him, I was losing the last chance I ever had at having a parent again. That's why," he continued as he gave her a somewhat sad smile, "I hope you can be the mom to him that you want to be. But don't try too hard, usually all we want is right in front of our eyes. We just don't know it yet, and unfortunately sometimes we never do until we've lost it forever."

Daphne was silent for a moment, before reaching out and squeezing Edward's hand gently. "You're a very special young man, Edward. My son is lucky to have you."

"What about me?" Roy asked, walking back in just in time to hear her last words.

Daphne looked over her shoulder at him. "We're talking about how you need to lose some weight."

Edward hid a smile.

"I do not need to lose weight!" Roy protested as he bore a steaming mug of peppermint tea over to Edward. It was his favorite he'd discovered.

"Roy, denial is never healthy."

Edward accepted his tea with a grin from a very flustered Roy. "Perhaps we should go swimming one day? Roy'll have to go shirtless, and you can prove to her that you're all muscle."

Roy shrugged, "that sounds nice. We can do some transmutations in the backyard and have it ready to go in only minutes."

Daphne grinned at the idea. "I'm in for that. Just as long as you two keep your swimming shorts on."

Both Edward and Roy flushed at the insinuation. "We'll try and control ourselves." Edward said weakly.

"I'm going to go check on dinner." Roy managed to say before fleeing back for the safety of the kitchen.

Dinner appeared soon enough, it seemed that Roy had speeded up the cooking process. He had the table set and the food on the table in a matter of minutes after announcing it was done.

"Roy, this looks delicious." Daphne said as she began dishing tarragon mashed potatoes onto her plate.

"Thanks, mom." He said before turning his attention to Edward. "Well?"

Edward looked over at him, and glared with a mouthful of carrots that he was still chewing. Gulping them down he rolled his eyes. "Your cooking is wonderful as always, my slave."

"Thank you, master." Roy bantered back before returning to his food.

Daphne looked between them with somewhat wide green eyes. "That's it? Dinner and no show?"

"Mom!" Roy gasped, while Edward blushed and fell into fitful giggles.

"What? If I didn't approve of you doing anything with Ed here, I'd be acting like an evil mother and trying to break you two up."

"I don't exactly feel like ravishing Edward in front of my own mother. That isn't exactly the sort of audience that would be a turn on." Roy pointed out gruffly.

"I'm not telling you to rip each other's clothes off and go at it on the dining room table." Daphne rolled her eyes, "but it is okay to kiss each other or something in front of me."

Edward smirked, and batted his lashes at Roy. "Or something?"

Roy gave Edward a glowering look. "I'll 'or something' you later."

Daphne smirked, and Edward grinned. Get through dinner they did, though it was a rather long affair considering how many times Roy felt the need to protest something Daphne had remarked on. Edward felt though that Daphne had nothing to worry about. She and Roy acted fine as a mother and son already. They were both so similar though that they couldn't help butting heads.

After dinner they retired to the sitting room for some more talking before Daphne decided she had best go to bed. She'd had a long trip on the train after all, and had been fairly active most of the day.

"So try and keep it down you two." She said as she gave a parting wave and departed through the doorway.

Edward looked over at a Roy who was rolling his eyes, and smirked at him. "Do I get to be spoiled some more now?"

Roy smiled over at him and nodded. "Yes. Go on up to bed, I'll be there shortly."

Edward got to his feet with a grin and hurried from the sitting room and up to their bedroom. He resumed his position under the covers, and picked his book back up. He might as well get some reading time in while he waited.

"You and your books." Roy remarked as he entered the room at last, bearing a platter in one hand. On it rested an ice bucket which he'd plunged a bottle of red wine into, two wine glasses, and a rather large slice of chocolate and orange marbled cake with chocolate mint frosting along with a fork.

Edward perked up immediately at the sound of Roy's voice, and closed to book to set it aside on the bedside table. "You made me a cake." He smiled in delight, "you remembered."

Roy smiled back and set the tray down near to the middle of the bed, and sat himself at the foot of it. "Yes, I did remember."

Edward leaned forward to catch Roy's lips in a loving kiss. "Thank you."

"Anything for you." Roy smiled tenderly and reached for the bottle of wine, uncorking it, and beginning to fill Edward's glass that he was now holding, before filling his own.

Edward looked at the red wine in the glass with a far off smile. "I can't believe Al remembered."

"Remembered what?" Roy asked, setting the bottle back in the ice bucket.

Edward met Roy's eyes with that happy far off smile. "The red wine, it's how I first let slip I had feelings for you. He got me drunk off this stuff."

Roy smiled back and took a sip of the red liquid, before setting it back on the platter and reaching for the plate of cake and the fork. "And how much of it does it take to get you drunk?"

Edward blushed, "by the third glass I'll be very tipsy."

"Intriguing." Roy grinned to himself and stabbed a chunk of cake off with the fork, offering it out to Edward. "Open."

"You're going to feed me?" Edward practically squeaked, but when Roy nodded he opened his mouth anyway even if he was a bit red.

"Well?"

Edward's eyes were closed in bliss as he chewed and savored the flavors melding together in his mouth. He nearly moaned at how good it was, and when he had swallowed opened his eyes at last. "They weren't kidding when they said chocolate is an aphrodisiac."

Roy laughed and took a bite himself as Edward sipped on his wine. "I impress even myself." He said archly, and promptly took another bite for himself.

"Hey!" Edward glowered at Roy.

Roy smirked and stabbed off another chunk for Edward. "Admit I can make a better cake than you." He said, holding the cake hostage.

Edward glowered at the man, and promptly did so… in German.

"That sounds really evil." Roy told him frankly.

He laughed, and accepted the bite of cake that was now offered to him. He chewed again slowly savoring all the flavors before swallowing. This time he really did moan. "It's so good, Roy."

Roy was now more than a little turned on by Edward's approval of the cake. "I'm making you cakes more often." He decided, and offered another bite to the blond.

The cake was finished soon enough between them, as were two glasses of wine.

"I don't get any more?" Edward almost whined as Roy set the platter aside on the bedside table next to Edward's book.

"You're getting your massage next." Roy said as he returned to the bed. "I'd rather you not fall asleep during it, I love hearing your vocal appreciation."

Edward smirked, and clapped his hands together before placing them up over his head to touch the wall over the headboard of the bed. "Soundproofing." He winked at Roy.

"Am I that kind of masseuse?" Roy grinned back as he got up off the bed.

"Hey, where are you going?" Edward complained as Roy walked to his closet.

Roy looked back over his shoulder as he opened the closet door and stuck his body halfway in so he could grab something from one of the hangers. "I'm going to get changed." He said, "get this uniform off that you dislike so much."

"You look good in a uniform, it's just those damn tiny buttons I hate. There're too many!" Edward corrected as he watched Roy make his way to the bathroom with a pair of black pajama bottoms in hand. "Where are you going?"

"In here." Roy grinned as he entered the bathroom. "Get out from under the covers and lie on your stomach. I'll be back soon."

Edward grumbled under his breath as Roy vanished into the bathroom. Shoving the covers off of himself he flipped over to wait, making sure his head was angled so he could watch the closed bathroom door.

Roy reemerged at last from the bathroom, clad in only the black pajama bottoms. It was true that he was all muscle, his chest was just wide and there was quite a bit of muscle. Edward knew Roy wasn't fat at all, but he did love teasing him about it since he seemed so sensitive.

"Finally done in there?" Edward asked as Roy walked over to the bed.

"Impatient?" Roy teased as he crawled onto the bed, literally crawling forward towards Ed on his hands and knees in a predatory manner.

Edward shivered and nodded. "Yes, you promised me a massage and now I want one."

"We'll just have to try and get you to relax." Roy whispered huskily as he straddled the backs of Ed's thighs and leaned forward to let his hands begin brushing Edward's silky hair away from his neck.

"Relax, right." Edward snorted, "I have a sexy man on top of me, and he tells me to relax."

Roy chuckled and leaned down to brush his lips teasingly against the back of Edward's neck. "You've been using my shampoo again." He noted as he inhaled the scent of the vanilla and sandalwood. "You do this to tease me on purpose, you know you smell good enough to eat."

Edward hummed happily, "I want my massage first."

"And you shall have it." Roy breathed against Edward's neck before sitting up again.

Edward sighed happily as Roy began to massage Edward's neck, slowly convincing the muscles to relax. He could feel the tension begin to ease from him under those skilled fingers as they traveled slowly from the base of his skull down his neck further.

"How does that feel?" Roy asked as he began to knead gently at first, then applied a gradual pressure to the muscles on either side of Edward's neck next to his shoulders.

Edward's only response was a muffled moan.

Roy smirked, "thought so." He said and returned to making small pressured circles for almost another minute, then took his hands away. Before Edward could complain he slid his hands up under the blond's shirt and to Edward's shoulders. "Don't fall asleep on me."

"Not until I make good use of the soundproofed walls." Edward managed to say before he let his head flop back down in a groan of ecstasy.

Roy grinned, it seemed he'd be getting a reward for all this pampering. He might have to do this more often, it was gratifying to make Edward melt under his touch and then have a very nice repayment. "You make the most delightful noises."

Edward moaned in agreement as he felt his shoulders begin to relax. Tight muscles and knots he didn't even know he had were being convinced to go away under Roy's touch. There was no way he wanted to fall asleep, not when this felt so good. Closing his eyes he lost himself happily in the feelings, wishing this wouldn't end. But at the same time, eager for it to, so he could make good use of the soundproofing he'd done.