Just to answer some questions... as most of you were fawning over the wolves. Much like myself. I am so happy that the wolves are loved, and yes, there will be more wolves later.

Phoenix: Yes, Ed is to be respected as well.

Unfortunately Unknown: Yes, that is a bit scary.

mrawgirl: FFnet got better? Half the stuff I used doesn't work anymore or is gone... -sniffles- Jason might be back... if I feel Roy needs to do a beatdown on someone again.

So let's see... I have nearly done everything for my fics I need to. I just need to finish up the oneshot of the vineyard trip for Please, Stay. Get that up tonight, and I think I'm set, busy two days for me. Meep, off I go to finish writing fun oneshot stuff!

Enjoy yourselves!

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next morning Roy woke up slowly at first, and then quickly as he realized he couldn't smell Edward aside from the lingering residue scents, nothing solid. Sitting up sharply from under the blankets, causing them to tumble around his waist he quickly looked around the cave. It was empty of Edward. Even the blond's horse was gone.

"Shit, Ed." Roy whispered and quickly stood up.

As if sensing Roy wanted to leave, the white mare clopped over as Roy finished packing the supplies. Stowing them in the saddlebag he reopened the cave and led his horse outside quickly. "Shit." Roy said again, seeing that the air was clogged by falling snow. "It's going to be near impossible for me to find him like this. Ed!"

There was no answer.

"Damnit Ed… where'd you go." Roy whispered, trying not to panic as he quickly mounted his horse and headed her down the mountainside.

His eyes darted everywhere trying to find any sign on the blond or the other horse. The only place he could think of that Edward would go, would be near that ridge. The one where apparently other alchemists had vanished. So he hurried his horse towards where he could faintly see the ride through the falling snow, hoping desperately that Edward was there.

His mare didn't understand the reason for his franticness, but she obliged with the faster pace. And Roy continued to strain all his senses for all they were worth to try and locate Ed. He smelled him first, the wind blowing his way at long last. He couldn't feel relieved yet though, not until Edward was in his arms again.

So he hurried.

At long last he spotted Edward, up just past the tree line, looking off into the distance. The brown horse was wandering around loose behind him, trying to find dead grass under the cover of snow.

Roy quickly guided his horse towards them and pulled to a halt as Edward looked over at him in surprise.

"Roy-" Edward's words were cut off as he was suddenly pulled into Roy's arms.

Roy had quickly jumped off his horse, and grabbed Ed towards him, hugging him tightly. "Ed… what the hell are you doing out here?"

"I heard some noise about an hour ago. I didn't want to wake you." Edward explained as he wrapped his arms around Roy, holding and letting himself be held close.

"It doesn't matter. I was so worried, I thought I wouldn't be able to find you." Roy said as he slowly ran one hand over Edward's body and tangled it in the blond hair as if assuring himself Edward were there.

Edward relaxed into the body heat Roy shared so willingly, tucking his head under Roy's chin where it seemed to fit so perfectly. "I guess I'm still not used to having company along anymore."

"I'm glad I found you… I really didn't like that grey wolf that much, honest."

Edward laughed, "I'll wake you up next time I run off somewhere." He promised as he pulled away to smile up at Roy. "I don't want to worry you, I know your wolf instincts to protect me must drive you crazy as it is."

"Too right they do." Roy sighed and leaned his forehead down against Edward's. "I should have known the night I first saw you that I'd spend the rest of my life wanting to protect you." He said softly as he let both his hands bury into Edward's soft hair.

"We've come a long way since that night." Edward smiled as he thought about it. His life had certainly not turned out boring.

"Yes." Roy agreed and tipped Edward's head back so he could kiss some warmth back into Edward's cold lips. He felt Edward respond eagerly, and smiled to himself as they got lost in their kiss.

They broke apart though as the ground shook with a muffled sounding explosion.

"That's the noise I heard earlier. I can't believe you didn't." Edward said, looking over his shoulder.

Roy rubbed his ears tenderly and shook his head. "I was sleeping well enough to not hear you leave, it doesn't surprise me."

"Can you tell what it is?"

"It's far off." Roy judged, looking in that direction. "I want to say it's an explosion of some sort, which means we may have found your escapees. But exploding things out here could trigger an avalanche."

"So they'd be desperate. But for what?" Edward whispered and gave a slight shiver as the wind gusted up around them. "We'll have to be careful. You can get us a general direction though now, right?"

"Depending on the terrain… four, five miles heading that way." Roy pointed off in a direction behind Edward. "Get me close enough and I can get an accurate location for you to go in and investigate."

"We're close then." Edward said in relief, "I've never been through that part, but if it's anything like the rest of this range, we should be able to get in the area by tonight and pitch camp. I'd rather not do anything in the dark during a snowstorm."

"Dark, yes. Snowstorm, no." Roy agreed and they separated to go fetch their horses.

"Roy, what'd you do with that tracking device?" Edward asked as he swung up onto his gelding.

"I still have it."

Edward pointed up to one of the trees where a bird nest was to be seen sitting in between a fork in the tree branches. "It's a crows nest, I used to see them all the time in Risembool."

Roy nodded and fished the device out before maneuvering his horse around so he could be within range of flicking the tracking device up into the nest. The crow inside gave a squawk of alarm, but Roy knew it would soon be distracted by the shiny object. And probably would have it stolen by another crow, or a raccoon. That should keep the Fuhrer entertained.

"You really are a troublemaker." Roy grinned at Ed.

"Makes you wonder what stunts I've pulled on your missions, doesn't it." Edward winked at him and they set their horses to the path again, going slowly. "Apparently the ground is unstable in this area."

Roy nodded, "I'm on it." And Roy took the lead to test out a path, Edward close behind. It was difficult to see the faint indentations in the snow on the ground, when more flakes kept powdering over it all. Roy kept his horse slow, half leaning over one of her shoulders so he could watch it all closely. Meanwhile he was listening to the sounds of the horse's hooves, to judge when they were on solid dirt or not.

He quickly discovered that his horse was being just as cautious as he, for he reined her in just as she made to stop on her own. He wasn't sure what was under that indentation he'd caught out of the corner of his eye, or what that dull clunk had been when his horse had stepped down, but he quickly guided her to the left where he could see it would still be safe.

"Have you ever thought of what we would have become if you hadn't become a chimera? The wolf part of you was the one who made you unable to be with anyone else."

"I'd like to say I'd have seen sense eventually, and realized that the person I wanted had been standing in front of me since he was twelve. But I'm not sure… I was so acclimated to just dating around." Roy mused as he continued to guide them on a weaving path across the ground. "I'm not sure what would have become of us. But after realizing what we can be… I'm happier with you than with anyone. And that's always been the truth."

Edward merely nodded, letting Roy continue inspecting the ground while he thought about that. It was true, they always had been happy with each other. When Edward would come home from a mission, Roy would drop his plans for the night just so they could go out to eat, or get drunk at the bar if Edward was feeling particularly crappy. They had been happier with each other than with anyone else, because Ed had chosen to come back to Central, instead of going to Risembool for a few days.

He knew he'd been falling for Roy. Heck, who was he kidding? He had fallen, crashed and burned and didn't care so long as Roy was there. He'd never felt this way before, about anyone. It excited him, and made him nervous all at the same time. Even though he knew Roy loved him, and that they were bound together for life, the words he wanted to say to Roy still seemed to catch in his throat. But if Roy could work up the courage to have kissed him the first time, than he could work up the courage to tell Roy his feelings. He wasn't about to be one upped by Roy Mustang.

Roy glanced over his shoulder to see Edward looking deep in thought. Smiling faintly, he continued focusing on leading them along. He'd be glad to get this mission wrapped up, and get back to Central. This wasn't precisely how he'd planned to court Edward. Even though something he was doing seemed to be working. He wasn't sure how to explain it, but Edward seemed to be lowering his guard and letting him in. And the way Edward looked at him sometimes, it made the bitter cold vanish.

Stupid as that sounded, it was true.

Rolling his eyes at himself, and wondering how he'd become such a sap- curse those wolf genes- Roy felt that he might have to light something very big on fire to feel like less of a sap. Yet Roy was distracted out of his thoughts by what was quite obviously to him, a trap. And he quickly reined in his mare.

"Ed, look at this." Roy's voice snapped Edward out of his own thoughts, and he came around to look as well.

Barely sticking up out of the snow now was the end of a CB radio, which had most likely been given to one of the alchemists to come through here before them.

"No don't!" Roy said quickly as Edward made to get off his horse. "It's rigged somehow… the ground, the snow isn't sitting on it right."

"Roy, it's crushed." Edward pointed to one end.

Roy looked it over more carefully, and frowned. "Ed, did those prisoners escape with any dogs?"

"No, why?"

"There are teeth marks. Whoever that alchemist was, they were attacked first it seems by something with teeth."

"Could it be one of the wolves?"

"I suppose… but wolves are scared of humans normally. And those ones from before didn't threaten you even before I introduced you. The one at the zoo before growled at you, those wolves don't have any mean spirited intentions to humans."

"I guess we'll soon see." Edward said, and looked around suspiciously. "If this place is rigged with traps, we shouldn't linger much longer. Let's keep going."

Roy nodded, grateful yet not for the cover of the falling snow. It made them impossible to spot, but it also made it impossible for Roy to accurately keep tabs on their surroundings. "Yes, let's get going."

And they continued on, passing more signs of previous alchemists as they went, even if Roy didn't mention them. There were just some mounds of snow that he knew they did not need to investigate. He decided he didn't like this area, the sooner they dealt with this and got back to Central to deal with things there, the better.

They had made it far past the ridge, and the spots of dangerous ground, but the only thing that had changed was that they now rode side by side again. Roy was still scanning the ground, just in case, and they still kept the horses slow. Their visibility was minimal, and the only reason they were still pressing forward, was because Roy could still see and hear well enough to keep them moving. But with the wind blowing in from the back, the only things he could smell were the wolves far off now, and the black pine.

"I've never actually set out to sabotage a mission before, in a way. Or at least carry out in a way that we can get you information to deal with the Fuhrer." Edward finally said.

"You know he could be ousted if you went public with what he did to you." Roy pointed out, "more people in this country care about you, than they do him."

Edward nodded, "yes. But that's a last resort option for me. I don't want that much power. Power like that, it's for you, not me. Anyway, this is more fun in a bizarre, cold way. At least I'm still with you."

"You'll get your full vacation soon… and I promise I'll court you properly." Roy told him, truly meaning it. Even barring his wolf side, as a human he'd want to take Edward lavish him in every way possible. Spend time with him, even if it was just sitting together at home reading.

"You're doing fine." Edward reassured him, feeling his heart beat just a little faster. Roy had done better than fine… the simple caring things he'd done on this mission were not anything to be discarded as meaningless.

Roy was glad to hear that, though he wouldn't abandon his plans. "Well don't think you're getting out of being courted. I gained your permission, and I plan to execute it."

"How are you planning to explain our relationship to the others?"

"Tell them I came to my senses, decided you were the sexiest thing I'd ever laid eyes on, and you came to the same conclusion."

Edward laughed, "oh yes, there's the playboy. You are right about one thing though, I am the sexiest thing you have ever laid eyes on."

"Ri-hey!" Roy scowled as Edward laughed. "What about me?"

"You're okay." Edward decided with a wicked grin.

"Okay?!" Roy hissed loudly. "I'm better than okay."

"Egomaniac." Edward smirked at him. "Fine, fine, you're better than okay."

"How much better?" Roy asked suspiciously.

"I'm not about to build up your ego, you know that." Edward told him with a smirk still firmly in place.

Roy rolled his eyes, and feigned a pout. "Where's that grey wolf at…"

Edward reached over to whack his shoulder. "Bastard."

They did not set up camp for lunch, even though Roy knew Edward was cold. The blond wanted to cover as much ground as possible, and that meant he was willing to forego their normal routine of getting warm. Which left Roy worried, but he trusted Edward to know what was best.

The snow lifted for almost an hour, allowing them to pick up a faster pace through the mountains, having to climb up in altitude in order to continue in the direction Roy had heard the noise. It was the quickest way, and right now speed was essential for them. They just hoped they wouldn't be forced to go across the top of one of the mountains in order to get there.

It was not even turning dark yet, when they started searching quickly for a place to stay for the night. Sleet had started to stream down, soaking them almost instantly with the icy slush. They found their shelter in yet another of the many erosion made caves that littered the mountain range. Creepy, but useful.

Soon, despite their chilled bodies, they had set up their usual camp and sealed the cave off from notice. Edward pulled off his outer layers before tending to the horses so they wouldn't catch a cold. Roy meanwhile got food warming for them, as well as some water for tea.

Edward sat down next to Roy once he'd finished, too numb from cold to even manage a shiver. The steel on his skin was like ice, and his body was matching temperature. He had stuck what of his automail he could out towards the fire, along with his other flesh hand, but the fire was slow in warming him. "Sleet is probably the stupidest form of precipitation ever." He remarked bitterly.

Roy cast Edward a sympathetic look, having finished shrugging out of his outer layers. And while he was still damp, the fire would dry his clothes soon enough. "Edward, your hair…"

"It'll dry soon enough, don't worry." Edward told him quietly.

Roy sat down next to him, and hesitated a moment before putting an arm around Ed's shoulders to draw the blond into his side. "I still do."

Edward smiled faintly and leaned into Roy with a contented sigh. They did not speak, only sat there drying off together and warming up in between eating the food Roy had heated and drinking down the tea to slowly warm them from the inside.

Roy was glad to see Edward's previously pale and bluish tinged skin gain some normal color back, he had been worried. Though his skin was still cold to the touch, which wasn't good… he'd soon warm though. Only Edward could make him happily go through this rollercoaster of emotions. Then, it was only Edward he loved.

He was startled out of his thoughts as Edward reached over to take his free hand in his own and give it a gentle squeeze. "Are you feeling better?"

"I'm warmer. I don't feel like my blood is icing over anymore."

"Good, I'd hate for you to get sick or anything."

Edward smiled, and knew he needed to do this now. If he'd learned one thing in his life, it was that things could change in an instant. One day you could be a human, and in seconds your entire existence could be altered. One day you could think all you would ever be was friends, and less than a week later, you were everything to each other and more.

Roy gave Edward a curious look as the blond pulled away from him, staring into the fire. He could see that Edward looked uncertain about something, but he didn't ask what it was. He'd wait for Edward to say something. Luckily he didn't have long to wait.

Edward had several false starts and frowns before he finally decided to hell with the fancy words and ways to get this across. There were only three words out of it all that Roy would remember anyway, only three that would matter. Only three he needed to say. "I love you."

Roy stared at Edward in shock, feeling a flood of emotion press in on him. Had Edward just said those words? The ones he had dreamed he might one day hear? "Say it again." He whispered as he cupped Edward's far cheek to turn his head back so he could gaze into those golden eyes filled with affection, and yes, he saw it there. Love.

Edward smiled at him, yes, he'd say it as much as Roy wanted. He knew it would always be true. "I love you, Roy."

Roy smiled back, "I love you too."

He felt right now as if he could die happy, just having heard those words. Edward, his mate, had fallen in love with him. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world resting inside him as he learned forward to meet Edward's kiss. It wasn't a demanding kiss, just a tender sealing of their words. But neither could resist for long the temptation to heat things up.

Edward was the first to pull away from the kiss that had somehow ended him in Roy's lap. Flashing a grin at the man he nuzzled his neck while saying, "I can't believe I fell in love with a bastard."

"I can't believe I fell in love with a blond human." Roy bantered back as he stroked Edward's back slowly.

"I'm better than that grey wolf."

"I thought it was brown." Roy replied and laughed before meeting Edward's kiss. "Yep, definitely brown."

And they both let intelligent conversation drift to mere memory as their kiss deepened.