This chapter was originally a lot different. Ed was in an abusive situation until Maes and Roy showed up and spirited her away back home. Then a rewrite was demanded and they all came and rescued her from another bad situation. Then another rewrite was called for and this is the result.
Bonus points for whoever gets the lines that Maes says to Roy.
Chapter Soundtrack: Back to a Reason Part II – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (as sung by Edwarda Elric and Roy Mustang)
Not What You See – Savatage (as sung by Roy Mustang)
Roy walked out of Central Headquarters. He was late arriving and early leaving today but honestly he didn't care. It was a Friday so instead of going home and gazing at pictures of Ed and himself like he had been every night for over a year, he went to a bar. He was halfway through a third vodka when Maes sat down beside him. "This was meant for you," he said, getting something for himself as he handed his best friend an index card.
Roy read it. "What?" he asked.
"My advice," said Maes suddenly, "is don't make it bad. Take a bad situation and make it better. Go for it." He frowned as Roy chugged the rest of his vodka. "Don't be a fool and carry that pain around all by yourself." He picked up the index card. "Also, Roy, don't let me down. She has been found now go and get her."
The whole bar was singing encouragingly as Roy paid his bill and left. He had a long ways to go.
Monday morning, the door to Roy's outer office flew open and Maes came in, trying to fend off General Hakuro. "Where's General Mustang?"
"He's not here," Maes said desperately.
"General Hughes, if I hear you say that one more time, you'll have to go clean the linen closet."
That was certainly a fate worse than death so Maes shut his mouth. "Sir, what he says is true," said Riza. "General Mustang isn't here."
"Are you certain, Captain Hawkeye?" Riza nodded. "Find him," she was ordered.
"Yes, sir." When Hakuro was gone, she turned to Maes. "You know where he is, don't you?" He tried to look innocent. "You can talk now."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"He's gone to find Ed, hasn't he." That wasn't a question. "I hope she's there, wherever he's going."
Ed was nervous. "Relax," she told herself. "This is will all be over tomorrow." You'll be a married woman even though he's obviously the wrong man. There was a noise outside and she looked out into the snow. A dark haired apparition stared back. Then he walked on. She didn't care how late it was. All she cared about was how much that looked like Roy. So she got up and ran outside. "Excuse me! Wait!" She followed the head of black hair down the street. It dead ended and he was nowhere to be seen. She took a deep breath and in desperation informed the area "I'm looking for you!"
Roy's voice floated back to her. "I'm looking for I don't know what, I can't see there anymore and all my time's been taken."
Ed gasped. "Is this what it seems?"
"The lure of a dream," Roy replied.
Their voices wound around each other's for sheer comfort. "And I'm afraid to walk back through that door to find that I've awakened."
Ed looked around again, trying to find where his voice was coming from. "The night seems to care. The dreams in the air."
"The snow's coming down. It beckons me dare."
"It whispers. It hopes."
"It holds and confides and offers a bridge across these divides." Something behind her rustled and she whirled to face it. "Got to get back to a reason. Got to get back to a reason I once knew and this late in the seasons, one by one distractions fade from view. The only reason I have left is you." The apparition stepped out of the shadows.
"Roy?" she asked.
"Edwarda," he replied as they headed right towards each other. "I've been waiting." As she found herself wrapped in his warm embrace and their lips met for the first time in over a year, she started thinking about how much of a scandal it would be if she ran away with her true love the night before her wedding. The clock began to chime. It rang twelve times. "What's the date?" he asked when they broke apart to breathe.
"December 25th," she replied. He gave a strangled laugh. She reached up to brush some snow out of his hair. "I know there's only one place that would be open. My nephew's restaurant."
"Then shall we go there?" he asked. She knocked some more snow off him. "You know I can take care of that myself."
"I know. I just want to. Let's go then." She took his hand and led him there. "Hello, Allison," she said to the person right inside the door. "We can seat ourselves."
"I'll tell George you're here then," Allison said cheerfully.
Ed steered Roy to a table in the corner. "How did you find me?"
"George Elric," he said to himself. "I know I've heard that name before."
"Really?" said an older man who just walked up with a pot of coffee. "Where have you heard my name before?"
"You," Roy told him, "live a double life. You have this and you're also the spymaster for a secret society."
"How did you guess?" George asked, pouring three cups of coffee and sitting down.
"Past experience with somebody like that."
"Relative of yours."
"How did you know?"
His question was ignored. "I had a hand in your reunion. I found her photo album which contained pictures of the two of you. She looked so happy in those pictures and so sad whenever I saw her. So I set out to find you, General Mustang, having no idea who you were. One of my people in Amestris knew and started passing me up the line to a woman who could get a message to you."
"She did and I set off as soon as I got it." Roy took Ed's hand. "That's why I finish this all so ironic. Two sets of aunts and nephews and the date."
Ed thought about it. "It kinda is."
"You two better get on the road," said George. "I had some of my staff pack you a month's worth of food on the house. Good luck."
Allison brought them a large basket and they were sent on their way to the dock where George had a private boat waiting to take them home.
