This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reads this story because reviews motivate me to write this chapter during school. Thank you for your nice reviews.
Disclaimer: As usual. But I would rent Charlotte and her dad. Anyone interested?
And yes: It's still just something I came up with after thinking about Hawkeye's family on her mother's side.

"…really, your way to confess was horrible!" Catherina complained while she rushed down a stair. Her red hair seemed to be a veil and her dress resembled a flag.

"I am sorry but you know that I like drama!"

"Just promise me that your next confession can take place without a gun on my temple!"

"I will do my best."

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," she smirked.

He turned around to face her before he wrapped one arm around her to kiss her lightly. "And I never knew that you of all people cared about the confession, Catherina. I thought you cared about the feeling behind it."

She sighed. "Still …it's always nice to hear it, Peter."

Peter and Catherina stopped running as they reached Roy and Riza who were … ehm … busy. The red-haired woman snapped her fingers and the young couple broke away from each other. Riza blushed in at least four different shades of red while Roy accomplished five.

"We are really sorry to disturb but … Bradley is after us," Peter said. "He attacked Catherina and I made clear that I don't allow something like that."

"You were always a gentleman," Riza sighed. "Well, how did you escape?"

The immortals exchanged a glance.

"He will need a new office," Catherina muttered after a short pause.

"His old has suffered," Peter nodded.

"It is completely destroyed," his former and future wife stated smugly.

"We should get away from here," Riza said as she heard the shouting. "I hope that they don't want to make a scene."

"I don't think so since we assumed that Bradley is the head of this snake," Peter said while they rushed down the hallway. "And I am sorry for dragging you and your fiancé in this mess, Rize. Kay will probably kill me if she hears it … so I would be grateful if you wouldn't tell her…"

"If you use your connections and get me this new rifle I was talking about the other day…" Riza smirked. "Regarding the actual circumstances I could need something like that soon…"

Peter sighed deeply. "Alright, dearest niece," he said before he looked back. "It looks like Bradley unleashed his dog," he said. "Attention, guys, some fat guy is behind us."

Riza looked over her shoulder before she took her gun out and shot twice. As the wounds regenerated, she hissed. "Why the hell am I part of this show if I can't even hurt an ugly creation?"

Her uncle sighed. "I guess that this guy is Gluttony," he said. "Van told us about them, didn't he?"

Catherina nodded while her face darkened as she aimed. "If bullets don't hurt him, alchemy can hopefully impress him," she hissed before she closed the circle formed by her arms and the floor formed daggers that pierced Gluttony. "Damn, this guy asks for more!"

"If you or the Brigadier General uses fire, Cat, we will give away or position," Peter said calmly before he aimed and a black flash hit Gluttony before he was knocked out. "That's how we solve our problems," the general said smugly. "Well, let's search the others and hope that they are fine."

Meanwhile, Abigail had found her children and dragged them down a hallway to find a place where she could scream at them without any interruptions. Izumi, Sig and Alain ran after her while Bendix and Melissa who clung to their fiancés were also dragged down the corridor. Finally, Abigail found a room she found worthy her presence and entered. But there were already some people.

Edward had no chance to dodge Izumi's high heel and was knocked out for the next minutes. Alphonse was luckier but he lost his helmet and made Jade who hadn't known about this freak out which made Phil freak out because no one survived creeping out Jadelina Christina Mustang-Tempest as long as Philippe Abel Mustang-Tempest was alive.

Abigail watched the show of screaming and yelling for two minutes before she sighed and raised her hands. "If you don't stop right now, I will make you stop!" she stated calmly.

Edward who just opened his eyes again looked at her. "What do you want, old lady?"

He realised his fault as the Teacher stepped away and the 'old lady' turned around to face him. Her eyes were so dark green that it seemed to be black. Her long braid was black as well and her dress was crimson and Edward knew suddenly that no one would be able to see his blood there. She had the attitude of a tigress as she faced him and her glare sent him already against the wall before her feet moved forward – just to meet Hohenheim's hand. Edward's father tried to protect his son but it was in vain. Abigail just changed her plan and while the Xerxerian held her foot, she gathered her strength to move her whole body over his. The problem was that Abigail and Izumi had both trained the Xingese Martial Arts during their youth and there was no one who could stop them when they were angry. Hohenheim had to learn it the hard way. Her free foot hit his back and freed the other one before the newly-free foot hit – Jade.

"Jade!" Phil screamed, unable to contain his panic. His mother was an excellent fighter and his twin was no match for an angry Abigail. But still, Breeze Soul didn't step back. She didn't flinch at the pain shooting through her chest where the foot had hit her. She just stood there, strong and full of determination like usual. Her hair framed her pale face with the dark eyes.

"Abigail!" Izumi stepped forward but even she didn't dare to interfere.

"He is my subordinate," Jade chocked out. "I will never allow someone to hit him. Your sister was too fast for me to react but I will be damned if I step back now, mother."

Abigail's lips curled upwards to form a smile as her foot touched the ground again. "Good reaction, Jade," she said. "I haven't seen your movement … and it takes a lot to step between me and another person. I am proud of you."

Jade stepped back and pushed her hair back behind her ears. "You should have known," she said. Her voice betrayed no arrogance since she was just stating the facts.

The door slammed open when Peter, Catherina, Roy and Riza rushed in.

"People, we have a problem," Peter said. "I basically challenged our dearest Fuhrer…"

"Did we say that we wouldn't do something like that?" Hohenheim sighed.

"He had a gun on Catherina's temple!" his best friend hissed. "It was necessary."

"And since the Promised Day is coming closer…" Catherina sighed. "I am not happy about it, Van, but it was probably the best he could do. And he cannot kill us without destroying his plan."

"That would be true when we could be sure that we discovered their plan," Hohenheim muttered.

"She has to be right about it," Peter said. "I mean … well … let's look at it. They tried to blackmail me into helping them because they still believe that they could get me."

"They are still trying because they still think that there is no one who could stop you … beside them," Hohenheim sighed. "Look at it, Peter. I know the boss of them personally. He wouldn't try to win you over if he wouldn't think that you could be a good weapon or something like that."

"If we go to West City now, they will come after us to kill us," Peter said and shrugged. "It would be the perfect chance to get all of them at once … a once-in-a-lifetime-chance, Van."

"But the Promised Day is in spring!" Hohenheim said annoyed, like they had discussed it before.

"This is about military and I believe that Peter and I have far more experience on this field than anyone of you," Catherina said. "If we defeat his pawns before the Promised Day, it's better. I was never one to appreciate a show-down, Van. I prefer to solve everything fast…"

"It's personal for the both of you."

"It's always personal if you decide to overthrow someone," Leroy threw in. He stood beside the door and his left arm was wrapped around his wife's waist. "And I agree with Peter and his Lady. New Year's Eve …Charlotte has still this ugly house and we could sacrifice it…"

"They will bring Kimblee…" Kay's green eyes closed. "It will be dangerous to bring the children…"

"Try to explain Laila why we are leaving her agaon," Charles said. "She would be sad…"

"There would be a way to keep her safe…" Charlotte took out a pen and a piece of paper. "Alright, you see, that there are two houses in the area … and one hide-out…"

"You are really a rich girl," Peter smirked.

"I can't help it, my whole family worked hard for it," she sighed. "Well, I believe it would be the best idea if we take Kimblee out before we attack the rest. If we could lure him to this place, I could build a nice surprise for him … like bomb…"

"The area is perfect for snipers," Riza agreed. "We could take him out at any time when he gets too close to the hideout." Her gaze was trained on the little map and a pale red love bit attracted Catherina's attention but the Cretan woman said nothing – for now. "The whole area is perfect for us," Riza went on before she nodded at her grandmother.

"I know," Kay agreed. "Even better than my position during the war."

"The thing is that we need to get rid of the whole gang at once," Jade sighed. "This could get ugly."

"You won't be there," Roy said without even looking at her-

"Excuse me?"

"You won't take part in the fight."

"I believe that I am old enough to decide this for myself."

"I don't allow it," he said sharply.

She stared at him in disbelief. "Why?"

"I don't want to see you broken."

Hughes had been right during the war. The reasons were always simple. Roy knew that he would never survive it to see Jade broken. So he would not allow her to fight – even if (or because) she would be the best due to her range which were wider than her brother's.

"This is not about me, Roy," Jade replied. "I know why you will never allow me to fight … but I will help all of you. That's why I became a soldier, cousin. I want to protect everyone."

Let go of me, her eyes told him, pleading.

I cannot.

You have to.

If I let go of you, you will suffer more than before, more than after the incident.

I am no child anymore, Roy. I promise to take care of myself.

You will always be a child in my eyes … my little, innocent sister…

I am twenty-four by now, big brother. I am older than you during the war, Flame.

It's not about your age, Breeze Soul. It's about you and your soul.

You never believed in something like that before, Brigadier General Mustang.

Still … you need to take care of it, Colonel Tempest.

I will do.

Promise me?

Of course, fool.

Insubordination, dearest cousin?

They had split up into teams to act fast enough to make sure that there would be no hostages. Laila had been withLynnduring the important conversation and since Charlotte had decided that she and her granddaughter with Roy would prepare the area as soon as possible, they had taken Laila with them to West City. Bendix and Jade had the order to warn Kay's old mechanic, Garfiel, while Catherina and Edward teamed up to get Winry and Pinako before the others could get them.

"…and you know my father, yeah?" Edward asked while they sat in the train back to the East.

"Yes."

"Did you know my mother?"

"Yes."

"Did you know her well?"

"Yes."

"It's really hard to talk with you!" Edward complained.

"Yes," she raised her head, "and just in case you didn't notice, Edward Elric – I don't want to talk as long as I can't be sure if someone listens. Please respect this."

"Why the hell am I stuck if you?" he muttered. "Why you and not Colonel Tempest or Lieutenant General Hamilton? I mean, I don't even know you!"

"They chose me because they know that I am not so easy to distract," she replied. "And because my power matches theirs. You are safer with me, Edward Elric, please believe that."

"I can't believe you if you talk with me like you would talk with a child!"

"You are a child in my eyes … like I am a child in their eyes," she said calmly. "Honestly, you are more than two hundred years younger than me, Edward Elric. If I wouldn't consider you as a child … no one would be a child in my eyes…"

"So … if you have known my mother, did you know me as a baby?" Edward asked suddenly, trying to get information. "I mean … if you were friends … you should have known me…"

"I always preferred Alphonse." She smiled slyly. "He was calmer and less impulsive … more than Trisha. You are too much like your father if you ask me…"

"I hate this bastard! He left her! Never compare me with him again, miss!"

She sighed. "Van is a friend of mine and you should be proud to be his son," she said. "And if you will ever speak badly of him again, I will hurt you. And don't think that I couldn't take care of me, Edward Elric. I am older than you and I am pretty sure that I could outsmart you every time." Her gaze softened. "And you accuse your father of leaving you and your family, Edward Elric, but didn't you do the same? How was the girl's name? Winry?"

I thank everyone who reviewed and all the people who put this story as a favourite. You are wonderful people and I hope that you still like the story.
I am really grateful for this great feedback.

But I have one question. If the summary states that this is Royai, why does a RoyEd-fan complain over the lack of RoyEd/Yaoi-in-general?

AvaEobane