I must say I was very pleased to see how many people were predicting whether or not Collins would live, what I'd do to him, and what will become of Godzilla.

Well, my laptop is still being a royal pain in the arse. I think I've written too much about Alice on it. What other news... I should not have done laundry on a hurt arm, those of you who have Clubs for your cars, never accidentally hit your elbow with one. It hurts. Really bad.

Fic news for LJ... Fallen was updated to 17, and November to 6. At least I think it's 6... I'm so tired it took me about a minute to remember my password for the site. Now that's either sad, or I'm tired. Let's go with the later, shall we?

This does end with some Al/Marta stuff, just so everyone's aware. Happy reading!

Chapter Thirty Five

The very next morning when Roy woke up he discovered he was alone in the bed. A look at the clock told him he'd not overslept, and a look around their room showed no sign of the blond. Assuming that Edward was off making breakfast, he got out of bed and took his time in the shower.

Afterwards, when the steam had cleared from the mirror, he stood in front of it with the towel only draped around his shoulders to catch the drips from his hair. He slowly looked himself up and down, noting that although it was slight, he could see that he was more filled out than the night he'd died and woke up here. He still hated how he looked like a plastic bag filled with sharp angles over most of his body, but it was going away.

Slowly.

A lot slower than he would have thought with the way Edward was feeding him and how much he was eating. But he was making progress, and that was what counted.

Turning away from his reflection he went in search of clothes.

Downstairs Edward was puttering around the kitchen in his bunny eared slippers carrying a pot of water to boil for tea and the butter tray over to the stove.

"I assume you left the gate open and the door unlocked for me?"

Edward set the pot onto the stove, not turning around. "I didn't find any reports with this morning's post. I assumed correctly that if I didn't, you'd try hopping the fence. And as much as I'd love to be entertained this morning, I'd rather have my reports. But tell me," he paused as he set the butter tray down and flipped the heat on for the burner the pot was on top of, "where is Collins?"

Marks stood in the doorway still, tired both physically and mentally. And for the first time ever when approaching Edward, he worried what the blond might say or do. "In the hospital."

Edward turned around now, a spatula with bits of shredded potato and the glistening of butter and olive oil still in his hand and held out as if he were about to start shaking it like some annoyed mother. "What did you do to him?"

"Me?!" Marks shook his head quickly, "no, sir. It wasn't me. I went and found him when he called me over the radio asking for help. The doctor told me he would have died if I hadn't gotten him there when I did."

Edward's eyes narrowed in a calculating way. "Sit." He said suddenly, pointing the spatula at the table along the wall. "You look about to fall over where you stand."

Marks quickly moved from the doorway to sit as he was bade. And once he had he met the unnerving golden gaze that was still fixed on him.

"Explain." Edward ordered quite calmly, and turned to give the potatoes another poking.

"I only know what Collins told me over the radio before the transmissions from his end ended." Marks put out there just to be clear, though he knew Edward probably assumed that already. "He told me that a lizard had attacked him. He needed me to come find him. I thought it was a practical joke, him having drunk too much following that ditz around nightclubs." Marks frowned, and suddenly shook his head. "He'd told me he was in the woods around Briarwood. He-"

"Briarwood?" Edward repeated sharply, and paused in pouring tea so he could stare at Marks with a hard look that was impossible for the ex-FBI agent, so accomplished at reading people, to discern.

Marks nodded. "He was there, off in the woods locked in his car." And he waited, unsure if Edward had more to say about it.

Edward's lips pulled into a thin smile, and he finished pouring a third cup. "Roy, do you remember Shou Tucker?"

Roy, who had been leaning in the doorway listening ever since Edward had cut this strange man off, nodded. And ignored the startled look the man gave him as he watched the blond. "Is he another you found then?"

"Yes. Sadly. Though I expect the only silver lining is that he has no wife or children, never did." Edward set the pot back onto the stove.

Marks looked between them, and finally settled eyes on Roy. "How did you do that? Make no noise? I should have known you were there!"

Roy smirked over at him, "don't let it bother you too much. My guess is that Edward could sneak up on you as well. It's just something that we learned a long time ago."

Edward was trying not to chuckle his amusement as he padded around to pass Marks a cup of tea and walk Roy's over to him.

Marks was rather unsettled by it all. "Yes… it's strange."

"Very strange." Roy agreed, upon seeing what was on Edward's feet. "Those are charming, what poor child did you steal those from?"

Edward stuck his tongue out. "Oh shut up, Mustang." And he turned with a bit of a laugh to head back over to the stove. "Continue, Marks."

Marks nodded, and turned his attention away from Roy and to the blond standing there stirring something in a pan. "He was locked in the car, I had to break the window to get him out. He'd been bitten on his leg, the wound wasn't clotting at all… and his calf had swollen up so much I had to cut his pant leg. I bound it as best I could." He took a breath, and a sip of tea- noting that it was making him very relaxed. He wondered if Edward had planned that. "The doctor said that there was such an infection already festering at such a rapid rate they couldn't drain whatever it was in time. They had to amputate the leg from the knee down, and have his blood circulating through a prototype machine to clear toxins from his system. He's on so many meds that he's in a medically induced coma right now. But they say he'll live."

Roy was frowning, and he glanced from this Marks man towards Edward, and waited silently.

Edward slowly laid down his spatula, reached up to turn the heat down but not off, and turned to Marks. "What did the bite marks look like? How wide? Deep?"

Taken aback by the strange questions, Marks thought back carefully. "The wounds went about an inch deep… but the general shape of the marks looked like he'd been bitten by serrated teeth. Not anything like a dog. They weren't simple bites at all."

"Lizard huh." Edward passed a hand over his eyes, and let out a sigh. "Fortunately it's the middle of winter… but Kedder… I had hoped Alice was smarter than to go to him. Seems her stupidity dashed my hopes." He had no problem confronting the deranged scientist about it. But it didn't mean that he wanted to, he'd hoped never to see Kedder again after the last time.

Marks frowned, "what does Kedder have to do with Lady Alice?"

Edward leaned against the counter on his hands, and looked over to him. "Just keep an eye on Fane. I'll handle Kedder… and Alice's fate should already be in the morning paper."

"And Collins?" Marks asked, standing and leaving his finished cup of tea there on the table. He knew a dismissal when he heard one.

"He is the concern of the hospital right now." Edward replied, "your concern is not to end up there yourself by underestimating Fane. He'd be a smart man to be suspicious, and a suspicious and paranoid man will shoot before he thinks."

Marks nodded, "Mister Elric." He said quickly, and turned to leave, giving Roy a polite nod as he passed.

Roy waited until he heard the man's footsteps blocked by the closing of the front door before he spoke. "What's this mission you've got playing out, Fullmetal?"

Edward was back to attending to the breakfast. "I'd told you that I wanted Alice followed and watched. I wanted to know who was behind trying to kill me with that wolf. I used Fane to start it, because I knew for sure it wasn't him. He must have gone off on Alice, and she panicked. She would have gone back to whoever she'd hired to kill me."

"You knew it isn't Fane?" Roy frowned, and went to sit down. "How did you know?"

"Because of what I know of Fane. Using a wolf… he was being set up. Now I don't know if Kedder did it, or Alice did. But Fane would not have chosen such a way to kill me, he'd have chosen something more subtle. I know the man's type, I've been dealing with them for decades." Edward explained, and pulled down plates. "And so now I know just who Alice has working for her, and it makes sense. It being Tucker's reflection and all. It doesn't surprise me that Kedder would have nasty little animals he's warped into killing tools. But I have many enemies… I had to know for sure. And honestly, Kedder is the last person I would have expected Alice to go to."

"Why is that?" Roy asked as he helped carry food and dishes over to the table.

"He's insane." Edward said mildly. "The only reason he wasn't institutionalized was because he's hiding away in that forsaken estate. But apparently not lately…"

Roy nodded, and sat down at the table to begin helping dish the food onto the plates. "And was that one of your shady friends?"

"Mhm." Edward smiled a bit. "Roble Marks. He's probably as good, or better, with a gun than Hawkeye. But I'm surprised he actually went to go check on Collins like that. Much less help him. I know they'd rather see each other dead than anything else."

Roy smiled back faintly. "He'd probably rather be the one to kill him then. It isn't as satisfying that way."

Edward could see the sense in it. But those two rarely thought sensibly around each other. But perhaps there was more to that whole idea of "never leaving a man behind" than he thought. He'd never had to experience it. He'd never been part of a team and the only one to ever travel with him was Al. And he had always known his brother could take care of himself. "I suppose not, though Collins is going to be in mourning for both his ass and his leg now. But better than death."

And Edward knew he could emphasize with losing part of a leg. He'd never have a whole body again, and eventually you got used to it. But at least Marks had lost his while under anesthesia. He'd had none of that. After having his leg ripped from him by the Gate he'd undergone automail surgery with absolutely nothing for the pain. And in the end, losing a real leg was better than dying. You did start to no longer notice.

Roy was silent for a bit as he watched Edward think, and finally said, "you know what bit this Collins guy, don't you."

"Yes, I do."

"And?" Roy was intrigued. "Was it a lizard? Or was he just hallucinating from one too many beers at the nightclub?"

Edward gave him a wry smile. "Oh it's a lizard all right. But if Kedder thinks that it could get through all the snow before it freezes to death, he's more insane than I thought."

"Now don't you start underestimating anyone." Roy cautioned. "Just what sort of lizard are we talking about?"

"Well," Edward laughed lightly, "it can be about ten feet long from head to tail. I like to think of them as venomous land crocodiles."

"A crocodile…" Roy echoed, trying not to look too confused.

Edward grinned at him, "a trip to the zoo might be in order one of these days. But for now, I'll give you an animal encyclopedia. You can look up Komodo dragons while you're at it, which is the lizard that attacked Collins."

"I will." And then Roy grinned. "Where'd you get those slippers from, seriously."

Edward smirked at him, "I am allowed to own and wear something cute."

"That's not an answer, Ed my love." Roy teased, and nudged the blond with his foot under the table. "Nothing you wear is as cute as you though. I'd prefer you in nothing at all, that's cute enough."

"I bought them a few years ago at a store, and not in the children's section!" He added quickly, stuffed a last bite of food into his mouth, and slipped from his seat to push Roy's chair back in order to let him straddle the man's legs. "And you, sir, are a flirt. Do you want to know what I do with flirts?"

Roy placed his hands on Edward's hips, his fingers rubbing up and down. "Flirt back I hope?" He asked innocently and with a smile.

Edward hummed in agreement. "But only when they're you. Are you done eating for now?" He asked as he nuzzled against Roy's neck.

"I've forgotten you even cooked." And it must have been the correct answer, because the food was about to go cold before either of them finished it.

Over an hour later when breakfast finally got around to being finished, the two of them went outside together after grabbing jackets. Edward didn't really need to go into work today, and was unconcerned about doing anything just yet about Kedder. He wanted to wait for the morning newspaper to hit the fan before he acted. As he was sure that if he jumped ahead and did something about Kedder, that it could only mess up what he had planned for Alice and Fane.

He didn't need very much to ruin them both. With both of their reputations, by the time anything was proved otherwise, he'd be rid of two people who annoyed him to no end. Not that he suspected Fane would be leaving the country, but he was certain that the man would keep a lower profile. Alice on the other hand… the girl's father knew more than she seemed to think. This would most likely become the last the man could take.

And as far as Edward was concerned, it was a small price for her to pay in allowance to keep her life.

Roy was watching Edward carefully as they walked around the backyard so far undisturbed by a certain llama, filly, or huge monsters. And finally he stopped the blond and pulled him into a hug. He could feel the surprise radiating off the man he held, and only held him tighter. "I know you'll refuse to let me help you in any way. I know that right now it's safest for me here. But whatever it is you're planning that's going to be dangerous, be careful."

Edward slowly put his arms around Roy to hug him back, a smile slowly slipping onto his face. "I promise I will be. Soon this will be over. And soon I'll feel better about your safety leaving here. A few more weeks maybe, and it will have all died down."

"Thank you." Roy whispered softly. "I know I've probably said it before, but I can't lose you again. I can't go through it again."

"You'll never have to. Even if in old age I have to kill you before I give in to time."

"That's morbid."

Edward grinned against Roy's chest, and chuckled lightly. "I know, but I really would do whatever I had to, whatever you needed, so you wouldn't suffer again."

Roy rolled his eyes, and placed a kiss down on the blond hair. "I wouldn't put it past you. I've known you too long."

Edward pulled away just enough to look up into Roy's eyes. "I've worked for you for too long."

"That too." Roy grinned, and looked out across the snowy yard and trees bare of leaves. It was strange for it all to be so empty looking. He was so accustomed to Nitro at least being around.

Edward glanced over his shoulder, and then back up to Roy. "Don't worry about her. They all probably went to the lake to drink." And he added with a glower, "and eat my rose bushes."

Roy smirked at the annoyed look on Edward's face. "Eat your rose bushes? Do they do this a lot?"

"It's the easiest thing for them to eat this time of year." Edward sighed, and shook his head morosely. "They leave them alone until the snow starts frustrating them."

"Now that you remind me of it, you said you'd once show me why the chateau is called what it is. Are these the same roses?" Roy asked him.

Edward nodded, "and one day I will show you. Once you can manage to stand riding one of the horses for a longer period of time. As much as I love walking, I am not walking that distance ever again unless in an emergency. And while I'd love to call you an emergency, you're just not anymore." He grinned up at the older man.

"Excuse me? Anymore?" Roy gaped at him dramatically. "When was I ever an emergency?"

"Oh you know," Edward, still grinning, began as he sidled back into the tighter embrace, "you showing up here and getting tackled. You dating all those one-dimensional whores back home. You actually agreeing to face me in an alchemy fight and get your ass kicked across the parade grounds."

"Hey!" Roy could no longer stay silent when that was brought up. "You make it sound like I was standing still and never had a chance!"

Edward laughed evilly. "You were when I got pointed steel under your throat. Though," he pulled away again to consider Roy's reproachful face with a smile, "we both knew I never would have hurt you."

Roy rolled his eyes, "so you say now when half of our time home together is now spent having sex."

"You make that sound like a bad thing." Edward smiled coyly, and leaned up to brush a kiss along Roy's jaw. "Careful, Roy, I'll make you sleep in your old room."

Roy smiled, and angled his head to catch Edward's wandering lips against his. He waited until he had Edward breathless before pulling away, determined that the blond wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise. "That, would make me an emergency again." And he dove back in for another searing kiss.

Edward lasted all of two seconds out there in the snow, before he was pulling Roy back to the chateau still locked at the lips with him. Fourteen more steps and they'd be inside and he could put that ballroom floor to good use.

"Now who's the feisty one this morning?" Roy asked with a chuckle as they parted for air and so Edward could kick the door to the veranda shut behind them.

Edward grinned, and tugged Roy back to him. "You always did bring it out in me, Flame."

Roy laughed and met Edward's kiss with equal intensity, and was more than happy to assist with the removing of jackets. They were flung away carelessly when Roy suddenly pulled away from the kiss.

"What?" Edward growled, he wanted Roy now!

Roy cocked his head towards the door. "Who do you think it is?"

Edward too had heard the knocks to the front door, and shrugged. "If they're still there when I'm done with you, we'll discuss." And he promptly pounced his lover without further ado.

Meanwhile around London, the morning newspapers were being opened.

Toronto

It had been decided, as Alphonse and Marta finally made their way back from the play and then the drinks afterwards that had somehow taken them up to closing time for the latest open bar in the area, that neither of them was getting any sleep tonight… rather, this morning.

Alphonse had more information to go gather for his article at eight in the morning, which technically meant he could have time to get some sleep. But he was unwilling. Not when Marta would only get at the very most an hour of sleep before she'd have to be up to start baking and open the bakery. She had accepted his offer to help her since she would be tired on only two conditions.

One, that he didn't touch anything that was to become food of any sort.

He'd agreed.

Two, that he would come in for some coffee. To put themselves right in the head before they began.

He'd agreed.

So for the first time ever, Al stepped inside the small house of the woman he'd been growing very close to.

"Come on." Marta smiled at him as they took off their jackets. She took his and laid it over a chair in the hallway. "You want more sugar in your coffee this time?"

Alphonse followed after her as she led the way to the kitchen. "No, the caffeine should put me right again just fine. And keep me awake."

Marta only swayed a bit unsteadily, but managed. "See, it's a good thing I stopped at the third glass of wine and the second sake bomb… and the two mixed drinks with the whiskey shots."

Al grinned and took the coffee pot she thrust at him so he could go put some water in it. "I don't know, I'm fairly impressed you're holding up so well." Which actually didn't surprise him in the least. The old Marta had been able to hold her liquor very well too.

"I don't normally drink that much. It used to make me pass out until I got used to it." Marta admitted, "mind, I only do that… rarely. And never before with-" she flapped a hand his way.

Al chuckled, "deceptively charming men?" He suggested lightly.

"That you are." Marta agreed with a smile and finished pouring the coffee beans into the grinder.

"Mind if I ask the reasons you normally drink that much?" Alphonse asked, walking over to the coffee maker to pour in the water and set the glass pot down back to the hot plate.

Marta began to grind as she spoke. "When something goes incredibly wrong… or right. The first time was when nobody could understand that I wanted to do this with my life. And then it became the first time I made a profit. When I paid the property in full to own the titles. And now with you."

"And am I incredibly wrong, or incredibly right?" Al asked her, leaning back against the counter as he came to stand beside her.

She smiled at him, amused, and happy. "You're leading me on there."

"Absolutely not!" He protested with a laugh and a grin as he held his hands up in surrender.

"You're both." Marta finally said, and looked away from him. "All the right sorts of wrong."

Alphonse looked at her thoughtfully, but he didn't say anything further until she had finished grinding, and tipped the grounds into the filter. "Right sorts of wrong?"

Marta met his questioning look, and offered a small smile. "I'll miss you when you go back to England." She finally admitted, and walked over to sit down at the kitchen table with a sigh.

Following after her, Al sat down as well in a vacant chair. He reached out to take one of her hands in his own gently. "I see…" and he did understand now what she'd been getting at. "The thing is though," he said meeting her gaze unwaveringly, "is that just because I will have to go back, doesn't mean I don't want to see you again. I knew I would have to leave, but if I for a minute believed that that would be the end of it, I'd never have kissed you that first time. Unless you feel differently, then I would very much like to see you again."

Marta considered him thoughtfully. Out of any person she'd ever dated, she'd never had as much fun as she did with Al. And it didn't matter if they were just sitting around talking, it was easy to be around him. Strange as he could be at times. "I would like that. Very much. And I'd say that to no one else you know at the risk of sounding clingy… but you know I'm not. I'm just being honest."

It was just easy to say what was on her mind around him, be completely honest. And never had she been given any reason to believe Al would want otherwise. His interest seemed genuine.

Squeezing her hand, Al nodded with a smile. "So until then, let's just enjoy what we have now. We'll figure out the harder stuff later." And once he had a smile in reply, he leaned in to steal another kiss which was quickly returned.

The coffee maker had a timer on it; it would alert them when their coffee was done. Until then though, they had each other…

…and a hell of a long day ahead of them after a night of no sleep. But that's what coffee and kisses were for.