Chapter Ten

These Final Hours

Rockbelle Aumtomail Outfitter

5:00 am

Edward tiredly led the way up onto the porch followed closely by Darius, Heinkel, and Greeling. They had decided to arrive under the cover of darkness to avoid being spotted, especially as the annual sheep festival was beginning. The town was crawling with military. It was the least likely place someone who was AWOL would dare to appear, so of course they would be watching the station and roads for Edward and Alphonse.

Ed didn't look much like himself with his hair down in a brown coat and white shirt. Adding to arriving across fields instead of down the road in the middle of the night they should avoid being noticed. He would remain on guard regardless. Granny was waiting for them in the front hall, a shotgun at her hip. Once she saw Ed she set the gun down to greet the boy.

He put up a tired hand and said. "What was the last thing you said to me?"

"…Hohenheim knows he made mistakes, try to give him a chance." Granny said with a huff of understanding. "How did you make Winry cry on her fifth birthday?"

"I made her a doll. But ask another, there are people who know that story."

"… What's Yuery's mother's name?"

Ed sighed and glanced over his shoulder. So much for that secret. " Either Alice or Lilly. I never knew which one it was."

"Okay. Welcome home shrimp." Granny said with a relieved smile.

"Oh don't you start that you dried up old bat! I'll have you know I'm taller than WInry now!" Ed said red faced with anger.

"Sure sure. She's not here to measure, though is she? I guess will just have to see for ourselves." Granny said. "Get your friends settled then come on through to the patient room and we'll see what were looking at."

"I don't have time for a refitting Granny." Ed protested. "I just need to be switched out with the pair Winry said she was sending ahead from Rush Valley. I have to leave by tomorrow afternoon."

"Always in such a rush." Granny dismissed with a waive. "Come find me after you've settled."

Ed huffed before leading the others to the empty beds in the spare room. He didn't like the way they were smirking at him, but he felt he was probably going to be able to salvage the Yuery situation at the price of his dignity… well he kinda threw dignity out the window back when his pseudo grandmother was changing his bedpans so there was no point in fighting for it now. He huffed and rolled his eyes at them before shutting the door in their faces. It was too late in the night to hope they'd go to sleep, but hopefully they'd give him a bit of peace.

He then settled Yuery to finish sleeping in his old room and went in search of Pinako. She was in the kitchen rather than the patient room when he found her, busying herself at throwing together breakfast for her houseguests.

"You have received several boxes over the last couple of weeks. All from Colonel Mustang out in Central." Pinako said without turning around. "Normally I just put them in the storeroom and leave it with that, but you kids have me so wound up I opened them half expecting something terrible inside."

"What was in them?" Ed asked with curiosity.

"Photo Albums. Books. Trinkets." Pinako said with a shrug.

"He's preparing for the worst then. Good. I'm glad he's taking this seriously." Ed said with a frown. "Where's my arm and leg? I need time to recover before I try to walk around with them."

"I need to do some measurements. Don't worry, WInry said you were in the middle of a growth spurt when she left Central, so she made a few with that in mind. We just need to pick the right one."

"Okay. Let's get that over with." Ed said with a sigh.

"You need to eat Ed. I doubt you've had a decent meal recently and if you plan on running off to do something foolish you'll need your strength." Pinako said with a frown. "Are the others hungry yet?"

"The idiot prince is always hungry. I don't know about the others but probably. Yuery should be up soon too."

"Go get your friends. We'll eat and I'll measure you. Then we'll put on the automail this afternoon." Pinako said "I have to be seen sometime this morning in town or people will wonder what's going on out here. I'll go shortly after breakfast when the trains are running, then be back in plenty of time to refit you. The hard part is already done."

"The hard part for you maybe."

Safehouse

7:00am

According to the morning paper Roy had snatched off of a neighboring porch the bar had been an accident caused by a gas leak with no mention of him anywhere inside it. On one hand he was glad the boys wouldn't wake up to the false rumors of his death, on the other hand that meant they hadn't fallen for his plan.

He would just have to be extra careful. It wasn't like there was a lot of time left to try to hide away at this point, though Breda would be holding this location and administering first aide should anyone need it during the battle.

He was worried about sneaking back into the city to meet at the warehouse only because he had no idea how hard they were looking for him. He couldn't afford to get caught. The team was coming from all over the country to meet him. For now there was nothing more he could do but wait. Riza had never arrived, he hoped she had gone to another safehouse, but there would be no way to know until the meeting.

He did his best to relax, not an easy task this close to a battle. He read through his notes again, then made himself a light meal before sneaking back out to return the morning paper and swipe the afternoon edition. It was safe enough, the build up of papers on the porch and mail sticking out of the box suggested no one had been home for at least a week if not two.

The afternoon paper announced his disappearance and possible death siting his frequent visits to the bar that had been destroyed the night before and his absence at headquarters this morning, along with his empty house. There were accompanying photographs of the inside of his house. Not one or two either, as he turned the page, every room of his house had been invaded.

They had made sure to take a very close photo of Yuery's crib along with a caption asking the whereabouts of his grandson. The article below outlined Edward's disappearance and speculated that Mustang had somehow caused the boys' disappearance. Roy was enraged.

How dare they suggest he would harm his children? These same monsters that were hunting his boys for at least a year?! These monsters that had dismantled his entire life?! These monsters who intended to kill everyone in the country!

He took a deep breath and threw the crumpled paper into the fireplace. He couldn't let them bait him, because that is what they were doing. They were hoping to draw out either him or Edward and he couldn't give in to them. Luckily as far as he knew both of his boys were far away from Central so they shouldn't see this story until it was all over.

By then, the papers would have something new to talk about and he could pretend it never happened. This might complicate some of his plans but would not derail it. He would stop these monsters, save his country, become it's leader and protect his children. There were no other options to him. He decided the best course of action right now was to try to take a nap. It was going to be a long night, followed by a longer day.

Rockbelle Automail Outfitters

Early Afternoon

Edward was done with his teammates. He was not used to being constantly surrounded as it was, and now they were bickering like toddlers over the chore list and Ed walked away. He grabbed his lunch and headed up to his room to eat. Then he remembered that his restless, cranky son had finally fallen asleep not ten minutes ago so he turned off into Winry's room instead and set his plate and glass on the desk. She wasn't here to complain about him possibly getting crumbs on her floor, and he could eat in peace.

He was shocked when Winry just casually walked into the room like she hadn't been missing for months. Then she started to change and he realized she hadn't seen him. Probably exhaustion. He tried to speak but it came out as more of a strangled yelp. It was just enough to draw her attention, but she screamed.

Within moments the room was full of people, and shortly after it was cleared again before she demanded to know why he was in her room. He explained that he just wanted a few minutes to eat in peace. A few minutes of stifled conversation later had the subject dropped when she told him to go ahead and finish eating while she went to grab a shower. She mentioned AL was on the train, but Ed resisted the impulse to go to his brother. One more day, and he could cling to his brother as long as he needed it.

A little while later Winry came back in carrying his automail replacements. Ed laid down on her bed after spreading a drop cloth to get on going out. It wasn't easy for Ed, but it had to be done as fast as possible. Once his automail was replaced he needed to talk to her, and he already knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.

He managed to suppress the urge to scream as usual, managing to keep all but a brief groan held in. WInry would often wish that Ed didn't feel the need to be strong all the time, but currently it was a comfort. She noticed the new scar on his torso, but decided against asking about it. He wouldn't give her an answer anyway, he never did.

He pulled on his undershirt painfully before shrugging on a button up shirt. Winry started cleaning up the mess created by switching out his limbs, and Ed watched for a minute before clearing his throat. "Win. Promised Day is coming."

"I know. Where do you think Al went?" Winry said with a frown. She knew where this was headed and there was no way he was going to talk her into leaving the country! That would be like admitting he was going to lose and he wasn't. He couldn't.

"I. I know you aren't going to like this Win. I have no one else I trust with this. I need you to leave, and I need you to take Yuery with you." Ed said even as Winry's face turned red with rage.

"I am not going anywhere Edward Elric because I know I KNOW you are going to save us all!" Winry said, Ed cringed momentarily when her eyes looked glassy, before frowning himself.

"What if I can't? What if I don't? Stop being so damn stubborn and listen for a change. How am I supposed to concentrate when all I can think about is if my son is going to die?! I never ask you for anything Win, but I'm begging you. No matter how this turns out I need to know my son will be okay…and if…if I don't make it, I need you to take him, love him, be his mom. Please Winry."

"…Okay. But when this is over and you've won I'm bringing him to Central to place him in your arms, because I'll be his mom but he needs his dad!" Winry said stubbornly as she moved toward the door. "You have a week Ed, and then I'm meeting you there no matter what."

Ed shook his head in response glad that he had finally managed to win an argument. Lately it seemed like that was something that never happened between traveling with Greeling and two people who could and would literally pick him up and move him where they wanted him to be it had been awhile since he's properly won any sort of argument.

Greeling was waiting for him on the landing with Yuery on his hip and a smirk on his face. "Not very good at controlling her temper are you?"

"I don't want or need to control her. I just need her to listen to reason, and to be safe." Ed grumbled before taking his son. "If you think women are that easy to control your insane anyway. Some of the fiercest people I know are women."

"No offense intended." Greeling said raising his hands in surrender.

"You know if you let Ling out more often you might learn a thing or two. At least he knows how to respect people." Ed said as he walked down the stairs in search of Winry.

Pinako had arrived back from town while they were upstairs, and she insisted everyone needed to eat before they set out back toward Central. Ed made sure to inform her that Winry would be taking Yuery across the border, so she should leave right after lunch as well.

He completely ignored the way Winry glared, though it let him know she had in fact been considering staying here at home no matter what she had promised. Granny would make sure she kept her word though, so he had nothing to worry about. He really should mention the magic thing, but how to pull her aside again? It really was getting late and they needed to get going to be sure to get where they needed to be in time to do some good.

Luckily, he found a moment when Pinako insisted that Winry and Ed clear the table, and they found themselves in the kitchen alone. Ed sighed and asked she stay for a minute before he turned on the water so that no one would overhear them as long as he spoke quietly.

"About Yuery." Ed started with a smile, and waited for WInry to look at him directly. "Okay don't get mad I kinda just figured this out myself this week. Yuery is displaying early signs of magic. It seems to happen when he's angry, so try to keep him calm and I'll work with him when this is over."

"I always heard magic wasn't possible in Armestris?"

"Yeah, they told us growing up it wasn't real at all though. Apparently it's illegal here. Like they'll take him away and no one knows where, and there's some kind of thing blocking magic users from sensing magic inside the borders."

"Is it a good idea to take him out of the borders then?" Winry asked as Ed frowned at her.

"Just keep him calm and he'll be fine. I traveled for three days with him unprotected and it was fine. Worst case just grab him and run because it's not safe to be here right now. Don't make this a fight again."

"Ed-"

"Winry, I need to be able to trust you will always choose him. If you really want to be his mom, he has to be number one to you." Ed said sadly.

Winry nodded, all other protests taken from her. She understood what he wasn't saying. They had gone on one, sort of half date, but they had been dancing around each other for months. However, if they wanted a chance to work out then he had to trust her with his child. If she didn't do this, no matter what happened, Ed would not forgive her. He hadn't said that. He may not have even thought it, but she knew it was true.

She knew it to be true, because if someone had put this child in danger when they could have prevented it instead she would never forgive them. Ed had to be worse because, his offer notwithstanding, this was HIS baby. His son. The child he had spent the last year loving and raising and worrying over and changing for.

The conversation was closed then as Ed and Greeling followed the chimeras out the front door, leaving all of their gear behind aside from weapons. They were planning to sneak into the cargo hold of the train and jump off before it reached Central, borrowing a car to make it the rest of the way. As long as everything went according to plan they would reach Central about four hours before sunrise.

Warehouse District

11:45pm

Roy had carefully circumvented the city as he made his way to the meeting. No one knew for sure where he had gone, or if he was alive, and he was not going to tip his hand early. He just had to make it to morning, everything was set.

Inside the warehouse was Falman, Breda,Fuery, and Hawkeye. He took a moment to scratch Hayate as he came over to the others. The looks of relief of Fuery and Falman's faces were enough to know word had gotten to them about the explosion but not his safety. He hated worrying his men, but this was good in that he still had the upper hand.

Hawkeye had known he was fine, had been aware of the plan. She confirmed had he been caught up in the blast the plan would have moved forward without him. She made no mention of where she had gone, and he chose not to ask. He smirked at his men, then made sure everyone knew where they were meant to be by morning. Once they all agreed, he told them all his only command was to 'not die'. Hawkeye followed him back out of the building to a car she had brought along.

"Last I heard, Alphonse will be here sometime tonight but we won't see him until tomorrow." Hawkeye said.

"Edward will be here just before dawn." Roy said in response.

"Sir. You can't die either." Hawkeye said calmly.

"I'll do my best lieutenant." Roy said crossing his arms. "Is my house still standing?"

"Technically. I fear you may need to search for a new property."

"I suspected as much. Everything irreplaceable was removed weeks ago. I missed my son's birthday."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"He turned sixteen. Sixteen and all alone in the woods, injured and running for his life, his only help enemies just weeks before. I adopted those boys and failed them straight away."

"Don't start down that road sir. Tonight we need to worry about saving everyone…we'll be sure to throw him a huge birthday party at the end of the week."

"Thank you."

Silence descended on the pair as they drove toward the Armstrong estate. The Bradley's had a weekend house a few miles passed the city, but the only one who ever used it was Mrs. Bradley. She would be out here now as her husband and son were supposed to be out East.

The plan was to snatch Mrs. Bradley and drag her to the radio station where they could keep her safe and at the same time convince her that they were on her side.

Late last afternoon, the bridge collapsed dragging the train containing Bradley and his young son into the river below. This had not yet been reported to the news, which worked to Roy's advantage. He had his doubts as to if Selim had actually been aboard, and Bradley himself would have been unharmed but would hopefully not make it back here anytime soon.

Roy's plan was complex. He was going to attack the country's leadership while making himself appear to be attempting to protect it. He was confident that he could pull it off. Mrs Bradley seemed completely in the dark about her husband and son, they hoped to avoid having to traumatize the woman at least one of them was bound to survive.

Slums outside of Central

2:00am

Ed saw Hohenheim and gave into impulse, which to be fair he was getting better about. Mostly. Sometimes. In any case he punched the man as hard as he could. Luckily, the man healed quick because Ed did need to talk to him and find out what all he had planned… perhaps he should have spoken to him first.

Hohenheim didn't seem to have any hard feelings about the hit, though he did whine that Ed had used his steel hand. Ed generously offered to repeat the punishment with his flesh hand should the man feel so inclined. Afterward, Ed passed on his mother's message and almost felt bad that the man cried.

Eventually they sat down together to cover what was known on both ends. Ed was still not inclined to be friendly, so when Hohenheim asked about the baby Ed scoffed. "I am not so stupid, or selfish as to bring him to a battle. I sent him out of the country, he'll be back in five days."

"Who has him then? You're friend in the military or-?"

"Nah, I'm supposed to meet Dad in a couple of hours to make sure everything's going to go smoothly, unless something comes up. Winry took him away into Aerugo."

"Dad?"

"Yes. Dad. He's my Dad. Not my friend, my father. He's taken care of us for years and he actually loves us." Ed said stubbornly. Hohenheim had known about the adoption but was surprised to hear his eldest use the phrase Dad. He was under the impression the boy hated the word, so it was possible Ed simply hated him.

"Well. I have places to be and detailed to iron out. I'll catch up with you later if you bother to stick around." Ed said snidely before walking away to rejoin the chimera and Greeling. Hohenheim sensed Greed so chose to follow them for a few minutes to insure the boy's safety. Ed noticed him almost immediately. "So you're stalking me now? Why? It's not like you care."

"I have always cared Edward. I love you and your brother very much."

"Yeah well you have a funny of showing it then. Oh, this is Mr. Gorilla, and that's LionKing. And the idiot is Greeling." Ed said pointing to each in turn.

All three men corrected him which made him smirk in a way that made them all suspect he was doing it just to be annoying. He then stretched out the piece of fabric he had bought and turned it into his signature coat which he shrugged into while saying. "I know we may all die today and that I'm supposed to be hiding, but I'm going to finish this the way I started."