Chapter thirty-four
Roy woke up next morning as Ed began struggling in his sleep. Their stay at the bar had been extended, but the Madame was alright with it, although the bar was reopened, meaning that Ed wasn't really allowed to go down there without a grownup following him. Once Roy had managed to calm Ed down yesterday after being apologised to and getting a large amount of ice cream, Ed decided that they could stay until the end of the ball. Roy had got a lot of funny looks yesterday as he walked hand in hand with Ed, most likely due to the fact that he was still supposed to be the cold-hearted bachelor, not a family man. It was too late to change that now.
Not that he would. He was proud to be Ed and Al's father. He wouldn't change his sons for the world.
He gently placed his hand on Ed's shoulder while talking to him. Waking Ed up with stroking his cheek or hair would only cause the boy further distress because it had been what Lillian and Grant did every time they stuck those damned syringes into his back. Gently squeezing his shoulder, however, worked. And so Ed woke up slowly and rubbed his eyes, removing a few frightened tears. "Daddy?"
"Hi, Ed. You were having a nightmare," Roy said softly.
"Mhm." Ed then buried his face into Roy's undershirt and Roy hugged him tightly. It was just how it was. In a cruel way, they were used to it. Ed knew by now that they were just nightmares and that he was safe, it had been over a month now since it happened after all. He didn't need any reminders that he wasn't there anymore. He knew that it wasn't real once he woke up. Roy had become a kind of anchor to him. If Roy was there, then Ed seemed to know that he was safe. Roy hated that they had a routine for nightmares, but Ed seemed to also find some safety in the familiarity of it. They would just have to be patient. Ed had his whole life turned on its head and then some just a few weeks ago, him having nightmares about it was only to be expected, especially when there were almost daily reminders to how his life had changed. And the boy was still grieving the loss of his mother and also of his brother. Al had changed in ten years after all.
All in all, it was a lot to take in and process for a small child.
And Roy still felt an odd kind of pain as a part of him kept thinking that it had been a long time since Fullmetal came into the office. The more time that passed, the more the thought struck him that he wouldn't see his subordinate ever again. He was used to Fullmetal disappearing for weeks at a time, but that gave him an odd feeling that he'd come back again soon. And then the pain would strike him as he reminded himself that his subordinate was gone.
"I wanna go to Resembool," Ed said suddenly. "To say goodbye to Mom."
Roy cursed inwardly. He should have thought of that earlier. From Ed's point of view, the boy had yet to say farewell to his own mother. He had in a way, trusted the words of strangers that his mother was gone.
"Of course, Ed."
"Thank you, Daddy." Ed hugged Roy tightly. "I'm ready now to go back home."
Roy hadn't even considered that, but going to Resembool and see how his home had changed, how everything and everyone had changed, was not going to be easy either. Roy guessed it would be the final proof in a way. So far, Ed had only been in unfamiliar environments, but to go to where his memories still told him he had a home with his mother just two months ago, would be incredibly hard. It was probably why Ed had waited to ask before now.
Roy just kissed his forehead and hugged him tightly.
Al picked up the phone and dialled the Rockbells's number. Riza had reminded him that it was probably a good idea to phone ahead and Al had volunteered to do it, because he still didn't know how Granny felt about Dad and if she would be willing to offer up her house or not to him. Al knew that she loved him and Ed like her own grandsons, but having them there with so much that had happened, wasn't going to be easy for her. Especially not when they both called Roy Mustang their Dad now.
It was Winry who answered.
"Hi, Winry, it's Alphonse."
"Al? Is everything alright? Ed's not injured, right?" Winry was still on edge because that had basically been the reason for them calling in the past after all.
"No, it's just that Ed wants to say goodbye to Mom."
"Oh… because he doesn't remember her getting sick, he doesn't remember…" Al could practically hear the tears starting to form. "I forgot about that. D-does he know that your house is gone?"
"Yes, I've told him."
"I'll call for Granny, just wait a second…" There was silence on the other end of the line for a few moments until Winry picked it up again. "She's busy sorting some wires, she'll come in a few minutes. How are things going with you?" She sounded a bit awkward, but it wasn't because she didn't want to talk, Al knew her well enough to know that. Al, too felt a bit awkward about all this. Combining his old family with his new one wasn't that easy to get used to.
"Good. We're in Central, visiting our new Grandma."
"Oh, so Colonel Mustang has a mother? I didn't think about that, but you've got a new family to get to know now, haven't you?"
"Actually it's just her. She's his adoptive mother, but she's actually his aunt. We've been staying with her for over a week now. And we've adopted a puppy! His name is Rolf and he's really cute."
"So you really are a proper family now, I guess." She sounded both happy and sad at the same time.
"Yes, but you and Granny are still our family, you know that right?"
"Yes, of course. How is Ed doing? Is he getting better?"
"A little at a time. He's still having a lot of nightmares and won't fall asleep without having Dad there, but he's getting less scared and more trusting."
"That's good to hear. And you, Al, how are you handling this?" She spoke in a tone telling him that he wasn't allowed to lie.
"I miss him, of course. I try to see the positive things about this, but it still hurts that I don't have a big brother anymore … And it feels odd to see him like that. He doesn't have any scars, you know. It just struck me when he walked past me in the hallway in only his boxers. All that pain he has gone through, it's just like it never happened. No knife wounds or automail or anything." Al knew it was a bit random, but the realisation had still shocked him.
"I understand, Al," Winry said softly. "You're still adjusting. All of you."
"Yes, I guess we are."
"Oh, here's Granny, I'll give her to you. It was nice to hear from you again."
"You too, Winry, see you soon."
"Hello, Al," Granny suddenly said after a few noises indicating that the phone was transferring hands. "Is something wrong?"
"No, Ed just wants to say goodbye to Mom and we thought we should call ahead to let you know we're coming … And to hear if it is still okay for us to stay with you?"
"Of course, Al, this is your home no matter how I may feel about Colonel Mustang."
"So it's okay that Riza stays too? And we've adopted a puppy…"
"You certainly have been busy… I guess Lieutenant Hawkeye will have to share with Winry. And Den won't mind a playmate for a few days."
"Thank you, Granny. I know this isn't easy for you either."
"I guess we'll just have to get by like we always do. Besides, I've been wanting to have a word with your father."
