September 17th, 1991

By the dawning of the first day of the festival—which was bright, sunny, crisp, and perfect—Edward felt fully recovered and enthusiastic about the upcoming festivities. With the air cleared, everyone in the family seemed a little more relaxed, even those who hadn't been directly involved in the conflict. At that, Edward felt guilty for the concern he had created in the others. Once upon a time, he would not have noticed, but he liked to think he had matured enough since then to try not to drag others into his problems or cause undo anxiety based on his actions… most of the time.

Not that Edward had any responsibilities early on the first day, but everyone was so excited to go down there that he headed into town with the rest of the household. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, which was a nice change of pace. He noticed that even Cal, who had come here because he was reportedly having difficulties adjusting to his new lifestyle with accommodations seemed in better spirits. Though Edward suspected that had far more to do with his new, more effective pain medication, and his Winry-special modifications to his wheelchair, than the change of scenery or even the company. Or well, it was unlikely that it was most of the company, or any one person in particular. Perhaps it was just that their own family was used to dealing with unanticipated changes in life, and war wounds of various levels of permanence, so they just treated Cal the same way as always.

When they reached the edge of the festival grounds, the family scattered in almost as many directions as there were members. Bonnie and Ian disappeared to help with the first stage show coming up that afternoon. Winry and Elicia headed to the food competition with their fresh saffron pear cake. Sara and Franz disappeared into the rows of vendor stalls. And Alyse and Cal did the same.

Suddenly, Edward found himself standing by himself. He shrugged and turned, looking to see where Alphonse might have vanished to, and spotted his brother nearby talking to Ted and Anika, who—like Ian and Bonnie—were baby free this morning as Cassie had happily laid claim to both of her infant grandchildren for a couple of hours, tucking them into a two-child stroller.

"Want to come with us Grandpa?" Ted asked, grinning as Ed approached. "Anika's entering the shooting contest."

"And watch her show up every country boy in the district? Sure." Edward chuckled. He had no idea who she was borrowing a weapon from—she certainly hadn't brought one on the train—but there were plenty of rifles in a farming town and she was good enough he doubted it would matter if it was her own personal weapon or not.

"Oh I would not presume that," Anika smiled with some small modesty. "I have not seen everyone around here shoot."

"Go ahead and presume," Alphonse commented. "We have."

Anika did not look convinced, though Edward knew it had nothing to do with doubting her own abilities. She knew what she was capable of, she just didn't make assumptions about others. That was smart. No over or underestimating the competition.

Though the locals would have no idea what to make of her. As far as Edward knew, all anyone in town might know about Anika was that she was Ted's wife. He didn't think the fact she was Drachman was widely known, though all they'd have to do would be to talk to her to hear the accent. But then, there were Amestrians up near the borders and from North City, especially those of mixed descent, who had some accent. Anika's Amestrian had already been solid when she arrived, but it had improved dramatically in the few months since Edward had seen her in Central. The accent was lighter, and he had a feeling that was entirely on purpose. As much as he felt it was a shame, it was also wise. There was not a lot of sympathy for Drachma in Amestris right now, even if it was better than it had been immediately following the war.

Fortunately, other than the usual second and appreciative looks Edward would have expected given a striking woman like his grandson's wife, Anika didn't draw any stares that would have concerned him.

A few of them did look amused or curious as she joined the rest of the competitors, but any idea that she might not be good enough to compete was wiped out of their minds with the first round.

And the second.

And the third.

It didn't matter the distance, size of target, type of target, or even whether the target was moving… Anika didn't miss a single shot all morning.

Ted watched with a proud grin, looking not at all surprised.
No one who had survived off their shooting skills was going to miss targets this easy and without any major pressure for concern of life.

Not that she walked away with it easily. Anika was hardly the only veteran shooter out there, and it was close. Still, in the end, while she didn't necessarily shoot the top score in every single category—a couple of them were tied—in the end she won cleanly.

Watching the locals gather around eager to talk guns with her and including her as one of the group made Edward feel both proud and relieved.

"You were amazing." Ted kissed Anika on the cheek, one arm slid around her shoulders. "Not that I ever doubted you."

"It felt good to shoot. I don't get to the range nearly as often as I would like back home," Anika admitted. "If I had, this would not have been such a close competition."

"It'll get easier as Nik gets older," Ted promised.

"I know. He's probably wanting me now. I'll go get him and meet you by the food stalls."

"Sure. I'll hold on to this," Ted promised, referring to the prize for the competition, though his eyes lingered on her as she walked away.

Not that Edward could blame him. Besides, a man ought to feel that way about his wife. Edward just hoped Ted had acquired a little more common sense now that he didn't have to worry about the girl that he loved being on the other side of a war zone.

"Something we should know?" Edward asked, teasing, to get Ted's attention.

"What… no! I mean, not yet. Anika'd skin me." Ted turned quickly, then looked vaguely embarrassed that he had assumed what Edward was asking about.
Not that he was entirely wrong, but Edward laughed. "But eventually."

Ted regained his equilibrium quickly, and shrugged as they resumed walking. "I'm one of six. She's one of four. I'm not sure either one of us would know what to do with only one kid when they get older," Ted admitted. "I mean, we're not planning on five or six. Let Art be the crazy one. But… eventually one or two more. We figured we'd just sort of wait and see how it worked out. Right now, one is enough of a handful with everything else."

"Well, you both seem to be handling things well. I'm impressed."

"Really?" Ted looked vaguely startled, and Edward wondered how often anyone told him that anymore without referring to his alchemy.

"You've only really had a few months to settle in, figure out marriage, and parenting, while both of you have work, and it's not like you had time for anything resembling a traditional well… okay so nothing about your relationship is traditional except it fits the family tradition of being not at all what most people would consider normal," Edward admitted. "But from everything I've seen and heard, you're succeeding at everything you wanted."

"And if you'd asked me a couple of years ago, I'd have told you this was never going to happen for me." Ted smiled wistfully. "Given my track record with women. I'd never have expected this. I couldn't have predicted it, and even to me, the whole thing sounds crazier than any of my actual crazy ideas… but it's almost perfect. Anika and I… we clicked. We make a good team, and we just fit together well."

"Only almost?"

"I'm still a long way from cleaning up my rep with some of the brass, and I'm still not eligible for promotion again for a while. Then there's the closed border. While things are settled and easy enough now, once the borders reopen or—maybe worse, if they don't—we're going to have to find a way to spend more time with Anika's family as well. And now… her father's the elected representative leader for a quarter of what used to be one country. Things could still go horribly off-kilter, and she doesn't fuss about it, but it worries her."

There was no complaint in his grandson's voice, only concern and acceptance of what would always likely be a tricky situation.

"And this is why I'm impressed." Edward clapped Ted on the shoulder with one hand. "You'll work it all out together when the time comes. Neither one of you is exactly the indecisive type."

"Definitely not," Ted agreed. "Honestly, I expected a little more adjustment needed to figure out things like, you know, house chores, but we're both used to just getting things done that need doing. No fuss, no complaints, and if we work together the house stays well… manageable even with everything else."

"And parenting styles?"

"So far it seems like parents who have a pile of boys and one girl do things surprisingly alike, no matter what country you're front." Ted grinned. "So, most of what worked for our parents seems to be working so far. Though it'll be a while till we have to test that out with more than one."

"Smart plan. Try to stick to it."

"How has that ever worked for you? Plans…I mean."

"Eh, hit or miss," Edward admitted with a shrug. "Depends on how crazy they are. Usually, my more insane ideas have turned out to be the best ones. Like someone else I know."

"Usually." Ted nodded. "I have a feeling it's going to be a while before I'm allowed to do anything that requires crazy ideas."

"They don't still have you doing grunt errand work around HQ?" Months of that would definitely have driven Edward crazy.

"No, thank goodness." Ted rolled his eyes, but grinned at the same time. "Actually, when I get back, I've finally been reassigned to my old team again, and we're supposed to have a mission waiting. Not sure what it is, but I've been told we won't be leaving the country, or getting anywhere near the Drachman border. Oh, and my team apparently had to swear on Roy Mustang's grave that they could keep me in line if I had any brilliant ideas."

"Can they?"

"If they all ganged up on me… probably. Though I'm going to try very hard not to give them cause. I'm just glad they wanted me back, and if I'm not back on the military's good graces by the time the border opens up, Anika will find new and inventive ways to make my life miserable until I fix it."

Edward couldn't help the barking laugh that escaped him. "Funny, that's why I keep your grandmother around."

"Grandma Winry and Anika do have a lot in common."

Edward and Ted parted when they reached the food area, and Ted headed over to where Anika was sitting at a table under at tree, with Cassie and the babies.

Edward made his way to his next appointment, the final planning meeting for tonight's first night of the haunted trail walk. There was plenty of set-up to do this afternoon before it got dark.

The group was easy enough to find, since it consisted of a group of teenagers, several of whom he was related to, Ian and Bonnie, a handful of other adults roped into being involved. More of a surprise, though not unpleasant, was the man in the wheelchair. "I see they've roped you into this too," Edward grinned as he joined them.

Cal chuckled. "They said they had the perfect costume and spot for me, and I get to scare the pants off people. How could I refuse? Besides, I can whip up a little fog and give everything a little more ambiance."

Edward could just imagine what their alchemy lights would look like glowing eerily in the fog as much as the dark, and how much more authentic everything would look just a little obscured. They had worked out some basic fog style effects with chemicals, but combining those with Cal's real thing would just make it even better. "Fantastic."

Winry had to admit, that she was incredibly curious about the haunted trail planned for that evening. Not that it kept her from enjoying the rest of her busy day. First, she and Elicia had dropped off their pear cake for the cake competition that was always held on the first day. If it won, they would make another for the best-overall-dessert judging that would come on the last day of the fair.

After that they had taken Elicia's latest quilting project over to the competition pavilion, where they would also all be on display for most of the festival. It was great publicity for the artists, and Winry knew many took commissions on top of their own personal projects when people liked something they saw and had a request. Several of Elicia's quilts adorned the beds or were cuddled with in the living rooms of quite a few families in Resembool, and some off in other nearby towns. Sometimes someone in town would buy one as a gift to send to family members or friends.

Of course, both stops meant stopping every few feet to talk to someone they knew, and admire everyone else's work. By the time they left the pavilion it was already early afternoon, and neither Edward nor Alphonse were anywhere in sight.

"Edward's gone to help get the trail set up," Cassie informed them when they found her in the food area, with little Joanna in her arms, sucking contentedly on a bottle of milk. "Ian, Bonnie, and Cal are up there too, with most of my grandchildren. Alphonse is, I believe, in the animal judging barn."

"What are they judging today?" Elicia asked curiously, and Winry wondered that herself. Alphonse was hardly a livestock expert.

Cassie's smiled widened. "This year they're letting the children and teens enter a new category… for cats."

"Which explains why we may not see Al for the rest of the afternoon," Elicia chuckled. "Though that sounds like a lot of fun."

"We could take a look later. At least we won't feel the need to bring more home."

"Oh, I think Al has enough self-control not to bring home yet another cat," Elicia replied, looking unconcerned. "Besides, the other cats would probably throw a fit."

"At least at first." Winry shrugged. "I guess it's better than the years they used to drag both of them into judging all the food. Al's off petting cats, and Ed's spending the whole afternoon getting ready to terrify people which, I think he might enjoy just a little too much." She could just imagine all the horrifying things he could think of to transmute with his… unique sense of taste.

The rest of the afternoon was taken up with cute animals, a turn with the great-grandbabies, and more enjoyable conversations, as well as wandering and a little shopping.
By the time it was nearly dinner time, the sun was going down, and it was almost time to find out for herself precisely what was going to happen in the woods tonight.

"Do we want to go early or late?" Alphonse asked as he joined them for more festival food for dinner.

"Late," Winry suggested. "I want to see this with all the full effect. If we go with the little ones it won't be nearly as scary." Not only would they be keeping it tamer for the younger children, but having that many walking along their trails with their parents and grandparents just wouldn't be as thrilling. "I'd like to see what they can really do first, then maybe see how they change it for the kids on another night."

"Sounds good to me," Alphonse grinned. "That is, if you're up for it," he looked at Elicia.

"I think I can handle a few teens, Ed, and our son-in-law trying to scare us," Elicia replied. "It's all meant to be fun after all."

Winry couldn't imagine they would do anything truly terrifying, or that might be traumatic for the many veterans of conflict living in the area, or others with traumatic experiences. The decades since Elicia's experience in Drachma had left no outward sign, and most of the time it was easy to forget it had ever happened. Of course, Alphonse would have gone whenever Elicia was comfortable.

"Talking about tonight's haunting?" Sara asked as she and Franz joined them.

"Yes. There's nothing more terrifying than your father with his great ideas," Winry replied, scooting over a little on the bench to make room.

Sara chuckled. "At least now he's using them to entertain people with a little harmless fun."

"We'll see how harmless it is tonight."

Winry was impressed as she reached the top of the hill where the trail started. The youth had been ambitious, and she knew the trail wound a full mile through the woods—there was a shorter quarter-mile option for those not up to the long walk—before coming out at the Frasier's barn, where there would be snacks, music, and scary storytelling for anyone so inclined to take part. In the earlier parts of the evening, they had made it less scary for the smaller children, but Winry had wanted to wait until it was later so she could get the full experience.

She wasn't the only one. Alyse, Alphonse, and Elicia were with her, though the teens at the entrance had everyone spread out a good twenty paces from each other—recommended—for maximum effect. After the first twists and turns on the well-marked trail, Winry could tell that had been a brilliant move on their part. The trail was filled with fog—both alchemical from the scent, and actual fog that had to be Cal's doing—so that shapes were blurred, and other than the glowing lights in the trees, and along one side of the trail every few paces to keep people from getting lost, everything was in eerie silence save the rustle of the wind in the dry leaves, and the occasional crunch on the ground.

At least, until sounds started to come through the trees towards them. Ahead of her, something moaned, and in the distance, someone shrieked, a startled cry.

Winry's eyes were still sharp when it came to catching movement, so she was only briefly caught off guard before the first creatures shambled out of the darkness, leaping out from behind trees to moan and reach for her. Whichever teens they were, she couldn't tell, but the make-up was excellent, and wrapped in strips of old canvas with red markings, they could have been right out of an ancient Cretan tomb. If she looked up close, she would almost bet the markings were ancient Cretan burial blessings.

It was several yards, and enough time to just be starting to relax again before something shrieked like a raptor and dove out of the trees, streaking just barely above her head. Winry wasn't ashamed that she started, and ducked quickly. She waited for several seconds, but the creature did not return. At least, not until five steps later, when it came back the other way, this time zipping right in front of her face.

Wires? Strings? Alchemy? She couldn't tell how they had rigged it. Nicely done.

Just passed the grove of giant glowing spiders on white webbing that shimmered in the mist and floating lights, and moved just enough to be creepily lively, came the split in the path with a nicely weathered sign that pointed in two directions. The arrow that went the shorter path to the barn read Safety Lies This Way, and the other, pointing to the right, Danger and Despair.

Winry hadn't seen Edward or Cal yet, or anyone identifiably her great-grandchildren. If anyone qualifies as danger and despair, it's Edward and Cal. She turned right without hesitation.

It turned out to be worth it. Not that Winry was one to scare easily, but the rest was excellently put together. She was accosted by several forest spirits, had to cross a rickety bridge over a glowing bog out of which arms reached up, trying to grasp her ankles, moaning and babbling in unfamiliar tongues. "Lightning" struck a tree beside her out of nowhere and while the air certainly felt charged and smelled of ozone, beyond the unexpected shock, Winry knew that had to be alchemy, because it was all visuals and scent, and not enough electricity to actually hurt anyone. Nice touch Edward.

The snarling chimera that nearly grabbed her out of nowhere in the woods was some of the best make-up she had ever seen, once Winry resisted the urge to smack it. Definitely Bonnie's work, she thought as she dodged away, chased by a swirl of water that came out of nowhere.

Bonnie, who Winry had not necessarily expected to see out on the trail itself. Or Ian… though there was no one else that could be the remorsefully tortured soul lamenting in loss—and sounding slightly insane—over the open casket that held a beautiful, dead maiden who looked turned to blue ice. Shrouded in the glowing fog, they could have been floating, or in another world entirely.

There were other such vignettes, creepy in silence as much as jump-scares, or brushing into things with unpleasant textures.

Winry could see the end of the trail in the distance, and was nearly there when someone staggered drunkenly out of the woods to her left, filthy and bedraggled, and looked up at her with obsessed, haunted eyes, through lank, dirty hair. Eyes set in a nearly skeletal, thin face, that almost seemed to glow themselves in the ambient light that made the forest beyond black in comparison. "You!" the voice creaked as he reached out a thin, bony hand. "Tell me," it went on in a panicked tone. "I must have it! You have it! Don't you? I must know the secret…" he reached out, grabbing for her arms, but stumbling, just missed. "Give it to me!" he howled, spinning on her, but behind now, which gave her a clear run to the exit. Given a few scuffs in the dirt, she suspected several people had made that choice. Her heart was certainly pounding, but Winry had a pretty good idea who was under that incredible make-up job, and she wanted to see just how far he could take the act.

"I don't have it!" she replied, managing a reasonably scared tone.

"You must!" he reached for her again, but the hand was open, pleading. "I need it… my fault… I can't save them without it. They'll die! You'll die. Give it to me!"

Way to ham it up, Edward. Winry trembled, though she realized others on the trail were catching up to them. She didn't want to change the script too much. It wouldn't be fair. "I can't!" she exclaimed again. "Please, just let me go."

"Never!" This time he reached for her wrist.

Side-stepping, Winry brandished the spare wrench from her pocket. "Don't come any closer!"

"Gaaah!" He staggered away, arms up. "Demon woman!" he exclaimed. "Their deaths are on your hands!" With that, he vanished back into the mist.

"Nicely done," Elicia chuckled.

Alphonse shook his head. "You brought a wrench?"

Winry shrugged as she put it back in her pocket. "I brought all my portable emergency tools. You never know when something might need fixing."

"I'm glad you had a good time," Alyse smiled, kissing Cal's cheek before she moved away from the chair long enough to close the bedroom door. "You might be a little too good at that."

"You're just saying that because I scared you." Cal's eyes twinkled with a merry satisfaction. It was the most relaxed expression Alyse had seen on her husband's face since he woke up in the hospital months ago.

"You were appropriately startling," Alyse agreed as she returned to him to help him get undressed for bed. She was grateful Bonnie had already removed the bit of make-up used around Cal's eyes with his monster costume, which had been a surprisingly good Chimera. With his chair, it had been easier to fill it out than a person standing, and the back end had stuck out behind. "Definitely got my heart racing," she added a little playfully, as he unbuttoned the front of his shirt.

"Usually, I get that reaction for something else," he joked, finishing the last button and leaning forward just a bit, removing his shirt without assistance. With that, and going to elastic-waisted pants, he could do a lot of his own dressing and undressing now, though Alyse had definitely noticed an increase in his mobility with the swimming exercises. Though that might partially just be growing confidence as well.

How much… she might just have to find out. "Well, it's not too late in the evening yet, and the rest of the family won't be home for a while…" Alyse kept her tone light, but let the suggestion hang in the air.

Cal paused with his hands on his hips, going for his pants. He looked up at her for several seconds as if deciding if she was suggesting what she was suggesting. There was a moment of light in his eyes, and then it fizzled again. "I… don't know, 'Lyse. Last time…"

"Was last time," she didn't let him finish. "It's been weeks, and you've made a lot of improvement since then. I can tell even if you can't. Unless you're going to tell me that you don't miss it."

"I didn't say that," Cal objected quickly. "I just… it's frustrating and embarrassing when I can't…"

He couldn't even say it. Not that Alyse was going to press him to. While Cal had never bragged about his sexual prowess to her, he had always been a passionate lover, and one who clearly did consider it a point of honor that his partner was satisfied. For decades, that had been only her. Now, Alyse suspected that part of his frustrations during the times they had not been in sync, had been as much with his own inability to figure out how to make that happen as with her.

But it was a big part of who he was, and how he demonstrated affection. If there was anyplace in their life he needed a win moving forward, it might be proving he was not doomed to spend the rest of his life dissatisfied with his own performance. It didn't matter that she had insisted that it was fine. Cal didn't believe that something so awkward and—in his mind—unsuccessful was okay.

But if they stopped trying, he would never get there again for certain.

"Calvin… look at me for a moment." Alyse held out her hands and waited until he did as she asked. "I haven't had breasts for six years. Am I any less attractive? Has it ruined our nights together?"

"No! Of course not." Cal looked horrified at the thought. "You're gorgeous."

"Then why do you think us having to get a little creative right now would bother me? Anything we can do is better than you being dead and me being alone. I promise it's not nearly as bad as you seem to think it is. Now are you really going to turn me down?"

For a few long seconds, she thought he just might, but then Cal's lopsided smile returned, and he chuckled. "How could I ever turn down the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Edward was both hyped and tired as he and Winry entered the house. It was late by the time they returned and while he had insisted Winry could go home without waiting for him, she had chosen to linger at the party, listen to the teens telling stories and enjoying watching other people having fun.

The trail had been very popular and had stayed open until nearly midnight. After that, it took time to get out of make-up. Edward's skin on his head, neck, and arms felt very freshly scrubbed. Bonnie's ability to make him look like a skeletal near-corpse had been impressive, but it had taken a lot of shading.

After Edward had joined Winry for some of the stories, and snacks. As it was, he and Winry, and Ian and Bonnie, were the last of the older adults to leave. They parted at the split in the road and Edward and Winry had continued back to the house alone.

"You look much less frail without makeup," Winry chuckled as she saw him in the soft light of the living room. Someone had left a lamp on for them.

"Though I still need to wash my hair." The hardest part of getting in character had been letting them muck up his long, silky hair. It was the only part of him that didn't look all that aged these days, an unexpected benefit of his and Alphonse's Xerxes ancestry. So he still took particular care of it.

"Good idea." Together they headed toward the stairs. In the momentary quiet, Edward heard… noise. He paused, and Winry stopped beside him, looking askance.

The soft sounds were coming from the downstairs bedroom, and it only took Edward a moment to figure out why. "Should we warn them that wall isn't sound proof?" Edward asked with a wicked grin.

Winry slapped his arm with her hand. "Don't you dare, Ed."

"I was kidding."

"I know."

Edward sighed. "Then why did you slap me?"

"Because you still deserved it."

"And if I said I was jealous?"

Winry smiled. "You'd deserve another one."