Roy pulled his jacket closer around his body as the wind blew colder. He had asked Hawkeye to take care of the office for the rest of the afternoon. He needed a walk.

Did he really just say that to Ed? Even if he had, maybe Ed didn't take it the way he meant it. "Oh, and Fullmetal. If you ever get tired of chasing after those nice girls, let me know." Ed could take that as Roy very helpfully offering to guide him in picking out an appropriate mate.

Yes, that was the ticket. Merely trying to help. Helpful Roy. Yup, that was him.

Roy rubbed his temples. It was going to be a long night.

The colonel wound himself through town, through the park, and eventually down to the river. The wind was cold coming up off that water but it felt refreshing on his hot face. He was getting ready to lower himself onto the grass when he saw a figure sitting at the river's edge, knees drawn to his chest.

"Alphonse?"

The boy looked up. "Hi Roy!"

The man smiled and walked over to him. The grass crunched under his feet, a slight coating of frost indicating the coming of winter. He sat down.

They were silent for a moment. Although they had know each other for several years, it was still uncomfortable to talk to the boy in his new form. Though they had shared intense times, Al still seemed like a stranger.

"I talked to your brother today."

Al blushed and looked down.

"Congratulations," the man said smiling. His eyes looked tired when he smiled. Tired, but pleased.

Al's eyes became brighter. "Thanks." There was a pause. "He seemed pretty upset when he left."

Roy nodded. "Don't let that bother you. You know how he can be."

Al smiled softly. He certainly knew. Things had been as they were with Winry for some time. They had only really "been together" since he'd regained his body, but even before that they had talked. One night in Rush Valley they had confessed. Winry had been terribly upset over Ed being an idiot again and Al had comforted her. But there really was no reason to tell Ed at the time.

"With any luck, he's talking with Winry right now."

Roy smiled. "Good choice. It might be easier to deal with her."

"In case you hadn't noticed, this is how I deal with things. I like rivers. They're calm."

"Very unlike our Edward," Roy said with a gentle chuckle.

Al raised one eyebrow. 'Our?' Roy seemed to notice Al's reaction and returned his gaze to the writhing water.

"I just...meant...'our' as in 'we both know him.'"

Al smiled at the older man. "I should go back and see how things went with Ed and Winry."

The younger man stood up, stretched and looked solemnly at the colonel. "With all due respect, sir, I just want Ed to be happy. However he chooses to do that is great with me." He smiled once more before heading back toward he and Ed's quarters.

Roy laid back on the cold grass, his knees bent up. He laced his fingers together and slid them beneath his head. The colonel smiled.