Family
By Henrika

Henrika- SO SORRY! I didn't mean to keep you guys waiting, but I got caught up in some music festival stuff and some wicked tests. (Heh, guess my age.) Anyways, here's the next chapter, and I apologize in advance for it being short. It always looks long when you write it out or type it up, doesn't it? Enough rambling, enjoy!

Special thanks to- Terry McElrath (Your compliments are so nice. Thanks for reading my writing. I'm glad you enjoy it.), justareviewer(the note at the bottom is for you), Gundamwinggirl(Taisa will get some moments, but it is a bit of an Ed-centered story.), Hysteria82(Thank you so much. I'm glad to know I'm handling things alright.), Priestess kurumi inu's sister(You're so sweet.), MommyRogers (Ah, quit it. Blush You're too kind.), Cringe(Here you go), saFire flame (Cute, huh? That's certainly an interesting way of putting it. Thank you!)

Reveille sounded early, which startled Mustang from his sleep, leaving him scrambling for his watch. And the realization that the wake-up call had sounded two hours early. He bolted from his cot, quickly throwing on his uniform and boots. It was still vaguely dark when he stepped outside.

There was a general confusion as the soldiers stumbled out of their tents at the early waking, but Roy finally pinpointed why the call had been raised as he crested the hill.

There, hazily illuminated in the moonlight, were three Lior rebels. They were carrying a white flag. Roy ran the rest of the way down the hill, following the men as they were hastily escorted to General Hakuro's office by the border patrol guards.

"You wish to discuss surrender terms?" He heard Hakuro ask as he stepped in. the man acknowledged his presence, and thankfully, didn't move to dismiss him.

"Yes." The leader of the three answered. "Father Cornello is dead and all the members of the priesthood have perished. The last two died yesterday when…"

He stopped and Mustang mentally finished the thought. When Ed transmuted.

"Our leadership has dissolved and we have no desire to become another Ishbal. We surrender on the condition that no examples are made of us or any civilians who aided our cause. We have no reason left to fight. Will you leave us in peace on these terms?"

General Hakuro looked like he was contemplating hard. "You realize that I can't end it? That the Fuehrer has to?" The men nodded.

"But you can call a cease-fire until that approval comes can't you? No one else needs to die here." The man on the left said and Hakuro nodded in surprise.

"So it's over?" Asked the third man timidly.

"It's over. Does the entire faction agree to this?" The men nodded. "Then I'll sign the cease-fire and have the Fuehrer send a treaty committee."

And Roy was struck by the enormity of his next thought. Edward had started this whole thing and he had finished it. Edward had ended the war. Here was the connection Mustang had missed, the simple connection.

He didn't remember leaving the tent, but he was halfway to the medical ward when a cheer went up from the soldiers who had received the news, joyous shouts of "It's over!" echoing through the desert.

It can't be this easy. Roy thought to himself, but he didn't much care.

He entered the medical wing and was instantly surrounded by nurses and doctors wanting to know if the shouts were true. When he confirmed their hopes, many of them rushed outside to join the others, the injured in the ward also cheering loudly. Save two people. Clara was crying silently, a large smile on her face. She was sitting in a chair next to the deathly pale boy on the cot. "It's true?" She asked.

Roy nodded before kneeling beside the bed to whisper in the boy's ear. "You hear that Full Metal? It's over. You ended this war." But Ed gave no response.

It would be a week before he would, a plaintive moan as he opened his eyes. "Colonel?" He whispered, a fuzzy outline of the dark-haired man filtering through his vision.

"That's Brigadier General Mustang now, Lt. Colonel."

"Humh?" He blinked hard as that settled in. "When did that happen? Where am I?" He tried to sit up, but Mustang firmly pushed him back down.

"Lay still for awhile." Ed flopped back. "You're on a train headed fro Risembool. You've been asleep for a week after that stunt you pulled. Your nurse finally said that you were stable enough to travel. Central is on the way." Ed finally noticed that the rest of Mustang's staff was also gathered around the makeshift bed on the private train car.

"Why are we going back? Isn't…?" He trailed off, uncertain.

"Your transmutation killed the last of the rebel leadership. They surrendered. The war is over Ed."

"Oh." He closed his eyes, absorbing the news away from the expectant stares.

"Quite a few of us received promotions, you included." The young blonde nodded, his eyes still closed as he listened to the steady click of the train against the tracks.

When he finally opened his eyes, his voice trembled on the question as if he couldn't believe any complimentary answer to it. "So we're really going home?"

No one missed the 'we' in the sentence and the group smiled at the fact that they were held in high enough regard to be considered like Ed's family, in league with his beloved brother.

"Yeah." Roy said softly. "We're going home." Ed fell back asleep, relaxation and peace gracing his features.

They skipped the stop at Central, all of them unanimously deciding to 'accompany and protect Full Metal in his vulnerable condition. (Ed had luckily been asleep during this decision and just looked mildly surprised that the group was still there.) The remaining trip was cheerfully boisterous, as the original trip had not; several card games being taught, won, and lost. And if Ed slept a little more than usual, the group would kindly let him rest, Hawkeye tucking in the blankets around him.

She was also the one to call a day ahead, warning the Rockbells and Alphonse that they were coming in force. Alphonse had immediately started muttering industriously, making plans. Pinako, listening on the other line, had been more practical. "Are you wearing civilian clothes?"

Hawkeye looked down at her uniform. "No."

"It would be best if you were." She didn't elaborate, but Hawkeye had seen enough anti-military sentiment to prove the advice sound. At the next stop she pulled Havoc, Breda and Fury off for an impromptu shopping trip. They returned within the hour stop-over, bearing inconspicuous clothes (Havoc and Fury had served as models for Mustang, Farman, and Ed.)

They changed, (Hawkeye effectively threatening to shoot all of them if they tried to peek) and stowed their uniforms away in what little luggage they had.

"It's kind of strange to see us all out of uniform." Fury said as he examined the long-sleeve, button-up, tan shirt he was wearing. Havoc was adorned similarly in red, Farman in green, Breda in gray, Mustang in a deep blue, and Ed in black. Riza had chosen a pale green color that set off her umber eyes, her hair let loose to hang down her back. She had also chosen a long black skirt with slits, ones that ran deep enough to hide the holster strapped to her thigh. The men all wore black slacks.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say we were just normal people." Havoc said as he chewed on a toothpick.

"Perfect. It would be best if we blended in." Farman said.

Breda hopped off at the next stop, buying a newspaper without attracting attention. (Though, as he pointed out, he wasn't exactly famous.) Havoc quickly swiped the paper from him, scanning the articles until he found what he was looking for. "Lior conflict ends with rebel surrender." He skimmed the rest of the article. "Doesn't say much else than that."

"Good." Ed ungracefully flopped back against his pillows, throwing his flesh arm over his eyes.

Henrika- I will reveal Roy's thoughts on what Ed sacrifices in a coming chapter, so don't worry. Hopefully, (crosses fingers, toes, and rubs rabbit's feet, four-leaf clovers, and a box of Lucky Charms) I'll be able to get the next chapter out in another week or two.