Disclamier: No, I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, don't sue!

Halfmetal Alchemist: Chapter 5

Of Armor and Wrenches

"That was great Ed! I told you you'd get in this time," Al said in the car. Roy said nothing and promptly fellasleep in the passenger seat while Ed leaned back and relaxed. "Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Leroy yawned and watched as streetlights zoomed passed them. One streetlight... two streetlight... three streetlight... Maes snuggled against him and kicked Ilia in the leg, who jerked against Alley, who in turn yelped and brought her elbow down hard on Ed's head. "Aaagh! I didn't do anything to you!" he yelled at her. Alley smacked him in the head with a wrench and glared at him. "That was an accident, but this won't be!" she flailed at him and Ilia caught her arm. "Not now, Alley... Let's get home first..." "Yeah," Al piped up."We're all hungry and sleepy."

Riza sighed and turned at an intersection, casting a quick glance at Roy and then in the backseat. "Settle down, we're almost there. Then I'll get your father to warm up dinner and we'll eat, okay?" Ed leaned against the window and studied himself in the reflection. "Mom?"

"Yes dear?" Ed was silent for a while, and he looked at his hands. "Why don't I look like you or Dad?" Roy's eye snapped open and he sat up abruptly, clutching at the armrest. "Gene mixing kid, that's all. Not all kids look exactly like their parents, I assure you." Roy turned to stare fixedly out of the window, Riza became absorbed with watching the road, and Ed sighed and leaned back again, patting Maes's little head as he leaned against him.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it Roy?" Riza murmured, glancing at her husband quickly, then returning her eyes to the road. "It certainly is... What do you think, Riza? Fifteen years to the day... and not a word..." Ed was too tired to think about what they were talking about, thinking that it was their casual flirting, as usual. He fell asleep, arm around Maes, his head and Alley's shoulder. Roy glanced back to see that they were all asleep and turned to Riza again.

"There have been... disturbing reports." Riza stared at the road and asked inquisitively, "What kind of disturbing reports?" Roy crossed his arms and glanced back at the six kids sleeping in the back, shaking his head. "An entire town, blown off the map, Riza. Haven't had something like that happen since the... Homunculus..."

"Yes, you're right... but Edward destroyed them, didn't he?"

"Of course he did! But I don't know what could have that kind of destructive power, except for a deranged alchemist with a Philosopher's Stone, and I've banned all further construction of that." Riza pulled into the driveway of the Mustang Family Home, the house that had been passed down through generations of Roy's family (although he thought he sounded a bit like Alex when he said that).

"Well, I'm sure you're doing your best to find out what that is." She got out and picked up a protesting Maes, rousing Alley and Ilia while Roy dragged his three unsuspecting sons out of the car. After the boys had finished eating dirt, they said that they weren't hungry and went straight to bed. "Riza, you understand that if this gets too bad, I have to check it out. Right?" Riza cradled Maes in her arms and nodded mutely, eyes downcast. He caught her chin in his hand and smiled gently. "It's alright, it won't be that bad, I'm sure. And maybe... I'll find Terra and Ed too."

"Don't forget Alphonse and Winry. I know they're out there somewhere; logic doesn't call for them to just disappear. But I don't like it... whatever is keeping them from coming back? If it could keep them back, couldn't it keep you too?" She put down Maes and hugged him tightly. "I'll come back, no worries here. What could keep me back from my family? Besides... if something does happen, Alex'll take care of you for me."

"You do have to go, don't you?" Roy started in surprise and Riza shook her head. "I've known you too long, you can't fool me. If you have to go, then go," she said sadly. "Yep, but... there is one thing... will you come with me somewhere?" "Anywhere Roy, just tell me where."

He looked around the room and sighed heavily. "Central graveyard... if you don't mind. And Riza... I'm taking Leroy, Ed, Al, and Alley with me."

"But why?"

"They deserve to know the truth, Riza... and Leroy, well... he's my son. He's bound to come whether I tell him to or not, soit's easier for me to just bring him along. He's been searching for ways to prove himself to me; why not give him his chance? Ilia belongs here with you, it's too dangerous for someone with so little fighting experience, and Maes needs both of you here."

"He needs his father too, Roy."

"I know. But I don't know how long this will take. We're... going to leave in the morning... You'll be there to send us off?"

Riza hugged him again, not knowing what else to say. "Yes... of course I will. And I'll be here when you come back." Roy nodded, suppressing the desire to never let her go and burying the thought that he didn't have to go. "I love you, Riza. I'll come back as soon as I can."

3 Waaah... No reviews this time, but I thought I'd post a little note thanking Tsunade-chan for a much better summary than I had, I seriously stink at summaries. Thank you! More reviews would be nice and one can hope to get more... T.T (please?) 3