In Times of Peace

Chapter Fourteen

Good-Bye, For Now

Everyone woke early the next morning, and had the cars packed just after breakfast to take then back to the city. Through an unspoken agreement somehow Al and Ed ended up in the front car with Roy. Winry and Mei in the second car along with Trisha, Maes, and William. The last car carried Riza, Tad, and Yuery.

The women wanted to give them time to say goodbye again, without the interruption of everyone else. After all, over the years they rarely got to spend time just the three of them. It did make Roy and Ed both nervous to have their families following them but chalked it up to paranoia. After all, they hadn't had any major problems since Dante's defeat at Hogwarts.

Eventually they relaxed and were able to just enjoy each other's company. "So, I'm thinking, The Emperor manages to do regular inspections of Xerxes Academy. We have been lax in our part of the project. Moving forward, I think either myself or Edward should make monthly visits. To ensure nothing is amiss, and that you are receiving adequate funds for the project." Roy said.

Al glanced at the driver, who he didn't recognize, before replying. "We would be honored sirs and welcome you to visit whenever you deem fit."

"It does sound like we have much to make up for, with Xing being hands on after all." Ed added with a nod.

They then all smiled at each other and Al finally relaxed, secure in the knowledge that he would be seeing his family more often. He had mentioned Ling and Naoko's visits to assure them that He and Mei were not all alone out in the desert, as well as reminding them that Chen was part of the project as well. He hadn't expected his father to use it as an excuse to arrange visits himself, though Al was happy.

"How many students will you have this year?" Edward asked.

"Three hundred actually. Thirty from Drachma, Fifty for Creta, Seventy from Aerugo, Seventy from Xing, and Eighty from Amestris. It's the biggest group so far." Al said proudly. "Most of them are alchemy students, we only have fifteen magic students this year. A lot of them are still being shipped to Europe for training."

"However did we remain secret with so many magic students going out all this time?" Roy asked, still amazed at how long the secret of magic had eluded him.

"It's part of the spell that hides us. The kids can't say anything beyond coming from a small unknown country, unless it's to someone who already knows." Al said with a frown. "I asked, and no one knows how to break the spell if it can be broken, so we just have to deal with the forced secrecy."

"How many do you think attend Hogwarts?" Ed wondered.

"Not many. Not many attend any academy. Magic is more common in Xing, but still isn't common. Only two clans that we know of have magic blood lines. Aerugo seems to only carry magic in the royal line and have private tutors. Creta and Drachma send their entire stock of students to Xerxes, not trusting the OUTSIDE. So really, it's only the Xing students. Most of them attend Durmstrang. From what Ling said, it's about twenty kids there, five here, though he id trying to encourage the use of Xerxes. One attends Hogwarts, but she should graduate this year. She already applied for a job as a healer in the palace." Al said seriously before smiling brightly.

"Enough about work, we need to worry about what's truly important, now that it's just us." Al continued as his brother and father looked concerned over the change in subject. "Dad, seriously, when are you and Ji Mu going to have another kid? It isn't fair to Tad that his brothers are so much older than him, he needs a little sibling his age."

"Al, Tad isn't lacking anything! Dad and Ji Mu take great care of him and he plays all the time with my kids and Ms. Gracia's. He's still just a baby." Ed protested.

"He's older than Trisha and she's getting a little sibling." Al reasoned.

"That was our choice, no one else's. Don't pick on Dad."

"Boys, no fighting in the car. Al, we haven't decided yet as I said the last three times you asked. Ed, I can handle it, there's no need to be upset with your brother."

"Yes Dad." Both brothers said together.

The driver tried to suppress his snicker at this, but they all heard him reminding them that he was there. They smiled brightly at each other as they reached the outskirts of Central. Everyone was going to be taken to the Fuhrer's Mansion, then a car would take Mei and Al to the train station after they ate lunch.

They pulled up in front of the mansion, and the guards and staff were waiting outside for them. Al looked out of the window before muttering, "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

"I didn't think I would either, but it eventually just becomes background, like living in the barracks or working in Command." Ed replied. "It helps that Miss Bella is the only member of the staff allowed in the family wing. The rest of the mansion IS work."

"Still…so many people." Al replied.

"At night, there is no one here except the guard and the butler." Roy supplied. "We reduced the live-in staff to the protests of the Council. I simply reminded them who they were talking about, Edward and I are perfectly capable of defending the house ourselves."

"The formally live-in staff was not displaced, just relocated to out buildings. We made sure they were still comfortable." Ed added. "Besides, have you seen Ling's palace? He barely takes three steps without running into someone outside his apartments."

"True." Al replied. "And to be fair, I live at a school. I am constantly surrounded by people myself. It's just strange sometimes. It's a far cry from the way things were when we were kids."

"I know." Ed said. "I've made peace with it. All of it. It took a long time, but I have now. We just need to keep moving forward."

"Alright boys, there's no point in depressing yourselves when we will be saying goodbye in a little while. It looks like the others are here now." Roy said as the other two cars pulled in and the finally moved to exit the car.

Al and Mei's luggage were separated from the others and placed back into the head car before they went in to have lunch. Al had insisted that he and Mei did not want the others to join them at the train station, so lunch was their final goodbye until someone came to visit them next month.

The kids all clung to Al and Mei when they realized that their Aunt and Uncle were leaving, Maes in particular seemed heartbroken over the whole thing. Al hugged the small boy tightly and promised to come sees him again soon, even as Maes sniffled wishing his uncle to stay.

Yuery and William assured their brother that Al would be back, that he came to see them lots, but Maes was still saddened. Winry eventually pulled the boy away and muttered something about him being overtired as Al and Mei climbed into the car. Everyone waved until the car was through the gate before Winry took the two youngest up to lay them down for a nap.