1Chapter Four

"You have a strange look on your face," Winry remarked as she settled next to Ed on the couch in their newest furnished home that felt like anything but home. "And you boys are washing those dishes! Thirds on pie? You should be ashamed."

"We have to take advantage of Riza not being here. She never lets us get away with anything." Ed licked his lips, snagging a smear of brown sugar.

"You can't threaten us like she can." Al patted his currently-big belly. "You're not as scary as Teacher or Riza."

"I'll have to try harder." Winry scrunched her nose at him and Al's eyes widened.

"Don't!" he shouted, startling Hayate and Den who looked up from their places parked near the heater.

Ed waved Winry off, looking almost ready to open the button on his pants and let his belly bulge. "Call it eating Mustang's share. It's not like he eats much even when he is here."

"Roy and Riza's shares if that's how you want to look at it," Winry said sourly, knowing no amount of yelling would help. They were too content with themselves. "So, what was the strange look for?"

"Roy and Riza." Ed shook his head. "I can't believe they all do that, that Hughes lets Mustang do that to him."

"It's not your business, Brother," Al scolded gently, the look in his brown eyes saying 'please don't make an issue of it.'

"And I think you have it backwards, Ed," Winry added, a hint of color in her cheeks. She wasn't sure she liked thinking of their guardians in sexual terms, but it was cute that Riza and Roy would occasionally get a little lovey dovey.

"Huh?" Ed cocked his head at her.

"She means Roy's the uh...girl." Al flushed brilliant.

"That's even more disturbing somehow." Ed made a face. "And how do you even know about this stuff, Al?"

Al just shrugged as Winry leaned against Ed's shoulder. "Does it bother you?" she asked.

Ed licked his fork, thinking about it, then set his dinnerware aside. "Not really. I was more nervous when Mr. Garfiel said he'd entertain me. I don't think that I have anything to fear from the bastard."

"Brother, you really shouldn't call him that. Roy's our friend." Al wagged his head, a put upon expression on his face.

Ed tossed a couch pillow at his brother. "Do you know what Mustang said to me while he was recovering from his wounds? I was being nice to him and he said to stop because if I was being nice it must mean he was dying."

"That says nothing good about you, you know that right? The two of you are a real pair." Winry's head dropped back against the couch cushion. "You're so mean to him and he either expects it or wants it. How you didn't drive poor Al insane all these years, I'll never know."

"What makes you think I'm sane?" Al grinned at her.

"My mistake." Winry laughed, pointedly resisting the urge to clean up the pie plates. "So, what should we do tonight?"

"With just the three of us?" Al rolled his shoulders as he considered the popular games, most of which required groups or just duos. "Charades."

Ed scowled. "I hate that game. I stink at it."

"Because you have no patience." Winry patted his thigh then got up. "I'll get some paper so we can make up some categories. Everyone for themselves tonight, no teams."

"I think we'd better walk Den and Hayate first," Ed said, trying to find ways to delay a game he knew he'd lose, and the dogs' ears pricked hearing their names.

Winry nodded as Al got up to help his brother leash up the hounds. Hayate pranced at the end of his leash in anticipation. Den stood more sedately. Al peered out the window into the street.

"Brother, someone's looking at the house." Worry tightened Al's voice. Winry dropped the tablet she had fetched as she made her way to him. Ed crowded into the window, too, not thinking that three people in a well-lit window might raise suspicions.

"That's General Leonard," Ed said, squinting into the gloom. "Or at least I think so. I'm pretty sure that's one of the people Roy was warning us about. Sort of looks familiar. I don't know the woman with him but I think I've seen her before."

"This is bad." Winry headed for the phone. After she picked it up, her lips curled. "It's dead."

"Do you think they cut the lines?" Al's eyes went huge with worry then he calmed himself. "We can fix them."

"Let's not take the time. Into the back yard with the dogs," Ed said, yanking on Hayate's leash. "We can go through the fence. They won't be expecting us to make our own door there."

"What if there's more of them?" Winry went to Roy's desk and retrieved his gun. She didn't really know how to use it but she hoped it would be intimidating enough that she wouldn't have to.

"You shouldn't need that," Ed said grimly as he eyed the pistol. From the look in his eyes, Winry knew he didn't like her touching it. "But bring it."

The youngsters went outside with the dogs. Al pointed to someone just tall enough to barely be seen over the back gate. They went as quietly as they could to the far back corner away from the gate. The sound of the transmutation was thundering but they didn't linger to think on it or look to see if the military men were following. Ed took the lead, racing through the streets with Winry and Al following. Poor Den's metal leg clacked out a staccato 'we're over here' but in Rush Valley, with all its noise, they hoped the sound got lost.

"We're not far from Mr Garfiel's. Should we take cover there or will that put him in danger?" Winry asked breathlessly as they paused to get their bearings

"Big as he is, I don't see Garfiel as a fighter. We'd best go straight to Mustang. Hu...Gibson won't be pleased if we lead anyone to his place, but he can handle himself if something is still following us," Ed said, glancing over his shoulder. "Don't see anyone."

"We'd better hurry, just in case," Al said and they picked up the dizzying pace again.

By the time they arrived at Hughes' nondescript little house, even Winry wasn't sure she knew where she was. Hopefully no one could follow them. Ed pounded on the door with his usual loud impatience. As Winry stood between the brothers, she suddenly felt serene, in spite of Mustang and Hawkeye's constant warnings about the danger. She knew even if she failed to keep herself safe - and she was pretty confident in her abilities to take care of herself, gun aside, - the brothers would protect her. Still, that didn't make this any less scary.

XXX

The sounds of someone at the door startled Maes awake. Riza looked up groggily, too. Roy remained dead to the world, which was all Maes needed to see. Tomorrow night, like it or not, Roy would need to rest and admit he wasn't at full strength. No more sex for Roy until he was actually recovered. "I'll get it," he mumbled to Riza as he hunted for his boxers.

"Who could it be?" She rubbed her eyes. "Damn, if it's the kids..." She wormed over, trying to find her pants along with her gun in the dark, with just the embers of the fire shedding a bit of light.

"Then there's trouble." Maes unlocked his door, feeling exposed. He hadn't had time to find his blades. He sighed in relief as he saw the kids. "Get inside," he ordered, knowing they hadn't come for no reason.

"We don't think they followed us," Al said as they and their dogs came inside.

"Hold the story for just a moment." Maes flipped on the light and Hawkeye mewled, trying to shove into her pants. "Sorry, Riza."

Ed and Al stared at her bare back while Hayate danced, seeing his master. "That array," Ed breathed, his eyes drinking in the bright ink over her pale flesh. "It's his."

"Oh...those scars," Al shuddered, concentrating on the ruin of the masterpiece. Riza blushed at all the attention.

"Quit staring at her." Winry forcibly turned both boys around. She was more disturbed that the brothers were far more interested in the alchemic array than in ogling a half naked woman. Winry was trying hard to not stare at Maes in his boxers. "Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt."

"We were asleep," Maes assured her. "I think Roy still is. Is he dead, Riza?"

"Might be," she replied, muffled by her shirt as she pulled it on.

Maes nudged Roy's foot where it stuck out from under the covers. "Roy, wake up."

Roy's head came up but he was lying on the wrong side, leaving the empty socket trying to scan the room. He scowled as he rolled so he could see. "Where?"

"You're on the floor. The kids are here. I think something's happened." Maes tossed Roy his pants then went to pull on his own.

"Did they see Riza naked?" Roy flopped back on the pillow, his voice almost unintelligible it was so thick with sleep.

"Yes, they know why we want her. Now do try to wake up, Roy, and make some sense," Maes scolded, buckling up before hunting for his shirt.

Riza plopped the eyepatch down over Roy's head. "Yes, do. You boys can turn back around now." She glanced over to the brothers who were fighting Winry trying to catch another glimpse of her.

Roy squirmed around, trying to pull on his pants under the covers. "What's happening?"

"Sit, kids, tell us, what's going on." Maes instructed, waving at the couch. None of the teens seemed to want to come into the living room love nest any further than they already had.

"We tried to call you but our phone is dead. We think the line was cut," Winry said, reaching down to soothe Hayate who still wanted loose.

"I think I saw General Leonard and a woman outside watching the house. That's when we tried to call you," Ed added, letting Hayate go. The dog trotted over to Riza.

"We decided to make our own gate out of the fence when we couldn't call. There was someone with dark hair at the real gate but that's all we could see, so there were at least three of them. We don't think they followed us," Alphonse added, running his hands through Den's fur as the older dog looked for freedom of her own.

"Should we check it out?" Ed cast an eye at the front door. "They might still be watching the house but I doubt it. They probably followed us for a little while."

"No one's going anywhere yet," Maes said then looked over to Roy who was still slowly trying to get to his feet. His solitary dark orb remained clouded with sleep. "Roy?"

"I'll call headquarters and get some troops mobilized to round them up," Roy replied, staggering over to retrieve his shirt.

"We could handle three people," Ed argued, not really wanting to wait.

"Just because you saw three people doesn't mean that's all there are Ed," Maes said, gently. "Though if a general is doing his own scouting it means one of two things; there really is only three of them or he wants full credit for capturing you and your brother."

"We have no idea how many Bradley loyalists there are," Riza reminded them as she looked at her gun clip as if to reassure herself that it really was fully loaded.

"I guess," Ed said, sullenly. "I don't like this. People shouldn't be chasing us. This should be over."

"Once I make the call, Edward, you, Riza and I can scout out what they're up to if we can," Roy said, running a hand through his wildy disarrayed hair. "Winry and Al can stay here with Maes."

"Who said I'm staying behind, Roy? You're still recovering and you spent the last two days over exerting yourself. You're in no condition to go out there," Maes protested, putting a hand on Roy's shoulder.

"Maes, if you're spotted, someone might recognize you. I can't risk that. Can you? Are you ready to be reborn as Hughes or do you want to stay Gibson?" Roy grumbled, shaking free.

Maes scowled, looking at his feet. "I don't know. I want this to end as much as the brothers do but I'm still not sure if it's safe for Gracia and Elicia if I'm back."

"Envy's gone," Alphonse said. "Into the gate. Lust, Wrath, Greed, Pride and Sloth are dead. We lost track of Gluttony, if that matters."

"Dante's gone, too, and she was behind all of this with the homunculi," Edward added. "But I wouldn't say it's safe out there. There were a lot of people who had to fall when Bradley went down. They blame me and Mustang mostly for that; Hawkeye, too. We aren't exactly safe to be around but I can't convince Winry of that."

"I'm not leaving you and Al," she said wearily, as if this was a very old argument.

Maes rubbed his chin. "I'll stay here with Winry and Al. I want to come back to my old life but I want it to be as safe as possible. That won't happen if I go dashing around recklessly. You three be careful out there."

"We'll be fine," Roy said with his usual overconfidence. "Riza will protect us." He frowned, seeing her wince at those words. "You will."

She just nodded, not looking at him as she rechecked her pistol.

Winry got up and handed Roy his pistol. "You might need this."

Roy looked to Maes. "You have enough weapons here? I have my gloves."

"Take the gun. We won't need it," Maes assured him, going to his own gun cabinet. He fetched a weapon for himself, Winry and Al.

Roy pocketed the weapon then went to make his call.

"I hate this...feeling helpless." Ed stomped his foot. His body trembled with barely contained fury.

"Ed, if there's one word I'd never use for you, it's helpless," Maes said, soothingly. "You were caught between two forces, with the phone lines cut, and you managed to escape and get to safety. That is not helpless."

"How did you even see them outside the house?" Riza holstered her weapon.

"I was dragging my heels so I wouldn't have to play charades," Ed said. "And said we should walk the dogs."

"You do stink at that game," Riza agreed with a gentle smile. Ed, as per usual, bristled at the teasing.

"And when I looked outside to see what the weather was like, I saw them," Al said as Ed made a face at Riza.

"Lucky break then," Maes said. "I can understand why you feel out of control, though. Of course, it was mere luck that brought Roy across my path yesterday. You never know how things will go."

"Well, I hope they start doing a better job than they have at rounding up the loyalists. I'm tired of running. I'd like to stay here in Rush Valley a little while. I have someone here willing to train me," Winry said, bitterly. "And I'd like Ed and Al to stay, too...though I know Ed might not get to unless he quits the military. There's really no need to stay in any more." Winry's eyes cut back to Riza. "No offense meant, Riza. It's just...I don't think it was Ed's dream to be a soldier."

Riza smiled softly. "It really wasn't mine either until I realized that I had someone to protect and that my best talent was with a gun." Her smile softened. "Until I..." she shook her head, her dark eyes misting.

Winry got up and hugged her. "He still thinks you're the best, you know."

Riza patted Winry's back with a rueful look. "Does Roy talk about this with everyone?"

"Pretty much," Al said with a gentle smile. "I think he likes talking about you, Riza."

Roy came back, cutting off anything Riza might have to say. "It's settled. Armstrong is coming with reinforcements from Central and I've mobilized the troops here. We should go."

"Maybe you should put on your uniform first," Ed said, gesturing to Roy's love-bitten neck, his cheeks going pink again. "Or at least something that has a collar."

Roy scowled, a low grumble rolling around his throat. "Yeah."

Once they were properly dressed, Roy and Riza left with Edward. Maes started cleaning up the bedding, a little self consciously. Al and Winry took that time to step outside and let the dogs actually do their business. By the time they got back, he had gotten some ice cream out of the ice chest. "Want some?" Maes asked.

"Sure," Al said, a hungry look in his eyes.

"Al, you had three pieces of pie. I know you're so excited to taste things again but you're going to get fat," Winry warned, shaking a hand at him.

"But I don't do it every night. Besides I'm worried. I need a distraction," Al protested, casting a longing look at the ice cream container.

Maes just spooned out three small helpings. "A little won't hurt. You two okay?"

"Angry that they won't leave us alone," Winry said, grimly, accepting the bowl of ice cream. Maes waved her back to the couch.

"And sorry we had to bother you," Al said, a whisper of pink on his cheeks as he followed Winry.

"Don't worry about it. Honestly, we were asleep," Maes said. "Roy could probably sleep for a day at this point. He wasn't hurt all that long ago, was he? News of what happened in Central is spotty here and very sanitized. I don't know what really happened."

"It's only been about a month, I guess. He was hurt pretty bad. That sword went into his lung. I guess if the Fuhrer had cut the other way, Ed wouldn't be the only one with an automail arm," Winry said, with a doctor's practicality. "Roy is luckier than he knows...or he does know and he just doesn't want to admit it."

"He's been a soldier since he was a young man, too, he knows. That's why Riza is so down on herself," Maes said, his lips falling into a frown that seemed foreign on his long face. "They were so lucky that bullet's path caught him in the eye and just went out through the orbit. Anywhere else and she would have killed him."

"I know. She's so sad," Al said, as if feeling Riza's pain and giving it voice. "I think she's just starting to see that there's no point in blaming herself. I bet...you could help her with that. She looked so happy to see you, too."

"You're a sweet, kid, you know that, don't you Al?" Maes asked and Al blushed. "I don't like just sitting around here doing nothing. Tell me what you can about what really happened with Bradley."

"I was in Rezembool so I only know what they told me," Winry said. "But I can tell you that."

"That'll do." Maes settled back and tried to concentrate, hoping not to worry. He knew none of them would succeed in that.

XXX

"This sucks," Ed muttered, glancing around the barely lit street. "How could they have disappeared so fast?"

"You did run all over town trying to be sure you weren't followed. It wasn't all that fast," Roy said, leaning against a street lamp.

"I know." Ed studied Roy under the dim yellowish light. "You okay? You look like hell."

"I'm just exhausted," Roy said, pushing off the pole.

Ed snorted. "I wonder why. No, I don't. I don't want to wonder. I might start picturing it and that would just disturb me. I never want to imagine you naked, for any reason, ever."

"That's actually comforting," Roy replied, wearily.

"Nothing down here," Riza called, coming out of an alley way. Her eyes narrowed. "What are you two arguing about now?"

"We're actually agreeing on something." Roy smiled.

Riza rolled her eyes. "They're nowhere around the house. We should find a call box and see if they did manage to find Maes."

"I don't want to think about that," Ed shuddered. He knew he'd never handle Hughes dying twice, not to mention his brother and Winry.

"We'll call then we'll head to the Nobody's Inn," Roy said, rubbing the bridge of his nose, nearly dislodging his eye patch.

"We're going drinking?" Ed's brow knit. "Why?"

"We're not. It's probably closed but the general and his men might be there looking for clues. How did they find us tonight of all nights?" Roy's lips thinned. "If someone saw me in the bar last night, they might have reported it to Leonard and he might have tracked me back to our home from there, though it would make more sense if they managed to follow me to Maes'," Roy reasoned, starting towards the pub. "It's about the best I can think of at the moment."

"It's another place to start," Riza said soothingly.

"Why not? Hell, I'm surprised you're actually able to get up and walk around, let alone think," Ed said then flushed ruby as Roy and Riza both stopped and stared at him. "I didn't mean...I meant the injuries...quit looking at me! Forget I spoke. Ugh, now I'm picturing things." Ed scrubbed a hand over his eyes.

"Just shut up, Fullmetal. I'm going to let Leonard have you," Roy said, tapping his fingers in Ed's general direction.

"Al will cry," Riza pointed out.

Roy snorted. "It's the only thing staying my hand."

"That and the fact I could take you without trying given the shape you're in," Ed said, embarrassment washing away in a flood of temper.

"Boys, I'm really thinking it's you two who should be on leashes, not Den and Hayate," Riza said scathingly. "Would you like to shut up now or shall you just write 'here we are' in flames over our head for Leonard and his men?"

The two men silenced with twin pouts, and Roy took them to the Nobody's Inn. There was a light on inside the building. Roy tensed and his companions took note of it. It was late, later than most places would be open. "Riza, you and Ed go in through the back. I'll take the front, keep whoever it is distracted and hope it's just not the cleaning person or something."

Riza blanched. "You'll be in my line of fire if you..."

Roy put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Riza. I've been there many times before. You are not responsible for the freak ricochet off Archer's automail. I trust you."

"It'll be okay, Riza. The bastard knows what he's doing," Ed said, almost sounding convinced.

Riza nodded, a dejected look in her eyes. She followed Edward around the pub. Roy waited a few beats then stepped inside. He was not surprised to see it wasn't the cleaning crew. Leonard was sitting at a table with his adjutant, a woman whose name he couldn't remember, watching two other men slapping around the waitress who had served him last night. The bartender was tied up on the floor.

"They got away at the house. Our man saw the General leave there and come here. Where else would they go?" Leonard asked the bleeding girl.

"How should I know?" She wiped her split lip. "The one-eyed man was only ever in here once. I don't know him."

"Mustang's a drinker. You expect me to believe he's never been in here." Leonard laughed as one of his lieutenants slapped the girl again.

"He hasn't been," she said, her eyes leveling on Roy. To her credit, she gave no signs of seeing him as Roy shoved his hands into his gloves.

"Really, Leonard, it's not like I'm a lush," Roy said, snapping his fingers just enough to make warning sparks. "Now be good henchmen and let the girl go."

"We're the true officers of the military, not some turncoat like you. You don't get to order us around," one of the lieutenants snarled at Mustang, giving the waitress a good shake for emphasis.

"You can tell your men to stop grandstanding now, Leonard. You've found me," Mustang smirked at the general.

"Yes, I didn't think you'd make it this easy for me to kill you, murderer." Leonard's hand went towards his gun.

"Uh–uh-uh, Leonard, I'll burn you before you clear your holster," Roy said, the humor leaving his face. He saw Riza and Ed working their way into the room. He could afford his own grandstanding. He extended his arm, gloved fingers at the ready.

"Is that how you killed our king?" Leonard asked, his hand stilling.

"Murderous bastard," the female lieutenant growled, her own hand twitching over her weapon.

"He was strangling his own son. I don't feel too guilty about what I did. Now why don't you all just put your weapons on the table. I think the new parliament would love to speak to you, General Leonard," Roy said, keeping his voice controlled, not giving a clue to how tired he was. "Or I'll have Hawkeye shoot you and you don't even want to know what Fullmetal wants to do to you." He tried not to let it show that he was hurt when Riza flinched at that.

Leonard whipped around to face Ed and Riza, his color fading when he realized he was the one surrounded.

"Fullmetal's pretty pissed that you people won't leave him and his brother alone. He's little but he's scary," Roy said, his fingers dancing over each other in a showy display of untapped power.

"Don't call me little," Ed grated out, his palms pressing together.

Mustang was honestly surprised when Leonard had his men give up. Most of the old guard generals had been fools who knew which ass to kiss with a few exceptions like Basque Gran. Leonard had a tougher reputation but he probably liked his own skin too well. Mustang, Hawkeye, and Edward trussed the loyalists up the best they could.

"Why won't you people just leave me alone?" Ed asked, getting into Leonard's face while Roy borrowed the pub's phone to call in the reinforcements. Riza freed the bartender.

"Oh, there's big plans for you and your brother," Leonard said, not cowed by Ed's bravado but cautious never the less. "But don't think I'll tell you anything, no matter what you do to me. I'm nothing. There's so many more of us, you'll never know what happened to you when it comes to it."

Edward tried to threaten the general and Roy let him practice his skills. Edward didn't really have the heart for it. Roy lost track of what was being said, fighting to not fall asleep at the table while they waited for the parliamentary soldiers to show up and take custody. Finally they did and Edward came over to Mustang. "It's never going to be over, is it?"

Roy shook his head. "Not yet. I didn't call Ma...Luc...should have." He brushed a hand over his face. "We need to go home."

"We can't. They were in there." Ed shuddered. "If we didn't get them all, they'll be back."

"I meant Luc's place," Roy said as Riza put her hands on him.

"There's not enough room for us all to stay there. There's a hotel down the block. Mr. Wilson's brother owns it." Riza gestured at the bartender. "He's called and got him to fix up some rooms for us."

"But..." Roy said, dragging to his feet.

"No buts. I'll call Luc from the hotel. Either Winry and Al can sleep on the floor there or he can bring them to the hotel. You're in no shape to walk back, General." Riza said, sternly. "Look at you. You're white as milk and you're holding onto the table so you don't fall down. Next time when we ask are you sure you're all right, don't lie."

"You do look like hell," Ed said, glancing away as if he didn't want to think about what Riza was referring to.

"So you've said before." Roy tried to put some starch in his step. "Let's see that hotel."

Roy didn't even remember getting to his room. The last thing he would be able to recall the next day was warning Ed to not let Leonard worry cracks in his psyche. He didn't know that Ed helped walk him to the room, pull down the covers and get the combat boots off him so Riza wouldn't have to do everything, and wouldn't know unless Riza broke her word to Ed about it.