AN: Hope you enjoy!

Lock and Load

Roy ran his hand through his hair in frustration as Havoc haphazardly sped through the streets. His team was assigned on a field mission at the last minute despite him being a General already. His team wasn't supposed to be doing this anymore!

"Warehouse 13 up ahead," buzzed in Fuery, who was in a separate car with Breda and Falman, into each of Team Mustang's in-ear intercoms. He wanted to test the range of the devices so he insisted they go there in separate vehicles. They were to set up their base of operations in the assigned Warehouse before proceeding accordingly.

The Head State Alchemist's jaw tensed. He had to admit he could have rejected the assignment, but his idealistic and ambitious ass couldn't resist the challenge and definite benefits if they end up successful in this mission. The military had been tracking this head honcho illegal arms dealer for months, to no avail. The first and only lead showed up today, and Roy jumped at the opportunity to nab him.

"Kate, what did Charity say?" came Riza's voice, using Fuery's codename just in case.

Roy jolted in his seat and turned to look at his wife, sitting on the passenger seat beside Havoc. Who was Charity?

"Still no answer from their shop, Elizabeth. I'll call them again later."

Havoc parked inside Warehouse 13, with the other car following a few seconds later. They closed down the big doors of the warehouse to conceal them inside.

Fuery started setting up their communication lines from the warehouse and redialled Christmas' Bar.

"Who's Charity?" asked Roy, walking over to Fuery, hunched over a rectangular blinking device.

The young man flicked a switch off, killing their in-ear communication lines. "Madame Christmas, sir."

He furrowed his brows. "What for?" Due to Fuery's expertise, their team had the rare capability to contact civilian lines during a mission without it being traced back to the military, but Roy made it an order to only use it when absolutely necessary.

Riza wanted to slap her palm to her face had she not been in the middle of setting up camp with the rest of the men.

"Ed and Al, sir," replied Fuery, gaze locking with Riza's since the order came from the Major herself.

"Shit!" He forgot he had sons when he committed to this indefinite mission. Roy pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time. Almost 1700H. The boys' dismissal time was at 1500H and who would look after them while they're on the field?

"It's alright, sir," said Riza from across their pseudo base of operations, reading her husband's mind. "It was a good thing we introduced Ed and Al to the Madame and some of your sisters beforehand."

He sighed. "Aunt Chris said this would happen sooner or later. I was naive to think it wasn't even a possibility."

/-/

Ed stared up at the stocky woman puffing smoke from her lips. This was supposed to be his adoptive grandmother, but she refused to be called as such. "Madame," greeted the boy, using one of the preferred names of the woman in front of him, "what are you doing here?"

"Where's mom and pop?" asked Al.

"You're going to stay with me for awhile. Roy and Riza are stuck at work." She didn't know who might be listening in so she decided to divert.

The older Elric glared. No matter how busy either of them got, Roy or Riza made sure to always pick them up themselves or one from Roy's Team. "Where are they, really?"

"Tch." She blew smoke in the direction of the boy's face and gave him a hard stare, hoping to convey the words that cannot be verbalized.

Ed immediately understood and nodded. "Where are we headed?"

Christmas smirked. Smart kid indeed. "My car's outside." She led them to her vehicle where one of Roy's sisters sat behind the wheel. Christmas climbed into the passenger seat and waited for the boys to strap themselves in at the backseat.

"Cornelia, these are Ed and Al," said Christmas as the girl started to drive out of school property.

"So where are they really?" asked Ed, crossing his arms in front of him.

"They were sent on a mission. We're picking up things from your house then you'll live with us until they're done." Christmas thanked her lucky stars Riza told her about Ed's preference for straightforward answers.

"When are they coming back?" asked Al. He didn't want to think bad about his mom and pop, but it awfully sounded like they were being abandoned.

"Can't tell for sure," said Christmas, pointing to the direction of Roy and Riza's house as Cornelia parked the car. "Pack at least 5 days' worth of clothes and uniforms. The girls will wash them for you if your stay gets extended."

The boys filed out of the car to do as they're told with Al holding back tears and Ed biting his tongue.

/-/

Ed and Al were guided to a four-floor structure where the madame told them the ground floor was absolutely off-limits at nighttime because only adults were allowed at that time. It didn't matter to the boys since the room they settled in was their adoptive father's childhood room and they were able to rummage through his leftover alchemy books.

"He used to have real bad handwriting," commented Al, flipping through the pages.

"Tsk. It didn't change at all."

"Brother," scolded Al. He knew Ed was as worried as he was about their mom and pop, if not more.

He huffed and looked away. "I just need something normal."

"Why? Do you think they're not coming back?"

"I didn't say that."

Al glared. "I asked if you think that."

"I don't know what to think!" Ed shouted. Granted their adoptive parents didn't abandon them, what on earth could keep them from coming home? The madame said they were on a 'mission,' but Ed had been a victim and witness to one of their missions before yet Roy and Riza still managed to come home by the end of the day.

"What if they die?"

Ed's back straightened as if electricity coursed through his spine. He didn't think of that possibility. Their real mother died of natural causes, but here was their new parents, willingly entering into situations that could possibly harm them for the benefit of the common good. What if they died already and the madame is just waiting for the right time to tell us?

/-/

It's been four days since they set up camp in Warehouse 13 where Roy, Riza, Havoc, and Breda alternated schedules in setting up the perimeter and tracking their target. Tonight, Roy and his team was set up to execute their plan to apprehend the target.

Riza and Havoc were stationed on opposite buildings with a clear shot of the street below. She dug her heel onto the ground, waiting with bated breath for their target to come out.

"On the move at your 9 o' clock, Braidykins," murmured Falman, quickening his pace to follow the arms dealer about to exit the building they were in.

"On it," said Breda, closing in on the target as Falman appeared on the man's other side.

"Am I on the correct exit point?" asked Roy, standing by outside where he knew both Riza and Havoc had a clear view as aerial support.

"Yes, Exit B," was Falman's reply.

The arms dealer left the building, seemingly unaware of the two military men trailing behind him.

Roy casually walked ahead of their target, knowing his team had his back.

"Yo, why doesn't he have bodyguards?" said Havoc, using his gun's scope to follow their target's movements. With how difficult the military tracked this guy, he should have at least some form of security personnel.

"I agree," weighed in Riza, scoping out Roy's immediate vicinity for potential threats. "Tread lightly, g - Ugh."

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth!" said Fuery, trying to reconnect Riza's line from their base.

Roy's jaw tensed but he kept walking lest he become suspicious to their target.

"Vanessa, watch the King. I can't leave my scope out this guy," said Havoc. The mission had to continue though Riza's aim was admittedly much better than his.

They heard a gunshot and the target started to panic and ran in a different direction. Falman gave chase as Breda flanked Roy and they followed after the white-haired man.

"He's getting away!" screamed Havoc, the moving target now impossible for him to shoot.

"Who the heck fired that shot?!" hissed Roy, making a turn to hopefully cut the man off at the next intersection.

Static filled their ears and each of the men cringed at the sound. They then all heard, "Sorry, sir. I had company."

"Elizabeth," sighed Roy in relief despite the high-speed chase they were doing on foot. "Vanessa, estimated location."

"Standby 2nd street! It's the only way he could go if we block 5th!" Falman knew if the target ran through 5th, he would have more side streets to hide into rather than if they force him to take 2nd.

"Clear on 5th. Elizabeth?"

Riza took a deep breath to steady herself, sparing a glance at the man that attacked her. "I'm here." She grabbed her rifle, wiped the excess blood off her lip, then perched in position. "Ready when you are."

Roy smirked. "Good, because we have kids to get home to." He raised his hand and snapped.

/-/

They managed to wrap up the mission right before midnight with Riza only sustaining a cut on her lip. Roy ordered his men to go home as he and his wife rushed to Christmas' Bar. Loud music echoed through the walls and the establishment was lit in a dimmed reddish color when the couple entered still dressed in their grimy mission clothes.

"Elizabeth! Roykins!" greeted Raven, another one of Roy's sisters. She ushered them away from the patrons and into a door hidden beside the bar. "Come, come, just the specials for you." She led them up the stairs and toward Roy's childhood bedroom. "I doubt they're asleep," she said, casting a glance at Riza, "they don't cause trouble. The madame just knows when someone's not sleeping."

Roy grinned. He used to get in so much trouble with Aunt Chris when he lost track of time reading alchemy books before he was sent off for his apprenticeship.

"Thank you." Riza's smile was as strained as her voice. She was tired and dirty but to rest first before letting the boys know they were alright seemed like a sin. "We'll take it from here."

Raven reached over and flicked some dirt off Riza's cheek, then wiped her hand down her body-hugging, glittery dress. "I'll let the madame know."

Riza faced the door like she was going in front of a firing squad. She suddenly thought fighting back assailants would be better than what she was about to do.

Roy grabbed hold of her hand. "Lock and load, Major." They were in this together, though like his wife, he was nervous on how to deal with and explain what happened and what may happen in the future that they have more missions like this.

Without knocking, Riza opened the door.

Al and Ed were on the floor, sharing a lamp, as they read from separate books. Al was the first to look up at them and he was stunned speechless at the sight of his adoptive parents. Ed, on the other hand, was too focused on his book to notice his surroundings.

"The madame knows you're awake no matter what you do," said Roy, flipping the room's light switch on.

Ed yelped.

"You're alive!" cried Al, rising to his feet and running to hug Roy and Riza.

Ed scowled, but he approached his adoptive parents anyway. He thought the relief that settled in the pit of his stomach was a weakness so he hid it and refused to verbalize anything related to it. "Welcome back."

Riza knelt on the floor and pulled Ed toward her then kissed Al's temple. "I'm sorry it was all so sudden. And…" she pulled away from them, "I'm still dirty, so no more hugs until I at least change."

The Mustang/Elric family huddled close on Roy's childhood bed and they didn't notice the hours that passed as they talked in length about the extent of Roy and Riza's jobs.

"I promise I'll try to lessen these things," said Roy, "but of course, it's never guaranteed. We'll make sure that someone looks after you, though."

"Al thought you left and died," said Ed.

The older boy was visibly putting on a brave front and Riza knew better. He was just as worried as Al was. "All people die," she said, trying to be as factual as possible. "But we would never leave you." They weren't blood, but the winter will rain fire first before she abandoned these boys by choice.

AN: I don't know if my chapter themes are coming through in my finished products, but I do try lol. Sending love to you all!

'Til next time!