Chapter five

Riza had no idea what to think or do. She was currently standing right next to the man she was going to marry and have a child with, and she had a photo in her hand of her future son.

...Of her and the General's son.

And her boss was smiling... He was so happy and he obviously loved his son dearly.

Their son.

She couldn't get herself to look at the man next to her. At some point within a few years, they were going to be intimate and have a child together that they only knew that they would apparently love dearly...

The thought of it and the mental pictures that were involved made her very uncomfortable. The fact that she was standing right next to the man in the bed whose eyes had betrayed an intense affection and love when he saw her, made her even more awkward.

...How could it not when the man knew what it was like to have been sleeping with her for the past ten years or so?

It made her feel naked and vulnerable. Because no matter how much she trusted Roy Mustang, fact still was that this man was in many ways a stranger. A stranger, because he was a happily married family man instead of her boss. He knew sides of her that not even she knew. And he...

...For the first time since the Ishbalan War of Extermination, Roy Mustang was happy with his life. Because he had a reason to live instead of a reason to die.

And it was a good look for him. It made her both happy and sad at the same time, because it also meant that the thing she had thought would finally give her some rest, had disappeared in a young boy by the name of Leopold.

She found her curiosity taking over, and picked up some of the other photos underneath the one she had been looking at. It suddenly became very important to her to know if she was happy too, and that meant finding a picture of herself and-

She froze.

It was a wedding photo. Their wedding photo. And she was standing there in a long, white dress that hugged her features elegantly, the sleeves long, the neckline going down in a curve to just above where her breasts began. It was simple, yet elegant... And definitely a dress that she would have liked to wear at her wedding. Her hair wasn't fastened with a clasp, but it was just hanging freely over her shoulders. It didn't look like she had actually done more than to wash it, dry it and then gone over it with a comb. Everything about it was just simple. She was holding a small bouquet of yellow roses in her hands. There wasn't anything extravagant about any of it.

And yet she was glowing with happiness.

Just like the man in the black tuxedo that was standing behind her just a bit to the left, his hands around her waist. And he was kissing her cheek, smiling brightly.

Yes, there was no doubt about it... She was very happy. She too was enjoying to be alive... She was finding happiness and safety in those arms.

...Because, in the future, Riza had a home that she hadn't had for as long as she had lived. She had a place that gave her joy. And that felt safe. Completely safe.

And it was marked with 1924.

...Nine years from now.

She found it even harder to look at either of the two Roy Mustangs next to her. Her eyes were stinging slightly because her whole future and her plans for it had been turned on its head. She needed some time to think. To find out what to do about it. How she was supposed to react to it all.

Riza put the picture down. "Mrs. Rockbell, may I borrow the bathroom?"

"Yes, of course. Why don't you show her the way, Winry?"

"Yes, that's no problem, just follow me, Ms Riza," came Winry's voice.

Riza immediately headed for the door and followed the young girl, avoiding looking at the two Mustangs as she left.

They were about five metres down the hallway when Winry spoke up. "Ms Riza? Could we talk?" she asked quietly.

Riza looked over at the girl, feeling a relieved smile form on her lips. Winry was in a similar situation herself. They could both need to discuss this with each other. "Yes, of course."

"...Did you actually need the bathroom?" Winry asked, not accusatory, but just wanting to make sure.

"No."

"Then how about we go to my room? Nobody's going to accidentally walk in there."

"Sounds good, Winry. Thank you."

She just nodded and then closed the bedroom door behind them. "I hope it's okay to sit on the bed?"

Riza gave her a reassuring nod and a small smile. "Of course, that's perfectly fine."

And so they both sat down and Winry suddenly began crying.

Riza reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Winry, it's okay..."

"You're getting married in ten years and you already love each other! I'm getting married in two and Ed doesn't exactly seem keen on it!" she said quietly. "Dex told us that Ed proposes sometime in 1917, but I don't exactly see him doing that by his own free will with how things are!"

Riza didn't see the point in lying about Winry's statement about her relationship with her boss, even if it was a lot more complicated than that, also because Winry was trusting her about obviously being in love with Edward. And so instead she sighed. "Winry, did Dexter seem like the things he told you about you and Edward were anything that his parents had been forced into?"

The young woman shook her head. "No... I just... What if this messes up the future and I'll end up raising three kids all based on a lie?"

"Do you seriously think that your son wouldn't have noticed that something was amiss if his life was built on you and Ed lying to him? I think that this will probably be what gets Ed to face his feelings and grow up from being an awkward teenager."

Winry suddenly turned her head to face her. "Do you really think so? Because I'm scared... I'm scared because I'm having a son in just four years... In less than three and a half years, I'll be pregnant..."

Riza gave her shoulder a squeeze. "And yet somehow, I think Ed will be more scared by what happens to you when you are than you will be yourself."

Winry suddenly began laughing weakly through her tears. "That... that's true... I just... I just can't imagine it..."

Riza sighed deeply, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes. "Well, at least you don't have a boss who's almost fifty, being ashamed of wanting to sleep with you..."

Winry's eyes widened. "Oh... You have to deal with a horny, old Roy Mustang and his younger self..." Then she began chuckling weakly again. "I think I should wish you good luck... At least Ed isn't a womaniser..."

"I have a feeling that he's going to be a nightmare about this for the next nine years..." Riza said with a sigh, inwardly groaning.

"Like I said, good luck."

Roy sighed and got to his feet. His older self was now asleep, and he really was useless. And Hawkeye had been gone for about an hour, which meant that he should definitely talk to her. It was an odd feeling, this. That urge to both run away as far as possible while also desperately needing to speak to his Captain.

Of course it did help somewhat that the only person he could imagine himself marrying was Riza Hawkeye, but it was still odd.

He couldn't help but look over at the nightstand and at his wedding photo. Apparently it was only three weeks after they ...made... their son. It had mostly been for practical reasons, first of all the fact that it had been crucial to have got married before she had begun looking pregnant. Also, that way it had been a small wedding so that it had become a lot more personal and without a hundred guards and a myriad of guests that they hadn't really needed at all. They had kept it simple.

...Even if they hadn't actually had a choice because they had had to because it had happened in the future.

But Roy still had to admit that he actually preferred it that way.

"Was perfect, you know..." the older one said sluggishly, and Roy looked back at his other self, surprised that he had woken up again. "S'nice... Shows that she's the prettiest woman in the world without even trying to..." He smiled with satisfaction and fondness, closing his eyes again. "Two pictures behind that... S'gonna make you laugh..."

Roy reached over and picked up the stack of photos, pulling out the third one, pausing.

It was a picture of the ring bearer as he performed his duties.

And although Roy could only see the young boy's back, it was clear from the antenna that it was a young Dexter... And that it was Edward Elric's son.

...Because the boy was sitting on the pillow for the rings with his legs crossed, saluting with his right hand, while holding up the rings between his left thumb and index finger, stretching his arm as high as it went.

"We told him to just relax about it... And so he did," the other one explained, smiling weakly. "We needed a young boy to help us out... He was four and we didn't have many to choose from... Falman's was just a toddler... So the kid of a former subordinate was pretty logical... Plus, messing with the timeline's bad n'stuff... N'symbolism too... 'Cos if he hadn't been sent back here... Then I'd never marry Riza..." He looked at Roy with his eyes crossing, but obviously needing to say something important. "Y'should go hug her... Riza needs a hug... She doesn't get any... S'too sad... 'Cos she likes hugs and cuddles..." Then he looked at Roy sternly. "...So cuddle her..." His eyes crossed and his eyelids drooped. "Y'need tah lissun t'me 'cos I'm presiduuuuh..."

And with that highly articulate sentence, the man fell asleep.

Roy felt very awkward and just a bit unsure as to what to do.

The whole room was awkward.

"I think you should go talk to your subordinate now, General," Mrs. Rockbell said. "And we won't mention this to anyone. Try the second door on the left."

And so Roy nodded and went out into the hallway, following her directions. Then he cautiously knocked on the door. "Captain Hawkeye?"

There were a quick set of footsteps, but the one answering the door wasn't the Captain, but Winry. "I'll let you two talk in private... I have a... a son who could probably need some... I don't really know..." Her face was red from crying, and Roy had no trouble understanding why. He just nodded at her and stepped back to let her walk past him. He wasn't surprised that Hawkeye and Winry had been talking together. They both liked each other and they were both women who were not even fated, but scheduled to get married and have children with someone they knew very well and would be around on a more or less daily basis.

...Although Edward and Winry didn't exactly end up married instead of being executed.

And so Roy walked inside the room and closed the door, finding Hawkeye sitting on the bed, and he could see that she was almost crying. And yet she stood up and saluted him, her face unreadable, her eyes betraying fear and confusion and uncertainty and something akin to disappointment. "Sir."

Roy saluted her back, honestly not knowing just what the hell he was supposed to do next as he let his hand fall to his side at the same time as hers.

Then he sighed. "I'm sorry, Hawkeye... It seems that I let you down again..."

She looked down. "...I don't think you did, sir." Her voice was quiet and just a bit shaky.

Roy paused. "What do you mean?"

"You can't say you let someone down when they're going to be happier than they have ever been before, can you? Because according to those photos, that goes for both of us."

Roy had no idea how to respond to that. Because he had seen it himself.

"So I suppose I'm defying your orders, General."

Roy almost smiled, but then froze at the implications of those words.

...I'm not going to shoot you in the back for impregnating me.

And so he decided to go with diversion tactics instead. At least partially, because they still needed to talk things out. "...So nine years, huh?" he asked a bit awkwardly. "...And I'll reach the position of Führer in less than ten years, then..."

"Yes, sir."

"That's nice to think about..."

"Yes, sir."

She still wasn't looking up at him, obviously not knowing what to say. Then she suddenly walked over to stand right in front of the window, looking at their reflections as the room was lit and outside there was only darkness. And Roy knew what she was thinking as she let her hair down, still looking at her reflection, a tear going down her cheek.

He walked over and sneaked his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, looking at the two of them in the window. Then he sighed. "...Nine years, huh?" he asked quietly again.

She placed her hands on top of his. "You know, sir... For being known as an impatient womaniser, that's a very long time to be willing to wait for someone..."

Roy smiled slightly. He didn't really know what to think or feel at all. But he knew that just staying like this was a very comfortable thing. And that his subordinate smelt better than he ought to know about, professionally speaking. "...Guess so."

Then she leant her cheek against his. "You had better not make light of our unofficial engagement, General... Otherwise I'll make you do the housework."

Roy chuckled, actually feeling a bit jealous of the guy in the bed.

And he couldn't stop the smirk as he whispered into her ear. "Also, Hawkeye, the President wanted me to remind you to buy the so-called "naughty-nightie" for my fortieth birthday..."

Her eyes widened with a gasp and a blush, and she whipped around, moving to slap him, only to pause with her hand about half a centimetre from his cheek. Then she rolled her eyes and groaned. "He told you to say that because that was what happened the first time around... Which means that you're actually not at fault, no matter how perverse you're sounding..."

Then she just sighed and bowed her head, pressing her forehead into his chest.

Roy tentatively put his arms around her, feeling a bit odd as the only times he had hugged her before, hadn't exactly been based on happy moments. There was when her father had died, then after he had dressed the burns he had inflicted on her back, and then it was the Promised Day after he had almost let her bleed out.

...Basically, hugs between them had never boded well.

Then she did something that she had never done during those times, and that was the fact that she sneaked her arms around his waist and hugged him back.

Roy paused. He had to admit that that was a very new sensation. Not an unpleasant one, though. Not at all. "So he was right about you liking hugs?"

Wow, Roy, smooth...

"Sir, I would like to remind you that we're strictly speaking engaged as of now... I think that starting it with a hug is more than acceptable."

Roy sighed fondly and hugged her with a bit more confidence. Because he was unofficially engaged to her. And it was a nice hug.

Basically, he felt numb, scared, impatient, embarrassed, confused and mostly just lost. And so it was nice to just stand here for a bit.

...Also because it was a big comfort that his Captain didn't seem to be thinking that he was too creepy to be around because she knew that he'd get her pregnant in nine years. It was always encouraging when he wasn't a complete creep even if she knew that she was going to buy some... interesting... clothes.

Roy suddenly paused. "Hawkeye, have you thought about the fact that it's an arranged marriage courtesy of Edward Elric's teenage son?"

"Plus a middle-aged version of you."

"I guess... Do you want me to punch him if he keeps hitting on you?"

She was silent for a few seconds. "Sir... Edward is getting married in two years and he hasn't been given any information about the things he should know about in that respect."

Roy froze, eyes widening in horror. "Hawkeye, that's a joke, right?"

She pulled back, giving him that 'I'm not joking, sir, and you should do as I tell you, or I'll shoot you in the leg,'-look. "You're a grown man and his former CO and also his former temporary guardian from when he was working under you."

Roy was suddenly feeling very happy that Edward Elric didn't have an automail fist any more.

Ed was scarred for life. Al was too, which was probably why he was escaping to the basement to try to find a way to tune the piano, telling Ed to go bonding with his son.

Because none of them had dared to have opposed Hawkeye. And especially not when she was in a very scary mood because she had two Roy Mustangs who were obviously mentally undressing her.

...Although, Ed could understand it when she was the wife of one of them and the other was her commanding officer and it was Mustang.

Ed wanted to scream because his mind kept flashing back to when Winry hadn't discovered him before she had almost pulled her top off completely.

He wanted to run away, screaming.

And yet he had a teenage son walking next to him who was laughing his head off, not empathising with Ed's pain at all.

"It's not funny, Dex..." Ed mumbled.

"Yeah, it is."

"No, it isn't."

"Yes, it is... And it explains why Dad didn't tell me who told you that stuff in the first place."

Ed blushed. He hadn't even thought about that... But as Dex's father, then it was only logical that that responsibility would have fallen to him. "...So when...?"

"Two years ago when I started dating."

Ed paused. That one was unexpected. "You're... You're dating? ...Like a lot?" He was honestly getting afraid that his knowledge from Mustang's explanation had somehow been misinterpreted by Dex and now his son had ended up as a womaniser. It would be easy enough, he supposed, being the son of somebody famous...

"No, it's only one."

"That's nice, I suppose."

Ed couldn't help but feel like Dex was challenging him in a way. Like he was thinking that Ed was being a bit wimpy.

...Oh, shit... He's trying to make this into a competition...

Then Dex suddenly looked down, his lips trembling slightly. "Dammit... She's gonna be worried sick..." His voice broke slightly. "Please... Please don't misunderstand me, Dad... I just... I just wanna get back home because I just... I've always celebrated my birthday with Mom and Dad and now... Everything's just awkward and wrong and I... I don't even know any more!" A tear suddenly landed on the floor below him. "Every year, Mom and Dad's been waking me up by coming into my room with a slice of cake, a birthday card, and presents from my family... But you and Mom can't look at each other now, my sisters are nineteen years into the future, April's not gonna give me one of those awkward birthday hugs while Andrea decides to jump onto my bed and demand that I open her gift first... I've never been away from my sisters that long or Mom or Dad and we won't have a birthday party afterwards where Uncle Al and Aunt May bring their kids too and Havoc comes by with a present from your old team and leaves with a big slice of cake! And Gracia and Elicia are also supposed to be there and now I'm not... I just wanna be home, Dad!"

Ed had no idea what to say or do. This boy had had a completely different upbringing because he had been allowed to have been a child.

Then Dex began sobbing and Ed felt a moment of panic and then pulled the kid against his chest, hugging him tightly as he began stroking his back. And he was realising that even if he wasn't a father as of yet, then he was going to be one in the future.

...Which meant that he'd be a pretty shitty Dad if he didn't take care of this kid. And that he would blame himself for as long as he lived once he became one.

Which meant that they had a birthday party they needed to prepare.

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