Market Day Entertainment

By Bashfulglowfly

The phone rang and the Fuhrer Roy Mustang picked it up and answered absently as he read over another section of the next year's budget. "Yes?"

"So, Fuhrer Shit Lip really is working on a Saturday? They told me but I had a hard time believing it!"

Roy laughed. "Ed! Yes, I'm working but you can't call me 'Shit Lip' anymore."

"Riza made you shave? Good for her." There was a hesitation, then Edward spoke again. "There's a reason why I'm calling…Winry and I were the Market Day entertainment today."

Roy continued reading. "How did you manage that?"

"Winry slapped Maes."

Roy stopped reading and focused on the phone call. "Edward, are you in jail because you killed Winry?"

"I'm not in jail and Winry's still alive."

"Start from the beginning." The tone of the order was pure Colonel Mustang.

"Today's market day, so Winry, the kids and I went shopping. We were there about 40 minutes when Maes tugged on Winry and said he need to go potty. I was a few steps away with Nina, so Winry was the one he asked since she was closer. Roy, she just hauled off and slapped him to the ground and began screaming about him interrupting her while she was talking. She had said goodbye. I…I remember handing Nina to someone and lunging for Winry. I was going to strangle her, Roy. I really was. But I was stopped by some of the other men there."

Roy rubbed his forehead. He could foresee more than a few problems. "Has she ever hit the kids before?"

"Not that I've ever seen but…I don't know, Roy, I just don't know."

"Are the kids okay?"

"They both pissed themselves. Whether that was from fear of Winry or just because of the trauma of Maes being slapped, I don't know. But one of the neighbor ladies took the kids and got them cleaned up and calmed down while I dealt with everything."

"Where is Winry now?"

"She's in jail. And she's going to be staying there until Monday. The magistrate refuses to work on Saturdays and Sundays." Roy could hear Edward taking a deep breath. "I'm leaving her and taking the kids with me. That's one of the things that I was dealing with. I'm having a Notice of Separation run in the local newspaper for the next five days. I paid the newspaper man to send ten copies of each day to you and another ten each to Teacher."

"Have you called Izumi yet?"

"No. I wanted to call you first. Would you be able to find a place for me and the kids to stay in Central?"

"You can stay with me. And before you object, it won't be a problem. The staff is bored. I know from your last letter you were beginning to need to come here for research, do you want me to find someone to help you with the kids?"

"Thank you, Roy. And, yes, I know it's short notice but if you can find someone who can keep up with two super smart kids that would be great."

"I know you said that Nina already knows the alphabet and simple math and that Maes is trying to draw arrays. I think there's an agency that can handle that. Alex will know better than I would."

"Thanks, Roy. It's really appreciated. It's going to be me and the kids, a couple of suitcases and four trunks of books and research material."

Roy frowned. Edward and Winry had been married for a few years. "Surely you have more than that?"

"I have more books but the ones I'm bringing with us are ones I can't afford to lose if Winry burns them when she gets out of jail."

"The house…"

Edward interrupted. "Pinako left the house solely to Winry. I thought it was a good idea at the time. I didn't foresee me leaving her. But I have no claim to the house or the business." Edward sighed "Just the kids and my research."

It was Roy's turn to sigh. "Alright, Ed. We'll work everything out when you get here. I'll hang up so you can call Izumi."

"Yeah, I don't want her killing me then taking the kids. And the train should be here in ten minutes, so that will give me a good reason to hang up if she starts flaying my hide over the phone."

"There's a diplomatic pouch going out in the morning. Do you want me to send a note to Al? I can tell him what I know and that you'll send him a longer letter later."

"Yeah. Someone he knows should tell him what's going on before Ling gets the information from his spy network and tells Al. Thank you."

"You're welcome. See you soon, Ed. Someone will be waiting for you at the station when you get here."

"Thank, Roy."

Roy could hear the click from Edward's end. Then he heard the click of Riza hanging up.

He looked at his most trusted subordinate as she walked through the door. "You got all that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. You know what to do."

"Sir!"

"By the way…"

"Sir?"

"I think you should speak with the magistrate in Resembool. I believe Winry should learn a few lessons, don't you agree?"

"Indeed, I do, sir!"

"Carry on!"