Merry Christmas everyone! Unless you don't celebrate Christmas, in which case, Happy December 25th!

"We think she's already starting to show, I'm so excited!" Ed continued to ramble, as he had been for the past twenty minutes or so. If Al was being honest, he was only half paying attention. It wasn't that hard when Ed got like this. He imagined this was what Colonel Mustang had felt like all the time when Colonel Hughes would call him. The only responses that were really necessary were "That's great!" and "Of course." Not only were those the only two needed responses, but they were more or less interchangeable, so he could even just chose one or the other every time without really paying attention to what was being told to him.

"That's great."

"I'm just not sure how things are going to go from here. She hasn't really gotten very sick even though a lot of people told us that she would be. She could get a lot sicker later, or maybe she's just not going to get sick. Someone told us that that was possible. Some women just don't get really sick when they're pregnant. The woman who told us that also said that sometimes it just depends on the kid, some will cause more sickness than others."

"Of course."

"I'm going to be there for her, no matter what though. Nothing is going to keep me away from my baby. He's going to be the most perfect thing to ever grace this planet!"

"Of course."

"She did also warn that sometimes when you're not quite getting as sick there might be something wrong with the baby. I mean, he is going to be perfect, but it might be a bit harder you know. Like he might be born super early or super late."

"That's great."

There was a pause during which Al hurriedly had to recall exactly what he had just said.

"Al… did you just say that it's great that your first nephew is going to be born early and potentially run into health issues?"

"… uh…"

"Are you even listening to me?"

Al winced. "To be fair Ed, can you really blame me?"

"Well, no not really," he had to admit, after another pause filled with static over the phone. The connection between Xing and Amestris wasn't the best. It was a near miracle they were able to talk on the phone at all. "But it's more than that. You're distracted. What is it?"

"What? Oh, it's nothing."

"No, it's not. You've been over the moon to be an Uncle. Now you're hardly paying attention. What's wrong? Is this about coming home?"

Well, Al couldn't really deny that it was. Not so much about coming home itself, he was more than excited to do that. It was more leaving knowing what he knew that bothered him. He thought he had always sort of known that the Empress wasn't quite happy. But he had never really known the full extent of the problem. And he wasn't sure if he would be able to return home in good conscious with the knowledge weighing on him. He wished there was something he could do to help, but he knew she wouldn't want it.

"I don't remember asking for your help."

"You can't possibly be that naïve! These guys show no mercy to anyone who is of no use to them. You have to get out of here, quickly!"

At least that time it had been as simple as picking her up and running away. So perhaps not quite that simple seeing as he had to keep her in his chest plate for almost an entire day, but he was sure the actions would not be appreciated if duplicated. He almost had to smile at the thought of him just bursting into the throne room in the middle of a meeting with Drachman dignitaries, picking her up, and running away. That would certainly go over magnificently.

"Al? Hey, you still listening?"

"What? Oh… I'm sorry Brother. I guess I just… there's just a bit of a problem going on here that I don't really want to leave behind without resolving at least a bit."

"So go resolve it," Ed said simply.

Al's jaw dropped. "What… it's not that simple, Ed."

"Why not?"

Al opened his mouth to respond, before closing it. "Well… they… she… I… I don't really know." He frowned before smirking. "It's not actually that simple is it?"

"We're just simple people, Al." The axiom was so reminiscent of Resembool that he couldn't help but smile. Back in the green fields, everything seemed so much clearer. Everything seemed black and white, with maybe a shade of grey in between them. Here there seemed to be a hundred or more shades of grey to every statement.

"I miss Resembool."

"Yeah," Ed said, and the sigh even managed to get picked up through the static. "Things really are just… if there's a problem, fix it. I don't know, maybe I've been here too long. I'm not in touch with all the politics and crap… Sorry, I'm not of much help."

"No, actually that was completely helpful," he said quickly. "I need to resolve the problem. That's it."

"I'm happy I can help. Just go ahead and fix it before you come home. I don't want you to be distracted and thinking about it."

"Of course."

"See you in a few days, Al." Al couldn't help but smiling into the phone, his eyes softening.

"See you in a few days, Ed."

He tried to find some way to talk with her that very day, but her guards wouldn't let him in to talk with her at all. Talking to her during court was pretty much not even a consideration. He knew that she would have trouble accepting his help at all, there was no way that she would accept it if he offered it in front of the entire court.

He considered asking for a private audience after the court meeting, but as soon court was dismissed Fei grabbed him by the arm and dragged him all the way to a small going away party for both him and Rikui. She was returning to the Change Province since she was done with teaching him.

"I'll be glad to escape all the politics though," she confessed as they talked on a pair of cushions around the foot of a table. Whereas a 'going away party' in Amestris might constitute balloons and music and streamers and probably something alchoholic, instead Al was treated to a small gathering of well-wishers and friends that Al had made. Well, there was also something alcoholic, but Al was avoiding that.

"But you're the clan leader's daughter, won't you be leaving the politics here for more back home?"

"I won't be able to escape it entirely, no," she said as she shrugged. She however had chosen to indulge in the alcohol, although she had only had one maybe two drinks. "But it's not as bad back home as it is here. At least there not every person around me is there for the politics or to serve the politicians. There are some people with real heads on their shoulders."

"I didn't know that everyone here had fake heads. Everything makes more sense now! Why couldn't you have told me that when I first came here?" She laughed, making Al grin. He loved when he was able to make people laugh, especially Rikui.

"Okay, so I supposed there are a few people here with real heads. Maybe one. Or two. There's you. Fei…" They looked over to the Xingese noble who was chatting amiably to one of his cousins about Amestrian traditions of handshakes. "He's got a real head, it's just empty."

"Hey! He's a good friend."

"He is, I'm not saying that. He's just… missing a few marbles."

"Just because he likes Amestrian customs, he's crazy?"

"Well… no, that's not what I… I didn't mean to offend you, Al… He just gets—"

"It's alright, I get what you mean," he said quickly. She was just trying to make a joke, she didn't really mean anything hurtful towards one of the few people who had readily accepted Al's friendship. All the same… moving past the topic was probably the wisest move. "What about the Empress?"

"… what about the Empress?" she said cautiously.

"I think she has a real head."

Rikui pursed her lips. Then she dropped her drink on the table next to them, and put her hand on Al's knee.

"Al… I know you and my cousin were friends when she first came to Amestris. We were friends too; she was my absolute favorite cousin. But she's not that cousin anymore. She's the Empress, and she's become that role so fully I'm not even sure that part of my cousin that I loved even exists anymore. I find it hard to believe it could be any different from the Mei Chang you knew in Amestris."

So perhaps the subject change was not the best path to take.

"… Oh."

"I'm sorry to say it…"

"No, no, it's quite alright. You're free to your opinions."

That didn't mean he had to agree.

And if she was right… well… that would make leaving Xing that much easier.

"Hai, are there any more requests today?"

"No, Your Majesty. Do you wish to retire?"

"As long as there are no more requests you wish to bring before me, yes." She locked eyes with the rest of the room, seeming to stare each one of them down. Al felt his stomach lurch. He was leaving tomorrow, so if there was ever a chance for him to talk to her, it was now. He opened his mouth, but nothing seemed to come out. He couldn't miss this chance.

"Very well, you are all dismissed."

He swore in his head. It seemed this was one of the days when the rest of the court would file out under her watchful gaze.

He had missed his chance to ask for a private audience, but… instead of filing out, Al ducked behind the stands where the courtiers would usually sit during court meetings.

As soon as everyone was gone, he slunk out to see the stands to see her slumped slightly in her throne.

"Empress."

"Ambassador," she said, sounding alarmed. She looked shocked. Or at least she did for a few seconds before she carefully and quickly wiped the emotion from her face. "You should not be here, court was dismissed."

"I know," he said. "But… I wanted to speak with you alone at least once before I leave."

"Of course," she said, nodding slightly. How she managed to do so with that crown on her head, he had no idea. He had heard from Rikui herself that it was so massive that she couldn't even wear the thing by itself. It required a whole second apparatus hidden underneath her hair to be able to seat it right on her head. The neck muscles required were the same, though.

"You're taking the train?"

"Yes."

"Good. Your journey should be relatively comfortable."

"More comfortable than walking, I suppose."

She gave him a slight smile. "Much. I hope your stay was nice. I am glad that you managed to learn everything you wanted to."

"I wanted to thank you for that, actually. I never would have thought about remote transmutation like that without your prompting."

She smiled again, though this time it seemed much more genuine. "I was happy to be of assistance. Rikui may be a proficient alkhestrist but she doesn't understand alchemy at all, and therefore has a harder time understanding the way you think. It is only to be expected."

Al nodded, for lack of a better way to respond to that. 'That's great' would not pass here, though he supposed that 'of course' might work.

"All the same, thank you."

Now it was her turn to nod. Al could sense the conversation coming to an end, even though he hadn't even broached the topic he truly wanted to discuss.

"Well, I hope your trip goes well—"

"Wait."

She raised a single eyebrow.

"Empress…" He took a deep breath, before softening his voice. "Mei."

That one word caused her entire back to stiffen.

"Ambassador, do not be so forward—"

"If you will forgive me, Your Majesty, that's going to be the least of my forwardness in this conversation. And you can ignore me, or send me away if you want. But I cannot leave this country in good conscious until we've talked about this."

Although her back was still stiff as a board, her face fell completely blank.

"Guards. Leave us."

"But Your Majesty—"

"Leave. Remain outside. I am not defenseless. You too, Feyan." The guard that stood behind her almost every waking moment stiffened.

"Your Majesty—"

"I said," she snapped, "remain outside."

Feyan stood stock still for the space of maybe ten seconds, obviously debating whether to follow his Empress's orders or to put her safety above her wishes. He must have decided on the former however, because he joined the small troop of guards that left the throne room. He was however the prize winner of the most fearsome glare leveled Al's direction.

"Ambassador, I don't know what you're planning on discussing with me as to be so forward as to call me by my first name, but—"

"You're not happy."

She blinked. Al took her momentary confusion as a chance to move closer. Just enough so he didn't feel like he was talking to her from across the room.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not happy, Mei. In fact, you're miserable. I can see it. Not just about Gondappai or Drachma… You are miserable as Empress."

"I didn't become Empress because it's a fun job, Ambassador. I sought to become Empress to help Xing. To help my clan, to help my family. In short to help others. It was a selfless act, my own… happiness is inconsequential in this situation."

"No it's not. Mei… it's great that you want to help your clan and your family. And you've done that. But… if you're hating every moment of it, is it really worth it?"

"Of course it is," she shot back instantly.

Al bit his lip. This was not the best way to go about it. He understood the fact that she was being selfless and trying to help other people, but if she was so miserable she was hating every moment she spent as Empress, would she really be able to help anyone? Perhaps… a more blunt approach?

"Ambassador, really it's none of your concern."

He gaped at her. "None of my concern? Of course it's of my concern, because you're of my concern."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm really not. As an Ambassador, your concern is with Xing, not me."

"I overheard you." It was her turn to gape. The comment was probably such an unexpected comeback to her statement she had no idea how to react.

"What?"

"I overheard you the other day in the gardens. I know you're stressed. And you're almost hitting a breaking point."

The stiff board back was back.

"This isn't something that's recent, or just being brought on. In fact, I'd say it's been going on since you became Empress. And I really don't blame you, I mean one of the first things that happened after you became Empress was the war and that would be horrible for any ruler to have to deal with."

"I don't need your sympathy, Ambass—"

"But it's more than that, isn't it? It's not just everything that's been going on, you… you need someone to rely on."

"I most certainly do not—"

"That's not a bad thing. You're close to falling apart at the seams. If you don't stop and slow down…"

"I don't need help—"

"It's okay to rely on someone. It's even healthy in fact. I know I can't convince Gondappai to forgive all the debts, but there's got to be something I can do to help. Maybe talk to someone—"

"I don't need your help!" She practically screamed at him, leaning forward and pounding her hands on the arms of the chair.

"… I was just trying to—"

"NO! I DON'T! I am the leader of Xing; I AM EMPRESS!"

Al stood there, not saying a word. He felt like he had been punched in the gut or worse. There was a sick feeling in his stomach and he was fairly sure it had nothing to do with any of the food he had been eating.

"Mei…"

"I don't need your help," she repeated, but this time her voice was weak and vulnerable. "Just please… please go."

He didn't. In fact, he did the complete opposite. If she hadn't sent the guards away, they might have killed him on the spot for moving within five feet of their Empress. But he went far closer to her than that, moving until he was kneeling directly in front of her. She did her best to straighten and look at him down her nose, but he was so much taller than her that even kneeling she was only a head taller than him.

His fingers gently probed behind her ears until he unhooked the contraption that held the elaborate crown in place. It was sure to be the upmost heresy to have a non-royal, a commoner, and a foreigner to boot, touch the Royal Crown of Xing, but he did, lifting it off her head and the setting it on the ground.

Then, because he already seemed destined to break every social regulation followed in this strange country, he pulled the Empress of Xing, Princess of the Chang clan, but more importantly, Mei into his arms.

She was stiff and stunned, as if she had never received comfort like this.

Al realized belatedly that she might not have ever. From her harsh family and poor circumstances to Amestris, it was conceivable that she never had had someone to pull her close and tell her that it was alright. She must have certainly never encountered the experience after her ascension to the throne.

Then her arms wrapped around his torso, and Al felt her hands ball in the fabric of his long tunic.

The Empress did not cry that night. She most certainly did not sob into an Amestrian's shoulder, holding onto him for all the comfort she could possibly find in his strong embrace. The Empress was an Imperial ruler, strong and powerful.

Mei Chang did, though.

And for the first time since setting foot in this infernal country, with this Xingese girl in his arms, Al felt like things were finally right once again.