Edward whistled as he looked at the spread laid out before him. He didn't know what half of the food was but it looked delicious. It almost made up for all the restaurant and room service bills Ling stuck him with over the years. Ed filled his plate with a variety of savory morsels and grabbed a table. While Ed tried a mystery dumpling he watched the crowd. Edward Elric wasn't big on parties but this wasn't half bad. The booze was all top shelf and Ed was pretty sure he'd just eaten the best dumpling of his life.

In hindsight Ed should've convinced Winry to come with him to Xing, but his wife had orders piling up and couldn't get away. He decided to send her a postcard tomorrow. Winry always complained he didn't write enough when he was abroad. The last time she brought it up he'd made a crack about international postage costing an arm and an leg, and how he just got the arm back.

Winry didn't think Ed's joke was very funny.

Alphonse found him as he was finishing his first helping of the feast.

"Have fun?" Ed asked.

Al was a bit flushed. He drank half his punch before answering.

"Yeah," Alphonse answered. "Mei is dancing with a cousin. I needed a break from the heat."

It took everything Ed had not to reach over and check his little brother's pulse for an irregular rhythm, to not press the back of his hand to Al's forehead to check for fever. When Alphonse first got his body back Edward didn't sleep. He stayed awake to make sure Alphonse didn't spontaneously stop breathing in his sleep; that Al didn't go into cardiac arrest or have a seizure. It wasn't until Ed started hallucinating from sleep deprivation that the doctors caught on. Ed was sedated after that but not without a fight.

Once Ed awoke from fourteen hours of sleep he'd gotten an earful from Al. Ed wouldn't soon forget his emaciated baby brother alternating between shouting at him and taking deep breaths from an oxygen mask. He'd had to apologize to the orderly and nurse he'd scratched up in the process before Al would let him off the hook.

Five years later Ed still worried about Al's wellbeing. But Alphonse was whole and healthy, and he didn't need Ed checking his vitals. Alphonse Elric was just fine. He was downright thriving, that's how it was going to stay.

"Alphonse?"

Ed looked over at the woman who spoke his brother's name. For a split second he thought Lan Fan had gone and changed. Despite the striking resemblance the woman's obsidian hair was flecked with silver, and the finest of lines framed her eyes and mouth. She was Lan Fan in twenty years or so.

"Mrs. Zhang!" Al stood from his seat to greet her. "Good evening. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Mrs. Zhang beamed at his brother.

"How long has it been since we invited you to dinner? Shame on you for depriving us of your marvelous company," admonished Mrs. Zhang.

"My apologies. It has been awhile hasn't it?" Al chuckled.

Edward coughed into his fist.

"Oh! Sorry! Where are my manners? This is my brother Edward. Ed, this is Lan Fan and Xiang's mother, Suyin Zhang."

Ed rose from his seat to bow.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Zhang." Remembering Ling addressed Xiang as Lord Zhang Edward asked, "Or should I say Lady Zhang?"

"Such manners! Are all Amestrian men so gracious?" Suyin rested her petite hand on Ed's bicep briefly.

Edward flushed crimson, laughed in a self deprecating manner, and scratched the back of his head. "Something like that," Ed evaded. He didn't know what to do with compliments like that.

"Missus will do just fine," Suyin said, her smile winsome. In comparison to her children Mrs. Zhang looked fragile. Her dress was a pretty, flowing garment with trailing sleeves. If Lan Fan was cut marble Suyin was carved alabaster.

"Where's Mr. Zhang?" Al asked.

"I'm afraid my dear husband has the flu," Suyin sighed. "Would either of you happen to have seen my son?"

"Not tonight," Ed remarked.

Suyin gave him a curious look.

"You've met Xiang?"

"Yeah, we ran into each other yesterday. Literally. He went flying over his handlebars. I was pretty turned around. Xiang helped me find my way to the palace. He's a good kid," Edward elaborated.

"Did he now? Xiang didn't mention that," Suyin lilted.

"He's got some kick, too. I can tell you from experience he comes by that honestly." Edward took a swig of his drink. His brother gave him a warning look that Ed ignored. Ed was an adult goddamn it. He'd drink as much as he wanted. He knew how to pace himself.

More or less.

"Xiang kicked you?" Mrs. Zhang looked alarmed and confused.

"No, no! I mean when he sparred with Lan Fan. Xiang said he wanted to join the guard, so Ling wanted to see how the kid measured up to his sister. He kicked her right in the face. She took it like a champ though."

The pieces clicked together in Ed's alcohol addled brain about the time Al slapped his linen gloved hand over his eyes. Suyin's smile froze in place. "If you would please excuse me I really must find my son." Her countenance cracked and she turned away, departing without a backward glance.

"Shit," Ed muttered.

"You just had to open your big mouth," Alphonse groaned.

"I didn't know it was a secret! It's not like I tried to get Xiang in trouble!"

"I don't think Xiang is the one in trouble."

Edward swore colorfully under his breath.

"Language," Al hissed.

"Oh stop clutching your pearls, Al," Ed grumbled. He took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. "I'm gonna see if I can find Lan Fan before Mrs. Zhang does." Ed tossed back the last of his drink and handed Al the empty glass.

"Hold the fort."


Riza Hawkeye set her glass of sauvignon blanc on the bar. The crystal was damp with condensation. Riza ran the pad of her middle finger around the rim of the glass. It rang with a clear sound audible under the din of the party. Riza scanned the crowd for the general. Roy was off charming dignitaries with the assistance of Yue-Yan. Riza was joined at the bar by Jean Havoc. The three military officers had elected to wear civilian formal wear this evening instead of dress blues.

"So be honest. What do you make of Sebastian?" Havoc asked.

"Hm." Riza took a sip of wine while she contemplated her answer.

"I mean, you gotta admit the kid is socially inept. What's a guy like that doing working for the department of diplomacy?" Havoc finished his drink and signaled the bartender.

"General Mustang personally selected him out of a pool of candidates for this assignment. He sees something worthwhile in Sebastian. That's enough for me to put trust in him. For now at any rate."

"Well, if you ask me he's uptight. But I guess I see your point," Jean conceded. He chewed on the end of the thin straw in his drink. The two of them had gone drinking with the rest of the team enough over the years that Riza could tell the level of Havoc's inebriation solely by how pronounced his oral fixation was. Although, at the moment, it wasn't as clear an indicator due to the fact Jean Havoc had recently given up smoking.

"Still having trouble quitting?" Riza asked.

"Yeah, I shoulda waited 'til we got back. I picked the worst time to give it up. But I promised Becky I'd quit," he replied.

Jean slurped the dregs of his drink through the mangled straw. The sound grated on Riza's nerves but she refrained from rebuking Havoc. As far as she was aware the man hadn't cut loose in some time. Since his reinstatement Jean worked twice as hard as he once had, and he was no slacker beforehand. These days Havoc was usually the first to arrive at the office and always the last to leave. Hawkeye had returned to the office one evening to retrieve a file for the then Brigadier General, shortly after Havoc's reinstatement, to find him burning the midnight oil. When Riza asked what he was doing there so late, he'd replied, 'Catching up, sir.'

"You're a good man, Jean Havoc," Riza said. "Rebecca couldn't ask for anyone better."

Jean got a lopsided grin on his face. During his recovery Jean Havoc and Rebecca Catalina had rekindled their romance. The two of them tied the knot last spring. Riza had happily accepted the position of maid of honor. Recently, Rebecca confided in Riza over one of their lunches they were trying for a baby.

"Oh yeah?"

Riza picked up her glass.

"Don't push it, Lieutenant."

"Mustang's not a bad catch," Lieutenant Havoc shifted the conversation.

Hawkeye suppressed a smile.

"You make him sound like a fish," she monotoned.

"Wait 'til you see the hook," Jean drolled.

Riza blinked once, twice, then looked right at him.

"What?"

"What?" Havoc repeated.

He looked rather stricken.

"I believe you're mixing your metaphors, Lieutenant. Am I the fish or the fisherman in this scenario?" Riza raised an eyebrow.

"I, uh, I need a cigarette," Jean declared. He picked up the fresh drink set in front of him, and made a mad dash for the nearest exit, leaving Riza Hawkeye thoroughly baffled.


Half an hour into the party Lan Fan had yet to set eyes on her charge. She had half a mind to accost the emperor in his rooms. Only she knew Ling would enjoy it immensely. Lan Fan wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. She also thought it unwise to leave Xiang unattended. Between copious amounts of sugar and pure elation her little brother nearly bounced off the walls. Xiang chattered at her elbow as she did a circuit of the hall.

"Father said he's going to have a telephone put in. Mother says it's a nuisance and she won't have it in her house, but I think she'll come around. She came around on the bicycle. Do you have a telephone here at the palace? Can I phone you when you aren't working?"

"Yes, we have a telephone and, no, you may not phone me. I'm always working," Lan Fan answered. Xiang made a disappointed noise and Lan Fan paused to look at him. He had that look on his face; the one he'd worn yesterday. Lan Fan couldn't say no to that face. She picked a crumb off Xiang's cheek, wondering when she'd gone soft. "It's just, you know I can't advertise my schedule. I'll phone you," Lan Fan promised.

Xiang's smile rivalled the radiance of a full moon on the winter solstice.

Lan Fan counted herself lucky his smile didn't match the rarity of such a celestial event.

The band finished one song and began playing another. The song caught their attention. "Hey! We know this one!" Xiang exclaimed. He glanced at the couples twirling about the dance floor. "Come on!" Before Lan Fan could protest Xiang took her by the hand. He led her into the midst of the revelry. Lan Fan placed her automail hand gingerly on Xiang's arm as he rested his other hand on her waist. He never minded her automail. When he first saw it he'd been all curiosity. Xiang wanted to know everything.

The snow is snowing, the wind is blowing

But I can weather the storm

What do I care how it may storm?

I've got my love to keep me warm

Xiang led the dance with confidence. They had music in common. Lan Fan loved the hours they spent together listening to records. She'd taught Xiang the foxtrot one afternoon when a thunderstorm chased them indoors. The next time Lan Fan visited Xiang had bought a book on dancing. Together, they taught themselves a number of contemporary dances.

I can't remember

A greater December

Just watch those icicles form

What do I care if icicles form?

I've got my love to keep me warm

Lan Fan followed when Xiang twirled her under his arm. Xiang was a good dancer. He was naturally good at a lot of things.

Off with my overcoat, off with my gloves

I need no overcoat, I'm burning with love

My heart's on fire, the flame grows higher

So I will weather the storm

What do I care how much it may storm?

I've got my love to keep me warm

Lan Fan moved closer when Xiang spun her back into his arms. She slid her hand up to his shoulder. The two of them were eye to eye.

"How's your nose?" Xiang asked.

"Good as new. How about your tongue?" Lan Fan replied.

Xiang stuck his tongue out.

"Insolent."

My heart's on fire

The flame grows higher

So I will weather the storm

What do I care how much it may storm

I've got my love to keep me warm

Over Xiang's shoulder Lan Fan saw their mother making her way through the fray.

"There's mother."

He made a corner step to get a glimpse of Lady Suyin.

"Uh oh," Xiang paled. "She looks mad."

"Why would she be mad?"

"Probably something I forgot to tell her. On purpose. One, two, three, break left!" Xiang spun her off and made a break for it.

"Xiang!"

Chapter notes:

The song used in this chapter is I've Got My Love. The best version of this song in my opinion is by The Music Tapes. It's on the Orbiting Human Circus of the Air EP from the podcast of the same name. Go check it out!

Any feedback is welcomed and much appreciated. Thank you for reading!