This chapter began as a fairly short chapter, and then turned out longer than the others as I began to read through and make changes. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and added this story to their alerts list! I love reviews! They keep me motivated! Looking back, I'm not so happy with chapter 3, it seemed a little slow. Probably because Ed was avoiding Roy. This chapter has Roy and Ed finally getting to interact a little more! Things will pick up in pace from here, however I'm still not sure how many chapters this will turn out as. I've been having a few problems writing recently with a fairly bad spell of writers block.

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Disclaimer: Yes, this again. I'm sure one day I will own something fabulous of my own, until then I continue to dabble in other peoples stuff! Fullmetal Alchemist still isn't mine!

It was a pathetic 8pm when Roy Mustang returned to the office with his tail between his legs, fully intent on wallowing in his own misery for a bit, before burning all that damned paperwork and heading home where a nice full bottle of scotch awaited him. He strode into his office, removed the potted plant, fished in his draw for his gloves, slipped them on, and raised his hand ready to snap.

Edward Elric watched, amused, as his superior officer regarded his paperwork with hatred. He had wondered if Roy was going to show up at some point, and had mentally prepared himself for facing the man he wanted. Remembering Hawkeyes note, he stepped into the office to get Roys attention and stop the pyromaniac from burning his paperwork and earning a one way trip to hell.

'Hawkeye will shoot you between the eyes if you do that' Ed remarked, and was pleased to see Roy jump a mile high, startled, before turning around and realising who was talking.

'Christ Fullmetal, don't sneak up on me like that!' Roy fumed guiltily. Damn, caught in the act.

'WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN HEAR HIS FOOTSTEPS BEHIND YOU COS HES SO SMALL!' Ed yelled on reflex, shooting Roy a dirty look, which was completely ruined by a huge yawn. Roy yawned too, slipping into his chair as he looked around for his pen.

'Lets just leave the fighting for tonight, huh Ed?' Roy offered, still unable to locate his pen. He groaned in frustrated tiredness, 'I think we're both too tired for that'

Ed was stunned for a second. This was new. If they didn't fight, what would they talk about? Ed was now beginning to realise that dating Roy may have been problematic after all, especially if both of them had nothing to say to each other. Tonight could be a good test for that, Ed mused. 'Ok' he replied tiredly, before walking into Roy's office, and bending down to pick up the forgotten pen that Roy had thrown so carelessly to the floor in his haste to leave earlier. 'Here' he offered shyly, and, wanting to say more than that, said 'Do you want me to make some coffee?'

'Please' Roy yawned again, accepting the pen. 'I think if I don't get some soon, I'm going to lose the will to live' Roy joked, selecting the thinnest file carefully from the stack. Edward laughed gently, before leaving the office momentarily. Roy sighed deeply, before resigning himself to his fate and beginning to read through the boring trash Hawkeye deemed important. Ed had a nice laugh, he thought. It was nice to see a side of Edward that wasn't yelling at him. He was surprised the blonde had respected his request, since he had never cared for his superiors feelings much before. Perhaps Ed was just tired too, or perhaps the kids feelings were genuine? Roy derailed that train of thought promptly: it made him feel worse about rejecting the blonde earlier. He tried to focus again on his paperwork, that to be honest, did not look as important as Hawkeye claimed. He half wondered if the blonde women had ulterior motives for making him work late tonight. Surely she didn't know about Eds half-arsed attempts at trying to get a date from him? Then again, the women was horribly perceptive at times, indeed this was why she was a valued member of Roy's team. Perhaps Ed had told her and they had planned this evening together. Still, they couldn't have caused his car to break down could they? Perhaps he was just being paranoid. He hadn't seen Edward in a few days anyway, and had come to the conclusion he was being avoided. Not that he cared. Really.

With a sigh, Roy grabbed at the office phone and began to dial a number on a scrap of paper he retrieved out of his uniform pocket. He still needed a way to prove that he didn't like them young, and perhaps this women, he checked the paper, Vivian, hadn't yet heard any of the rumours flying around. He hadn't called her before because she had seemed older than the usual women he went for. However older was now what he needed.

She answered the phone after 3 rings, her voice melodious, but not quite as mellow as a certain blonde alchemist. Roy shook his head. Now was definitely not the time.

'Hello, Vivian speaking'

'Hello this is Roy Mustang, we met awhile ago in The Lady of the Lake, I was just calling to see if you would be interested in going out to dinner with me' Roy put on all the charm he could muster, even though it felt completely empty. Sometimes he thought Maes was right. Perhaps he should settle down, and find a relationship with a little more meaning.

'Ah, I remember' she mused, 'The military General. Though you do seem rather young to be a General'

Roy was slightly miffed. He couldn't help but be young and talented! 'Yes, I happen to be thirty next year. I can assure you that I'm very talented, and that talent is reflected in my rank'

'Twenty-nine' she murmured, sounding a little shocked 'So young…'

'So I'll pick you up at seven then? Tomorrow?' Roy continued, obliviously

'I'm afraid that won't be possible' she replied, then sighed. 'I'm 48 years old, and according to the formula of dating, you're too young for me. I'm sorry Roy, Goodbye'

Roy stared at the phone stupidly, listening to the dial tone which indicated that she had hung up on him. He groaned and hung up the phone, burying his head in his hands, hunched over his desk, having his own personal pity party. The words 'too young' kept ringing in his head, and he couldn't stop himself from thinking what a ridiculous reason that was to not go on a date with someone. He felt so dejected that he failed to make the connection between the way he had been rejected and the way he had rejected Ed. All he felt at that moment was that it was a cruel thing to say to someone who had made the effort to ask her out.

Edward was in turmoil. Roy was sitting in the next room, had joked with him, asked him not to fight and was sitting behind his desk looking drop dead gorgeous, even if he did look tired. Ed wondered if he asked again nicely Roy might reconsider dating him. Deciding it couldn't hurt to try, Ed tucked his own paperwork under his arm and brought it into the Generals office whilst the coffee brewed. After all, it would be a cold day in hell when someone could call Edward Elric a defeatist.

Roy looked up from his arms as Ed entered the room and looked at him curiously. Ed thought he looked like a kicked puppy, even more so then he had earlier when he had entered the room. He looked so vulnerable and helpless, as if the life he knew was falling apart. Ed knew how that felt. He felt that way when Roy had crushed him with that formula idea. Roy tilted his head to the side as if to question why his subordinate was bringing his paperwork into Roy's office. Ed shrugged.

'Since we're both in this together, I thought we may as well be in the same room' Ed explained, carefully placing his own paperwork on a free spot on Roy's desk and trying to formulate a new plan to get the man to agree to a date.

'Ah, ok.' Roy replied, really not knowing what else to say. He supposing having Edward around might make his paperwork a little less dull and give him a distraction from moping about his increasingly poor social life. He watched as Ed left the room again, presumably for the coffee, and shook his head. What was he supposed to say to the blonde anyway? He had never really been alone with Ed like this before. Normally his other subordinates were around, and even then all he could manage was to rile Ed up. He ran his fingers roughly through his hair, exasperated, and really wished he was at home with his bottle of scotch. At this moment in time he was glad for rejecting Edwards advances: this silence between them was awkward.

Ed returned, balancing two coffee mugs on a tray, and carrying a bottle in his free hand. He placed everything on Roys desk, before pulling up a chair and making himself comfortable. He nodded to the bottle, and Roy picked it up to inspect it. It was a bottle of scotch. Brilliant! It was almost as if Ed had read his mind! Roy perked up considerably, his self pity fading and his feelings for the blonde going from resentful to grateful.

'Where did you get this Edward?' Roy asked smiling a genuine smile towards the blonde as he unscrewed the bottle and poured some into his coffee.

'Confiscated it from under Bredas desk' Ed replied, shrugging dismissively when inside he was enthralled by the genuine smile gracing the older mans face. He had never seen the General smile like that before. It was stunning! He added, with a smile of his own, 'I thought you might like it'

'I am eternally in your debt' Roy joked, half serious, half wondering if Ed would ask him for a date as reward.

'Good, so how about that date?' Ed quipped, half joking, half serious as he scribbled his way through more paperwork. Roy decided to let that hang for a moment, taking his pen and beginning to work himself. Dates were a touchy subject right now. He didn't fancy going on a date with Ed. Why bother? It would all end in tears anyway, the way things were going lately. He finished his coffee and poured himself some more scotch, downing it in one gulp, again feeling like a loser.

'I don't want to talk about dates right now' Roy grumbled, opting instead to drink the scotch out of the bottle. He was still bitter about losing his date to Havoc. Havoc of all people…

'Why? Bad night?' Ed prodded, not about to let the topic drop. If Roy had had a bad date that night, it could turn out brilliantly for him.

'If you must know, Havoc intercepted my date tonight and whisked her off before I had the chance to stop him' Roy deadpanned, and Ed assumed he was joking, so began to laugh. 'I'm serious' Roy continued, finding it nice to have someone to offload his problems onto. 'I've had nothing but bad luck with women since you asked me out!'

'Bad luck? It didn't seem like you were having bad luck in the restaurant the other night' Ed commented, a lot calmer than he felt. He had felt terrible after that particular night. He sipped some more of his coffee to calm his nerves, and waited for Roy's answer to that one.

Roy suddenly found his coffee cup rather interesting. That night was the start of all his problems. 'I'd rather not talk about it' he said, more to his now empty cup than to Edward.

'That bad huh? Ed murmured, completing some more paperwork and finishing his own coffee and half wondering if he should have some scotch himself. Perhaps not… Roy was clutching that bottle like a drowning man clutches a lifebelt after his ship capsizes.

'Yes, that bad.' Roy mumbled, reflecting on the past few days as he took another gulp of scotch. 'You didn't seem to be doing too badly though.' Roy mentioned, trying to switch the conversation away from him and onto Ed. After all, it looked like the blonde had fared much better than he had in the restaurant.

'I don't want to talk about that!' Ed groaned, burying his face in his hands in embarrassment.

'Can't be that bad...' Roy coaxed. To him, it seemed Edward was doing fine, hell better than Roy himself was. Ed had had both girls listening to him and ignoring Al.

'Yes, it was.' Ed groaned. 'Those girls were empty headed. They knew nothing about alchemy and were bored by me! Then I kicked Al's date in the shin when I was aiming for Al and split water all over the girl he fixed me up with! I only went because Al offered free food! I still don't think he's forgiven me for messing up the entire night!'

Roy snickered trying to contain himself. He couldn't, and seconds later gave in to laughter. He couldn't help himself, perhaps because by now he had downed half a bottle of scotch, and perhaps because a part of him was relieved that Edward hadn't really enjoyed that girls company. When he had calmed down somewhat, he noticed Edward was glaring at him. He felt the need to fill the silence.

'So that's what it would be like if I took you out on a date.' Roy mused. It certainly sounded a lot more exciting than most of the dates he went on.

Edward was blushing with embarrassment now, and began to protest. 'No, no, no, it wouldn't be like that!' he insisted hotly shaking his head in denial. 'Take me out! Give me one chance and I'll prove it!' Ed pleaded, terrified now that he'd scared the man off for good.

'Alrite' Roy's mouth agreed, before his brain could discuss the idea properly. The blondes rapidly changing emotions were just so hot, and his embarrassment was especially cute.

'I'll be real good and...' Ed trailed off, realising what the man had just said. 'For...for real?' Ed stuttered in disbelief.

'Yes, really' Roy confirmed, deciding that tonight's conversation had been mildly amusing, and if he went out with the blonde once, and confirmed to Edward that this wasn't right, he could call it off afterwards saying he had tried and hear no more of it. Anyway, his luck with dates had been so bad lately, he may as well take Edward out while the dust settled and women began to want his attention again.

'That's great!' Ed beamed at him, and Roy couldn't help but smile back, especially when he realised that somewhere between the talking, all of his paperwork had got finished. It was near to midnight so Roy decided they could plan their date, and then go home.

'Shall I pick you up tomorrow at 7 then?' Roy asked, utilising the same framework he had previously planned for his date with Vivian.

'That's fine!' Ed replied, then realised he was supposed to work 'Oh... wait, I'm... I'm supposed to work evenings now' he finished dejectedly.

'I'll expect you to return to you're previous shift pattern Monday' Roy responded, waving off Ed's questioning look. 'Don't worry, I'll inform the first lieutenant. Take tomorrow off, I know I am.' Roy grinned through his yawn as he finished organising everything for Hawkeye to find in the morning and scrawling a quick note to the blonde sharpshooter.

'Ok' Ed responded, in a bit of a daze as he organised all his own work. 'So I guess this means that you really did make up that rule' he murmured.

'I didn't make it up' Roy replied. He realised that getting up the courage to ask someone out whom you didn't have much of a feeling for took enough out of a person. If what Edward claimed was true, and he really liked Roy a lot, then shooting the kid down so cruelly after he had made the effort to ask Roy out was just plain evil. He had rejected Ed in the same way Vivian had rejected him.. and now he knew how it felt. Perhaps he could have been more tactful, or indeed just agreed to one date in the first place. It wasn't as if he didn't like Edward, so it wouldn't hurt to give the kid a chance, after all, age was only a number. Roy added cheekily, 'I just should have known better than to approach you with rules, since you've never had any regard for them in the past.'

Ed only smiled in response, recalling all the times in the past where he had no regard for any rules that Roy tried to impose on him. It was true, and Ed was content that he had got what he wanted, no longer so worried that they would have nothing to talk about. After all, tonight had been good.

They walked out of the office together and into the street. Roy glanced at Ed for a moment before nodding once. This wouldn't be so bad.

'I'll see you tomorrow then' Roy said, and Ed said goodnight and turned to walk towards home.

'I...don't forget ok?' Ed turned to order him, blushing. He didn't think Roy had any idea how much this meant to him, how much he really wanted this. He had to be sure.

'I won't' Roy promised, and stood content to watch Ed walk away before turning down his own path, trench coat billowing, too tipsy to really give a damn what he'd just agreed to.

The next day, the office was strangely quiet. Roy Mustang had finished every last bit of paperwork left for him. Of course he had still decided to take the day off to 'recover' as he had so eloquently put it in his note, after claiming he had been in the office until 4am to get everything completed. He had also mentioned that Edward had changed his mind about working nights already, after only four days. Sometimes Edward was as much trouble as his superior. Still, it really wasn't all that much trouble to change Edward back to working in the daytime, but she couldn't believe Mustang had given the kid the day off...it was going to be rather difficult to get today's paperwork done with the two of them slacking off for the day. Still, it was surprising blessing that the pair hadn't given everyone else more work to do by destroying the office in one of their famous fights. She supposed she could let them off for today. She could always work them extra hard Monday morning when they got back.

Havoc arrived, nodding in greeting to the first lieutenant with his customary cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. He put it out on his desk, before grinning to her goofily.

'Guess what happened last night?' He asked, slouching in his chair, looking into the beautiful eyes of his secret crush.

'You found out that the General did his paperwork already?' Riza asked, then wondered if Jean was happy because of a date. Secretly, she hoped not, wondering if Jean would ever have the guts to ask her out.

'He did?' Jean looked momentarily baffled. 'Well he must have come back here after I stole his date last night' he grinned, wishing he had the guts to ask Hawkeye out.

'You stole a date from Roy? But when I left him he was in his office...' Riza mused. She supposed that deep down she had known he was trying to trick her. Still, perhaps Edward had managed to pick up the pieces of his superior officer. It seemed that way, after all, a depressed Roy Mustang never got anything done. His paperwork wasn't torched, but he had still lied to her. Her hand went to her gun. Her superior it seemed, needed to be reminded of the importance of his work and his goal. Also, on a different topic entirely, if Havoc had stolen a date from Roy Mustang, perhaps he was growing a backbone and she would finally get a date herself. Either that or The General had left his gloves at home.

'Yup, he was late and I was in the right place at the right time!' Havoc grinned nervously as he watched her touch her gun, and wondered if she was less fierce outside of the office, and if she would ever look at him when she seemed so close to his boss. Then again, with the way things went last night, it seemed he may stand a chance. The boss was losing his touch.

The rest of the office piled in, and Hawkeye informed them that due to the absence of Edward and the General, they would all have to work harder than usual today. This evoked groans from the rest of the office, except Breda, who sat at his desk and grinned, reaching inside his desk drawer for his bottle of scotch.

'WHAT!!' Breda yelled, baffled, his arms flailing uselessly. 'All right, who did it? Who stole my bottle of scotch?!'

Hawkeye glared at him, and, realising what he'd just said, Breda worked hard to provide an excuse, while the rest of the office prepared to give him the cold shoulder for the rest of the day for not sharing his stash.

Well, next chapter, these guys are finally going to go out together! I'm so happy for them, even if I'm still not sure about Roy's intentions! From now on the pace picks up a little, but updates will still only be once a week, maybe even later depending on how hard the next chapter is to write!

Reviews make me happy!