For the next two weeks Elysia made sure she was in the same spot Edward had found her the last time they met in the park. And each time he always appeared. The first two days Edward came to sit with her for a few minutes but had to leave right away. But after that he extended his visits with Elysia and she was glad he did. They often went to lunch together, Edward always paying, refusing to let Elysia to do so when she offered. They took long strolls through the park talking and laughing. Elysia talked about her art classes and being confined in ladies boarding schools.
"The only person that makes school bearable," Elysia said one day, "Is Elizabeth Armstrong."
"That's General Armstrong's niece, right?" Edward asked.
"Yeah," Elysia said nodding remembering how her friend had admired Edward at the ball a week ago. "She was at the ball, didn't you meet her?"
"No," Edward said.
"Good," Elysia said without thinking then stopped in her tracks horrified. She hadn't meant to say that out loud.
Edward started laughing. "Why? Is she really cute?" He asked looking at her smiling.
"No," Elysia said without looking back at him and walked ahead of Edward.
"So she is cute," Edward said jogging ahead of her to face her. "When do you plan on introducing me to her?" He asked teasing her.
Elysia knew he was joking but she couldn't help feeling slightly jealous of her friend. Elizabeth was cute, beautiful actually with her long blond hair and blue eyes. She was always surrounded by boys when the men's and ladies schools held dances together. Elysia trying to swallow her embarrassment and jealousy held her head high and looked away from Edward.
"You meet Elizabeth on your own time," she said and turned to walk away.
"Get back here," he said catching up with her. "You know I'm only teasing." Elysia looked at him and couldn't help but smile.
"You really know how to push people's buttons," she said.
"It's a skill I'm really proud of," he answered back.
When Elysia wasn't sharing stories Edward often talked about the military, alchemy and his adventures with Al when he first became a State Alchemist. Elysia really enjoyed his stories when he was just a young kid traveling around Amestris getting in and out of trouble. Her favorite was how they tried to capture the thief Psiren in Aquroya. Elysia had heard Aquroya was beautiful and she wasted no time bombarding Edward with questions about the city considering it was now completely underwater. Elysia got a really good laugh when Edward told her how Al would pick up stray cats and then get upset with Edward when he told his younger brother to put them back.
"You're so mean Ed! I hate you!" Edward said with a pout, imitating his younger brother making Elysia laugh even more. "But he was the mean one, wanting to keep poor kittens in a cold suit of armor."
"It sounds like you two had a lot of fun," Elysia said once she could stop laughing.
"It was at times. I wish there had been more good times than bad though," Edward said with a sad far away look in his eyes. "I didn't give myself much of a childhood."
"Maybe you make up for it by acting like a kid now," Elysia teased trying to get Edward out of the sad mood she could see starting to come over him.
He gave her a grateful smile for not asking anymore questions about his first few years as a State Alchemist. Elysia wanted to know more but now was not the time for that. There was a lot going through Edward's mind and Elysia wanted to know everything but she knew there was plenty of time to discover Edward's secrets. And she was ready to put in the time and effort. Plus, she didn't want to spoil the good time they had walking through the park. The weather was always so nice and sunny and it didn't feel right to Elysia to start digging into Edward's past. She knew there were some really disturbing things. Rumors she had heard whispered about through the years. But when she was young she didn't understand what such things meant. Like homunculi and large scale sacrifices to make the Philosopher's stone and how exactly Alphonse Elric's soul got attached to a suit of armor. Elysia was curious but she was also afraid to hear the truth but that just made her want to know more. All these questions had one thing in common and that was Edward. The man she was falling in love with each time she saw him and if she was falling in love with someone, she wanted to know all there was. Good or bad she had decided.
Yes, Elysia thought. There will be a time and place to find out all about Edward. For now she enjoyed the fun, playful side of him.
But there was one other thing that Elysia had been thinking about a lot lately. Ever since Edward had mentioned that Winry had taught him to dance, Elysia had been wondering about them. She wanted to know why they did not end up together. She knew Winry was married, Elysia had been the flower girl for her wedding, but she knew Edward and Winry grew up together and were very close. She also remembered her mother whispering to a friend at the wedding that she had always expected Edward and Winry to get married. Elysia didn't know if it was a touchy subject and she didn't want to upset Edward by asking but her curiosity wouldn't stop pestering her about it and she wanted to relieve herself of thinking about it constantly. She was afraid the answer would make her think twice about spending so much time with Edward and she was also worried that maybe he still had feelings for Winry.
"Edward," Elysia started. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"You want to know what color underwear I'm wearing?" He asked grinning.
"No!" Elysia punching him in his arm after making sure she aimed for his left and not for his right automail arm.
Edward laughed rubbing the spot she had just hit. "Sure, go ahead," he said.
Elysia didn't say anything right away. She wasn't really sure of the best way to ask. Then she regretted even saying anything and wanted to tell him to forget it but she thought she might as well get it over with so she could stop obsessing over the subject.
"What happened between you and Winry?" She asked. It was the only way she could think of asking.
"What do you mean?" He said looking confused. "We're still friends. We write and visit with each other and she's still my mechanic."
"No, I don't mean that," Elysia explained. "It's just at Winry's wedding I remember my mother saying that she had expected the two of you to get married."
"Oh," Edward said looking away embarrassed. "I guess that happened because of me and my foolishness thinking I could save the world."
Elysia looked at him confused.
"When Bradley was killed," Edward said then paused and looked at Elysia trying to find a way to explain that fit with the history books. He knew eventually he would tell Elysia everything that wasn't in the books but he wasn't ready to get into all that at the moment.
"There was a lot of confusion in the military as to who should be in command," he continued. "There were other Generals who wanted to assume command but they were just as corrupt as Bradley. When we helped Mustang overthrow them and take control of the military, he promoted me to Lieutenant Colonel and gave me a command of my own. But it wasn't an order. He said I could take it or leave it now that Al had returned to his body." Edward stopped thinking back to that time fifteen years ago. It was the hardest decision he had ever made and one that he didn't decide on right away like he had done so many times before. Up to that point he had only made decisions that led him to the Philosopher's stone to restore Al's body. Then he was faced with something that affected his future and he would have to live with that choice forever. At the time Edward knew that if he stayed with the military, it would be for life. If he left he could have had a peaceful happy life and probably would have married Winry. But he chose the military. He chose to protect others so that they could live peacefully. When Edward thought back to it, he realized how much of a child he still was when he chose to stay in the military. Part of his choice at the time was to atone for his mistakes and he didn't feel he had the right to a normal happy life.
"When Drachma began their invasion, seeing an opportunity to come in and take over during the confusion, I knew Mustang needed help so I decided to stay. It was a long war and I was gone for a long time. Winry got tired of waiting and always being second because technically I did choose the military over her." Edward said then stopped.
"Oh," Elysia said not knowing what else she could say to all that. It was a lot more than she had expected to get from Edward. "Do you regret your decision?"
Edward didn't respond right away. Elysia could see that Edward was thinking it over. "No," he finally said. "When I really think about it, I'm glad I stayed in the military. I don't think I would have known what to do with myself if I left. I was twelve when I became a State Alchemist and was immediately put to work. At the time it was all I knew and I was good at it. It's worked out in the end. Winry is married with a daughter now and she's happy. I don't think I could have done that for her."
They continued walking along, each lost in their own thoughts. Elysia had never given a thought to what it could mean being with Edward while he was in the military. She wondered if it would affect their relationship in the future, if she would be happy with Edward. She was happy with him now and he was still a General but people are always happy when they discover they're in love at first. But when she really thought about it, Edward being in the military didn't really bother her that much. Edward is a General, she thought. That's his job. Just like Al is a teacher and Winry is an automail mechanic. There isn't anything wrong with Edward being in the military.
"What are you thinking about?" Edward asked her unexpectedly.
Elysia looked up at Edward and smiled. "Nothing," she said not ready to divulge what she really had been thinking about.
"Come on," Edward urged. "I can see the wheels turning in that head of yours."
Elysia smiled again. "I was just thinking I shouldn't have asked. I think it got us both a bit depressed." Elysia didn't want to lie to Edward but she also wasn't ready to confess her true feelings. Besides, the question had steered their conversation down a depressing road and Elysia was a little ashamed to have brought up the subject when she had told herself such things could wait. But it did help relieve her knowing that Edward had moved on from Winry. He didn't say it exactly but Elysia could tell that Edward had no deeper feelings for Winry other than friendship.
"You can ask me anything, no matter how depressing it is," Edward said and Elysia gave him a grateful smile. "And if you were wondering, and just too embarrassed to say so, I'll clear up the matter. They're blue."
It took Elysia a second to figure out what he was talking about before she pushed him off the path they were walking on, Edward cracking up laughing.
It was on one of these afternoons that the Fuhrer had gone down to Edward's office looking for him. When informed that the General was not in Mustang thought he might find Edward taking a stroll through the new park. Waving off his security detail, knowing he was fully capable of taking care of himself, he ventured into Central in search of his General. Mustang had wandered around the park for some time, not seeing Edward anywhere, but glad that he had the opportunity to enjoy being alone. He was in the middle of admiring the park when he stopped short, seeing something that made him forget the pretty trees that were blossoming. Not too far in front of him was Edward and Elysia, walking and chatting. Mustang stood rooted to his spot, watching them carefully. He watched the way Elysia laughed and looked at Edward. She was so at ease with Edward and looked at him with eyes full of wonder and admiration. The Fuhrer also noted how much more relaxed Edward seemed with Elysia and it did not escape his notice how they often brushed up against each other's arm. Turning quickly, embarrassed that he was watching them like a stalker and upset over the way the two of them seemed so interested and comfortable with each other, he marched back to headquarters.