Once Elysia had calmed down she was ashamed of herself for the things she had said to Al. Edward had told her not to worry about it but she felt she should apologize anyways. When she did Al stopped her. Telling her he deserved it, that she was right. He hadn't been acting like much of a brother to Edward. Elysia was relieved but she was still embarrassed by her outburst.
Another week had passed and Edward was relieved to have been released from the hospital. Al and Winry had left already. Al had to get back to Risembool for the start of his classes and Winry's customers were in desperate need of her care. Edward had been released earlier than Dr. Knox had wanted. But when orderlies and nurses had been too scared to enter the General's room the doctor had to give in and let Edward out.
Once he stepped out of the hospital, away from Dr. Knox's ever watchful eye, Edward lit a cigarette. Oscar immediately reached for it but Edward had anticipated it and quickly moved out of reach. Elysia didn't think he should be smoking so soon but she had gotten used to it during the time they spent in the park together. He wasn't Edward to her unless he had a cigarette. It looked like Havoc would save the day for Oscar as he reached out for Edward's cigarette. But all he ended up doing was use it to light one for himself. Edward smirked in triumph and Oscar went to open the door of the town car muttering to himself. Seeing two grown men teasing the older butler Elysia felt she should say something. Before she did Edward caught her eye and she realized that this was just one big inside joke between the three men. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
It felt good to get up and walk, to stretch out his long legs. Edward was still weak. His chest still hurt when he breathed in too deeply and his stomach was tender to the touch. He wasn't back to his usual full strength and a longer stay at the hospital would have benefited him. But he was finding himself getting a little too used to the pain killers. He stopped taking them two days earlier feeling he had enough addictions already without adding to the list. When the pain emerged that had been held at bay by the drugs it had surprised Edward. But he suffered through it without making it known he was still in pain. Besides, he'd been through worse; a little pain never hurt him permanently. But he was whole and he was on his way home. He was getting tired of the smells of the hospital and the plain gray walls. He wanted to be home, to sit back, relax, and maybe have a drink and smoke.
He breathed a sigh of relief, not too deeply, as Oscar drove the town car away from the curb. He was seated next to Elysia as Oscar drove with Havoc in the passenger seat. It was like having a royal guard escort him, but Edward didn't mind. He liked having the company and being able to hold Elysia's hand in the car. As he rested his head on her shoulder he thought back to how he was as a teenager when he wouldn't be caught dead showing such affection towards a girl. It had been a long time since he cared about such things. He wanted everyone to know how he felt about Elysia.
Once home, Edward got a kick how everyone fussed over him. They made sure he was comfortable and had plenty to eat and drink. Vato Falman and Kain Fuery dropped by to see how Edward was doing. Along with Havoc they stayed to join Edward and Elysia for dinner. Edward wasn't too happy that Oscar served everyone else wine, knowing the older man was doing it on purpose after the cigarette incident. He knew he shouldn't be drinking and smoking so soon but he could hold off on drinking but not smoking. He had to draw the line somewhere. He had wanted to say something about it, just to be difficult, but he caught Elysia's eye and he could tell she knew what he was thinking so he held his tongue. He could see that they were still worried about him. He hadn't regained all the weight he had lost over the last three months and was still rather pale. He had gotten his cigarette so he knew not to push his luck. He'd just have to take things a step at a time until he was back to his old ways. But he realized that seeing him home being his usual self relieved their worries some.
They finished dinner together and stayed up late playing cards. Elysia sharing a few hands with Edward since she wasn't completely familiar with poker. Once she got the hang of it Edward let her play on her own and was impressed by how well she played. Oscar kept hovering around trying to indicate that Edward shouldn't be up so late but everyone ignored him and continued having a good time.
"Elysia," Havoc said as he blew out a cloud of smoke. "If I had known you liked older men, I would have shot Edward in the back years ago."
Elysia, seated next to Havoc, wanted to say something in return, but before she could she felt her chair almost pulled out from under her. She grabbed on tight and realized it was Edward pulling her and the chair towards him.
"Fuck off, Jean," Edward grumbled eyeing him dangerously.
"Don't worry about him," Falman said trying to soothe Edward. "He's just disappointed you're not going to end up an old bachelor like him."
Elysia blushed at the assumption of her and Edward getting married. She didn't mind the thought, it was something she wanted but it wasn't anything her and Edward had talked about yet. But so far Edward hadn't said anything to shoot down the theory which Elysia took as a good sign.
"Jealousy doesn't look good on you, Ed," Havoc laughed. "You need to keep that in check, remember what happened last time."
"Did anyone ever tell you what a fucking asshole you are?" Edward retorted turning red. The only two who knew what had driven Edward out the night he got shot was Havoc and Elysia. He didn't want the whole military to know he could be a jealous lunatic.
"I believe you do about once a day, sir," Havoc said with a mocking salute.
"Well, what about Mustang," Fuery piped up, hoping to diffuse the situation. He knew Edward and Havoc could go on like this for hours and wasn't in the mood to listen to them. "He'll never marry."
"Do you think he would with Riza watching?" Havoc pointed out.
"Those two will never get anywhere," Falman said.
"Is there something between them?" Elysia asked not having suspected anything between Riza and the Fuhrer.
"It's been obvious for years," Havoc said. "Someone that loyal to Roy has to be in love with him."
"So you're saying all three of you of have been in love with Mustang too," Edward said smirking.
Falman and Fuery erupted in stuttered protests.
"Now hold on a minute, it's a completely different kind of loyalty," Falman said slightly flustered. "Besides, I'm married so I'm definitely not in love with him."
"Me too," Fuery added to their defense.
"I guess I have no defense," Havoc said. "So that means I must be in love with Roy." Then he added dramatically with his hand over his heart. "Oh, how can I continue living without my love being returned? I know. I'll let Elysia help assist me with my suicide over unrequited love."
"That I will allow," Edward said.
"I'm just disappointed that Elysia took my drinking buddy away," Havoc said.
"I can still go out drinking," Edward protested then seeing a warning look from Elysia added. "I just can't flirt with anyone."
"Ha! I never thought I'd see the day when Edward Elric would be put in his place," Havoc laughed.
"You can just get the fuck out of here now," Edward said.
"Not yet, I've got a really good hand here," Havoc said.
"Do you?" Falman asked. "Let's see. I call."
Everyone laid down their cards. Havoc groaned and hung his head in defeat. Elysia had the highest hand.
"Madam, I concede defeat," Havoc said toasting her with a glass of wine.
"Smart asses never prosper," Edward said gloating over the fact Elysia had one. "Am I this big of an asshole when I drink?"
"Worse," Falman and Fuery said together.
"Well, if someone hadn't served all my booze to everyone," Edward said eyeing Oscar. "I wouldn't have to sit here putting up with this shit in my own house."
"Just being hospitable, sir," Oscar said holding back a smirk.
Fuery and Falman soon left, saying their wives would not appreciate them being out so late. It wasn't long before Havoc left having to be up early now that he would be standing in for Edward at headquarters. He had been given another month of leave in order to completely recover without the stress of work. Elysia and Edward had been sitting on the couch together in silence, just enjoying the quiet and each other's company. Elysia sat musing over the evening. It had been entertaining seeing Edward socially with other people. She didn't get to say too much with four loud boisterous men around. But she took comfort knowing she wasn't the only when she noticed Kain Fuery really couldn't get a word in between the other's conversation. The evening didn't seem to start off very well, with Falman and Fuery a little put off with Elysia's presence. They had no idea of the extent of her and Edward's feelings towards each other. They had seen her at the hospital when they came to visit Edward but didn't think anything of it. As they sat for dinner their conversations were guarded and polite, but as the evening wore on and they saw that Edward and Havoc held nothing back, they soon grew more and more comfortable with Elysia being there. Elysia was glad. She didn't want to change anything about Edward and didn't want anyone to feel awkward with her around. After a while Elysia began to feel sleepy as Edward was leaning on her shoulder and she thought it would be best if he went to bed to get some rest too.
"I should get home before my mother worries," Elysia said looking at Edward and gave him a kiss.
"Okay," he said, reluctant to see her leave. Elysia stood up and stretched then headed for the door.
"Do you have to leave?" Edward asked following Elysia to the door.
"Well, no," Elysia said with her hand on the door knob and felt Edward's arm snake around her waist. She hadn't felt him get so close. He brushed her hair aside and gently kissed the back of her neck. Elysia about melted in his arm.
"Don't go," Edward whispered in her ear. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
"Okay," Elysia said breathlessly and turned to face Edward. He had his arms around her quickly and started kissing her hungrily. The weeks of not being able to be near each other seemed to overtake them. When they parted Edward smiled and lifted Elysia in his arms. She had never been swept off her feet before and felt giddy from the sensation that she felt like giggling. Biting her lip to keep from sounding like a silly school girl, she rested her head against Edward's chest.
Edward made his way upstairs to his bedroom and once inside he shut the door with his foot. Walking over to his bed he gently laid Elysia down and kissed her again. The kiss started out slow and gentle with Elysia returning Edward's kisses with just as much, if not more vigor. But soon Edward couldn't stop and their kiss became more intense. She was too much for him to resist after almost three months of holding back all emotions he had been feeling for her while he was away and in the hospital. He wanted to stop, a small voice in the back of his head told him he should. But Elysia's soft lips and smooth neck made it hard for him and the way she felt in his arms convinced him not to. He was finally with her and that was all that mattered at the moment. She was his to take and she was just as willing to give and take from him as well. But the small voice in his head grew louder yet he continued to ignore it. That is until he felt Elysia's hand reach up and start to undo the buttons of his shirt. The little voice suddenly screamed so loud and it was more reflex than wanting to actually stop her when he grabbed her hand roughly and pulled away from her. It happened so quickly that it gave him such a feeling of relief and disappointment all at the same time. It threw Edward into a state of confusion that he couldn't answer Elysia immediately when she asked what was wrong. He was never so aware of their age difference than at that moment. He loved Elysia, wanted to be with her more than anything but he never thought about that fact that innocent Elysia would have the same desires as himself and it was something that he needed to wrap his head around. She is still very young. Does she really understand what she's doing, what she really wants? Am I taking advantage of her because she's young and inexperienced? He wondered. Elysia asked again what was wrong.
"Nothing," he finally managed to say, after brushing away the cloud of confusion that had enveloped him.
"Then why did you stop," Elysia said leaning in to kiss Edward again.
"Stop," Edward said harshly sitting up. Elysia looked hurt and Edward tried to think of something to take away the hurtful expression on her face.
"I need a minute," he said more softly and Elysia nodded her understanding. After a minute of collecting himself he laughed.
"I feel like some pervert taking advantage of you," Edward said finally.
"You're not the only one trying to take advantage of anyone," Elysia said putting her arms around Edward's shoulders. He reached up and patted her arm. He was starting to feel drowsy, realizing that he hadn't fully regained his normal strength yet and perhaps resuming such activities wasn't wise just yet.
"Should I go?" Elysia asked sensing Edward's weariness.
"No," Edward said taking her in his arms and lying back. "No, I still want you next to me."
Elysia rested with her head on Edward's chest, listening to his heart beat. She stayed still, awake but with her eyes closed enjoying the feel of Edward's arms around her. She felt safe and secure with him. She was just glad to have him next to her too and in one piece. Edward had fallen asleep almost immediately. It wasn't long, being lulled to sleep by the steady rise and fall of his chest, that Elysia finally fell asleep as well.