Edward woke up before the sun rose and watched Elysia as she slept. It amazed him how much she pulled him in, like metal to a magnet. There was something about her that he couldn't understand what it was that drew him to her. When he looked in her eyes she seemed so much older than her almost twenty years. He felt that he could tell her anything and she wouldn't have left the country before he had finished telling her everything. She was willing to hear it all and no matter what he told her he knew she would still accept and love him. But he wouldn't dream of unloading all his burdens on her all at once. Over time he would gradually tell her everything. He wanted her to know. Wanted her to know everything that made him who he was. And he wanted to know all there was to Elysia. What made her tick, how she was able to create those beautiful paintings he admired. He just felt so complete when he was with her.

She wasn't at all like any of the other women he had been with or known. With Winry it had been friendship without any physical desires. The other women he had shared his bed with had only been about his physical desires and his ego of being able to satisfy their own. With Elysia it was both. He wanted her but at the same time wanted to know how she was feeling and thinking and to be able to satisfy her desires as well. Not just to satisfy his ego but because he wanted to for her. But he knew there would be plenty of opportunities to do so. He knew he was being ridiculous the night before. Elysia didn't care about their age difference. She saw herself as his equal despite her inexperience. She knew what she wanted and that was Edward. But he didn't feel like he had to be in such a hurry this time. It was such a strange feeling for him to actually want to wait. To be patient for once. Though he knew his patience would last only so long.

When the pale light of dawn began to light the room Edward got up quietly to shower. After getting dressed he went out on the balcony overlooking his back yard to smoke. He sat there thinking watching the day brighten as the sun began its slow climb into the sky. He happened to look into his bedroom and see Elysia stir. Putting out his cigarette he walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. He watched Elysia as she rubbed her eyes then turn to look at him and smile.

"How long have you been up?" She asked sleepily.

"An hour."

"You should have woken me," Elysia said sitting up. She really wanted a shower. Sleeping in her clothes wasn't all that comfortable and she was ready to change.

"I sent Oscar to bring you a change of clothes," Edward said reading her mind. "I'll have breakfast brought up. But no hurry," he said as he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. As he pulled away to get up Elysia grabbed his hand and pulled him back down.

"What kind of good morning kiss is that?" She asked her eyes sparkling.

Edward laughed and gave her a real kiss.

"You need to brush your teeth," Edward joked as he pulled away.

"You jerk," Elysia grumbled kicking the covers off and getting out of the bed.

"Your clothes are in there," Edward said pointing to a bag sitting by the door. Elysia nodded, yawning as she walked to get her clothes and headed off into the adjoining bathroom closing the door.

They sat for their breakfast on the balcony. They ate quietly not saying anything. Elysia could tell Edward had something on his mind but didn't press him about it. But once they finished and Edward still hadn't said a thing Elysia couldn't stand it anymore.

"Edward, what's wrong?" Elysia said asked worriedly. An odd look came across his face and he didn't answer immediately. He lit another cigarette and leaned forward putting his elbows on the table, scratching the back of his head.

"Just thinking too much," he said finally.

"About what?"

"Do you miss your father?" He asked suddenly.

Elysia was caught off guard by the question. She hadn't expected such a question from him. She thought maybe he was still bothered by what had happened the night he had been shot. It took her a moment to really think about the question before giving an answer.

"How do you miss someone you never knew," she said bitterly surprising Edward. "I know it sounds awful but that's how I feel. I love him and would have liked to have known him, but I grew up without him and when you grow up without someone around, it's almost like they're not real."

Elysia stopped and looked away. Edward watched her, wondering what she was thinking about but he didn't want to interrupt her thoughts. It was something he had been thinking about when he woke up. He still felt, after all these years, that he had a part in Hughes death. And now, here he was, trying to take his daughter away from Gracia who had already lost a husband to the military and would probably soon lose a daughter to a man who represented everything that the military was.

"Will you tell me how he died?" She asked turning to Edward. "I still don't know how it happened. He was in Central when he was killed, and the only fighting at the time was in Liore."

"Sure," Edward said and got up. "Come with me, I have something to show you."

Elysia got up and followed Edward back into his room. He walked over to a dresser. On top of it there was a plain wooden box. Edward lifted the lid to the box and started pulling out bundles of paper. Finding the one he was looking for he turned to Elysia and handed it to her. Unfolding the paper Elysia saw it was a map of Amestris with circles drawn within each other. Looking carefully Elysia saw dates written over the points where the circles connected.

"What do these circles mean?" Elysia asked looking at Edward.

Edward wasn't sure how to explain. To him, it was easy to see that the circles created a transmutation array but to Elysia's untrained eye it meant nothing to her.

"This is a transmutation circle. Amestris was created in order to make this transmutation circle. Each of these points represents a major military conflict where there were many casualties. Each of these battles provided sacrifices from the casualties. These sacrifices were to be used to create a Philosopher's stone and it was the military that instigated these conflicts."

"That can't be true," Elysia said stunned. "All that just to create a stone."

"Power and the possibility of immortality has a way of making people do things," Edward said sighing. "We figured Hughes discovered this the night he died. Having a desk job he had easy access to any military documents he wanted. The night he was killed he tried to get a hold of Mustang to warn him. He never got through but the only thing he said when trying to contact Roy was that the military was in danger. A homunculus named Envy, admitted to killing Hughes and that he would have fought back but Envy disguised himself as Gracia. Hughes hesitated."

Elysia put her hand to her mouth. Her stomach was in knots and she thought she was going to be sick. Edward wanted to go to her, take her into his arms. But he could tell that Elysia didn't want that, that she needed some space to digest what he had just told her.

"You're sure of all this," Elysia said turning to look at Edward.

"Yes," he said quietly.

Elysia started to pace. "Does my mother know all this?'

"No," Edward said.

"And what happened to this Envy?" Elysia asked.

"Destroyed," Edward answered. "Along with the rest of the homunculus."

"There were more of them?" Elysia asked.

"Yes. King Bradley was one too."

Elysia stopped pacing and looked at Edward shocked, then turned her back to him. "No wonder," she said out loud to herself pacing again. "No wonder these things are not mentioned. No one would believe them. But it's all true?" She asked stopping, turning around to look at Edward. She could see in his eyes he wasn't lying but she needed to hear the words to confirm it.

"Yes."

Elysia looked back down at the map. Her mind was racing through everything she had just been told. She believed what Edward was telling her but it was still shocking. That the military had been attempting to do such a thing just for a stone. She could see immediately how the Generals at the top tried to make a power grab when Bradley was killed. They didn't want to be exposed. Just because their fearless leader was no more didn't mean that their plans had to stop. Elysia was never more grateful for the intervention of Mustang and reaching for the top to be Fuhrer. He had stopped their plans along with Edward's help. Now she understood completely why Edward was needed in the military. To prevent such things from ever happening again. To change the military so people would see that they were no longer corrupt, they were there to do their duty to protect the citizens of Amestris.

Her thoughts suddenly leaped into a different direction as she stood looking down at the map. She realized she had no idea what the circles on the map meant until Edward had told her they formed a transmutation circle.

"Wait a minute," Elysia said. "My father knew nothing of alchemy right?"

"Right."

"How would he know that these battles formed points of a transmutation circle?" Elysia asked looking up from the map at Edward.

Edward couldn't help but be amazed how smart Elysia was and proud that she figured it out on her own. Just like Hughes, he thought. He would be so proud of her. But the thought of Hughes not around to see what a wonderful daughter he created, Edward felt he could not continue. A lump had settled in his throat.

"I had drawn one, based on another I had seen in a lab," Edward started then paused. He didn't know if he could continue. Bringing up the past was starting to weigh in on him.

"Tell me," Elysia demanded. Edward looked at her with sad, guilt twinged eyes. She could tell these were not happy memories he was relating. But at the moment she didn't care if it hurt him to tell her. She had to know the truth behind her father's death now.

"There was a lab here in Central the military was using to create Philosopher's stones. I broke in one night and saw the array they had been using. I also ran into a couple of homunculus. When I got out I told Hughes and Armstrong everything I had seen in there. They both offered to help look into it since it concerned the military. They wanted to find out who in the high command knew about this lab and what these homunculi had to do with it. I know they did it partly to help Al and me, but mostly to help Mustang. If they were to discover who had authorized the lab, they would have exposed them then allowing Mustang to move up."

Elysia smiled at last. "My father was pretty smart. To figure this out before the rest of you." She wasn't upset to hear her father had risked his life to help others. She was proud of him and she knew she would have done the same thing.

"Yeah," Edward said remembering Hughes fondly. "He could get real pushy though. Always shoving pictures of you in everyone's face and bragging."

Elysia laughed. "Did he? No one's ever said anything about that."

"He'd like to barge in and say something to embarrass me. And poor Sheska. After the fifth library branch was burned, Hughes had a rough time because all the paperwork he needed for his cases went up in flames with the library. When he found out Sheska had worked there and read everything, he put her photographic memory to work. I remember him coming in to visit with me and I said something about him being too busy. He just laughed it off saying he was making Sheska work overtime. The poor girl got no rest."

Elysia's smile grew wider. These were the type of stories she had always wanted to hear but were never told. All she could get out of people who were close to her father was the same. "He was a good man." "He was brave." "A great guy and a loyal friend." Such descriptions were nice but it didn't make him seem human or even real to her. But now he did.

"Thank you Edward," Elysia said with tears in her eyes. "I wish I could have known him as everyone else did. But it's okay. I'm proud of him," Elysia said and seeing Edward looking at her sadly she remembered what he said about her father having looked into the array to help him and Al.

"It's not your fault Edward so stop looking like that," she said sternly.

"What?" He asked surprised by her sudden harshness.

"I can see it in your eyes. Right now you're probably feeling guilty that you're partly to blame for his death. You're very conceited Ed to think you pushed my father into investigating that lab for you. He didn't have to listen to a child. He was a grown man who could think for himself and he chose to look into it. I want you to stop feeling so guilty about things that happened years ago. You've led a hard life. Becoming a State Alchemist at the age of twelve, fighting the military and those homunculi, and I still don't know what they were, then going to war with Drachma when you were seventeen. You need to take advantage of what you've helped build for this country."

"I know. You're right. It is foolish to think that because of me you grew up without a father. Are you sure you still want to deal with me?" Edward asked smiling. "I was thinking the same thing the day Roy gave me your letters. That I had earned my right to enjoy the peace we've established. But I still let things drag me down."

"Well, if you just listen to me you'll be just fine," Elysia teased.

Edward laughed at his foolishness and took her in his arms. He knew she was right and he was slightly embarrassed to be told to get over himself by someone younger than him. He was even more so when he thought that it took a tongue lashing from Elysia to finally get it into his head the one thing he had already realized. That it was okay to be happy. To reach out and take what it was that would make him so. It made him love her even more so and he felt so relieved suddenly. He had never felt such a relief before.

After a moment she looked up at him seriously. "Promise me you won't let anyone try to talk you out of the military. If you leave it has to be because you want to. I know it's dangerous and you are a target. But you're needed. There's no need to worry about me. You or anyone else doesn't need to protect me. I saw with my own eyes what could happen so I'm prepared to face whatever else comes along. I just hate that you were being forced to choose when you didn't have to. I'm sure you know this but I just thought I should say something."

"I never wanted to leave. It did worry me though. I remember how hard it was on your mother. But I knew I could make it work. I couldn't stand the thought of you moving on with your life without me. I am part of the military and you accepted me knowing that. That's all that matters. I can understand why everyone would have something against us being together. But I want you to know I'll always be here for you and I will take care of you. I'll never forget the way you looked at me when you saw me with Darla. I could see the betrayal and the hatred. I never want to see that again. I feel like I'm not good enough for you at times but I don't care because I know I'll never do that again. I promise to never hurt you again."

"Good. And you just let me decide if you're good enough for me or not," Elysia said smiling.

"Yes mam," Edward said leaning down to kiss her.

"I've been thinking of returning to Risembool, to visit Al," he explained. "I usually visit the kids after a mission and haven't seen them for awhile."

"That would be good for you," Elysia said, knowing she would miss him horribly while he was away.

"Well, before I go, I have to make sure of something," Edward said.

"I promise no more dinners with Jol if that's what you're thinking," Elysia said.

"No," Edward said defensively despite Elysia being partly right. He cursed himself for being so easy to read. "I'm hoping you'll wait for me just one more time."

"Of course," Elysia assured him.

"And when I return, will you..." Edward said trailing off not sure how to ask. He suddenly felt really embarrassed and nervous.

"Will I what?" Elysia asked.

Edward took a deep breath. "Will you marry me when I return?"

Elysia was stunned. She hadn't expected that question so soon. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with Edward but they hadn't exactly had a typical courtship. She had thought it would have been awhile before Edward would work up to the right time to ask her. But he is an impatient person, she thought to herself. He's probably still worried about Jol Haren.

"Yes," she said.

"Good," he said with a sigh of relief.

"You were worried about Jol weren't you?" She asked.

"A little," he said sheepishly. "I'm not exactly the easiest person to get along with. And I'm sure Jol doesn't have the bad habits that I do. You may decide that you like nice, polite men. Instead of loud, rude, obnoxious jerks who drink and smoke like me. Now that I have your word it'll give me some peace while I'm away."

"Well, as long as you don't flirt with any other girls, I'll still be here waiting for you," she said.

"I promise, no more flirting," he said and leaned in to give her a long, slow kiss.

"I'll bring you back a nice big engagement ring."

"I don't care about that, I just want you back."